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Crafts & Textiles4.8(74)

Batuan Carving and Painting Studio

Ubud, Bali

Photo: Paco Pater · CC BY-SA 4.0

Duration
1 day
Group size
Max. 8 people
Category
Crafts & Textiles
Difficulty
Easy
Suitable for almost everyone; plenty of stops and light walking.
Language
Indonesian, English

About this journey

A day in a Batuan artist family's studio, learning Bali's oldest painting style and woodcarving basics.

The Batuan painting style has developed since the 1930s in Batuan village, Gianyar. It is easy to recognise: dark ink, very dense compositions and almost no empty space, with everyday scenes alongside mythological stories. You will learn from a Batuan painter, from sketching to filling the surface with detail. In the afternoon we move to a woodcarving workshop in a nearby village to try carving a simple motif. You take your work home.

Hosted by the local community in Ubud

What you'll experience

  • Learn from a Batuan-style painter
  • Batuan's dense, ink-based compositions
  • Try carving a motif in a woodcarving workshop
  • Take your own artwork home

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Batuan painting and woodcarving

    09:00 painting session at the studio, 12:30 lunch, 13:30 carving session, 16:00 share your work and finish.

What's included

  • All materials and tools
  • Local guide from the community
  • Bottled water and traditional snacks
  • Vegetarian lunch

Not included

  • Transport from your hotel to the meeting point
  • Crafts you buy in the village
  • Tips for guides and hosts (optional)
  • Travel insurance

Before you go

Practical notes so your trip is comfortable and your hosts feel respected.

What to bring

  • Clothes you don't mind getting ink or sawdust on
  • Reading glasses if you use them for close work
  • Small-denomination cash for crafts or donations

Local etiquette

  • Ask before touching textiles, looms or work in progress.
  • Ask before photographing people, homes or ceremonies.
  • Use your right hand to give and receive things.

Getting there

About 1–1.5 hours by road from I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, depending on traffic through Denpasar.

Meeting point

Pura Puseh Batuan, Sukawati, Gianyar

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Traveller reviews

4.8 out of 5 from 74 reviews

  • The detail of Batuan painting is remarkable. I left with a new respect for it.

    Y

    Yuki Tanaka

    Japan · September 2026

  • Great fun, though the carving session felt short.

    L

    Lucas Martin

    France · September 2026

You can write a review from your Account once your trip is completed.

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FromIDR 650,000 / person

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