Tella'gawajja Natural Pool, Rendang: A Half-Day Route from Denpasar

Entry to the Tella'gawajja natural pool in Rendang village, Karangasem, costs just Rp10,000 per person, and the pool is fed straight from the Telaga Waja River with no chlorine added. It belongs to Glamping & Camping Telagawaja, which opened in July 2025, and detikBali reported from the site on 22 August 2026. A realistic half-day route from Denpasar looks like this.

07:30: Leave Denpasar

detikBali's trip took about 90 minutes by scooter from Denpasar to Rendang. By car, allow more, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours: the last stretch is winding and busy with sand trucks grinding up and down the slopes of Mount Agung. The usual route runs through Gianyar and Semarapura (Klungkung), then north to Rendang. Fill up on fuel before leaving Semarapura.

08:45: 20-minute stop at Bukit Jambul

The Klungkung-Rendang road passes Bukit Jambul, a roadside viewpoint over rice fields and valleys. Stop while the morning air is still clear, then carry on to Rendang village.

09:30: Swim in the river-fed pool

The pool is about 100 square metres and 1.5 metres deep, ringed by coconut, banana and jackfruit trees. River water flows in and back out to the river, so it stays clear, cold and easy on the eyes. The owners deliberately skipped tiles, which means the bottom is mossy and slippery. Walk slowly and wear water shoes if you have them.

The river beside it is another matter. The detikBali reporter was nearly pulled away by the current when he tried to soak in the Telaga Waja, the same river used for Telaga Waja rafting. The managers built the pool precisely because the river felt unsafe for children, so keep kids in the pool.

11:00: Lunch by the river

The on-site warung sells food for Rp5,000-35,000 and drinks for Rp5,000-30,000. A plate of mujair nyat-nyat (tilapia in spiced broth) with rice was Rp30,000. The roughly 5-metre steel bridge linking the rooms to the pool is the favourite photo spot, with the river rushing underneath.

12:00: Head back, or continue up to Besakih

If you have time, Besakih Temple sits further up the mountain in the same district. To stay the night, the glamping has 10 units (five medium, three jumbo, two exclusive) at Rp300,000-500,000 per night including breakfast for two, according to the August 2026 report.

Before you go

• Location: Rendang village, Rendang district, Karangasem. View on Google Maps
• Ticket: Rp10,000 per person for the pool and river area (checked October 2026, based on the August 2026 report).
• Opening hours: not officially published. Come in the morning or around midday and confirm first, for example via a search on Instagram.
• Downsides: winding road with sand-truck traffic, a slippery pool floor, a strong river current and very little official information.
• Bring: a change of clothes, a towel and a light jacket. It gets chilly at the foot of Mount Agung once you are out of the water.

When detikBali visited on a Saturday around midday, 22 August 2026, their group had the place to themselves. School holidays may look different, so a weekday is still the safest bet for a quiet pool.