Ogoh Ogoh of Bali 2026
Four Excursions Exploring the Creativity of Ogoh Ogoh in Celebration of Nyepi in Bali, 2026
This series is created for those who would like to explore this unique artistic celebration up close, with Made Surya supplying the inside stories.
In 2025 an explosion of artistic invention and engineering occurred on the island of Bali, when members of the youth organizations of various banjars in Bali, created elaborate, outstanding images far beyond any in past memory of the demonic and horrific giant effigies called Ogoh Ogoh—a relatively recent addition to the celebration of the Nyepi—the Bali-Hindu New Year.
The demonic images are actual characters taken from local folk stories, mythologies or Hindu epics and are chosen through the inspiration of the creators. What makes our excursion unique is that the stories behind the characters will be revealed, as well as the processes by which they were created by members of the community youth organizations.
Sunday March 1 9:00AM
Introduction of the history of Ogoh Ogoh in Bali and Visit to the Ogoh Museum in Mengwi-
9AM Meet at Tutmak Cafe Third floor for Introduction and background of the Ogoh Ogoh. 10:00 Transfer by bus to Taman Ayun Mengwi and the privately owned Ogoh Ogoh Museum.
Introduction of Museum Director and Guided tour with Made Surya. Return and drop at Tutmak. Included: Guide, transport. Not Included: Entrance fee.(50,000rp)
Sunday March 8
Ogoh Ogoh Competition Badung Government Center
9AM meet at Tutmak third floor to see winners of last years competition. Depart for Badung for exhibition and guided tour of Ogoh with Made Surya. 11:30 return to Ubud and drop at Tutmak. Included: Transport and Guide.
Sunday March 15
Ogoh Ogoh display in Denpasar
9AM Depart from Tutmak for Denpasar. 10:00-11:30 guided tour with Made Surya and free time. 11:30 return to Tutmak. Included: Transport and Guide
Wednesday March 18: Tawur Kesanga
5:00PM Depart for Denpasar. Drop at Bali Hotel .This venerable Art Deco Hotel less than a block from the center of town and Governors Palace will be our base to watch the procession, with over 200 from various banjars participating.The hotel features chairs in an outdoor setting, bathrooms, security, a limited menu and bar. The procession passes directly in front.
Included: Transport, Guide. Not Included: Food, drinks, snacks.
Four Excursions Exploring the Creativity of Ogoh Ogoh in Celebration of Nyepi in Bali, 2026
Four Excursions Exploring the Creativity of Ogoh Ogoh in Celebration of Nyepi in Bali, 2026
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly! We can't wait to hear from you!
Trip Organizers/Leaders:
Judy Slattum MFA and Made Surya B.S. are professional tour organizers who have been leading study tours in Bali since 1985. Made has translated and worked with scholars and educational film and video crews, including National Geographic, and lives in Bali half the year. He was senior research assistant for several scholarly books relating to the Balinese view of the After Death. He is on the advisory board for Sacred Sites International, and has been a contributor to Hinduism Today. He has lectured frequently at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco and performs traditional mask dance in both Bali and the US
Judy Slattum has been organizing and leading study tours to Bali continuously after first visiting the island on sabbatical to study mask dance in 1978. Six months later she returned with the first of many unique travel/learning experiences. Judy has published many articles on Balinese culture and her book, Masks of Bali; Spirits of an Ancient Drama was released by Chronicle Books in 1992, was featured in Time Magazine and sold over 17,000 copies, and was reprinted by Periplus Editions in Sept. 2003. Her museum exhibition on Balinese Masks toured the USA as part of the Festival of Indonesia for 5 years and has now relocated to Bali.