Bali Travel Guide – 11 Amazing Things To Do in Indonesia’s Paradise

Bali Travel Guide

Bali – One of the most popular destinations in Indonesia is all but a small part of this beautiful country. When you think about Bali, what really comes to your mind? Beaches? Parties? Nightlife? Surfing? Well, we had the same picture of Bali too. What we never realized is that Bali has much more to offer other than beaches and parties.

It is a whole island filled with the most amazing places to explore and discover. One week isn’t enough to explore all the beauties that this small island holds. In fact, I would say 20 days are less to truly visit all the mesmerizing places in this island. It has amazing and secluded waterfalls, mountains, volcanoes, temples, beaches, and so on for you to visit. Bali is more than a party place, it is a whole different world here.

Tegallalang Rice Terrace, Ubud
Tegallalang Rice Terrace, Ubud

So, if you plan on traveling to Indonesia, it would be better to keep in mind that Bali and the rest of Indonesia are poles apart. While you would find it easier to go around in Bali and will see a ton of different places, the rest of Indonesia is more culturally rich and has the most beautiful volcanoes ever.

You would also find that since more foreigners visit Bali every year, it is easier to communicate here than the rest of Indonesia. So, to make sure you don’t get cheated here and to ensure you have a good and safe trip, we have prepared this guide to help you in your travel!

You can also check out our 10-day Indonesia Itinerary to plan your own Indonesia trip!

Bali Travel Guide

Things to Do in Bali

Bali offers a range of things to do here depending on what you are looking for. You can chill at the beaches or indulge in some water sports, you can explore the beautiful waterfalls and the rice fields or go for an early morning trek, and the options are endless. Here are a bunch of things that you would absolutely love doing in Bali because we know, we certainly did.

Chilling at the Beaches

It is no surprise that Bali has a lot of beautiful beaches where one can chill and relax. There are numerous beaches in Bali so, there is more than enough place for everyone to enjoy some quality alone time. You will be amazed to know that Bali has a variety of beaches.

From Palm-edged beaches to cliff beaches, it has it all and a lot of these beaches require a lot of effort to reach here too. So, if you are a beach lover, then make sure that you check out beaches like Lovina, Uluwatu, Nusa Dua, Pantai Pandawa, Padang, etc. Trust me, once you start hanging out at these beaches you wouldn’t wanna stay anywhere else!

You can also check out Sanur in Bali to have an amazing time.

Jimbaran Beach, Bali
Chilling at Jimbaran Beach, Bali

Also, as an added bonus, a lot of these beaches are good for surfing so you can get your surfboards out and have an amazing afternoon here.

Sunset at Tanah Lot


Entry Ticket Price: 30,000 Rupiah(150 INR)

Another thing that you must do in Bali is to visit the famous Tanah Lot temple which is praised for its amazing offshore setting and sunset backdrops. This famous temple lies in the Beraban village, which is situated at a distance of 20km from Kuta.

One can see the waves crashing against this Hindu temple which makes this view even more irresistible. So make sure that you do catch the sunset here because otherwise, you might regret it forever!

Visit the Uluwatu Temple


Entry Ticket Price: 30,000 Rupiah(150 INR) per person

Another iconic temple of Bali is the Uluwatu temple which is situated at the top of a cliff and is a famous Balinese sea temple. One of the most beautiful temples of Bali, Uluwatu Temple was constructed to keep the evil spirits away and is considered as one of the 9 directional temples in Bali.

This temple is magnificent and glorious as it sits perched on the edge of the cliff while the waves crash against the foot of the cliff. This place sees a lot of tourists and locals alike and a lot of important rituals are performed in the interior of this temple.

I am not exaggerating but this is one temple you would not want to miss out on and the road journey to reach this place is quite thrilling. 

Drive to Pantai Pandawa


Entry Ticket Price: 15,000 Rupiah(75 INR) per person

One of the most memorable parts of our Bali trip was the drive to Pantai Pandawa and Uluwatu Temple. You ask why? Well, due to the simplest of reasons that both of these places require you to cross curving and hilly roads which mean that your entire journey is a roller coaster ride. The whole drive to Pantai Pandawa was filled with unexpected twists and turns which made it quite exciting and scary but what took out breath away was the drive just near the Pantai Pandawa beach.

Pantai Pandawa Beach, Bali
Pantai Pandawa Beach, Bali

You will see a rocky mountain on your one side and a mesmerizing beach on the other side while the sky is painted with a hue of blue and the air smells fresh and crisp. Aah! That utterly blissful feeling when we finally made safely to this beach and were so glad that we decided to visit this place. Trust me, this is one beach ride that you definitely don’t want to miss out on.

Visit the Monkey Temple in Ubud


Entry Ticket Price: 50,000 Rupiah(250 INR)

Another important place to visit in Bali is the Ubud Monkey Forest, aka the Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtel. It is one of the most iconic places in Ubud and houses over 700 monkeys and 186 species of trees. This is a natural habitat for monkeys and you can see them in their natural routine here.

You can see them playing with each other or jumping in the lake, and so on. Apart from being entertained by the antiques of the monkeys, you will find that this place contains a lot of beautiful ancient temples which are covered in a green moss now but haven’t lost their charm at all.

You can spend some time here looking at the monkeys or you can just take a leisurely walk underneath the canopy of the trees. This is one place where you can spend a few hours and be at peace with nature. 

Go For an Early Morning Hike to Campuhan Ridge


Free Entry

Do you love hiking or watching the sunrise? Then you definitely need to visit the Campuhan Ridge. This beautiful place is situated at just a 1km distance from the famous Ubud Water Palace and requires you to walk some 2-3 km to witness one of the most beautiful sunrises ever. You can go for a morning walk over here and can enjoy the beautiful lush greenery which surrounds this place. The sides of the pathway are covered with tall reed grass and you can see valleys on both the sides of the hiking trail. 

I cannot emphasize how refreshing and mesmerizing this place was. We had never been to such a place before so it was a welcome change for our eyes. And, as the sun started peaking through the mountains and its first rays touched the reed grass, we realized this is what an absolute bliss feels like.

No, I am serious guys! Sunrise here is truly enchanting and different so, make sure you visit this place once.

Visit the Beautiful Tegalalanga Rice Fields


Free Entry

The rice terrace fields of Ubud are no secret as this is a popular UNESCO Heritage site. While a lot of you might feel that it is just a rice terrace field and there is nothing special in it, I would like to point out that you are absolutely wrong.

Tegalalanga Rice Fields offer you a dazzling view of the rice paddies. Especially during the early morning and the Balinese irrigation system makes the view even more bewitching. Plus, not to mention that this is one of the best Instagrammable spots in Bali.

This is one place where you can spend a couple of hours. Just walking amidst the rice fields and the trees and just take in the beautiful view around you without any worries or tension. Since this place lies on the high roadside location, you will find that the place is not as crowded. Also, it is large enough for you to get lost for a while. If you ever visit Bali and don’t tour around the Tegalalang Rice Fields, then you have missed out on a crucial location for your visit.

Try Bali’s Highest swing


Price: 260,000 Rupiah(1250 INR) per person

Another adventurous activity to do in Bali is to swing on the Bali’s highest swing. Surprised? Well, don’t be because this activity has been in Bali for a while now. Zen Hideaway is a popular Airbnb property, which is situated in Bongkasa near the Ayung River Valley. And this place is surrounded by the most hypnotizing view ever. However, this is not what makes this simple 150-year old teak house famous.

Ubud's Highest Swing, Zen Hideaway
Ubud’s Highest Swing, Zen Hideaway

This place offers you a chance to swing on the highest swing of Bali which is tied to the coconut trees by 15-meter ropes. This is one thrilling experience that you would not want to miss out on! They allow you 30 minutes to swing on this great swing.

First, they offer you a chance to first try it out on the smaller swing before transferring you to the bigger one. As you sit on the swing and are pushed off the edge, you will like a bird flying in the sky. And if the weather is clear, then you could also see the Ayung river below and enjoy a beautiful and serene view. This is really a once-in-a-lifetime experience and we are so glad we got a chance to experience this!

Indulge in Watersports Over Here


Scuba Diving Price: 400,000 Rupiah(1800 INR) for 30 minutes

The last, but not the least, you can try a variety of water sports here. If you like surfing, then there are many Bali beaches which are just perfect for that. You would also find a lot of shops which sell or rent the surfboards here. You could also try other sports here like snorkeling, scuba diving, sea walking, parasailing, and so on.

You can also head to Gili Trawangan for an amazing swimming session with turtles in Bali!

Enjoy the Tegenungan Waterfall or Go For a Waterfall Slide


Entry Ticket Price for Tegenungan: 20,000 Rupiah(100 INR) per person

Bali contains many amazing and dazzling waterfalls which are covered by lush greenery and provide a respite from the populated and commercialized places. While Tegenungan Waterfall is the most popular waterfall in Ubud as it is close by. There are actually many other waterfalls here which are much better and less crowded than this one. The Tegenungan waterfall is another great place if you don’t mind the crowd. If you want to avoid the crowd here, it would be better to visit early morning.

Another amazing activity to do in Bali would be the waterfall sliding. A lot of waterfalls in Bali have a natural slide built in them so, you can waterslide here. One such popular waterfall is the Aling Aling waterfall which is situated in Simbagan. If you are looking for a little adrenaline rush, then do try this out in Bali!


Try the Balinese Body Massage

Going to Bali and not getting a massage is certainly a huge mistake. Because this place is famous for its spas and retreats. Here, you can get the most amazing and soothing massages ever. There are a lot of spas lined up here, for a soothing and relaxing body massage for an hour. And trust me, by the end of the hour, you feel much looser and relaxed than at the start.

This is the perfect thing that you can do to de-stress yourself. And, since it is so popular in Bali, you can get it done at quite a reasonable price too! There are a variety of massages that they offer and depending on the facilities and services provided, the cost varies. A standard Balinese Body Massage would cost you around 100,000 Rupiah(500 INR) for an hour and by the end of it, you would feel like you have achieved Nirvana! Yes, I am not even kidding about it! Do try it and see it for yourself. 

Traveling with kids to Bali? Then, check out this Bali guide for better planning.

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