BALI TRAVEL GUIDE

Posted bychristeltravelPosted inmy adventuresTags:, , ,


Bali is an island in Indonesia, a country in Southeast Asia. It’s undoubtedly a popular destination and a favorite for many people around the world!

From its list of iconic beaches and coral reefs, terraced rice fields, tropical resorts and exotic sunsets, There is so much to see and experience on this magnificent island!

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Bali is a good destination any time of year, but the best time to visit is during the island’s dry season, from May to October. This is when the island has the least rain, the most sun and the lowest humidity. The only disadvantage is that it’s the high season so the flights and hotels are more expensive. The best time for deals and discounts is February to early May and late September to early December when there are fewer tourists on the island.

CURRENCY

The currency of Bali is the Indonesian Rupiah. 1 USD is equivalent to about 14878.40 IDR.

BEST PLACES TO VISIT

There’s a lot to see in Bali and it’s not always easy to choose. The roads can be long and winding, so do not think you can visit everything on the island if you stay all along the same place, except if you visit the island by making excursions.

As for getting around, we hired a car with a driver for 10h a day. we thought it’s the best way to travel around the island with reasonable price.

TEMPLES

  • Pura Ulun Danu Bratan : known as the floating temple, is one of the most mesmerizing temples in Bali. This tiny lake temple, dedicated to a water Goddess, encircling by mountains is a hot spot for photographers.
  • Tanah Lot Temple : Famous for its unique location and spectacular sunset. It’s an ancient Hindu shrine perched a top of a rocky overlooking the sea.
  • Tirta Gangga Holywater Palace : Famous royal palace that’s been turned into beautiful open gardens. You can walk around and see the different water features, gardens and ponds. You can also buy a fish food to feed some very large fish in the pond.
  • Pura Lempuyang : One of the oldest and most sacred temples on the island. Situated quite far from the touristy areas of Bali, it took us 3 hours to reach the temple. The reason why most people visit this temple is to take a photo with the Heaven Gate and Mount Agung. You have to wear a sarong or a scarf to cover your knees and shoulders. The best time to visit is at sunrise so you can take better pictures with no crowd at all.
  • Purta Tirta Empul : An active temple built around a bubbling spring, interesting place to observe Hindu devotees purifying themselves by means of ritual bathing. For over a thousand years, Balinese Hindu worshipers have been drawn to this holy water temple. Tourists can bathe in its refreshing blessed water.
  • Goa Gajah : Locally known as the Elephant cave because of its close proximity to the Elephant river. The entrance to the temple looks like a demonic mouth, suggesting that people are entering an underworld as they venture inside through the darkness.
  • Uluwatu Temple : Known for its magnificent location on top of a cliff. one of the top places in Bali for witnessing a delightful sunset with a daily Kecak dance performances held at an amphitheater near by.
  • Taman Ayun Temple : A compound of Balinese temple and garden with water features.
  • Handara Golf And Resort : It has become a famous Instagram spot. Make a wonderful picture in front of Handara Gate with the view of green scenery and gigantic exotic traditional Balinese gate as your backdrop.
  • Taman Soekasada Ujung : Beautiful park with big fish pond surrounds the old karangasem Empire heritage building.

NATURE SPOTS

HIDDEN HILLS WANAGIRI: Located in Munduk overlooking lake Tambingan and lake Buyan. There’s a human sized bird’s nest and a glant swing overlooking the water below. A small fee applies if you’d like to use the crafted platforms for a photo.

Twin lake, Tamblingan & Buyan is a similar spot with platforms overlooking the water.

TEGALALANG RICE PADIFIELD: A series of rice paddies famous for its terraced layout. To see the rice at their greenest visit in March, April, September or October, as this is when the rice is about to be harvested. Between April & September the fields have more of a yellow tint. Terrace Padi is a nice restaurant overlooking the rice terraces and near the “love Bali” sign.

UMA PAKEL: If you want to try different Indonesian coffee, Indonesian tea, Bali swing, Bali nest and see how Luwak coffee is processed, then this is your one stop shop with a beautiful location surrounded by trees and rice terraces. We did the swing over the jungle, it was amazing!

If you want to try the highest Bali swing with a lunch buffet, BALI SWING is the hottest Instagram spots in the world.

KANTO LAMPO WATERFALL: 30 mins drive from Ubud. One of the easiest waterfalls in Bali to get to. Hidden away in Bali’s jungle, this scenic seasonal waterfall with its water cascading down a stepped rock formation is a stunning view to behold.

If you like Waterfalls, Tegenungang waterfall and Sekumpul waterfall are beautiful attractions for nature lovers.

PULINA COFFEE PLANTATION: Surrounded with the green forest and beautiful rice terrace, as far as your eyes can see only the green area. You will be greeted by a guide who takes you through the plantation to learn how luwak coffee was made.

UBUD

It’s one of the most touristic cities in Bali and it’s easy to see why. It’s surrounded by rice fields and waterfalls, aspects that appeal most to tourists. There are many tourist attractions such as shows, temples and also very good restaurants. It would be fun to move around Ubud by a scooter, bike or motorbike.

  • Ubud Water Palace – Puri Saraswati : A unique & stunning temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati with an amazing Bali water palace dance at sunset.
  • Sacred Monkey Forest : Here you will find Balinese Hindu temples, tranquil rivers, beautiful moss covered stones & stunning forested areas to explore. It’s where the monkeys live and are free to room as they please, so you’ll get a chance to take some cute pictures with monkeys.
  • Ubud Market – Art Market : A surplus of traditional art and handicrafts made locally in neighboring villages fill the chaotic alleyways of this busy Ubud market. Great place to find souvenirs and handmade bags and many others.
  • Tis Cafe : An amazing cafe with a nice swimming pool overlooking the rice field. Beautiful place to chill and have some delicious food.

POOLS AND BEACH CLUBS

  • Omnia Dayclub – Uluwatu : Dayclub located on the Uluwatu cliff with Indian Ocean view. Beautiful architecture, great atmosphere, amazing viewpoint and good food.
  • One Eighty The Edge – Uluwatu : Luxury cliff-top club at the edge villa resort with bar, restaurant and glass bottom infinity pool 500ft above the Indian ocean.
  • Potato Head Beach Club – Seminyak : One of the most popular chill out venues in Seminyak. Creative village by the ocean where music, art, design, food and wellness play together.
  • Finns Beach Club – Canggu : Oceanfront or poolside take a day bed and lay back and relax. Swim up and have a drink at the pool bar with daily DJs, live Vocalists, stunning sunsets and night surfing.
  • Café Del Mar – Canggu : breathtaking 10,000 square-metre, two-level beachfront pool club, perched on the sands of Berawa Beach.
  • The Lawn – Canggu : ocean-front pool, beach-chic daybeds with boho umbrellas, and crowds of beautiful people lapping up the sunshine and good island vibes. Swing by on a Friday night for one of the biggest weekend parties in town.
  • El Kabron Cliff Club – Bingin : Take a cheeky Insta snap in their iconic infinity pool, with the Indian Ocean as a backdrop and a mandatory glass of Sangria.
  • Azul Beach Club – Legian : This sprawling bamboo tree-house has cosy, breezy nooks all over the place to eat, drink and be merry across its three floors.
  • Toya Devaya Springs : features 4 natural hot springs pools and one warm olympic sized pool with a breathtaking landscape of the Mt. Batur Caldera.
  • The Monkey Bar At Bella Kita : Modern swimming pool with giant Buddha statues on the banks of the pond, above the hill area.

SUNSET SPOTS

  • Jimbaran Seafood Romantic Dinner
  • La Plancha Bali – Seminyak
  • Woo Bar – Seminyak
  • KU DE TA – Seminyak
  • Rock Bar In Ayana Resort – Dempasar
  • La Brisa Beach Club – Canggu
  • Single Fin Bali – Uluwatu

ACTIVITIES TO DO

  • Ocean Walker : Walk on the bottom of the ocean to see the spectacular view of the fishes and natural coral reef.
  • Under Water Scooter
  • Water Sports Activities
  • Dolphin Lodge
  • Horse Riding On The Beach
  • Bali Paradise Cycling Tours
  • Bali Bird Park : You can find the largest and finest collection of Indonesian Birds plus fantastic birds from Africa & South America
  • Elephant Safari Park : Allows you to closely and humanely interact with the magnificent creatures in an undeniably stunning settings. There’s also Mason Elephant Park where you can bath with the elephants.
  • Safari & Marine Park : Home to over a thousand amazing animals, is a destination for an adventurous, fun, educational experience. You can choose between the day or night tour.
  • Turtle Island : One of the familiar activities that you can have besides water sports in Tanjung Benoa.
  • Nusa Penida : You can go for a day trip to the island via a speedboat from Sanur. Head to Kelingking beach to get that insta-famous shot in front of the emerald green cliff.
  • Karsa Spa : Ideal place for a beautiful flower bath experience.
  • Motel Mexicola : Is a trendy and unique dining place, with colorful concept serving Mexican specialties and alcohol, to spend a great evening.

If you’re staying in Bali for a long time, a trip to Gili Islands is a must. In Gili Meno, you can discover the underwater statues by diving or snorkeling.

WHERE TO STAY IN BALI

Before you go, you will want a guide to each neighborhood in Bali to figure out what suits you. Here’s my guide on where to stay in Bali.

For us, we chose to stay 5 nights in Kuta and 3 nights in Ubud. We found it hard to reach some temples we wanted to visit, some took us 2 to 3 hours to reach because of the traffic. People tend to think their traffic is the craziest in the world, but when the Balinese say it their traffic is worse, they mean it!

UBUD

It’s all about the jungle vibes here! Some of Bali’s most amazing hotels can be found in Ubud. If you’re looking for an area where you can get a glimpse of local life and tropical vibes, this is one of the best options. I highly recommend to stay in Ubud rather than do a day trip, it’s the only way to see the best of this village.

We stayed at Royal Pita Maha Resort, in a villa with private pool and stunning views towards the jungle. The resort’s gardening, surrounding landscape, room architecture with heavy marbles and the common pool options are on another level. Truly unique experience! The river is adjacent to the property and you can hear people rafting boats. One of the best hotels we stayed in! This place is truly paradise! There’s a free shuttle to Ubud, so you can visit ubud attractions or have dinner at any restaurant there.

Accommodation highlights In Ubud:

  • Padma Resort
  • Hanging Gardens of Bali
  • Alila Ubud
  • Kamandulu Ubud
  • Jannata Resort
  • Camaya Bali Bamboo House
  • The Kayon Jungle Resort by Pramana
  • Komaneka At Bisma
  • Maya Ubud Resort & Spa
  • Mandapa, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve
  • Natya Resort
  • Beji Ubud Resort
  • The Udaya Resort And Spa
  • Aksari Resort
  • Villa Cella Bella
  • The Ubud Village Resort & Spa
  • Capella Ubud

KUTA

kuta is a beach area in the south of the island. Best known for its party-centric atmosphere and surfing in the Indian ocean. It’s a busy area with a high concentration of bars, nightclubs, shops and hotels. The tourist packs can be overwhelming here compared to other regions.

We stayed at Kuta Paradiso hotel, it wasn’t the best but had a beautiful location near restaurants and shops. There’s a restaurant near the hotel named Flapjacks with yummy food.

Accommodation Highlights in Kuta:

  • The Anvaya Beach Resort
  • Hard Rock Hotel
  • Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort
  • The Stones-Legian-Marriott Autograph Collection
  • The Kuta Beach Heritage Hotel
  • Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel
  • Ramada By Wyndham Bali Sunset Road Kuta
  • Citadines Kuta Beach
  • Mercure Kuta Bali

SEMINYAK

Looking for a sophisticated, upscale spot on the sand? luxe resorts, high-end shopping, fine-dining restaurants and sleek bars are the standard here. Seminyak has its own pretty beaches and there’s more space here as the crowds that descend on Kuta are not as prevalent in Seminyak. It has also some good surf.

Accommodation Highlights in Seminyak:

  • Alila Seminyak
  • The Royal Beach Seminyak
  • W Hotel Seminyak
  • Double-Six Luxury Hotel
  • The Samaya Seminyak
  • Anantara Seminyak Bali Resort
  • Hotel Indigo
  • The Haven Bali Seminyak
  • The Legian
  • The Seminyak Beach Resort & Spa

CANGGU

Known for its pretty epic sunsets, with a particularly laid-back tropical escape, easy-going lifestyle, boho vibe, café culture and surfer style, this is one of the coolest spots in Bali. Bali gets an ever growing bad rap for being too touristy and overcrowded, which is undoubtedly true in certain sectors of Seminyak and Kuta, but you can avoid these by staying in Canggu.

Accommodation Highlights in Canggu:

  • Ametis Villas
  • Own Villa
  • Aradhana Villas
  • Mandala The House
  • Como Uma Canggu
  • The Slow
  • Eco Gypsy houses
  • RedDoor Bali
  • The Palm House
  • Hotel Tugu Bali
  • The Oshan Villas
  • The Kirana Canggu Hotel
  • The Haven Suites Bali Berawa
  • Lautan Kupu-Kupu Villas
  • Sense Canggu Beach Hotel

NUSA DUA

Is all about beach walking, sun bathing, swimming, water sports and nice quite beaches. Compare to the hustle and bustle of Kuta and Seminyak, Nusa Dua is a very quiet resort style location. It’s one of the most expensive areas in Bali.

Accommodation Highlights in Nusa Dua:

  • The Mulia
  • The Bale
  • Sofitel Bali
  • Laguna Resort & Spa
  • St. Regis Bali Resort
  • Amarterra Villa
  • Grand Hyatt Bali
  • Hilton Bali Resort
  • The Ritz Carlton Bali

ULUWATU

Known for its lush green surroundings and sparkling turquoise sea. Home to Bali’s most scenic luxury villas and resorts, perched a top of the cliffs, overlooking the Indian ocean and magnificent sunsets. If you’re in Bali just to unwind and relax, Uluwatu is a quite area and it’s stunning you’re going to love it.

Accommodation Highlights in Uluwatu:

  • Gravity Hotel
  • Alila Villas Uluwatu
  • The Edge
  • Six Senses Uluwatu
  • Karma Kandara
  • La Joya Biu Biu Resort
  • Bukal Sari Villas
  • Toraja Bambu Boutique Hotel
  • The Ungasan Clifftop Resort
  • Anantara Resort
  • Ulu Cliff House
  • Bulgari Resort Uluwatu
  • Dreamsea Surf Camp Bali

JIMBARAN BAY

It’s a lovely mix of a luxury resort with local communities. It’s a great area to relax, have a seafood dinner on the beach, visit local markets and spend the day at the beach.While Jimbaran Bay can get a bit crowded, it isn’t as touristy as some other spots.

Accommodation Highlights in Jimbaran Bay:

  • InterContinental Bali
  • The Villas at Ayana Resort
  • Ayana Resort and Spa Bali
  • Rimba Jimbaran by Ayana
  • Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay
  • Jimbaran Bay Beach Resort and Spa
  • Belmond Jimbaran Puri
  • Balquisse Heritage Hotel
  • Kayumanis Jimbaran Private Villas & Spa
  • White Palm Hotel Bali
  • The Open House Jimbaran Bali
  • The Beverly Hills Bali by Transera

HOW TO GET AROUND BALI

The main modes of transportation in Bali are cars and motorbikes. Driving in Bali can come as a shock to first time visitors because of the amount of motorbikes and free-wheeling nature of the traffic. The most recommended and hassle-free way of getting around the island is by renting a car with a driver. We paid 750k rupiah (around 50$ USD) for 10 hours a day, including a car with a driver, parking fee and petrol.

HAVE A GREAT TRIP !!

PS – Have more questions on Bali? Don’t hesitate to contact me by email (christellesfares@gmail.com) or Dm me on Instagram (Christelle.fares).

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