Ah, this famous island in Indonesia! You’ve been wanting to visit there for a long time, but you get lost in the variety of reviews, the long list of attractions and various guides? Look at the route from our travel expert: all the most interesting things are collected here, as well as excellent options for hotels and excursions.
Bali is an island of ancient temples and incredible pristine nature. Here, high cliffs against which strong waves crash give way to long beaches and coves. In the old settlements, the islanders preserve their culture, which they are happy to share with travelers, and the ubiquitous monkeys run through the trees.
We advise you to spend the first week of your stay in the south of the island. We have selected for you several hotel options located on different beaches.
- Keraton Jimbaran Resort
- Jimbaran Bay Beach Resort and Spa by Prabhu
- Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa, Bali
Island beaches
Bali has many beaches. They differ from each other in wave activity, shore coverage, entrance to the water and the level of ebb and flow. We have selected several that are most suitable for a beach holiday.
In the southeast of the island (near the village of Candidasa) we recommend Bias Tugel, Blue Lagoon and Virgin beaches.
On the southern tip, visit Nusa Dua, Thomas and the famous Padang Padang beaches.
An excellent idea for beach relaxation and entertainment is Sundays Beach Club, a complex with its own beach where you can stay for 400 thousand IDR on weekdays and 450 thousand IDR on weekends. The price also includes kayak and snorkel equipment rental.
Official website: Sundays Beach Club
Temples Pura Luhur Uluwatu and Pura Tanah Lot
Not far from the city of Kuta, on a cliff, stands the temple of Pura Luhur Uluwatu. It is worth a visit to see the magnificent scenery and admire the lush blue ocean. The views are especially stunning at sunset.
Ticket price: 50 thousand IDR
Another popular temple – Pura Tanah Lot – stands on a small stone island off the Tanah Lot beach. At low tide, the bottom is exposed here and it becomes possible to get to the attraction.
A ticket will cost 60 thousand IDR
Nusa Penida Island
Not far from the southeastern coast of Bali is the paradise island of Nusa Penida. It is famous for its pristine nature and stunning beaches.
To see the best of them, we recommend taking a day trip to the island’s beaches and attractions. Nusa Penida Journeys offers several different options, starting at $85.
Ubud
Ubud is an ancient city that we recommend setting aside a few days to visit. Here you will find ancient temples and monuments, colorful landscapes and shops with traditional goods and souvenirs. Walking along the main street Jl. Raya Ubud, you will see the stunning architecture of temples and palaces.
We have selected several hotels for you in Ubud:
- Jati Cottage
- Villa Capung Mas Ubud
Forest of the Monkeys
Turning onto Jl. Monkey Forest and following it to the end, you will reach one of the symbols of the island – the Monkey Forest. Here, stairs and bridges lead through the jungle, in which about 10 species of monkeys live, and dozens of stone statues of animals look especially remarkable.
Entrance to the park costs 80 thousand IDR.
Official website: Monkey Forest Ubud
Several trails depart from Ubud, a walk along which will give you unforgettable views of the nature of the island. For example, the Subak Juwuk Manis Trail passes rice fields and village houses, while the Campuhan Ridge Walk leads along the ridge of a hill with views of an evergreen forest.
Rice Terraces
For authentic Bali scenery, head to the rice terraces.
The Tegalalang rice terraces are located near the village of the same name on the slopes of the hills. These are the most frequently visited rice fields on the island. The entrance here opens at 7:00 every day. The ticket price is 20 thousand IDR.
To get to the terraces, go to the village of Tegalalang, which is located 9 kilometers from the city of Ubud.
Less popular terraces with tourists can be found near the village of Jatiluvih, in the very heart of the island. The Jatiluwih Terraces cover approximately 632 hectares and are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Visiting hours: from 8:30 to 18:00. The ticket will cost 40 thousand IDR.
Volcano Batur
1717-meter volcano Batur rises above Lake Batur, and on its slopes there are numerous ancient temples.
Climbing to the top of the volcano is very popular. The journey up one way takes about 2 hours. From there you have breathtaking views of the mountains, lake and lava field.
You can climb to the top either independently or accompanied by a guide. You can buy an organized excursion at one of the agencies located on the western shore of Lake Batur. Particularly popular is night ascent and watching the sunrise at the top (involves spending the night at the foot of the volcano).
Entrance to the volcano territory costs 100 thousand IDR.
Sekumpul Waterfall
Sekumpul is the highest waterfall on the island. It falls into a gorge surrounded by tropical jungle and forms a lake in which you can swim.
To get to the waterfall, you first need to get to one of the villages of the island – Sekumpul or Lemuki. From there, hiking trails through the jungle begin, taking about 2 hours one way. Please note that the trails may be very washed out in rainy weather. Along the way you will need to cross bridges and ford a small river.
You can also go to the waterfall as part of an organized excursion, for example, with the Sekumpul Waterfall Tour company. The cost of the excursion is about 45 USD (about 631,778 IDR).
It’s worth setting aside a full day to visit the waterfall.
Ulong Danu Beratan Temple
Ulong Danu Beratan Temple is located on the shore of Lake Beratan. Its territory offers picturesque views of the village, lake and mountains.
On the lake you can ride a traditional boat, and explore several other ancient temples and monuments in the area. To see the temple and lake, go to the village of Bedugul.
Kuta
Spend your last two nights on the island in the resort town of Kuta. The resort has a huge number of bars, restaurants and nightclubs where you can relax and have fun. Here you will have a great opportunity to go shopping at one of the department stores, and for original souvenirs, go to the Pasar Senggol night market.
We have selected several hotel options for you in Kuta:
- Yulia Beach Inn Kuta
- Wina Holiday Villa Kuta Bali
- Grand Barong Resort
Expert advice
- The currency of Indonesia is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). 1 rupee is approximately equal to 0.0046 rubles.
- There is practically no public transport system on the island, so it is best to get to remote attractions by rented scooter or car. An alternative option is a taxi.
- In Bali, you should not openly display jewelry or carry large sums of money.
- Be are vigilant in places with large concentrations of monkeys – they are experts at snatching phones and cameras, taking off glasses and even pulling off shoes.
- To plan your movements in and between cities, use the Rome2Rio service.
- Use offline maps Citywalks.me and Maps.me.
