We have lost count the number of times we’ve searched for flights to Bali in Indonesia. Yet, we’ve still to visit, because life inevitably got in the way. Not any more though. Once this coronavirus lockdown has ended, and travelling abroad becomes safe once again, we’re going to book those tickets! In the meantime, we are doing some armchair travelling. We asked our travel blogging friends to put forward their single ‘must do’ activity or place to visit in Bali. They’ve already helped us build itineraries to Hawaii, Hong Kong and Cape Town, so let’s see what Bali has in store for us 😊
Eat fresh fish in one of the restaurants on the beach of Jimbaran
Jimbaran is a coastal town located in southern Bali, not far from Kuta Peninsula. In Jimbaran there are many upscale beach resorts nearby, but it is also a place with a cool vibe for day visitors who come to sunbathe.
One of the main attractions in Jimbaran is the fish market. The fish market is really colorful with many kinds of fish. Even if you don’t need to buy fresh fish it is a great place to get a taste of local life in Bali. Plus, you will find many cool photo opportunities inside.
In the afternoon, most of the fish in this market goes to the restaurants on the beach of Jimbaran. These are not fancy restaurants but propose great fish and seafood dishes in a chilled-out vibe. Most tourists take seats in the beach restaurants before sunset as it is a popular activity in Jimbaran. It is great to enjoy the fish and a cold beer while watching the sunset: Sunsets in Jimbaran beach are spectacular! After the sunset waiters bring candles to the tables and it is a great way to finish one of your days in Bali.
Submitted by Elisa, World in Paris
Ngaben Cremation Ceremony
The word “ngaben” means “turning to ash”, and it’s a very appropriate name for this traditional Hindu cremation ceremony that is unique to Bali. Foreign visitors are generally welcome to attend these ceremonies as long as they dress and act respectfully. If you have the opportunity then don’t miss it!
It’s actually quite a festive occasion, with traditional music, dancing and feasting on local Balinese dishes. Ideally, the ceremony should take place shortly after a person dies, but most Balinese people cannot afford an individual ceremony. So instead, they pool their financial resources with any neighbors who have lost family members, and together they perform a joint ceremony. This usually happens about once a year in each village, and the remains of all the villagers who passed away during that year are cremated together.
When my husband and I attended a ngaben near Padang Bai, the bones of 153 people were cremated together in a huge sarcophagus shaped like a lion. This lion going up in smoke was a sight I will never forget. It quickly got so hot that we had to step back a good distance from the flames.
Submitted by Wendy, The Nomadic Vegan
Learn to Surf
What’s not to love about the thought of learning to surf in paradise?!
The blissfully warm waters surrounding Bali are a great place to hop on a board for the first time (because you’re bound to fall off a lot at first, and nobody wants to be in cold water for that!) With beginner breaks running all along the Kuta, Seminyak and Canggu beaches, there is plenty of space and opportunity for newbies to catch their first wave.
Boards can be rented by the hour from various vendors along the beaches, with both group and private lessons available for anyone – whether you are starting from scratch or want to up your skill level – and all at very reasonable prices.
And to get you inspired, head to the cliff bars at Uluwatu or Padang Padang Beach and be inspired by the experts and big wave surfers that call these breaks home. You’d be crazy not to include learning to surf on your Bali itinerary!
Submitted by Vicki, MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld
Nusa Penida
If you want to escape Bali’s mainstream tourism, then head to Nusa Penida for a day or two. Penida Island will take your breath away with its unspoiled nature, pristine clean beaches, dramatic clifftop views and much more. There is so much to see there!
The number one Nusa Penida attraction is Kelingking beach. Head there to take an Instagram worthy photo of the T-rex shape rock formation. Explore some unworldly creations of nature including natural tidal, infinity pool of Angel’s Billabong and Broken Beach. Head East to discover secret beaches of Penida Island. Spend a day in Atuh Beach lazing on a binbag sipping fresh coconut and soaking in the views of a perfect turquoise blue lagoon. And if you’re adventurous, climb down to Diamond Beach to experience flawless white sand with mighty waves.
Nusa Penida is situated 30 minutes’ away from mainland Bali, and you can get there by taking a speed boat from port Sanur.
Submitted by Mal, Raw Mal Roams
Bali bike ride tour
When you are next travelling to Bali, going on a bike ride through the countryside should be on your list of things to do. We chose Ubud Cycling Bike for our bike ride and we all loved the interaction with the smiling Balinese while we slowly rode the streets of the local villages and then past the most beautiful rice fields.
It’s a great activity for all of the family as a bus followed us as we rode. This meant if anyone needed a break from riding or couldn’t ride there was an option to travel in the bus. The bike tour was not just about riding a bike. We also enjoyed lunch at a local warung, saw a local school and visited tourist sites around the region.
We have such amazing memories from our day out on the bike tour and rate it as one of our top 5 things we have done in Bali.
Submitted by Kate, Rolling Along With Kids
Temple Hopping
There are numerous temple sites situated all over this lush tropical vacation island. These religious monuments offer a glimpse into Balinese culture like none of the other sites on the island do. They have the purpose of serving as memorials to members of the Balinese Royalty of the time, as houses of worship as well as a social place for the locals to gather and meet. Believed to have been built as far back as the 11th century, it is certainly worth the time and effort required to visit any of these temples.
The most famous temples, often the busiest too, are Tanah Lot, Uluwatu, and Besakih Temple. However, my favourite amongst them is Pura Gunung Kawi temple. Carved into rocks and set within a lush forest, it is one of the most ancient sites on the island. It is almost guaranteed to make your temple hopping experience an activity well done.
Submitted by Rai, A Rai of Light
Tegallalang Rice Terraces
When you Google ‘Bali’ or peruse Instagram accounts associated with the gorgeous island, you’ll instantly be hit with images of luscious green rice fields rolling into the horizon, often with a happy traveller soaring above them on a giant swing. Many of these photos will have been taken at Tegallalang, one of the most iconic rice fields in all of Bali.
Located a little out of Ubud, you’ll need to hire a scooter or driver to visit Tegallalang Rice Terraces. They are well worth the 20-minute drive. As well as wandering the tiered rice terraces and snapping photos to your heart’s content, you can watch locals farm the fields as they have done for centuries. Sip Balinese coffee at a small cafe or 100k rupiah for a session on a swing.
Don’t miss this gorgeous natural spot as it’s one of the best things to do in Ubud, if not all of Bali!
Submitted by Rose, Where Goes Rose?
Sidemen
If you’re looking for an authentic experience in Bali, head straight to Sidemen – a hidden gem on the eastern part of the island. The scenic drive to Sidemen is one of the most picturesque routes you’ll come across, with rolling hills covered in rice fields, and palm trees dotted throughout. This, along with the unspoiled views of Mount Agung, makes Sidemen one of the most impressive destinations in Bali.
But, there’s more to the village than just the gorgeous landscapes. Sidemen is an adventures dream getaway as it’s home to the best white-water rafting in Bali. And if you’re on the lookout for waterfalls, the stunning Tukad Cepung Waterfall is just a short drive away. Despite all its natural beauty, Sidemen is often overlooked by tourists and as a result, the quaint village remains untouched by tourism.
So, if you’re in search of a remote escape, surrounded by lush greenery and a peaceful atmosphere, ensure you add Sidemen to your Bali bucket list!
Submitted by Carryn, Torn Tackies
Amed: Scuba Diving and Snorkelling
Ahhh Amed, where do I begin?
Amed is such a beautiful part of Bali, situated on the East Coast with the most beautiful black sand beaches.
Amed is truly famous for is it’s snorkelling and scuba diving sites. If you don’t have your own equipment there are plenty of places you can hire from so don’t worry! When snorkelling, the sea is really calm, all you have to do is find yourself a group of snorkels, get yourself ready and go. My favourite moment was getting lost following a stingray.
If after snorkelling you want to be a little more adventurous, there are so many Scuba diving companies, you’ll be spoilt for choice. They will provide you with the necessary equipment and then, depending on experience, guide you through your dive taking you to a SHIPWRECK! At over 100ms long there is so much to explore. It’s a whole new underwater world down there.
After a day of exploring you can then, spend your evening eating from one of the beachside restaurants, sipping on a BingTang (I find the lemon ones so yummy, and refreshing!). Truly in paradise.
Submitted by Charlotte, Bursting My Bubbles
Join a Balinese cooking class
If you’re planning on visiting Bali soon, don’t forget to try some of the amazing Balinese food and other local favorites. One of the best and fun things to do is to take a cooking class in Bali and even visit the local markets. Many Balinese cooking schools incorporate a visit to a local market to see the wonderful and fresh ingredients that will be used on most of the dishes that you’ll learn to make.
Many of the schools offer a complete experience with all your equipment, ingredients covered and demonstrations are easy and thorough. Some even offer some books or takeaways from your experience, including having a feast on the food that you make for the day’s experience. It’s a win win, to try local favorite foods, visiting the markets and learning some new foods to make on your own once you get back home and want to make something special to impress friends or family.
Bali is fantastic and learning about the culture, food, people and lifestyle is a great way to get to the heart of daily life. Eating and cooking local food in Bali is one of the best ways to really experience what is important in making fresh and healthy food from the area.
Submitted by Noel, Travel Photo Discovery
Explore the beaches of Uluwatu
One of the best things to do in Bali is definitely exploring the beaches in Uluwatu! Bali is absolutely stunning but the beaches elsewhere on the island don’t compare to the amazing beaches in Uluwatu. This is the southernmost part of Bali island, full of rugged cliff edges and white sand beaches. These beaches are also great surfing spots and perfect to watch the amazing sunsets here. Green Bowl beach is one of the hidden gems, thanks to the many steps it takes to get down, it is a lot less busy than some of the other beaches. Come in between tides, or there won’t be a beach at high tide! It is a lovely beach with some shady coves due to the rocks.
Other great beaches include Bingin Beach, if you want to be close to some restaurants too. Then head to Karma Beach for sunset and a beach bar. Dreamland Beach is a longer stretch of sandy beach where you can also rent body boards for the incredible waves.
For sunrise, explore Padang Padang beach before others arrive! Uluwatu is also home to the best pizza in Bali and some amazing places to eat so be sure not to miss out on this part of Bali!
Submitted by Hanna, Solarpoweredblonde
I’ve still never been to Sidemen so I’m adding that to my bucket list! Such a great post!