Much has been written about the Indonesian island of Bali. The “island of the gods” is known around the world for its beaches, volcanic mountains, rice paddies, and Hindu temples. For travelers, Bali needs no introduction, as it has long been a top draw among backpackers and surfers, a romantic honeymoon getaway, and a destination for yoga and meditation.
Keeping up with the modern times, the aspirational island continues to evolve and reinvent itself in creative ways, catering to a new breed of travelers, largely influenced by social media. There’s something about Bali’s natural landscapes, exotic vibe, vibrant nightlife, and shopping scene that appeals to the younger set who want to travel internationally with their friends.
The wide range of resorts, delicious local cuisine, diverse activities and availability of package tours also make Bali an ideal destination for leisure travelers including families with kids and solo travelers.
For those looking for something new to do in Bali, here are just a few of the fun and unique activities I can recommend for first-time visitors.
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Visit Bali’s most iconic landmarks in a cultural park
Garuda Wisnu Kencana or GWK is a cultural park devoted to the Hindu god Vishnu (or Wisnu), and his mythical mount, Garuda. Tourists can explore picturesque plazas and lotus ponds spread out in between limestone walls, and watch live Balinese cultural performances in the park’s street theater.
Designed to be Indonesia’s tallest statue, this massive landmark depicting Hindu god Vishnu riding the mythical bird Garuda towers at 120.9 meters (396 feet) high and was only recently completed last July 2018. Visitors can admire the landmark from various points in the park or take a tour inside the statue for an additional fee.
Smaller statues can be found in Plaza Wisnu and Plaza Garuda. Among the Hindu trinity of Gods – Shiva, Wisnu and Brahma, Wisnu is worshipped as the guardian of the universe and the God of life and peace. Meanwhile, Garuda is a mythical bird described as having a body of half-man and half-bird. As Wisnu’s personal companion, Garuda symbolizes loyalty, trustworthiness, and sacrifice.
A fleet of smart vehicles offers additional activities at the park, especially for those traveling with kids. Those who don’t want to walk can explore the 60-hectare park grounds aboard bicycles, Segways, e-scooters, tandem e-bikes and golf carts.
- Address: JL. Raya Uluwatu, Ungasan, Kuta Selatan, Badung, Bali
- Entrance fee: IDR 125,000 / person
- GWK Statue Tour: IDR 200,000/person
- Segway: IDR 60,000 for 15 mins
- Smart Scooters: IDR 80,000 for 15 mins
- Opening hours: Open daily from 8:00 am – 9:00 pm; GWK Statue Tour from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm only
- Website: www.gwkbali.com
Witness a traditional fire dance at a cliffside temple
Uluwatu is a cliff-fringed coastline home to hidden beaches and world-class surf breaks. This hilly limestone region is home to Bali’s most scenic luxury villas and resorts overlooking the Indian Ocean with stunning views of the sunset. It’s also here where you can find one of Bali’s most iconic temples.
Uluwatu Temple is a Balinese Hindu sea temple renowned for its stunning location perched on top of a steep cliff approximately 70 meters above sea level. It’s one of the 6 key temples considered to be Bali’s spiritual pillars and provides a significant venue for witnessing Kecak Dance performances during sunset.
The Kecak Dance makes use of ancient traditions to depict the Ramayana epic. Instead of music or spoken narration, the background of the unique live theatre is performed by a group of men who use repetitive rhythmic chants calling for “cak” while raising their hands. It also involves fire towards the end of the show. The Kecak Dance is a distinctive performance and cultural experience that’s much sought after by tourists. In fact, during our visit, temple officials had to refuse entry to many other visitors because they could no longer fit in the amphitheater.
- Address: Uluwatu Temple, Pecatu, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia
- Entrance fee: IDR 15,000 for local tourists; IDR 30,000 for foreigners
- Kecak Dance Performance: IDR 100,000 per person
- Opening hours: Open every day from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm (open 24 hours as a place of worship). The Kecak Dance show starts at 6:00 pm.
Soar over rice terraces with extreme swings
One of the newer attractions in Bali that has become wildly popular in recent years is the Bali Swing. Tourists can find various spots that offer extreme swing experiences with natural views of jungles, rice fields, and rivers including Alas Harum. I have to admit, it’s a creative way to attract travelers to visit agritourism areas, which are not typically seen as the most exciting destinations.
There are different swing types to choose from, where you can soar to different heights including the Extreme Swing (15 meters), Couple Swing (20 meters) and the Super Extreme Swing (25 meters). I recommend wearing bright colors or bringing a scarf for photo ops if you plan to try this, just so you can be seen in photos against the trees. While we were there, we noticed some stalls renting out long skirts for ladies who want to level up their Instagram game.
Aside from the swings, Alas Harum also offers a flying fox (zip line) and sky bikes. For those who are afraid of heights or those traveling with kids below 7 yrs old (min. age for extreme activities), the grounds are nice for sightseeing (with no entrance fee to visit). You can find walkways through mini rice terraces, a hanging bridge and different bird’s nest-like photo spots that have become so popular they’ve been copied everywhere. They also offer coffee-making and tasting and have the biggest luwak statue in Indonesia.
- Address: Jl. Raya Tegallalang, Tegallalang, Bali, Indonesia
- Entrance fee: No entrance fee, but you pay for the activities you want to try
- Extreme Swing: IDR 150,000 per person
- Couple Swing: IDR 200,000 for 2 persons
- Super Extreme Swing: IDR 200,000 per person
- Package Swing: Combination of two singles swing and one couple swing in one place. IDR 250,000 (1 Ticket, 1 Person)
- Opening hours: Open daily from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Website: www.alasharum.com
Drink from a holy water spring at a seaside temple
Bali is commonly called “the island of a thousand temples,” so first-time travelers usually make it a point to visit the most popular ones. Tanah Lot is a rock formation that’s home to the ancient Hindu pilgrimage temple Pura Tanah Lot, a popular tourist icon for photography.
The temple here sits on a large offshore rock which has been shaped over the years by the ocean tide. Many tour companies from Ubud offer trips to Tanah Lot to watch the sunset, which is said to be the best time to visit (between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm).
At the time of our visit (morning), the tide was low, so we didn’t get to see the temple in its full glory, but we did get to partake in a ritual from the holy water spring, which is only accessible during low tide. Tourists can wash their faces or drink from the holy water which comes from beneath the temple rock, after which they will be given bija (wet rice grain) on the forehead and a jepun flower. Locals, especially Hindus, believe that this holy water can cure ailments and grant wishes.
- Address: Tanah Lot, Beraban, Kediri, Tabanan Regency, Bali, Indonesia
- Entrance fees: IDR 20,000 for locals; IDR 60,000 for foreign visitors.
- Opening hours: Open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
Catch the breeze at a lakeside temple
Of all the temples we visited in Bali, I enjoyed visiting Ulun Danu Beratan the most as it was the least crowded, had beautifully landscaped gardens and generally a cooler climate.
The temple is located approximately 1,500 meters above sea level within the highlands of the mountainous Bedugul region, roughly 90 minutes from Ubud or 2 hours from Kuta.
This significant temple complex located along the shores of Beratan Lake in central Bali was built in the 17th century to worship the Hindu Trinity (Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva) and the lake goddess, Dewi Danu.
Aside from being a place of worship, tourists can also find various water vehicles including paddleboats, water duck bikes and speedboats for tours around the lake. We took a fun speedboat ride which provided lovely views of the misty mountain ranges. In the afternoons, the lake gets foggy, which adds to the dreamy landscape.
- Address: Ulun Danu Beratan, Danau Beratan, Candikuning, Baturiti, Tabanan Regency, Bali, Indonesia
- Entrance fee: IDR 50,000 for adults and IDR 25,000 for children
- Speed boat: IDR 150,000 – 5 people/round
- Water duck bikes: IDR 35,000 – 2 people/30 minutes
- Paddleboat: IDR 75,000 – 5 people/30 minutes
- Opening hours: Open daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (open 24 hours for worship)
Take a nature hike through a sacred monkey forest
Ubud Monkey Forest, also known as the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, is not just a tourist attraction, but an important spot for research and conservation programs. At the time of our visit, there were 1,059 grey long-tailed macaques inhabiting the forest, living in 7 separate groups, who were free to roam and interact with visitors and their surrounding environment.
To respect the natural behavior of the monkeys and avoid accidents (since monkeys are wild animals with unpredictable behavior), visitors are advised not to touch or feed monkeys extra food from outside of the park. I’m not really a fan of zoos, so it was nice to see monkeys roaming around freely and not tied up with leashes or in cages.
Aside from watching the playful monkeys in their natural habitat, the family-friendly site is ideal for nature walks and forest bathing. I enjoyed walking through the paved pathways under the shaded canopies, getting up close to century-old banyan trees and spotting ancient guardian statues covered in moss throughout the forest.
- Address: Monkey Forest Street, Padangtegal Ubud, Gianyar, Bali
- Entrance fee: IDR 80,000 for adults and IDR 60,000 for children
- Opening hours: Open daily from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm
- Website: www.monkeyforestubud.com
Go strawberry-picking or coffee-tasting in farms
Educational tours to farms, plantations, factories and workshops give tourists a chance to learn more about the various industries that provide a livelihood to locals. If you’re traveling with kids, you can take them strawberry picking at Dikubu Farm, a popular spot among locals for camping and picnics.
We were also taken to visit Taman Ayun Luwak Coffee Farm, to see the process of making coffee luwak, one of the rarest and most expensive coffees in the world. A brief tour includes demonstrations on hand-roasting coffee followed by coffee and tea tasting. The coffee and tea sampler we had contained different flavors like Kintamani coffee, ginseng coffee, rosella coffee, coconut coffee, hot chocolate, ginger tea, and others.
While I enjoyed sampling the different variants of coffee and tea, I really don’t want to promote drinking coffee luwak because of ethical reasons. Coffee Luwak (or civet coffee) originally started with people collecting the poo from wild luwaks which included partially digested coffee cherries, from the Asian palm civet. However, because of the high demand, some farms capture luwaks and keep them in cages to maximize production. This affects the luwaks and the quality of the coffee. You can read more about why you shouldn’t drink coffee luwak in Indonesia here.
Take home a piece of Bali with handcrafted local souvenirs
Bali is a paradise for shopaholics. You can find a treasure trove of fine art and handicrafts, antique and semi-antique furniture, paintings, delicately carved jewelry, wood and stone carvings, masks, woven and dyed fabrics. One of the most popular textiles is batik, a traditional form of painting on fabric that makes use of dots and lines of wax in order to create a pattern. In Bali Bidadari Batik, you can watch batik being made, and try making it yourself, have modern batik designs hand-painted on your existing clothes and buy ready-to-wear items like flowy dresses, skirts, polo shirts and scarves that make use of batik patterns in their large souvenir shop.
- Address: Bali Bidadari Batik, Jl. WR Supratman No.343, Kesiman Kertalangu, Kec. Denpasar Tim., Kota Denpasar, Bali
- Opening hours: Open daily from 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
For those looking for food souvenirs, the Pie Susu or Milk Pie is the most popular and iconic delicacy in Bali. We got ours from Cening Ayu, a homegrown brand established in 2008.
Just walk around the shops and markets like the Sukawati Art Market and you’re sure to come across interesting local products like paintings, batik dresses, Balinese basket bags and other souvenirs. If you want something extra special for loved ones, head to Sari Dewa Gold and Silver for their handcrafted gold and silver crafts and jewelry like rings, necklaces and decorative items.
Chill out on the beach with a Bintang beer
Top surf spots like Uluwatu, Impossibles and Padang Padang (the “Balinese Pipeline”) attract experienced surfers and pros, but for beginners who just want to get a taste of the waves, Kuta Beach is your best bet. Kuta is Bali’s most popular surfing location and the center of Balinese surf culture. This beach and resort area has long consistent waves that make it a popular surf spot for beginners. The coast stretches towards other beach areas like the more low-key Legian and upscale Seminyak resort areas
Plenty of outfitters on the beach offer board rentals and surf lessons. Or you could just take a dip, enjoy sunbathing and people watching, with a Bintang beer in hand. Bintang beer is one of the backpacker icons of Bali, and you can see various shirts and merchandise bearing the beer logo. Bintang Radler (which comes in Lemon and Orange flavors) is light and refreshing even for day drinking.
- For surf lessons at Kuta Beach, contact: Harry Surf School: +6285338198671
Explore Bali and beyond on your own
For those who know how to drive (and want to beat the traffic), Bali offers an excellent destination to explore by motorcycle. Motorbike rentals can be found everywhere and are really affordable in Bali. You can rent scooters to visit iconic spots and temples, or just drive around and stop wherever you want. We had a packed itinerary for our media tour but were able to squeeze in a short ride to the beach on our last day when we had a free morning.
The Honda Scoopy seems to be the most popular bike in Bali. You can rent one for as little as 70,000 IDR (Php 250) for 24 hrs while bigger scooters like the Honda PCX cost 150,000 IDR (Php 540) for 24 hours. You can get motorbike rentals cheaper if you rent them on a weekly basis. Those who just want to grab a ride can make use of app-based motorcycle taxis similar to Angkas called Go-Jek.
While it’s understandable that first-time visitors will want to head to the most most popular attractions and landmarks, there’s nothing wrong with going off the beaten path and trying new activities. From snorkeling and helmet diving to mountain cycling and volcano trekking, there’s a lot more to explore in Bali and beyond. There are even packaged “Instagammable Tours” now that take visitors to the most scenic and photographed spots like Nusa Penida, Broken Beach and Crystal Bay Beach (allot a full day for this).
As a major tourist hub with direct flights to different countries including the Philippines, Bali offers a great jump-off point to the rest of Indonesia’s 17,000 islands. Tourists can make Bali their base for exploring other destinations like the Gili Islands in Lombok, Yogyakarta and Morotai Island, to name a few.
NOTE: This trip was made possible by a Media Familiarization Tour held from November 21-26, 2019 organized the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism. Thank you very much for the invitation to explore Bali! For more information, visit www.indonesia.travel