From the beach resorts of Kuta and Sanur to the lush hills of Ubud, holidays in Bali are a dream come true, exotic, relaxed yet with lots of things to do.
Bali is once again a popular holiday resort, a place where peace and beauty prevail, enhanced by a colourful Hindu culture unique in Indonesia. There are lively temples and festivals, traditional music and dance and villages where artists and craftsmen work as they have done for generations.
Kuta and Sanur claim some of the best beaches and luxury hotels, the lush haven of Ubud nestles among the paddies and from forest and jungle to mountains and waterfalls, there are plenty of natural attractions.
Holidays in Bali, Kuta and Sanur Beach Resorts
- Relax on the fine sands of Sanur and stroll along the lanes where batik sarongs and paintings flutter in the warm tropical breeze. See the nearby temple of Batubulan, famous for its stone carvings and the traditional dances performed in the courtyard.
- Enjoy the surf on Kuta beach as the sun sets over the ocean, shop for designer labels in duty free malls and party in the island's most lively resort. Take a short trip north to Tanah Lot, a dramatic temple perched on a rocky crag battered by the waves.
- Feast on delicious Indonesian food with lots of noodles and rice, seafood satay, steamed vegetables with peanut sauce and fresh tropical fruit, guava, mango, pomelo and much more.
Ubud, Bali Top Attraction
- Explore the picturesque artists village of Ubud set in lush countryside. See the women in traditional clothes taking offerings to the temples, especially at festival time, and browse the studios and art galleries offering quality items at affordable prices.
- Hire a bike and cycle along the nearby country lanes where rice terraces cling to verdant slopes. Discover a hamlet or two, greet the farmers in the fields, listen to the call of tropical birds. It’s another Bali, lush and peaceful, almost untouched by the tourism.
- Head for the Monkey Forest, part of the popular day trip to Ubud, busy and commercialised but a great place to take pictures of monkeys and Pura Dalem, the Temple of the Dead said to be endowed with magical powers.
- Look out for the craft villages scattered around Ubud, Mas famous for woodcarving, Celuk for filigree silver and gold, Tohpati for batik, Batubulan for stone sculptures of all sizes.
Bali Natural World, Top Things to Do
- Join a pre-dawn trek to Mount Batur, in time for a spectacular sunrise over the island, or tackle Mount Agung, Bali’s highest peak rising to 3142 metres above Besakih, the ‘mother of all temples.’ Expect a demanding but rewarding climb, best over two days.
- Picnic in the lovely setting of the Gitgit waterfalls and enjoy a refreshing dip, the lower level is crowded at times but the two upper falls are quieter.
- Ride an elephant in the Taro safari park or visit the Bird Park to see 1000 birds from Indonesia and beyond, including birds of paradise and Bali starlings, one of the world’s rarest species.
Copyright Solange Hando. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
Solange Hando - I am a travel writer, editor and photographer, contributing to a range of publications in the UK and worldwide.
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