Bali is one of the most popular travel destinations. It’s warm, beautiful, large rice plantations, high waterfalls in the jungle, a lot of exotics and a developed culture of surfing and yoga, and even low prices. Yes, you can fly to the island right now. With transplants, but without quarantine.
We will tell you about life, food, money, entertainment in Bali and give some tips for tourists.
Bali Attractions
Historians say that the first people in Bali appeared as early as 2500 BC. This is evidenced by the traces of an ancient Indo-Buddhist state that was here in the X-XII centuries. The history of Bali is closely intertwined with the influence of the island of Java. Only in the XV century Bali gained independence, then came the golden age of the development of local culture, art and architecture.
Now architectural monuments that are connected with religion are carefully honored on the island. That is why there are so many holy places and architectural monuments that were built in the Middle Ages. You can start exploring Bali from Denpasar, the largest city on the island.
Monkey Forest in Ubud
This is the forest from which they made a park for walking and meeting monkeys. Located in Ubud, in the central part of the island. There are a lot of monkeys here, mostly macaques. They are funny — they take baths, jump on tree branches, are not afraid of visitors at all and walk freely among people. But you have to be careful. The monkey can steal any object he can reach, and then he will gnaw it or beg for food in return.
Do not forget that monkeys are wild and can bite. This will not happen if you follow safety measures: do not carry food with you, keep an eye on things, do not look monkeys in the eyes and do not touch them if they jumped on you.
Admission costs 52,000 rupees.
Tegallalanga Rice Terraces
Rice cultivation is one of the main agricultural activities on the island. Rice terraces are everywhere here, and some are so picturesque that over time they began to attract tourists. The most photogenic option is Tegallalang. Here you can walk, look at the working peasants, at the beautiful nature and take a couple of photos in the equipped photo zones. Next to Tegallalang is the Terrace River Pool Swing Park with huge extreme swings on the background of palm trees. There are six “bird’s nest” swings, and there are also paired, extreme (at an altitude of 45 m) and super extreme (at an altitude of 60 m).
The place is open from 9:00 to 18:00.
Uluwatu Temple
This is a temple on the cliff of a high cliff. Inside it is not very interesting, just a small beautiful structure. Tourists come here for spectacular scenery: from the temple you can see the ocean raging below, and at sunset the sun sets directly into the water. There are many places around for spectacular photos.
It is better to come here after five in the evening — there are not so many tourists anymore, the sun is not scorching and it is not far before sunset. By the way, at six in the evening, a theatrical performance with folk songs and dances takes place in the temple. Admission to the performance costs 150 thousand rupees. They are not allowed to enter the temple in short shorts, so it is better for men to wear pants, and women should have a long skirt and a scarf on their head. If you are not dressed according to the rules, contact the cashier — you can rent clothes there.
Pura Lempuyang Temples
It is a complex of seven temples at an altitude of 1058 meters. To climb to the top, you need to pass 1500 steps. On the upper platform of the temple there is a Chandi Bentar gate split into two equal parts. Here you get beautiful photos, but you will have to stand in line for them. A raincoat in these places will not be superfluous, the weather can change very quickly.
Pura Lempuyang is considered a good place for prayer and meditation, supposedly the gods look at such holy places more often and it is easier to communicate with them. But it’s not so easy to find a quiet place here, there are a lot of tourists in the temple. To meditate in silence, you need to move away.
Entrance to the temple is free, there is paid Parking nearby.
Jatiluvih
These are the largest rice terraces in Bali, which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Around there are tall trees with vines and a view of Mount Batukaru. There are several routes for excursions, although you can walk without a guide. Keep in mind that the walk will take a couple of hours, and after ten in the morning the sun is already starting to get hot.
The entrance fee is 44,230 rupees.
Temples of Pura Besakih
This is the largest complex in Bali, it consists of 22 separate temples. Not everywhere you can go inside, some buildings belong to families and clans, so they are closed to the public.
The territory is very large, it has a lot of greenery and ancient buildings. There is a place to walk and something to see. The higher you climb, the more beautiful the views around you. Monks are sitting in the courtyard of the main temple, it is impossible to go to their premises, but sometimes for money they can agree to take your phone and take a picture of something that is inaccessible to the eyes of a tourist.
They like to celebrate holidays in the temple. They are especially important for local believers. In March or April, the Bhatara Turun Kabeh festival lasts for 10 days. Every day in the temple they sing, dance, listen to the orchestra, arrange theatrical performances and ceremonies. About 70 festivals take place in the temple every year, so before visiting, find out what the nearest Balinese religious holiday will be.
Tickets are sold right next to the parking lot. The price includes a transfer from the parking lot to the temple and a guided tour.
The ticket price is 60,000 rupees.
Pura Ulun Danu
This temple complex is called the heart of Bali. Photos of Pura Oolong Danu are printed on souvenirs, and stories from here are shown in travel programs.
Temples stand on the mountain lake Bratan. The water level is high — it splashes at the feet of tourists, and there are mountains around the lake. The territory of the park is well-groomed, there are many sculptures, greenery and flowers. It’s cool here and it rains often, so take raincoats and warm clothes with you.
The temple is considered the main sacred place on the water in Bali. Therefore, it is especially good to pray and meditate here. Lake Bratan, on which the temple is located, is considered sacred. Therefore, tourists and even locals come here to plunge into the waters of the lake at least once a year. According to one of the legends, it will bring health and longevity.
Along the way, you can stop at the Bali Strawberry Panoramic Terrace, admire the beautiful landscape and drink coffee from a roadside cafe with a view of the rice terraces.
The entrance fee is 51,602 rupees.
Bali Bird Park
A small zoo in Gyaniara, where exotic birds live — from pelicans to cockatoos. They are tame, not dangerous at all and freely come into contact. The birds are fed several times an hour, the staff invites visitors to participate in this.
In addition to birds, turtles of various species and iguanas freely walk in the park. They are also not afraid of people, they let themselves be petted. Komodo lizards are sitting in separate spacious aviaries, they cannot be released, they are dangerous. The whole territory and animals are very well-groomed, it’s nice to be in the park, and children have a lot of impressions from communicating with unusual birds.
The ticket costs 505,000 rupees.
Kanto Lampo Waterfall
The waterfall is located in Guignard county, in the southeast of the island. Its height is 30 m (like a 12-storey building). The ticket offices are located next to the parking lot, which, by the way, is free. The entrance to the waterfalls costs 20,000 rupees.
A steep descent leads from the parking lot to the waterfalls, which is difficult to overcome if you are with children. There are always a lot of people here. The most beautiful photos are obtained if you go into the water and shoot a little from below, so do not forget a swimsuit and comfortable slippers.
Tibumana Waterfall
This waterfall is even higher — about 35 m. Entrance to the territory costs 15,000 rupees, per person. Paved paths lead to the waterfall through well-kept gardens.
Cool and clear water falls into a small lagoon where you can swim. There is soft sand at the bottom, and there is a lot of greenery and moss around. The sight is very beautiful. However, you need to come early in the morning or by sunset, then there will be fewer people. A small river flows to the right of the waterfall, making its way through the stones. Here you can find whole pyramids of stones that tourists like to build.
When to go to Bali
It’s not always summer in Bali — the rainy season starts from November to March. At this time there are heavy downpours, and due to strong currents, the water in the sea is cold, about +21-23 ° C. There is a lot of garbage on the southern beaches due to the tides.
The dry season begins in April — there is almost no rain, it is hot, the beaches are clean, and the sea is warm. The most pleasant weather is from March to June and from September to November. Summer is hot here, even stuffy due to high humidity. You can only go outside early in the morning and after sunset, the rest of the time you will only have the strength to lie under the air conditioner.
The average daily air temperature in Bali does not fall below 26-30 ° C, the water temperature in the ocean is not lower than 26 ° C.
The rainiest month in Bali is January, with many cloudy days. It’s warm outside, but not hot, at this time it’s good to go to beautiful places.
The best beaches in Bali
It is not so easy to find a good coast to relax on in Bali. Soft sand on the bottom, developed infrastructure and a gentle descent into the water will not always be waiting for you. Here is a list of beaches with a good bottom, without currents and places with developed infrastructure:
- Sanur Beach in Sanur — there are no big waves, the shallow water stretches far, there are sun loungers and umbrellas for rent, there are several cafes and shops nearby.
- Dreamland Beach is a beautiful azure water, there are a lot of greenery and limestone rocks around, there are no strong waves and currents, the infrastructure is not developed.
- Balangan Beach is a classic paradise beach right here: coconut palms, white sand, azure water. There are waves, but not strong, it will be comfortable with children. At low tide, a reddish-colored rock opens under the sand, which is why the beach is called Martian.
- Kuta Beach — the beaches of Kuta are nice and comfortable. There is a large coastline and sand, but there are waves, children need to be carefully monitored. The infrastructure is developed, there are cafes, sun loungers and umbrellas.
- White Sand is a beach on the eastern side of the island, with white sand, small waves and long shoals. There are several cafes for vacationers, there is a rental of umbrellas and sun loungers.
- Jemeluk Bay is a beach in the east of the island: small waves, a beautiful underwater world with lots of corals, developed infrastructure, the bottom is sandy and rocky, it is possible with children, but you need to be careful because of the waves.
- Lovina is a beautiful beach with brown volcanic sand in the north of Bali. There are a lot of corals on the bottom, in which fish and other marine life hide. Dolphins often come to the beach. Lovina is popular with snorkeling and fishing enthusiasts. You can fish from the shore or from a boat that is rented here. The waves are small, the bottom is flat.
How to move around the city
Everyone rides bikes in Bali. They are easy and inexpensive to rent here, the choice is large, gasoline prices are low.
There are many people on the island who drive without a license, but sometimes the police arrange raids on the roads. If you do not have a driver’s license, you will have to pay a large fine.
Some rights to Bali are not quoted, so you need to get to the police station of the Politabes in Denpasar, provide a copy of the first page of the passport, as well as the visa page. In addition, you need to specify the address of residence on the island (check it with the landlord in advance). Even if you don’t have a license, you can get them without taking exams and driving. Don’t be surprised, this is normal in Indonesia.
There are taxis and even bike taxis on the islands. But the traffic on the roads is chaotic, so the car will have to wait a very long time, and then drive for a long time in the heat and traffic jams. It’s the same story with bike taxis. Balinese are not very punctual, and you can wait for the driver for hours. This situation is very restrictive in movement, so it is better to hire an instructor who will teach you the basics of riding a bike, make a license and move around the island on your own.
It is not necessary to buy a helmet separately, it can be rented together with a bike.
Where to stay in Bali
There are a lot of good housing here. Therefore, it is better to choose a suitable area for your needs first — this is important, because it depends on the goals of your stay. I will tell you about interesting and popular places.
The southernmost district is Bukit. It’s hot there, there are many beautiful beaches (paid Nusa Dua, Kedonganan, Kelan), beautiful but expensive hotels (Kempinski Bali, for example) and many beautiful cafes (Bengkel Roti bakery, vegetarian Secret Spot, European institution Jiwa Juice and Chinese Warung De Dusun). There are many places for advanced surfing and few people.
The tourist area with cool locations is Kuta. There are many clubs, bars, hangouts, shops with local fruits, inexpensive hotels (Amnaya Resort Kuta, Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport, Aryaduta Bali) and cafes. Here you can learn to surf — there are many surf schools, instructors, small waves and sandy bottom on the beaches.
Changu is an area for experienced surfers. There are many beaches, but the waves on them are stronger, there are undercurrents. In the company of surfers, you need to observe surf etiquette, that is, do not cut, swim out on the line-up as far as possible from others, give in to the locals and not take all the waves for yourself. Other surfing rules can be learned from other experienced specialists or read on sites. It is inconvenient to swim on local beaches, it is better to go to other areas for this.
There are many beautiful cafes with different cuisines, parties and events of interest (coworking, retreats, yoga and any other hobbies). And for some reason, it is in Changu that the most beautiful sunsets in all of Bali are.
It is cooler in Ubud and a little more rain. Suitable for those who are tired of the heat. This area is the center of yoga, retreats, mantra chanting classes, various practices, ceremonies, esotericism and the like. There are many vegetarian, vegan cafes, there are establishments for raw foodists. What kind of neighborhood, people are like that, so if you want to get into a spiritual environment, you are here.
The Sanur district is a calm, measured rest, suitable for those who came with children. There are many tourist restaurants with European cuisine familiar to us (Warung Kecil — breakfasts and desserts, The Village Cucina Italiana — pizza, Arena Pub — goulash, Caesar and German beer with snacks). There are many budget hotels, villas and guesthouses in this area.
That’s how beautiful sunsets are admired on the beaches of Changu, it’s always noisy here, music and a lot of people.
Bali has a large selection of housing — large expensive villas, budget small apartments with European renovation, cheap hostels with the simplest conditions, guesthouses (small private hotels or houses) or apartments with all conditions and a beautiful view. Prices are low, and a good one-room apartment with Internet, air conditioning and a refrigerator (i.e. everything you need) in Ubud can be rented cheap.
You can book a hotel for a couple of nights and look for accommodation from local residents — they are standing right on the street with Room for Rent signs. So it will be possible to find a good option without overpayments for services and immediately watch it live. By the way, always contact the landlords to clarify the conditions regarding the Internet, air conditioning and refrigerator. The ads can often contain unreliable or old information, so it’s better to be safe and clarify everything in advance, because without the Internet, a refrigerator and an air conditioner (in extreme cases, a fan) in Bali is really difficult.