Bali Travel Guide – Part II

Now that you’ve figured out where to stay, eat and shop (see my Bali Travel Guide – Part I), you’ll want to start planning what you’ll do! Bali genuinely has so much to offer – here are some ideas!

Temple Visits

Bali has a number of great temples (10,000 across the island!). Many of the temples are close to the Ubud area although others are further afield (including Uluwatu and Lempuyang).

Uluwatu temple is one of the best, with scenic cliff views and an amazing fire and dance show on offer. This is definitely a must when in Bali.

If you have time, Lempuyang temple and the wider complex is worth a visit. We travelled from Ubud which was a really long journey so I’d recommend visiting only if you’re staying closer to the temple. We didn’t have time to visit the wider complex because of our tight day trip schedule. One thing to note is that Lempuyang is very popular with tourists and there are long queues to get that classic photo!

If you’re visiting Lempuyang, you should definitely also check out the nearby Tirta Gangga which is a beautiful garden with intricate water features.

Goa Gojah Elephant Cave is also worth a visit and a lot easier to get to from Ubud. Dating back from the 9^th century, there are lots of intricate carvings to see at this temple.

Tirta Empul Temple is a Hindu temple, famous for its bathing area for ritual purification.

Others include Tanah Lot, Ulun Danu Beratan and Besakih although I sadly didn’t have enough time to visit these.

Trekking

Bali is very popular for its sunrise volcano hikes (Gunung Batur and Gunung Agung for more experienced and fitter travellers). Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to do this but it looks amazing.

Paddie fields

Bali is famous for its lush rice paddie fields. Visiting these is a great way to learn about the local way of life as well as take some stunning photos. Tegallalang is one of the Ubud region’s 3 villages, famous for their terraced landscapes. You can also try the ‘bali swing’ here which is really fun! For more adventure activities, check out the Bali Swing themepark.

Waterfalls

There are many waterfalls in Bali and the further afield you go, the better the experience will be (i.e. unspoilt nature + fewer tourists). I visited the Tegenungan Waterfall which was nice but very crowded. Fine to visit if you’re in the Ubud region but I wouldn’t recommend travelling here from afar.

Yoga in Ubud

Ubud is home to one of Southeast Asia’s foremost yoga communities, with many devotees travelling to Bali for retreats and training. Many yoga schools cluster in the area so definitely worth trying out, even if you’re a beginner. I did a complementary yoga class at my hotel, the Ubud Village Hotel (highly recommend!).

Adventure activities

If you’re into water sports, Bali is a great place for diving, snorkelling and surfing. If you’re a beginner, you can take lessons as well. There are also opportunities to go white-water rafting on the Grade II–III rapids of the Ayung River, or go kayaking down the calmer estuaries.

If all the above activities leave you wanting some relaxation, there are of course many beaches (and beach clubs – see my ‘Bali Travel Guide – Part I’ post) where you can relax and take in some sun!

I hope the above was helpful. Please do leave a comment below and let me know what your favourite Bali spots are!