Bali is such an amazing destination because it caters to every kind of traveller. Whether you’re a photographer, surfer, beach bum, or an adventurer, there’s plenty to do here. We had nine days to do everything we wanted, which left us with a pretty jam packed itinerary spread out over Northern Bali, Ubud, and Southern Bali. Here’s my top thirteen recommended attractions and activities in Bali. The key to enjoying most of the things mentioned below was missing sleep and sometimes breakfast to beat the crowds.
1. Ubud Monkey Forest
The Sacred Monkey Forest was the only spot we visited twice because we enjoyed it so much. It was also really cheap to do this because the entrance fee is just IDR 80,000 per adult. The earlier you go the better because the monkeys are out and about more, and a lot more interested in interacting with visitors. While touching the monkeys is generally discouraged by forest workers, there are some monkeys which are really friendly and just want to hold your hand or climb on you for a bit. Allow this at your own risk though as some of the monkeys are pretty aggressive, especially if you’re carrying a bag.
Monkeys in the forest hang out in small groups. Be extra cautious when approaching a baby monkey because the mamas are (understandably) aggressive.
2. Ubud Market
While this is a great place to find souvenir and do some local shopping, you need serious bargaining skills. The vendors are aware that foreigners have very little concept of how much local goods should cost and can overcharge you by 600% if you don’t know what you’re doing. There are also many similar markets in and around Ubud that offer better prices for goods because they’re not as touristy.
3. Ulun Danu Temple
This is one of the most sacred temples for the Hindu people of Bali. The grounds of the temple are beautiful, but it’s the serene mountains and lake which provide a backdrop for the temple, that Ulun Danu is known for. If you come during special events, the temple allows visitors to join and witness traditional Hindu ceremonies performed by the religious leaders in the temple. Entrance costs IDR 50,000 for adults.
Early morning is the best time to visit if you want to enjoy the misty lake, as well as beat the crowds.
4. Aling Aling Waterfall
You can usually visit these falls as part of a larger tour. I highly recommend doing this trip with a guide for safety and a much more enjoyable experience. We did the tour through With Locals and loved it. Our guide took us through a local house, neighbouring rice fields, and through the jungle, before finally bringing us to the falls. He gave us safety tips before guiding us through the 5m, 10m, and 15m cliff jumps and the waterfall slide.
5. Bali Quad Biking Tour
The experience may differ between tour providers but it is best if you do it as part of a small group and earlier in the day. We were also able to hit the ATV course pretty hard without being slowed down by families with children. I didn’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I did but the course was pretty challenging, insanely muddy, and a lot of fun.
6. Campuhan Ridge Walk
While the ridge walk was one of our slower paced activities, it balanced out one of our more busy days in Ubud. It was a free and easy trail with beautiful views of the different villas which border the ridge walk. There are many cafes at which you can enjoy a snack or lunch (Karsa Cafe being the most famous) during your walk. Drone tip: Be careful while flying here as there’s a lot of signal interference. Ours crashed because there was another DJI in the air and retrieval was pretty dangerous due to the drop offs on either side of the trail.
It’s not just the path itself but the area around Campuhan Ridge Walk which is also beautiful.
7. Buyan Lake
This was one of the many commercialized photo experiences in Ubud. The swing, with Buyan Lake and the surrounding mountains in the background, made for an amazing picture though. There are many similar spots as you continue along the road by the lake, but some are pricier than others so it’s best to ask around.
8. Tegalalang Rice Fields
I felt that the rice fields were one of those things that you had to do when when in Bali but might not necessarily enjoy. I ended up really enjoying walking through the fields and enjoying their sheer beauty. The rice terraces are widely spread out so it is possible to avoid crowds during busier periods. It would just take more effort as you’d have to go further into the terraces and spend more money (IDR 10-20,000) at each checkpoint to do so. We got there early enough to not have to worry about crowding and were able to take some great pictures.
The most enjoyable part of the terraces are the swings which cost IDR 100,000 each. Not only do you get some really beautiful pictures, but you can also request the people working there to swing you as hard as possible. Which they will.
9. Pura Tirta Empul
The temple grounds themselves were pretty beautiful, but of course the crowds were drawn by the purification fountains. Though I wasn’t interested in submerging and doing the purification ritual, it was interesting to watch. Entrance is IDR 50,000 and its a must for temple goers to wear the provided sarongs. There’s also a really great market right outside the temple with much more reasonable prices in comparison to the markets in central Ubud.
My favorite spot at the temple was the pool filled with fish just past the fountains. You can purchase fish food for IDR 5,000 and spend some time feeding the cuties.
10. Tukad Cepung Waterfall
This is probably the most famous waterfall in Bali because of the sun rays that light up the falls around midday. The location draws such an insane crowd that even amongst all the other busy tourist spots I visited, this was the worst. Despite having a less than ideal experience here, the beautiful falls are worth visiting if you can beat the crowds.
Be sure to also check out the surrounding area and the two other falls located nearby.
11. Handara Gates
The Handara Gates actually belong to a golf resort which has turned them into a tourist attraction by charging people IDR 50,000 to take pictures there. It served as an alternative to Heaven’s Gate Temple since it was closer and much more practical than the three hour wait we’d heard about. The gates themselves were really beautiful and if you just want a shot in front of some beautiful gates, it does the job. Pro tip: Come before 9:00am because that’s when the tour buses arrive and ruin the chances of you getting a solo picture. Drone tip: It’s an additional IDR 100,000 to fly a drone here.
12. Leke Leke Falls
Go to Leke Leke if you want to enjoy a short hike and some wispy falls. I’m sure it’ll get busy in a few months but currently it remains unknown and out of the way enough that you can enjoy a fully secluded waterfall experience if you time it right.
13. Mount Batur Sunrise Tour
Though climbing a volcano for sunrise wasn’t easy, the view and experience were definitely worth the loss of sleep. The climb itself is moderately difficult due to visibility and sandy terrain but doable. It’s a good idea to bring layers because the climb at dawn is chilly, with the summit itself being windy and cold. The sunrise is absolutely beautiful! For more detailed information about this tour, including how it can be used to bridge your trip from Ubud to Sanur, read this post.
Near the peak you can glimpse many steam trails that locals use to boil foods such as the eggs you’ll have for breakfast!
If you time it right and beat the crowds down the mountain, you can have the whole view to yourself. If you’re lucky you’ll also get to meet some locals as they start their day.
14. Kuta Beach
Kuta beach is an exception to the usual crowded and dirty beaches you can expect in destination countries. It was still a busy beach because of its location and beautiful water but the length of the beach allows people to spread out. The locals put a lot of effort into keeping the beach clean too. The beach is perfect for first time surfers, with great waves and cheap surfboard rentals available.
15. Seawalker Tour (Sanur)
I was skeptical about this tour because reviews for it varied on the internet. We were lucky enough to go on a day with low tide, good current, and clear weather. The tour guides did a good job getting us up to speed about the equipment and safety tips for when we’d be under water. We got to see some great coral and fish, and though the tour felt pretty short, I loved it. Since I can’t swim, this was an easy way for me to enjoy being underwater with marine life without worrying. Check out the suiting up process below, including the awkward moment when my ponytail got trapped between the shoulder support and helmet.
16. Uluwatu Temple
I went to Uluwatu to watch the sunset Kecak & Fire Dance that takes place here every night in the summer. The dance alone was worth the visit for me but I’m glad that it brought me to this temple in particular. There is something to be said for the grandeur of Uluwatu Temple which is located at the edge of a cliff in Southern Bali. The waves crashing far below the temple and the amazing sunset were sights worth seeing.
17. Kecak & Fire Dance
Though Kecak dances are performed all over central Ubud, we decided to go south and enjoy the sunset dance that happens daily at Uluwatu Temple. This also gave us a chance to check out Uluwatu, which wouldn’t have been worth the trip alone for me. The temple grounds were beautiful but a little hard to enjoy in the evening crowds. We didn’t mind though because we’d come mainly to watch the performance. The dance starts right at sunset and is performed by about thirty men who use nothing but vocalizations and chanting to create music. The dance is performed mainly for entertainment purposes but that doesn’t really take away from the performance. If you come on a day that a ceremonial dance is being performed though, you might be lucky enough to watch a much more intense performance that even the local Balinese people vie to attend.
If we came back, we’d go to the dances in Ubud in which the fire dance plays a larger role. In these performances, the dance with fire is longer and supposedly more dangerous..
When I was in high school, I was told that my generation would be the generation that pursues multiple career paths and does at least three different jobs throughout their lifetime. I’d initially laughed at that thought but ten years later, here I am as a full time teacher, part time traveller, and constant animal rescuer. Also, they failed to tell me that two out of the three jobs wouldn’t even pay me.
