Top 4 Unmissable Bali Tours
No matter how much traveling you have done in your lifetime, every different country represents a whole new set of challenges. Different languages, different customs, different regulations, different ways of getting around … if you can find anything that is similar to your home town, you probably haven’t gone far enough! While Bali is a popular tourist destination, the unfamiliarity is always striking for newcomers. If this is your first Bali holidays, the best way to get to see the island is to join a guided tour. We look at some of the best Bali guided tours, for either first-time visitors or Indonesian experts!
Why tour?
Jumping on a Bali guided tour, for at least part of your vacation, will open your eyes up to a whole new part of the country that you simply may not have been aware existed, by yourself. There are also plenty of other great reasons to join a tour, rather than trying to arrange your transport and activities on your own:
- In Bali, the local economy makes tours (as well as food, accommodation, and just about everything!) incredibly cheap for Westerners earning in AUD, USD or Euros. A full day guided tour can cost as little as $45 including lunch.
- Language difficulties will bother you less when you have a guide to act as translator
- You’ll be warned about potentially thorny social customs before they become an issue.
- You’ll have access to places that you didn’t even know existed!
Best Bali Tours
There are dozens of different tours that you can tag along with in Bali. Here are a few of our favourites, incorporating the big tourist areas as well as local secrets, and run by truly charming local people.
- Barong and Kintimani volcano tours: Bali has some beautiful, active volcanoes, but that’s not all you get to see on this half-day tour. The 11th century Elephant cave is on the itinerary, as is the woodcarving village of Mas, Mount Batur and the village of Trunyan, where traditional Balinese remain largely uninfluenced by Western culture.
- Karangasem Ancient Kingdom tour: The Klungkung Royal Court of Justice, the Bat Cave (Goa Lawah) and the east coast town of Amla Pura are all on the itinerary for this tour, which costs only $50 for both adults and children.
- Tanah Lot Tour: You get to spend a fair bit of time in the famous Monkey Forest on this tour. It is best to have a guide here to protect you from the cheeky spectacle and camera-stealing monkeys! Tanah Lot also feature – the name means ‘Land in the Middle of the Sea’ in Balinese, and is a temple atop an enormous offshore rock.
- Happy Bike Cycling Tour: The tour doesn’t disappoint, given the expectations that the name sets up! Many people say this tour was ‘the best thing they did’ in Bali. You’ll visit agricultural properties, a traditional Balinese home and home cooking, the way that Balinese people eat.
There are many, many tours in Bali. You can get bus tours, private car charter tours, bike tours, tours focused on temples and history, or on food and modern culture. A true eye opener, and the only way to make a first visit to Bali worthwhile.
The 12 Best Bali Hotels For The Ultimate Indulgence
The economy in Bali has the same amazing low prices as Thailand. In a country where it is possible to live on less than ten dollars a week, it is understandable that accommodation in Bali is incredibly low-priced. You can get an ultra-luxury hotel in Bali for the same price as a budget to mid-range hotel in Australia, and at the same price as a backpacker hostel in New York or London! If you are interested in seeing the best that Bali has to offer, check out one of these luxurious hotels.
1. Amandari
Amandari is located in the village of Kedetewan, around five minutes from Ubud. The complex consists of thatch-rooved individual villas with private gardens, and appointed with paras volcanic stone and Balinese marble. This hotel in Bali is a Conde Nast award winner as well as a Travel and Leisure award winner.
Top 6 Bali Spiritual Tours To Warm Your Soul
The culture of Bali is in sharp contrast to what we are used to in the West. A large percentage of the population still dependent on farming for their living, people live on less money per day than what we would spend on petrol to get to work, and above all, most of the population is deeply spiritual as well as superstitious. If you want to feel that you’ve reconnected with your simpler side, a Bali vacation is the perfect way to do so. Today we look at some of the spiritual travel options in this tiny Indonesian island.
Temples in Bali
Bali, like many South East Asian countries, holds much of its art, culture and architecture in the temples of the region. Locals have believed for many years that the deities of the local area had a direct influence on the success of their lives, which is why there is such emphasis on inward-looking, on spirituality and on reverence. There are some truly beautiful temples to be accessed only minutes from a range of Bali hotels, including:
- Pura Besakih: This incorporates pre-Hindu beliefs into the temple complex, which consists of five compounds as well as the main temple. There are plenty of day-long Bali tours to Pura Besakih
- Taman Ayun Temple: This temple is around 18 km south of Denpasar, and is much quieter than the other famous and easily accessed temples. It is surrounded by a wide moat and beautifully kept gardens; visitors cannot enter the temple, but you can watch ceremonies being conducted inside.
- Temple of the Meeting of the Three: Intriguing name for an intriguing temple! This particular building has only been there since 1917, but there has always been a temple on this site for over a thousand years.
- Uluwatu temple: There is some controversy about whether the monkeys at Uluwatu temple are tamed or trained to be naughty. But the temple itself is a must-see for a Bali vacation.
- Yeh Pulu Temple: This is said to be a very quiet temple, although visitors are often ‘required’ to give an offering to the temple gods.
Spiritual Festivals
Much as we in the Western world take time off our usual work to be with our friends and family, people in Bali often take time out of their day to honour locally recognized gods and deities. These events are a great way to get insight into the minds and motivations of the Balinese people … simply a very special thing to be around! You can check out most of the temples at any time of year, so if you want to up the ‘heart factor’ of your trip, take your Bali vacation around the dates of the following spiritual festivals:
- January 2 Tumpek Kandang – Special day of thanks for the gift of livestock
- February 06 Tumpek Wayang – Special day of thanks for the gift of Art
- February 26 Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday – Moslem Holiday
- February 27 Saraswati – Special day of thanks for the gift of Knowledge
- March 03 Pagerwesi – Special day for meditation to enhance balance in the world
- March 13 Tumpek Landep – Special day of thanks for the gift of metal
- March 15 Tawur Agung Kesanga – Held to welcome Nyepi holiday at every family compound; followed by procession of Ogoh-Ogoh (huge monster / evil dolls)
- March 16 Nyepi – Balinese New Year; The I Saka New Year 1932, the day of absolute silence for Hindu followers
- April 17 Tumpek Uduh or Tumpek Pengatag – Special day of thanks for the gift of fruit-bearing plants
- May 22 Kuningan – Believed to be the ascendant day of ancestral holy spirits and deities, back to the eternity
- May 28 Vaishakha 2554 – Buddhist holiday to celebrate the birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism
- July 31 Tumpek Kandang – Special day of thanks for the gift of livestock
- September 29 Pagerwesi – Special day for meditation to enhance balance in the world
- October 09 Tumpek Landep – Special day of thanks for the gift of metal
- December 07 1 Muharram 1432 H – Moslem New Year
- December 08 Galungan – Praying for the victory of virtue (Dharma) upon evil (Adharma)
- December 18 Kuningan – Believed to be the ascendant day of ancestral holy spirits and deities, back to the eternity
Ancient Spiritual Sites
Bali is beautiful and quiet … unless you are in Denpasar or the other urban areas, there is usually nothing to hear but the wind in the leaves, the faint chattering of monkeys and the call of the ocean! Perfect for meditation and some private yoga sessions. Check out spiritual sites perfect for these practices on your Bali vacation, like the West Bali National Park and Bali Barat National Park.
Bali Island Holidays – An Untouched Tropical Paradise
If you want a holiday in a place where the modern world has reached, but not tainted, Bali is one of the last options open to you in the world! Bali does a thriving trade in tourism, but mostly the island is an untouched wilderness, where locals still speak their own language, and if you’ve chosen a more secluded villa in Bali, all you’ll be able to hear after the sun goes down is the chirping of crickets and croaking of frogs. Today we look at the awesome options for private accommodation in Bali, quiet attractions and beaches in Bali for those who would truly like to get away from the rest of the world.
Private retreats in Bali
Bali is full of beautiful, private, isolated, and tranquil accommodation. In fact, after visiting some of the places that are considered ‘quiet’ and ‘out of the way’ in Bali, you might re-think your need for the company of random strangers! You’ll be looking mostly for villas in Bali, if you want a private Bali holiday. Previous tourists in Bali on TripAdvisor have recommended these Bali hotels for privacy and seclusion:
- The Laguna Resort and Spa in Nusa Dua
- The Chedi Club at Tanah Gajah in Ubud
- Spa Village Resort Tembok Bali
- Komaneka at Monkey Forest in Ubud
- Kupu Kupu Barong Villas & Tree Spa in Ubud
These Bali villas are much more than little hotel rooms, this is reflected in the price. However, your credit card will soon forgive you when you are sitting on a quiet verandah in the mountains, or sipping cocktails on the pristine beaches!
Private attractions in Bali
Between the serene accommodation in Bali, and the many private attractions, it would be entirely possible to have a vacation without encountering more than ten people you’d never met before! Checking out Bali’s secluded beaches is an obvious must-do; we’ll explore the best private beach options in a moment. If you want to do more than just laze around or enjoy the water, why not check out:
- Uluwatu Half Day tour: You’ll get to check out 100 metre rocky drops to the ocean, the Kayangan Jagat temple, and the place where holy man Dang Hyang Nirartha came to his enlightenment.
- Besakih Mother Temple Tour: This full day tour takes you to the Old Court of Justice at KlungKung and Goa Lawah, the Bat Holy Cave, as well as spending plenty of time exploring Pura Besakih, the largest temple of the island and consisting of five temple compounds around the main structure.
- BikeBaik Tours: Bike tours are very popular across Bali – this one takes you into the countryside where you can check out how Bali’s rice farmers and rural craftsmen actually live – fascinating!
- West Bali National Park: This beautiful national park stretches across 65,000 acres, Trekking, birdwatching and diving in the adjacent ocean are all popular with tourists. You can see giant water monitors, kutjak deer, jungle fowl, violet crabs, macaques as well as ebony langurs.
Bali’s private beaches
If you are mostly going to Bali for the beaches, book your beach hotel in Bali through the dry season, which runs from April to October. While most tourists avoid the wet season in Bali, you can actually save quite a bit of money by going in this period of lower demand. Plan your days to avoid the downpours in the afternoons, and you’ll mostly have the beaches to yourself and a beautiful, less expensive holiday besides! Here are some of the quietest (and best!) beaches in Bali:
- Mengiet Beach in Nusa Dua: This runs from the Hyatt hotel to Geger Temple, and has gorgeous white sand and blue water as well as few vendors. You can rent chairs from 20 rupiah per day.
- Jimbaran beach: This is easiest to reach if you are staying in one of the adjacent Bali hotels – but even if you aren’t, it is worth coming down to get some of the better waves in Bali.
- Sanur area beaches: The beaches here have less of a tourist-y feeling, and much more of a local flavour. This was the first developed resort area in Bali, but can be nice in times of few tourists.
- Balangan: This beach has almost a Hawaiian feeling, and there are plenty if secluded corners. Access can be difficult … which bodes well for you, if you’d rather enjoy the place by yourself!
Bali Weddings – Dreamy Ways To Say “I Do”
When it comes to destination weddings, there are few places in the world that can compare with the tropical wonderland that is Bali.
After all, you can’t open a Bridal magazine without seeing Bali listed as among the Top 10 destination wedding locations.
And rightly so. Not only is Bali’s scenery and surroundings picture postcard perfect in the eyes of most couples, it’s warm, sultry weather, friendly locals and exquisite accommodation breathe romance into even the most travel-weary tourists.
Bali Travel Tips And Tricks For Tourists
Browse through any of the well known travel magazines and you’re sure to find Bali, Indonesia, listed among the top 10 travel destinations in the world.
With its exotic blend of ancient culture, majestic scenery, the world’s finest hotels and the warmth of the tropical oceans surrounding the island paradise, it’s hardly surprising.
Bali is located in the Indonesian archipelago only eight degrees south of the Equator. The island measures 90 kilometres (55 miles) from north to south and 140 kilometres (90 miles) from east to west, making it easy to go out for an excursion anywhere in Bali and return to your hotel by nightfall.
Bali Surfing Tours – Snag A Wave
Bali is an amazing island surfing location in the Indonesian archipelago of 18,700 islands just 8 degrees south of the equator.
Legend has it that Bali was first discovered as a great surfing destination in the late 1960s by Australian surfers, but whether or not this is true, Bali has since become one of the hottest spots on the world surfing itinerary by leagues of surfing enthusiasts.
These days Bali has a huge surf culture, so whether you’re a novice trying out your first beach breaks or an accomplished reef break rider, Bali offers some of the best surfing beaches anywhere in the world.
Bali Vacation Packages
World Honeymoons magazine recently voted Bali the “most memorable and romantic honeymoon destination in the world” and it’s hardly surprising.
With its warm, sandy beaches, friendly locals and idyllic scenery, a Bali honeymoon reads like something out of a fairytale. And if that isn’t enough for you, Bali offers its honeymooners everything from a cut-price honeymoon package to the ultimate in luxurious indulgence.
From the moment you arrive, your senses shift into overdrive with the heady aroma of spices, the neon-bright palette of tropical colours and the sight of hundreds of species of birds which inhabit this tiny island, located only eight degrees south of the Equator.
Bali presents its honeymooners with an intricate mix of ancient culture, tradition and spiritualism seamlessly interwoven with sleek 5-star luxury accommodation, chic restaurants and boutique shopping.
What To See When Staying In Nusa Dua Hotels
Whilst the mist-circled mountains, historic sites, religious ruins and shopping districts are all very good reasons to visit the shores of Bali, the beaches tend to be the real draw for many holidaymakers. When it is the beaches that visitors want, Nusa Dua hotels tend to win favour for very good reason.
Nusa Dua is in Bali’s southern region on the eastern side of the peninsula that bears the same name. This particular destination is one of the island’s most popular as it has grown up to include many resorts along its white-sand beaches. Visitors who centre their trips to Bali in Nusa Dua hotels will find this spot is a great home base for adventures on this part of the island. Some of the area’s top attractions include:
Tips For Planning A Trip To A Bali Hotel
Bali is a legendary destination for holidaymakers who wish to get away from it all in a paradise that is so picture perfect Hollywood has long adored it for on-location shoots. Planning a trip to this Indonesian destination, however, does demand careful attention to detail. Covering more than 5,000 square kilometers, this island is larger than it may appear in films.
So, what should holidaymakers keep in mind when they are planning a trip to a Bali hotel? These tips can help make a vacation to this tropical destination one that will never be forgotten:
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