Things to See and Do in Bali
March 11, 2010 - Posted in bali accommodation
1) Beach & Surf
Bali is well known for its pristine white beaches and secluded coves, the most famous beaches being in Nusa Dua where long stretches of soft white sand will soothe and comfort the soles of your feet. Many hotels have their own private stretch of beach with a Beach club or restaurant along. kuta and Uluwatu are areas in South Bali well known for their good surf which makes Bali one of the most popular surf destinations in the world.
2) Padi fields
The beautiful terraced green padi fields are another must see for a visitor to the island of Bali. Many tourists will automatically head to Ubud, about 45 minutes from Bali Airport to stay in a hotel and villa overlooking the padi fields. The best padi field scenery is at Jatih Luwih and Tegallalang which are not far from Ubud.
3) Galleries and Museums
Beautiful paintings can be found in Ubud, home of many of Bali’s well known and aspiring artists. The peaceful scenery and tranquility of the area must be an inspiration for the remarkably detailed paintings these artists create and whose works are displayed in the numerous art galleries and museums found in Ubud village. Some of the more well known galleries are The Agung Rai Museum of Art, Neka Museum, Antonio Blanco Renaissance Museum, Komaneka Gallery and Seniwati Gallery of Art by Women just to name a few.
4) Dance and Music
Dance and music plays a very important part of the life of a Balinese. Every ceremony and festival is almost always accompanied by traditional dance and the soothing sounds of the Gamelan. You will find many locations in and near Ubud where you can watch these dance performances. Dancers wear glittery and colourful costumes, executing to perfection elaborate hand movements and facial expressions to convey stories of the Ramanaya. You can watch the elegant Legong Dance at the Ubud Palace in central Ubud, or see other entertaining performances such as the Warrior Dance and Kecak Dance at other locations within the town. Wayang Kulit, or Shadow Play performances are also a common evening entertainment for the local Balinese and tourists alike.
5) Yoga and Spa Treamtents
There is a growing number of world class spa facilities and health resorts in Bali especially in the Ubud area. Using natural herbs and indigenous products, you will have a wide variety of spa treatments to choose from and enjoy. Spa treatments are ideal for relaxation and what every person who needs a break from this fast paced world of work, family and stress will surely appreciate. A variety of massages using traditional, Aryuvedic, Shiatsu and hot stones are on the menu for you to choose from. Traditional treatments such as Boreh and Lulur are common. Facials, foot massages, healthy meals and private spa facilities are also available at some hotels and salons. Holistic resorts offer yoga programs and have resident teachers who will guide you to peace of mind.
6) Festivals and Ceremonies
Religion plays a central role in the life of every Balinese family. The island has hundreds of temples, for which each and every one has a temple anniversary, known as Odalan. On this day, the villagers visit the temple for prayers and socializing. It can be considered a community event to bring the people together and promotes good feelings between villagers. With the Balinese Hindu religion comes many daily practices such as placing offerings such as trays of flowers called Canang Sari in temples, shrines and symbolic locations to ward off evil and please the Gods. Nyepi Day, which is the Balinese New Year is a day that is spent in silence in reflective prayer and meditation. The days before Nyepi however provide many opportunities for a tourist to witness ceremonies and rituals including the noisy and colourful Ogoh-Ogoh procession which happens one day before Nyepi, on Melasti Day. This procession is a colourful display of the creativity of the Balinese where towering papier mache ‘monsters’ are paraded through the town in noisy processions in efforts to chase away any evil.
Galungan is another major festival for the Balinese which at the end of 10 days is marked by Kuningan Day. This festival occurs every six months so you will have the opportunity to see it in another half year if you miss the first round. During this time you will see the Barong Dance procession which goes through the village performing in front of shops and houses as an act of purification. Cremations are another village affair where the entire family and friends of the deceased are involved. The body is carried from the home grounds through the village to the cremation site where it is place in a towering sarcophagus and burnt to the ground.
7) Sea Sports
Bali has some of the most colourful and interesting sea life you will ever see. Well known dive sites are located in Amed and Tulamben where there are ship wrecks, in Menjangan Island in the North West, and Pandang Bali and Lembongan Island in the East to name a few. Nusa Dua and sanur are ideal for snorkeling but there are many other areas as well.
Visit Active Volcanoes
Indonesia has hundreds of volcanoes and Bali has some of its own famous ones as well. Kintamani town is where you will see the 2800m high Mount Bali, a popular tourist destination in Bali. The volcano has a large caldera lake and it is possible to go on a sunrise hike to the top of Mount Batur if you can wake up early enough! Mount Agung, the location of Bali’s largest and most sacred temple, Puri Besakih, is Bali’s highest and most sacred mountain at 3142m high. Pura Besakih, the Mother Temple is where Bali’s most important ceremonies are held and worth visiting if you have the opportunity to go on an East Bali tour especially in April when the temple has its anniversary.
9) Land Adventure Activities
Apart from the southern tourist towns, Bali is an island still very much in its natural state compared to other tourist destinations. You will soon realise that there are many locations that provide the ideal terrain for exciting adventure activities. Bali is not only Kuta and Nusa Dua. Travel north and you will find out what the real Bali has to offer – culture, spectacular scenery and experiences that modern tourist towns with shopping malls are totally devoid of.
The rivers, mountains and jungles are all places where you can experience Bali away from the tourist crowds. White water rafting down the scenic Ayung or down the heart stopping Telaga River rapids is one of the more popular activities for tourists who come to Bali. A mountain bike ride from Kintamani down to Ubud through the padi fields and small villages with friendly locals is another leisurely activity for families and individuals alike. Bali is home to the Taro Elephant Park, complete with accommodation, activities and elephant fun for all ages. You can ride an elephant through the jungle, marvel at their intelligence and let them make you laugh when you visit the Taro Elephant safari park in Bali. Quad driving will take you through the jungles and rougher terrain. Canyon tubing where you sit in a floating tube and coast down a river through the jungle is another fun activity. A new attraction, the Bali Safari and Marine Park is a unique blend of wildlife conservation and culture. You will be able to see wildlife in their natural surroundings and learn about the ancient Balinese culture at this tourist attraction.
10) Shop till you drop
Finally what the first thing tourists tend to do on any trip and most certainly to Bali is to shop. You have Kuta Center, Galeria Nusa Dua, Matahari in Legian and Ubud Market where you will find bargains of all sorts. The Balinese are well known for their creative and artistic skills evident in the numerous arts and crafts found throughout the island. Many craft factories are found in Tegallalang and the surrounding area. Skilled silversmiths in the village of Celuk, sell their creations in eclectic shops in Ubud but you will be able to buy their jewelry at slightly better prices. Sukawati art market is where you will find many of the fabrics used in Balinese clothing as well as hand made crafts such as woven baskets at good prices. Crafts and statues are made from natural products found on Bali such as coconut wood, bamboo and volcanic sand stone. Masks and puppets make interesting gift items. You will also find many unique home decor items such as table runners, lamp shades and wall decorations to give your home a touch of Bali style when you return. Furniture items are often available at attractive prices compared to if you were to purchase them from outside of Bali.
So there you are, a list of many things you can do in Bali. Relax, get fit, have fun, gain new experiences and most of all, a memorable holiday. And if you count them up, you’ve got a lot more than 10 things to do there. This is by no means an exhaustive list but more than enough for a 3 to 7 day trip to this wonderful and magical island of the Gods.
Trias Bali Travel
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7 Responses to “Things to See and Do in Bali”
What are the must do, must eat and must visit things in Bali?
I will be going to Bali with my girlfriend in a few weeks time for 6 days.
What are the must do things in Bali?
What are the must eat food in Bali?
What are the must visit places in Bali?
We want to make the fullest of our trip, to experience the culture, to relax and to enjoy the time together.
Your information will be much appreciated.
By junnyo on Mar 11, 2010
I think must do are
Surf at Kuta Beach
Scuba or snorkel at Sanur
Rendang, originally a coconut flavoured curry with water buffalo meat now almost exclusively served with beef, delicious
Try some of the fish dishes and we got one of the hotel staff to buy and cut open a durian fruit for us. Strange and distinctive taste and smell.
Must visit
Ubud, the Palace there is worth a half day the market is fascinating and we also had a guided walk around paddy fields and a local village.
Gunung Agung highest peak in Bali and a grumbling volcano
Must enjoy the Balinese people and try not to get to annoyed with the hassle from street and beach vendors
References :
By donot.passgo on Mar 11, 2010
Must Do,
You must do the beach activity. Plenty you could tried down at Kuta, Nusa Dua ect.
Must eat,
Sea food at Jimbaran Beach cafe, accross street of Four Season Hotel. Its beutiful during sunset. You will have experience dine on the very beach. Tasteful cooking.
Must visit,
Ubud hills. You would see an art in making. Beautiful scenery that was ideal to make art and inspired lots of maestros. Spend the night there to catch the dance show.
Also the sunset at Tanah Lot, 1 hour drive from Capital Denpasar.
For shoping, on your way to Ubud, stop by at Sukowati market. Bargain hard (50-70%) for T-shirt, paintings, wood, silver and bamboo crafts.
Well, Have fun. Take other advise to, they were right also.
References :
By Nusantara on Mar 11, 2010
One thing i loved doing was doing the night climb up the volcano. You climb up it at night which takes a couple of hours and then at the top you get to see the sunrise which is magical. You can see the ops of the other volcano on Bali and that of the volcano on Lombok.
If you have the time then a trip to the Flores Islands which are just off Bali.
What others have already said is a must, though you only have 6 days and to do all of this you’ll be pushed for time.
You can do a long day tour which combines many of the highlights of Bali in one trip and i did one and it was great and worth doing. There are many places around Kuta and also hotels in which you can book these trips. I would have a look around and see who offers what and barter them down on the price..
Have fun and enjoy the beautiful island. I loved it and was there for 3 weeks and could of stayed for longer.
References :
By Berner Lover on Mar 11, 2010
Try the Fly Cafe in Lungsiakan Ubud. It’s great value, and offers a diverse menu of local, international and vegetarian cuisine, free WiFi and free Flyday Night Quiz.
By Herb on Mar 12, 2010
have you been on bali villas? IF you want to enjoy your vacations on one of the paradise in the world visit Bali Indonesia for their most famous bali villas and hotels or book online. People of Seminyak is luxurious estate owned by Bali Villas that offer the best place and rooms for all visitors and foriegn.
By seminyak bali on Mar 23, 2010
Bali holidays are full of color. Bali is a visually stimulating island. There are number of islands which are a perfect place for people who love water and the hotels rooms with a sea view makes Bali holidays more enjoyable.
By Sayak's Travel Guide on Apr 8, 2010