Essential Tips for a Perfect Bali Getaway

When traveling to Bali, the Indonesian tourist "capital," you’re guaranteed a great vacation.

By combining a wide range of hotels, diverse activities, and breathtaking landscapes, Bali is a world-renowned destination. The flip side is that you can sometimes find yourself surrounded by quite a few tourists, but it’s manageable in the end because the atmosphere remains fairly calm, unlike the beaches in Thailand, for example.

Transportation

I traveled with Air Asia, which is a low-cost airline in Asia. Upon arriving at Denpasar airport, I headed to the Denpasar bus station by taxi. Prices are fixed, so there’s no need to haggle with the driver.

The great thing about Bali is that there are options for every budget, whether for transportation, hotels, or villas.

For those looking to save money, public transport (small vans or minibuses) can take you to Ubud from Denpasar. As for us, we took a minibus to get to Ubud.

Accommodation in Ubud

We rented a villa for 4 people. There is an incredible amount of choice: with or without a pool, large rooms or small ones. In terms of price, offers range from $20 to $500 per night.

We absolutely loved our villa with its small private pool, and the shower and toilet area integrated with the greenery, it feels like nature is coming right inside the house, which is truly fascinating.

Sightseeing in Ubud

In Ubud, we visited the Sacred Monkey Forest and the Dalem Agung Padantegal temple. It’s a sanctuary of Balinese Hinduism. The Dalem Agung Padantegal temple is one of the largest in the country and is dedicated to cremation, purification, and religious ceremonies.

It’s quite touristy, but it’s a must-do. There are over 500 monkeys roaming free. Be careful, though, as they aren't shy and might "borrow" some of your belongings!!!!

Motorbike excursions or elephants!

Then we rented motorbikes to ride around the surroundings: it’s simply magnificent!!!! Greenery, colorful flowers, smiling people… a real treat!!!!!

We went for an elephant ride: it’s a bit scary at first, but afterwards, it’s a cool experience. The elephants are well-treated. As for the price: about $80 for a 40-minute ride.

We wandered around to soak in the scenery: the Tegallalang rice terraces are superb; you can tell that this farming system is demanding but clever.

The panoramas of the forest and rice paddies are excellent.

What to see in Bali

Ulun Danu Temple

I recommend visiting the Ulun Danu temple, which sits on the edge of Lake Bratan. The Ulun Danu temple rises above the water in a spectacular setting dominated by one of Bali's highest peaks. Bring warm clothes, because this part of Bali, located at an altitude of 1,200 meters, has cooler temperatures. Walking along the shores of the lake, you’ll enjoy a magnificent view. Since boating on the lake is open to the public, you can rent a boat.

The temple is located 50 km north of Denpasar in the heart of the island in a rather mountainous area. A little further west is the Munduk forest.

Gunung Kawi Temple and its sacred baths

We also visited the town of Tampaksiring and its Gunung Kawi temple and sacred waters.

The Gunung Kawi temple complex is among the oldest and most remarkable archaeological sites in Bali. Built along the Pakerisan River and carved into the mountainside, these stunning monuments are still used today as a place of Hindu worship.

The water from the Pakerisan River that flows in front of the temple complex is sacred, which is why Hindu practitioners purify themselves in the pools. To get there from Ubud, you can rent a motorbike or a vehicle.

Tirta Gangga Temple

We also visited the Tirta Gangga temple, which is very pretty. It’s located on the eastern tip of Bali. This Hindu place of worship is also a royal palace featuring numerous pools and sculpted fountains.

Lembongan Island and its aquatic treasures

We went to Kuta in the south, but we didn’t stay long (bars, nightclubs, surfers…).

We went to Lembongan Island east of Bali to enjoy the aquatic wonders: colorful fish, coral, turquoise waters… It takes less than an hour from the port of Sanur. Be aware that one part is used for seaweed farming, so it’s not great for swimming. However, the locals can take you to spots for snorkeling.

Expect to pay $15 per person for a private excursion.

A final word on dining

As for food, you can easily find places to eat in small restaurants for very affordable prices: $5 for a good meal!!!! This is the case, for example, with the traditional Nasi Goreng, made with fried rice, chicken, vegetables, and egg, it's excellent. It also comes with a noodle base instead of rice, called Mie Goreng. And there are plenty of others that I’ll let you discover yourself.

That’s a brief overview of our experience in Bali.