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Bali is an amazing place and we were lucky enough to spend 10 nights on this tropical island paradise in 2007. This is one destination that we definitely plan on returning to on our round-the-world trip for many reasons, particularly because of its relaxed atmosphere and the lovely nature of the locals.
Based on our past experience, here are 7 of the best things to experience whilst in Bali. There are plenty more, but if you plan on visiting Bali soon this list will get you started.
1. Hire a driver
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces - best accessed with your own personal driver.
For $50 USD, you can hire a knowledgeable driver and car in Bali for an entire day. This is an extremely cheap and efficient way to see the various sites that the island has to offer (and riding around in a clean, air-conditioned vehicle is quite nice as well!). It’s much cheaper than an organized tour and the best part is that you are flexible to go and see whatever you want!
Some of the places we recommend you check out with a driver include:
- Art in Ubud.
- Mount Batur.
- Mother Temple of Besakih.
- Jatiluwih Rice Terrace.
- Tanah Lot Temple.
Our recommendation: There are plenty of transport touts on the side of the road who will offer to take you around Bali, but we highly recommend doing your research and organizing a driver beforehand. Check out the tours offered by Dewa Parwita at Bali Explore Tours.
2. Elephant Safari Park
Elephant Ride in Bali
The Elephant Safari Park & Lodge in Taro is acclaimed as the world’s best elephant park and is a must for any visitor to Bali.
The park is a fantastic day trip away from the hustle and bustle of Kuta where you can get up close with these majestic creatures. Not only can you ride the elephants through the cool jungles of Taro (an experience that you’ll never forget!), you can also hand feed the elephants, touch them, take photos with them and enjoy the educational elephant shows.
There is also a fantastic museum at the park, a buffet restaurant overlooking the lake and a luxury safari style lodge if you want to extend your time there.
Our recommendation: Book online and save up to 15% off. For $73 per person, you can get the full day Elephant Safari Park/Ride Tour, lunch and hotel transfers.
3. Waterbom Park
Waterslides at Waterbom Park
What better way to cool off from the Bali heat than hitting the waterslides at Waterbom Park? Conveniently located in Kuta across from the Discovery Shopping Mall is this excellent water park suitable for all ages.
For the adults, Waterbom offers massages, spa treatments and a swim-up bar, which many people seem to just sit by all day. But the real fun of Waterbom Park is in the many adventure slides they have on offer as well as the tranquil Lazy River.
Our recommendation: Get there early if you want to rent a private Gazebo, and spend plenty of time on the Lazy River.
4. Bali shopping
Shopping in Bali
Regardless of your reasons for coming to Bali, you’re going to end up shopping – you just can’t escape it. In fact, many tourists (including ourselves) come to Bali with empty suitcases just to fill them up for the return trip home.
From the designer brand names to art and local handicrafts, no matter what you’re looking for you will be able to find it in this shopper’s paradise.
Our recommendation: If bargaining is not your thing, visit Jenny Shop opposite Waterbom Park. She is one of the friendliest people we’ve met on our travels and the slogan of her shop is simple – “No bullshit and set price”.
5. Experience the nightlife
Drag Queen Show at QBar
There is something to cater for everyone’s tastes in nightlife from restaurants with live music to bars and nightclubs such as Huu-Bar, Double Six and The Bounty. Considering how cheap the beer is in Bali (you can’t go past the local Bintang!), there’s no reason not to enjoy at least one night out on the town while you’re here. The nightlife in Bali doesn’t start to get busy until late but once it does, it really is quite the experience!
Our recommendation: Beware of people offering you illegal drugs outside popular nightspots. We were offered both ecstasy and marijuana near the beaches of Kuta – apparently these people are often police informants trying to catch out naïve tourists. Unless you want to try to make the international news, ignore their offers!
6. Spend time on the beaches
Picturesque Bali Beach
The prime tourist destinations in Bali – Kuta, Legian and Seminyak – are all built on the beach and with world-class diving and surfing, it’s a fantastic way to spend some time here. Stay at these beaches for any period of time and you’ll quickly be approached by the beach hawkers offering massages, manicures/pedicures, food/drinks or whatever products they sell for a living. If you want any of these products or services, be sure to bargain and bargain hard!
For the adventurers who aren’t content on relaxing on the white sandy beaches, the Bali Water Sport Center in Tanjung Benoa (near Nusa Dua) is a fantastic place to visit. They offer a variety of activities including parasailing, snorkeling, jet skiing, water skiing, banana boat rides and more.
Our recommendation: If you want to relax, stick to the hotel pool. It is very easy to get overwhelmed by the beach hawkers in Bali.
7. Enjoy the food
The Flaming Kintamani Volcano Pizza at Papa's Cafe
Dining in Bali is definitely a highlight, from traditional Balinese cuisine to the countless other options you have to choose from. There are flashy beachside restaurants but plenty of budget eats where we have enjoyed some of the best food we’ve ever tasted. There are also some quite unique food experiences to be had, such as the pictured Volcano Pizza from Papa’s Cafe. They actually light it on fire before you eat it!
Our recommendation: Always ask for no ice when ordering drinks. It’s better to be safe than catch the dreaded Bali belly – eventually you just get used to drinking warm soda!
Amy & Kieron are an Australian couple sharing their travel adventures from around the world.
73 Comments
Cool list. Hiring a driver is definitely the way to go. An alternative is to rent a motorbike to explore an area. We did that in Ubud and Lovina… fun, fun, fun!
Jill recently posted..RTW Friendly Bank Accounts — What’s In Your Wallet
Great suggestion Jill – we weren’t brave enough to hire motorbikes our first time there (particularly after seeing the crazy drivers around Kuta) but looking forward to exploring on motorbikes the next time we’re in S.E. Asia.
Although we always go with our own driver (my wife is Indonesian and I am Dutch) a motorbike looks a nice alternative, but keep in mind, every day accidents happen with motorbikes, infact; they are the no1 death toll together with drownings in Kuta.
Paradise is nice, but use common sense and everything will be ok.
We also stayed in Lovina too and absolutely loved it! Hawkers weren’t really a problem there compared to in Kuta; the worst we got was a masseur who left us alone after we declined once and a friendly man offering cooking classes in his home, which we ultimately accepted. I would personally recommend to most people to spend time up there along with in Ubud, which has a very cool artsy vibe.
Ryan @Treksplorer recently posted..Have Yourself a Quirky Little Christmas
Several people have been writing about Bali lately…was never on my list before but it certainly is now! Going to revisit this post when I eventually make it
It’s a great getaway from Australia – the flights are only 5-6 hours and with Air Asia now flying there from Darwin it just got a whole lot cheaper too.
If you can fit it into your travel plans over the next couple of years, we highly recommend it!
Yep, agree that Bali is a great destination and it gets a bit of a bad rap from Aussies usually because of the bogan perception. I’ve hired motorbikes in Bali before and crashed. I use a car now and it’s only $5 per day more and you don’t get wet. I also have a licence for a car
Adam @ Sit Down Disc recently posted..Bali- Padang Padang Beach
There are a fair share of bogans over there, but I think a lot of them are heading off to Phuket or on cruise ships these days. Most of them are pretty friendly and harmless though so it didn’t bother us too much (we are from Frankston after all).
Wow, hiring a car isn’t something we’d ever consider! The drivers over there are maniacs, how do you do it?!
I’ve had a car for a total of 50 days so far and it’s a bit crazy, but there’s a golden rule. You must have your asian brain in. Western brain on asian roads is a recipe for disaster, but when the asian brain is in, you just go along with the horn beeping, light flashing, wrong side of the road type stuff. It’s chaos, but it works. The rules of the West just don’t apply.
Adam @ Sit Down Disc recently posted..Bali- Padang Padang Beach
Haha I like that theory and I guess Bali is somewhat timid compared to some other places in S.E. Asia (Manila for example). I guess Asian brain is a bit like driving in any capital city, you gotta be aggressive otherwise you’ll be waiting for hours.
Bali is one of my favorite places! We hired a driver who was supposed to take us around for a few hours, but we ended up on a 14 hour trip seeing way more things than we had payed for, simply because he really wanted to show us!
The people there are just so friendly and helpful, that’s what I loved the most.
Great tips on things to do, we missed the Elephant park, would have been fun to do.
Sounds like a great driver! I think the good ones are just happy to show you their beautiful island which is fantastic for us travelers.
Riding the elephants was an unbelievable experience – hopefully you’ll be able to fit it in somewhere in Thailand on your upcoming trip!
Can you recommend a driver?
Hi Wendy, check out http://www.baliexploretours.com/ – Dewa is fantastic.
Ohh, those rice terraces look amazing. Bali is quickly moving to the top of my list. Great post
Johnny Vagabond recently posted..Johnny Vagabond Gets a Face-Lift
Thanks Wes – when we showed people the photos of us in front of the rice terraces, most thought it was a painting because it just didn’t look real!
Thanks for the tips. I’ll keep them in mind for my future trip to Bali – never been there but would love to go.
Adrian recently posted..Winter Holiday In Lake Louise- Canada
We definitely recommend adding it to your list of “must see” places, especially if you’re traveling anywhere in SE Asia.
Ahh BALI looks like it would beso much fun. I keep reading about it everywhere. I’m saving this for when I make it there eventually on my RTW trip! Great post & pictures~
Jaime recently posted..THE NEW ME
Great stuff Jaime, it’s definitely worth a stopover on your way through SE Asia to Australia!
I would love to go to Bali. When I was housesitting in Australia, the homeowners were in Bali for a month and just adored it. They’d been there before, of course. I’d never considered going because it’s just not on the radar of many Americans. I’d never heard anything about it, although of course I’d heard of it. Now, though, I can hardly wait. I want to ride on an elephant through the water!
Aussies have a strong affinity for Bali and in some places there are definitely more Aussies than locals. There were also plenty of Europeans in Bali but as you say, there weren’t many Americans there – it’s probably our equivalent of Cancun or Tijuana!
The elephant ride was definitely one of our best travel experiences, such a strange feeling but so enjoyable!
I haven’t been back to Bali since 2001…goodness – hard to believe since I’ve been in Australia the last few years. Agree that the food is excellent! It’s a good place to splurge a little on accommodation because you can get a really high-end room for very little money. We also did a nature hike and saw some monkeys. Haven’t been to the elephant or water parks though, those look ace!
Andrea recently posted..The Other Way to Monetize Your Travel Blog
Yeah accommodation was ridiculously cheap – we stayed at the Sofitel in 2007 for just over $100 a night. We did check prices recently for research and this price has now more than doubled which is a shame for us that like to live in luxury every now and again.
We purposely avoided the monkeys when we were in Bali, there’s something about those cheeky wild monkeys that frightens us haha. We’d much rather hang out with orangutans anyday!
We were in Bali in 2005 and I totally agree with getting a driver. Our driver was invaluable in getting us places we would have no clue how to get to on our own. He took us to all these small places that the locals eat at and we had some of the best food ever. We were there for 2 weeks and the owner of the company personally drove us around so we got the best cars he had.. So much fun! Can’t wait to go back this next year.
Matt recently posted..Climb To The Top Rung And Hang On
Hiring a driver is amazing value – we honestly felt bad leaving ours in the car while we saw the sights, ate meals, etc because we felt like we were underpaying him.
Have fun next year! Look forward to reading about it!
We took our driver along with us for many of the activities just because we felt bad that he was just waiting. We had a great lunch with him and then he walked with us to a place where there was this incredible waterfall. We had a great time sitting on the beach with him and his wife, watching the sun set one evening. Bali is definitely a great place to be. Maybe we’ll see you there?
Matt recently posted..Climb To The Top Rung And Hang On
I’m sure your driver would have been very appreciative of that! We’re not too sure when we’ll be returning there, it will most likely be at the very end of our RTW on the way back to Australia which may be sometime in mid-late 2012 according to our budget calculations.
wow $50 to hire a full-day driver. that’s a great deal. I wish it works like that in here too hehe. Great post!
Thanks Sarah! Yeah $50 in a cab wouldn’t get you very far in our countries, especially NYC where you are. Would that even get you to Manhattan?
Yea, It’s around $25 form Queens to the City. I got rip off once when I work late from work. The cab asked for $40. When I try to do company expense I found out the cab driver rip me off. haha I feel like a non-local all of sudden.
Sarah Wu recently posted..Disneyland- What a Dazzling and Magical Place
Just wanted to mention it costs $58 just to get us to the airport one way and we are only 20 mins away
you guys got a great post gave us some great ideas of where to go we are off in nov
i would love to go to Elephant Safari Park i have heard so much about it
The Elephant Park is an amazing experience and we highly recommend it!
I used to go to that Waterbom when I went to Bali as a kid. A lot of fun. The straight slide you have the picture up there was the most dreaded one, whew… I only did it once every visit. More daring sister and cousins did it more. I remember eating nasi goreng from the cafetaria there… Hmmm…. thanks for the good old memory
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Hi. Just wondering how affordable Bali was and the rest of Indonesia (if you went elsewhere). I’m considering a trip there and just want to make sure that I can handle it financially. Thanks!
Lisa E @chickybus recently posted..Middle Eastern Mannequins- A Secret and Surreal World
Hey Lisa, we haven’t been to anywhere else in Indonesia but you’ll find that you can do it as cheaply as you want to.
Like anywhere, the further you are away from the main tourist areas, the cheaper it gets. Many of our meals were $2-$3 but we probably could have found cheaper. In saying that, it appears that prices may have gone up in the past few years so you might need to do a little more research.
Adam @SitDownDisco might be the best person to ask, he’s spent plenty of time in Bali and has plenty of great advice.
So glad you enjoyed Bali and want to go back. I love it to bits and even though I have spent around 8 months here in total, I am still experiencing new things and places on the Island. Bali has so much to offer
)
I have been to Bali twice and I’m counting down to my third time now!
It’s such a wonderful place to go and I have never had a problem with any of the people there 
I’m heading over with my parents and my partner and we are braving the chaos and hiring a motorbike.
On the occasions I have been to Bali I have never been to the rice fields… now from looking at your pictures it is on my MUST DO list!!
Thanks for your site! It’s amazing and has great ideas.
Thanks for commenting Michelle!
Best of luck with hiring a motorbike, have a great time and stay safe! The rice fields are beautiful and definitely worth a visit – if you have any more questions about Bali or anything else, don’t hesitate to ask!
i am heading over to bali with my exyended family in july, 6 adults and 4 kids, incl grandparents, can you suggest any accomodation in areas away from the main tourist track. looking for self cateerd option, close to beach. Suggestions appreciated.
hi guys, I am travelling to Bali in 2 weeks!!! first time we usually go to /thailand but have heard great things about Bali so decided to try it out. I would love to swim with the dolphins does any one know where u can do this and if u need to book before going. I have done most touristy things anything different to do in Bali ( cant wait to see the rice fields) cheers cheryl
Hi Cheryl, thanks for your comment! From what we can find, there is a company that does swimming with dolphins that you can check out at http://www.balidolphins.com/. Their website says they’re fully booked weeks in advance but you can try drop them a line.
The best advice is to hire a driver – they’ll take you to everywhere touristy on the island. Then you can add the extras (Elephant Park, Safari Park, Waterbom Park) on your other days there. Let us know if you have any more questions!
You forgot surfing! The all-time number-one best thing to do on Bali!
Hi!
Thanks for this post!!
I am going with my friend in September/October this year! It will be my first time overseas and we need all the info we can get on Bali – being that it is just us two girls.
Is there anything we should keep in mind about safety?
WE ARE SO EXCITED. Especially for the Elephants and we are going to do some of the adventurous water sports (jet skiing, parasailing and snorkling).
Appreciate any info you can give me!!!!
Hi Dea,
Thanks for commenting! Our best advice would be to trust your instincts and just be cautious (but no need to be afraid!). You really shouldn’t have too much to worry about, we honestly felt like Bali was safer than walking around Melbourne.
In terms of specific tips: stick together as much as possible, get a cross-over bag/satchel that you can keep on you at all times, don’t drink the water (avoid ice and bring your own straws) and be wary of touts who try to get you to go with them into their stores. And be sure to look for the light blue taxis – these are metered, air-conditioned and a lot easier than having to negotiate the price.
Hope you have a great trip! Let us know if you have any more questions.
I found the hawkers really bad at the beaches near Kuta, but the further you go away from the center, the more you can relax. We recently stayed in Seminyak for a few days and weren’t bothered at all. The waves were also really good for surfing and there were very few people out.
Laying down at the beach from sunrise to sunset is the most beautiful moment ever! Just being u, without any companion! I did that last November 2009, and I did it for 4 days!! Result was, came back to town with nice skin colour and just made me miss Bali so much!!
Hi there, i’m planning to go Bali next year Jan and wondering what sort of adventure activities u would recommend for a beginner plus it’ll be somewhere around Kuta area..
baliadventuretours.com is a good starting point – not only do they offer the elephant safaris but you can also go white water rafting and cycling. Take a look at baliquad.com for ATV and tubing adventures.
If water sports are your thing, definitely head over to Nusa Dua for a day trip as I know there lots of activities over there including parasailing, jetskis and more. Hope this helps!
Stumbled across your site while looking for things to do during our upcoming trip. You have provided great info and we will certainly be checking out the elephant safari park. We would love to see a templeand some cultural dancing while there, any suggestions?
Great to hear! We saw a Barong Dance at Batubulan Village – most tour operators and drivers will offer it. But why not tick off two things at once and see the Kecak and Fire dance at Uluwatu Temple? From what we’ve heard it’s absolutely spectacular!
If you want to see more temples, then Tanah Lot is a very popular one (although very touristy). Our favorite is Pura Ulun Danu Bratan which was very peaceful and beautiful – see http://www.donteverlookback.com/2012/01/photo-friday-24-pura-ulun-danu-bratan-bali-indonesia/ for a photo.
Hope this helps!
hi guys
have literally just booked my third trip to Bali about 1 hour ago and have talked another couple into joining us for the first time… I think they are sick of hearing how much we love it so here we come.
We have done the elephant safari (at night) which was beautiful, white water rafting which was divine as the scenery is breathtaking and also a must to do is go to Jimbaran bay for a sunset seafood meal right on the waters edge… we ordered a kilo of prawns and got 6, they are huge and delicious.
We have hired scooters each time we have been there as we’ve found its easier to navigate the traffic when your in it rather than trying to get around it..
Congratulations on booking another trip to Bali – we can’t wait to go back one day either! Thanks for adding the tip about Jimbaran Bay, that sounds excellent.
Great advice thanks simon. I have just added Jimbaran Bay dinner to my list. We are THERE in 6 day’s.
Great tips, thanks! We’re headed to Bali next month, and will definitely be adding some of these to the list
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Hey, great advice. We hired a driver in Bali its the best way to see everything. The elephant trek was awesome too, and your’e so right you can not escape the shopping, its everywhere and so cheap!! definitely pack light, so you can fill your suitcase with shopping!
Hi Im going to bali in a couple of weeks time.
Never been before first trip overseas too.
Just wondering about tips when bartering with the locals dont want to be rude to them but dont want to get ripped off either.
Hey Chris – you’ll have the best time. We recommend checking out some “Fixed Price” shops first so that you get a better idea of what you want to pay.
Here’s a good list to get you started -> http://www.mybaliguide.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=viewnews&id=269
Bartering is good fun and don’t worry about being rude, it’s all part of it. The best advice we can give is be prepared to walk away!
Thanks guys for all these fabulous tips. We are leaving for Bali in exactly 3 weeks and taking our kids with us, very excited!
We’re less than 2 weeks away! I’m ready to do all of the above.
Kieu ~ GQ trippin recently posted..6 Months of Travel and Fall 2012 Plans
it’s my neighbour country, I’ll be visiting bali next month. my friends propose this trip last year, so gonna see what wil happen.
Linda recently posted..post sabah…
what is bali belly?
Better known as Traveler’s Diarrhea:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traveler's_diarrhea
Heading to Bali in January with another couple. We are looking for a safe economical place to stay. Are there home stays available in Bali? Love to meet the people and be part of their culture for a while.
There are several homestays available in Bali but unfortunately we can’t recommend anything from our personal experience. However a quick Google search revealed some info:
http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotel_Review-g608496-d1199075-Reviews-Bali_Homestay_Programs_Bali_Homestay-Tabanan_Bali.html
Good luck and enjoy!
Mesari Beach Inn, Seminyak. Not fancy but right across the road from the best part of the beach. It has horse stables too if you are keen on riding on the beach. It is a family business and very friendly. There you will find a good driver as well.
My husband and I have been to Bali a few times and are heading back in two weeks with our kids aged 8 and 12. Have been paying the boys their pocket money in rupiah now for a month or so. Works well as they can’t spend it in Australia. Can’t wait to see the boys faces when we go to the Kecak, fire and Sanghyang(trance) dancing. Also a must see is the Green School. Will be visiting the Gili Islands for the first time this trip too. Gotta love a bit of Bali..such an easy desination to introduce a new culture to our kids.
G’day guys just a few questions my boss is taking me and my missus to Bali for a holiday and were staying at padma at legian it was the last place I wanted to go but thought I might as well stick my neck out and have a go so I was thinking of getting a driver for the nine days were there where would be the best place to get one and should I organise one before I go or when I get over there ?
You’ll enjoy it once you get there Matthew! Don’t worry about getting a driver for the whole nine days – if you’re making short trips (ie. to Kuta or Seminyak), just look out for the light blue taxis which run on the meter. They’re cheap.
For a full day trip, that’s when a driver is recommended and we used Dewa Parwita from http://www.baliexploretours.com/ on our visit. Organise it before you go – everybody over there will try to take you on tours but you’d be a lot better off going with one who is reputable and isn’t just looking to rip you off or make commissions.
We have a great list of things to do in Bali after our 8th visit. The last visit was for 2 months. We actually hired a car and did our own driving, it was magnificent! I have to say though my absolutely favourite thing to do in Bali is Canyon Tubing. I highly recommend! http://travelwithbender.com/travel-blog/tell-me-about-bali/canyon/
Travel with Bender ( recently posted..Drooling Over Penang Food
Perhaps the coolest thing ever about hiring a driver (for the day), is that he stays with the car no matter where you go. We went out for dinner, and straight back to the carpark, and he was there. We went night clubbing until 1am, and he was there. No worries with personal safety walking around drunk at 1am (not an issue for me, but an issue for the 3 girls I was with).
Ian [EagerExistence] recently posted..Relaunch
Yep! Great point Ian – although you do feel bad when they’re sitting in the car while you’re inside eating lunch, etc but they seem to be happy to do it.