Indonesians have a saying that goes, “If you haven’t been to Bali, you haven’t been to Indonesia.” Although the majority of Indonesians never make it to the province of Bali, it’s by far the most popular Indonesian destination for foreign holiday seekers. Where you go in Bali will largely depend on what kind of travel experience you’re looking for and there are many Bali deals to be had. Here’s a list of the top travel destinations in Bali.
South Bali: Kuta, Legian and Seminyak
When you initially think of Bali, you’re probably thinking of the south Bali town, Kuta, and it’s beach. As Bali’s first tourist resort, it’s long been a destination for backpackers, surfers and partiers. Proximity to the international airport makes it easy for travellers of all sorts to make it to Kuta without much hassle. As different classes of tourists have arrived, Kuta has become more developed boasting water parks, shopping plazas, chain restaurants and nightclubs.
Within a few kilometers north of Kuta are the subdivisions Legian and Seminyak. The farther north you move from Kuta, the more upscale things become. Therefore low budget accommodation will be harder to come by in Seminyak but the beach will be less crowded and the atmosphere less chaotic. Of the three subdivisions, Seminyak offers the high end of shopping, spa experiences and beachfront hotels.
Ubud
Bali’s second most popular tourist destination, Ubud, is about an hour’s drive north of Kuta. An inland town composed of several smaller villages it’s surrounded by many temples, historic sites as well as lush green, iconic rice paddies. Flora and fauna are well represented with the Monkey Forest, the Bali Bird Park and the evening roosting of white herons in Petlulu 10 minutes to the north. Ubud also has a large number of traditional cultural presentations such as shadow puppet plays, gamelan music performances and Balinese dancing. Other activities such as white water rafting, spas, cooking classes, bicycle tours, yoga and meditation classes, museums and shopping are all accessible to the visitor.
Kintamani
Kintamani is a north eastern area that is most well known for the active volcano Mount Batur and the crater lake, Lake Batur. Being a mountainous region, the temperature is significantly cooler than the beach lined coasts. Climbing the 1700m Mount Batur is considered an easy hike and is doable in about 2 hours. Tour guides abound and will take you up in the pre dawn morning to watch the sunrise.
The rim of the Batur caldera also affords great views of Lake Batur and is also home to one of the most important temples in Bali. Known as Pura Ulun Danau Batur, it houses a virgin priestess and two dozen servant priests who hold lifelong positions. Rice paddies and coffee plantations contribute to the verdant greenery that is accessible by bicycle, walking, hiking and camping tours.
Nusa Lembongan
Off the southeast coast of Bali, is the small island of Nusa Lembongan. Relatively undeveloped, Nusa Lembongan is in sharp contrast to South Bali. The main activities are diving, snorkeling, surfing and relaxing on the quiet and secluded white sand beaches. Still, boutique hotels and high end restaurants are also available for those seeking a bit of luxury.
Bali has become one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations for good reason. Great weather, smiling locals and a variety of water and landscapes that rival any of those in the world keep people coming back. Whatever you look for in a vacation, Bali is able to provide.
