Bali is rated as a top destination for those ready to find adventure and explore traditional culture, beauty, spiritualness, and tranquility. The enchanting Indonesian island is unmatched in the rare opportunities travelers can experience while visiting. Whether you choose to cruise through the jungles on ATV, zipline through the tree canopies, hike to secluded waterfalls, visit the many rice terraces on the island, climb to the top of a volcano, or head to Ubud to visit the Monkey Sanctuary and the countless spiritual temples. There are so many budget-friendly activities that are perfect for all age groups. The hardest part will be choosing how many excursions you can fit in!
Best time to visit Bali
Although Bali’s temperature hovers around mid- 80 degrees to low- 90 degrees all year long, the country does experience a change in seasons when it comes to precipitation.
April to October is considered the best time when visiting the beautiful Indonesian Island. During this time of the year, it’s Bali’s dry season which is ideal for enjoying all the outdoor activities Bali offers.
So, When is the most affordable time to go?
The most affordable time to fly and stay in accommodations to Bali is usually around January and February, when prices decrease for flights. However, this timeframe is considered the true off-season and rainy season. If you plan to do excursions or activities that involve being outdoors, you may want to rethink traveling till a later month.
Generally, I have witnessed journeying the first and last month of the peak seasons to almost anywhere is picture-perfect. You may have fewer crowds during this time, but places and excursions are still open for people to enjoy.
As far as prices on excursions, transportation, and food go once you reach the island, it’s really up to that person’s travel style. The range can reflect what people would spend when back at their home country to spending only 30 USD daily.
Things to do while visiting Bali
Bali’s most unique adventure experience is heading over to the Monkey Sanctuary in Ubud. The sanctuary’s mission is to bring harmony and peace for humans and nature to coexist in this world by following the Hinduism philosophy of Tri Hita Karana. The philosophy follows how to make people pursue a harmonious lifestyle in relationships amongst self, humans, the environment, and a higher power.
When exploring the grounds of the Sacred Monkey Forest, visitors will be able to view the Balinese Long-Tailed Macaque Monkey. Currently, there are about 1,049 monkeys that reside within the sanctuary that you can find in six different groups located throughout the forest. Intuitively, guests need to be mindful when encountering a monkey close up. The monkeys are known for being sneaky and stealing personal items in bags and purses, and even food objects if left out.
Calling all hikers! You have come to the right place if you’re looking for secluded waterfall views, exploring volcanic peaks, trekking through peaceful rice paddies, and venturing through lush forests. Below is a list of some of the top hikes you can do in Bali!
West Bali National Park: The National Park makes up about ten percent of Balinese land and is home to various bird species and wildlife. Among the birds is the Bali Sterling, which is almost near extinction. The way to view West Bali is by arranging for a guide to take you hiking through the lush rainforest, dry savannas, forested areas, and a boat tour through the mangroves. While visiting West Bali National Park, other activities are bird watching throughout your journey on the trails and venturing over via boat charter to the Menjangan Island, where you can check out the marine life by diving underwater.
Campuhan Ridge Walk: This 2.40 mile out and back trail is located near Ubud and will take you through lush rainforest, meadows, rice fields, and hills, giving you stunning views when walking this relatively easy ridge walk. Admission is free of charge for those looking to get out in nature and is a popular destination to locals and travelers, which means you will come in contact with some crowds. It’s best to arrive in the morning due to the rise in temperature throughout midday. Be sure to head to the Campuhan Ridge Swing to get a few photo ops before heading back.
Tamblingan Lake Trek: Journey through the jungle and visit this sacred part of Bali many don’t get the chance to explore. Hire a guide that will give you a great experience while trekking through lush jungle rainforest, rice paddies, chasing views of several waterfalls, and observing the sacred temple. The trekking tours usually last a few hours for hiking, photo opportunities, and taking a traditional dugout canoe around the lake.
Mount Batur Hike: Ready to hike up an active volcano? This 5.8-mile trail is rated on All-Trails to be challenging and not for the faint of heart. However, even if the rating and elevation gain of 2,234 ft seems intense, many can complete this trek in about 4 hours. If you want to get a great sunrise photo on top of a volcano, it’s best to get an early morning start. Most people, on average, will start the hike by 2 am. So the question is, are you ready to tackle this hiking experience?Ubud Rice Terraces Walk
Sambangan trek – Secret Garden: If walking through picturesque landscapes, chasing mystical waterfalls, plunging off cliffs into lagoons, and sliding down waterfalls seems up your alley, this trek should be on your places to visit list while in Bali! To access the Sambangan Secret Garden, one must purchase a ticket to one of the treks or a visitors pass. Just be mindful that if you choose to go it alone, you will not be able to swim, dive or slide in the lagoon pools and waterfalls.
Purchasing the short trek, you will be able to visit Aling Aling, Kroya, Kembar, and Pucuk Waterfall, where you will swim, dive and slide down Kroya Waterfall. The medium Trek pass will give you access to a secret blue lagoon, caverns with yet another hidden waterfall inside, and a top view vantage point of Aling Aling waterfall. After, you will experience everything included in the short trek pass. Finally, one last option is choosing to do the Long Trek. This ultimate guided tour takes roughly five to six hours to complete allowing you access to everything included in the first two treks to visit three more stunning waterfalls. How many waterfalls do you want to see?
Mount Agung Hike: Take your travels to new heights and experience Bali at its highest point on Mount Agung! There are two trails to reach the volcano summit. The shorter one is by taking the Pura Pasar Agung trail about 5 miles out and back. The other trail is the Holy Mountain trail, which covers roughly 9 miles out and back and takes on average 8 hours. Some people choose to hike and camp overnight, while others use it as a challenging day hike. Just know to keep going because the view is worth the straight-up climb.
Sekumpul Waterfalls: Many people claim that Sekumpul is Bali’s most stunning series of waterfalls. Impressive cascading waterfalls plunge 80 meters from the lush jungle foliage treetops into a tranquil lagoon. If you plan to put this waterfall hike on your must-see list, it’s better to book a tour in advance since this one is highly rated and a top destination.
Mount Lesung: Unlike the other two volcano hikes, Mount Lesung is an inactive volcano surrounded by majestic and sacred forested areas overlooking the stunning Tamblingan Lake. The unique structure of Mount Lesung is the crater that resembles an open eye formation, and this mountainous area is sacred to the Balinese locals. During this 6-mile moderate loop hike, you will experience hiking through lush, dense rainforest foliage and getting incredible views of the beautiful Tamblingan Lake at the summit. When descending from the mountain, take a traditional dug-out canoe ride around the lake, getting another perspective of the views and wildlife in the area. I recommend booking a guided tour to experience the moderate hike to Mount Lesung.
Additional Thrill-Seeking Adventures
For those looking for more thrill-seeking adventures that require less hiking into the lush rainforests and volcanos, Bali has various options to explore. Cruise down the Bali rapids by choosing one of the three white water adventures. Whether your rafting down the Ayung River near Ubud, Telaga Waja Rafting in Karang Asem or cruising down the Melangit River in Klungkung. Choose your difficulty level and have one of the best days experiencing the rivers in Bali. White water rafting is a popular experience while visiting the island, so book your guided excursion in advance.
To understand more on the classifications of white water rafting level of difficulties visit my Cruising The Rapids In Washington Blog
Rev up that engine and explore nature at its finest on Bali’s adventurous Quad Bike trails. Experience an up-close look while trekking through jungles, villages, rice fields, and river sites. There are so many tours available throughout the island that you are sure to find one that your entire group will enjoy! Note that if you’re also interested in participating in a white water adventure along with Quad Bikes, there are some tours that you can combo and save some money.
Another option to experience when visiting Bali is heading over to the Bali Treetop Adventure Park. Here you can soar through the rainforest canopy of trees and get an amazing aerial view of the area. Bali Treetop Adventure Park is temporarily closed currently, so be sure to check before visiting, especially if this is something on your bucket list that you have been waiting to check off.
Exploring The Sacred Temple Grounds
Bali has more to explore on foot by venturing to the many sacred temples within the Indonesian island. If you’re only able to hit a few during your holiday stay, be sure to at least visit a couple of the top-rated ones listed below.
Tanah Lot Temple is dedicated to the Gods of the sea. The temple is located offshore and captures the best sunset views on the sacred piece of land. Tanah Lot Temple is highly visited; it’s best to arrive early in the morning to avoid afternoon crowds. If you’re looking for the sunset backdrop on this unique temple, venture over later; however, that’s when it’s most busy.
Ulun Danu Beratan Temple is situated high in the mountains on Lake Beratan. The temple is in honor of Dewi Danu, the goddess of the lake, which was formed by volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago. The picturesque backdrop of the mountains with the beautiful architected temple draws people to visit this sacred land.
Besakih Temple, also known as ” Mother Temple of Bali,” is the largest and most important temple complex situated at Bali’s active Volcano Mount Agung slope. Fun fact: this is the highest point in all of Bali. Many locals and tourists venture over to the Eastern-side of Bali to worship Balinese Hinduism. Upon entering, visitors will ascend a staircase that will observe a complex of 86 temples that represent their own sacred identity and status once reaching the top.
Taman Ayun Temple translated as “beautiful garden,” is one of the most visited temples in Bali. Located in south Bali stands the 17th-century architectural treasure of complex water temples devoted to the royal Mengwi Empire family. This temple complex has been listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO due to its stunning design overlooking the gardens, lush forests, and ponds.
Tirta Empul Temple is known for its holy springs water. This temple is one of the busiest and sacred to Hindu Balinese and dedicated to Vishu, the Hindu God of Water. Locals and travelers embark on visiting the temple due to the waters used for ritual purification. Suppose you want to experience the divine Balinese Hinduism culture; it’s most valuable to hire a guide to take you around the grounds. Note that if you plan a trip around the full moon, performing the purification ritual brings significance to the religion.
Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu Temple if you’re looking for tranquility while observing the sacred shrines, be sure to add this temple to your list of visiting. The temple also is dedicated to Vishnu, the Hindu God of Water. The architecture of Pura Gunung Kawi was built on natural springs and is known for providing ritual purifications to this day. Strolling through the temple grounds, you will traverse into an enchanted land with gorgeous koi ponds, bathing pools with crystal clear waters, and gardens.
What to wear?
If you plan on visiting any Bali temple, it’s essential to show respect and etiquette. How you dress is very important for both men and women when entering any religious establishment. Everyone should wear shirts that cover the shoulder and upper arms. Wearing a sarong around your legs or a temple scarf that wraps around your waist is the best advice for clothing. Some temples will allow you to rent sarongs and temple scarfs at the entrances for a small fee if you forget to pack yours. There are no rules when it comes to shoes. So whether you choose to wear flip-flops or hiking sandals, anything goes.
Overall Thoughts
Bali is unmatched when exploring the lands, adventuring through lush jungle rainforest, and visiting sacred temple grounds. There are so many unique experiences that everyone can enjoy while visiting the island. The biggest obstacle is what activities you can do within your travel timeframe, especially with affordable pricing on most things in and around the island.
So are you ready to trek into the lush jungles of Bali?
