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While a trip to Bali is a cliché right now, it is still a lovely place to visit, as our writer found out. Read their experience of their trip to Bali!
Bali has become one of the favourite destinations and a hub for travellers, yoga lovers, honeymooners, solo travellers, and digital nomads alike.
While a trip to Bali has become cliché these days, I found Bali to be a beautiful island, budget-friendly, and lots of things to do. It has an endless list of serene beaches, fascinating spiritual energy, wonderful rice fields, and glamorous sunsets. There is so much to see and experience on this paradise.
A trip Bali is like a never-ending adventure, there is an activity to suit every soul. One can experience yoga, meditation, surfing, spiritual awakening, trekking, water sports, delicious food, and an amazing nightlife.
Some areas of Bali are influenced by tourism and have hippie cafes and bars, vegan restaurants. While others still give you the feel of unique Balinese beauty and charm.
We didn’t want to get a touristy-feel in Bali- trying to check activities off a to-do-list. Neither did we want to have the pressure to do and see as much as possible. We just wanted to relax and have our own time, and we loved the experience!
To give you a taste of what we loved in Bali, here’s our experience.
If you want to see the cultural side of Bali, Ubud is its cultural heart. So, start your adventures at Ubud. There are rice terraces, waterfalls, museums, temples that are Instagram worthy of visiting.
Exploring Ubud by a rental bike would be the most convenient option to enjoy the street vibes, local shopping, art market, and other major attractions.
The streets of Ubud are lined with galleries where artists create beautiful sculptures showcasing the island’s rich culture.
Ubud is famous for its wooden articles that are beautifully carved with artistic design and Balinese batik prints. If you are an art-lover, the Balinese beautiful hand-crafted paintings will never disappoint you. You would love to take these souvenirs back home for sure.
We have all seen the rice terrace shots of Bali on Instagram. And this is one of the images that comes to my mind when I think of Bali. It is a must visit on your trip to Bali.
The most famous rice terrace is Tegalalang. We visited the same rice terrace and it should be on your itinerary as well. (our recommendation) You can see a number of activities going on there like Bali Swing, Zip Lining, Cycling.
The Bali Swing is the new tourism activity in Bali which has become popular. This is worth a visit if you are looking to experience something new and the freedom and thrill of swinging above the trees.
Get the adrenaline rush, unforgettable experiences, unique pictures! Just imagine swinging and gliding on various spots over lush green forest and rice fields, river valley, amazing cliffs, and much more.
I was damn scared, but thanks to my friends, I tried the swing. And it was breath-taking, loved the experience. Do not miss out! Trust me it is a lovely experience!
So, grab your flowy dress (or rent it!), a wide brim hat and pretend you are an Instagram model! Throw your head back and laugh! Snap! Ah! A lovely picture!
Bali is a place where you get to visit lots of temples. It was fascinating to know how the people in Bali worship the same Gods that we Indians do.
From India to Bali, the image of Lord Ganesha is everywhere. You can see the idol of Lord Ganesha often facing the entrance to a house or a temple to keep out the unworthy.
The Balinese people also perform a daily ritual to make offerings to the Gods. Make sure to put a few temples on your itinerary, on your trip to Bali, as they each have their own vibe that makes these temples unique.
You can definitely include these two temples in your itinerary:
This temple is perched high on a cliff with stunning views. When you enter the temple, you are required to wear a long purple sarong around your waist (both men and women). This is one of the best spots for sunset.
And, yes, keep a close eye on your belongings! You’d find a lot of monkeys in Uluwatu who are definitely not afraid of stealing anything that interests them.
This temple is a holy site for Balinese people. People take a holy dip in the spring water which is said to have cleansing properties. The locals come here for ritual purification. And it’s not only locals who are allowed to do so but even visitors are welcome.
Bali is home to a number of waterfalls and you should definitely try to see at least one during your trip to Bali. One of the most famous waterfalls in Bali is the Tegenungan Waterfall.
It’s a good choice though you might found it a bit crowded as it is easily accessible. But you would love the place and you can spend hours and hours enjoying the waterfall.
And, yes, if you are an Instagram fan, there are lots of “Insta Points” where you can take amazing pictures! So, time to pose again!
If you plan to trek Mt. Batur, keep your day as relaxing as possible because it’s a night trek and takes around 2-3 hours to climb. And also you need to be aware of the monkeys that would welcome you in the Batur forest.
You need to wake up around 2 am and it takes about 1-hour drive to reach Batur and then you can start your trek. The hike might be exhausting but you will love the raw beauty once you reach the top. After reaching the top, you can enjoy a delicious breakfast and also a chance to visit the Luwak Coffee Plantation.
Several tour agencies can arrange this trek for you. But the best and cheapest way to do is to hire a driver and he will arrange a local guide for you to lead you to the peak.
Mount Batur trek is quite famous for its surreal sky turning from inky blue to pink and orange.
Bali is the best place to re-energise and pamper yourself by releasing bottled-up stress and tension. Balinese massage is one of the most relaxing spa treatments that involves the use of aromatic oil.
You will see the spa parlours at each and every corner of the street. But, do not enter any random spa parlour otherwise you might ruin your experience. Check the reviews and enjoy a relaxing spa.
Here are a few of our recommendations:
If you want to enjoy the nightlife in Bali, Seminyak is the place. There is a street called “Eat Street.” Head to this street and you will get everything you want. This street has the best clubs, music, food, crowd. Just get high and enjoy!
Laced with the most interesting collection of beaches, clubs, trendy restaurants, Seminyak is way cooler than Kuta as per our recommendation.
Sunsets in Bali are spectacular, they are not just pink-to-orange affair! Make an effort to catch the colourful sky as many evenings as you can, you won’t be disappointed for sure!
One of the best places to catch this amazing view of the sunset is Rock Bar at Ayana Resort.
The Rock Bar is one of the go-to-places for a truly exotic setting and great cocktails. The bar is set at the cliff base of Ayana Resort and Spa.
Get down and order your cocktails and enjoy the most memorable evening with the vast oceans and stunning sunset.
Beach Clubs are a must during your trip to Bali. And it’s on most people’s itinerary. And we understood why when we visited these beach clubs. With splendid pools, beach views, inventive cocktails, live music, DJs, and an amazing crowd, it can be a fun way to celebrate being in Bali.
Beach clubs often require reservations for daybeds, so if you want to lie down, relax, and have a sunbath, make sure you make reservations.
Best Beach Club (as per our recommendation): Potato Head Beach Club
Recommended Cocktail: Bali Boat
Luwak coffee is said to be the most expensive coffee in the world. This pricey coffee gets digested first by a Luwak (a type of weasel). Yes, right, the animal eats the bean, digests it, and defecates. And these processed beans are collected to be cleaned and roasted for a cup of coffee.
Would you like to try the Luwak Coffee?
Bali is the perfect place for beginners and experts alike to catch a wave.
You can simply walk up to one of the many shacks on the beach with surfboards or rent one for 2 hours. They typically give you a t-shirt, surfboard and a guide who would train you for an hour.
Try it and you can call yourself as a “Surfer”!
So, have we convinced you to start planning your trip to Bali? What looks most fun to you?
A version of this was first published here.
Picture Credit: Gaurav Baheti
Header image source: Pexels
A freelance writer, social media marketer, blogger. Loves to write, travel, and bake. read more...
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