Bali: Suggestions on What to See & Do
Bali is known as The Island of the Gods for good reason. Spirituality infuses every aspect of life on the island. The smell of incense hangs in the air, and you’ll often see the remnants of tiny daily offerings scattered around. While the rest of Indonesia is predominantly Muslim, Balinese Hindism - a distinct form of Hinduism - is the main religion of Bali. You’ll find small temples all over the island, and it isn’t unusual to run into groups of Balinese in traditional attire gathering at a local temples for festivals.
Bali is a fairly small island and all major flights in and out are serviced by the airport in Denpasar. From there, it’s easy to get around most parts of the island by car. I recommend starting your trip by exploring the islands just off the coast of the mainland, before making your way north to Ubud.
Head over to the beach town of Sanur for a couple of days to relax after your flight. If you’re coming from the US, you’ll have been traveling nearly 24 hours to get here, so you’ll be thankful for some time to rest. After a day or two, you’ll be ready to start exploring further afield. From Sanur Beach, take a fast boat over to Ceningan or Lembongan Island. Depending on your comfort level with boats, I recommend wearing Sea Bands and carrying ginger chews with you (I like this brand!) to help settle your stomach. The crossing, though short, can be rough.
Once you’re on the island, I recommend booking a tour guide through your hotel to take you around Lembongan. Catch a spectacular view of Mount Agung, an active volcano and the highest point on Bali. You can have them take you to Dream Beach to swim in its crystalline waters. And finish your day with sunset at Devil’s Tears, an incredible tide pool with crashing waves that’s every photographer’s dream.
After a few days exploring the islands, take the fast boat back to the mainland and book a car and driver to take you up to Ubud. Ubud is considered the artistic and cultural center of Bali, and there’s an incredible amount to see and do. While the city center might be far from what you imagine (I promise, you will never see more Ralph Lauren Polo shops than you do in downtown Ubud!), getting out of the center will provide you with a world of riches.
Tirta Empul (a major Hindu temple), the Tegallalang Rice Terraces, and various villages with artisans working in silver, wood carving, textiles, and more are all within a short driving distance to Ubud. I recommend making Ubud your home base, then taking day trips out to the countryside. Drivers can be easily hired through your hotel, and they’re surprisingly affordable. And though the majority of sights are located just outside the city center, there are a wealth of incredible restaurants to choose from directly in downtown Ubud.
There’s so much more to see and do beyond these suggestions, but I hope that this give you a spark of inspiration to start planning your own trip to The Island of the Gods.
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hi there, I’m angi the founder of roam & gather. My mission is to curate joy-centered, small group journeys that are relaxed, intimate, and rooted in culture, community and slowness.
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