The Beautiful Island of Bali – The TOP 8 Activities you shouldn’t miss

Bali is a magical place that is totally unique in its culture and religion. You will find nothing like that anywhere else in the world. More Western tourists are settling permanently on this tiny island in the middle of Indonesia, and it’s quite understandable. This island does not only attract tourists with its beautiful beaches, but also with an atmosphere that can not be described; it must be experienced. So read more about what not to miss in Bali and one bonus tip for a short trip from Bali.

The Balinese love temples. No wonder it is said that this island has more temples than houses. You will find here royal temples, family temples, or temples built in honor of a particular God. Local people even build temples inside their homes. They also often dress sacred trees into colored fabrics. Each God must be honored honestly, and so every day, the ceremony takes place in the temples in honor of the Gods. The Balinese give them gift packages, flowers and burn scented sticks. Every minute, there is a celebration or a ceremony somewhere in Bali – read how New Year is celebrated in Bali.

It is truly admirable to realize that this island is predominantly Hindu in an otherwise Islamic Indonesia. Moreover, this religion is called Bali Hinduism because it has its own specifics, which can be found solely in Bali. In the past, people came here because of Islam, which was gradually expanding throughout Indonesia. After that, they faced the pressure of the British and the Dutch, who sought to Christianize the island in the 19th century. Nobody has ever been able to take away the Balinese traditions, and that is why this island is currently most visited throughout Indonesia.

1. Ubud

At present, Ubud is a cultural city full of art, dance, ideal for relaxation and meditation. That is why you will find a relaxation centre and spa in each corner. The city is rich in spiritual atmosphere, and although there is no access to the sea, the number of tourists is increasing like mushrooms after the rain. Ubud is also the centre of yoga, where people come to experience various yoga classes from all over the world. People also come here for culinary courses that are organized every day and have a chance to taste the local cuisine. So this is truly one of the places not to miss in Bali.

Beautiful temples can be seen throughout Ubud

Probably the biggest attraction is dance ensembles that perform here every night. Accompanied by a gamelan orchestra and in traditional masks and colorful costumes, the Balinese dance passages from Hindu epics. It’s a really admirable performance, especially if you’re going to a fire show. If you are looking to relax from the urban bustle, there are the most beautiful terraced fields just behind the town.

You can get almost anything on the local market

2. Monkey Forest

If you visit Ubud, definitely do not miss the Monkey Forest. A beautiful forest covered with tropical trees, which is home to about 600 macaques. It’s an ideal walk for curious tourists who want to experience some excitement. There is certainly no lack of monkeys, and it’s really important to consider all precautions. Macaques are used to people, so they are quite daring. What they see, they will immediately take from you, shamelessly. And if you show defiance, then monkeys will warn you with their teeth. Local guards sell bananas, so you can feed the curious monkeys directly from your hand. If your attitude toward macaques is to see them as wild animals and you behave with caution, then there is no reason to be afraid.

Female macaque with baby

Bali monkeys are really very curious and cuddly

3. Pura Besakih – Mother’s Temple

The largest complex of Hindu temple in Bali has its origins in the 8th century. It is located on the sacred mountain of Gunung Agung, with a magnificent view of the surrounding area. It includes up to 23 temples, but not every one of them is accessible to tourists. Some temples only remain open to believing Hindus. The three most important temples are dedicated to Hindu gods, such as Brahma – The creator, Vishnu – The protector and Shiva– The destroyer of the world. According to Hinduism, the world is again being destroyed and constantly restored. According to the behaviour of believers who follow the law of the Dharma universe, their karma is determined. Because Hindus believe in reincarnation, they can improve or offend in the next life.

Pura Besakih. the main steps

Pura Besakih – inside the temple

4. Bukit Peninsula – the best conditions for surfing

The beaches in Bali are mostly grey-black from volcanic activity. However, you can find beautiful white-golden beaches on this peninsula that people from all over the world want to visit. Bukit is totally specific and quite different from the whole of Bali. Its landscape is more dry and arid, but there are beautiful cliffs and interesting rock formations that break the sea waves. Definitely do not expect abandoned beaches, as local conditions are renowned for lovers of the surf. There’s a lot of surfers here, and for them, surfing around  the Bukit peninsula is one of the best experiences not to miss in Bali.

The Surfer on the wave in Bali

The beaches of Bali are magnificent and the sea colour is really blue

The most beautiful beach of Uluwatu offers a view of the open sea. There is a beautiful sunset here every evening, which can not be seen anywhere else. There are also many temples in Bukit that are dedicated to the God of the sea. This is also why there is a huge building boom on this peninsula, and resorts with hotels are growing here like mushrooms after the rain.

The beautiful sunset at Uluwatu

5. Tirta Gangga Garden – the royal water palace

The water palace, surrounded by a beautiful garden full of ponds and fountains, was built in 1947 by King Karangasem. There are exotic flowers and plants along the water pools, which are full of golden carps. The entire splendor is dominated by an 11-degree fountain, located in the middle of the park. The entire splendor is dominated by an 11-tier fountain, located in the middle of the park. The place was named after the river Ganges, which flows through India and is worshipped by Hindus as the “mother of the Gods.” The garden was damaged in 1963 by the explosion of the nearby volcano called Gunung Agung, but it has been carefully restored. The whole area is not too large, but you can spend very pleasant moments in the garden. For a small fee, you can even bathe in some pools, but the water is really cold.

The main fountain the Tirta Gangga garden

Close to the water garden, there are restaurants and cafés with a view of the entire complex. The whole neighborhood is full of terraced rice fields, which are beautiful in every season. Do not miss the Pura Lempuyang Luhur Temple that lies about 10 km from the water garden. This sacred temple is carved out of white stone and rises at 1058 meters above sea level and has a wonderful view of the surroundings. At the time of my visit, we were the only tourists there.

Small steps that will allow you to walk in the middle of the pools

6. Tirta Empul Temple – A temple with holy spring water

The Tirta Empul Temple was founded around a large water spring in 962 A.D. right on the mountain springs that Balinese people consider to be curative. According to the legend, the mighty King Mayadenawy was not popular among the people for his rule. One day, his subjects have rebelled, and his whole army rose up against the king. The king was on the run and created several poisoned springs to kill his pursuers. In order to catch him, the Hindu God of weather had to intervene and also Batar Indra, who was the King of heaven. He created another spring that functioned as an antidote and was called Tirtha Empul, which means “holy water.” The king was finally captured with his help and killed.

The locals go to the temple regularly to wash

Now, the temple is the pilgrimage site of the Baltics who believe that the water springs have healing effects and so they come here from across the island. The water that flows here is concentrated in the surrounding pools by means of nobles. Believers wash their heads under them to cleanse themselves from sin. Each nozzle has its own specific meaning and protects from something else. The spring turns into the Pakristian River, which flows through the Gunung Kawi Temple, which is located along the river. I walked into the sacred water as well, but I just symbolically dipped my ankles. Whatever magical the spring is, the mountain water is really cold.

We have tried a magic water, but it was so cold

7. Gunung Kawi Temple – Tombs of kings in the rocks

Gunung Kawi is a temple complex dating back to the eleventh century. The tombs are built in a deep valley on the Parkrisan River, surrounded by terraced rice fields. The temple is located about 25 kilometers north of Ubud, and it is one of the oldest and largest monuments in Bali. The path to the valley is surrounded by small shops, where local people exhibit their carving art. After a few steps, there is a huge valley in front of you, surrounded by palm trees with rice fields, waiting for you to descend more than 300 stairs right down to the river itself. It is lined by roughly seven-meter high rocks into which the royal tombs of the Udayan dynasty are carved. Since no remains of the dead have been found on the site, experts believe that the temple would have been only symbolic and, in fact, there are no real graves.

The tombs of the kings in the rock

Water in small troughs has been flowing through gravestones for more than 1,000 years and is considered to be healing. If you walk along the river, you will find old niches in the rock that serves as a prayer for the local believer. We met several Hindus who prayed for the candidate who they had just chosen for the ongoing elections. Well, whether their prayers were heard, we did not have a chance to find out.

Beautiful rice fields that surround the temple complex

8. Tulamben – Diving in the wreck of the ship

What not to miss in Bali, in any case? Diving in the wreck of a ship located in Tulamben.

The American Liberty ship was torpedoed by the Japanese near Indonesia’s Lombok Island. From there, it was taken to the island of Bali to Tulamben to wait for dismantling. In 1963, during the explosion of the Mt. Agung volcano, it was thrown back into the sea, where it was gradually overgrown by corals and became a refuge for many species of fish. At present, it is a very popular tourist attraction. The Liberty Shipwreck is easily accessible from the shore and rests at a depth of 3-29 meters, making it also suitable for beginners. In good weather, the wreck can also be seen during snorkelling. The ship’s hull is covered with various seaweed and sea anemones, which are home to a vast array of fish. During the dive, you will be totally impressed with the ocean‘s ability to dominate everything that finds itself on the bottom of the ocean. The best time for diving in the wreck is between May and July and then between October and November.

Bali has a beautiful underwater life

#. Bonus Tip – Kawah Ijen Volcanic Crater

Go for a one day trip to Java the next island and hike to the top of the volcano to see blue fire and an amazing sunrise. Check out what this looked like on our tour to Kawah Ijen.

If you don’t know how to see all these places during your visit, you can check out this 10-days Bali itinerary.

What are your places not to miss in Bali? Let us know in the comments below.

READ NEXT: The New Year’s Celebrations in Bali

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