Every year, over 7 million people visit the island of Bali (located in the country of Indonesia) to enjoy a tropical vacation.
Are you one of these lucky 7 million people who get to visit Bali this year?
If so, you’re probably ecstatic to go. But, you’re also probably wondering what you should do when you get there.
While Bali isn’t by any means a huge place, there is a lot to see and do there. And, being that it’s a part of a developing nation, getting around isn’t always easy. This means that you should have a rough idea of what you’re going to do before you land.
So, what are the must-do activities in Bali?
Check out this guide to learn about the top things to do in Bali.
1. Explore the Tegalalang Rice Terraces
Rice terraces are an iconic part of Bali’s scenery, which is why you simply need to set aside time to explore the Tegalalang Rice Terraces.
Just north of Ubud, these rice terraces are worth waking up early for. And, besides enjoying the view of the rice terraces from up high, you can also go down and walk in them and get an up-close look of the paddies and farmers who tend to them.
After you finish walking through the terraces, you can explore the main road of Tegalalang, which has roadside stalls and art shops as well as small restaurants.
2. Ubud Monkey Forest
We’ve all seen monkeys climbing around in zoos before. But, it’s not until you see a monkey in its natural habitat that you’ve really gotten the full experience.
And this is exactly why you need to go to the Ubud Monkey Forest. In this forest, you can watch hoards of grey-tailed macaques at play as they swing through canopies and eat bananas.
While there, you can also take a stroll through the nutmeg forest where you’ll find beautiful accent temples covered in moss.
3. Visit the Ulu Watu Temple
Bali is filled with temples, and figuring out which ones are actually worth visiting can be tough.
But, if you only have time for one temple, make it the Ulu Watu. Not only is the temple itself gorgeous, but it also offers breathtaking views of the ocean coast and cliffs that drop into the sea.
However, keep in mind that Ulu Watu is also home to some naughty little monkey who isn’t afraid to rob you in plain sight. They especially like shiny things- so make sure you have your phone and your camera tucked away safely.
4. Experience a Kecack Show
If you want to experience an up-close look at Bali’s culture, then attending a Kecak show is the thing to do.
Also known as the Ramayana Monkey Chant, a Kecak show is a performance in which 150 men chant (making a “cak” sound) as they move their arms and legs.
The show depicts a battle from an ancient Hindu poem, and the performance always takes place at nighttime while being surrounded by fire.
5. Eat, Eat, Eat
In the famous movie Eat, Pray, Love, we see Julia Roberts hop from Italy to India to Indonesia. Italy she goes to eat, India she goes to pray, and Indonesia she goes to find love.
But, we think she should have extended her eating adventures to Indonesia, as Bali has some seriously delicious food.
Bali is chock full of amazing restaurants, and as an added bonus, much of Balinese food is extremely healthy and vegan, especially in Ubud. If you can’t decide where to start on your food journey, consider taking a food tour.
There are food tours that specifically focus on the cuisine of Ubud, street food, or on authentic Balinese food.
And, if you really want to take a deep dive into the local cuisine, you should also take a cooking class. There are many cooking classes throughout the island that allow you to cook an authentic Balinese dish from start to finish. And, they even start by taking you to the local markets to shop for fresh produce.
6. Get Active
If you’re someone who likes to stay active when on vacation, then you’re in luck when visiting Bali.
Although Bali may not have any major international sports teams, the island itself is considered a mecca for surfers, yogis, hikers, scuba divers and more.
Here are some great ways to stay active in Bali:
Take a Surfing Lesson
You can find surfing lessons for a reasonable price at pretty much any beach you go to. And, don’t worry if you’re a total beginner. A lot of people come to Bali to try surfing for the first time.
Scuba Diving
Bali is considered one of the world’s premier destinations for scuba divers. In Bali, you can see beautiful coral reefs, shipwrecks, sharks, turtles, and all kinds of brightly-colored fish.
Yoga
Although the practice of yoga began in India, Bali has become somewhat of a haven for yogis around the world. There are many yoga studios throughout the island that could offer the finest studios in LA or New York a run for their money.
Or, if you really want to take a deep dive into your practice, you could consider taking part in a yoga Bali retreat.
Hiking
Bali may not have the snow-capped mountains that Colorado does, but, it does have some volcanoes that you can hike!
The most famous volcano to hike is Mount Batur, which is an active volcano that is also considered to one of the most sacred places in Hinduism.
To climb this volcano, you will need to hire a tour guide and you’ll have to begin the hike around 3 in the morning. But, once you get a view of the sunset and the island overlooking this beautiful volcano, you’ll see that the trek was well worth it.
Things to Do in Bali: Are You Ready to Explore This Beautiful Island?
As you can see, there are a lot of things to do in Bali, and even more that we didn’t mention on this list!
What are you most excited to explore in Bali? Let us know in the comments below. And, be sure to check back in with our blog for more travel tips and tricks.
