I’ve been lucky enough to visit and travel around Bali now on multiple occasions. It is a great holiday destination that offers an affordable vacation close to Australia. There are many things to do in Bali to do as well while enjoying your stay on the Indonesian Island, you can visit a volcano, check out ancient Hindu temples or just relax on the beach all holiday, and the choice is yours. Let’s have a closer look at the things to do in Bali Indonesia.
Below are some of the cool things I have done while in Bali that I am sure will appeal to some people planning their trip. If you are still in the planning stages of your trip, then suss out the flight prices as well as my recommended “Where to Stay” guide of hotels in Bali first.
Bali Monkey Forest
This is a famous destination on the island and as a result, there are many things to do in Ubud Bali, so much so that many people decide to spend a few nights here. It is especially popular with newlyweds on a Bali honeymoon. The most popular reason people come and check out this beautiful jungle town is to see the cheeky residents.
These residents are of course the Balinese long-tailed Monkey and they are found in the Bali monkey forest known as the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. It is located just on the bottom side of the town center. If you are not staying in Ubud it is best to find a local driver to transport you there or package up a day excursion with them that can include visiting the Rice Terraces, which I have mentioned below.
The best driver I have found in Bali is named Dek and if you mention my name when enquiring he will be sure to offer you a great price and look after you for the day.
Contact Dek via Facebook
Once inside the Monkey Forest, you are free to explore at your own pace. There are vendors located throughout the park that are selling bananas to feed the monkeys. I didn’t do this, but I did get plenty of entertainment watching other people get their bananas stolen by these professional thieves.
Bananas are not the only thing these monkeys will attempt to steal though so be sure to place your sunglasses and any other loose items inside your bag. Make sure you have your camera, wallet, and phone secure as well. I even had one jump on me and undo my backpack before trying to take whatever he could. Luckily, I managed to stop him quickly enough before any damage was done.
The grounds inside the Forest are peaceful and offer a nice escape from the hectic streets you may have been experiencing in Kuta. Well worth a day to explore Ubud while visiting Bali.
Accommodation venues for Ubud can be found here
If You Want To Head To Ubud While In Bali Then These Tours Are A Great Choice:
Travel To A Small Island For A Bali Day Trip
One of my favorite Bali places to visit and activities to do while there is to catch a fast boat out to one of the close Islands. My personal favorite is Lembongan island and bridge-connected Ceningan Island.
Grab a fast boat ticket in advance
These are only a short boat trip away from the beautiful Sanur area and are perfect for a quick day trip or they also offer plenty of accommodation options if an island escape is more your style of holiday. Once you arrive at port you will have plenty of locals offering you different types of day trips or excursions around the island. It can be a little overwhelming so just stay focused, take your time and choose the trip you like, or do as I do and hire a scooter.
Find accommodation options and prices to stay on Lembongan Island
The roads here are super quiet and hiring a scooter, in my opinion, is the best way to spend the day exploring Lembongan island at your own pace. You can stop and go snorkeling or swimming at some of the close offshore reefs without needing to pay for a tour. Even a not-so-good swimmer, like myself, can handle the quick swim out fine and the water is never very deep. You will see many different local fish species swimming in the coral reefs if lucky.
From there the rest of the island and coastline is yours to tour around on, there are only really two main roads so getting lost is never an issue. Check out the local houses, stop at stunning cliff-lined shores with crystal blue water or find a restaurant. You will find plenty of them that are serving cold Bintang, offering local food and a refreshing swimming pool. This is where you will certainly fall in love with the Bali travel lifestyle.
Head To The Islands On A Tailored Made Tour If You Want A Private Beach All To Yourself Thanks To Your Yacht:
Visit The Rice Terraces Of Ubud Bali
The rice terraces are another of my favorite Bali things to do, as mentioned before I think this is best to combine with a visit to the Monkey Forest. Remember that I suggest finding a local driver for the day as this is your best way to combine both activities, I’ve also finished my day visiting these two destinations by also seeing Uluwatu and watching a Bali sunset. I have mentioned above the best driver I’ve found while visiting Bali and you can contact him on Facebook here.
The rice fields are just a site of beauty and somehow make you feel calm and relaxed as soon as you begin to walk through them. You can wander around the fields at your own pace taking in the stunning surroundings and ensuring you are getting just the right Instagram angle for your latest post.
Tours That Allow You To See The Rice Fields And Other Balinese Sites:
If you are wanting to spend longer than a day trip amongst the rice terraces this is one of the most romantic areas in Bali to stay with a loved one.
Great accommodation options for couples
Jimbaran Seafood Dinner – Sitting Right On The Beach
If you want fresh quality seafood while visiting Bali with unrivaled views of the ocean, then this is the best place to head to. It is just south of Kuta and easy to reach with a driver. You will be dining right on the beach with all the chairs and tables located right on the sand.
You have the chance to order from the menu or head inside and pick the exact piece of fresh seafood you would like. Watching the sun disappear and enjoying a delicious Jimbaran Seafood dinner is always a great idea and this place delivers on every level.
The staff here were also some of the friendliest I come across as they deal with tourists every day. That being said Balinese people, in general, are what make Bali travel so addictive in my opinion, they are just the nicest people you could hope to meet.
Tours That Finish With An Evening Meal At Jimbaran:
Enjoying Bali Nightlife In Kuta
If you are staying in or anywhere near Kuta then chances are you have planned to have a night or two experiencing Kuta, Bali nightlife. Despite lots of rumors and stories, you may have heard, heading out to Bali can be an awesome night. Is Bali safe happens to be one of the first things people ask me when I mention Bali travel? It’s a horrible reputation that is slowly disappearing and I hope with more blogs like this people will become more aware of how many amazing things to do in Bali there are and be less concerned by untrue facts.
Some areas may be a little unsafe for tourists, just like most cities, but if you stay at locations where other tourists are then be prepared for a great night out. The music, drinks, and nightclubs in Kuta are fantastic. They are cheap as well compared to prices that you might be used to. Bali weather and overall relaxed vibe also ensure that nights out are possible in board shorts, singlets, and flip-flops, perfect in my opinion.
Sky Garden is one of the bigger clubs in Kuta Beach and if you head there it offers a great evening. They do an awesome value buffet dinner option, that changes each night, it will get your stomach lined with some much-needed food and includes an all-you-can-drink bonus between 5-9 pm. If you’re game this is a great way to start the evening.
Other clubs of choice in Kuta that you should visit include Bounty Discotheque, Paddy’s Pub (you just can’t escape the Irish pubs), Engine Room, and VH Bali (Hypnotized Club). As long as you are smart and use common sense, the same as you do anywhere else, then Kuta can be a great night out you probably won’t remember.
Handy Tip: If you leave your drink or get confused about which one is yours just get another one, again this should be common sense wherever you are in the world.
If you’re planning a few nights of partying in Kuta then planning and grabbing a hotel, hostel or other means of accommodation is a smart move. It saves trying to get taxis or drivers late at night after one or two too many drinks.
I have a blog with the best accommodation options in each area of Bali, find my recommendations for Kuta and other areas of Bali, or search for some of your options.
Safari Zoo With A Wide Selection Of Animals
Bali Zoo is a cool choice of things to do in Bali, especially if you have kids. It has a well-designed layout and allows you to get up close with the animals. You can walk around at your own pace and take in the different areas with animals from all over the world. You can even go on a mini safari trip to see some of Africa’s favorite wildlife. The wildlife you can expect to see will include crocodiles, Lions, Wild Pigs, Bears, different birds, monkey varieties, Deer, Tigers, and Elephants.
There are also plenty of added extras that you can include to your entry ticket if desired to truly visit here a lasting memory. Have you ever wanted to have a bath with an Elephant, enjoy your breakfast with an Orangutan or maybe finish the day off sharing your dinner with Giant Elephants? Well, all that and more is possible to include with your visit.
If dining with the animals isn’t your thing then just head to the restaurants or dining options located throughout the zoo and if you want to pamper yourself then maybe look at getting one of the many spa treatments on offer.
Purchase Your Ticket Before You Head To The Zoo To Save Time Lining Up:
Bali Zoo General Admission Ticket
Whitewater Rafting In Indonesia
This was a day trip I organized while staying in Sanur. I had never white-water rafted up until that stage, I have now rafted the Zambezi River, and was eager to give it a go. I was a little nervous as I wasn’t sure how the safety side of things was going to be in a place like Bali but to my surprise it was excellent. All the safety gear and rafting equipment were in top condition, further proof of yes to the question is Bali safe in my opinion.
The white-water rafting itself was around an hour and a half drive away from Kuta depending on traffic and ends up being a full-day excursion so prepare yourself for that if interested in having a go. The rafting is of good quality but has since done it elsewhere I now know there are better rapids about it.
Overall it was a really fun day out though and if you have a few extra days in Bali or want a break from the beach or tourist crowds for a day then this is a highly recommended thing to do in Bali.
As mentioned, I have now tamed what is regarded as the greatest grade 5 circuit in the world on the Zambezi River in Africa. Have a read of that trip here.
Great Tour Options For This Action-Packed Day Out Are:
One Of The Coolest Things To Do In Bali – is Kintamani Volcano Or Mount Batur
How often can you say you have seen an active volcano in your life? Chances are not many, I’m guessing, and if you say different then what is wrong with you? Those things can erupt at any time you know… Although I have done a day trip to Europe’s most active volcano which was pretty cool.
But let’s put that fear aside for a moment and discuss one of the coolest things to do in Bali, visiting the Kintamani Volcano. There are an abundant amount of tours that offer different degrees of adventures including the volcano trek, an incredible experience you’re unlikely to forget anytime soon.
Check out tours that feature getting up close and personal with Mount Batur
If you are the less adventurous type but still think seeing a volcano from a safe distance is a cool thing to do then there are loads of tours that offer that option along with combining it with some of the options I have also mentioned throughout this blog.
Find day trips that combine viewing Kintamani Volcano from a sensible and safe distance
If you are a little more adventurous then, as mentioned, Bali has you covered for options. You can choose to mountain bike ride down the side of Kintamani Volcano or trek up it to watch a magical Balinese sunset from the top (be warned it’s an early start). You can even enjoy a breakfast cooked by the lava stream straight from the volcano if you choose the trekking option. I told you it was one of the coolest Bali things to do.
Below Are A Couple Of The Tours I Would Recommend If You Fancy Seeing Bali’s Kintamani Volcano:
Chill Out At The Waterbomb Park At Kuta, Bali
This place will promise to bring the big kid out in even the most serious of adults. It is located in the middle of Kuta and is easily reached by either a short taxi ride or a walk through the streets.
The rides vary and offer something for everyone, there are kid’s areas as well as rides sure to raise the heartbeat of the bravest of tourists. I went with a group of mates for the day and it was the perfect way to dust off a hangover that promised to derail any other plans I had.
The safety side is as you would expect to see anywhere else in the world and the water quality was to match. A worthwhile day out if you have an extra day or two while in Bali and want to escape the shopping or beach life.
Find a list of the rides found at the park and then grab the tickets in advance with Viator.
Watch The Sunset At Uluwatu Point
Crowds flock to Uluwatu every evening to watch the beautiful sunset that occurs on the point. I had been to Bali a few times before I finally made my way down to Uluwatu Point and watch the sun dropping into the ocean floor.
It is one of the most popular things to do in Bali so I have added it here but in my personal opinion, it was one of the most overrated touristy things you could ever imagine. Don’t get me wrong the sunset was lovely but I have seen similar elsewhere and just left me a little underwhelmed.
I think the fact I spent over an hour with my driver Dek stuck in traffic while trying to get to Uluwatu Point and then an hour or so returning at snail’s pace afterward dampened my experience though.
Again, this is best to combine with a day’s excursion of any of the combination of the activities above. Aim to finish here before heading back to your accommodation. Be prepared for the long car queues and plenty of waiting around but by all means head there and watch the sunset, plenty of others will be doing exactly that.
Below Are Some Trips That Include Finishing At Uluwatu Point For Sunset:
If you are spending some time in Bali and want some tips on accommodation places, then jump over to my “Where to stay guide of Bali” it is packed with awesome places to stay for every budget and personal style. I’ve stayed in villas, guest houses, resorts, and hotels on my trips to Bali, I’ve found the good ones and also the not-so-good ones so learn from me and avoid the issues.
Likewise, I have featured a couple of my favorite accommodations on the website with their review. If heading to Bali just head over and have a read of all the Balinese content in one spot.
Have a great time in Bali it is an amazingly misunderstood destination that is beginning to return to the tourist hub it once was in the past. If you would like to know any more information just add a comment in the section below and I will answer it as soon as possible.
