Things to do in Bali

With so many amazing things to do in Bali, it’s hard to know where to start! Visiting a temple festival is definitely a good place to experience the culture. The temple festivals take place somewhere in Bali almost every day and they provide a great opportunity to see the island decked out in ceremonial splendour. Replete with incense, offerings, food, music and dance, these festivals provide an authentic taste of the island’s culture.

Bali is renowned for its great surfing spots. The peak surf season is April to October when the southeast trade winds blow offshore and the full force of the southern ocean swells hit the reefs around Kuta, Nusa Dua and the Bukit Badung peninsula. For novices and surfers of intermediate ability, there are plenty of mellow beach breaks.

Bali offers divers and snorkelers some of the world’s finest tropical reefs. The water is warm and the marine life is abundant. Reputable dive schools, dive resorts and operators offer facilities, equipment and tuition for every PADI course from beginners’ discovery dives to the highest recreational level. Diving is without a doubt one of the best things to do in Bali!

Gili Trawangan is the most famous of the Gili islands, with a reputation as ‘the party island’ – thanks to the wild parties held at its bars and restaurants. Familiarly known as Gili T, Trawangan still maintains its timeless tropical paradise charm, but now has a wider range of facilities to cater to a broader spectrum of travellers.

With its tropical rainforests, gentle volcanic slopes and ancient terraces, Gunung Batukaru and its hinterlands are some of the most scenic places in all of Bali. There are some lovely rural hideaways up there: comfort in Wongayagede, eco-chic in Sarinbuana or escapism near Jantiluwih.

A great repository of Balinese culture, the Bali Museum (Museum Negeri Propinsi Bali) is Denpasar’s top attraction and provides an excellent introduction to the island’s culture, past and present.

Marooned on a craggy, wave-lashed rock just off the southwest coast, Pura Tanah Lot is the island’s holiest temple. Fringed by white surf and black sand, its multitiered shrines are an unofficial symbol of Bali, appearing on countless souvenirs.

Also known as Bali’s arty heart, Ubud has beautifully sited accommodation, great restaurants, shops and galleries; set amid lush, terraced rice paddies, there’s plenty of scope for hikes and bicycle rides.

An engaging mix of surf beaches, organic cafés and paddy fields make Canggu a mecca for Bali’s creative, leisured crowd: think stylish hotels, uber-luxe villas, pilates studios and hipster barber shops where beard grooming is an art form.

Herbal medicines and massages using oils and pastes made from locally grown plants have long played an important role in traditional Indonesian health care. Spas and salons offering traditional beauty treatments can be found all over the island, catering to a range of budgets. What better way to relax in Bali than with a traditional spa treatment?