The best of Bali: top ways to find your own piece of paradise
Whether you like to surf, practice yoga, trek on volcanoes, dive pristine reefs or go white-water rafting, Bali offers all sorts of wild and fascinating experiences that will push back your travel boundaries. On the “island of the gods,” you’ll find an opportunity for relaxation and pampering, too – it's not all about adventure and adrenaline.
To get you started, here's our pick of the best things to do on a trip to Bali.
Grab a surf board and catch the Bali pipeline
Bali is celebrated as one of the top spots for surfing on the planet. While the island is legendary for world-class waves such as Uluwatu, Padang Padang (“the Balinese Pipeline”) and the aptly named Impossibles, countless other spots are perfect for intermediate surfers or beginners.
Canggu and Kuta Beach are the best hubs on the island for novice surfers. Canggu has plenty of board rental stands and surf schools offering lessons; check out Echo Beach for relatively mellow waves where you can find your feet. More board rental places and surf schools can be found along Kuta Beach, and the waves here are – under normal circumstances – even more chilled for learning.
However, a lot of beginners find out the hard way that high tide at Kuta brings steep, heavy shore-breakers that are often challenging even for experienced surfers. Aim to have your lessons close to low tide and save the tougher waves for later in your surfing career.
If you'd rather escape the crowds, Medewi in West Bali is one of Bali’s least-known waves. The point itself is covered in boulders, so it’s best for intermediate or experienced surfers, but you'll find 10km (6.2 miles) of sandy-bottom beach-breaks on either side of Medewi that rarely see a surfer.
Raft the white waters of the Ayung Valley
Jungle rivers cascade down from the volcanic highlands in the center of Bali, carving great ravines that are one of the most unexpected features of Bali’s geography. The southern hills are quite densely populated, and rafting is often the best way to experience these still unspoiled jungle canyons.
Bali’s rivers may not offer the world’s most challenging rapids, but what you lose in adrenaline, you gain in the sheer pleasure of seeing the Ubud area from a totally unexpected angle. It’s hard to believe that such pristine forest valleys can exist just a stone’s throw from bustling Ubud town.
Mason Adventures is one of the most reputable rafting companies and runs the longest rafting trips along the Ayung Valley, clocking in at 12km (7.5 miles). You can combine an Ayung Valley rafting trip with a 30km (18.5 mile) mountain bike tour that runs almost entirely downhill.
Go on “safari” in Bali’s wild west
It's different in West Bali. Away from the crowds, you can watch in awe as critically endangered Bali starlings flit overhead, while wild ebony leaf monkeys loop through the canopy and giant monitor lizards flick their tongues to taste the air. Herds of Menjangan deer even come right up to the beach bungalows – they’re famous for coming to cool their heels in the shallows. It’s hard to imagine that you’re still on the crowded and sometimes overdeveloped tourist island of Bali.
You can only visit West Bali National Park with a guide, but even if you’re traveling independently outside the reserve, it’s impossible to shake the impression that West Bali has something fundamentally “wild” about it. To catch the mood, try trekking in the surprisingly arid hills of the cactus country or along the vineyard-filled north coast, or watch macaques run wild at the many temples in the area.
Just east of the national park boundary, The Menjangan is the most unexpectedly wild resort on the entire island. Even if you’re not staying here, you can rent cycles and book guided walks and horse-riding and birdwatching tours.
Align your chakras and live the yogi dream
Yoga has been practiced on the Hindu island of Bali for over 1000 years, but the boom years for commercial yoga began in the early years of this century. Ubud in particular has made a name for itself as Southeast Asia's yoga capital.
Yoga Barn, which began with one humble yoga shall (practice space) in 2007, has grown to become a fixture on the Ubud scene, with seven studios running a whopping 130 classes a week. There’s a restaurant, a cafe, a yoga store and even accommodations for students who come here for teacher training or specialist courses.
More low-key, offering only 60 classes a week, Radiantly Alive has become a firm favorite with local yogis in the know. It’s located on a quiet alleyway in the old town and is popular with students who enjoy a more intimate, communal atmosphere. Radiantly Alive also has a yoga studio in Canggu.
Dive Bali’s tropical waters surrounded by splendor
Lying at the center of the Coral Triangle, Indonesia boasts some of the richest marine habitats on the planet, and Bali has its share of top diving and snorkeling spots. The entire north coast, which is spared the waves of the south, is a watery wonderland for diving and snorkeling aficionados. The island of Nusa Lembongan is a good place to start; Bali Hai runs diving day trips to “Manta Alley” and other local sites, as well as full PADI certification courses.
Menjangan Island off Bali’s northwest tip also offers world-class diving without the crowds. You'll see the entire spectrum of reef fish, alongside turtles, reef sharks and, if you’re lucky, dolphins and whale sharks. The Menjangan rents kayaks and can arrange guided diving and snorkeling trips to the island. Read More…
