As many of you might have heard, Bali has reopened with no quarantine and Visa on Arrival (for 23 countries so far). So start packing your bags, book your flights, get your PCR tests done and get ready to explore Bali once again!
There are so many things to do when travelling around the beautiful “Island of the Gods” so we have narrowed it down to 12 of our top things to do in Bali. Read on and add some of these adventures to your itinerary.
Enjoy snorkelling right off the beach
The coral reefs directly in front of Villa Cocoa Maya allow for the presence of beautiful and diverse fish in warm swimming water. If you prefer, local fisherman can take you snorkelling further afield at the little islands just off the coastline, or at the Blue Lagoon at Padangbaai, or further east at White Sand Beach.
Visit quirky Tirtagangga
Tirtagangga (Water of the Ganges) is a beautiful water palace which belongs to the royal family of Karangasem. It is an easy 30-minute drive from Villa Cocoa Maya through beautiful rice paddies, with excellent views of Mt Agung, Bali’s biggest volcano.
Get spiritual at Besakih temple
Besakih Temple is the most important temple in Bali and it is well worth the visit. It is situated on the slopes of the volcano, Mt Agung, and is surrounded by beautiful scenery.
Adrenalise with white water rafting
White water rafting is a fun way to see Bali’s beautiful river scenery while enjoying a shot of adrenaline. There are three main rivers for rafting with different categories of rapids – something for everyone.
Climb Mount Agung
Bali’s highest and holiest mountain. It takes a bout 3-7 hours to ascend depending on which route you choose. Not for the faint hearted, you need to be physically fit, preferably with trekking experience. A guide is compulsory.
Visit Goa Gajah
Goa Gojah, a significant Hindu archaeological site, it is a 10 minute drive from Villa Sagitta in Ubud. It consists of a mysterious cave , relics and ancient bathing pools set amid green rice paddies and a garden. Goa Gojah is colloquially known as Elephant Cave, because of its close proximity to Elephant River.
Purify at Tirtha Empul
Tirtha Empul is a Hindu temple, built in 926 AD at a site where there was a large spring. It is famous for its holy water, and this is where many Hindu Bali people go for purification. A short drive from one of our villas, Tirtha Empul is a very active temple and as such is an interesting place to observe Hindu devotees purifying themselves by means of ritual bathing. It is especially recommended to visit during the full moon.
Spend the day at Waterbom
Waterbom in Kuta is probably one of Bali’s most professionally run attractions. Voted the 2nd best water park in the world (#1 in Asia), it is a wonderful day out, with or without kids. Make sure you book a private Gazebo or Balinese bale, it is a bit extra but definitely worth it if you are planning on spending the day there (and you will!)
Visit the Bali Bird Park
Not too far from Villa Bebek, the Bali Bird Park has over 250 species of birds with exhibits dedicated to different parts of Asia and the world. You can also see the Komodo Dragons in the reptile side of the park. A popular tourist attraction and a relaxing day out.
The famous Bali swing
It is a huge tourist attraction so can get busy, but if you need that Instagram post then it’s a must. There are 13 swings and 5 nests ranging in heights of up to 78 meters overlooking the lush Balinese rainforest. Book in advance.
Uluwatu Temple
Perched on the cliffs of the Uluwatu peninsula (known as the bukit) lies the Uluwatu temple, one of the 9 directional temples on Bali protecting the island from evil spirits (and therefore important)! If you want to see it, its probably worth combining the temple visit with sundowners at the Rock Bar or dinner at Jimbaran fish market.
Admire the herons of Petulu
The white herons of Petulu can be found a short drive from Villa Sagitta. Every evening at about 6pm the birds descend into the village of Petulu. The spectacle lasts about 2 hours. Legend has it that the birds arrived one evening in 1965 after the massacre of thousands of Indonesians and never left. The herons are said to be inhabited by the souls of the victims of the massacre.
If all you want to do is lie on a beach and sip cocktails there are still a number of beautiful beaches to choose from…but that’s for another blog 😊
Start making your travel arrangements now as #itstimeforbali