I gotta admit that when I first headed to Bali, I was sceptical. I expected to find an overcrowded island completely lost its authenticity and identity with more Australians and Westerners roaming the streets than local Indonesians. And to some parts of Bali, this totally holds true but you’d be surprised how large the island actually is and if you know where to go, you’ll find exactly the kind of tranquillity, culture immersion, uniqueness and charm that made me fall for Bali so completely and so passionately. I love the place but if you’re visiting just for a few days, you can easily make the mistake to hit only the ”wrong” kinda places, so here is a short but very well selected list of places you must add to your Bali itinerary, however long.
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Contents
BRAHMA VIHARA ARAMA BUDDHIST TEMPLE
Bali is Indonesia’s only island where Buddhism is the main religion so it’d crazy to go to Bali and not visit a single temple. If you’re gonna visit just one temple whilst in Bali, Brahma Vihara Arama has to be it. I call this ”the little Borobudur”. Why? Quite simple actually … because this place honestly looks like a little Borobudur. Here you can see very similar stupas to the ones that give Borobudur its unique architectural style and mysteriousness. But there is more to this temple … it marvels with its beautiful gardens, stunning views over the North Bali sea (especially at sunset), Balinese decorative carvings, traditional statues and meditation rooms.
Location: 11km from Lovina in North Bali
Entrance: Donation only
Find everything you need to know about Brahma Viraha Arama and get inspired by more stunning photos of the place in this complete guide to the temple.
ALING ALING WATERFALLS
There are a lot of ways to describe Bali and one of them sure is a ”a holy land of waterfalls”. Honestly, you can spend days hopping from one waterfall to the next without the need to take a break and spice it up with something different. And these waterfalls, in particular, were my absolute favorite because here you actually get to test out your adventurous soul and jump and slide off the top of three waterfalls which honestly is incredible fun! But make sure to go early in the day as it does get busy the later it gets. I say waterfalls because although Aling Aling is the final aim of the game, on the way to it, you pass by three other smaller waterfalls all of which you can jump off from. This is the ultimate waterfall adventure and definitely not one to head to without your bikini 😀 Oh, and you can jump off different heights as well, starting from 5m all the way to 15m soooo take your anti-anxiety pills with you (haha just kidding).
Location: 13km from Lovina in North Bali
Entrance: IDR 125k if you opt to jump and slide (this includes a private guide as well) or IDR 20k just to view the waterfalls
HANDARA GATE BALI
Ok, I know what you’re thinking … This is silly 😀 It’s just a door to a golf course and you’re totally right but it’s so pretty! And it’s not only the actual gate that makes up for the view, the mountain views at the backdrop and colorful tree at the forefront really make up for a pretty grand entrance. The gate is a great example of the typical Balinese architectural style and is great proof that the Balinese have genuinely spread their authenticity and culture all over the entire island even at somewhat random places like a gate to a golf course 😀 That’s why I liked this place and stopped the scooter when I saw it from the side of the road and that’s why you should add it to your Bali itinerary too.
Location: Between Danau Beratan and Danau Buyan, 27km from Lovina
Entrance: IDR 10k
ULUN DANU BRATAN TEMPLE
This temple although not as phenomenal and tranquil as Brahma Arama is another favourite despite the crowds it tends to attract. It is actually a whole complex of five temples and one Buddhist Stupa so you can easily spend a couple of hours walking around and soaking up the culture. The location of this temple right by the lake is what makes this temple so high on photographers’ hit list and for those looking for a little adventure you can even cruise on the lake with a waterbike.
Location: 29km from Lovina in North Bali
Entrance: IDR 50k
TUKAD CEPUNG WATERFALL
Tukad Cepung is one of the more famous waterfalls in Bali but it is so for a great reason. A short trek alongside a lush path and some shallow waters take you to the almost canyon-like entrance leading up to the waterfall. Hiding behind a massive now quite instagrammable rock, the waterfall truly is phenomenal. What makes it particularly amazing though are the sun rays that penetrate into the otherwise shadowy waterfall grounds, making up for some pretty epic views. Unless you go really early in the morning, be prepared to queue up a bit before you can take a photo. This isn’t your place to go for a relaxing swim but you can get super super close to the waterfall to give yourself a good cold natural shower 😀 It’s so worth it so do add it to your Bali itinerary and don’t let its popularity put you off.
Location: 28km from Ubud in central Bali
Entrance: IDR 10k
TIBUMANA WATERFALL
Slightly less frequented I loved this waterfall not so much for the actual fall as much as for the short trek leading to it. Covered with lush greens from both sides, the path quickly transports you into a tropical jungle, giving you the awesome Bali feel of remoteness and tranquillity. You can’t jump off this waterfall but you can certainly get your swimming in so bring the bikini and the suncream. The best part about this waterfall is that it’s still kinda secret-y, in fact when I visited, it was only a handful of us even though by the time I had made it here, it was already midday. With a bit of luck and if you head there a bit earlier, you might even get the waterfall all to yourself.
Location: 14km from Ubud and 37km from Canngu
Entrance: IDR 10k
WANAGIRI HIDDEN HILLS
We were driving aimless until suddenly stunning views over the lakes opened up and we got to a little village called Wanagiri where just on the side of the road we spotted a whole load of Bali Swing-resembling attractions overlooking Danau Buyan lake. Bamboo bridges, swings, cups, eggs and all sort of other creative structures have been crafted by the entrepreneurial locals who charge a fee for people to have a little play at these platforms whilst taking that “perfect” shot 😀 Whether you find all Instragram photos from similar places ridiculous or not, it’s hard to deny that they really look cool and unlike other places, the attractions at Wanagiri actually have a stunning view overlooking the lake which honestly is what made me take a shot here too. The colour of the lake and the rainforest surroundings really make up for some pretty scenic views and not taking a picture here would be just a shame haha
Location: 9km from Munduk and 15km from Lovina
Entrance: Depends on the attraction; I paid IDR 40k
TWIN LAKE VIEWPOINT
If there’s one thing Bali isn’t short of it’s mesmerizing views and if you’re looking for the best views in North Bali, this viewpoint truly opens up to the most incredible sights over lakes Tamblingan and Danau Buyan. By the time me and my friend scootered to here the sun was starting to set and I just can’t tell you how incredible the views were. The colors of the sky and their reflection in the lakes were making up for some of the best views I have been in North Bali and I was totally blown away. North Bali in general is definitely not as busy as the south but still I was really pleasantly surprised when we got to this place and it was only me and my friend. If you can time it to be at the viewpoint for sunset, do it! The views really stunt!
Location: 9km from Munduk and 15km from Lovina
Entrance: FREE! Hooray 😀
TAMBLINGAN LAKE
This lake gets overshadowed by the nearby Danau Buyan and Danau Beratan and a few people actually make it here. To be honest I only saw this place because my friend was local so he knew that with my cry to escape the crowds, I would love this place and I sure did. There were literally no other tourists when we got to the lake, only a handful of locals chilling and chatting away. With so many temples around the lake and plenty of spots to sit and relax, this place deserves a longer stop on your road trip. When we got here we unexpectedly found one of many bamboo structures that you see all over Bali (you know, the swings and egg-like seats you see all over Instagram 😀 ). With the sun starting to set just behind this quirky bamboo house, we got a truly beautiful view overlooking the lake and the sun rays reflecting in the water. It was a pretty magical moment!
Location: 9km from Munduk and 15km from Lovina
Entrance: FREE!
TEGALALANG RICE PADDIES
We’ve all heard of the Tegalalang rice paddies but unlike some places, these rice plantations really deserve all the fame. Manmade to be as layered and beautifully arranged as they are, these rice paddies are best explored early in the morning when the crowds are not as crazy and you can actually take your time and explore properly. This is a touristy spot so you’ll see a lot of the popular Bali photo attractions that require a little donation to take a photo at as well as locals at various places asking for a donation before you can proceed ahead but accept it as it is and don’t let that frustrate you. The rice paddies really are incredible and you can easily spend hours exploring and going up and down the paddies. But for a slightly more authentic experience, strike a conversation with the locals who actually work here. Despite the masses of tourists they see every day, the locals here are friendly, smiley and welcoming of a little conversation, from my experience anyway, so don’t be shy and get your Google Translate out 😀 .
Location: 15km from Ubud
Entrance: Donations at a few points along the path
TIRTA EMPUL TEMPLE
This is one of the most important temple complexes and holy mountain springs in Bali, located in the tiny village of Manukaya at the heart of the island. Tirta Empul is home to a holy water spring where locals and foreigners gather to take a bath in one of the temple’s purification baths and pools. Here you can rent a sarong for about IDR 10k and perform the traditional purification ritual where you would enter the main rectangular purification bath which features 13 spouts arranged on the side of the pool. The purification starts when you press your hand together in prayer and bow under the first, then the second, then the third spout and so on until you reach the last 11th. The last 2 spouts are meant for purification in funerary rituals. This was one of the most authentic Balinese experiences I had on the island and one that really connected me with the locals since the majority of the people were in fact Indonesians. Definitely add a visit to this temple to your Bali itinerary and have a go at the ritual. Not sure what exactly to do? Just copy the other people and you won’t go too wrong 😀 !
Location: Manukaya village, 15km from Ubud
Entrance: IDR 50k
WALK FROM UBUD YOGA HOUSE VIA WARUNG PENGKOLAN TO SWEET ORANGE WARUNG
This is my absolute favourite walk in Ubud and a must add to any Bali itinerary. You may or may not have heard of the Campuhan ridge walk and that’s lovely but it just can’t compare with the view to this sweet quirky warung. I found this warung on Tripadvisor and when as I was heading there I had no idea what the walk to it would be like. In fact, I had never ventured to that part of Ubud so I was excited to explore a new part of town. And did I not fall for this place completely! Full of palm trees from both my sides, I was walking completely on my own along a narrow paved path, covered with funky warungs and cafes to the left and rice plantations to my right. It was the most tropical and most hippie walk I’ve ever done in Bali. With yoga studios every few meters, this place truly sends out a calming sense of tranquillity and peace. No pollution, no crowds, barely any noise and plenty amazing options to sit down and have a smoothie or a bite … this walk is just perfect if you want to wander for hours and get completely relaxed.
Location: Start the walk from Ubud Yoga house, pass through Pukako cafe (they have amazing smoothies btw), Yuga Organic Warung and walk all the way to Warung Pengkolan (this should take about an hour). Here you’ll have 2 options, go back the same way OR turn right and continue on the funky tiny main road until you reach Sweet Orange Warung (another 40-50min). The road is narrow and can be busy with scooters but it’s such an emersion into the more remote parts of Ubud that I personally loved it and this way you get to do a whole loop eventually going back to the main street in Ubud. But if you don’t fancy the walk on the main road, just head back the same way and from the starting point put Sweet Orange Warung into your Google Maps. The walk to Warung Penkolan is a must though! Then after a sweet little trek, you’ll get to one of the quirkiest warungs in Ubud. Last tip, get here for sunset.
Entrance: FREE!!
MOUNT AGUNG VIEWPOINT
Mount Agung is Bali’s most active volcano which has been so pretentious over the last couple of years that it’s been only possible to admire it from a distance. One of the best places to take in the views over the volcano, especially at sunrise, is the viewpoint at Bukit Cinta. You’ll know you’ve got to the right place when you see to your side the incredible mount Agung calling for your attention sitting at the backdrop of some pretty amazing rice plantation and palm trees. The view undoubtedly is worth the drive but you do need a bit of luck because when if it’s cloudy, chances are that you can barely see the volcano. This is partially what happened to me and my friend when we got here. It was a pretty grumpy day with a lot of rain and clouds thick enough to make even Agung hard to fight back to make a full on appearance. Still, the view was pretty spectacular!!
Location: 60km from Ubud but just 20km from Amed
Entrance: FREE!!
SANUR BEACH
If you’re looking to unwind after an active adventurous trip scootering all over Bali, Sanur beach is the just the perfect place. I’ve fallen for Sanur hugely so I might be a bit subjective but with a beach line over 5km long, it’s hard not to find the perfect secluded spot for you to lay down your towel and have some well-deserved downtime. The beach is wide, clean and mostly covered with beautiful white sand and the best part, it’s pretty much always quiet. However, do try to avoid the areas where people board the boats for the nearby islands as they tend to be busy. Unlike some of the beach in South Bali, the beach here is pretty much entirely free, with just a few sections occupied by hotels’ private sunbeds and beach umbrellas. There is also a great path going along the entire beach which is why I absolutely love this beach. It’s perfect for a walk at sunset, a run or a fresh coconut at one of the many cafes and bars scattered right by the beach.
Location: In Sanur, 20km from Ubud and just 16 from Canggu
Entrance: FREE!
MENJANGAN ISLAND
Depending on where you start or end your trip, try to arrange a snorkeling or diving tour to Menjangan island, in Bali’s protected marine reserve Barat National Park. It honestly is such a beautiful little island with some of the most pristine and clear water I’ve seen in Bali. The island is quite remote, but just a short boat ride from the shore, which means that it’s pretty untouched and certainly not as crowded as the beaches in South Bali or even the quieter beaches in Lovina and Sanur. Depending on your luck on the day, the snorkeling may not be the most impressive you’ll ever do in your life but you get to see a lot of different fishes and coral and if you’re lucky – even turtles and manta rays (well, I wasn’t so I saw none of these cool creatures 🙁 ). Still, it genuinely makes up for a pretty awesome day trip. If you were to dive here though, the views are meant to be even more epic.
Location: Boat access from Labuhan Lalang, a port near Pemutaran
Entrance: Varies hugely (and depends a lot on your negotiation skills for a guide 😛 ). You’ll need a permit for the National park which costs IDR 20k and a guide. Sadly, you can’t actually get to the island independently, unless of course you own a boat and can sneak in secretly somehow 😀 .
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