The experiences and recommendations in this post are within the two cities that I stayed in during my trip to Bali – Ubud (a jungle town location) and Canggu (a beach town location).
Explore Ancient Hindu Temples
Go on a real-life temple run exploring Bali’s ancient Hindu temples! These sacred places of worship can be found any and everywhere on the island, and are frequented by both locals and tourists alike. Before entering a temple, all visitors are required to wrap a sarong around their waist; this is considered a symbol of purity and respect. Tourists often visit temples to engage in some of the Balinese and Hindu spiritual practices and rituals. A popular one is the Water Purification Ceremony, which involves a series of prayers and chants, by a priest, immersion into the scared water basin (seen below), and then a period of reflection. The ceremony is said to cleanse one’s body, mind and spirit.
Get Lost in the Rice Terraces
Rice is a staple in Indonesian cuisine and is the most farmed crop on the island of Bali. While rice paddy fields and terraces can be found anywhere on the island, the Tegalalang Rice Terrace is the most famous! This terrace features endless rows of rice, all of which are watered via the traditional Balinese sabuk irrigation system – a gravity based irrigation system where water is drawn from a nearby river and then cascaded down to water each level of the rice terrace. After wandering through the fields, enjoy one of the many activities offered on the grounds, such as a flying dress photo shoot or the Bali Swing. Check out my previous post for the inside scoop on those activities!
Chase Waterfalls
Bali is the perfect island to become one with nature. With over 50 different waterfalls on the island, there is a lot to explore! We visited Ulu Petanu Waterfall. This beautiful cascade can be easily accessed via a short hike down a mountain and into the jungle. Follow the path down the mountain, through the jungle, and over the river full of koi fish to Ulu Petanu. Jump right in to cool down from your hike!
Go ATV-ing through the Jungle
Are you an adrenaline junkie!? Whether solo or with a friend, an ATV adventure through the Balinese jungle is a must while on the island! Bob and weave through the dense jungle understory as you follow your guide on the rugged trails. We did our ATV tour with Dadi Bali Adventures. They gave us a quick training and then we were off into the jungle. We bumped and jumped through the trails, riding up steep hills and through rivers and dark tunnels. Towards the end of the tour, the guide let us free ride around a muddy racing loop in the nearby paddy fields. We channeled are inner biker babe, popping wheelies, drifting, and riding standing up. It was a blast!
Snorkel in the Penida Islands
Hop a boat and sail out to the Penida Islands to snorkel in crystal blue waters. Our boat captain was an experienced free diver and led us through the waters pointing out all kinds of sea life – like blue starfishes, sea urchins, and even sea turtles! We were so lucky that the sea turtle we were observing came up for air shortly after we spotted it. We were able to swim beside it as it glided up to the surface! What an experience!
You basically have a whole itinerary of activities to do in Bali. Now all you need to do is book your flight! Go ahead, just do it!
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