Bali is known for its spectacular nature, unique temples, wooded volcanic mountains, numerous rice fields and beautiful beaches. Therefore, it attracts many tourists and backpackers from all over the world to the Indonesian island every year.
Whether you prefer relaxing on the beach, a yoga and meditation holiday, party or adventures, in Bali every traveler will find activities to suit his or her expectations.

You also want to explore Bali, but don’t know how to get there? When is the best time to visit the island? How you get to all these beautiful destinations? Or what you can experience on the island? Then I would like to help you to plan your adventure on Bali in detail with this ultimate Travel Guide.

How long will you need

Even though Bali is a very small island, it still has a lot to offer. Whether waterfalls, beaches, volcanoes or rainforests in Bali you will find spectacular nature. Therefore, I would recommend at least two to three weeks for your trip around the island.
If you want to travel a little more relaxed and see a lot of the island, you can also spend more than three weeks in Bali without getting bored.

When to go

The best time to travel to Bali is around April to October. The monsoon brings the dry season to the island during this time, so you can expect a lot of sunshine and little rain.
From November to March the rainseason lasts on Bali. However, this does not mean that it rains from morning to evening during these months. Sometimes even during these months the sun shines for days without a single drop of rain falling from the sky.
Due to the fact that less travelers are attracted to Bali during the rainy season, much things like accommodations and tours are cheaper. Also tourist attractions are not as crowded as in the high season.

How to get there

The easiest way to get to Bali is by plane. In the south of Bali in Denpasar is the only international airport from which you can easily reach Seminyak and other well-known holiday destinations.
If you are on a round trip through Indonesia, you can also come to Bali by ferry from one or the other island in Indonesia.

Which visa do you need

If you travel to Bali as a tourist or backpacker, you have to buy a tourist visa on arrival in Bali. It costs 500 000 IDR and cannot be applied for in advance.
From the day of entry, the visa is valid for 30 days and can be extended to 60 days at the Immigration Office without much effort.

How to get around

Whether by bus, taxi, car or scooter to explore Bali, there are plenty of options. The best and cheapest way to explore the island is by scooter. Renting a scooter costs between 60 000 IDR and 80 000 IDR per day. However, traffic in Bali is quite chaotic, which is why the risk of accidents is very high. Due to the uncertain legal situation in the event of damage, there is a risk that you have to pay both your own damage and that of your opponent in the event of an accident. If you want to drive in Bali yourself on the road, you should always carry a valid international driving licence with you.

If the risk of exploring Bali with a scooter is too great, it is better to switch to alternatives. One way would be to take a taxi. Even longer journeys by taxi are very cheap in Bali. If you share the ride with friends, you save a little more money.
In order not to be pulled off, you should book a taxi via the Grab or Gojek app. These two apps work similarly to Uber. In addition, the drivers at these companies speak very good English in most cases.

Another way to explore the island is to rent a car with a private driver. For only about 15-30$ a day, a driver will take you to all the places you want to go. You have as much time as you want and decide for yourself when you want to go where. Also you will be picked up at your accommodation in the morning and left there in the evening.
You don’t necessarily need a private driver if you want to rent a car in Bali. But here, too, those who are afraid of the chaotic traffic should rather leave it to the professionals.

You can also explore Bali by bus. The best place is 12go.asia, a website that allows you to plan your trip quickly and easily. 12go.asia is not only good for your trip to Bali, but also for many other countries in Southeast Asia.

And if you don’t want to worry about the best way to explore the island, you can also book a guided tour. I recommend the agency INTRO Travel which together with knowledgeable Group Leaders offers 9 – 15 day tours around the island.

Best places to visit on Bali:

Seminyak

As Seminyak is not far from Bali International Airport, this place is perfect as a first stop for your trip around Bali. Especially for people who like to explore the nightlife, Seminyak is the perfect place. There are numerous beach bars and clubs here.
But even during the day there is a lot to do in Seminyak: you can go to the beach, go on a shopping tour or eat in the many restaurants.

Canggu

Not far from the popular destinations Kuta and Seminyak is the village Canggu. Canggu is particularly known for its stunning waves and black sandy beaches. Therefore, surely this place is also very suitable for surfing. If you’ve never surfed before but want to learn how to surf, Canggu has plenty of surf schools with excellent surf instructors.
Since Canggu is located in the west of the island, the beaches are also very suitable for watching a breathtaking sunset over the sea in the evening.

Jatiluwih Rice Terrace

In Indonesia, rice cultivation is a centuries-old tradition, so many regions of Bali are characterized by lush green rice terraces. You should definitely visit one of these stepped rice terraces. One of the most famous rice terraces is the Jatiluwih Rice Terrace, which is not yet overcrowded with tourists. Here it is worth to book a tour and let one of the locals show you the rice field. Here you can also watch the workers picking the rice.

Lovina

Lovina is a place on the north coast of Bali and is particularly known for the many dolphins that live there in the sea. Many tourists and backpackers travel to the north of Bali to make an early morning boat tour. On one of these Sunrise boat tours you have the opportunity to observe the dolphins up close. The best months to see dolphins in Bali are the months of May to January. At this time the dolphins are particularly active and jump out of the water again and again.

Tibumana Waterfall

Bali has many spectacular waterfalls to offer, but one of the most beautiful and famous is the Tibumana Waterfall near Ubud. Here you can swim, hike or take numerous photos.
To get to the waterfall, you have to walk down a descent, which is easy to overcome. To visit the waterfall, you have to pay an entry fee of IDR 10 000 per person.
Although it does not attract so many tourists to this waterfall, it is recommended to visit the waterfall early in the morning before 11 am. Otherwise the place will be full with tourists.

The Monkey Forest in Ubud

The famous Monkey Forest which is located right in Ubud is known as nature reserve and Hindu Temple Complex. You can explore the Monkey Forest on your own, without a tour guide. Since the monkeys are not locked in enclosures, they roam freely. Therefore it is necessary that you are mindful when you walking through the forest. In addition, feeding the monkeys in the Monkey Forest is prohibited. Therefore, do not bring any food into the park. No packaged food either, the monkeys will still find it and may attack you. But there is also monkey forest staff keeping an eye on everything. Admission to the Monkey Forest costs IDR 80 000.

Mount Batur

The active volcano Mount Batur, which last erupted in 2000, is 1.5 hours drive from Ubud. Mount Batur is a very popular hiking spot for tourists. The hike up the volcano takes about 2 hours.
It is most recommended to do the hike in the very early hours of the morning. If you start your hike at three o’clock in the morning, you will arrive at the summit in time for sunrise. For the spectacular views of the countryside, the volcano and the rising sun, it is definitely worth getting up early.
However, you should definitely do the hike with a tour guide, as the ascent is not entirely safe.

Top Activities you should try on Bali:

Surfing

One of the best places to surf is Bali. The Indonesian island is particularly suitable for beginners who have yet to learn how to surf. Bali offers countless surf camps. Especially the places Kuta, Canggu and Medewi are very popular for surfers. Especially Kuta attracts many surf beginners, because here the waves are not too high and you have a soft and sandy surface.

Scuba Diving

Whether with manta rays, sea turtles or other unique animals from the underwater world. In Bali, you will find different regions around the island to explore the coral reef of Indonesia while diving.
The most popular places in Bali for divers are Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, Tulamben, Amed, Pemuteran and Padang Bai. You can book your dives at the appropriate locations with the respective PADI and SSI companies. No matter if you are already an experienced diver or a beginner.

Snorkelling

Not only can you explore the incredible underwater world while diving, but also snorkeling. Especially the east coast of Bali around the Amed region is perfect for snorkeling.
If you are planning a trip to the Gili Islands on your round trip through Bali, you should definitely explore the underwater world there. Especially Gili T (Gili Trawangan) is known for its many sea turtles. Here you can also see the famous “Nest Statues Jason de Caires Taylor” lying underwater.

Temple Visiting

Bali is also called the land of a thousand temples, because in Bali there are about 20 000 temples. For this reason alone, you should visit at least one of the many beautiful temples that Bali has to offer. Since most of the inhabitants of Bali profess Hinduism, most temples in Bali are Hindu temples.
Among the most famous temples are: the largest temple complex Pura Besakih, the sea temple Tanah Lot or the lake temple Pura Ulun Danu Bratan.
In the temples in Bali, however, there are a few rules for visitors to observe: One of the most important rules is that the knees and shoulders must be covered when entering the temple.

Cooking Class

During your trip around Bali you should definitely try the Balinese cuisine. Particularly famous is the dish Nasi Goreng (fried rice). Also known is the dish Saté. These are skewers with meat. Generally in Bali a lot of rice and meat is eaten. Since Bali is influenced by Hinduism, Balinese dishes are mainly prepared with pork. Because pork plays a big role in Hinduism. Beef is used less in Balinese cuisine, however, because cows are considered sacred in Hinduism.
But not only should you buy all the delicious food, but you should also cook it yourself. It is worth taking part in a cooking class and having the locals teach you how to cook a traditional dish.

Islands around Bali you should check out:

Nusa Penida

Nusa Penida is a small island located southeast of Bali. Those who travel to Bali should definitely take a few days to travel from Bali by ferry to Nusa Penida. Because Nusa Penida offers breathtaking beaches, many activities and you also have the opportunity to see Manta rays while snorkeling.

For a detailed guide to Nusa Penida please read my blogpost The ultimate Guide to Nusa Penida.

Gili Islands

East of Bali are the Gili Islands. This is an island group consisting of the three islands Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan. All three islands can be reached from Bali by ferry. Particularly worth seeing is the island of Gili Trawangan. Here you can lie on the beach, go swimming in the turquoise blue water, explore the island by bike or watch sea turtles while snorkeling. For the Gili Islands you should definitely take a few days, because there is a lot to experience here.