Bali appeals through its sheer natural beauty of looming volcanoes and lush terraced rice fields that exude peace and serenity. It is also famous for surfers' paradise! Bali enchants with its dramatic dances and colorful ceremonies, its arts, and crafts, to its luxurious beach resorts and exciting nightlife. And everywhere, you will find intricately carved temples.
Ubud Monkey Forest
Mandala Suci Wenara Wana, or well known as Ubud Monkey Forest, is the sanctuary and natural habitat of the Balinese long-tailed macaque. It is located at Padangtegal Ubud, Bali. About 1049 monkeys live in this sanctuary.
Tourists are drawn to this spot for the charm, fresh, cool air and the company of playful monkeys throughout the visit.
Tip: DO NOT BUY BANANAS.
If you insist on buying the bananas so you can feed the monkeys in the monkey forest do not hide them from the monkeys. The monkeys can smell the bananas and will be literally crawling up your body to get them.
Uluwatu Temple
Uluwatu Temple is a Balinese Hindu sea temple located in Uluwatu. The temple is regarded as one of the sad kahyangan and is dedicated to Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa in his manifestation as Rudra.
Sitting at the edge of a magnificent cliff, this awe-inspiring temple has more cultural value than meets the eye. As a tourist you get to learn about the local customs on your visit, with traditional dance and drama performances taking place at sunset.
Tanah Lot Temple
Tanah Lot is a rock formation off the Indonesian island of Bali. It is home to the ancient Hindu pilgrimage temple Pura Tanah Lot, a popular tourist and cultural icon for photography.
Tanah Lot Temple is a religious and cultural landmark, cherished for its natural beauty. Perched on an offshore rock, it has an idyllic backdrop of ocean, and is itself a spectacular place for a selfie, especially at sunset.
On this guided tour, you’ll get to explore the temple and see the best of Ubud though the eyes of a local.
Tirta Empul Temple
Tirta Empul temple is a Hindu Balinese water temple located near the town of Tampaksiring, Bali, Indonesia. The temple compound consists of a petirtaan or bathing structure, famous for its holy spring water, where Balinese Hindus go to for ritual purification.
The complex, built circa 960 AD, is a silent witness to the old Balinese kingdom, particularly at the time of the Warmadewa Dynasty. Another nearby and prominent site on top of a hill is the presidential palace, Istana Tampaksiring, built during the years of the nation’s first president, Soekarno.
Locals believe that the sacred water flowing at the Tirta Empul Temple has the power to heal and cleanse their bodies and souls. Soaking in the spring water in this serene and historic temple is an experience not to be missed.
Seminyak
This integral neighbourhood is where you can find virtually anything – from humble traditional shops to high-end designer boutiques. This neighbourhood also has its share of idyllic beaches, lined with vibrant bars and restaurants that stay open until late.
They have many luxury hotels, villas and spas, as well as high-end shopping and restaurants.
Sleek bars and clubs with busy sunset scenes line Seminyak and Petitenget beaches, which are wide, west-facing stretches of Indian Ocean shoreline with gray sand and good surfing conditions.
Tegalalang Rice Terraces
The Tegallalang Rice Terraces in Ubud are famous for their beautiful scenes of rice paddies and their innovative irrigation system. Known as the subak, the traditional Balinese cooperative irrigation system is said to have been passed down by a revered holy man named Rsi Markandeya in the 8th century. Tegallalang forms the 3 most splendid terraced landscapes in Ubud's shared region, with the others being in the villages of Pejeng and Campuhan.
These Balinese sculptured rice terraces offer tourists a chance to enjoy nature and a valuable glimpse of local culture and customs. Tourists can explore the village and meet residents.
Scenic, terraced hillside offering rice paddies amid lush greenery, plus zip lines & jungle swings.
Ubud Art Market
Ubud Traditional Art Market where the existence is not far different from other markets available in the tourism area. This market as a society economics center of Ubud and it is apposite to the existence of Ubud Empire that is called Puri Saren. The market is unfolding from west to easterly divided become two group with different purpose.
There are two markets available at the same area those are one block at the Westside is for a traditional artistic market and another block located in the east as an everyday traditional fundamental market requirement. This market is opened every day about at 08:00 until 18:00, even some from them still open until nighttime. While the traditional market for the fundamental requirement is opened everyday at 06:00 - even before that there is morning market started at 04:00 morning.
Besakih Temple
Besakih Temple, Bali’s largest, sits on the slopes of the island’s highest mountain, Mount Agung. The complex comprises 86 temples that are more than 1,000 years old. Each year, the temple hosts more than 70 religious ceremonies or celebrations attended by Hindu devotees from all over the island.
Mount Batur
Mount Batur is an active volcano located at the center of two concentric calderas north west of Mount Agung on the island of Bali, Indonesia. The south east side of the larger 10×13 km caldera contains a caldera lake.
A two-hour hike up the mountain will bring you to the island’s best spot for basking in the sunshine’s first rays. Watch the sunrise with Mount Abang and Batur Lake in the background. Highly Instagrammable.
Elephant Cave
Goa Gajah is locally known as the Elephant Cave because of its close proximity to the Elephant River. A mysterious cave, relics, and ancient bathing pools set amid green rice paddies and a garden lure tourists from nearby Ubud.
This huge cave, also a Buddhist temple, is covered in carved stories and sacred figures. The temple features a large bathing pool, built to cleanse the soul and ward off evil spirits, so legend has it.
Pura Ulun Danu Bratan
On a small island along the western shore of Lake Bratan, in the cool highlands of central Bali, the 17th-century Pura Ulun Danu Bratan is one of Bali's most picturesque temple complexes. Set against the imposing backdrop of Gunung Bratan, the thatched temples reflect on the lake, and when the water levels rise, they seem to float on its surface.
Lake Bratan is one of Bali's main sources of irrigation and drinking water, and the temple complex is dedicated to Dewi Danu, goddess of the sea and lakes.
Nusa Dua Beach
Want an escape from Bali's urban buzz? Nusa Dua Beach is your answer. Here, you can recline on a comfortable sun lounger, cool drink in hand, and listen to the gentle slosh of surf on silky, white sands. You won't get that cultural hit you'll find elsewhere in Bali — this is a gated resort area on its own private peninsula after all, but if it's peace and relatively pristine sands you seek, you'll find it here, at one of Bali's best beaches.
The Nusa Islands
The most popular of the three islands is Nusa Lembongan, about 20 kilometers offshore from Sanur and easily accessible by speedboat. Surfing, snorkeling, diving, kayaking, and stand up paddleboarding are the main activities here, and the top attractions include beautiful Dream Beach; Mushroom Bay; and the Devil's Tears rock outcrop, with views of crashing surf erupting over the rocks.
Many locals still make their living from seaweed farming, and you can watch them harvesting it by the shore.
Sekumpul Waterfall
In the Singaraja region, about 66 kilometers north of Ubud, Sekumpul Waterfall is considered by many to be Bali's most beautiful falls. The waterfall is actually a series of about seven falls, cascading like long misty veils over the lip of a lush, jungle-clad cliff.
Note that if you choose to drive yourself here, locals might try and stop you well before the entrance, demanding exorbitant entrance and parking fees. It's a good idea to hire a local guide who knows how to negotiate these roadblocks and access the correct trailhead to the falls.
Waterbom Bali
Waterbom Bali is an action-packed water park, in the heart of Kuta, with something for every member of the family. Kids can splash in the swimming pools; drift down the Lazy River; or zoom down one of the many twisting water slides and rides, with names like the Python, Green Viper, and Super Bowl.
I like how you describe Bali. It must be a fascinating trip. In my country there are no volcanoes, they have always caught my attention and I think I would really enjoy seeing them.