Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business Bali is a small island with a big personality. Part of Indonesia, it is the only province where most people follow Balinese Hinduism, and you feel it everywhere: in the temple gates at the end of every lane, the woven palm-leaf offerings placed on doorsteps each morning and the processions of people in white and gold heading to ceremonies.
This guide is organized by region, so you can see how Ubud and the central highlands, the temples of the east and the beaches and cliffs of the south fit together.
Bali packs an extraordinary range into a compact space. In a single day you can watch a traditional dance in a palace courtyard, walk through rice fields shaped by a thousand-year-old irrigation system, and end with a sunset over the Indian Ocean.
The island also suits many kinds of trips. Surfers come for the reef breaks of the Bukit Peninsula, divers for the coral and wrecks of the east coast, hikers for the volcano trails, and families for the calm beaches of Sanur and Nusa Dua.
Ubud, in the foothills north of the airport, has long been Bali's cultural heart, home to painters, wood carvers, dancers and musicians.
Allow a full day for the town and an hour or two for the forest.
The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud is home to long-tailed macaques and old temples. Photo: Jakub Hałun, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
North of Ubud, the Tegallalang rice terraces step down both sides of a palm-filled valley. The terraces are watered by subak, the cooperative irrigation system that Balinese farmers have managed through water temples for centuries.
Allow one to two hours. Practical tip: arrive soon after sunrise to beat the heat and the crowds, and expect farmers to ask for small donations at points along the paths, which help maintain the fields.
The Tegallalang rice terraces north of Ubud are watered by Bali's traditional subak irrigation. Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Near Tampaksiring, northeast of Ubud, Tirta Empul is a temple built around a sacred spring.
Allow one to two hours. Practical tip: you will need to wear a sarong and sash, usually provided at the entrance, and a separate cloth for entering the water.
Pilgrims bathe under the spring-fed spouts of Tirta Empul in a purification ritual. Photo: Saranabhi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
West of Ubud in the Tabanan regency, beneath the slopes of Mount Batukaru, Jatiluwih has the most extensive rice terraces on the island. The area is part of the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province, inscribed by UNESCO in 2012 for its subak system.
Allow half a day including the drive. Practical tip: combine Jatiluwih with Pura Ulun Danu Beratan and the highlands in one day, and bring a light layer, as it can be cool and misty.
Jatiluwih's terraces are part of the subak cultural landscape listed by UNESCO. Photo: Stefan Fussan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
In the cool highlands near Bedugul, Pura Ulun Danu Beratan is a water temple on the shore of Lake Beratan, dedicated to the goddess of the lake.
Allow one to two hours. Practical tip: go in the morning, when the lake is often calm and before afternoon clouds roll in, and stop at the fruit and vegetable market in Candikuning on the way.
Pura Ulun Danu Beratan is a water temple on Lake Beratan in Bali's cool central highlands. Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Mount Batur is an active volcano within a wide caldera in the Kintamani area, with a crescent-shaped lake at its foot. A pre-dawn hike to the summit is one of Bali's most popular adventures.
Allow most of a day, including an early pickup. Practical tip: hike with a licensed local guide, wear sturdy shoes and a warm jacket, and check current conditions, as access can be restricted when volcanic activity increases.
Mount Batur is an active volcano inside a large caldera in northeast Bali. Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
On the southwestern slopes of Mount Agung, Bali's highest and most sacred volcano, Pura Besakih is the island's mother temple, a complex of more than twenty temples climbing the mountainside.
Allow two to three hours. Practical tip: wear a sarong and sash, and use the official visitor services at the entrance.
Pura Besakih is the largest and holiest temple complex in Bali. Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Beyond Besakih, the Sidemen valley offers rice fields, weaving workshops and quiet guesthouses with views of Mount Agung.
Allow at least two nights if you want to explore the east properly.
At the southwest tip of the Bukit Peninsula, Pura Luhur Uluwatu clings to a cliff high above crashing waves. It is one of Bali's important sea temples, and paths along the clifftop give sweeping ocean views.
Allow two to three hours, including the dance. Practical tip: the monkeys here are notorious for snatching glasses, hats and phones, so secure everything.
Pura Luhur Uluwatu stands on a sheer cliff at the southwest tip of the Bukit Peninsula. Photo: Ken Eckert, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
On the southwest coast, beyond Canggu, Tanah Lot is a temple perched on a rock island that is cut off by the sea at high tide.
Allow one and a half to two hours. Practical tip: check tide times, as access to the base depends on low tide, and arrive in the late afternoon to find a good viewpoint along the cliffs before sunset.
The south has several distinct beach areas. Seminyak and Canggu are known for surf, sunset bars and cafes.
Allow as much time as you like. Practical tip: rip currents are common on the west coast, so swim between the flags where lifeguards are present.
Southeast of Bali across the Badung Strait, Nusa Penida is a rugged island of limestone cliffs and turquoise coves.
Allow a full day, or better, one or two nights. Practical tip: fast boats run from Sanur; roads on the island are rough and narrow, so hire a local driver rather than riding a scooter.
Kelingking Beach on Nusa Penida sits below a dramatic limestone headland. Photo: Chainwit., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Balinese food is built on a spice paste called base genep, which blends shallots, garlic, galangal, turmeric, chilies and other aromatics.
For an everyday meal, try nasi campur, rice with small portions of vegetables, meats, peanuts and sambal, or nasi jinggo, a small packet of rice and toppings sold at night. Look for sambal matah, a fresh relish of raw shallots, lemongrass and chili.
Popular dishes to try in Bali
Ubud suits travelers interested in culture, crafts, wellness and rice-field walks, and makes an ideal base for central Bali.
Seminyak and Canggu suit those who want beaches, surf, nightlife and cafes.
For a slower pace, consider a few nights in Sidemen or Amed in the east, or Munduk in the highlands.
Where to stay in Bali
Bali is warm all year. The dry season, from roughly April to October, brings sunnier days, lower humidity and the best conditions for volcano hikes and diving.
The wet season, from about November to March, brings heavy afternoon showers and high humidity, but also lush landscapes and fewer visitors.
Ngurah Rai International Airport, also called Denpasar airport, is in the south of the island between Kuta and Jimbaran, with flights from across Asia, Australia and the Middle East.
Public transport is limited, so most visitors hire a private car with a driver for day trips, which is affordable and removes the stress of navigating busy, narrow roads.
Base yourself in Ubud. Walk the Campuhan Ridge at sunrise, visit the Sacred Monkey Forest and the Ubud Art Market, and watch a dance performance at the palace in the evening.
Hike Mount Batur for sunrise on the third day and rest in the afternoon. On the fourth day, drive west to Jatiluwih and Pura Ulun Danu Beratan in the highlands.
Head east to Pura Besakih and the Sidemen valley, then spend a night in Amed to snorkel or dive at Tulamben.
Move to the south coast.
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