Bali (Indonesia)

Basic Information

There is no other place like Bali. Bali is famous for world-class parties, Luxury resorts, profound relaxation, adventure sports, and all that on a budget.

Because of its proximity to various countries, Bali is an internationally famous party spot, especially among Australians, Japanese, Javanese, Singaporeans - who are many times repeat travelers.

Country	Indonesia
Visa and Immigration	Visitors from 169 Countries are exempt from Visa application, for a stay period of up to 30 days. Visa on Arrival can be purchased at 35 USD per person. (To be paid in USD only) CLICK here to access the list of countries. Visitors need to complete a Passenger Arrival Card before passing through Customs Passport Control
Language	Bahasa Indonesia is the official language throughout the country. English is not very popular, but Hotels and visitor attraction areas have English speaking staff. The dialect can be harder, though.
Time Difference	GMT -7 hours
Currency	The official currency of Indonesia is Rupiah - IDR. ATMs and Credit cards are easy to reach Indonesian banknotes denominations - IDR1000, IDR2000, IDR5000, IDR10000, IDR20000, IDR50000, and IDR100000. Coins in circulation include IDR1000, IDR500, IDR200, IDR100, and IDR50. Up to IDR100,000,000.00 (one hundred million rupiahs) or equivalent is allowed to carry in and out Indonesia. Over this, travelers must declare to Indonesian Customs.

Location and Arrival

Airport

The only airport to arriving in Bali is Ngurah Rai International Airport. Located in the area known as Denpasar, it's IATA Code is DPS

Denpasar is in the South of Bali, with major tourist areas of Kuta, Seminyak, Nusa Dua, etc. not very far.

Many airlines offer direct flights to Bali from KL, Singapore, Hongkong, Dubai, etc.

Commuting around the city

TAXI - Starting fare for Taxis is 7000 IDR (Approx 0.40 USD).

It is essential to ensure that the drivers switch on the meter, to avoid later hassles of negotiations.
Uber and Grab are also available in most areas.
Blue Bird cab is also a popular cab service.

RENTALS - One of the most loved ways of exploring Bali is Renting a vehicle.

Bali has many small roads, not many road signs, and can be a chaotic driving culture. Not easy to drive here without getting stressed real quickly.
An international driving license is a must.
The extra cost for a driver can be anywhere between 10-25USD per day.
IMPORTANT - Experts recommend that it is safer to rent a car if the driver is not accustomed to the chaotic driving.

Balinese Culture

RELIGION

The majority of the population in Indonesia is Muslim; while in Bali, the Hindu religion is predominant.

Balinese Hinduism is a result of a spiritual lifestyle. It is very closely related to Hinduism in Indian history. The temples in Bali are similar in designs and principles to the Indian temples. Temples are called Pura in Balinese culture.

One must wear decent clothes (or a Sarong) and behave accordingly.

SAFETY

Bali is an overall safe place to go around. Even for single women. However, necessary caution in choosing the company is recommended.

NEVER! I mean NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE. Bali traffic scenes can be hazardous anyway. To come back alive, it is best to drive sober.

Kuta is the epicenter of drugs and prostitution. It is best to keep the senses alert for strangers approaching you (from any nationality). Prostitution is illegal in Bali, and HIV is widespread.

Major Tourist Regions in Bali

South Region - the most popular one

Kuta - Nightlife, Surfing and shopping
Seminyak - Private Pool Villas, High-end cafes and quiet time
Legian - Waterbom Park, Art Market and Surfing lessons

These are located at a 10-15 minute drive from each other

South East Region

Nusa Dua - Luxury, quiet and posh
Benoa - Water Sports

Central Region

Ubud - Rice paddy fields, offbeat, artistic

Kuta Beach

Kuta is the most popular beach destination in Bali

Alive with tourists from all over the world, swimming, surfing, or sunbathing by the beach or casually dressed in shorts, T-shirts and flip-flops stroll along its main road, shopping around or enjoying meals at its many open-air restaurants.

When in Kuta you know that you are in a holiday town, and people here are in a holiday mood.

Kuta spans around 2.5 km of white and grey beach, with various spots to sunbathe, beach massage, eat and buy small trinkets. You can go around on foot, or you can rent a bike or motorcycle. Taking your own car is not recommended as parking here is very tight.

Good For

Couples
Budget
Party
Heart of the city

What's not good

Can be very crowded in peak season
Traffic scene can be frenzied
Can be unsafe at night in the part areas

Legian Beach

Legian is less hectic but with a lot of captivating magic. It is situated around 20 minutes by car or taxi from the Airport. Legian is perfect for that stunning beach to surf with a lesser crowd, the perfect sunset, experiencing unique shops, culinary delights, and vibrant nightlife sites.

The internationally known Rip Curl School of Surf is one of the most visited place to learn Surfing.
Try the Waterbom Bali - the largest waterpark in the region.
The Legian Art market is where you will find knick-knacks of Balinese handmade crafts and souvenirs.
Explore Cafes and dining places for anything from Balinese cuisine to international finest dishes.

Good For

Couples
Families
Surfers
Chic Cafes

Seminyak is just a short walk north from Legian.

Seminyak Beach

Seminyak is Bali's up-and-coming fashion, dining, and accommodation master, and an upmarket coastal enclave. Situated some 10 km from DPS airport and just north of Legian and Kuta.

The atmosphere is much more sophisticated and relaxed compared to Kuta. The beach is relatively quieter during the day. From Kuta and Legian, Legian Street continues as Seminyak Street.

Good For

Couples
Private Pool Villas
Luxury in the city center
Upmarket

Shopping and Food

Bali is home to some international designer brands. Many of these have their flagship boutiques in Kuta and Legian - the most touristy areas.

Kuta Beachwalk - An open-air shopping area just across the beach.

Shopping streets - The region is the most touristy area in Bali, has the best shopping streets running. Some of the most popular are -

Jalan Pantai Kuta
Jalan Legian, including the two Poppies Lanes
Garlic Lane (Jalan Sahadewa) Legian
Jalan Raya Seminyak - a mix of local and international fashion boutique
Jalan Petitenget Seminyak - beautiful beach clubs, restaurants, and bars

FOOD

Vegetarian Restaurants - Le Labu Vegetarian | Zula (Seminyak and Sanur)

Nightlife

Bali is no law enforced opening or closing times for nightclubs.

NIGHTCLUBS

The best nightclubs in Bali are found in this region comprising of Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak.
These world-renowned clubs usually start thriving around midnight and parties go on till sunrise.
Kuta is the area for wild and free nightlife
Semiyak is best for sophisticated scenes
Semiyank also has some great Cabaret Shows

BEACH CLUBS

The beach clubs' party scenes of Bali are often compared to that of Ibiza (Spain).
Some most popular clubs are Ku De Ta, Potato Head, Mozaic and Cocoon.

NIGHT MARKETS

Like many South East Asian destinations, Bali also has some very popular night market scenes.

Nusa Dua

Nusa Dua situated about 40 km from Denpasar and 20-30 minutes from Kuta region.

Nusa Dua is most famous as a posh, sophisticated region of Bali, with international luxury hotels, deluxe spas, exclusive golf courses, and an ideal venue for international conventions and exhibitions.

The region is hence, one of the most expensive to stay in Bali. The area features "All-Inclusive" types of beach resorts. It is the luxurious side of the Island.

Good For

Luxury Resorts
Private beach Resorts
International Conventions
Golf Clubs
Cultural Shows

What's not good

Away from major nightlife of Bali
Can get very quite at night

Tanjung Benoa Beach

Bali's water sports hub - Tanjung Beno is also Benoa Cruise International Terminal - docking almost 50 cruise ships each year.

Location - 15 km from DPS Airport and 3 km North of Nusa Dua

Good For

Quiet evenings
Water Sports
Calmer waves - suitable for snorkeling and swimming
Spa centers

Popular Water Sports

Jet Ski
Parasailing
Glass Bottom Boat Rides
Banana Boat
Flying Fish
Water Jetpacks
Underwater activities
Bali Wake Park
Aqua Star Bali

Shopping and Food

SHOPPING

The region of Nusa Dua and Benoa is not really famous for its shopping. However, below are some options one can visit -

The Bali Collection - Nusa Dua and BTDC Complex
Art shops in Jalan Pratama and Jalan Pantai Mengiat
Hardy's Nusa Dua Plaza
Oakley Vault Nusa Dua

FOOD

The best places to eat in the regions are within various resorts.
There are options for Balinese, International and muti-cuisines.
The Dining options range from roof-top, beachfront, romantic ambiance and more

Nightlife

EXPERIENCES

Cabaret Show At Sol Beach House Benoa.
Devdan Show at Nusa Dua Theatre
Budaya Cultural Theatre at Nusa Dua Beach Hotel

Additionally, there are various Beach clubs, beer bars and Tapas Bars in most top resorts. Some famous ones are -

King Cole Bar
Pica Tapas Bar and Churrasqueria
Pirates Bay
Luna Bonita
PasarMalam at Bumbu Bali
and many more...

Ubud

Known For - Art, Body & Soul, Great for excursions

Ubud is located in the central part of Bali Island, comprising of lush green rice padded fields. Ubud has an abundance of medicinal plants and herbs in this region - a place for spiritual awakening and enlightenment.

Approx 40 kms from DPS, one can take about 1.5 hrs to reach from the airport amidst the infamous Bali traffic.

Ubud offers a respite from the chaos of your busy life, it has grown into a thriving yet laid-back cosmopolitan community. To experience the nature of Ubud in the best way, one must choose the accommodation that is located in the greeneries and sounds of nature.

With so many exclusive activities in the region, Ubud is nothing like the other areas we read about till now.

Good For

Offbeat
Greenery and Nature
Private Pool Villas
Exclusive Activities

Things to do

In Ubud, the adventure begins in the morning - Ubud pampers visitors in body and soul. Walk through the lush paddy fields to explore the magical rice fields. They are scenic and worth experiencing. explore the region on foot or hire a bicycle or motorbike to visit the scenes from Julia Roberts' movie "Eat, Pray, Love".

Ubud Monkey Forest - Meet over 600 long-tailed Macaques in their verdant home - the forest with about 115 species of trees and a "Holy Spring" bathing temple.

Balinese Food - taste local Balinese delicacies at Bebek Tepi Sawah, Babi Guling Ibu Oka, Bebek Bengil and Laka Leke.

Kanto Lampo Waterfall - Located in Beng village, in Gianyar, has some refreshing ambiance and a perfect place to relax.

Ubud Spas - Ubud’s soothing spa services are loved for their wholesome relaxation services.

White water rafting - in Ayung River!

Ubud swing - fly up in the air over Ubud’s green landscape.

Ubud’s art galleries and museums - for iconic handicrafts made in Bali for a precious souvenir.

Nightlife, Food and Shopping - Ubud

FOOD

Ubud has a plethora of choices from local Balinese delicacies to Asian and western cuisines. Here are some popular places to choose from -

Balinese Cuisine - Bebek Tepi Sawah, Babi Guling Ibu Oka, Bebek Bengil and Laka Leke.

Asian and western cuisines - Locavore, Hujan Locale, Alchemy, Kampung Café, Bridges and Naughty Nuri’s.

Coffee places - Seniman Coffee Studio, Anomali Coffee, Sari Organik, Monsieur Spoon Ubud, Monkey Cave Espresso and Watercress Café.

Vegetarian Places - The Seeds of Life, Sakti Dining Room - Fivelements

SHOPPING

Buying Art - Ubud Art Market, Sukawati Art Market and Guwang Art Market

Handicrafts - Tegallalang handicrafts centre, Ikat Batik, Dinata Shop and Mas woodcarvers' village

Shopping Streets - Jalan Raya Ubud shopping street, Ubud Monkey Forest Road

Apparels - Threads of Life for exotic textiles, Biasa Bali Ubud store for local fashion brand

NIGHTLIFE

Ubud's nightlife cannot be compared to the famous scenes of Kuta and Legian. But it still has

Enjoy Traditional Balinese Dances and Cultural performances at Ubud Royal Palace

Live Music - There are plenty of places for that. One of the popular ones is Laughing Buddha Bar

Jazz Evenings - Siam Sally

Take a Quiz

WaterBom Park

Waterbom Bali has been named Best Waterpark Asia and 2nd Best in the World in TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice 2016, 2017 and 2018

Additionally, it has also won PATA Gold Award, Yak Travel Award, World Travel Award in the past years.

TripAdvisor illustrates the Bali park as: “So much fun! This fantastic park is well set out, with terrific waterslides and gorgeous tropical gardens. Immaculately clean.”

Location	Kuta, Bali
Number of rides	15 rides with Mellow, Moderate, Adventure and attractions zone
Operations	9 AM - 6 PM Everyday
Reach	Located directly across from Discovery Mall within walking distance from Kuta Square
Parking	off-street parking is available. However, availability isn't guaranteed
Food	1 food court and 5 joints including, Cafes, Bars and restaurants

Waterbom Bali spans 3.8 hectares, providing memorable experiences for guests ranging from thrill-seekers to families with expansive kids area or those wanting to relax and soak in the day away from the bustling world outside.

Waterbom maintains green space in more than 50% of the park, including several endangered native species.

Facilities -

Hire a private gazebo
Lockers and Towels on rent
Professional Photography

Euro-Bungy, Water Blaster, FlowRider, Spa Services, and Food & Beverage are charged separately.

Source - www.waterbom-bali.com

Volcano

Kintamani and Mount Batur

The quaint village of Kintamani, which houses Mount Batur, has been one of the most visited sited for local and international tourists alike. People come here for a calmer atmosphere, cool mountain climate, and scenic surroundings.

Location	Songan, Kintamani, Bangli
Reach	about 3 hours to reach Mount Batur, from tourist areas of South Bali
Recommended Tour	Kintamani Volcano, Ubud & Barong Dance Performance Kintamani Full Day Tour There are plenty of cycling and trekking tours around Mt. Batur.
The Volcano	Mount Batur is an active volcano and has erupted about 24 times since 1800.

Pro tip: Stop by Okyna Kopi & Rempah-Rempah (Okyna Coffee and Spices), located along the main road to Kintamani - for the famous Balinese Coffee.

Mount Agung

It is the island’s highest mountain: Gunung Agung or Mount Agung.

Location	Karangasem, Bali
Reach	By a long staircase
Recommended Tour	Besakih Temple
Volcano	The Volcano burst last on 17 March 1963, after 100 years of slumber.

Today, the landscape has turned green and fertile again, and Mt. Agung has become a challenging mountain to climb and popular with the trekkers.

THE TEMPLE :

The Volcano Mt. Agung is revered as sacred, as the Balinese believe that it is the abode of the gods.
Pura Besakih - The Mother of all temples in Bali is located on this mountain. One has to climb hundreds of steps to reach the temple. There are other staircases with easier climbs for women carrying a huge pile of offerings on their heads to reach the temple.

Temples

Tanah Lot Temple: Bali's iconic sea temple

Tanah Lot means Land in The Sea, built in the 16th century. The backdrop of Pura Tanah Lot is one of the most popular iconic features of Bali.

Location	Tabanan, Bali \| About 30 km from DPS. The temple is located around 300 meters offshore.
Reach	One needs to cross some dry land then climb a hill to reach the site of the temple.
Recommended tour	Tanah Lot Sunset Tour

Today, as one of the most photographed sea temple in Bali, you will find many art shops offering local handicrafts besides other signature local products at the entrance to get to Tanah Lot.

Uluwatu Temple: A temple on a high cliff end

Uluwatu is most famous for its high waves in Bali.

Location	South end tip of Bali - Jalan Raya Uluwatu,
Recommended tour	Uluwatu Temple Sunset and Kecak Fire Dance Half-Day Uluwatu Sunset Kecak Tour

Uluwatu Temple is the second most important temple on the island of Bali. The temple is located in a picturesque place on the southwestern coast of the island, on top of a cliff, hanging over the ocean.

Here also lives a large colony of monkeys, who immediately grab the things they like from tourists: glasses, cameras, hair clips!

See the Kecak dance performance in front of the entrance in the evening.

Besakih Temple: The mother Temple

Considered to be the mother of all temples in Bali, Besakih Temple is the largest of all temple complexes, with 18 separate sanctuaries

Location

Mount Agung

Over 70 religious ceremonies take place here, and the temple has its own anniversary.

Goa Gajah: Elephant Cave

One of the most important archaeological sites in Bali

Location	Jalan Raya Goa Gajah, Gianyar \| about 6-7 km from Central Ubud
Recommended tour	Usually included in Monkey forest Tour

Beautiful courtyard with surrounding rice paddy fields.

Dance and Cultural Performances

Traditional dance shows in Bali are some of the most alluring visual treats. With a combination of dance and drama, these live performances mostly happen in or around a temple and are dedicated to a traditional storyline

Kecak Dance (fire dance)

A dramatic dance that performs an episode from the Ramayana Epic Poem. Performed best in Uluwatu Temple Amphitheatre at sunset, it is one of the Balinese artistic masterpieces in the form of dance and musical drama. Best performed at - Surya Mandala Cultural Park, Tanah Lot
Uluwatu Temple is also another famous venue for this performance.

The dance can also be found at GWK Cultural Park, Pura Dalem Ubud, Padang Tegal Stage, Batubulan, Umadewi Stage, and more.

The Barong and the Kris Dance

The Barong dance depicts the Eternal Battle Between Good and Evil. It is among the many art forms closely associated with spirituality and often performed in ritual ceremonies.

Best experienced during the Kintamani Tour. The other popular places are Batu Bulan village in the district of Gianyar, or at Kesiman, Denpasar.

Devdan Show

DEVDAN show is performed 4 days a week at Bali Nusa Dua Theatre. It is a 90-minute theatrical with spectacular choreography, lighting, audio, and special effects.

Other riveting Dance performances -

Bali Agung Show at Bali Theatre - Bali Safari & Marine Park,
Night at the Bali Zoo - a wild nocturnal adventure complete with a dinner and show

Bali Safari and Marine Park

Bali Safari is a part of wildlife conservation in Indonesia and home to more than 100 species, including rare & endangered ones.

ACTIVITIES IN BALI SAFARI

Jungle Hopper - An adventure in real wildlife with a Balinese twist.

Elephant Back Safari

Night Safari - natural wildlife encounter after sunset. The experience includes a BBQ dinner and Fire Show.

Breakfast With The Lions - Dine in with our pride of lions!

4 x 4 Safari - A private safari adventure.

Agung Show - A spectacular cultural performance with more than 180 Balinese dancers.

White Water Rafting

An adventure that is for all kinds of travelers. It is fun and thrilling at the same time. There are three primary locations for White Water Rafting in Bali -

Ayung River
Telaga Waja River
Melangit River

The Ayung River is the most famous of the sites. The river is classified as class II and III in the dry the season and hence, most thrilling.

It is located at about 20 - 40 minutes from Ubud, depending upon the location.
Visitors from 9years to 65 years can take part in the joyride.
The water is clear, and the journey is surrounded by lush green rainforest, ricefields, carved stone walls, and waterfalls.

Island of Nusa Lembongan

The small Island is approx 8 km in size and is one of the three major islands around Bali. The other two being Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan.

The Island is perfect for diving and snorkeling and has abundant marine life and healthy corals.
Visitors can take a day tour or half-day tours with cruises like

Bali Hai Cruise
Lembongan Reef Cruise
Sunset Dinner Cruise
and more...

Pro Tip
You can get sunset and Yacht cruises to local islands as well. Even hire the yacht to yourself.

Golfing Experiences

Golfing tours are among the luxurious. Bali has some of the best Golf Courses in the world.

The Bali National Golf Club is among the most famous in Bali. Located within the premises of the luxurious Bali National Golf Villas - about 20 minutes from DPS Airport.

Some other important Golf courses are -

Bali Handara Golf and Country Club
Nirwana Bali Golf Club
Bali National Golf Club
New Kuta Golf
Bali Beach Golf Course
and more...

Spa and Relaxation

The Balinese Spa and massage is famous across the world. No visit to Bali can be complete without experiencing its Spa and Relaxation.

Some of the most famous ones are -

Soori Bali Spa - Tabanan, Bali
Five Elements Bali - Kabupaten Badung, Bali
Soulshine - Ubud, Bali
Bliss Sanctuary for Women - Kuta, Bali
Goddess Retreats Bali - Kabupaten Badung, Bali

Ubud is the best place for any relaxing activity and experience. Best ones are - Five Elements, Maya Ubud, Amandari and Como Shambala

Ubud Monkey Forest

The Monkey Forest is a nature reserve and temple complex. One can meet over 600 long-tailed Macaques in their verdant home - the Monkey forest with about 115 species of trees.
Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal temple and a "Holy Spring" bathing temple can also be found inside.

One can also rent a bicycle or a motorbike to see around and explore the region. There are also some amazing restaurants as well, with lip-smacking dishes.

IMPORTANT:

One must always secure their belongings from the monkey’s reach.

Water Sports

Bali is a place of "All-inclusive" vacation. Even the most thrilling water sports.

Activity	Best Areas
Scuba Diving and Snorkelling	Beginners: Amed, Padang Bay, and Menjangan. Experienced divers: Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Candidasa.
Surfing	Beginners: Kuta, Seminyak, Legian, Echo beach, Sanur Experts: Uluwatu, Green Bowl, Canggu, Nusa Lembongan, Suluban
Parasailing	Tanjung Benoa and Nusa Dua
Flyboarding	Tanjung Benoa and Nusa Dua
Wakeboarding	Bali Wake Park
Rafting	Melangit river, Telaga Waja river, and the famous Ayung river.

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Airport

Commuting around the city

RELIGION

SAFETY

South Region - the most popular one

South East Region

Central Region

Known For - Art, Body & Soul, Great for excursions

FOOD

SHOPPING

NIGHTLIFE

Waterbom Bali has been named Best Waterpark Asia and 2nd Best in the World in TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice 2016, 2017 and 2018

Kintamani and Mount Batur

Mount Agung

Tanah Lot Temple: Bali's iconic sea temple

Uluwatu Temple: A temple on a high cliff end

Besakih Temple: The mother Temple

Goa Gajah: Elephant Cave

Kecak Dance (fire dance)

The Barong and the Kris Dance

Devdan Show

Other riveting Dance performances -

Activity

Best Areas

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