Think of jungle paradise, scenic volcanic mountains, turquoise beaches, quality beach clubs, culture trip and hippie vibes. Bali has a lot to offer whether you are on a honeymoon, with friends, family or even solo. Bali is rightfully known as the 'land of smiles' given the warm and smiling faces for the lovely locals there. Sharing some adventures from our itinerary:
Sunrise trek at Mount Batur
Mount Batur is an active volcano in Bali, 1717 meters high. The trek is of moderate difficulty with some parts being a steep climb. We started off the trek at 3 am on foot (there are options for jeep and bike as well that will take you about 80-90% to the top) and reached the top by 5:30 am. The climb was strenuous but totally rewarding as the sunrise view amidst the clouds was breathtaking! You also get to experience the warm volcanic steam atop with some breakfast.
Relax your muscles at Batur Hot Springs
After all the hard work from the climb, we set off to Batur hot springs which looks over the Batur lake. The facility provides you with towels, locker and shower rooms, so all we had to do was just relax in the hot springs.
Explore the secluded beaches of Nusa Penida
Diamond beach in East Nusa Penida was simply a treat to the eye and a good workout for the legs. To access the beach, we had to hike down the steps carved out off the cliff which was steep but only a 20 minutes hike down. You can also visit the much more popular west Nusa Penida but know that those are mostly over-crowded photo stops unless you plan to hike down the Kelingking beach which is nearly an hour worth of steep hike downwards to the beach.
When in Bali, you must swing
Cliché but must try when you tour the stunning rice field valleys. There are many swing locations in Bali with various costs, so we did our research and tried the not-so-crowded cost-effective Uma Pekel swing for our memory's sake.
Nature walks in Ubud
Ubud is an eco-friendly green paradise where we spent most of our stay. If you've had enough with the crowd at Monkey forest, hike the Campuhan ridge during the sunset and watch the many drones attempting to capture the green valleys of Ubud.
Bathe in the rejuvenating waterfalls
We took our bathing suits to Kanto Lampo waterfall which was truly an amazing experience and we so didn't want to leave :(
Cozy, hippie and eco-friendly cafes of Ubud
There are plenty of dine-in options in central Ubud albeit most are not Halal so I resort to eating vegetarian food. Below are some recommendations:
1. Tukies: Try the coconut ice-cream at this chain
2. Omma Bali: Drinks are pretty good with a view of tegunungan waterfall
3. Suka Espresso: For some good coffee and food
4. Kynd: A vegan cafe in Seminyak
5. Taco Fiesta: Yummy Mexican and budget food outlet
6. Pukako: They have some amazing Paninis.
7. Murni's warung: Great tasting local cuisine.
Golden hour at the Beach clubs
When you are in mood for some techno music and food by the beach, head to Potato head beach club. The daybeds and mattresses include a minimum spend fee but gives you the comfort of relaxing and watching the spectacular sunset view.
Soak in the Balinese culture
The Bali culture is very prominent with many locals dressed up in sarongs and local attire, laying religious offerings in the morning and presence of more than 10,000 temples. Include Uluwatu temple in your itinerary which is at a cliff with sea view and Kecak dance during the sunset. This temple is known for its notorious monkeys so avoid wearing expensive sunglasses ;). The temples can get very tiring, so I went for a Balinese spa at Synergy Spa, Ubud which was top notch (You'll need to book in advance)
You can check out short videos of these places on this link.