Jimbaran is a sleepy cove where fishing boats colour the scene beyond the grey sand beach. Since the opening of the Four Seasons Resort and the Inter Continental, this once quiet area has now become a popular spot for windsurfing and small sailing craft, which are available for rent.

Legian Beach has been called the “United Nations Beach” as locals, expatriates and tourists mingle together. Sunset at Legian is a lively time when the beach bars fill and the soccer field is at its busiest.
 

Kuta Beach is by far the most popular, crowded and longest beach in Bali. It is ideal for those who wish to combine a beach holiday with testing their surfing and shopping skills. It is generally safe to swim here due to the hotel lifeguards.

Lovina Beach is well known as an excellent site for sunset watching, snorkelling, and diving. Night life activities also abound, as well as chartered boats to go out into the sea. If you like what Kuta offers but do not like the crowds, Lovina Beach is for you.
 

Nusa Dua Beach is where the big-name hotels line the beautiful sandy beaches offering excellent swimming in a protected lagoon. Some resorts have private beaches however most are accessible to the public.

Nusa Lembongan Beach is one of the most popular destinations for day trips from Bali. The journey takes between one and two hours depending on what type of boat you choose for the crossing. The pristine sandy beaches with calm bays are abundant with colourful sea life, so diving and snorkelling are very popular. Glass-bottom boats tours are available.

Sanur Beach is a calm, quiet lagoon area offering great conditions for windsurfing, parasailing and other recreational activities. The stretch from the Grand Bali Beach Hotel to beyond the Bali Hyatt, is served by a beach path, making it possible to enjoy the many hotels and restaurants along the strip. The calm waters of Sanur beach make it very popular with families.

Soka Beach is a small, quiet beach. It lies northwest from Denpasar, on the way to Gilimanuk, the ferry port town that connects Bali and Java.

Tuban Beach located between Kuta and the airport is lined with big hotels. Less frantic than Kuta, it is a wonderful place to simply grab a beach chair, a good book and relax.

Uluwatu, Padang Padang, Bingin and Dreamland Beaches used to be the exclusive playgrounds of surfers as the hike down to some of the beaches deterred many people. Paved roads have now been built, along with access paths down to the most popular beaches so now anyone can take advantage of these stunning beaches, still relatively quiet by Bali’s standards. When the surf is up you can catch world-class rides, and when there is no surf the sea becomes a crystal clear lagoon gently lapping the white sand. Uluwatu is particularly busy at sunset when the monkeys play at the local temple.

There are many stunning temples in Bali, and each with its own uniqueness and treasure to be seen. Take time to explore as many as you can - you will definitely not be disappointed. And remember, always show respect and dress modestly when entering temples.

Pura Ulu Danau Bratan is the most picturesque temple on the island. Situated on Lake Bratan, this half-Hindu, half-Bhuddist temple juts out onto the lake. An important irrigation temple dedicated to Dewi Danau, the Water Goddess. The 11 roofed meru is a spectacular sight at dawn or dusk. The nearby Botanical Gardens (Lila Graha) are a definite must-see.

Pura Kehen, located at the northern end of the town of Bangli, this three-tiered 11thC temple sits on the side of a hill and is ranked 2nd in importance to the Mother Temple, Besakih. The cool, lush surroundings emanate tranquility. Try to visit this temple mid to late afternoon when its at its best and the tourist buses have gone. The views are superb!

Pura Tegeh Koripan, situated on the edge of Gunung Batur (mountain), this temple is reputed to be the oldest on Bali. The temple lies at the top of a challenging yet rewarding 300 step climb up the hill, where you will find the temple, more often than not, covered in mist. The moss-laden steps and areas in the temple are slippery so be careful. Spectacular views and a mystical place at dusk!

Pura Luhur Batukaru is a beautiful garden temple with a seven-tiered pagoda similar to those found in Thailand. It's a sacred mountain sanctuary surrounded by forests and invariably covered in mist. It lies some 700 metres above sea-level and is an important Subak temple. It has great views of Bali and beyond. It is best visited in the early morning or late afternoon.

Pura Bukit Dharma Durga is situated in the 'Holy Land' 500 metres north of the town of Blahbatuh, surrounded by Banyan trees. From the lower part of the temple, climb the 80 steps up the hill to the top where you will find the statue of King Airlangga's mother. It is a funerary statue in the shape of the six-armed goddess of death, Durga.

Pura Sada is a beautifully decorated temple near the market in the village of Kapal. Originally a sanctuary of the Mengwi royalty, it dates to the Majapahit era (12th-14th century). It has a 16 metre high tower, but it is the 64 stone shrines that are the feature of this temple. They are believed to commemorate fallen warriors.

Pura Panataran Sasih is home of the renowned 'Moon of Pejeng', a 3rd Century BC bronze, single-cast Kettle Gong whose origin is unknown. There are numerous legends associated with the Kettle Gong. The temple itself was the main shrine of the old Pejeng kingdom and has numerous sculptures and statues dating from the 10th to 12th centuries.

Pura Goa Lawah was founded in 1007 by a holy man. The distinct feature of this temple is the bat cave and its associated legends.

Pura Taman Ayun is a magnificent garden temple, dating back to 1634 and is the second largest temple complex in Bali. The royal temples of the Raja of Mengwi, its main features are the many meru towers, the 29 ancestral shrines, as well as the beautifully constructed moats and gardens.

Pura Uluwatu is precariously located at the point of a sheer cliff on the island's southern peninsula. It is one of the oldest and most important temples in Bali, one of the six original khayangan temples on the island.

Bona is located between the city of Gianyar and Blahbatu and is the place to purchase bamboo furniture at reasonable prices. It is also famous for its dances, especially the fire dance, which is staged for tourists at many hotels in the area.

Celuk, just north of Denpasar, is the silver centre of Bali. There are many shops to choose from and almost all have a large team of jewellers at work out the back of each shop. This is the place to visit for jewellery bargains.






 

Denpasar, the capital of Bali, is a bustling city of nearly half a million inhabitants and has more vehicles per capita than Jakarta. In addition to traffic, it is home to an expansive art centre, a museum, a colourful cheap market in Jalan Sulawesi and several department stores.


Menjangan Island, on the western tip of Bali is home to the Bali Barat National. Covering an area of over 750 square kilometres on the western tip of Bali, the park's boundaries are open savannah, rainforest, and mangrove swamps. This is a great spot for diving and snorkelling. Visitors are welcome, but must be accompanied by an official guide and have a park permit which is obtainable at the National Park Headquarters in Cekik, 3 km south of Gilimanuk.

Sengeh Monkey Forest is located near the village of Sangeh, about 20 km north of Denpasar. This lush forest of approximately 6 hectares is filled with giant nutmeg trees that can grow up to 40m high. The main attractions are the hordes of Balinese monkeys that inhabit both the trees and the temple, Pura Bukit sari, located in the heart of the forest.

Ubud is the scenic mountain village, renowned for its abundance of art and nature. Spectacularly set among lush rice paddies and the stunning hillsides of central Bali, Ubud harbours a number of palaces and temples, museums and art galleries and a host of charming cafes and restaurants.

Ubud Monkey Forest is a small nature reserve on the southern outskirts of Ubud. Along with its lush surroundings and a beautiful temple are hundreds of monkeys - Balinese Macaques, to be specific.

Go Dolphin Watching. A unique activity that's only possible in a few places around the world and Bali is one of them. The trip out on the boat is a wonderful experience in itself, so if by any chance, the dolphins aren't around when you go out in the boat, you can still have a good time.
 

Check out the local Bali Arts and Crafts in Ubud. These are a collector’s delight and even if you don’t want to purchase anything yourself, the works are always worth viewing as the styles and subject matter vary greatly. There are many galleries located around the island and a number of internationally recognised artists have chosen Bali as their home, holding regular shows at various venues throughout Bali.

Visit the Bali Barat National Park on Menjangan Island. Covering an area of over 750 square kilometres on the western tip of Bali, the park's boundaries are open savannah, rainforest, and mangrove swamps. This is a great spot for diving and snorkelling. Visitors are welcome, but must be accompanied by an official guide and have a park permit which is obtainable at the National Park Headquarters in Cekik, 3 km south of Gilimanuk.

Visit Pura Ulu Danau Bratan. This is the most picturesque temple on the island. Situated on Lake Bratan, this half-Hindu, half-Bhuddist temple juts out onto the lake. An important irrigation temple dedicated to Dewi Danau, the Water Goddess. The 11-roofed meru is a spectacular sight at dawn or dusk. The nearby Botanical Gardens (Lila Graha) are a definite must see.

Visit Goa Gajah Bedulu's Elephant Cave. This is one of the southern region's most famous tourist sights. In addition to the impressive hand-tunneled caves, the complex above the Petanu River includes temples, statues, pavilions and three bathing pools. The exterior of the cave is an elaborately carved demonic head. The archaeologists who discovered the face in 1923 originally thought it to be that of an elephant - hence the cave's name. The cave is pitch dark – so take a flashlight.

Visit the monkeys at Sangeh and Ubud Monkey Forests. The main attractions here are the hordes of Balinese Macaques that inhabit the trees and temples. Sangeh Monkey Forest lies near the village of Sangeh, about 20 km north of Denpasar. This forest of approximately 6 hectares is filled with giant nutmeg trees that can grow up to 40m high. Ubud Monkey Forest is a smaller nature reserve on the southern outskirts of Ubud.

Visit Trunyan Village near Gunung Batur volcano. This is a major tourist attraction because of the ancient practices its people still observe: instead of cremating or burying the deceased, the people of Trunyan leave their dead out in the open air to decay. Fascination with this practice has brought many visitors to Trunyan's cemetery, in the nearby village of Kuban, which is accessible only by boat.

Ride an Elephant. Tours are available at the Elephant Safari Park where you will sit atop an elephant in a traditional teak wood chair, while swaying through the refreshing jungle of Desa Taro. This is a wonderful way to experience the jungles of Bali.

 

Go Jungle Trekking in the nature reserve of Mount Batukaru. This off-the-beaten track adventure goes into the cool surroundings of a tropical rainforest. Experience spectacular scenery and the hidden world of Bali's wildlife and native plants. Stop for a picnic lunch by a clear mountain stream before continuing your journey to the archaic temple of Batukaru.