We’re back with more about Asia! How do y’all feel about Bali? Today, I have a great guest post, contributed by Simon Miller (and may contain affiliate links), suggesting fun alternative activities to do in Bali, Indonesia. Enjoy!
Bali is known across the world for its spectacular beaches, as well as the chance the beautiful destination offers to get away from it all and relax. But the island isn’t all about a slower pace of life. When you visit, you can also get involved in activities away from the beach. We’ve gathered 10 of our favourites.
1. Visit the Waterpark
Waterbom is one of Asia’s best waterparks so if you love a thrill, it’s a great day out. There are extreme water slides for adrenaline junkies, as well as calmer lazy rivers for everyone to enjoy.
2. Embrace the culture
When you’re in Bali, it’s a great idea to visit one of the temples – and there are plenty to choose from. We suggest the Ultuwatu Temple for great views of the Indian Ocean. At sunset every day, you can join the crowds that gather at the temple, perched on a 70-metre cliff, to watch the sun go down and catch a traditional Kecak dance performance.
3. Try authentic food
Bali is full of culinary delights – from the range of flavours added to the stir-fried rice dish Nasi Goreng to the ever-popular satay meat, there’s plenty for you to try. To save you time and effort, Trip Canvas have highlighted 18 of the best places to find these great dishes and more.
4. Learn to dive
Bali has some of the best spots to learn to dive anywhere in the world. With great visibility and calm waters, many people choose to learn when in the country. However, as a beginner, you’ve got to be wary – so pay attention to these six dangers when planning your diving experience and you’ll be sure to have a great trip.
5. Trek to capture the best views
Trekking is a great way to see a side of Bali the tourist trail doesn’t always reach. For the locals, hiking to the top of the 3,000-metre high mountain Mount Agung is a pilgrimage they must do at least once in their lifetime.
So why don’t you try it? You’ll get the greatest bird’s eye view of Bali and achieve something truly special.
6. Visit a traditional healer
Many people express an interest or curiosity in traditional healing methods. If that’s you, Bali is a great place to experience healing first-hand. Known as balians, your hotel will have recommendations and most taxi drivers will know the routes to local healers off-by-heart as it’s become a particularly popular thing for visitors to do in recent years.
7. Watch a show
As a theatrical and dance tribute to Indonesia, the Devdan Show is a unique performance that mixes in traditional and modern elements. Its 90 minutes of unique fun are definitely something worth leaving your sun lounger for.
8. Have a dinner to remember
Across the country, there are one-of-a-kind restaurants that offer dining experiences unlike any others. Examples include the Madu Sari Mountain Restaurant, located on the edge of a crater on Mount Batur and Bali Safari and Marine Park’s Tsavo Lion Restaurant, where you can dine alongside lions. You’ll be telling others about the food and locations for years to come.
9. Scare yourself
If you’re up for an adventure, Bali has plenty of abandoned places to explore – including the amusement park Taman Festival which was closed down for inconclusive reasons. It is surrounded by mystery and has become somewhat infamous amongst avid travellers. If you’re not feeling brave enough to visit in person, you can watch this creepy video.
10. Learn a trade
To learn more about how the locals live, you can explore where they work. The seaweed farm in Lembongan offers boat rides through the mangroves, for instance, where you can watch the farmers care for their crops and even get to try some freshly harvested seaweed.
Some tour operators are now also offering the opportunity to be a rice farmer for the day – with the added bonus of a traditional Balinese bathing ritual and massage after your hard work.
If you’ve been to Bali, please share your recommendations with us.