The Oberoi

This luxury Balinese resort manages to provide comfort without losing touch with its traditional roots. A small collection of luxury villas built in traditional Indonesian style provide the latest in modern amenities dotted with Balinese art and decoration, giving you a feeling of authenticity and understated opulence. 15 acres of lush gardens surround the villas, offering the private pools, beautiful outlooks and a wonderful chance to unwind.

Alila Villas Soori

If you’re looking to the ultimate in rest, relaxation and rejuvenation while in Bali, Bali Alila Villas Soori is the place for you. With some of the finest spa services in Bali, these stunning Alila Villas attract discerning travellers from all over the world. Cutting edge contemporary styling in granite and polished teak is perfectly balanced by the sumptuously decadent luxury of the bedroom, spa and designer baths. Beachfront views are countered by peaceful rice paddies surrounding the resort, and after a stay here, you’ll be sure you’ve discovered the very definition of paradise.

Pita Maha Resort

This unique resort has been designed with complete environmental cohesiveness in mind, allowing guests to truly escape the outside world and relax in a stunning natural setting. Gardens rich in natural beauty seamlessly meld with the private and luxurious villas constructed from the finest in local materials. Quaint thatched roofs blend with the luxury of both an indoor and outdoor bath, and you’ll fall in love with the amazing sense of peace that you experience throughout your stay.

The Legian

In Balinese, the word ‘legian’ is used to express an experience which is supremely pleasing to the senses, and this stunning resort certainly lives up to its name. With spectacular beachfront location, the 118 cottages available at the Legian all offer a unique mixture of Indonesian heritage and modern luxury. A highlight of staying at the Legian is the stunning pool bungalows, offering you your very own private pool and outdoor shower. Adventurous guests are welcome to take a few lessons at the resort’s very own surfing school, while those looking to relax can take advantage of a few hours enjoying the decadent spa services.

These incredible accommodation options are stylish, sophisticated, and just the right amount of opulent. If you feel ready to give in to the temptation of a luxurious getaway in Bali, check out Flight Centre for all of the best deals on flights and accommodation. Celebrate your holiday in style with one of these incredible accommodation options for the traveller who enjoys something more than a little indulgent.

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Let’s face the fact- we all enjoy good festival, delicious food, and vibrant culture! And Bali is a destination that promises to help you with all. The Balinese people always have something to celebrate whatever the occasion, and if you’re backpacking to Bali it’s more than likely that you’ll have the opportunity to experience a religious festival while you’re there. Unlike most of Indonesia which is Muslim, the majority of Bali’s population follows Balinese Hinduism formed from a combination of local beliefs and Hindu influences from mainland Southeast Asia. On your visit to Bali, if you want to experience one of the island’s great celebrations, then the following list of festivals in Bali will help you for sure:

Nyepi Festival:

According to the Balinese Saka calendar, the Nyepi festival is observed as the Hindu New Year or Hindu Day of Silence. The day starts with cleaning the villages and preparing delicious cuisines. No sooner than the night approaches, people scream on top of their voices; according to Balinese rituals, they make this noise to scare the devils and evil spirits. On this day, Hindu Balinese abstain from all worldly pleasures and physical activities for the next 24 hours. They prefer spending the time performing prayers or meditating at the merajan or house shrine.

Galungan

Galungan is usually celebrated to show respect to Ida Sang Hyang Widi (the creator of the Universe) and the released spirits of their ancestors. The festival represents the triumph of good over evil. On this auspicious day, Balinese show their gratefulness to the sainted ancestors and creator. Galungan is a series of celebrations which starts with Sugihan Jawa and ends with Kuningan Day. On this festival, the locals start their day by making several offerings, decorating their homes and temples as well as arranging for social get-togethers.

Odalan:

This is a Hindu ceremony organized for celebrating the anniversary of the Bali temples. As per their traditional calendar, the festival is celebrated after an interval of 6 months or 210 days. It is believed that spirits come down from heaven on this festival and are entertained with cock fights, dances, cock fights, food as well as other practices.

Melasti:

According to the Balinese calendar, this festival falls on the last day of the lunar year. The day starts with immense enthusiasm amongst the locals with sounds of drums and gamelan all around. You’ll also find the people dressed in their best apparels and making their way to the sacred springs and ocean to wash holy statues and offer flowers and fruits.

photo from Wikimedia commons

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When talking about the top surfing destinations of the world, Bali certainly deserves a mention. What makes this destination of Indonesia perfect surfing spot for beginners and experienced is its volcanic reef-fringed shoreline. This surfing destination enjoys a tropical climate, implying that the water here is always warm and makes a good choice for year long surfing.

Why Bali is a great place to learn to surf?

There are various reasons that make Bali a good surfing point. For instance, the secluded breaks and warm water are top reasons why surfing enthusiasts prefer coming here. The trade winds that blow during the dry season make the west coast a favorable option for surfing. On the other hand, during the wet season it’s the winds and tides that make the east coast a favorable choice for surfing. In fact, it is the favorable weather conditions that make Bali a great place to learn to surf.

Read on to know the best surf camps in Bali that’ll give an air to your surfing addiction…

The Chillhouse:

Located in Canggu, this conventional retreat is noted for its remarkable accommodation, organic meals, and surf guiding. Whether you are an amateur, advanced learner or an intermediate, here you’ll get an opportunity to deal with as much as sixty waves in an hour!

Star Surf Camps:

For a fun-filled two week surfing adventure in Bali and Nusa Lembongan (her sister island), Star surf camps is something you may count on. On your stay here, you’ll get professional and enjoyable surf lessons from the experienced surf instructors of this island. The camp tour ensures to offer you a perfect balance of adventure, surfing, relaxation, wildlife and partying.

Padang Padang Surf Camp:

Located close to the Balinese pipeline, this surf camp is a great choice for those eyeing on the double joys of surfing the best waves in Bali and staying in comfy accommodation. The camp has surf lesson arrangements for novice, beginner and experienced surfers.

Wave Guru Surf Camp:

The camp arranges for two guided surf trips every day, one in the early hours of the day and the second during the afternoon. However, they prefer taking surf lessons for small groups of maximum six people.

Rapture Camps:

If you are in search of an entertaining surfing holiday in the midst of a remarkable location, then Rapture Camp in Bali can fit in your choice list. One of the three surf camps under the banner of Rapture Camps, the camp in Bali strives to help you with an exotic surf vacation. People across the globe come here to join this surf school. So, whether you are a new comer or an experienced surfer interested in exploring new surf breaks, this camp ensures to help you with the best surfing experience ever.

Kima Surf:

Kima Surfaris arranges for various surf camps and boat trips across Bali. The guided tours are offered for about 12 times in a day. For beginners, the popular beach breaks of Kuta are a great choice for enhancing their take off skills. Even experienced surfers can get their perfect ride here. Intermediate surfers can have their own set of joys during the semi-beach breaks and soft reef in Bali.

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Eating in Bali is a delightful adventure. Even foods that are familar to you, like meat satays (meat-on-a-stick, sate in Indonesian), are transformed by the street vendors who marinate familiar (chicken, beef) and less familiar (rabbit, goat) meats and then roast them over fires perfumed by the coconut husks used for fuel.

The local restaurants and street vendors are the places where you can find the most authentic of Bali cuisine. A few Balinese foods you should try:

Nasi Goreng.

This staple is served any time of day and will be familiar to you. It is fried rice. And like fried rice at any Chinese restaurant it can contain almost anything. Rice is essential. And oil. But it may have various meats and seafood: chicken, beef and shrimp most often. At simple street vendors the only vegetable may be garlic and white cabbage. Others may add carrots, leeks or onions. The dish is seasoned with soy sauce and chili paste. The chili paste can transform a bland dish to a blistering one — you’ll get a chance to choose. The Nasi Goreng Special is fried rice with a fried egg (sunny side up) on top.

Nasi campur.

This dish is often an artistic arrangement of various foods arranged carefully around a serving of steamed rice. Favorites include grilled tuna, beef or fish satays, fried tofu, peanuts, corn, vegetable curry, and cucumbers. Beware a reddish sauce which may be on the side of the dish: sambai is a concoction of chilies, shallots and salt and is usually extremely hot to the tongue.

Bakso.

This simple soup will stick to your ribs for a day’s sightseeing. The basics of bakso are a clear broth with noodles and a meatball. The meatball is huge (think baseball) and usually of finely ground beef, or sometimes chicken. The noodles are rice or egg noodles. The cook then adds whatever else is available … greens, mushrooms, etc. You add ketjap yourself, a condiment which varies between vendors. Ketjap may sound like ketchup, but has no tomato base; it’s made from soy sauce, dark sugar and molasses and may be seasoned with ginger, coriander and star anise. Bakso is said to be President Obama’s favorite dish from his childhood.

Gado Gado.

This vegetable salad with peanut sauce is another dish with wide variations between vendors. It can be a beautifully arrangement of fresh and cooked vegetables with the sauce in a separate dish. Or … it can be a rather ugly pile of things swimming in sauce and covered with a layer of crackers. In any case, the vegetables will be varied and fresh and the peanut sauce alive with chilies. A basic Gado Gado may have: blanched cabbage, string beans, garlic, corn and bean sprouts; boiled sliced potato; sliced hard boiled eggs and fresh lettuce and cucumbers. In Bali the peanut sauce is usually poured over the salad and is made from ground fried peanuts, sugar, lime, shrimp paste and tamarind water. There may be some fried tofu on the side of the dish and the dish is usually topped with some form of cracker, either plain or the deep fried puffed crackers seasoned with shrimp or fish that are a favorite ‘chip’ in Bali.

photo from Wikimedia

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Not only is Bali blessed with some of the world’s best waves and plenty of beaches, it is also a great place to find a bargain. Tourists arriving on flights to Bali come not only for sun, sea, sand and nightlife, but also to take home some cheap souvenirs too.

Even if you don’t fancy the idea of shopping in Bali, you’ll usually end up buying a souvenir or two during your holiday. It’s commonplace to hear a local in the street shouting “DVD! Transport!” and to be approached on the beach by hawkers offering massages or selling sarongs.

Bali is great for buying arts and crafts such as wall paintings, fabrics, antique furniture, handwoven boxes, wood and stone carvings, jewellery, lanterns and ceramics.

Shops selling arts and crafts can be found alongside roads such as Jalan Raya Kerobokan near Seminyak, and Bypass Ngurah Rai which is the main road linking Kuta with Jimbaran and Nusa Dua. If you’re looking to buy some art, Bali’s cultural centre of Ubud has lots of galleries of an international standard.

Celuk village on the road towards Ubud is known for its gold and silversmiths, so you’ll find all sorts of gold and silver jewellery here including necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

If you wish to buy typical tourist items like DVDs, knock-off sunglasses, singlets, cheap surf-wear or trinkets, then you’ll find stalls close to the beach in areas like Kuta, Legian and Sanur.

For clothing boutiques, the trendy area of Seminyak has several individual shops selling designer garments and accessories. There are also a number of shopping centres and malls throughout the island selling international brand names- the major ones are Bali Collection in Nusa Dua, Mall Bali Galeria on the Bypass, Kuta Square in Kuta and Discovery Shopping Mall on Jalan Kartika Plaza in Kuta.

Remember in Bali there are hardly ever fixed prices- half the fun is in bargaining over a price and the Balinese people are very friendly. Make sure you carry some Rupiah in cash on you since many places will not accept cards.

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Many people visit Bali for pure relaxation, but if you seek a little more adventure, then there are several Bali adventure tours offering adventure activities to get your adrenaline pumping. Here are some of the best adventure activities in Bali:

White Water Rafting

For a pulse-racing experience, try and tackle Class II and III rapids on a white water rafting adventure down the Ayung River. You’ll enjoy an exhilarating ride past waterfalls, lush tropical rainforest, towering cliffs, Hindu shrines and scenic rice paddies, then enjoy lunch at a terrace river cafe. The Ayung River is great for beginners, but if you’re a little more experienced at white water rafting, you can choose the more challenging Telaga Waja River.

Hiking Volcanoes

Bali has several active volcanoes- the biggest is Mount Agung at 3142m, but if you’re new to hiking volcanoes then it’s best to scale the smaller Mount Batur (1771m). You need to have a decent fitness level to make the 3-4 hour climb to the top, and you should never do the hike alone. Accompanied by a friendly Balinese tour guide, you’ll set off in the early hours of the morning in order to arrive at the summit for a view of the spectacular sunrise.

Elephant Safari Park

Located near the village of Taro, the Elephant Safari Park in Bali is considered one of the best in the world. Set in more than 2 hectares of eco-tourism landscaped Botanical gardens surrounded by dense forest, the park is home to a herd of rescued Sumatran elephants and meets international standards for animal care. You can watch the elephants take a bath, hand-feed them and experience an elephant ride through the tropical park.

Cruise to Nusa Lembongan

Nusa Lembongan is an island off the south-east coast of Bali, with crystal clear waters perfect for snorkeling and diving. Taking a tour  to the island is a great way to escape the traffic and chaos of Bali and truly relax and unwind. A Nusa Lembongan Reef Cruise will take you on a luxury catamaran to Lembongan Bay, where you can snorkel over the colourful corals and see some exotic fish. As part of the full-day cruise you can take a tour of the island, get your pulse racing with a banana boat ride, and enjoy a delicious buffet before sailing back.

Surfing

Bali has some of the best waves in the world, so naturally it’s a great place to learn to surf. If you’re new to surfing but want to give it a try, you can go and stay at a surf camp with your accommodation included, or you can take a few lessons with a surf school. They will provide all the equipment and take you to the most ideal spots for beginners. You’ll be standing up in no time!

photo by Meindert Arnold Jacob on flickr

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Bali’s enchanting sunsets make the island the perfect place for a romantic getaway and you can watch a beautiful sunset every night of your holiday if you wish.

Anywhere on the West Coast of Bali is ideal for watching the sunset, whether you’re in Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta, Jimbaran, or on the Bukit Peninsula. The iconic Tanah Lot Temple, perched on a rock on the ocean, is also teaming with tourists around sunset.

Whether you just want to sit on the sand with a couple of Bintangs or sip cocktails in a swanky sunset bar, the sunsets in Bali are always a spectacular sight.

There are two Bali sunset bars in particular that are a must-do on your visit to the island:

Ku De Ta

Ku De Ta is a world famous sunset bar in Seminyak that attracts jetsetters and tourists looking for a touch of glamour. Overlooking the beach, this ultra-trendy bar has a great cocktail list and serves some delicious pizzas and international cuisine. During high season, Ku De Ta throws some very elaborate themed parties like “White Night” and the “Bikini Day Party” and the bar regularly welcomes international DJs. Take a dip in the water, order a cocktail and admire the sunset from a comfortable lounger, before taking it up a notch and hitting the dance floor after dark.

The Rock Bar, Ayana Resort

The Rock Bar at the Ayana Resort in Jimbaran Bay is literally perched on the rocks overlooking the Indian Ocean and you have to take an elevator down the cliff to get to it. Sip on a cocktail or two as the waves crash against the rocks, and listen to the sound of live music as you watch the sun melt into the horizon.

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Here’s a list of the top 10 things we recommend to do in Bali:

1. Tanah Lot

Pura Tanah Lot is a temple perched on a rock formation on the ocean, and is one of the most photographed spots in Bali, particularly as it offers a spectacular view of the sunset. Located in Tabanan on the West Coast of Bali, the temple is a popular tourist destination and is therefore quite commercialised, so you have to walk past many souvenir shops, street sellers and food stalls to get to it. Tanah Lot is one of Bali’s most sacred sea temples and it is believed that poisonous sea snakes protect it from evil spirits.

2. Watch a cultural performance

No visit to Bali is complete without experiencing some of the Balinese culture. Bali is known for its Gamelan music and vibrant dance performances, including the Kecak Dance, Barong Dance and Fire Dance. The Kecak Dance or ‘monkey dance’ is performed by a group of men who dance in a circle around blazing torches, and tells the story of Prince Rama, who attempts to rescue his wife Sita from the hands of the evil King of Lanka.There is no musical accompaniment to the dance, only the chants and claps from the male performers.

3. Hike Mount Batur

Mounta Batur is an active volcano in the North East of Bali, and although it’s about half the size of Mount Agung, it is worth hiking this particular volcano to see the sunrise and the spectacular view from the top. Treks with a local Balinese guide usually depart in the early hours of the morning since it takes about 3-4 hours to hike to the summit for sunrise.

4. Go surfing

Bali is known for having some of the best surf in the world and surfers travel from far and wide to ride the island’s waves. For beginners there are plenty of surf schools and camps across the island so its the perfect opportunity to rent a board and give surfing a go. Kuta also has plenty of surf board shops and repair shops.

5. Uluwatu Temple

Uluwatu is down in the southern tip of the island on the Bukit Peninsula. The temple is perched high up on the cliffs overlooking the ocean, and is the ideal place to visit at sunset, when there is also a performance of the Kecak dance. Whilst it is only possibly for Hindus to go inside the temple, most tourists visit Uluwatu to see the monkeys that inhabit the area around the temple. Be careful though, as they will try to take any food or accessories you may be carrying!

6. Eat seafood on the beach in Jimbaran

At night, Jimbaran Bay is a really great place to sink your feet into the sand and enjoy a delicious seafood dinner on the beach. An entire section of the beach is covered in candlelit tables and chairs, so you can dine on freshly caught squid, fish and prawns right next to the Indian ocean.

7. White water rafting

There’s plenty of chance for adventure in Bali, with the opportunity to raft down the rapids of the Ayung River. You’ll be in for an exhilarating ride as you navigate your way along Class II and III rapids past cascading waterfalls, tropical rainforest, towering cliffs and scenic rice terraces.

8. Visit Bali’s cultural centre, Ubud

Bali’s capital of culture, Ubud, was propelled into the limelight thanks to the Julia Roberts movie Eat Pray Love. Here you can walk through the enchanting Sacred Monkey Forest, visit medicine man Ketut Liyer from Eat Pray Love, browse art galleries and craft shops, have a drink overlooking pretty green rice terraces, enjoy a relaxing spa treatment or try some yummy Balinese food in one of the fantastic Warungs.

9. Watch sunset at Ku De Ta

Bali has some stunning sunsets, but perhaps the most glamorous view of the sunset is from Ku De Ta in Seminyak. This trendy, upscale bar and restaurant has a prime location on the beach in Seminyak, so its the perfect place to watch the sunset go down with a cocktail in hand. In high season Ku De Ta puts on lots of extravagant parties and plays host to famous DJs.

10. Explore the island’s beaches

Being an island, Bali has lots of beaches along its coastline. Some, like in Canggu, are dramatic black sand beaches with crashing waves, whilst others consist of golden sand and plenty of beach activities like in Seminyak and Kuta. Padangbai on the East Coast of the island has a beautiful white sand beach, whilst the beaches on the Bukit Peninsula in the south of the island are protected by steep cliffs and coral reefs.

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With its idyllic beaches, welcoming climate and exotic cuisine, it’s no surprise that Bali is such a popular destination for holidaymakers in search of a bit of R and R. However, the island is also popular amongst backpackers thanks to the many activities on offer that can’t really be enjoyed in the British climate: surfing, for example, and diving. With such clear blue seas and such diversity of underwater life, why wouldn’t you want to explore the diving  in Bali?

As surfing is also a popular pastime for people travelling to Bali, aspiring divers would be best advised to avoid touristy areas in the south that see the majority of the surfing trade happen. This means that, as well as experiencing the exoticism on offer when you go diving, you can also explore a more traditional slice of Bali life, visiting areas that remain largely uninfluenced by the tourism industry. The best diving spots can be found around the east and north of the island, or you can take a 45 minute boat ride to the east to discover other dive spots on the islands of Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan.

You can be as adventurous or as cautious as you like with dive sites on the island, as different areas offer a chance to see different kinds of underwater life. For those divers with a taste for the exotic and the exciting, areas like Tepekong, Gilli Biaha, and Manta Point are frequented by sharks of varying sizes. Manta Point in particular is also home to species of turtles and manta rays, so affords divers some truly unique experiences. On the opposite end of the scale is Secret Bay, located in front of the docking area of the Gilimanuk Harbor. This is a great site for a bit of micro activity, with beautiful varieties of underwater life from Snake Eels to Cockatoo Fish, and Flounders to Sea Hares.

Bali is also home to one of the continent’s most famous diving sites: the Liberty Wreck. Located 30 metres from shore, the Liberty Wreck is the 120 metre long wreckage of a World War II cargo ship, torpedoed by a Japanese submarine out in the Lombok Strait on 11 January 1942. The wreck is home to many species of large fish, reef fish, and eels, and is a popular spot for night diving as it is so close to the shore.

If you’re going to take a diving trip to Bali, be sure to have all eventualities covered by purchasing a good travel insurance plan from a company like Direct Travel Insurance. That way you can dive and explore with peace of mind, and understand what everyone is raving about.

photo by Ilse Reijs and Jan-Noud Hutten on flickr

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2. Canggu Beach- For a beach offering rugged scenery, Canggu has a windswept black sand beach with scattered rocks. If you like to sunbathe in peace and quiet without tourists everywhere, then Canggu is your place. Canggu is popular with both beginner and experienced surfers as well as local expats. It’s a perfect spot to have some lunch and enjoy the feeling of sea spray on your skin.

3. Padang Padang- Padang Padang is host to the Rip Curl Cup surf contest and the break is a very famous surf spot. You can see the beach from the bridge to see whether the surf is pumping. Climb down the narrow stairway and park your towel on the golden sandy beach. the water is safe for swimming because the beach is protected from the waves by a coral reef and if it gets too hot you can seek shade behind the rocks to the right.

4. Uluwatu- Uluwatu is well-known for the Balinese temple and the cheeky monkeys that live there. But the beach is also famous for its reef break and glassy waves during the dry season. There are Warungs, ding repair shops and surf shops in the cliff, whilst the shingle beach has some cool caves.

5. Balangan- Balangan on the Bukit Peninsula has a laid-back tropical vibe, with golden sand, wooden beach Warungs and palm trees. Surfers come to Balangan for the reef break during the dry season, whilst non-surfers simply laze on sun loungers and go swimming in the rock pools.

6. Padangbai- Padangbai has the best beaches in Bali for snorkelling. This sleepy fishing village on the East Coast of Bali has two great beaches. Bloo Lagoon Beach is a small, white sandy beach over the hill to the left of the town which has coral and scattered rocks. Over the hill to the right you have White Sand Beach, known as Secret Beach or Bias Tegul. This beach is a little slice of paradise, with powder white sand and palm trees.

7. Bingin- Bingin is a popular surf spot on the Bukit peninsula on the way to Uluwatu. Bingin beach is accessible via steep stairs set into the cliff and when you get to the bottom, you’ll find light-coloured sand, scattered boulders and a rocky reef. There are plenty of wooden Warungs in the cliffs serving Indonesian food with budget accommodation attached.

8. Jimbaran Beach- Jimbaran Bay is a golden sandy beach with calm, still waters perfect for swimming and bathing. It’s also very popular in the evening for seafood dinners on the beach. Pick out your seafood from the tanks, let them cook it for you, and have a romantic, candlelit dinner on the beach.

9. Sanur- Sanur is Bali’s original backpacker resort, but is now much more sleepy than the areas of Kuta and Seminyak, with a more laid-back, traditional vibe. Located on the East Coast of the island, Sanur is easily accessible from Denpasar and, like Nusa Dua, is a popular surf spot during the wet season when the surf isn’t so good on the West Coast.

10. Nusa Dua- Nusa Dua is Bali’s self-contained resort with luxury 5-star hotels and a shopping square. The purpose-built resort has lifeguards and security to make holidaymakers feel as safe as possible. Although some of the hotels have private bits of beach, Nusa Dua has a public beach called Pantai Geger, with white sand and waters perfect for swimming. Being on the East Coast of Bali, surfers come to Nusa Dua during the ‘wet season’ because it offers better surfing conditions than other parts of the island.

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