Having a list of the top 10 things to do in Bali would help you have a reference for your Bali itinerary. Whether you’re the spontaneous type or someone who knows how helpful having a semblance of a plan, here are some ideas for your Bali trip beyond the busy beaches!
Top 10 things to do in Bali: Go to the hidden beaches!
A lot of people come home from Bali with a luggage of disappointment. They were expecting pristine beaches with white sands. Nature that seemed to be untouched by the mass tourism and influx of humans coming to the island. Those are the people who are being unrealistic. Bali is located in a developing country that still struggles with pretty much everything. Developments in Bali was only ever focused on accommodating more and more tourists. Even now, little effort is done to preserve nature in Bali.
But that does not mean you will not be able to enjoy the Balinese nature at all. Despite the rampant impacts of tourism, there are still plenty of places in Bali that are seemed untouched. If you love beaches, go on an adventure to find some hidden beaches in Bali. There are even pristine beaches in a touristy area like Sanur, called Melasti Beach. Even Kuta has one, called Pantai Bingin. Make sure when you to go tourist-centered areas like Kuta, Legian, and Sanur, you steer off the main beaches. It’s definitely worth it to go to these beaches as one of your top 10 things to do in Bali for your itinerary.
Visit Besakih Temple
Visiting Pura Besakih is one of the routine annual activities of all of the Balinese Hindu. Top 10 things to do in Bali list just feels incomplete without a visit to the Mother Temple. In the Besakih Temple, there were small villages that locals visit according to their castes. Visiting the Besakih temple is best done in the morning when you want to enjoy the quiet of the temple and its breathtaking surrounding nature. However, visiting it during busy times where locals are praying their worship is an excellent experience in itself. The temple could get very busy with domestic tourists coming in buses though, so make sure to keep that in mind.
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Glimpse at the life of Neolithic age in Trunyan Village
You’ve probably heard of the name “Trunyan” several times when you read up on Bali. The village is famous for its ‘open-air ossuary’. The Trunyanese people don’t cremate their dead unlike the vast majority of Balinese Hindu people. This is because the people of Trunyan were largely isolated during the time Bali come under the influence of Hinduism.
Bodies were left on the ground and covered in clothes inside a bamboo canopy. The bodies that are left on the ground don’t smell. BBC published a story of Trunyan and its peculiar ritual. It’s known that a large tree is believed to have helped minimize the rotting smell. Intrigued by an activity that is darker and reminded us of our own mortality? Get a visit to the Trunyan village into your top 10 things to do in Bali that you can’t miss.
Experience luxury in an affordable price tag
Well, affordable for most developed countries, at least! Definitely not in the eyes of locals. Bali is famous for its rows of resorts and luxury villas. Luxury villas are known to be in the affordable price range compared to many parts of the world. Enjoy infinity pools in a beautiful villa or hotel with just 100 – 200 USD per night. If you want to splurge, you can even get a private villa with a butler/maids in less than 300 – 500 USD. Ones that offer this are usually beautiful, private villa complexes located in a secluded area. Luxury just afforded you peace. Sounds to good to be true? Do a google search and go pack your bags after.
Experience the abundance quality-budget options
There are plenty of choices if you’re not interested in luxury villas and resorts. And you can find plenty of budget places that are located in beautiful places. If enjoying Bali without having to spend a fortune is on your top todos, then this is definitely the place.
Top 10 things to do in Bali: Enjoy the rice field
Bali isn’t just famous for its beaches. Before tourism goes rampant in Bali, agriculture was Bali’s top GDP. Getting a rice field into your top 10 things to do in Bali is one of the best ways to get away from the hoards of tourists as well. There are plenty of places that you can find—and many of them were actually unknown and undiscovered by tourism at all! But to start, you can go to the Jatiluwih area and Tegalalang area, both are which well-known areas that house beautiful green carpets. Have a scooter license? Then hop on your scooter to enjoy the rice fields in Bali!
Visit the coffee plantation and sip on a cup of divine coffee
The Bali coffee may not be spectacularly popular all over the world, but it is definitely one of Indonesian most beloved ones. The coffee in Bali is mostly grown in the higher lands of Kintamani. A perfect day consists of enjoying the beautiful plantation and a sip of Balinese authentic Arabica or Robusta coffee.
Experience a cooler Bali by going to Kintamani
The main attraction of Kintamani is the famed Mount Batur. But there are a wealth of options aside from visiting the mountain. You can try visiting plenty of Agro Wisata sites (agrotourism), as well as tours to Kintamani’s many farms and plantation. Take a break from sandy toes and beach tans. Explore this side of Bali as well.
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Go to the Annual Bali Kites Festival
Flying kites is one of the closely-held cultures of the Balinese people. Kids go out playing kites all the time. But teenagers and adults take them even more seriously. There is always a kite-making activity by the youths of Banjar (Balinese local neighborhood community). Make sure not to miss this opportunity if you’re going to Bali during July and August!
Top 10 things to do in Bali: Enjoy the year-long sun
Rain in Bali is often brief and downpours occur scarcely even during the rainy season. Rainy seasons in Bali is rarely ever cold. Simply being under the sun and soak it all in is one of the little things that you can immediately enjoy while in Bali. Get a glass of fresh coconut water from a local street vendor “pedagang kaki lima”. Enjoying the little things like this is what make your trip most memorable. Don’t forget your sunscreen! Bali’s sun is scorching hot most of time of the year.