Bali

Let Us Plan Your Travel to Bali

While it may be one of 17,000 islands in the Indonesian archipelago, Bali is a standout with words like “paradise” and “nirvana” often used to describe it. Only about 1.5 miles from the eastern tip of Java, just west of Lombok, this lush island is an ideal destination for travelers on a budget as well as those with money to spend. While many come for the beautiful beaches, diving, surfing, and activity-filled resorts, it offers much more than a sun-soaked retreat. From the vibrant nightlife in Kuta to soaring mountains laced with waterfalls and sparkling lakes, verdant rice fields, ancient temples, and exotic wildlife, not to mention the out-of-this-world food and drink, it’s on many travelers’ bucket lists. While the beauty might take the spotlight, it’s the locals with their genuine, warm smiles and incredible hospitality that make Bali a place that many feel compelled to visit again and again.

Our Luxury Tours of Bali

There are many ways to explore Bali, the “Island of the Gods” near Java in the heart of the Indonesian archipelago. Distinctly different than the rest of the nation, it has its own unique culture, language, and cuisine as well as the only Hindu majority. First-time visitors might want to hit top spots like the spiritual capital of Ubud in the lush hills of central Bali with its brilliant green rice fields, iconic temples, and famous monkeys in the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. Spending time on tranquil stretches of sand in Sanur, enjoying a day trip to Nusa islands, and even learning how to prepare traditional Balinese dishes in a cooking class, are just a few of your other options. Perhaps venture northwest to remote West Bali National Park for world-class diving and snorkeling, hike to waterfalls and lakes in Munduk, and visit unspoiled Lombok, home to some of Bail’s most beautiful beaches.

One of the world’s most popular honeymoon destinations, of the thousands of islands in the Indonesian archipelago, Bali stands out above the rest. It offers a little bit of everything, whether you’re looking to spend your days relaxing on a postcard-perfect beach, swim, snorkel, or surf, or enjoy being surrounded by towering mountains dotted with sparkling lakes, waterfalls, lush rice fields, and ancient temples. The tropical landscapes are straight out of fairy tales while the famously friendly Balinese radiate positive energy with their smiles. Honeymooners can enjoy plenty of places for private seclusion along with a host of activities and vibrant nightlife.

It’s the little details that matter most

When it comes to planning your dream honeymoon it is the little things that make it truly unforgettable, like private experiences, complimentary couples’ massages, champagne sundowners, candlelit dinners, and sunset sails. Our travel experts can help create these unique experiences and even add a little extra through our contacts for that extra special honeymoon.

Our Guide on Where to Visit in Bali

Bali is a gorgeous tropical island that can be visited time and time again with little danger of repeating the same ground. The south of the island is Bali’s tourism hotspot, where you’ll find all of its well-known beach resorts. Should you be looking for a busy package holiday scene then Kuta or Nusa Dua will not disappoint, but here at UTC, we tend to offer guests quieter, more authentic destinations such as Sanur, Tabanan, or the clifftop resorts of Uluwatu.

An hour up from the coast is Ubud: the spiritual heart of ‘Island of the Gods’. With its many art galleries, craft centers, yoga retreats, and a plethora of accommodation from budget to blow-out, all set against a backdrop of idyllic emerald green rice terraces, Ubud is the jewel in Bali’s crown. Further inland still you’ll find the stunning rural regions of Sidemen and Munduk, offering gorgeous scenery, fantastic hikes, and adventure activities galore, and yet more stunning accommodation.

Should you embark on a wider tour of Bali you’ll find the excitement and adventure keep coming even as you move around its far reaches. Out in the far western corner of the island is the nature of West Bali National Park and the underwater treasures of Menjangan. To the east, the alluring and laidback black sand resorts of Amed and Candidasa, and behind the immense volcanic backdrop of Mount Batur and Mount Agung.

Best places to go in Bali

Here is a summary of some of the best and most popular areas to visit.

Ubud

Ubud is the cultural heart of Bali, with many museums, galleries, and shops where local artisans and craftspeople sell beautiful handmade items, stone and wood carvings, jewelry, and clothing. There are cafes for enjoying the delicious strong Balinese coffee and the unique Kopi Luwak, an Indonesian coffee produced with beans digested from the cat-like civet animal. This town is one of the best places to catch a traditional Balinese dance, a mesmerizing ritual accompanied by Gamelan music. It’s also where you’ll find the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary with more than a thousand entertaining Balinese long-tailed monkeys roaming around the paths, temples, and banyan trees.

Sidemen Valley

A “secret spot” in East Valley, Sideman Valley isn’t visited by many tourists but it’s home to Bali’s highest mountain, the Telaga Waja River for rafting, the ancient village of Tenganan with its famous water palace, charming beach towns, and more. Visitors can also visit colorful markets, witness traditional weaving techniques and gaze at stunning rice fields that stretch as far as the eye can see. It’s authentic Bali, where Mount Agung is enveloped in the morning mist, while women wave hello as they make their way to local temples and children with their infectious smiles giggle as they pass by in their school uniforms.

Munduk

Located in northern Bali with many passing through on their way to West Bali National Park, there are plenty of reasons to stick around Munduk. Here you’ll see a different side of Bali that’s incredibly lush, with many lakes, rice terraces, and waterfalls. It’s a place for waterfall hopping with some of the best in Bali, including a hike that showcases four of them, including Labuhan Kebo, with a pool at the bottom for swimming or wading, depending on the season. The Twin Lakes viewpoint, where monkeys are often roaming about, is a must with its magnificent view of Tambingan and Buyan lakes.

Pemuteran

The small coastal village of Pemuteran is a hidden gem in Bali’s western region near West Bali National Park. It’s blessed with a serene beach that’s popular for snorkeling and diving among coral and tropical fish. At the Underwater Temple Garden, you’ll see the fish swimming around shrines and statues. By hiking verdant Batu Kursi, at the hilltop, you’ll be able to take in a view of the village and Pemuteran beach and discover the sacred temple of Pura Bukit Kursi. There are multiple eateries owned by locals who cook delicious Balinese dishes for savoring the island’s authentic cuisine.

Seminyak

On an island jam-packed with breathtaking beaches, Seminyak offers some of the very best and it’s just a 30-minute drive from the Denpasar airport. Visitors can enjoy smooth stretches of white sands that stretch for five miles between Canggu and Tuban, along with many upscale resorts, trendy bars, fine dining restaurants, buzzing clubs, chic shops, and world-class spas. It tends to be a health-conscious area with many vegetarian and organic cafes, although there are plenty of comfort foods and sweets. Famous for its sunsets, this is also one of the top spots to watch the sun go down on the island too.

Sanur

A beach town on Bali’s southeast side, Sanur is just 30 minutes from Kuta and 40 from Ubud, providing a great base for exploring both and enjoying trips to neighboring Nusa Lembongan Island. It has an over three-mile-long stretch of beach with calm water protected by a reef with sands that are lovely to stroll or even ride a bike on. While there are tourist shops and many restaurants, you won’t find much traffic here. At the Pasar Sindhu Night Market, held during the late afternoon and evening hours, the various market stalls sell traditionally cooked Indonesian fare along with fresh fruits and vegetables.

Our guide on where to stay in Bali

While there are plenty of tourist resorts along Bail’s south coast, with Seminyak, Kuta, and Nusa Dua drawing many, as one of the top destinations for travelers in the world, you’ll find outstanding accommodation throughout the island. It includes everything from magnificent private villas by the beach in more tranquil Sanur to clifftop resorts in Uluwatu, delivering luxuries and a more authentic stay for getting to know the local area. In Ubud, there are many hotels focusing on culture and wellness, all enjoyed in lush surroundings with rice fields and waterfalls. There are stress-melting retreats in central Bali providing high-quality lodging, and you’ll discover remote resorts for an ideal mix of adventure and high-end amenities on the northern, western, and eastern coasts, including West Bali National Park. Wherever you go in Bali, you’re sure to be greeted with a smile as the people here are some of the most welcoming you’ll ever meet.

Our guide on what to do in Bali

Bali offers incomparable beauty, with white sandy beaches, lush rainforest laced with waterfalls, dotted with misty lakes, and countless monkeys. Ancient temples and palaces seem to grace every street corner, while a wide range of active pursuits are possible, from hiking to snorkeling and diving, with the world’s highest diversity of marine species here. You’ll find plenty of ways to relax whether soaking up the sun and the sand or indulging in a decadent yet affordable spa treatment.

As you make your plans, deciding what to do can be challenging but you’ll definitely want to include some of these options on your “must-do” list.
 

Best activities to do in Bali

Bali has a huge range of outdoor pursuits, history, culture and food to enjoy. To help you narrow it done we have put together a list of some of our favourites.

Tegalalang Rice Terraces

Cascading down the sides of a lush valley, visiting the spectacular Tegalalang Rice Terraces is one of the top things to do in Bali, providing the chance to take in magnificent views from many vantage points. You can even enjoy them from a jungle swing or zipline in the scenic hillsides. Capturing a selfie for your Instagram with one of the “Love Bali” signs is considered a must too. For the best photos, go around sunrise or sunset. The terraces are open 24/7, so if you arrive early, you can capture the first rays of the sun before tourist buses arrive.

Monkey Forest in Ubud

The Monkey Forest is a sanctuary and natural habitat home to more than a thousand Balinese long-tailed monkeys. They roam freely, around magnificent temples, banyan trees, and all the visitors. Here you’ll stroll the meandering paths that wind through lush rainforest, enjoying close encounters with the entertaining animals nearly the entire way. There are usually lots of babies riding on their mother’s backs and many leaping through the trees, occasionally onto the shoulders of passersby. While it makes for great pictures, don’t attempt to feed them – dozens of monkeys crawling all over you is not the experience you want to have.

Ubud’s Art Galleries

Ubud is the center of art and culture in Bali, and it’s been that way for decades, ever since the King of Ubud asked prominent western artists to come and share their skills with the locals in the 1930s. Those who want to check out the town’s artsy side, should at minimum, check out Semar Kuning, a hub for local artists with diverse works in many different styles. Learn more about Indonesia’s heritage of traditional weaving at Threads of Life which features authentic textiles from communities across the country, offers classes like Natural Dye Batik, guided tours, and items for sale.

Munduk Waterfalls Hike

Munduk is located in the north Bali highlands and as the area gets quite a bit of rain, there’s lots of lush greenery and waterfalls. There are many that can be seen with just a relatively short like some of which cascade more than 75 feet. The most popular trek is the Munduk Waterfalls hike which leads to three different falls, including Larangan Melanting, Red Coral, and Munduk/Golden Valley. It can be accomplished within a few hours but you might want to plan to have lunch at the café overlooking the last waterfall as you’d be hard-pressed to find a better view than this.

Menjangan Snorkeling

One of the top things to do near West Bali National Park is to snorkel off Menjangan Island. Ranked among the world’s best snorkeling spots by the Discovery Channel, it’s an underwater paradise. It’s just a short boat ride from the mainland, with private and shared boat trips available. Here you can explore vibrant reef walls, coral gardens, and abundant marine life. You’re likely to encounter everything from sea fans, abundant tropical fish, and schools of snapper to pygmy seahorses and reef sharks. Plus, the turquoise water is crystal clear and calm, ideal for beginners as well as the more advanced.

Nusa Penida Boat Tour

Nusa Penida is a popular day trip from Sanur. The relatively undeveloped island is southeast of mainland Bali and easily reached by a boat tour, just a 45-minute ride away. Its beauty is striking, with pristine white sandy beaches and unique rock formations. The iconic attraction here is Kelingking Beach, a secluded stretch of powdery sands. This “secret” beach is one of the most photogenic spots, located on the southwest coast in the village of Bunga. It’s framed by soaring cliffs and brilliant cobalt blue waters that have led many to refer to it as “heaven on Earth.”

Downhill Mountain Biking Mt Batur

Located in the Bangli region at the center of two calderas northwest of Mount Agung, Mount Batur is a volcanic mountain that’s long-been popular for hikers who rise early to catch a sunrise from the top, but it’s also a great place to mountain bike down. You can do it on your own or take a tour that includes the trek to the over 5633-foot-high summit for the sunrise experience before embarking on the thrilling descent. Part of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network, along the way you’ll take in some of the most awe-inspiring views of Bali.

Kecak Fire Dance at Uluwatu

The Kecak Fire Dance is a mesmerizing traditional dance and one of the most iconic art performances in Bali. It takes place at a clifftop amphitheater at Uluwatu Temple in Ubud along the waterfront, providing magnificent views of the sea as well as an ideal vantage point for watching a glorious sunset. It adapts the famous Ramayana Hindu epic as a story told in the form of dance, performed against the orange glow of the sky as the sun goes down. The culmination includes a huge fire display without any musical instruments used. Instead, you’ll hear the haunting chants of the costumed men.

Our Guide on When to Visit Bali

If you’re dreaming of Bali with its soaring volcanic mountains, lush rainforest, dreamy beaches, and magnificent temples, one of the first questions you’ll probably ask is when to visit. It’s easy to avoid the crowds by heading to more remote regions of the island, so the weather and special events should be your primary consideration. There are just two seasons, the dry season and the rainy season. July and August are the peak months of the high, dry season, with little rain and calm seas. Visiting just after the monsoon season, about mid-April through June, means fewer visitors, the potential for discounts, and decent weather.
 
 

Best time to go to Bali

Weather patterns do vary, this is just a guide based on historical patterns and data.

DRY SEASON

April – October

The high season coincides with the driest weather of the year with rainfall averaging anywhere from 1.2 to under 4 inches. It won’t be as humid as the rainy season, but it will still be warm, perfect weather for enjoying outdoor activities like hiking. It’s also the best time for snorkeling, diving, swimming, and all types of other watersports, as well as soaking up the sun on one of the beautiful beaches. If you come in July or August, the peak of the busy season, you’ll want to book your trip well in advance and plan for thicker crowds, especially in popular tourist resort areas.

RAINY SEASON

November – March

While visitors come to Bali year-round, the rainy season is the low season, the quietest period on the island, when slightly discounted rates on accommodation, and often on airfare may be enjoyed, with the exception of the holidays around Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The temperature doesn’t change much, ranging from about 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, but it will be quite wet and humid. Rainfall averages between about 6 and 12 inches and with so much water, some of the interior roads may be inaccessible. The better news is that in between the rain, there will still be plenty of sunshine.

BEST TIME TO

Avoid the Crowds