Top Ten Ultimate Bucket List Must-Do's in Bali
- Katie Mather
- Nov 24, 2022
- 5 min read
On this beautiful island paradise there is certainly something on offer for everyone, making it an incredible destination for all kinds of travellers! Bali is one of the most popular destinations and it's very easy to see why. From the gorgeous, idyllic beaches, fantastic surf spots, spectacular sunsets, amazing wildlife, rolling rice paddies and not forgetting the most incredible food.. there is so much to see and experience!
Here are my top ten things to see and do in Bali that need to be ticked off every traveller's bucket list!
1. Monkey Forest, Ubud
Whilst in Ubud, a walk through the Monkey Forest is an absolute must do! It was my biggest highlight of Bali as I couldn't wait to see the monkeys so close up and they were hilarious. There is a small admission fee to enter and once you are in you will be immediately greeted by tonssss of monkeys!
There are many pathways you can take to wander around the forest and witness the monkeys in action. You may be able to watch them being fed bananas and you can sit and have them climb on your shoulder! Just go very careful with your belongings and keep hold of your bags as they may try to steal any food and even things such as your phone. They may also bite or scratch if they feel threatened in any way so best to go careful!
I saw so many monkeys playfully fighting, swinging through the trees and eating any scraps they could get their hands on!
2. Surf in Seminyak
Everyone knows that Bali is one of the top destinations to surf so whether you are a pro or a complete beginner why not hire a board and hit the waves! A great spot to do so is at Seminyak beach. You can have half day lessons and I did mine with a company called Mojo Surf; the instructors were great and so helpful! I did manage to stay up for a maximum of 2 seconds on the occasion but even so it was a lot of fun!
3. Snorkel Gili T
The Gili Islands have to be on your itinerary when visiting Bali. There are 3 main islands which are located just off the coast of Lombok and Gili Trawangan is the largest. They all have picture perfect beaches surrounded by clear, warm turquoise water; true island paradise! There are many sea creatures and coral that fill the waters surrounding the islands making this a great spot for snorkelling or scuba diving. You may even be lucky enough to see turtles!
4. Explore Rice Paddies
When people picture Bali, one of the first images to come to mind has to be a lush green, rolling rice paddy. They can be found almost everywhere in Bali. Taking a hike through one of the many rice fields is a must do at least once when you are here as this is a truly authentic side of Bali and you may be able to see and meet Balinese farmers working in the fields to find out more about their daily lives and culture. One of the most famous areas for their rice fields is Jatiluwih which is located in Tabanan regency. Other popular and impressive rice paddies can be found in central Bali such as Tegallalang, which may be the most famous, therefore the most touristy nowadays however it is easy to see why with its beautiful emerald green terraces. Ubud and the nearby villages are also a great spot for seeking out rice fields.
5. Canggu Beach Clubs
Canggu is definitely one of the places to be in Bali. It is hip, interesting, cheap and just beautiful. There is plenty to do here; countless cafe's and brunch spots, local markets, chic boutiques, a massive fitness community, gorgeous stretches of beach and so many beach clubs. Perfect for watching the sunset whilst sipping a cocktail! One of the best is La Brisa which overlooks the beach and ocean, where you can dip in and out of the pools or relax on a comfy bed under the palm trees. They do countless cocktails as well as fresh coconuts, perfect to rehydrate in the gorgeous Balinese heat.
6. Mount Batur sunrise
Mount Batur is an active volcano and hiking up it at sunrise should definitely be on your Bali bucket list! The trek is reasonably challenging as it can be quite steep in places and lasts around 2.5 hours. I started at 3 am in order to reach the summit in time to see the spectacular sunrise and I have to say the extremely early wake-up call was most definitely worth it! To say I've drank hot chocolate at the top of an active volcano whilst watching the sunrise is one amazing thing!
7. Gili T sunset
The perfect way to end the day on the paradise island of Gili Trawangan is with a visit to one of the famous sunset swings. Surrounded by the clear blue waters and gorgeous orange skies of the Indonesian island, snap yourself an insta famous iconic photograph on the sunset swing and hammock. There are many swings like this dotted around the island, but this one sits at Sunset Point on the west side of the island at The Exile Bar. This is a lovely, chilled place to come and watch the sunset with music playing in the background. You can bike here from wherever you are staying on the island as this is the main form of transport used to get around.
8. Dolphin Spotting, Lovina
Lovina Beach is one of the best places in Bali to spot wild dolphins in their natural habitat. The best time of year to see dolphins is from May-January as the sea can become turbulent in the other months. I went at the end of May and was lucky enough to see so many! We went out on traditional outrigger boats and before long started to see these beautiful, elegant creatures so close to our boat! It was such an amazing sight to see and if you are an animal lover like me this should be high on your bucket list in Bali!
9. Get blessed at a temple
Whilst in Bali you have to make sure to pay a visit to at least one temple as there are countless temples on the island and they are so beautiful and a truly authentic way to learn about Balinese culture. I visited a temple in Nyambu, about 20 minutes from Canggu, where we received a blessing and made a Balinese peace offering. I also visited Tanah Lot which is a stunning rock temple off the coast.
10. Try alll the delicious smoothie bowls
Bali is serious foodie heaven, in particular smoothie bowls! There are so many chic cafes, restaurants and brunch spots across the island all offering incredible tasting and healthy dishes to eat your way through. I was in paradise with all the smoothie bowl options on offer so naturally had to try a very wide range! Canggu in particular is an incredible foodie destination, with fresh, healthy traditional Indonesian and Western dishes available as well as being very vegetarian and vegan friendly. Some top spots I would recommend are I Am Vegan Babe, The Avocado Factory and Penny Lane and I found an awesome hip little cafe on Gili T called Hello Capitano which serves smoothie bowls in actual fresh coconuts; can't get much more Balinese than that!
So there we have it, my top ten bucket list experiences for when you visit Bali. I hope you have enjoyed the read and even more so I hope you enjoy the beautiful island paradise that is Bali!
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