Ubud

Bali deserves its reputation as one of the earth's most blessed and beautiful islands, and there are certainly plenty of areas to visit and sightsee here, from its lush terraced rice fields, green volcanic hillslopes and breathtaking coastlines to the striking temples, artisans' villages and the many colourful festivals that the Balinese celebrate.

The lovely mountain town of Ubud, located in the heart of the island, is also Bali's cultural focal point. Here you can experience the deep spiritual side of Balinese art, culture and tradition, where extraordinarily talented artists work, inspired by the sublime beauty of their surrounds. Once the province of backpackers and budget travellers, Ubud is now a haven for sophisticated travellers, art collectors and gourmets, and sumptuous five-star hotels as well as moderately-priced lodgings here, surrounded by ancient temples, picturesque villages and rivers, cater to these travellers' every need.

There are many hotels in Ubud, and if beaches are not your thing, then this town is the ideal base for you from which to explore the island. You can also easily spend a week here without feeling the need to go anywhere else. In between browsing the shops in town, sampling the wonderful food and luxurious spa appointments, you can also walk, run or mountainbike through the village backroads, jungle or rice terraces. The rivers around Ubud have enough rapids for whitewater rafting, an experience not to be missed if your are visiting Ubud, for the opportunity to see the jungle and plantlife of Bali up close.

Tanah Lot

This iconic, magical sixteenth-century temple, built on a craggy rock bluff which becomes an island at high tide, is one of the most exotic attractions in Bali. Tanah Lot temple, for centuries a major part of Balinese mythology, is one of seven on the island's coastline. The path leading to Tanah Lot tends to be rather commercialized, and visitors have to pay to enter the area, but it is well worth a visit as the views and the photo opportunities are breathtaking at sunset.

Puri Saren Agung (Royal Palace)

The town of Ubud has its own royal family, and the Royal Palace was where the last King of Ubud held court from the 1800s to the 1930s. The palace is in the center of Ubud, at the end of the Monkey Forest Road. The descendents of the King still live here, and since the 1930s they have also welcomed paying guests at the palace. There is still an air of grandeur and formality in the gardens, and you can easily imagine the splendour of 19th century Balinese royal palace life. Visitors are welcome, and in the evenings the palace courtyard, with its elegant pavilions, becomes a stunning backdrop for the traditional Balinese dances, vocal and instrumental performances.

Kuta Beach

Kuta, a short drive from the airport, is Bali's most bustling town, with its narrow winding lanes crowded with vehicles and pedestrians, and lined with surf shops, restaurants, galleries and boutiques. Shopping in Kuta makes for a fun afternoon if you want to take a break from the beach and sightseeing. There is a vibrant energy here which attracts the younger crowd, and Kuta nightlife and dining is just the thing if you are after some partying after the sun goes down. The spectacular daily sunsets on the beach are legendary. If you want to stay where the action is, there are hotels in Kuta, ranging from the inexpensive to luxury resorts.

Jimbaran Bay

A picturesque bay with a soft sandy beach and clear calm water, this, like many other places in Bali, was once a sleepy fishing village. Today, there are five star hotels in Jimbaran Bay which offer the most sophisticated traveller the ultimate in luxury and pampering. Despite all the development, the area has retained its laid-back character - Jimbaran Bay is famous for its grilled fish stands, right on the beach.  Even if you are not staying in the area, this is a great daytrip for hanging out at the beach and later, enjoying some great seafood on the beach under the stars.

Monkey Forest

The Monkey Forest in Padangtegal, Ubud, is both a sacred site to the Balinese Hindus and a tourist's must-see. Here, as elsewhere in Bali, there is a friendly coexistence of humans and nature. There are hundreds of monkeys which call this forest home, and they are usually treated with a gentle regard by the Balinese, as the monkeys are believed to be the guardians of the temple sites in the forest. For the visitor, they are a treat to watch as they goof around for the cameras in exchange for snacks. The Monkey Forest is a part of the village of Padangtegal, and village elders serve on the foundation which administers the site and promotes education on the importance of conservation efforts to strike a balance between preserving the ancient habitat of these monkeys, and the influence of tourism on the area.

Neka Art Museum

This museum in Ubud was opened in 1982 and was named after a Balinese teacher, Suteja Neka, who collected art as a way of documenting the development of painting in Bali. The Balinese-style pavilions of the museum house its permanent collections, while other buildings feature the museum's temporary collections. The displays are arranged in chronological order, and showcase rural traditions which have evolved into the distinctive contemporary art of Bali. The museum has a wonderful selection of works by famous Balinese artists, as well as those by expatriate artists who have found inspiration in Bali and in turn, contributed their influence on Balinese art.

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan

The abundance of water is vital for the cultivation of Bali's bountiful rice crop, and the most striking structure of this temple complex is situated in the middle of one of the lakes which supply water to the rice fields of Bali. This beautiful and picturesque site was where the King of Mengwi built this temple, dedicated to Dewi Danu, the goddess of the lake, in 1633. Pilgrims visit from all over the island to pray for blessings of plentiful crops, and some of Bali's most splendid ceremonies are held here. There are three temples in this complex: the much-photographed Main Temple is in the middle of the water and is one of the most iconic images of Bali, the Black Lotus temple dedicated to the Hindu god Brahma, and next to it, a smaller temple dedicated to Dewi Bhogawati, the goddess of food and drink.

Surfing

The beautiful beaches of Bali provide the ideal setting for outdoor and water sports. For decades, surfers, especially from Australia, have been making trips to the southern coast of Bali to pit their skills against the deep-barrelled waves in the surf of Kuta Beach. Surfing in Bali is seasonal, with its peak in between March and July, and the swells can get quite big. Surfing in Bali is not an extreme sport, as the surf is not huge - mostly in the 1 to 2 meter range. Beginners can learn around the more gentle surf around Legian, while the experts can try Kuta Reef or the breaks offshore at Nusa Dua.

Whitewater Rafting

The verdant mountains of Bali are criss-crossed with rivers which run into the sea. Whitewater rafting in Bali is an experience not to be missed. The Ayung River, west of Ubud has beautiful deep gorges that are best viewed from the river. Choose one of the major rafting operators like Sobek, who have good, safety-approved equipment and provide a experienced guides to ensure a safe and enjoyable adventure for young and old. The Class I and II rapids along the Ayung River provide a thrill as you raft through valleys of virgin rainforest and cascading waterfalls. For the more experienced thrill-seekers, the Telaga Waja rapids begin in the foothills of Mount Agung. The scenery is simply stunning, and you will see narrow gorges, views of the rice terraces and cascading waterfalls as you carve your way on an adrenalin-fueled ride through the twists and turns of the surging river.

Hiking

Hiking in Bali is a wonderful way to get away from the usual tourist haunts and discover the quieter corners of the island. Hikers are spoilt for choice for trails on this beautiful island, as there are paths and quiet lanes everywhere on the island used by the local farmers. Ubud is one of the best locations for hiking in Bali, and you will be able to find some good hiking maps in the town. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring plenty of water and a camera, as you are guaranteed to come across some spectacular photo opportunities! Bring a photocopy of your passport - for safety reasons, some areas, especially the mountain trails, may require ID for entry.

Volcano climbing

Bali is one of the few places in the world where you can hike up an active volcano. There are two main volcanic mountains, Gunung (Mount) Agung and Gunung Batur. Gunung Agung is the most sacred mountain in Bali, and although the Balinese welcome visitors who come to climb Agung, there are certain religious events during which climbing is prohibited, and it is best to respect this. The best time of the year to climb Mount Agung is from July to September and, at 3,000 metres high, this should only be attempted if you're reasonably fit, as it is a strenuous five-hour trek to the top. A local guide is mandatory, as the trails are densely forested and it is easy to get lost along the way.

Golf

The stunning scenery of Bali provides a backdrop for some of the most beautiful golf courses in the world. There are three 18-hole championship golf courses on the island, ranked among the best in the world. If you are thinking of golfing in Bali,  try the Nirwana Bali Golf Club in Tanah Lot, the Bali Handara Kosaido Country Club in the mountains of Bedegul or the Bali Beach Golf Course in Sanur. Your hotel concierge should be able to help you make arrangements for a round at these courses.

Scuba diving and snorkelling

The healthy, beautiful reefs and corals around the island make scuba diving and snorkelling in Bali extremely enjoyable. There are several popular dive sites around Bali, and most of the diving tour operators can be found in the towns of Candi Dasa and Amed. The operators can take you to areas off the island, such as Batu Tiga and Pulau Tepekong, for some spectacular marine life. One of the most popular sites for diving in Bali is the wreck of the US warship Liberty, which was torpedoed by the Japanese in World War II. She is now located close to the shore of Tulamben, with her hull encrusted with coral. Lying at between 9 and 30 metres (her hull broke in two during a 1963 earthquake), the wreck is very popular with snorkellers and scuba divers, and the resident reef fish, accustomed to the human presence, are very tame and friendly.

If you like shopping, then this will be one of the highlights of your trip to Bali. Shopping in Bali can be likened to visiting a treasure island of small villages which specialise in their own genre of art such as woodwork, painting, silverwork, batik and stone carvings. The quality of the artwork in Bali is superb, and you will be likely to buy a piece directly from the artist who created it.

The towns of Ubud, Kuta, Denpasar, Sanur and Nusa Dua offer the best options for shopping, where many of the local artisans bring their work to the galleries and shops which display and sell the art. Ubud, in the heart of the island, is a shopper's dream - the selection of shops range from exclusive galleries to cheap-and-cheerful open air markets. Good-natured bargaining is expected and is a part of the buying process. Bring cash, as most of the smaller shops do not accept credit cards.

The Kumbasari market in Denpasar has a reasonable selection of Indonesian products. The streets of Kuta are exhaustingly jam-packed with shops selling anything from surfboards to jewellery, but the Kuta Art Market is a one-stop destination if you want a convenient place to buy souvenirs and t-shirts and perhaps a pretty woodcarving as a memento of your trip to Bali.

You could easily put together a top 100 list of incredible eating venues in Bali such is the scale and passion invested into its cuisine. It's predominantly a tourist island, so the selection ranges from traditional Balinese fare to creative pan-Asian fusion. There are even American fast food joints in Denpasar, and plenty of international dishes on most menus. While the prices are generally very reasonable for what you get, it's easy to spend Western amounts if you pick one of Bali's upscale restaurants.

Overview

Due to its remote location, most visitors travelling to Bali fly here. There are many direct flights from most major Asian and Australian cities, and visitors from elsewhere in the world can catch a connecting flights from these places. Bali is not a big island, and it is possible to drive from one side of the island to another in about two hours. You can rent a car or a motorbike for a wonderful way to explore the island, or hop on one of the popular bemos, or minibuses, which the Balinese people use.

Airport

The airport in Bali is Ngurah Rai Internatonal Airport, located 13 kilometres south of its capital, Denpasar. Visitors from cities outside Asia, Australia and New Zealand usually make stopovers in one of the major Asian cities such as Hong Kong, Singapore or Jakarta to catch a connection to Bali.

Ngurah Rai Internatonal Airport is compact and easy to navigate, and there are rarely long queues for check-in and immigration, making the whole airport experience as you arrive and depart a rare pleasure. The charming terminal has many little shops, as well as resturants. Don't forget that there is a Rp100,000 (approximately US$10) departure tax, which is not included in the price of your air ticket. You must pay this before you can leave Indonesia, and it is useful to have the cash handy at the departure immigration counter.

It is easy enough to get from the airport to your hotel in Bali, but check with your hotel as some places provide complimentary transfers to and from the airport. Even if the service is not included in your hotel stay, you can arrange a pick up which should cost the same as a taxi. If you need a taxi, buy a ticket from the official taxi counter just outside the customs checkpoint, and arrange a fixed rate to your hotel.

Transportation

The brown and blue minibuses are known as bemos and the local people use these to traverse the island. The buses follow set routes, and you can ask the driver where he's heading before you board, or if your destination is along the way. The bemo is a great option for short hops between the neighbouring towns, but for a longer-distance trip, there are tourist shuttle buses which run frequently between the main tourist areas. Ask at your hotel or any local tour agent to arrange a trip.

There are metered taxis avaialble, and these are the most convenient way of getting around Bali, although these aren't always easy to find. Do remember to check and remind the taxi driver to turn on the meter, and that the meter is at the right starting fare (approximately Rp5,000, or US$0.50) before you set off.

Renting a car or a motorbike is a great option if you have a valid driving license, and is a wonderful way to explore Bali at your own pace. If joining a big tour group for sightseeing is not your thing, you can also hire a private car and driver / personal tourist guide for about US$40 a day to take you to your preferred destinations around Bali.