Bali Travel Guide

Tucked into the chain of Indonesian islands running northwest to southeast, the volcanic island of Bali has an idyllic beach coastline on the Indian Ocean and lies just to the east of Java and west of Lombok. Although famous in recent years for a series of devastating bomb attacks, Bali is very much in recovery and remains a largely safe and popular destination which has remained firmly on the Southeast Asian tourist trail for many decades.

As a favorite beach destination for people across the globe, most visitors hit the sand for the majority of their stay here at resorts like Kuta, Seminyak and Jimbaran in the south of the island. Kuta and Legian in particular are very popular with surfers, even if they have become a little overdeveloped. Seminyak is less busy with more upscale resorts and a quieter beach. This is also the best area for Balinese nightlife, with a number of bars and discos that stay open late, most with quite steep drinks prices. Up-and-coming areas include Amed and Lovina, both stretches of coast with volcanic sand and reefs which are popular with divers. The latter also features a hot springs.

For a taste of the less touristy interior, Tirta Gangga offers great views of the surrounding rice terraces nestled among dormant volcanoes. The Water Palace is the main draw here, with its fountains and stone statues. Ubud, another inland town, is scattered with galleries and artists studios and offers a number of additional worthwhile attractions like the lively Monkey Forest.

Bali Attractions

Seminyak: popular but not overly busy, this beach hotspot has great nightlife.

Kuta: is the center of Bali’s backpacker universe and has a great beach but serious over-development.

Ubud: is a town of arts and crafts with a good local market and the ever-popular Monkey Forest.

Tirta Gangga: offers great views of the nearby mountains along with the intriguing Water Palace with its many stone statues.

Lovina: has good diving and less crowded beach with some of the best-priced spas on the island.