There are fewer destinations in South East Asia which are more popular in the West than Bali. This Indonesian island is dubbed a tourist’s paradise and for good reasons. If you have been to Bali before, you certainly may want to visit the place again, but are you sure that you didn’t some of its most exciting and not so well known attractions.
Everyone hangs around beach resorts, the usual water sports and parties, but there are activities and things to see in Bali that are often ignored by tourists. If you are in the mood to fly over to the paradise island, then here is why it could offer you an experience you never expected.
1. Countryside Rice Fields
Not many tourists bother to take a look at the wonderful Bali countryside, which offers a great mix of scenic beauty and the local culture at its purest. If you have never seen a rice paddy before, then Bali can offer you a chance to actually visit one. There are terraced rice fields in Central Bali, particularly in the Tegallalang village near Ubud, Jatliuwih and Munduk villages in Bedugul and Jati Luwih Rice Terrace in Tabanan. Rice fields near Negara are also worth mentioning. Don’t forget to buy some quality rice for really cheap prices there.
2. Hiking, Trekking and Adventure Attractions
It is simply hard to resist the scenic outdoors in Bali and it would be a shame to miss the opportunity for a hike. Hikers would particularly be thrilled to cover areas such as mountains in the Munduk village and Bali Botanical Gardens in Bedugul, Ubud rice fields and Monkey Forest, Seminyak Beach and Butterfly Park in Wanasari. One of the most rewarding experiences is trekking in the West Bali National Park, which offers some of the best bird watching opportunities in the region, particularly on the Tegal Blunder Trail and Gunung Klatakan Trail. Perhaps you’ll catch the sight of a few Bali Starlings. Bali Treetop Adventure Park in Bedugul is another thrilling and worthwhile attraction.
3. The Holy Bali Volcano
If you didn’t know, Bali happens to have an active volcano. Mount Agung is a 3,031 meter high peak situated in the eastern parts of the island near the towns of Amed and Besakh. Lake Batur, the largest lake on Bali, is not far from the mountain as well. Since Mount Agung is considered sacred by the locals, you can only get a chance to climb it when there are no religious festivals underway. There are ascent routes from Besakih from the west, Pura Pasar Agung from the south and Duku Bujangga Sakti from the north. Apart from the Besakih Temple and Pura Pasar Agung Temple, the view from the Selat area is worth all the trouble. However, avoid wet season when planning to climb, particularly January and February. The best time to visit the mountain is between April and October.
4. Hot Springs
Given the volcanic activity on the island, finding hot springs there is only understandable. This natural phenomenon is a real tourist magnet as its warmth offers a soothing and pampering experience. There are quite a few hot springs in Bali. The village of Banjar, 10 miles from Lovina on the north coast of Bali can offer you a surreal environment with beautiful stone pools carved in the middle of a thick rain forest. Another scenic location for hot springs is Toya Bungkah by the side of Lake Batur and the north eastern mountains.
5. Exploring the Lakes
Bali is surrounded by a lot of water and there are plenty of opportunities for water sports on the beaches. But exploring the fresh water lakes of the island can be a brilliant experience as well. The largest lake of the island is Lake Batur in East Bali and is located near the town of Kintamani. Central Bali features Lake Bratan in Bedugul, apart from Lake Buyan and Lake Tamblingan by the side of Mount Batukaru.
If you missed all that to your last trip to Bali, make sure you don’t the next time.
