Bali – one of the 17,500 islands of Indonesia – is a popular all-in-one destination. In comparison to the other islands of the Indonesian archipelago, it jumps out with its incomparable beauty. Bali is the island of endless rice fields, mountainous highlands, and many sacred temples.
You choose Bali for its magnificent coastline with beautiful beaches and perfect surf spots, but also for its colorful underwater world, beautiful sunsets and the perfect climate. Everyone can find something interesting in Bali. I recently spent a month on this wonderful island and below I list the highlights for you.
Sunset in Bali
Dazzling green rice fields
Because of its humid and warm climate, rice can be planted and harvested throughout the year in Bali. Most labor-intensive jobs in the country are still done by hand which is an incredibly hard work. Around the lively town of Ubud you find many beautiful rice fields, but for the most impressive rice fields, you have to go further inland to the Jatiluwih village. Intense green rice fields are perfectly laid out on the hills, and now and then you spot an ox in the landscape. This scenery is the perfect setting for beautiful pictures.
Rice fields in Bali
Spot dolphins at Lovina
Lovina, located on the north coast of Bali, is one of the best places in Bali to spot dolphins. At dawn, you can board on local boats to look for the wild dolphins. The moment when you see a school of dolphins jumping out of the water is every time again exciting.
In addition to the dolphins, Lovina is also famous for its black volcanic sand beach, and for its great snorkeling and diving sites. Bali’s northern waters are in fact quieter than those in the south. The calm sea is also ideal for swimming and excellent for just floating around. Lovina is therefore, a popular holiday destination for families.
Spotting dolphins at Lovina
Kintamani Highlands
The quiet Kintamani highlands are dominated by the spectacular volcanic crater of Mount Batur (1717m high) and its deep crater lake. Six ancient villages, whose inhabitants are known as “Bali Aga”, are situated here amidst the beauty of this wild nature. The residents still live according to the traditions and rules of ‘old Bali’ and follow the teachings of Hinduism. These beautiful traditional villages are absolutely worth a visit.
Kintamani Highlands
Candidasa, a quiet bay in the east
On the east coast of Bali in a quiet bay, sits the fishing village Candidasa. It is a perfect place to spend time at the beach. Some beaches consist of black lava sand, but around the village, you will also find other sandy beaches such as Pantai Putih.
Pantai Putih means ‘white beach’ and that is what you’ll find here, as well as a beautiful blue sea and some local bars where you can eat and can rent a beach chair. Around Candidasa, you also can spend your days actively thanks to the numerous water sports opportunities like diving, canoeing, and sailing.
Candidasa on the east side of Bali
Holy temple and rock formations in Uluwatu
Uluwatu is one of the best surf spots in Bali, it is also the ultimate place for (advanced) surfers. At almost any beach in the area, you can book a surf lesson. If you are a beginning surfer you best head to Padang Beach. Not only it is a beautiful and quiet surfing spot, but also the beautiful scenery, white beach, and crystal clear sea are reasons to visit this beach.
Uluwatu is also known for its impressive rock formations. Hidden behind those rocks, you can discover the most beautiful beaches, and off the rocks you have the best sunset views. The famous sea temple of Uluwatu, Pura Luhur Uluwatu, is situated on a cliff. From here you have wonderful views of the sea, which is why most people visit the temple around sunset.
Uluwatu, in the south of Bali
Dream Beach
Dream Beach is located in the southwest of the Bukit Peninsula at the tip of Bali. Bukit was once a haunt of surfers but has become increasingly popular in recent years. Not so surprising as it has perhaps one of the best beaches in Bali, situated between spectacular rocks and cliffs.
Dream Beach is one of those beautiful beaches. It is a quiet white sand beach tucked away behind a row of palm trees, but watch out for the sea because it has very strong currents. Swimming is therefore absolutely not recommended here.
Dream Beach Bali
Best time to visit Bali
The best time to visit Bali is from May to September, but I’ve been there the whole month of February during the rain season. In this season there is every day the probability of a shower, but they are often short-lived. The average temperature throughout the year is around 30 degrees and thus always nicely warm.
Do you want to know where to stay? I made a selection for you of my top 10 favorite accommodations in Bali.
I fell in love with Bali