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Things To Do in Bali

Among the 17,500 islands in the Indonesian archipelago, Bali stands out as one of the world’s premier travel destinations. Situated about 9 degrees below the Equator on the south-facing arc of the Indonesian island chain, between Java to the west and Lombok to the east, Bali is a relatively small island. Only 140km from east to west and 90km north–south, Bali earns super-sized fame for its friendly people, beautiful landscapes, crystal waters, colorful coral reefs, great surfing, and many Hindu temples, shrines, ceremonies, and festivals.

In March 1937, adventurous American romantics Bob and Louise Koke established the first tourist hotel on Bali’s southern coast. In a coconut grove on Kuta Beach, the Kokes built a compound with a central lounge/dining area surrounded by thatched bungalows all facing the sea. Bob Koke, a tennis coach and MGM studio stills photographer who picked up surfing while on a film assignment in 1930s Waikiki, is credited with launching Indonesian surf tourism there at Kuta Beach Hotel. When war in the Pacific broke out in December 1941, Bali tourism immediately shut down and the Kokes abandoned their hotel and fled to Java.

Occupied by the Japanese during WWII, surrendered to the British in 1945 then returned to the Dutch imperialists, Indonesia entered a tumultuous struggle for independence that ended successfully in August 1950. A parliamentary government was formed under the first president, Sukarno, leader of a nationalist youth movement that had been fighting for Indonesian independence since 1927. Essentially a military-backed authoritarian, Sukarno was replaced in 1967 by Suharto, who reopened Indonesia to the west as part of an attempt to spur economic development by attracting outside investment in the country.

Once again open to travelers, Bali was rediscovered in the mid-1960s primarily by Western surfers, and Kuta soon ranked with Kathmandu and Kabul as a preeminent stop on the hippie trail. Visitor numbers climbed, guest facilities developed, and now there are many amazing things to do in Bali whether you are looking for exciting outdoor activities, relaxing serenity at a mountainside spa retreat, or interesting cultural experiences at the island’s ancient Hindu temples, traditional music and dance festivals, exotic markets, and communal villages.

From WWII wreck dives to jungle ziplines, classic Balinese dances to cheap happy hour deals, surf camps to high-end jungle hot-springs spas, Bali has it all and Cool Bali is your inside connection. Access the best tours, attractions, and activities in Bali from the comfort of home and convenience of your mobile device. Then book securely using our tried and trusted online technology to get all vouchers and necessary details delivered fully digitally to your smartphone or tablet. Cool Bali has you covered for the perfect Bali Indonesia itinerary.

Bali Attractions

The top Bali attraction is the island itself, large portions of which are included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. UNESCO has designated the subak irrigation system, the basis of farming on the rice terraces that are one of Bali’s most famous features, as World Heritage under the designation Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: The Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy. Subak is a complex and ingenious canal system devised in the 9th century AD as a way to divert mountain spring water down to communities in the foothills and coastal plains.

Tri Hita Karana as a traditional Balinese life philosophy identifies 3 causes of well-being or prosperity: harmony with God, harmony with nature or the environment, and harmony among people. Reflected by the irrigation system that shares water equitably among all who need it, Tri Hita Karana principles are also present throughout Balinese life, embodied in the spatial organization of land, communities, and homes, in many aspects of traditional architecture, and in pervasive daily rituals. Visitors can enjoy 5 primary sites that represent the interconnected natural, religious, and cultural components of the subak system: Ulun Danu Batur, the Supreme Water Temple; Taman Ayun, the Royal Water Temple; Lake Batur; and the subak rice terrace landscapes of the Pakerisan Valley and Catur Angga Batukaru.

The rice terraces are located primarily in the hills of the Ubud District. The island’s 2 hectic main cities, Singaraja and Denpasar (the provincial capital), along with the bustling tourist and beach zones of Kuta, Sanur, and Nusa Dua, make up the most urbanized portions of Bali. Moving from the coastal plains up into the foothills of the mountain chain that splits the island east-to-west, city gives way to countryside in Ubud. There you will find peace and beauty amid a landscape of small farms, forest-covered hills, Hindu shrines and sacred sites, and traditional villages each with their own temple, town market square, community assembly hall, and family compounds surrounded by walls of earth or stone.

Along the Bali coastline, the sea is warm and inviting, with nearly year-round sun that makes anytime beach time. Snorkeling is excellent at Lipah Bay, with its black sand beach, off the white sand at Virgin Beach, at Jemeluk Bay, Blue Lagoon, or the Coral Garden at Tulamben. In 30 meters of water off Tulamben Beach, scuba divers can explore the USAT Liberty, a US Army cargo ship torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in January 1942. This wreck is one of the best spots on the island for snorkeling and diving, and is regarded as one of the top wreck dives in Asia.

Exposed to Antarctic ocean swells that come in from the south and southwest year round and peak in size during the Southern Hemisphere winter, the lower Indonesian island chain has various spots that offer perfectly-shaped hollow waves mostly breaking over shallow coral reefs. Bali is where Indonesian surfing started, and nomadic wave riders in their search for idyllic empty breaks on far-flung coasts played an important role in establishing Bali as one of world’s favorite tourist destinations. Surf culture has turned Kuta Beach and other nearby coastal zones into fun playgrounds for visitors whether they are surfers or not, with plenty of bars, restaurants, shops, and other entertainment venues catering to travelers from around the world.

Recommendations: The Best Things to Do in Bali

Ubud is a destination that pops up in any conversation about the best things to do in Bali. The town of Ubud is a center for traditional Balinese arts, crafts, and culture. The surrounding Ubud District is known for the natural beauty of its rain-forested slopes and fertile valleys scattered with small farms and interesting villages. The region is very important to Balinese spiritual life, and is dotted with many Hindu temples, shrines, and sacred sites including Gunung Kawai: ancient shrines cut from living rock, and Goa Gajah, the Elephant Cave famous for its intricate carvings. It is the emerald-green forested hillsides and amazing rice terraces of Ubud that have come to represent Bali in so many photos and videos. Along with the rice terraces, the Ubud Monkey Forest, the Puri Saren Palace, the Pura Taman Saraswati temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess of wisdom and art, and the island’s highest concentration of museums and galleries are Ubud highlights. Ubud has been drawing western new-age spiritualists for decades, and hosts numerous hot-springs and spa resorts, yoga retreats, boutique hotels, and upscale restaurants and cafes.

On the eastern point of the island, travel about 3 hours from Denpasar into the Mount Lempuyang highlands to find one of Bali’s top attractions. Located at 2,000 feet of elevation on the peak of sacred Mount Lempuyang, the amazing Pura Penataran Agung Lempuyang is one the oldest and most revered Hindu temples in Bali. Part of a complex of several temples along the hiking path up the mountain, and thought to date back to 91AD, Pura Lempuyang is a pilgrimage site for Balinese Hindus, who should visit at least once every 10 years. The much-Instagrammed Gate of Heaven marks the entrance to the outer sanctum. Three sets of dragon stairs along with numerous towers, shrines, and sculptures honor Hindu deities, and in clear weather there is an excellent view of 9,944-foot Mount Agung to the northwest.

Visitors who have never tried surfing should not miss the chance to sample one of the sport’s ultimate destinations. Indonesia is legendary for perfectly peeling left-hand barrels at dozens of expert-class breaks, most over razor-sharp coral reef ledges. But Kuta and nearby Canggu offer great conditions for beginners, with sand bottom under small, nicely-formed waves. Get the right board plus some good instruction and you are almost guaranteed to catch waves on your first outing. When the big south swells roll in during the summer months, go a couple miles west from Kuta to Ulu Watu Temple where you can watch from the cliff as experts ride serious waves at the world-famous Uluwatu reef break.

The attractions in Bali Indonesia are endless, and this brief overview does not do the island justice at all. Fortunately, Cool Bali brings this exotic destination to your tablet or smart phone, making it easy to learn about the best Bali tours and attractions. Whether you are planning a dream trip or are already in Bali looking for the best things to do, enjoy our beautiful photos and detailed descriptions then plan your Bali itinerary with ease using the secure online reservation technology here at Cool Bali. If you have any questions, our friendly customer service team members are always on call and ready to help via phone, email, text, or chat. Welcome to Cool Bali!