6 Best Places To Visit In Bali Off The Beaten Track
Bali may be one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations, with thousands of tourists flocking to its tropical beaches yearly. However, it does not mean that it should be overlooked by those who prefer their holidays a little more “off the beaten track”. As long as you are prepared to research, plenty of unique, less touristy places in Bali are still waiting to be explored. Bali’s excellent tourist infrastructure and more rugged and remote areas make it a high starting point for exploring the less luxurious but more rewarding side of travel.
Bali off the beaten track: where to go and what to
As a general rule of thumb, the further south you are in Bali, the more ‘touristy’ you will find it. If you are dead set on avoiding crowds at all costs, you will want to cut out some of the more recognised places, such as Kuta, Seminyak and Legian, as they are always busy.
As you travel north, the island’s character changes, becoming much less urban. You begin to find more sleepy fishing villages along the coast. Inland, the countryside opens up into some of the famous rice terraces you will have seen on a million postcards before finally turning into the mountains of the central highlands. There are some exceptions to this rule.
One such is Ubud, the biggest town in the highlands, which has become busier in recent years, although it still has a friendlier vibe than some of the tourist hotspots in the south; more art galleries and health cafes than nightclubs and cheap cocktail deals. Another example is Canggu, a once quiet rice-field town, one of Bali’s most bustling hot spots with trendy bars and nightclubs, gourmet restaurants, cafes, yoga studios, gyms, large villas, surf schools and more.
Here are my recommendations for the best places to visit in Bali off the beaten track.
1. Stay in Munduk
If you want to explore the central highlands while still beating the crowds, try staying in Munduk rather than the more popular Ubud. This is a small village, consisting of a single, not particularly impressive, main road – don’t be fooled by the simple looks though, as the buildings, on one side, hide some of the best sunset views in Bali and, on the other, some of the best sunrise views.
You find won’t many big hotels around here. Still, a few guesthouses and homestays will offer you excellent quality accommodation for a great price and the chance to sample a few local delicacies.
The surrounding countryside is attractive for hiking as it is filled with waterfalls, paddy fields, coffee plantations and traditional villages. If you fancy something a little more adrenaline-inducing, check out Munduk Wilderness. This adventure company runs mountain biking / Fin Komodo (ATV) tours and Land Rover safaris.
If you have not booked your hotels yet, check out these accommodations in Munduk.
2. Discover the Nusa Islands
Three islands lie just off the coast of Bali, Nusa Lembongan. Nusa Penida and Nusa Cengingan, all of which are worth a visit. Boats leave every day from the mainland and take about 30 minutes to get out to the islands. Nusa Lembongan is the most popular of the three, but it depicted Bali thirty years ago. The beaches are beautiful, and there are excellent diving, snorkelling and surfing opportunities.
Nusa Ceningan is joined to Lembongan by a footbridge and is famous for its dramatic coastline. There are plenty of opportunities for cliff jumping and a famous lagoon over which you can zip line. Nusa Penida is by far the largest of the islands, and it is also the most remote. This is a great place to go trekking and also has a couple of the best dive spots in Bali, most notably Manta Bay.
The following are your options for Nusa Islands accommodations:
Best Places to Stay:
3. Explore Lovina in North Bali
Lovina is one of the most famous towns (a collection of several merged villages) in the north of Bali. This is not unpopular; you will run into a few other tourists while wandering around the town, but stick with me. First of all, I would recommend staying just outside Lovina. Some great-value villas and resorts are set back in the mountains just behind the town, many of which have fantastic ocean views.
Secondly, Lovina’s atmosphere is much more laid back and relaxed than you will find in the south – this is not a party town. There are some excellent restaurants and a few quiet bars, but that is about the nightlife’s extent. Sightseeing highlights include the black sand beach and the chance for a dawn trip on a traditional outrigger to see the local pod of dolphins.
Enjoy the comfort of the town by checking out these accommodations in Lovina.
Where to stay on Bali’s North Coast
An excellent coast road makes travelling between the different points of interest easy – you could quickly drive the north shore’s length in a day, not that you would want to because there are so many exciting places to stop and see.
From the regional capital of Singaraja, with its royal palace and Chinese temple, to the West Bali National Park, with plenty of sleepy fishing villages and beautiful scenery, it isn’t easy to see why this part of the island is often underrated. My particular recommendations would be Pemuteran (great for diving and snorkelling) and the Buddhist temple in Banjar.
The main reason for staying in Bali villas is that it is a perfect base for exploring the rest of Bali’s north coast.
4. Visit Tenganan ancient village
Although this is slightly derogatory, the Bali Mula (often known as the Bali Aga) are the surviving remnants of Bali’s original population. Their culture predates the arrival of Hinduism on the island. They are now limited to a few villages in the mountains, some of which are open to visitors. Tenganan is the best for outsiders to visit, and a trip there provides a fascinating insight into a culture that has changed very little over the centuries.
You can check out these nearby accommodations in Tenganan to make your trip convenient.
5. Go to Gunung Kawi Temple
One of Bali’s many nicknames is the “island of a thousand temples“. Hinduism plays such an important role in Balinese culture; its influences can be felt through all aspects of life on the island that it would be a crime to visit without looking at at least one of the island’s major religious sites. The most famous temple is probably Tanah Lot, but while the temple itself is undoubtedly beautiful, there are so many souvenir stalls and bars/cafes that it is now practically a small town.
My pick of temples to visit is always Gunung Kawi. Located in Tampaksiring, this fantastic site is hardly unheard of, but if you go at the right time of day, usually the early morning, you can avoid the crowds and, with a bit of luck, may end up having the whole place to yourself. You may need to take your sarong if you visit outside regular hours as you might not be able to rent one, and they are mandatory for temple visits).
The place has been of religious significance for more than a thousand years, and the essential part of the complex, a cliff face with ten massive rock-cut shrines, dates back to the 11th century.
Beware, the temple is at the bottom of a valley, and there are many steps to reach it, but you will be walking through some fantastic scenery as the path winds through terraced rice fields down to a swiftly flowing river at the bottom. On a clear day, there is also a great view of Mount Agung in the distance.
I recommend these accommodations in Tampaksiring.
6. Climb Mount Batur
Mount Batur is one of the highest mountains in Bali, rising to 1717m. This is a hike rather than a climb, and it is doable by even those who don’t consider themselves ‘hikers’. It takes about 3 hours, and the path does get very steep, but as long as everyone is in reasonably good shape, there shouldn’t be any problems. Remember to wear good shoes and bring a light jacket, snacks and water.
You must hire a tour guide to take you up the mountain. Most tours leave in the early morning hours, aiming to get you to the summit in time to catch the dawn. Watching the sunrise from high up above the clouds will be an experience you will not soon forget on top of a Balinese volcano.
I recommend that you check nearby accommodations in Mount Batur so you will be nearer to the mountain.
Where to Stay in Bali
The small island of Bali offers +12 thousand accommodation options. Depending on your budget, you can choose between guesthouses, small boutique hotels, fully serviced resorts and fantastic luxury villas.
Check out this comparison and booking site for all accommodation options in Bali.
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Photos credits:
Lovina photos – via Blonde Seashell
Tenganan: 1082282-Unsplash
Nusa Penida: paolo-Nicolella-748200-Unsplash
Munduk – via Salt In Our Hair
Mount Batur: Frankie-Spontelli-571290-Unsplash
Estelle Anderson
May 6, 2019 @ 11:34 am
Thanks Michela for a fabulous post. Recently we have been talking about the possibility of returning to Bali a family holiday. We have been to Bali once, and we surprised how much we liked it. However, when we visited in 2017, Mount Batur was seriously threatening to erupt. Locals living in the area were evacutated and we were experiencing frequent earth tremors when staying in Ubud. We have intended to stay 3 weeks and 2 days. But we went home early without visiting Nusa Lombogan (where we were booked in). Your blog post reminds me how wonderful Bali is. I’d love to visit the less populated areas. Who knows, I may still get to see the Nusa Islands.
Ryan K Biddulph
May 9, 2019 @ 8:37 am
All look like fabulous spots Michela. I loved the Bukit; off the beaten path in some regards with some gem beaches. Peaceful area of the island.