Bali is stunning, but I honestly don't recommend going in June because.......
Bali In-Depth Travel Guide: From Temple Secrets to Island Paradise, Unlocking the Romance and Wildness of the "Island of the Gods"
Bali, Indonesia's "Island of the Gods," is famous for its magical landscapes woven from volcanoes, terraced fields, temples, and turquoise seas. It is not only a paradise for surfers and a sanctuary for yoga practitioners but also the ultimate honeymoon destination. From the surfing waves of Kuta to the jungle secrets of Ubud, from the cliff wonders of Nusa Penida to the ancient legends of Uluwatu, here is a comprehensive guide covering classic routes, must-visit attractions, unique experiences, and practical tips to help you efficiently plan your trip and feel the soul of Bali.
1. Best Travel Time and Seasonal Highlights
Dry Season (April-September): Clear weather, ideal for diving, surfing, and outdoor activities; also the peak tourist season with higher hotel prices.
Rainy Season (October-March): Frequent showers, fewer tourists, more affordable prices, suitable for budget travelers, but be aware of slippery roads and the risk of some activities being canceled.
2. Classic Route Recommendations
Southern Beaches and Cultural Exploration (4 days 3 nights) Route: Kuta → Jimbaran → Uluwatu → Seminyak.
Highlights: Kuta Beach: A beginner surfer’s paradise with vibrant nightlife, perfect for experiencing Bali’s energy.
Jimbaran Beach: A world-class sunset viewing spot, recommended to enjoy seafood barbecue by the sea in the evening.
Uluwatu Temple: A cliffside temple with a must-see Kecak fire dance performance at sunset.
Seminyak: A trendy hotspot with many popular restaurants, cafes, and designer boutiques.
Central Culture and Nature Tour (3 days 2 nights) Route: Ubud → Tegallalang Rice Terraces → Tirta Empul Temple → Bali Swing.
Highlights: Ubud Palace and Traditional Market: Experience Bali’s art and culture, ideal for buying handicrafts.
Tegallalang Rice Terraces: Filming location of Jay Chou’s "Rice Aroma" MV, best lighting in early morning or late afternoon.
Tirta Empul Temple: Experience Bali’s traditional holy water purification ritual.
Bali Swing: A popular jungle swing perfect for photo ops.
Northern and Off-the-Beaten-Path Secrets (3 days 2 nights) Route: Lovina → Gates of Heaven → Ulun Danu Beratan Temple.
Highlights: Lovina Dolphin Watching: Early morning boat trip to encounter wild dolphins.
Gates of Heaven (Pura Lempuyang): With Mount Agung as the backdrop, it looks like the gate to paradise.
Ulun Danu Beratan Temple: A temple on the lake with stunning reflections.
Island Hopping (2 days 1 night) Route: Lembongan Island → Nusa Penida.
Highlights: Lembongan Island: A snorkeling and diving hotspot, with the breathtaking Devil’s Tear.
Nusa Penida: Angel’s Billabong, Broken Beach, and Kelingking Cliff, perfect for hiking and photography.
3. Must-Visit Attractions and Experiences
Kuta Beach Activities: Surfing, skateboarding, Balinese dance performances.
Tips: The beach is windy with strong waves, not suitable for swimming but great for thrill-seeking young people.
Jimbaran Beach Activities: Sunset watching, honeymoon vacations, seafood dining.
Tips: The barbecue atmosphere is more impressive than the taste, prices are high, booking and bargaining in advance are recommended.
Uluwatu Temple Activities: Temple visits, watching the Kecak fire dance.
Tips: Sarongs are required to enter the temple; women should avoid entering the holy spring during menstruation.
Ubud Palace and Traditional Market Activities: Experience Balinese art and culture, buy wood carvings, batik cloth, silver jewelry, and other handicrafts.
Tips: Remember to bargain, prices often start at 10% of the original, with 20% being a common deal.
Tegallalang Rice Terraces Activities: Hiking, photography, trying civet coffee.
Tips: Best lighting in early morning or late afternoon, ideal for capturing rural scenery.
Bali Swing Activities: Swinging above the cliff, overlooking jungle and rice fields.
Tips: Tickets include swings, bird nests, and other photo spots; wearing bright clothes is recommended.
Lovina Dolphin Watching Activities: Early morning boat trip to see wild dolphins.
Tips: Book in advance and choose a reliable boat operator.
Lembongan and Nusa Penida Activities: Snorkeling, diving, hiking, photography.
Tips: The waves at Devil’s Tear on Lembongan are dangerous; keep a safe distance. Hiking at Nusa Penida’s cliffs requires comfortable shoes.
4. Recommended Local Foods
Roast Suckling Pig (Babi Guling) Recommended Restaurant: Ibu Oka in Ubud, about ¥50-80 per person.
Dirty Duck Dish (Bebek Betutu) Recommended Restaurant: Bebek Betutu Restaurant, about ¥60-100 per person.
Seafood Barbecue Recommended Location: Jimbaran Beach, about ¥100-200 per person.
Tropical Fruits Recommended: Mangosteen, durian, rambutan, etc., cheaper when bought fresh at markets.
Civet Coffee (Kopi Luwak) Recommended Experience: Coffee plantations in Ubud, about ¥30-50 per person.
5. Accommodation Recommendations
Budget Kuta hostels or homestays: Around ¥50-100 per night, suitable for backpackers.
Mid-to-high-end jungle villas in Ubud or pool villas in Seminyak: ¥500-2000 per night, suitable for families or couples.
Luxury resorts in Nusa Dua like Bulgari and Ayana: Private beaches, cliff pools, about ¥2000-5000 per night per person.
6. Transportation Guide
External Transport Flights: Direct or connecting flights from China to Bali, economy round-trip about ¥3000-10000.
Visa on Arrival: $35, no need to apply in advance.
Island Transport Car Rental: About ¥200 per day, suitable for groups.
Motorbike Rental: About ¥25 per day, requires an international driver’s license, safety first.
Boat Tickets: Fast boats to Lembongan and Nusa Penida require advance booking.
7. Practical Tips
Religious Etiquette: Sarongs are required to enter temples; women should avoid entering holy springs during menstruation.
Do not touch children’s heads or feed monkeys; monkeys in tourist areas can be mischievous.
Sun and Mosquito Protection: Tropical UV is strong; bring high-SPF sunscreen and mosquito repellent.
Tipping: Leave about 10,000 Indonesian Rupiah (about ¥5) per day at hotels.
Cash Payment: Some attractions only accept cash; exchange enough Indonesian Rupiah.
Safety Tips: Beware of rip currents at the beach; hiking volcanoes requires a guide.
When renting motorbikes, check vehicle and road conditions, and always wear a helmet.
8. Suggested Itinerary (7 days 6 nights)
Day 1: Arrive in Kuta, try surfing, night tour in Seminyak.
Day 2: Jimbaran sunset, seafood barbecue.
Day 3: Ubud Palace, traditional market, Tegallalang Rice Terraces.
Day 4: Bali Swing, Tirta Empul Temple.
Day 5: Lovina dolphin watching, volcanic hot springs.
Day 6: Lembongan snorkeling, Devil’s Tear.
Day 7: Uluwatu Temple, return trip.
Conclusion
Bali’s charm lies in its diversity—whether beach vacations, cultural exploration, or adventure activities, it meets the needs of different travelers. Plan ahead, avoid peak tourist seasons, respect local customs, and may every journey in Bali be a deep dialogue with nature and yourself.
Все отлично организовано! И трансфер и билеты на лодку, проезд. Все чётко. Заранее пишут водители, все понятно. Обязательно будем пользоваться ещё!
It feels pretty good to see Lembongan Island. Although I am here for the first time, the scenery is OK. The sea is blue. It takes about 40 minutes to get there by boat. The scenery on the island is basically very blue and the kind that looks good.
such a beautiful, quiet exclusive island. my new favorite place is now Lembongan. you may need scooters for rent, otherwise Sunset region is very walkable and places to eat are nearby.i stayed in Cliff Park resort, it was the beautiful experience.
Lembongan is really beautiful, the sea of Lembongan is as if colored by God, from clear emerald green to deep gem blue. The sea is extremely clear, you can see the scenery of the seabed with snorkeling equipment, and the seabed walk is highly recommended. Because the clear visibility of the sea is extremely high, and where the fish are not afraid of people walking in the seabed fish. It feels like walking in the dragon palace. The beauty of Lembongan Island lies in its untamed wildness, and in the purity of the exhaustion that makes people instantly relieve. This is not a resort that is over-whitewashed, but a poem written by nature himself every inch of land, every wave is telling: the world is worth it, the mountains and the sea can be expected.
The most impressive thing about this trip to Bali is that Blue Dream Island is absolutely the essence of Bali. When you made your own strategy before, you saw that everyone praised and criticized Blue Dream Island differently, but you still stayed for only one night. It's a pity that if you can, you'd better stay for two nights. Of course, the premise is that you can endure the sea water bath, if you can't, one night is almost enough for us. Living on Dream Beach, the hotel forgot its name and searched like a Dream Beach Cabin. It's really cost-effective, but Ctrip's evaluation is very low. I don't know why it persuaded the civil servants to be ordinary to the people. But the location of the hotel is really unique. It's pleasant to lie on the beach chair outside the hotel at night and listen to the sea. It's only about five o'clock. Walking to the Devil's Tears is a must because the most beautiful scenery on the road is so shocking to see the sunset. We are lucky to see the wild dolphins. We are so excited to see the sunset and then we can go back to the hotel. Of course, the hotel room facilities are general, but the price of more than 300 is really worth more. After all, he has an invincible sea view and the restaurant is on the edge of the cliff. Star recommended that we go to Lanmengdao. We didn't play underwater. After all, time is not enough.
Blue Dream Island is in the southeast of Bali. Most of its residents live on algae cultivation. Its folkways are simple and comfortable. Perhaps because tourism has not been fully developed, the commercial atmosphere is not so serious, and every villager on the island is full of enthusiasm and spring breeze. The first feeling of being here is to stay away from the noisy world and enjoy the peace of the village. There is also a crafty cliff on the island. The huge wave hits the cliff cave, arouses layers of water mist, and folds a rainbow in the sunshine. Everyone calls it the devil's tears. The water of Lanmengdao is clear and it feels like a fake. The blue sky and the blue sea in the distance are connected together, and then the white sand beach with the arc is clean. People stand inside like a picture of perfect PS. Because it is near the equator, the tropical jungle is dense, and the air is healthy. When you come here, you want to take a quiet breath of the air and see the vast sky. The whole person feels energetic. Because there is a fairyland which seems not to have been polluted artificially, it can be called Bali's clear eyes, so Blue Dream Island is also one of the necessary punch points to come to Bali. [Transportation] Nanwan Wharf is on a boat. There are many types of boats on Lanmengdao, including speedboats and yachts, with different prices. Roundtrip hotel receives tickets at about 200 RMB, one-day tour 639 RMB, one-depth 2-float, due to the different prices of one-day tour items. [Accommodation] Accommodation on Blue Dream Island is relatively inexpensive. You can stay overnight or you can stay in Bali and make a day trip. [Suggested time] A day trip is usually between 7:30 and 17:00. It is suggested to stay on the island for one night for two days and experience the night life on the island. [Island Project] Devil's tears, Dream Beach, Jungutbatu Beach, Mangrove, Banana Boat Ring Island, Deep Snorkeling, Seabed Walking, Motorcycle Ring Island, [Warm Tips] Sea sun is strong, sunscreen is indispensable. Waterproof bags, swimming trunks and towels are essential for a day trip.
Blue Dream Island is a popular tourist attraction in Bali. It is an offshore island beside Bali. It takes about an hour by boat. With group tours, you first stand by on a large cruise ship not far from the island, then you can queue up to play water projects, three fixed free projects, increase the project at your own expense, after the end of the game, you can change to a boat to board the island, after the island, you can take off-road convertible to tour around Blue Dream Island in batches. Every scenic spot will stop for a moment, climb high and look far, the sea is endless, the water and sky are uniform, and the scenery is picturesque. Life on the island is very convenient, hotels, restaurants, cafes, grocery stores are all available, is indeed a good place for leisure and vacation.
There are too many beaches in Bali. As long as you sit down and enjoy them quietly, you will find that the sea has different colors, different personalities and different customs. Surrounding seawater is clean and pollution-free, and underwater organisms can be seen clearly. Coral reefs, tropical fish, turtles and so on are not enough. We have tried many kinds of marine recreational projects, such as snorkeling, seabed fish appreciation, banana boats, canoes and so on.