6 reasons to visit Bali (other than surfing)
For millions of tourists each year, Bali is the favourite Indonesian island to travel to. And we definitely can relate! For us, there is no question that Bali is always worth a trip. Do you think you “only “can surf here (which would be reason enough to book your Bali holiday)?! We’ll now convince you of the opposite because the island of the gods has much more to offer…
1. Cultural Scene
Bali - the island of gods and the island of a thousand temples. Home to a diverse cultural scene with many rituals and traditions. If you’re visiting Bali you’ll feel the mystic flair of Hinduism everywhere since 90% of the Balinese are Hindus and maintain their traditional beliefs and religious lifestyle. There are many ceremonies and celebrations throughout the year in which you can sometimes also take part as a tourist, for example, the Ogoh-Ogoh parade in the evening before Nyepi. Of course, a big part of Hinduism is the temples, and Bali has plenty of them. Booking a cultural trip and visiting a few temples shouldn’t be missed during your stay. Some temples you need to put on your bucket list are:
Pura Besakih “Mother Temple of Bali”
Pura Tanah Lot (especially for sunset)
Pura Taman Ayun Royal
Pura Ulun Danu Bratan
2. Yoga
Besides world-famous surf breaks Bali is also famous for its healing and spirituality caused by the Hindu religion. With this mindful atmosphere all around the island, it’s no surprise that many yoga studios have blossomed here and many tourists especially book a stay to experience the most impressive yoga classes. Whether you’re a total beginner or a dedicated yogi, you’re just looking for a couple of classes or an immersive yoga retreat, the Island of Gods is a yogi’s playground. Due to the lush surroundings and the ocean, Bali provides the perfect oasis to practice the art of yoga, enrich your yoga experience and find peace for body, mind and soul.
Also at Kima we offer you several yoga classes in our camps in Canggu and Seminyak that are also helpful to improve your surf skills.
3. The picturesque landscape
Crystal clear water, white sand, lush vegetation as far as the eye can see, and mountains covered in fog at sunrise - Bali’s landscape is definitely what makes the island so unique and another reason why you should book your stay. From both our camps you can reach some stunning places after 1-2 hour drives. Farther out to North or East Bali for example you can visit the most beautiful and large waterfalls like the Tukad Cepung Waterfall, the Tegenungan Waterfall or the Banyumala Twin Waterfall. On your way there you’ll also pass by numerous huge rice fields stretching over acres of land. Visiting one of these, such as Tegalalang or Jatiluwih, and exploring them on a walk is a must-do and a perfect opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life for a few hours. Not to forget about all the beautiful beaches in the southern part of the island. With so many beaches to choose from, it's hard to decide, but these are our 3 favourite ones:
Bingin Beach: a sweet little bay with many small Warungs, where you can easily spend the whole day, lying on the white sanded beach and just enjoying life. Looking for a place to stay? Our beachfront hotel in Uluwatu is directly located directly on the cliffs overlooking Bingin beach.
Nyang Nyang Beach: hundreds of meters of white sand and turquoise water with a famous shipwreck to discover.
Dreamland Beach: the name says it all because here you are literally in Dreamland. Relax in the reef pools revealed at low tide, take a walk in the white sand or watch the surfers catching their waves and enjoying the stunning sunset.
But Bali does not only offer a unique landscape above water but also underwater and is popular with divers and snorkelers. Go snorkelling and swimming with dolphins in Lovina or discover the beauty of Bali’s underwater world and its world-famous dive sites of Padang Bai.
4. The most epic sunrises and sunsets
Yes, admittedly, getting up in the middle of the night in order to watch a sunrise sounds crazy at first, but trust us, in Bali, it's definitely worth it! Here you will find noteworthy spots to see the sunrise. Prime viewing spots are for example Pinggan Village and Bukit Cinta which has Mount Batur in the backdrop. A highly recommended activity is the sunrise hike to Mount Batur. An approximately 2 hours hike at dawn up the active volcano with breathtaking views over Bali while the sun rises. Another worth seeing place for sunrise is along the Campuhan Ridge Walk in Ubud, where you can take a walk between rice fields and palm trees.
Just as beautiful as the sunrises, so are the sunsets. You really can’t deny that Bali has some postcard-perfect sunsets. Every evening you could go to another place to be enchanted when the sky gets painted with vibrant purple and pink hues. Watch amazing sunsets at Tanah Lot Temple, one of the most important temple landmarks in Bali, and the most famous sunset icon at the same time. Go to Uluwatu in order to see the sun goes down from one of the clifftop bars over here. Or just grab some snacks and drinks, step down the beach and just enjoy the laidback atmosphere.
5. Island Hopping
Bali is located and surrounded by many other small islands that resemble paradise and are worthy to visit. After a short boat ride of 45 minutes, you can reach Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan and just spend the day over there. Visit the famous Instagram spots like Kelingking beach or Diamond beach or dive with giant manta rays at the Manta Point. If you want to escape the Bali traffic for 1-2 days, the Gili Islands should be a destination during your travels. They are also easy to reach by boat and since cars and motorbikes are prohibited on the islands there won't be any distractions to enjoy the beautiful tropical island scenery.
6. Culinary scene
Whether traditional Balinese or Indonesian dishes or several international restaurants - Bali has a variety of cuisines to enjoy from. Fascinating traditional recipes have created a distinctive cuisine, that you can enjoy as street food or fine dining. A typical Balinese meal often includes rice, vegetables, protein, and a side of sambal, an Indonesian chilli sauce used as a condiment on almost everything (Attention: spicy!). Also, tempeh and tofu products play an important role in the Balinese kitchen; therefore, you’ll also find many vegetarian or vegan restaurants here. Do you want to learn how to use spices and cook traditional dishes? Book yourself a traditional cooking class and get the full culinary experience.
Whether you are a total beginner or you are looking for some barrels, Bali is just a paradise for everyone who wants to surf. All year round the island offers numerous amazing and world-famous surf spots. During the dry season from April to September, the surf spots on Bali's southwest coast work particularly well, whereas the waves often get too messy during the rainy season from October to March. That's when the east coast offers better conditions. While you will find mostly lefthanders on the west coast, the east coast offers mostly right-handers. Bali’s surf spots have it all: Beginners can learn to surf at the spots around Kuta or Seminyak beach, where our Surfschool is located, in the southwest of the island. Surf spots like Batu Bolong, Echo Beach, Sandbar, and Berawa in Canggu are ideal for more intermediate surfers. Longboarders also get their money's worth here. The famous south coast is the region with the best waves on the island, with some of the best spots in the world, such as Padang Padang, Bingin and Uluwatu.
During your surf holiday at Kima, we will take you to the best spots on the southwest coast as well as the west coast, depending on the conditions and your surf level, and even to the Outer Reefs with our own Kima boats.
We could give you countless more reasons to visit the island of gods, but it's best to see for yourself. What are you waiting for?
Have you already booked your next stay and want to know where you can have the best night outs? Check out our latest blogpost about nightlife in Bali.
