10 Things to Do in Bali in November

November is an ideal month to visit Bali, there are few tourists and a lot of activities to enjoy. In general, the temperatures oscillate between 24° and 28°, although in the dawn they can descend considerably. Although the rainy season begins, it is difficult to be bored because the Balinese manage to take advantage of the hours of the sun. For example, you can enjoy tours at dawn, since the precipitations usually increase in the afternoons.

Another of the best things to do in Bali in November is to walk through the traditional towns, where rituals are made to lessen the rains. The war of the food is another cultural event that you cannot lose you, as well as the workshops of the Festival of the Bay of Pemuteran. In this month the people also usually sign up to classes of martial arts and yoga, as well as to the typical celebrations of the New Moon and the Full Moon.

Bali is an island famous for its colorful marine life, generally snorkeling is a rewarding experience that can be enjoyed all year round. However, November is an ideal month to sign up for this activity before the rainy days arrive. In fact, the water is usually clearer and since it is low season, there are few tourists and low prices.

It is ideal if you are on a budget, but want to enjoy a fun and quiet trip. I just recommend you to be careful with the monsoons or seasonal winds. Among the best local beaches to visit in November is Seminyak which is surrounded by ostentatious resorts, although you can also opt for Jimbaran which offers calm waters. On the other hand, I recommend avoiding Kuta, Canggu, Candidasa, Gili which have strong waves, less visibility and strong winds.

Another highlight of this month is to participate in a surfing lesson to challenge the wild waves of the island. In Canggu you can venture to live this experience, while walking through the black sand and meet points of interest. The interesting thing is that this type of excursions usually train you with tricks and maneuvers, even if you have no previous knowledge. It is one of the best things to do in Bali, since you will be able to see manta rays in Nusa Penida. In November there are higher chances of running into these particular animals, so you should consider it in your itinerary.

The traditional villages are a very important perspective of Bali, since they reunite the rural beauty of the island. It is possible to visit them during the whole year, nevertheless every month they offer different activities. In November you can enjoy religious ceremonies, Polynesian dances and rituals to mitigate the effects of the rains. For example, Mecaru is a traditional ceremony that seeks to balance the positive and negative energy of nature, with offerings in villages and sacred places.

You can also take advantage of Tumpek Landep and Tumpek Uduh, ceremonies to honor the gods and nature, which are governed by the Pakwon calendar and are held every 210 days (sometimes coinciding with November). Additionally, the best temples of Bali allow you to enjoy the ritual melukat, which is ideal to purify you and it is believed that it can drive away the rains and to give you a sunny and amused experience. You can visit the villages on your own or take advantage of the best local tours, which offer options from 52 euros and allow you to visit rice fields, forests and villages.

Additionally, the most outstanding villages in Bali include:

• Celuk: it is a town of crafts and jewels, where you can bargain for souvenirs and enjoy a tour of its artisan factories to learn about the elaboration process.
• Batuan: it is known by its temples, as well as by the representations of dances and sales of local paintings.
• Ubud: is a tourist village with a variety of activities such as temple tours, yoga and cooking classes, rice terraces and more. Occasionally, November coincides with the tenth full moon of the year and the Purnama Kedasa ritual is performed to attract prosperity.
• Trunyan: here you can appreciate the ritual of the dead, very different from other locations, which consists of burying the body under a tree to prevent decomposition. In this way, the locals believe that they scare away natural disasters caused by volcanoes.

In November begins the rainy season in Bali, nevertheless the majority of precipitations during this month, take place in the afternoon. For that reason, I recommend you to begin the day very early to take advantage of the rays of sun in the mount Batur. You can venture to the best local excursions to enjoy the company of a guide, since it is not allowed to make the route on your own. In addition, this Balinese landscape is located one hour from Ubud, and is an active volcano that offers a beautiful sunrise that will leave you speechless.

Unfortunately, this tour is not recommended for pregnant women or people with health problems, as you will walk along the trails for at least two and a half hours. Additionally, it is important to bring a jacket considering that the experience usually starts in the early morning (between 1:00 and 4:00). You can also bring sunglasses, a torch and hiking shoes. Generally, you can find this experience from 45 euros, although if you prefer you can go up by mototaxi.

Every month the Balinese celebrate the brightest phase of the moon, usually with dances, offerings and rituals of gratitude in the best local temples. Of course, November is not the exception and it is an ideal activity if you are looking for things to do on the island at night, since you will be able to enjoy a calm evening under the starry sky.

On this day, planting events are held, as the soil is considered to be more fertile. Additionally, you can attend offerings and rituals at the Besakih temple, where you can also appreciate the famous Heaven's Gate and combine it with a visit to the Lempuyang temple. Other spiritual manifestations take place at the water temple Pura Luhur Uluwatu and the temple of the goddess of arts Pura Taman Saraswati. You can also stop by the rice terraces and sign up for yoga or spirituality classes.

November marks the beginning of the chocolate harvest season in Bali, so there are many fun activities involving this delicious product. It is different because it is made with organic cocoa grown in the villages of Tabanan, Jembrana and Karangasem. In addition, it is usually sweetened with coconut nectar, which makes it rare and tasty. To continue having fun on the island, I recommend stopping by the Pod Chocolate Factory and Cafe, where you can witness the production of handmade chocolate.

Here you can do tastings, visit the plantations and create your own chocolate. You will have the opportunity to learn how it goes from bean to bar, as well as participate in chocolate workshops to make Balinese chocolates, truffles and cakes. In addition, this picturesque factory is in the middle of rice paddies surrounded by beautiful waterfalls that you can't miss, where the rice harvest also begins in November. It is ideal if you plan to be at least 7 days in Bali, exploring its goodness and gastronomic attractions.

The war of food Ketupat Bali or Perang Topat is an authentic tradition that is carried out between November and December in Bali. It is a playful festival that is carried out in one of the best temples of Bali, known as Pura Lingsar in Lombok. The dates are fixed according to the lunar calendar, which governs the celebrations according to the phases of the Moon. The instructions of the game are easy, it is a friendly battle created to reiterate the peace between Muslims and Hindus of the island. It also seeks to attract good omens and bless the next harvest, usually two teams are divided and you have to throw palm leaves filled with sticky rice until you defeat the opposing team.

The people of the area take it very well, and they are even excited about this activity. You can participate and it is not necessary previous inscription neither to be native of Bali. You only must respect the norms that include not to throw the balls very close, as well as to avoid damaging the temple. Of course, I recommend you to take comfortable clothes that you do not worry about getting dirty. If you prefer to stay away from the sticky rice and just enjoy the event, you have the option of heading to the Bukit Pergasingan viewpoint which offers panoramic views of the temple.

Between November and December special spiritual activities are prepared, to refine the preparations of the Bali Spirit Festival, which takes place in summer. In addition, in these dates usually yoga events are organized in Canggu. Due to the fact that the rainy days begin to overshadow the activities outdoors, many people opt for yoga retreats. They are ideal to combine meditations with exercises that favor the mental and physical well-being.

Of course, the idea of a vacations in Bali is to return home without stress, so this is a plan that is worthwhile. It usually offers Ayurvedic treatments that use healing practices of India, herbal steam baths, relaxing and reductive massages, podal and cranial massage, classes of Balinese kitchen, thermal showers and sessions of yoga. It is one of the best things to do on the island, especially if you want to release tension.

Every month an important religious and cultural celebration takes place, which commemorates new beginnings. If you plan to stay at least 5 days in Bali, you can consult the lunar calendar to organize your trip based on it, since usually many interesting activities are programmed. It is known as Tilem or Bali's New Moon Festival where you can take advantage of:

• Prayer rituals directed to Surya, the sun god, who protects the Balinese during the moonless night.
• Processions of offerings to the best local temples, which usually include food of Bali, flowers and objects.
• Gastronomic tastings, keep in mind that in these dates are usually served dishes based on pork.
• Ceremonies of purification in the temple Tirta Empul, an indispensable plan that you cannot lose if you want to return home recharged of energies.

The Festival of the Bay of Pemuteran is an annual event that is carried out in the town of Pemuteran, to the north of Bali. Specifically, it is located two hours from the center, but it is worth it because it has nature reserves, trekking areas and a sea turtle nursery. As such, this local festival promotes marine conservation through workshops, cultural exhibitions and open-air concerts.

I recommend you to consider this option if you plan to be at least 7 days in Bali, since the festival has an approximate duration of four days. During the event you will also be able to enjoy tours of the coral reef restoration areas, where high technology is used to conserve local species. Also, you cannot miss the traditional fishing contests, the recycling art workshops, the marathon along the edge of the bay and the yoga classes in front of the sea.

The classes of martial art Mepantigan in the mud are a local tradition that can be taken advantage of all the year round. In November they are more special, since the rainy season favors the biodiversity and nutrients of the mud, making it more humid and manageable. Undoubtedly, it is one of the best things to do in Bali, since you can have fun learning a game that combines dance, self-defense, fire and music.

Generally, each class has an approximate duration of two hours and they teach you to use the mud as defense, as well as to fall without hurting yourself. It is possible to find this experience from 30 euros, which requires no experience and is ideal for the whole family. It usually includes a shower outdoors in a river of Bali, to eliminate the traces of dirt at the end of the activity. It is ideal if you want to liberate stress, to purify your energy and to learn new techniques of physical and emotional defense.

There are other activities that can be carried out in Bali in November, but the majority belong to the calendar Pawkon, which fixes certain cultural and religious ceremonies every six months or 210 days. If you are lucky, your visit can coincide:

• Galungan Day in Bali, a Hindu celebration that commemorates the triumph of good over evil. It is believed that during this date the spirits visit the island, so they prepare altars with food, music and offerings.
• Mecotek is the closing ritual of Galungan, which bids farewell to the spirits. Generally, a friendly wooden spear fight takes place.
• The day of the rice goddess, better known as Soma Ribek, which thanks the abundance of the island. The houses and the best local temples are decorated with a penjor, a typical bamboo ornament that is accompanied by other elements such as flowers, fruits and palm leaf.
• The Pagerwesi ritual, which explores the history of the god and offers prayers at temples dedicated to Shiva. It is possible that while walking through the streets you may come across offerings that seek to ward off evil spirits.