Best Tours of Bali

Bali is not only one of the most important islands of Indonesia but also one of the most famous destinations of Southeast Asia. With a tourist offer that includes from the spiritual and cultural facet to the paradisiacal atmosphere of its beaches, this place is ideal to discover it in guided excursions.

Between the best activities that you can make in Bali they are to make a tour guided to Tanah Lot, Kanto Lampo and the Forest of the Monkeys, to cross the temples of Besakih and Lempuyang, to participate of a private excursion of Eat, Pray, Love, to live an experience of rafting and to cross the waterfalls and the rice fields of Ubud.

If you want to discover the magical essence of Bali in a complete guided excursion, you cannot stop making a tour for Tanah Lot, Kanto Lampo and the Forest of the Monkeys. These experiences have earned the reputation of being one of the best options of the island, offering a perfect mixture of culture, history and natural beauty.

These excursions, in general, begin in Tanah Lot, an iconic temple located in a rock in front of the sea. Its origins date back to the 16th century and this sacred site is known for its panoramic views.

Then, these tours will take you to Kanto Lampo, a waterfall hidden in the heart of the Balinese jungle. There you will be able to discover these tributaries that form an inseparable part of the natural landscape of the island and constitute paradisiacal places, especially if you have planned to visit Bali in summer.

Towards the end of the tours, you will be able to visit the picturesque Forest of the Monkeys, a sanctuary where the macaques of long tail, characteristic of the place, will welcome you.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 61 euros per person.
• Duration: about 11 hours and a half.
• Advantages of these excursions: you will be able to visit three of the most famous sites of the island in an organized tour.
• Disadvantages of these excursions: they are very intense experiences that have several hours of travel between each of the attractions, so you will have little free time to tour the sites on your own.

Bali has a tradition based on Hinduism, a custom that even differentiates it from Indonesia, where a majority of the population is Muslim, reason why one of the activities that you can make to discover the local culture is to visit the best temples of the island. With these experiences you can discover Besakih and Lempuyang, two architectural gems of this destination.

The Besakih temple, known as the Mother Temple, rises on the slopes of Mount Agung and is the largest and most sacred temple complex in Bali. With a history of more than 1,000 years, Besakih is the spiritual epicenter of the island and a place where the Balinese go to pay homage to the gods and seek blessings.

On the other hand, the Lempuyang temple is known for its famous Gates of Heaven, which offer a wide view of Mount Agung. This temple is the first of a series of seven pure ones located on the slope of Mount Lempuyang and is a sacred site that attracts visitors from all over the world.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 34 euros per person.
• Duration: about 10 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions: you will know two of the most important religious sites of Bali, especially Besakih, which is considered the Mother Temple.
• Disadvantages of these excursions: due to that you will visit sacred temples you will not be able to move away from the expert local guide and you will have to have special consideration for the norms of local conduct.

Bali gained great fame from the movie Come, Pray, Love starring Julia Roberts, so one of the best activities you can do in this destination is to participate in a private tour of the sites that inspired Elizabeth Gilbert's famous story.

The first stop on these excursions will usually be Ubud, the cultural heart of Bali, where Elizabeth was seduced by the spiritual and artistic richness of the island. There you can stroll through the local markets, feel the energy of the temples and experience the deep connection with the Balinese essence.

Finally, these tours will take you to Padang Padang, the romantic setting where the protagonist finds love while enjoying the benefits of one of the best beaches in Bali.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 68 euros per person.
• Duration: about 10 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions: they are usually private experiences, reason why you will be able to count on permanent accompaniment in an exclusive way.
• Disadvantages of these tours: although most of them are private tours, you will not be able to alter or modify the route, which is pre-established and leaves some of the sites of the film out of the itinerary.

The waterfalls and rice paddies of Ubud do not seem, at first glance, too tempting an attraction in Bali, where every landscape is paradisiacal, but they are an important part of the local traditions, so joining a tour of these sites will allow you to dive into the rich history of the island.

These activities will take you to explore some of the most impressive waterfalls in the region, where you can take a dip in crystal clear waters surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. In addition, the waterfalls will not only offer you sweeping views, but also the opportunity to connect with the serenity of local nature.

The second part of your tour will take you to the traditional rice paddies of Ubud, a landscape that has been central to Bali's economic development. The terraced rice paddies are a testament to Balinese agricultural engineering and a testament to their deep connection to the local culture.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 47 euros per person.
• Duration: about 8 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions: you will know a traditional profile of Bali, based on the millenarian work of the land on the part of the Balinese.
• Disadvantages of these excursions: these experiences do not usually include a tour of the main streets of Ubud, which is considered the cultural heart of the island.

Bali not only has some of the best beaches in Southeast Asia, but also an interesting jungle environment that you can discover on an ATV tour and rafting experience. The itinerary of these experiences, therefore, will take you to know the island from completely different perspectives.

During the first part of the tour, that will allow you to explore the rural landscapes of Bali in ATV, you will be able to cross tropical jungles, to cross creeks and to get lost in local villages. With these all-terrain vehicles you will be able to accede to remote places and to discover corners that escape to the conventional routes, especially if you visit Bali in December, when the rains usually flood the roads.

After the crossing in ATV, you will be able to go to the Ayung River to live an unforgettable experience of rafting. This river, flanked by tropical landscapes and cliffs, provides the perfect backdrop for an adrenaline-filled water adventure.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 42 euros per person.
• Duration: about 7 and a half hours.
• Advantages of these excursions: you will be able to know the jungle profile of Bali in an excursion of adventure by earth and river.
• Disadvantages of these excursions: they are intense experiences, little recommended for people with reduced mobility or for minors.

One of the best images that Bali will give you is that of its sunsets, reason why a very interesting option is to participate in an excursion by Uluwatu to discover one of the most impressive sunsets in the world.

In Uluwatu, in addition, you will find the famous Pura Luhur Uluwatu, that rises in the high of the cliff and is one of the best temples of Bali. This Hindu building, constructed in century XI, is venerated by the Balinese because it is constructed on grounds considered sacred.

After the sunset, you will be able to remain in this place to enjoy a traditional spectacle of Kecak dance. This dance, that is made outdoors near the temple, tells epic and mythological histories through expressive movements and vocal choruses, reason why it is one of the best activities to make during the night in Bali.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 19 euros per person.
• Duration: about 7 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions: you will be able to contemplate one of the best sunsets of the world and to attend a spectacle of local dances.
• Disadvantages of these excursions: these experiences are usually very crowded, so you should arrive relatively early to find a good location in front of the ocean.

If you want to know one of the most important active volcanoes of Bali in an adventure tour, you can not miss a jeep tour of Mount Batur. Located to 1,700 meters of height on the level of the sea, this mount rises like one of the highest points of Indonesia, offering panoramic views of the region.

The itinerary will take you through rugged trails and lunar landscapes as you approach the volcano's crater. From the comfort of the jeep, you will be able to appreciate the transformation of the environment, which contains everything from lush forests to solidified lava fields.

Upon reaching the summit of Mount Batur, at the highlight of this experience, you will witness the grandeur of the crater and views of the surrounding lake.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 66 euros per person.
• Duration: about 9 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions: you will get to know one of the most famous natural sites of the island in an adventurous experience.
• Disadvantages of these excursions: the tour does not include a visit to the nearby volcanic beaches.

The gastronomy is one of the most outstanding aspects of Bali, reason why one of the best activities that you can make in the island is to participate of a culinary tour. These itineraries will take you through local markets and picturesque street stalls, connecting you with the idiosyncrasy of Bali through its culinary offerings.

These excursions, generally, will begin in the bustling markets of Ubud, where the fresh aromas of spices and herbs will welcome you. There you will be able to prove the babi guling, a whole roasted pig with a crispy skin and a mixture of spices that is usually consumed in festive days, as in Christmas in Bali.

You can also visit the satay stalls, where grilled meat skewers are served with peanut sauces and kecap manis, a sweet soy sauce that is emblematic of Indonesian cuisine.

As you explore the local markets, you will also have the opportunity to sample dishes such as nasi goreng, a delicious fried rice with assorted ingredients, and mie goreng, stir-fried noodles with a unique blend of spices and seasonings.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 44 euros per person.
• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions: you will get to know the local culture from a gastronomic tour.
• Disadvantages of these excursions: not all tastings are included in the price of the guided tour.

One of the best alternatives to know the island is to opt to participate in excursions in bicycle, and among the most famous destinations of these experiences are Kintamani and Jatiluwih, two very popular regions in Bali by their dense vegetation and by the roads that offer between the rice fields and the cultivations.

Excursion in bicycle by Kintamani

If you want to live a relaxing adventure in bicycle in Bali, nothing better than to participate in a route to discover the beauty of the rural surroundings of Kintamani. In this site, located in one of the highest points of the island, you will be able to contemplate panoramic views of the volcano Batur and its lake, and to discover the rice fields cultivated in the terraces that rescue the agricultural tradition of the zone.

Also, in these tours you will be able to discover the authenticity of the local villages, where the Balinese culture flourishes in the daily life respecting millenarian customs. There you will be able to observe closely the local crafts and taste the food of the region, which could well be the protagonist of a gastronomic excursion in Bali.

Finally, the trip will end with a rest next to Lake Batur, where you can contemplate the panoramic views of the region while you immerse yourself in the tranquility that characterizes the rural Balinese villages.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 39 euros per person.
• Duration: about 8 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions: you will know in a route in bicycle one of the highest places of Bali and you will be able to contemplate some of the best panoramic views of the region.
• Disadvantages of these excursions: during the rainy season many of the roads near the rice fields are disabled by floods.

Jatiluwih Electric Bicycle Tour

Unlike the Kintamani tours, the Jatiluwih tours will be more leisurely because they allow you to ride the trails on an electric bike, which requires less effort. However, the circuit will be no less adventurous, as you will be able to get to know a region nestled in the middle of the jungle with the largest rice paddies on the island.

During these experiences you will have the assistance of an expert local guide and you will be able to know a deeper perspective on the life in Bali. Also, the electric bicycle will allow you a more relaxed exploration of the intricate paths that wind through the rice paddies and you can stop to enjoy the panoramic views.

These experiences usually also include lunch at an authentic local restaurant, where you can sample delicious Balinese cuisine.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 73 euros per person.
• Duration: about 5 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions: you will be able to combine a picturesque bicycle tour with a typical local lunch.
• Disadvantages of these tours: they are expensive experiences due to the electric bicycles.

If you want to get a global perspective of this destination, you can join a guided tour of Bali's traditional villages. This trip will take you by bus from Ubud to the rural regions of Kintamani, known as the epicenter of Balinese tradition, and also to Mount Batur, Lake Batur and Pura Ulun Danu Batur, one of the largest shrines on the island.

During these tours, you can also visit emblematic places, such as the rice terraces of Tegalalang, which with their stepped architecture ingeniously take advantage of the topography for the sustainable cultivation of rice. On the other hand, in Puseh Batuan you will visit an ancient Balinese temple full of history and famous for its traditional architecture, which is known to be one of the best religious buildings in Bali.

In these experiences you will be guided by a local professional who will provide you with detailed information about each site visited, which will collaborate with your immersion in the sophisticated Balinese culture.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 53 euros per person.
• Duration: about 10 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions: you will be able to accede to a general overview of Bali in a comfortable route in bus.
• Disadvantages of these excursions: although you will visit several places of the island, in many places the bus does not include stops, reason why in those cases you will only enjoy the panoramic tours.

You can reserve any of these excursions in advance by Internet or to contract them once you are in the island. Nevertheless, bear in mind that if you have planned to visit Bali in October or during the months of high season, you could remain without place in some of the experiences.

In addition, the island offers many attractions, reason why I advise you that you reserve before arriving to destiny, which will allow you to arm an itinerary and to take the maximum advantage of your visit, especially if you have planned to cross Bali in 5 days or even less time.

To guarantee an unforgettable excursion in Bali, it is crucial to plan ahead and take into account some recommendations. As a first step, be sure to research and select the activities that best suit your interests and preferences. Bali offers a wide range of experiences, so knowing your preferences will help you customize your itinerary more effectively.

Also, consider the season and weather conditions when planning your trip. The island can experience seasonal rains during the summer, so it is critical to adjust your itinerary accordingly. Also, book your activities in advance to ensure availability and get cheaper rates, especially if you plan to visit the island in the summer.

Finally, respect the local culture! Learn the codes of conduct and follow dress codes at temples and sacred sites. To respect the customs and traditions will contribute to a more enriching experience and connected with the authentic essence of Bali.

To make an excursion in Bali is highly recommendable due to the diversity of experiences that this island offers. Bali not only has paradisiacal beaches and dazzling natural landscapes, but it also harbors a rich cultural heritage. A guided excursion, therefore, will offer you the opportunity to explore the true local spirit.

In addition, the excursions in Bali allow to discover the varied and delicious local kitchen. From vibrant markets to quaint street stalls, you will have the chance to sample authentic Balinese dishes. Gastronomy is an integral part of the Bali experience and exploring it on an excursion adds a component you won't want to miss on your trip.