| WalkaboutIndonesia |
Bali Travel Guide Culture * Beach life * Volcanoes * Surfing * Snorkeling and Scuba diving * Parasailing * Horse riding * Alternate activities * * Getting to Bali * Ferry * Accommodation * Upcoming events
|
||
Places of interest in Bali
Other Indonesian locations
|
Bali,
Indonesia or Laut Bali (Laut meaning island in Balinese) has been
one of the most desired beach resort locations for over 70 years though it
has so much more to offer than just surf, sand and relaxation.
Bali holidays can be a combination of sun, surfing, snorkeling, relaxing as well as some active adventure like whitewater rafting, volcanoes, mountain climbing, trekking, elephant riding, fishing in lakes or the ocean and a diverse cultural mix that gives you a blend of languages, religion and excellent choice of food.
Pura Ulun Danau Temple Balinese culture predominately developed from the southern lowlands of the island due to the fertile lands, south of Gunung Agung, Gunung Abang and Gunung Batur as the population could grow two or more irrigated crops per year. Check out Bali history.
Tanah Lot Temple Bali's International and Domestic airport, called Ngurah Rai, located just outside of Denpasar and 10 minutes by taxi to Kuta. There are fixed prices for taxis from Ngurah Rai airport to the different areas of Bali. Prices to:
Tuban 35,000Rp Kuta 45,000Rp Legian 55,000Rp Seminyak 60,000Rp Jimbaran 60,000Rp Denpasar 70,000Rp Sanur 95,000Rp Nusa Dua 95,000Rp Ubud 105,000Rp Padang Bai 365,000Rp Candi Dasa 385,000Rp
There are also shuttle buses run by Perama Tours from the airport. For times and prices check out their website www.peramatour.com Air Asia have direct flights from Denpasar to and from Jakarta, Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Singapore and Bangkok. www.airasia.com
Mandala Air, the best budget airline in Indonesia, has direct flights within Indonesia from Denpasar to Jakarta, Banjarmasin, Malang, Jogjakarta and Surabaya. www.mandalaair.com Prices from Jakarta to Denpasar in June 2009 are as low as 165,909Rp (US$16) plus taxes.
Batavia Air has direct flights between Denpasar and Jakarta, Jogjakarta, Pontianak and Surabaya.
Sriwijaya Air has direct flights from Denpasar to Bandung, Jakarta and Surabaya. www.sriwijayaair-online.com
Lion Air has connecting flights from Denpasar to Makassar, Mataram (Lombok), Surabaya Jogjakarta, and Jakarta, with connecting flights to over 30 destinations in Indonesia as well as connecting flights to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City. www.lionair.co.id
Merpati Air has direct flights to Bandung, Bima, Ende (Flores), Jakarta, Kupang, Labuan Bajo, Mataram, Maumere (Flores), Surabaya, Tambolaka and Waingapu on Sumba Island and Dili in East Timor. www.merpati.co.id
Jetstar is a low cost airline that has direct flights from Denpasar to 10 cities in Australia as well as to Christchurch and Auckland in New Zealand and to Singapore. www.jetstar.com
Pelita Air have direct flights between Denpasar and Surabaya, Waingapu on Sumba Island and to Bima on Sumbawa Island. Pelita Air also have helicopters for charter. www.pelita-air.com
Garuda Air www.garuda-indonesia.com
IndoJet is a budget airline operating flights between Bali and Perth Australia. Prices are A$545pp including taxes, fees and surcharges. Flight time between Perth and Denpasar is just over 3 hours. www.indojet.com.au There are a number of ferry services that connect Bali to the neighbouring islands including Nusa Lembongan and Lombok. There are ferry ports at Sanur and Benoa Harbour. Most companies offer bus transfers from various parts of Bali to the wharfs. There are regular ferries running 24 hours a day between Gilimanuk on the western coast of Bali going to Java. Bus services are combined with the ferry service to get you from the towns in Bali to other towns in Java including Surabaya (10 hour trip), Jogjakarta (15 hour trip) and Jakarta (over 26 hour trip). Bali International Triathlon - the 3rd annual Bali International Triathlon is being held at Jimbaran Bay on June 28 2009 www.balitriathlon.com Bali Spirit Festival Mar 31 - Apr 4 2010. A festival of yoga, dance, spiritual retreat and world music. www.balispiritfestival.com Yoga and Meditation in Bali There are Yoga classes and meditation retreats all over Bali including in Ubud, Sanur, Lovina, Legian and Kuta. Check out Bali Spirit for an extensive list. For some good Yoga class in Ubud check out Balinese Yoga.
Accommodation / Hotels on Bali
There is a great selection of accommodation all over Bali catering for all budgets. For a list of hotels, prices and contact details click on the area you wish to stay:
Last updated 8th December 2009 |
Every aspect of Bali's geography and ecology is influenced by the towering range of volcanic peaks that dominate the island. They have created it's landforms, regenerating it's soil and helped to produce it's dramatic rain downpours that provides the island with it's life giving water.
The Balinese people acknowledge these geophysical properties of life and have developed the many beaches, volcanoes, rivers, lakes and springs into their culture, considering these as sacred. The highest mountain (or volcano on Bali Island is Mount Agung closely bordered by Mount Abang and Batur. Check out the Top 10 Volcanoes in Indonesia.
Uluwatu - Hindu temple and great surfing Bali has many surfing locations not just for the experienced surfer though great places for the novice who wants to learn to surf in safe and non-threatening conditions which make the whole experience rewarding.
Sunrise on Kuta Beach Kuta is one of the best places to learn to surf as the beach break waves are relatively small. With the surf breaking over a sand bank rather than a reef break makes learning to surf so much more safer. Just across from Bali is the island of Nusa Lembongan which has some great left and right point and reef breaks. If you are willing to explore there are some good surfing spots along the west coast of Bali. If you are lucky you could have the breaks all to yourself as not a lot of people venture here. At Uluwatu a bit over an hour away from Kuta, as well as a spectacular Hindu temple perched on the cliff tops, there is a great left hand coral reef break for experienced surfers. For surf and tide reports from Bali check out http://www.baliwaves.com/ Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in Bali Once you get away from Kuta there are some great locations in Bali for some serious snorkeling and scuba diving. There are no coral reefs off Kuta beach though you will find good snorkeling around Nusa Dua, Sanur, Lovina, Amed, Padang Bai, Candidasa, Pemuteran, Bukit as well as on the islands of Lembongan and Menjangan. One of the best places for snorkeling and diving is Menjangan Island on the northwest coast of Bali. The island is surrounded by the West Bali National Park and has some decent coral reefs with excellent sea life including turtles, stingrays, sharks and plenty of fish. On the northeast coast, around Amed is also another great place for snorkeling and scuba diving in Bali. As well as the great coral reefs and marine life, there are 2 US Navy ships from WWII, which were sunk off the coast. Closer to Kuta, Nusa Lembongan, which is only a short ferry ride away from Sanur has some great spots for both snorkeling and scuba diving. A number of companies have started up recently which offer parasailing. The main area that you can parasail is around Timbis Beach which is not far from Uluwatu on the south coast of Bali. Check out these companies for more information: Exo Fly www.exofly.com Bali Paragliding Club www.baliparagliders.com Whitewater rafting in Bali There is excellent white water rafting on the Ayung river close to Ubud. Various sections of the Ayung river are classified as Grade 2 and Grade III and during the wet season (Sept - Mar) can raise to Grade 4. There are a number of companies organizing white water rafting including transport from Kuta/Seminyak and surrounding areas. There are a number of horse stables hiring out horses for rides on the beach or through villages and rice paddies. Their are different horses available for beginner riders and experienced riders. Guides can accompany you if you are inexperienced. For more details see our West Bali page.
Arak - Traditional Wine Warning Wednesday 3rd June 2009 Please be warned that in the last week, 25 people, including 4 foreign tourists have died after drinking the traditional Balinese wine - palm wine known as arak. Officials say that some wine makers have been heavily cutting the wine with methanol.
|
|
