Bali, the “island of God”, has a magnetic charm and beauty. It is one of the smallest islands in the Indonesian archipelago, but by far the most sought after by tourists, while Lombok is starting to shrink more and more. Little paradise, Bali has all the parts for a successful vacation. Beautiful beaches – where the sand is often colored by volcanic eruptions, forests, hills with climbing rice fields, plus its own strong culture. The Balinese seduce you with their softness and kindness, but also with a love of beauty and a unique way of combining art and life. Whether they live in tourist areas or isolated villages, the Balinese retain their tranquility and customs. the divine plays a major role in human life, and everywhere one sees a daily sacrificial ritual. That is why the Balinese are so lovable and survive the tourist boom without completely selling their soul …
A trip to Bali in Indonesia has something to offer everyone. Here, sun worshipers, partygoers, backpackers, surfers, newlyweds and adventurers can have their needs met. This mythical, fabulous island attracts many different travelers. In addition to beautiful beaches of different character, there are also wonderful nature, volcanoes, waterfalls, hot springs and of course the magical green rice fields. During a trip to Bali, you can have the opportunity to celebrate something, bless something, or generally pamper the Hindu gods and ancestral spirits with goodies. It is said that a Balinese spends a third of their income on various ceremonies. The ceremonies take turns here. The interior of Bali is a lush landscape of valuable crops, and behind every new bend new green fields await, sometimes in terraces on several floors.
Nusa Lembongan
On an island off the southwest coast of Bali you will find one of Bali’s most popular attractions. An island paradise far from traffic chaos and hysterical vendors. There is not a rice field anywhere here, but instead lots of seagrass plantations that are worked with both in the turquoise, crystal clear water and on land. Here it is easy to find peace and just relax. If you want something to do besides lying on the beach, you can try windsurfing, diving and snorkeling. The sea here is incredibly clear and glitters in dazzling blue.
Ubud
About 2-300 meters above sea level surrounded by rice fields makes Ubud a slightly cooler place compared to other tourist resorts on the island. Surrounding villages are known for unique bamboo crafts and furniture and for wood carving and stonemasonry. Ubud is also known for its traditional dance performances. Often you can also be lucky enough to attend one of the many ceremonies in the area. There are many fantastic hotels here, you can also afford to treat yourself to a little luxury because the prices here are a little lower than at the beach hotels.
Giliöarna
Just a couple of hours boat ride from Bali, just outside Lombok, three islands await that continue to refuse car traffic. The island closest to Bali, Gili Trawangan, certainly makes a difference, with techno-pumping speakers and the occasional moped. The middle island, Gili Meno, is so sleepy and quiet that the honeymooners could whisper tender words to each other several meters away if they wanted to.
And then we have Gili Air, a stone’s throw from Lombok. The island where the hammocks rock in time to squeaky pony carts swaying on sandy paths. Follow the narrow, fine-grained beach around the island, and find your own little place, where fearless sea turtles sail past under a crystal clear water surface.
Lovina Beach
If you get tired of rice fields and white beaches, you can head north to Lovina beach. Here the beaches consist of black lava sand. Here it is calm and quiet and a popular activity is to go out to sea in the morning mist to watch dolphins.
Kuta
If you want to go to a real surfing paradise, you should definitely make a trip to Bali and the Kuta area which is located on the southern part of the island, with a coastal strip that runs along the Indian Ocean. Kuta has long been a popular stop for backpackers traveling around Southeast Asia. In the 1980s, there was a lot of talk about three destinations that all started with the letter K: Kathmandu in Nepal, Khao San Road in Bangkok and Kuta in Bali. Even today, many people travel here, both backpackers, families and tourists from all over the world. Kuta is constantly evolving due to the increasing tourism and the infrastructure has come a long way here, although some parts still need to be worked on. Road signs and traffic rules are not always followed properly, and the streets are often occupied by mopeds, taxis and private cars that all honk as they try to squeeze into the smallest possible opening. Free Wi-Fi is usually available in local convenience stores, restaurants, cafes and hotels. SIM cards for mobile phones can be bought almost everywhere. Vendors are happy to come and want you to buy one of them, whether you are walking around the street or sitting in a restaurant.
