6 Reasons to Make Bali Your Next Summer Holiday
The possibilities are endless when it comes to choosing your ideal summer holiday. If you are dreaming of gloriously scenic, white-sandy beaches, great surfing and ancient temples – Bali is the perfect destination for your next summer. These 6 reasons tell you what makes this country so special.
1. The Beach: Famous for its pristine beaches, Bali is home to a variety of unique beach experiences. If you’re looking for adventure Padang Padang beach (otherwise known as the beach from Eat, Pray, Love) is perfect for swimming, and even a bit of cave exploring. To take in some local culture and experience a great beach head to Gengar Beach; a white sand, clear water paradise that also sees the local seaweed farmers come to harvest the produce. One of our personal favourites involves a little island-hopping over to Nusa Lembongan where there’s a plethora of golden beaches and plenty to do including boat rides, water sports or just some good old fashion sun-bathing. Popular with locals and tourists alike Kuta Beach has one of the most vibrant atmospheres on the island, with high waves and strong currents Kuta is particularly popular with surfers.
2. Temples: Perhaps the backbone of Bali’s tourism industry are its breath taking temples. With visitors from all over the world travelling far and wide to see the famous landmarks, they’re a must-see when visiting. Perhaps the most well-known on the Island is the Tanah Lot Temple, dating back to the 16th Century the temple is located on the Tanah Lot beach with access to various shops and restaurants to make your visit more comfortable. The sunset at Tanah Lot is not one to be missed as it creates a stunning backdrop and silhouettes the temple. If Tanah is a bit too much of a tourist hotspot for your liking there are plenty of other temples throughout the island, many of which are secluded and remain undisturbed for the most part!
3. Rice Paddies: It may initially sound like an odd attraction but for years the Rice Paddies of Bali have drawn in visitors from all walks of life. The Tegallalang Rice Terraces are renowned for their intriguing sights, whilst better to visit before a harvest so as to see the most foliage, the Rice terrace is an intricate and wonderful landscape to behold. With beautiful sights all year round it’s worth a visit no matter the weather, with many tourists even commenting that the rainfall made their visit to the rice terrace more fun, if a little muddy! Ubud contains many areas to view the rice fields so be sure to hunt around a little if you want to avoid the crowds at Tefallalang.
4. Island Hopping: The great thing about Bali is you’re never too far from your next adventure, with one of the closest islands, Lombok only being 35km away you’ll never struggle to discover somewhere new. This up and coming island is still very much untouched in areas meaning the beaches are in peak condition, the air is clear and the local culture is still intact with little trace of a western influence. Another secluded paradise is Gili Air, one of the Gili Islands, Air is an intimate small island with a lot to offer. Motorised vehicles are banned on the island meaning there’s clean air and a quaint charm with pushbikes and horse and carriages in the roads. The beaches are clean and boast an impressive collection of marine life and stunning coral formations.
5. Fitness and Relaxation: A holiday doesn’t have to be all adventure or all relaxation, but a happy medium can often be hard to find. Bali offers a magnificent landscape that allows for breathe taking treks and hikes through all kinds of terrain. You can trek through the rice fields, mountain bike through the hills and even hike to some of the most remote temples, each as stunning and awe inspiring as the last. Whichever activity you opt for, there’s never a shortage of spa and pampering options in Bali. One of our many recommendations would be the Alila Villas Uluwatu retreat, featuring a 50 metre Cliffside infinity pool and a spa offering what can only be described as “Coma inducing” massage, what more could you ask for?
6. Wildlife: The animals of Bali are definitely a sight to behold. Tours through the mangrove will provide you with an up close and personal look at some of the wild and colourful birds of the island, whilst a trip to one of the reserves will give you an intimate encounter with elephants. The standout of Bali however would have to be its monkeys, The Ubud Monkey Forest is home to over 400 monkeys and 3 different temples. Hugely popular with tourists the Monkey Forest offers a fun look at the monkeys in their natural habitat. It’s important to note that you should leave all valuables at the hotel room and take the bare minimum as they do have an eye for jewellery and won’t be afraid to try and take it! Another great wildlife nature reserve is The Komodo National Park. Spread across several islands, the National Park is home to over 2,500 Komodo Dragons and a plethora of other wildlife including; sharks, manta ray, whales, dolphins and sea turtles.
Whilst it may seem impossible to do it all whilst you’re on holiday, our 9 day Bali explorer programme will make sure you see the best of Bali and get a great variety of adventure. Or for something a little more relaxed our Blissed out in Bali programme will ensure you see the island in comfort and style.
If you’re interested in heading on a holiday to Bali speak to one of our travel experts. We can tailor-make your dream holiday to whichever destinations you would like. Just call 020 7843 3531 or click here to enquire.