A Guide To Bali

Travellers from 169 countries, including India, don’t need a visa to enter Indonesia for visits of up to 30 days! Thus, you can get a 30-day free visa on arrival as you land at the Denpasar International Airport in Bali.

Trip duration

A week is usually good enough time to properly explore this haven, but it’s really up to you what you want to focus on and how long you want to spend here.

Transport

The best way to get around in Bali is via hiring a car and a driver. The local drivers are resourceful and friendly, and they often double up as guides.

Why Bali?

We give you 10 excellent reasons why Bali is the ideal summer destination. So, go ahead and choose depending on your tastes—in order to truly maximize your stay here!

Enjoy the luxurious resorts at Nusa Dua

Nusa Dua is a lovely little area that hangs off the southern end of Bali almost like a teardrop. It's where Bali's largest enclave of luxury resorts is carefully laid out surrounded by lush foliage and serene beaches. An ideal holiday experience, Nusa Dua has a number of little souvenir shops and restaurants that offer traditional Balinese dance performances like the legong, among other little treasures.

Nusa Dua also has some great options for shopping, mostly at walking distances. There is an interesting market called Bali Collection that houses a huge art market, convenience store and a range of other branded stores like the Sogo Department Store. It's a great place to do some last-minute shopping and pick up little trinkets for friends and relatives back home. We had dinner at an outdoor restaurant where a local troupe performed some of the most impressive dance styles such as salsa, Latin, Indonesian, Balinese and flamingo. By the end, we were all tapping our feet on stage!

Drown yourself in some exotic art at Ubud

If you have an aesthetic bent of mind, then undoubtedly, the first place for you to hit is Ubud, about an hour north of Denpasar. Ubud, Bali’s cultural heart came to prominence after Julia Roberts’ Eat, Pray, Love. This artful, creative and serene town is a treasure to be explored and the best way to get a feel of "the real Bali". Roaming around the town on foot or bicycle is like a dream come true—art and craft fill up every surface in sight all around this sleepy little hamlet. It is home to the most distinct Balinese painting style.

The drive to Ubud is full of its own surprises. With a number of little villages offering various arts of their own, you learn that in Bali, it's always about the journey rather than the destination. Stop over at Batubulan Village where you will see some rare stone carvings. An interesting thing to watch here is the batik processing. There are a number of shops that sell batik ware, with people working at it outside. The next village is Celuk, known for its famous silver and gold jewellery. A little further down is Sukawati where you can pick up some artistic hand-crafted puppets. The road north then passes through Mas. Here, you will find numerous shops selling several woodcarving masterpieces. Other interesting items you will encounter along the way are kites and masks. These make up the must-buy souvenirs from this truly magical island! You might also like to take home some famous Balinese coffee, cocoa and herbal tea packets.

Ubud mostly has shops that sell paintings, but it also has its own share of branded stores that you would find in any big city. You can't help but shop till you drop in this area and the best part is that you can always bargain! There are some intriguing cultural performances in the evenings that one cannot miss as well as traditional dance forms performed at the Ubud Palace.

Spiritual awakening at the Mother Temple

The most spectacular sunset and dance-drama at Uluwatu

Lying at the southern tip of Bali, Uluwatu has another beautiful temple called the Pura Uluwatu. The temple is known for its spectacular cliff-top setting on the edge of Bali Island. While here, one can hear the big waves of the Indian Ocean crash into the hill on which Uluwatu is located. The best time to get here is the sunset, as the view at this time is at its zenith! A little walk from the sunset point leads you towards an experience that you can barely forget in a lifetime.

Hike a volcano at Mt Batur

Mt Batur is an active volcano 1,717 metres above sea level, which last erupted in 1968. The hike to the summit takes around two hours from the starting point. It is a medium-difficulty climb done under the moonlight (with help of torches) and can be accomplished by people with basic fitness levels.

At sunrise, you can catch the panoramic views overseeing lakes, volcanoes and Lombok Island—a visual delight for all photography enthusiasts!

Surfing, snorkeling and Tanah Lot

If you’re the adventurous sort, then consider signing up for a two-hour surfing lesson at Kuta beach—named as one of the top five spots in world for beginners to learn surfing.

You could also take a shot at snorkeling in the calmer waters of the east coast. Here, you will get a close view of the rich marine life (such as huge manta rays) in Bali’s clear blue waters.

River rafting at Ayung River

Splurge on a scrumptious feast at Jimbaran Bay