Discover Bali
The beautiful island of Bali has been an inspiration for artists and photographers for many years. You will be inspired too, not only by its glorious sandy beaches, but by its lush interior, emerald green rice fields, tranquil temples and its warm and friendly people.
Bali’s best accommodation and some of its finest beaches are in the south where former fishing villages have turned into delightful resort towns. Sanur is one that has retained much of its old charm, with local craft shops and galleries mingling with trendy cafés and restaurants. The low rise hotels here are set along a fine silver sand beach, sheltered by a reef.
Nearby Nusa Dua has its own shopping village selling everything you could ever want. The hotels are larger, with beautiful landscaped gardens running down to the shore – perfect for those long lazy days by the pool.
For bars and lively nightlife head to Kuta whilst further up the coast are the relaxing spas, boutiques and fine restaurants of upmarket Seminyak. Around the rest of the island the coastal towns are quieter with often deserted beaches. A little further up the west coast from Seminyak, you will find the sea temple of Tanah Lot, famed for its unique offshore setting and often glorious sunset backdrops.
Away from the coast is Bali’s mountainous interior, flanked by cascading terraces of fertile rice paddies. In rural villages you will still find chickens, ducks and pigs wandering around the family compounds and temples and shrines on every corner. Some of the most important culturally are the 17th century Mengwi Temple, noted for its towering tiered shrines and the beautiful Ulun Danu Temple which appears to be floating on the waters of Lake Baratan.
The small inland town of Ubud is Bali’s cultural centre. There are galleries and museums and scores of craft workshops making everything from wood carvings and jewellery to brightly coloured batik sarongs. Here you will also find the popular Monkey Forest with its mysterious temples amongst the trees and curious monkeys that roam around.
To the East of Bali and less developed is the beautiful Indonesian island of Lombok, its lush green interior dominated by Mount Rinjani and fringed by golden beaches. There are direct flights from Bali, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. The idyllic Gili Islands off shore offer a haven of peace where bicycles and horse drawn carts are the only means of transport.
Our Asia Destination Experts have travelled all over South East Asia and can help plan and create an unforgettable holiday with our range of holidays, tours, choice of beach resorts, activities and experiences.
