Bali Bucket List: 8 Unique Things to Do

Bali is home to some beautiful landscapes with countless impressive places to explore and unique activities to do. It has earned its reputation as one of the trendiest travel destinations in the world. This enchanting island offers a diverse range of experiences and has something to offer for every kind of traveler. Find here 8 unique things to do in Bali and add them to your Bali bucket list!

Overview

Transport in Asia

The best way to travel around Asia is through our partner. It is very user-friendly and easy to organize your trips.

1. Rice Fields in Ubud

08° 30′ S, 115° 15′ E​

Who says Ubud, says rice terraces. This town is located in the middle of a beautiful landscape, full of lush green rice fields and terraces. The most famous is of course the Tegalalang rice terrace, but there are so many more rice terraces, each unique and beautiful in their own way. The Mancingan Rice Terraces are one of them. What makes these rice terrace so beautiful, is the palm tree road, running through the vast expanse of the lush rice fields. It’s definitely a place you should add to your Bali bucket list.

Besides the rice terraces, there are plenty of other beautiful places to visit and things to do in Ubud, like hiking up Mount Batur or chasing waterfalls. You can read all about it in our Ubud guide.

Tip: The Tegalalang Rice Terrace actually consists of several rice terraces. Most people visit the most popular part. This part was actually set up by the government to attract tourists. However, just behind the most famous terrace, there is another terrace: the Mupu rice terrace. It is part of the Tegalalang Rice Terrace but is privately owned by a family. This part of the rice terrace is just as beautiful and a lot less busy! Therefore, consider visiting this part (too)!

Tegalalang Rice Terrace
Tegalalang Rice Terrace
Mupu Rice Terrace
Mupu Rice Terrace

No time to read now?

Save this post on Pinterest!

Bucket List things to do in Bali

2. Waterfalls in Munduk

08° 14′ S, 115° 05′ E​

Munduk is located in the north of Bali and is home to some of the most tranquil nature and landscapes in Bali. With many stunning waterfalls nearby, this place should be on top of your Bali bucket list if you are a waterfall lover. Here, you even have the option to do a 3-4 hours trek through the beautiful jungle of Munduk, that takes you past 4 different waterfalls: Golden Valleys, Red Coral, Labuhan Kebo and Melanting. 

In addition to the 4 waterfalls that you can discover during the Munduk waterfall trek, there are a few other waterfalls in the area of ​​Munduk that are definitely worth a visit. Ideal for a full day of chasing waterfalls.

Here are some of our favorite waterfalls in Munduk.

1

Banyumala Waterfall

2

Banyua Wana Amertha

3

Gitgit Waterfall

4

Sekumpul and Fiji Waterfall

3. Diving in Amed

08° 20′ S, 115° 38′ E​

Amed is definitely one of the hidden gems of Bali and, without a doubt, one of the best places to go diving. Located on the east side of the island, this fishing town is home to a stunning coastline with both white and black sand beaches. With its colorful reefs, corals, and shipwrecks, like the USAT Liberty, and a wide variety of marine life, it is a real paradise for underwater enthusiasts. Read more about other fun things to do in Amed.

Diving in Bali
Diving in Amed
Diving at USAT Liberty shipwreck, one of the best things to do in Amed Bali
USAT Liberty shipwreck

Flight deals

Fly to your destination at the best prices! Our partners offer many airlines on their platform so you can compare what is the best option for you.

4. Surfing in Uluwatu

08° 48′ S, 115° 07′ E​

Uluwatu is known to be home to the best beaches in Bali. It is located in the south and offers clear blue waters, trendy areas, white sand beaches and so much more. With its legendary surfing waves, it is known as a real surfer’s mecca and the place to be for surfing in Bali.

Even if you are not a surfer, there are so many other fun things to do in this area, like visiting the Uluwatu Temple and watch the famous Kecak Dance.

Nunggalan Beach
Nunggalan Beach

5. Slow Down in Sidemen

08° 27′ S, 115° 26′ E​

If you would like to discover Bali, but are not a fan of busy tourist places, then Sidemen should be on your Bali bucket list. This tranquil village is filled with beautiful rice fields and spectacular views of Mount Agung. It is an off the main tourist destination, where you can experience an authentic part of Bali and slow down at the same time. You can also enjoy a trekking through the rice fields, participate in a silver workshop or visit some other beautiful places in Sidemen.

Silver Workshop
Silver Workshop
Rice Field Trekking in Sidemen, Bali
Rice Field Trekking in Sidemen, Bali

6. Nungnung and Leke Leke Waterfall in the heart of Bali

08° 19′ S, 115° 13′ E​

The Leke Leke Waterfall and Nungnung Waterfall are 2 spectacular waterfalls in the heart of Bali. They are located about an hour’s drive from the center of Ubud. Just because they are located a little further from the center, you can still call them a hidden gem and they are much less busy than most other well-known places in Ubud. To our opinion, it were two of the most beautiful and impressive waterfalls in Bali.

The Nungnung waterfall
The Nungnung waterfall
Leke Leke Waterfall
Leke Leke Waterfall

7. The Beaches of Nusa Penida

08° 44′ S, 115° 32′ E​

Nusa Penida is a small island located southeast of Bali, so a visit to these islands is often combined. Penida is part of the Klungkung Regency and is the biggest of the three Nusa islands. It is known for its stunning landscapes, rugged cliffs, crystal-clear waters and most of all: its magical beaches. Kelingking Beach and Diamond beach are two of the most famous places to visit on Nusa Penida. Besides the beautiful beaches, Nusa Penida is also home to a beautiful and unique underwater world. For example, you can even go snorkeling or diving with manta rays. From Penida, you can also easily visit the two other Nusas: Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan.

Indonesia - Nusa Penida - Kelingking beach
Nusa Penida - Kelingking beach
Nusa Penida - Diamond Beach
Nusa Penida - Diamond Beach

8. Snorkel on the Gili Islands

08° 21′ S, 116° 02′ E​

The Gili Islands, or in short the Gilis, are 3 islands right off the shore of Lombok. If you are looking for the tropical island vibes, the Gili Islands are your place to be. These 3 islands are surrounded with white sand beaches, crystal clear blue water, tropical vibes and no motorized vehicles!.With spectacular reefs and fascinating marine life, snorkeling is one of the best things to do on the Gili Islands. 

The Underwater Statues at Gili Meno
The Underwater Statues at Gili Meno
Snorkeling with turtles at Turtle Beach in Gili Trawangan - Things to do in the Gili Islands
Snorkeling with turtles at Turtle Beach in Gili Trawangan.

Activities

Discover the Gili Islands in a unique way through our partner GetYourGuide.

General Information

Best Time to visit Bali

Bali experiences only two seasons: wet season and dry season. Due to its location, Bali experiences high temperatures all year round.

The best time to visit Bali is generally between April and October, during dry season. Know that the months of July and August are high season and that is when you can expect the biggest crowds. You can, of course, expect dry weather during dry season and also the beaches are cleaner in this period.

Yet, the rainy season also has its advantages: Nature is much greener, the waterfalls even more impressive, less crowds and lower prices. Temperatures remain high, at an average of 28°C, but the days will feel more humid. So, the best time to travel to Bali depends entirely on what you prefer and what you plan to do in Bali, Indonesia.

How to get around

The most popular way to get around on Bali is without a doubt by scooter. The roads are generally in good condition and you can easily discover the highlights in a certain area by scooter. Prices vary from 60.000 to 120.000 IDR per 24 hours. Please note that traffic, especially in the centers of more popular places like Ubud and Canggu, can be very hectic.

If you are not confident about driving a scooter yourself, you can always hire a private driver or join an organized tour.

To move between different areas with your luggage, you often have the option to take a bus or shuttle. If there is no bus available between two regions, it is best to travel with a local driver or taxi.

Where to Stay in Bali

In Bali, you will find some very unique places to stay, from the most luxurious resorts to spectacular bamboo houses. The best bases to tick off these unique things of your Bali bucket list are Ubud, Canggu, Uluwatu, Munduk and Amed. In all these areas, you will find a wide range of accommodations for every budget.

Win-Win for everyone

Did you know that, if you buy or book something through our links, we receive a small commission?

However, you still pay the same and therefore have no extra costs! So a win-win for everyone. This way, we can continue to add even more travel inspiration and tips to this blog for your next adventure. Thanks a lot!

Thank you for visiting our blog

We hope you find our free travel guides and tips useful. If you want, you can support us virtually by ‘buying us a coffee‘.
Every contribution, no matter how small, is greatly appreciated and will help us continue to share our passion with you and grow this blog.

[kofi]
Last updated: July 6, 2024

Win-Win for everyone

Did you know that, if you buy or book something through our links, we receive a small commission?

However, you still pay the same and therefore have no extra costs! So a win-win for everyone. This way, we can continue to add even more travel inspiration and tips to this blog for your next adventure. Thanks a lot!

Last edited: 18/06/2024

Travel Tips

Portugal - Vanlife

Traveling with a Van: Pros and Cons of Vanlife

France - Etretat - Beach

Travel Preparation Checklist


Flights to Indonesia

Hotels in Indonesia

Buy us a coffee

We hope you find our free travel guides and tips helpful. It would be awesome if you support us by ‘buying us a coffee’ so we can keep this blog alive.

Shop

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *