Bali: Incredible Views, Bucket list Holidays

About Bali

Bali calls out to travellers with its pristine sands, calm waters and clear skies. It has it all – smoking summits, rice terraces, verdant plains and lively cities. For most part, the volcanic landscape slumbers beneath a sea of green, teeming with life. Expect to stumble onto frangipani, ylang-ylang flowers, Bali deer and more in the wild.

Bali’s natural bounty is an important part of its appeal and a significant contributor to its grandeur.  What’s equally alluring is its culture. Why? Because Bali is predominantly a Hindu island in a Muslim majority Indonesia. Its culture, tradition, practices and beliefs contrast with those prevalent in Indonesia. Here, the culture is a mix of Hinduism, animism and ancestor worship. The overarching belief is that of ‘Tri Hita Karana’ – harmony between man, nature and the divine. In fact, the major festival of Nyepi is a day of silence, with celebrations happening the day before. Instead, Nyepi is marked by quiet reflection and contemplation.

Art and musical performances are a cornerstone of Balinese culture. The island is famous for its legong, barong and kecak performances as it is for its gamelan orchestras. These are often performed in temples and Bali’s landscape is dotted with them, so much so that travel magazines often refer to it as ‘the island of a thousand temples’. Each temple boasts of intricate carvings, symbolic structures and open-air layouts. Some temples have ornate gates while others are minimal and the overall design is tiered, with the mythological Mount Meru as inspiration.

Best time to visit Bali

The best time to visit Bali is subjective. With balmy weather the year around, plenty of festivals and friendly locals, Bali is one of those ephemeral ‘around-the-year’ destinations. Having said that, the dry season is more popular with travellers. The months between April to September witness plenty of sunshine and calm waters and are popular with visitors focused on physical activities. Moreover, the dry season coincides with breaks in Australia and New Zealand.

While the dry season sees a flurry of visitors, the wet season remains more muted. The period between November to March remains quiet with rains playing spoilsport but it doesn’t last throughout the day. The waters get a touch turbulent, perfect for catching breaks, though caution is always advised. When visiting during the wet season, be prepared to spend some time indoors.

The shoulder seasons – April to June and September to October have been rising in popularity. These periods witness low footfall and the weather is often turning, meaning tropical showers are not in their full swing. Great for exploring the green outdoors as well as the many museums and galleries in Bali.

Weather considerations aside, cultural events, festivals and holidays are also good times to visit Bali. Independence Day on August 17 is celebrated with plenty of fanfare. Expect to catch colourful parades and street parties, particularly in the bigger towns. If in town in October, do sample Ubud Village Jazz Festival and the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival. The Chinese New Year celebrations at the fag end of January are quite the colourful affair, as are the celebrations on the night before Nyepi in March.

Top 5 Experiences in Bali

Picking top 5 experiences in Bali is a tough task. Having said that, our in-house travel specialists swear by the following list.

1. Rafting down Bali’s jungle canyons – Ayung valley is home to languid rivers and the rapids here aren’t the most fast paced. Rafting here might not be high on adrenaline but the views are to die for, especially those of the Ubud region and town. Visitors often find it hard to believe that such a picturesque location can be so close to an urban centre.
2. Sunrise at Mount Batur – nature enthusiasts and avid hikers alike look forward to catching the first rays on the sun atop mount Batur. The second largest peak of Bali – Batur, is an active volcano that last erupted some 22 years ago. The trek to the top takes visitors across weathering lava fields, rocky trails and craters of varying shapes and sizes. The trek to the summit is challenging, but the views from the top are worth it. Catch brilliant sunrises, charming sights of lake Batur and of a region waking up to a new day.
3. Setia Darma House of Masks & Puppets – Located in Ubud, this one-of-a-kind museum in Bali is dedicated to showcasing masks and puppets from Indonesia and the world over. Over the period, the museum has played a significant role in preserving the traditional Balinese art of mask-making and puppet performances.
4. Uluwatu temple tour – Bali is the land of thousand temples, and if we had to pick favourites, we would go with Uluwatu – as would the majority of visitors to Bali. Not that other temples are lacklustre, it’s just that Uluwatu’s cliffside location, evening kecak performances and the cheeky monkeys in the temple complex make for a one-of-a-kind experience.

Spiritual retreat – Like any other holiday destination, Bali has its fair share of Spas where visitors can hop in for hours of pampering. But if they are wanting to connect with themselves, a spiritual retreat is what they are seeking. Spiritual retreats in Bali emphasise on yoga as a means of insight into the self and rather popular with travellers looking to take a break from the grind. In fact, the booming popularity of yoga has transformed Ubud into South Asia’s unofficial yoga capital. There’s no shortage of yoga studios here, with most offering regular classes and some also offering stays for added convenience and peace of mind.