14 fun things to do in Bali

Bali is without doubt one of the world’s best travel destinations – and it’s easy to see why. With its pristine beaches, rich culture, world-class dining destinations and awesome family attractions in every neighbourhood, Bali is a wanderluster’s dream come true. Also, there are many fun things to do in Bali. In this blog you can read about all the fun things to do on this magical island. 

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Most fun things to do in Bali

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Bali has much more to offer than all the busy tourist hotspots in the south of the island. For people who like action this blog is perfect. Here you can read about 14 active things you really have to do when you are travelling in Bali. Make the most of your island vacation with these awesome activities in Bali!

Rafting in the Ayung river

In Payangan Village in Ubud you can go rafting in de Ayung river, this is de most popular rafting location in Bali. It is an adrenaline experience for 14 kilometres long. You paddle trough forest, rice paddies, waterfalls and rice paddies so that is really cool. There are different levels of rafting difficulty from light to medium. It took 2 hours to finish the rafting course and it was an amazing experience. 

👉 Come for rafting with us in this tour : Bali Rafting & The Mother Temple Besakih

Hike Mount Batur sunrise

Mount Batur is an active volcano. The most recent eruption of Mount Batur was in the year 2000. The best time of day to climb Mount Batur is in the early morning to reach the top at the time of sunrise. Once you are at the top of the volcano, you will realize that getting up early has been worth it and you will enjoy the impressive views. The best time to climb the volcano is in the dry season, (between April and September), since it is when the sky is clearer and there are fewer clouds that hinder the incredible views.                                        

👉 Discover the Mount Batur with us in this tour : Bali Sunrise Trekking to Mount Batur

Surf lesson

Bali is one of the best surfing destinations on earth. Bali is suitable for both beginners and experienced surfers, there are suitable waves for every level. You don’t have a specific surfing season in Bali because you can surf well here all year round. During the rainy season with some short rain showers, the waves are smooth. The wind direction sometimes changes and because of this you must check whether the surfing conditions are better on the west or east coast. Kuta and Seminyak are best avoided when surfing because there are many people in the sea here. On the east coast you can surf well at Keramas, Nua Dua and Serangan. On the west coast you can surf well at Balian and Medewi. On the south coast you can surf well at Bingin, Dreamleand and Uluwatu and finally you can surf well on the south-west coast at Batu Bolong, the Sandbar, Echo beach, Old Man’s and Berawa.

For a novice surfer, Canggu is a good place to start. The waves are not fast and mild here. There are also many surf schools with local surf instructors who can teach you everything. Canggu has been called the surfing mecca of Bali. There are suitable waves for everyone and there is a nice atmosphere due to the hip bars, shops, restaurants and hostels.

👉 Take a look of this post if you are a surfer : Surfing in Indonesia: a surfing paradise

Paragliding

Another fun activity to do in Bali is paragliding in Bukit peninsula. Jump from the cliff and admire Bali from above and see the beautiful Uluwatu and Nusa Dua beaches with the blue ocean. The paragliding pilots are professional and experienced and can make it more exciting by rocking and maneuvering. Photos and videos are included in the price so you will never forget it. The minimum age is 5 years old and you can choose between 15 and 30 minutes of paragliding. Paragliding in Bali is definitely something you will never forget.

Yoga class

Yoga is very popular in Bali. There are many yoga schools and retreats. Thousands of people from all over the world come to Bali for wellness and health. There is a great spiritual culture in Bali. The religion in Bali is Hindu, the rest of Indonesia is Muslim and because of this yoga is spread faster in Bali than in the rest of Indonesia. The best places to do yoga in Bali are Ubud and Canggu, but you can also do it in Seminyak and Kuta. In Ubud you will find the most culture and spirituality through the rice fields, temples and forests. This gives Ubud a zen atmosphere. The best time to do yoga in Bali is in the dry season. During the rainy season, there may be a shower of rain during the yoga class on the beach. The showers often only fall in the afternoon and there are plenty of places inside where you are not bothered by the rain showers, so you can easily go to yoga classes in the rainy season too. I personally love yoga because it makes me feel so relaxed. 

👉 Visit this post if you are a Yoga lover : Everything you need to know about practicing YOGA in BALI

Natural water slide at Aling Aling waterfall

The Aling Aling waterfall is located in the north of Bali and is a paradise of nature. You can do cliff jumping and there is also a natural slide. If you are not going to jump off the cliffs and swim, you can go to this waterfall without a guide. But if you want more adventure, it’s helpful to have a guide who will keep everyone safe. It is a short route to the waterfall in the middle of the jungle but not off the beaten track. The waterfall is 90 feet high. The waterfall is considered sacred by the locals, that is why nobody is swimming in this waterfall. The collection of waterfalls is often called the Aling-Aling waterfalls, only the other waterfalls have a different name. You can jump off a 5-meter concrete platform at Kroya Waterfall. The power of the falls is very large so it is sometimes wise to put on a life jacket. From Kroya Waterfall you can swim to the other side and climb to the top of all the waterfalls. At the top you will find the natural water slide of 10 meters, this provides a big adrenaline boost.

Swim with dolphins at Lovina sunrise boat trip

In Lovina you can spot wild dolphins with sunrise every day. You go with a traditional fishing boat on sea while trying to spot these beautiful animals. You can also go swimming and snorkelling with them next to the boat. It is an amazing experience to swim with dolphins in the wild. Lately it is very busy with many boats with tourist in Lovina. Be careful that you book a good trip so that the captains are experienced and are not chasing the animals. It is very important to respect the dolphins and the nature. 

👉 Swim with dolphins at Lovina with us in this tour : Bali Island Tour: Lovina Dolphins, Kintamani Highlands & Ubud (5D/4N)

Hidden Canyon

The Hidden Canyon Beji Guwang is a set of deep gorges alongside Oos river. The river, flowing from Sanur to Ubud, has eroded the rocks deeply for over a hundred thousand years.

The erosion carved the earth creating a natural masterpiece: different sizes of rocks engraved into amazing shapes and patterns. Before a tourist attraction, locals went to this canyon for fishing, an activity that is now prohibited.

Hidden Canyon is a sacred place according to locals. Guwang means holy in Balinese. The canyon is still within the area of the village temple called Pura Dalem Guwang, which serves as a religious guardian for the area. The water from the canyon is used for the religious ceremony Melukat, a Hindu ritual where worshipers bathe in holy water.

👉 Discover the Hidden Canyon with us in this tour : Bali Barong Dance & Hidden Canyon

Cycling around rice fields

Discover the fascinating Balinese life on your bike, taking your time to chat with locals in a natural setting in the Kintamani Highlands and discover what the complicated farming system and ancient Balinese beliefs are like. Let’s Cycling around Bali!

👉 Come to cycling with us in this tour : Cycling Around Bali

ATV tour

An ATV tour is a very adventurous experience in Bali. You ride with your own all-terrain vehicle (ATV) off the beaten track. You follow a guide with your quad bike following a challenging track. You ride through rice fields, forest and a riverside with traditional Balinese villages. The ATV tour is suitable for all skill levels. There are different kinds of routes, there is a route in Ubud where you go through waterfalls and muddy tunnels, this is very adventurous and you will feel an adrenaline kick. There are also routes through the countryside for a calmer experience. 

Ubud jungle swing above the ricefields

Ubud has the most beautiful rice fields. There are also swings above the rice fields to make an Instagrammable picture. The Terrace River Pool are some extreme swings located in Jalan Raya Ceking, Tegalalang. There are 15 kinds of swings with three different categories. There are also many other swings such as the Aloha Ubud Swing, the Bali swing, the Alas Harum Swing etc.      

Snorkling with manta rays in Nusa Penida and Lembongan

You can go snorkelling with manta rays in Nusa Penida. Manta rays are harmless to humans so you don’t have to be scared. There is no specific manta season in Bali. You can see them all year around because of the Indonesian throughflow. It is never guaranteed that you will see the manta rays because they are wild animals but during my manta snorkelling trip the organizers really did their best to find them. Manta rays are the most active in the mornings. In Manta Bay there are many manta rays because of the rich in plankton.

👉 Meet the giant manta rays with us in this tour : Diving in Nusa Penida: Manta Rays & Mola-Mola (3D/2N)

Cooking class 

The Indonesian cuisine is very tasteful with a lot of spices. In Bali there are a lot cooking schools and classes. They teach you how to prepare the lovely traditional dishes and you even go to the local markets to taste some ingredients for your own dish. Contact us if wanna have your first cooking class in Bali!

Waterbom Bali 

Waterbom is a 3,8 hectares aquapark in Bali. There are 22 waterslides suitable for every age. A few examples are Funtastic for small kids, here you can find dump buckets, water cannons and small slides. This area is created with international safety standards and is supervised so the parents can relax. In the lazy river you are drifting along tropical trees, it is very relaxing. The contrictor is a 250-meter-long tube slide with 90-degree turns. You can go on your own or with a friend. In the python you can go with 4 friends. The superbowl is a slide where you go through a rainbow tube before you get shot in a giant cauldron. In the twin racers slide you can do a competition with you friends. In the climax you get an adrenaline boost, the slide drops you vertically down into an inverted loop. It is a heart racing slide. At the flow rider you can surf, snowboard and skateboard, so if you want some more action this activity is great for you! Waterbom is a great experience for families and friends and I would recommend it.