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There are some essential travel destinations in Bali that are famous among local tourists. To go to Bali and not visit these places would be akin to visiting Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower! Are these places worth it, and should you visit them when you visit the Island of the Gods for the first time? Find out if they are worth the hype, I will share the experiences as is, with the positives and negatives of these spots 💞
Table of contents
1. Garuda Wisnu Kencana Park
This sprawling cultural park is located in the Southern part of Bali, Uluwatu. Its vast grounds is used to showcase Balinese art and culture, ranging from a 4-tonne sculpture of the God Vishnu to the amazingly creative Ogoh-ogoh festival. Most tourists come for pictures with the grand statue of the Hindu God Vishnu riding Garuda and watch traditional dance performances that are scheduled throughout the day. The construction work for these large sculpture was started in 1997, but it was halted in the face of 1998 financial crisis. The project was restarted in 2013, and was finally finished in 2018.
The downside of this travel destination is the travel time needed to reach the points of interest themselves. Its sheer size requires plenty of walking underneath the scorching tropical sun (please wear sunscreen!), which you should keep in mind if you are planning a trip for the whole family. I visited early in the morning, which was ideal, but the heat became overwhelming as the day progressed. The buggies available on a select part of the park costs 40k IDR per person for a short round trip, which I had a little bit of a hard time comprehending. It is still a good way to see Balinese cultural offerings under one roof (scratch) complex.
Worth it? Pass
Ticket prices: 115k IDR (~7 USD) for regular admission, 300k for deluxe entrance
Location: GWK Cultural Park
2. Rafting in Ubud
My Experience
Ubud is located around 1-1.5 hours from Kuta, depending on the traffic. There are many outdoor sports providers by the Ayung River, which is where we decided to try our hand in rafting with Surya Bintang Adventures. It was not my first time, but it had been awhile since I last tried my hand at it. Surprisingly, I had such a fun time! I went with a big group, and they were able to accommodate us well. The instructors were entertaining, and the course of this river was the right amount of difficulty for both amateurs and intermediates. There was a waterfall as well in our route, but it did get quite crowded at that spot.
I have to be honest, the most fun part was getting to splash other boats with plenty of water! 🌊 Some people did became savages and straight up used their helmets to shower an unfortunately close neighbor. My arm hurt at the end of this adventure, and I think it is mostly from my best attempts at emulating a water cannon 😂
The Negatives
Now, the downside. Our instructors brought our group to a warung (food stall) by the river for a break- and the prices there were very verry high. I’m talking 4-10X the original price! Watch out for that, and always ask for the prices before you eat or drink at these warungs.
Additionally, the duration of the activity was way longer than described. They informed us at the beginning that it would take 2-2.5 hours to raft 12 km. In reality, it took us around 4 hours to get back to the starting location. Keep that in mind if you are on a tight schedule.
Worth it? Yes, sans the pricey warung
Ticket prices: ~155K (10 USD) / person for a 35 people rafting package
Location: Surya Bintang Adventure, Jl. Raya Payangan, Melinggih Kelod, Payangan, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80572
3. Pura Uluwatu (Kecak Dance)
Ah, a classic for first-time visitors! Thousands of visitors come to the Uluwatu Temple to watch Balinese Kecak Dance at sunset. This dance is mixed with a theatre performance of the Ramayana tale, and all musical accompaniments are done acapella-style. Could you imagine, singing and shouting for hours on end?! It was fascinating, and they incorporate a lot of fire elements during their performance as well. It was a stunning contrast with the darkening afternoon skyline.
The location is just simply stunning, especially during golden hours. The temple complex is surrounded by rocky cliffs and a mesmerizing oceanfront. Beware of the monkeys 🙈, they are always on the hunt for food! They will take any loose personal items from you, so put any hats, glasses, or unsecured items inside your bag. The monkeys have learned that they can trade stolen items with food, so don’t be surprised if they are looking to do some bartering with you 😅
Get Tickets in Advance
Due to its popularity, prepare to reserve your tickets in advance to guarantee your group a spot. The crowd can get overwhelming, especially when exiting the dance amphitheater. Make sure to arrange your transport to and from the area well, I imagine ridesharing services can be hard to book after the dance.
If you would like to support my website, you can purchase the ticket through my Klook affiliate link at no extra cost to you! 😊
Worth it? Yes, if you don’t mind the crowds
Ticket prices: <$10
Location: Uluwatu Temple
4. Cafe Hopping in Canggu
Need to find a place to do some work, or are you tired of all the outdoorsy activities? Chill for a bit in the hip areas of Canggu and Seminyak. Some cafes that local tourists love to favor are: Baked, Braud, Crate Cafe, and 07AM Baker’s Club. Get some brunch food and your favorite drink, and you’ll be set for awhile.
I do have to be honest, Canggu has MAJOR accessibility problems. Which makes me a little sad since it is where all the cool cafes and restaurants are! The small roads are becoming more and more of a problem due to the influx of visitors. The traffic jam can get so out of control that you’d need a scooter just to escape. The access is just getting more and more unbearable for most of the day, and it is getting worse. If you are curious, go earlier in the morning and either stay the night in the area or escape before noon.
Worth it? Yes, if you are staying around the area
Location: Canggu
5. Tanah Lot Temple (Holy Snakes?! 🐍)
Another iconic must-see spot for first-time visitors! The Tanah Lot temple is located in Beraban, which is on the north side of Canggu. It is very picturesque, with the temple located on an island off the shores. The complex is decorated in classic Balinese carved stonework, and it combines all of the iconic elements of the island: art, religious beliefs, and beautiful nature.
Other than sightseeing, you can also visit the holy water source and see the holy snake! Yes, the holy snake- I am being serious. According to local beliefs, the God of ABC turned into a snake in order to protect this area. This holy snake is located in one of the natural caves by the sea, and you can touch it! There is a guardian who sat next to it, and he makes sure that both you and the snake are safe. From my observation, it seems like a sea snake similar to this species. What do you think?
Did you know?
It is forbidden for women on their period to visit holy sites in Bali 😱
Worth it? Yes, it is a beautiful sight!
Ticket prices: Free, but a donation is expected at the holy water and holy snake sites
Location: Tanah Lot
6. Nusa Penida
The island of Nusa Penida is located off of the southern coast of Bali, and you can take a ferry from the Sanur port to get there. It was popularized in the last 5 years or so, due to the Instagram-worthy shots taken by tourists. I had the chance to visit Nusa Penida twice, and boy what a 180 degree difference the last 2 years have made. On one hand, the ports have definitely improved, even though the overcrowded fast boats have stayed the same. They have built a better building with more organized docks, which is such a great improvement.
Things to Know
The island itself is still in need of further development, especially in its infrastructure. The roads are small and winding, and you definitely need an experience driver to guide your group through its torturous turns. Please do yourself a favor and contact a local travel agent to hire a car with a driver- this will make your life much easier.
Overtourism?
After another visit this year, I see that the views are still amazing even though the crowds have grown 2-3x compared to the lockdown period. You have to wait longer to get your pictures, and in some cases it is now impossible to get the same Insta-worthy shots as before. The tourists in the Kelingking Beach location have multiplied so much that the old photo spots are just impossible to access. New guardrails have been erected as well for everyone’s safety. Although I understand that it is the best course of action in the long run, the charming wilderness of the remote beach is just not there anymore. Don’t get me wrong, the views are still so beautiful, but there are just too many tourists for its capacity.
If you would like to support my website, you can book a Nusa Penida Tour through my affiliate link at no extra cost to you! 😊
Worth it? Pass, unless you don’t mind lining up for this one-of-a-kind view
Tickets: 7-12 USD for the fast boat from Sanur Port
Location: Nusa Penida Island
P.S.= Hope this post is useful! If you are in Indonesia, check out these (free) useful apps you should download.
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