Bali – Island of the Gods

Wonderfully friendly people, magical stories and local customs, temples and rice fields, beaches, diving and surfing, mountains, volcanoes and waterfalls, busy nightlife or secluded resorts. To experience Balinese life, a few days in 2 or 3 different areas of Bali would be best. Ubud is a must though - the cultural center inland not to be missed! Ubud is famous for health retreats, relaxation, rice paddies or the art scene of Bali, and has recently also evolved into a foodie destination.

It is hard to describe Bali and there is no single best thing to do, because everything is equally great. Bali is very different from the rest of Indonesia and while it is a more touristic place than the other islands, in my opinion it has more charm.

From Bali, it is quite easy to do some side trips to neighboring islands like Lombok, the Gili Islands or a bit further to where the Komodo dragons still roam. On the main island of Java, you can see Borobudur near Yogyakarta, a World Heritage listed site, and one of the most important Buddhist temples in the world. You can also explore the rest of Indonesia, a vast island nation.

Bali can also be combined with a stopover in one of the Asian cities and airline hubs like Singapore or Kuala Lumpur to break the journey.

Top Tip: Try to catch a Balinese ceremony (there are many throughout the year).