1) Beach & Surf



Bali is well known for its pristine whitebeaches and secluded coves, the most famous beaches being in Nusa Dua wherelong stretches of soft white sand will soothe and comfort the soles of yourfeet. Many hotels have their own private stretch of beach with a Beach club orrestaurant along. Kuta and Uluwatu are areas in South Bali well known for theirgood surf which makes Bali one of the mostpopular surf destinations in the world.

2) Padi fields

The beautiful terraced green padi fields are another must see for a visitor tothe island of Bali. Many tourists will automaticallyhead to Ubud, about 45 minutes from Bali Airport to stay in ahotel and villa overlooking the padi fields. The best padi field scenery is atJatih Luwih and Tegallalang which are not far from Ubud.

3) Galleries and Museums

Beautiful paintings can be found in Ubud, home of many of Bali'swell known and aspiring artists. The peaceful scenery and tranquility of thearea must be an inspiration for the remarkably detailed paintings these artistscreate and whose works are displayed in the numerous art galleries and museumsfound in Ubud village. Some of the more well known galleries are The Agung RaiMuseum of Art, Neka Museum, Antonio Blanco Renaissance Museum, Komaneka Galleryand Seniwati Gallery of Art by Women just to name a few.

4) Dance and Music

Dance and music plays a very important part of the life of a Balinese. Everyceremony and festival is almost always accompanied by traditional dance and thesoothing sounds of the Gamelan. You will find many locations in and near Ubudwhere you can watch these dance performances. Dancers wear glittery andcolourful costumes, executing to perfection elaborate hand movements and facialexpressions to convey stories of the Ramanaya.  You can watch the elegantLegong Dance at the Ubud Palace in central Ubud,or see other entertaining performances such as the Warrior Dance and KecakDance at other locations within the town.  Wayang Kulit, or Shadow Playperformances are also a common evening entertainment for the local Balinese andtourists alike.

5)  Yoga and Spa Treamtents

There is a growing number of world class spa facilities and health resorts in Bali especially in the Ubud area. Using natural herbs andindigenous products, you will have a wide variety of spa treatments to choosefrom and enjoy.  Spa treatments are idealfor relaxation and what every person who needs a break from this fast pacedworld of work, family and stress will surely appreciate.  A variety ofmassages using traditional, Aryuvedic, Shiatsu and hot stones are on the menufor you to choose from. Traditional treatments such as Boreh and Lulur arecommon. Facials, foot massages, healthy meals and private spa facilities arealso available at some hotels and salons. Holistic resorts offer yoga programsand have resident teachers who will guide you to peace of mind.

6) Festivals and Ceremonies

Religion plays a central role in the life of every Balinese family. The islandhas hundreds of temples, for which each and every one has a temple anniversary,known as Odalan. On this day, the villagers visit the temple for prayers andsocializing. It can be considered a community event to bring the people togetherand promotes good feelings between villagers. With the Balinese Hindu religioncomes many daily practices such as placing offerings such as trays of flowerscalled Canang Sari in temples, shrines and symbolic locations to ward off eviland please the Gods. Nyepi Day, which is the Balinese New Year is a day that isspent in silence in reflective prayer and meditation. The days before Nyepihowever provide many opportunities for a tourist to witness ceremonies andrituals including the noisy and colourful Ogoh-Ogoh procession which happensone day before Nyepi, on Melasti Day. This procession is a colourful display ofthe creativity of the Balinese where towering papier mache ?monsters? areparaded through the town in noisy processions in efforts to chase away anyevil.

Galungan is another major festival for the Balinese which at the end of 10days is marked by Kuningan Day. This festival occurs every six months so youwill have the opportunity to see it in another half year if you miss the firstround. During this time you will see the Barong Dance procession which goesthrough the village performing in front of shops and houses as an act ofpurification. Cremations are another village affair where the entire family andfriends of the deceased are involved. The body is carried from the home groundsthrough the village to the cremation site where it is place in a toweringsarcophagus and burnt to the ground.

7) Sea Sports

Bali has some of the most colourful andinteresting sea life you will ever see. Well known dive sites are located inAmed and Tulamben where there are ship wrecks, in Menjangan Island in the NorthWest, and Pandang Bali and Lembongan Island in the East to name a few. Nusa Dua and Sanur are ideal for snorkeling but there are many other areas aswell.

8) Visit Active Volcanoes

Indonesia has hundreds ofvolcanoes and Bali has some of its own famousones as well. Kintamani town is where you will see the 2800m high Mount Bali,a popular tourist destination in Bali. Thevolcano has a large caldera lake and it is possible to go on a sunrise hike tothe top of Mount Batur if you can wake up earlyenough!  Mount Agung, the location of Bali's largest and most sacredtemple, Puri Besakih, is Bali's highest andmost sacred mountain at 3142m high. Pura Besakih, the MotherTemple is where Bali's most importantceremonies are held and worth visiting if you have the opportunity to go on an East Bali tour especially in April when the temple has itsanniversary.

9) Land Adventure Activities

Apart from the southern tourist towns, Bali isan island still very much in its natural state compared to other touristdestinations. You will soon realise that there are many locations that providethe ideal terrain for exciting adventure activities. Baliis not only Kuta and Nusa Dua. Travel north and you will find out what the realBali has to offer ? culture, spectacularscenery and experiences that modern tourist towns with shopping malls aretotally devoid of.

The rivers, mountains and jungles are all places where you can experience Bali away from the tourist crowds. White water raftingdown the scenic Ayung or down the heart stopping TelagaRiver rapids is one of the morepopular activities for tourists who come to Bali.A mountain bike ride from Kintamani down to Ubud through the padi fields and smallvillages with friendly locals is another leisurely activity for families andindividuals alike.  Bali is home to the Taro Elephant Park, complete withaccommodation, activities and elephant fun for all ages. You can ride anelephant through the jungle, marvel at their intelligence and let them make youlaugh when you visit the Taro Elephant safari park in Bali.Quad driving will take you through the jungles and rougher terrain. Canyontubing where you sit in a floating tube and coast down a river through thejungle is another fun activity. A new attraction, the Bali Safari and Marine Parkis a unique blend of wildlife conservation and culture. You will be able to seewildlife in their natural surroundings and learn about the ancient Balineseculture at this tourist attraction.

10) Shop till you drop

Finally what the first thing tourists tend to do on any trip and most certainlyto Bali is to shop. You have Kuta Center,Galeria Nusa Dua, Matahari in Legian and Ubud Market where you will find bargainsof all sorts. The Balinese are well known for their creative and artisticskills evident in the numerous arts and crafts found throughout the island.Many craft factories are found in Tegallalang and the surrounding area. Skilledsilversmiths in the village of Celuk, sell theircreations in eclectic shops in Ubud but you will be able to buy their jewelryat slightly better prices.  Sukawati art market is where you will findmany of the fabrics used in Balinese clothing as well as hand made crafts suchas woven baskets at good prices. Crafts and statues are made from naturalproducts found on Bali such as coconut wood,bamboo and volcanic sand stone.  Masks and puppets make interesting giftitems. You will also find many unique home decor items such as table runners,lamp shades and wall decorations to give your home a touch of Balistyle when you return.  Furniture items are often available at attractiveprices compared to if you were to purchase them from outside of Bali.

So there you are, a list of many things you can do in Bali.Relax, get fit, have fun, gain new experiences and most of all, a memorableholiday. And if you count them up, you've got a lot more than 10 things to dothere. This is by no means an exhaustive list but more than enough for a 3 to 7day trip to this wonderful and magical island of the Gods.