Destination
Type of Activity
Editors Pick
Read MoreAgung Rai Museum of Art
The Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) in Ubud puts on a kecak dance—in which dozens of men make music using only their voices—at 7 p.m. at every new and full moon.
Read MoreBeach Walk: Seminyak to Tanah Lot Temple
Pack plenty of water and wear good shoes to climb over several rocky patches between the soft sand of Seminyak Beach and the stunning waterfront Hindu temple of Tanah Lot. Expect to trek for around two hours. Taxis are available...
Read MoreBig Tree Farms’ Firefly Suppers
Big Tree Farms’ owners Ben and Blair Ripple, who are American, sell their gourmet salt and spices to the U.S. and provide Bali’s top chefs with organic ingredients from their farms. They also host the extremely popular “Firefly Supper Series,"...
Read MoreCasa Luna Cooking School
Every Tuesday and Thursday, a knowledgeable guide from the Casa Luna Cooking School (founded by restaurateur and author Janet de Neefe) leads groups through the Ubud food market. The tour is followed by a cooking lesson taught by de Neefe,...
Read MoreExplore North Bali
An ideal exploration of the relatively serene north Bali begins from the island’s eastern shores, driving along Tabanan’s gushing rivers and lush ravines to the surprisingly cool mountain town of Bedugul, which rises more than 4,000 feet above sea level....
Read MoreFinn’s Beach Club
Finn’s is Bali’s answer to St.-Tropez’s Club 55. The fun beach hangout gives a taste of Bali’s epic coast with sun beds and ample water sports during the day, and bonfires and sunset cocktails come evening.
Read MoreGreen School
Located about 20 minutes outside of Ubud, the Green School is the second act of acclaimed Canadian jeweler John Hardy and his Californian wife Cynthia, who have lived in Bali for decades. The world’s first sustainable educational institution, built entirely...
Read MoreJari Menari
Since Jari Menari (meaning literally ‘dancing fingers’) opened in 2001, the signature massage has earned its reputation as Bali’s best and the American owner now teaches the basic skills of her specific and effective technique. This team of all-male Indonesian...
Read MoreJohn Hardy Factory Tour
When John Hardy came to Bali to design his international jewelry collection, and ended up living there, he probably didn’t realize just how much he would add to the island’s increasingly important sustainability and eco ethos. A tour of his...
Read MoreKarma Cleansing
Melukat, a karma cleansing ceremony and local Hindu rite of passage, is believed to rebalance the spirit after or in anticipation of a life-changing event. Prince Ajoaes, a 10th-generation descendant of the King of Tabanan (who ruled Bali in the...
Read MoreMepantigan
“Throw down to the ground” is the direct translation of Ubud’s latest cultural attraction: Mepantigan. Here, Judo, taekwondo, Brazilian capoeira, Korean self-defense, mud-wrestling, Balinese folklore and shadow puppetry are fused, and it’s fun for the whole family to watch or...
Read MoreMount Agung
Local legend claims that Mount Agung, Bali’s highest peak, was created from a fragment of Mount Meru, the spiritual axis of the Hindu universe. Trekkers should make their way to the top before sunrise, then meander down towards the many...
Read MoreNyepi
The Balinese celebrate their new year according to the Balinese 210-day wuku calendar, which usually means sometime in March according to ours. Celebrations begin with New Year’s Eve parades of giant paper maché monster dolls, known as Ogoh-Ogoh, that they...
Read MoreSobek Bali Utama
This company rents bikes and offers guides for jungle and village excursions, including white-water rafting, cycling and hiking.
Read MoreSurf Goddess
Bali attracts its fair share of international surfers, especially to the beaches in Bukit, on the southern tip of the island. The Surf Goddess retreat combines surfing lessons with half-day yoga sessions.
Read MoreThe Yoga Barn
Bali is a destination for those seeking tranquility and peace, so it comes as no surprise that it is also home to some of the best yoga studios in the world. Our favorite is the Yoga Barn, a serene retreat...
Read MoreUbud Palace
The residence of the royal family since the early 20th century, Ubud Palace is an expansive compound of gardens, palace buildings and temples. This lush park-like expanse is a peaceful space to relax in and admire the intricate stone carvings...
Read MoreUbud Traditional Balinese Performance Arts
Among the long list of traditional Balinese arts performances around Ubud, fifty half-naked sweaty men dancing around a bonfire for the Cak Rina is the most dramatic. Catch them every full and new moon at the ARMA Museum (Jalan Pengosekan; (62) 361...
Read MoreUbud Writers & Readers Festival
Local restaurateur and author Janet De Neefe organizes this annual festival, launched in 2003. Each year has a different theme, with readings, special guests and lectures.
Uluwatu Temple, courtesy Levi MorsyRead MoreUluwatu Temple
Whoever picked the setting for the 11th-century sea temple of Uluwatu certainly knew how to create a dramatic backdrop; the spot perches over the edge of the cliffs with the emerald blue ocean sitting beyond. The best time to see...
