Adventurous activities to enjoy in Bali
The tropical island of Bali offers so much more than just a holiday on the beach. The astounding number of adventurous and fun things to do in Bali, make it a complete destination. Blessed with natural beauty, it has an interesting culture, streaks of spirituality and a healthy dose of adventure thrown in as well.
A huge number of people visit Bali owing to its world class surfing, diving and water sports opportunities; add to it, the many adventures that can be had inland amongst the luscious, stunning landscapes from climbing volcanoes to white water rafting, trekking, zip lining and even quad biking through the jungle. Serene yoga classes with views of the scenic rice terraces and paddy fields are also popular and the fun-filled, family friendly water parks also make for a great day out.
It’s hard to imagine another tropical island that has so much to offer. The sheer number of things to see and do in Bali keeps people coming back to this gorgeous island time and again.
The best time for surfing in Bali is during the dry season from June to September. This is also the busiest time, but Bali has good surf and warm waters all year round.
Bali is also known as ‘the Land of the Gods’, and the island’s looming volcanoes have a somewhat mystical quality and are worshipped by the local Balinese population. One of the best active experiences you can have in Bali is trekking up one of the volcanoes, and there can’t be a more magnificent feeling than reaching the top of a volcano and witnessing the Sun rise. You really can't get any closer to heaven! There are four volcanoes in Bali: Mount Agung is the biggest and is a quite challenging hike; you also have Mount Batur, Bratan and Mount Merbuk. Keep in mind that all of these volcanoes are active and it's highly recommended to take a guide, especially if you are starting your hike in darkness in order to reach the summit for sunrise.
The most popular volcano for tourists to hike is Mount Batur, it’s only a 2 hours hike to reach the top (over 1,700 m) and the summit offers breathtaking views from the peaks, piercing the clouds all the way down to Lake Batur, the largest crater lake on the island. It’s an unforgettable view from above the clouds so if you're physically fit and in good shape, hiking up one of Bali's volcanoes could be your most memorable moment from your time in Bali.
Bali has many fantastic beaches and the waters around the island boast some of the most diverse coral reefs on the planet, making it the perfect place to don a snorkel or learn how to dive and explore the amazing underwater world. There are so many places you can snorkel around Bali but some of the very best locations are found at the nearby islands of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida. Here, the clear warm water and pristine corals are home to schools of vibrantly-coloured fish like the emperor angel fish, parrot fish, moray eels and even turtles and manta rays. Snorkel spots that are definitely a must see are Crystal Bay, Toyapakeh, Gamat Bay and Manta Point.
Bali also offers incredible diving opportunities for all divers no matter whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver. The island also has a plethora of excellent dive sites, where you’ll find diverse marine life around the reefs and even some shipwrecks! The best dive sites in Bali are found along the east coast near Candi Dasa, Amed, Tulamben and near Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. One of the most interesting and most famous dive spots in the world, the USAT Liberty wreck from WWII, is also in Bali.
There are many professional scuba diving centers in Bali that offer scuba diving courses, PADI certifications, diving tours and even introductory taster dives with experienced guides and equipment.
The views of the Ubud’s famous UNESCO listed emerald green rice paddies and stunningly sculpted rice terraces are one of the must see sights in Bali. The majestic views over the rice terraces offer the perfect photo opportunity; but, for the more active and adventurous visitor, there is much more to do here than just click photos.
Ubud is cooler than most of Bali and so it’s a perfect spot to get active. You can explore the scenery in more detail by simply taking a walk, joining a rice field trek or a bicycle tour. Enjoy soaking up the amazing views of the vast expanses of stepped green rice paddies and see local Balinese villages and farming communities, coffee plantations, fruit orchards, craft workshops and traditional Balinese homes. The rice field treks and bike tours are mostly downhill, so it’s a wonderful and not too strenuous way to experience the stunning natural beauty of inland Bali.
Bali is home to Waterbom Park, rated as the best waterpark in Asia and one of the most popular fun and family-friendly things to do in Bali. Waterbom Park is near Kuta, and is a great day out for everyone, young and old, and heaven for kids. The waterpark has something for everyone, there are 17 thriller waterslides, a fun and safe play area especially designed for kids, and one of the highlights is the lazy river where you relax in a tube and let the river take you floating gently around the beautifully landscaped park through jungle and monkey temples.
Whether you’re an experienced yogi or a curious newbie practising your asanas in Bali is a special experience. Ubud is the cultural heartland of Bali, and after being made famous by the film Eat Pray Love, yoginis, spiritual seekers and more have been flocking to Ubud to find some inner peace of their own in the artsy, spiritual and cultural vibe amongst the stunning rice field views. Owing to this, the area around Ubud has many great yoga schools and retreats where you can refresh, rejuvenate and practise yoga or even train to be a yoga teacher against the impossibly scenic backdrop of the lush green rice fields.
The Yoga Barn is one of the biggest, most famous and most popular yoga schools in Bali with a wide array of classes and styles on offer but the massive class sizes might be too much for some. Radiantly Alive is also highly rated and offers smaller, more intimate but more expensive classes. Ubud Yoga House and Intuitive Flow offer a more laidback and personalised experience that is better for beginners. Many yoga retreats also offer other therapies, treatments, healing workshops, meditation sessions, and have fabulous spas and vegetarian or vegan restaurants.
Bali’s beaches offer so much more than just a beautiful spot to laze. Swimming and snorkelling are popular pastimes and a huge variety of water sports are also available in Bali including banana boat rides, jet skis, water-skiing, parasailing, kayaking and stand up paddle boarding (SUP). Kite surfing, wake boarding, wind surfing and even water jet packs and fly-boarding are also possible; you can even hire or take a ride in a sailing boat or catamaran.
Many of the bigger hotels and resorts also have water sports facilities or can organise these activities for you; there are many smaller private operators on the main beaches as well. For the best and most thrilling water sports, head to Tanjung Benoa that is more of a playground for water sports enthusiasts.
The Bali Seawalker is another fun activity that allows you to walk under the water with a specially-designed helmet that is perfect for those who always wanted to experience the underwater world without having to learn how to scuba dive.
Another fun and exciting way to experience the beautiful Balinese countryside is on a four wheeled quad bike tour. The vehicles are specially-designed to be able to cover all terrains and are fun to drive and easy to handle. Going quad biking near Ubud means that you get to combine a thrilling ride with the opportunity to see an authentic and hidden part of Bali that is far off the roads and tourist trails as you pass rice fields, cross jungles, splash through mud and drive through traditional Balinese villages called Kampongs. You can either drive yourself or just enjoy the ride and sit back and watch the scenery.
Bali is an amazing place to go white water rafting. The Ayung River, not too far from Ubud, offers some exhilarating rapids amongst a backdrop of wild unspoiled rainforest, towering gorges, gushing waterfalls and magnificent rice paddy terraces.
Rafting in Bali takes you on an adventure along an almost 10 km scenic stretch of the river, navigating through 33 Class II and III rapids deep in the jungle. There are several experienced companies that offer white water rafting in Bali, quite safe and suitable for the whole family. Other than being an exciting rafting adventure, it’s also a beautiful experience as you pass waterfalls and volcanic cliffs, deep-sided gorges, tranquil rice terraces and remote villages; but, of course, be prepared to get very wet!
If you’d prefer a more relaxing experience on the river, you can also go on a river canyon tubing adventure, where you just sit back and relax and float downstream in your own tube.
The Bali Treetop Adventure Park in the botanical gardens at Bedugul offers thrilling adventures and activities for all ages. You can explore the treetops of the forest through seven different adventure circuits of suspended bridges, spider nets, tarzan jumps, flying swings and many more fun challenges.
There are activities that are especially designed for children right up to the more thrilling circuits for the dare devils. The highlight of the experience is flying through the trees on a heart-pounding 160 m long zip line adventure. Don’t worry, safety is taken care of and you are only let loose in the forest after a safety briefing and demonstration. You also remain attached to a life line support throughout the whole circuit and there are safety guards throughout the park to ensure that no one falls off a tree!
A huge number of people visit Bali owing to its world class surfing, diving and water sports opportunities; add to it, the many adventures that can be had inland amongst the luscious, stunning landscapes from climbing volcanoes to white water rafting, trekking, zip lining and even quad biking through the jungle. Serene yoga classes with views of the scenic rice terraces and paddy fields are also popular and the fun-filled, family friendly water parks also make for a great day out.
It’s hard to imagine another tropical island that has so much to offer. The sheer number of things to see and do in Bali keeps people coming back to this gorgeous island time and again.
1. Learn how to surf
Bali is one of the most iconic surf destinations in the world, and world-class surfing opportunities are one of the main reasons that tourists flock to the island. Surfing in Bali offers something for all levels of proficiency, right from beginners to advanced surfers. The most legendary, and most challenging of Bali’s famous surfing spots are around the Bukit Peninsular near Ulu Watu and there are also great breaks at Dreamland, Padang Padang, Canggu and many others. The waves at Kuta and Nusa Dua are perfect for beginners and there are many excellent and affordable surf schools and board rental places along Kuta Beach. Bali is one of the most affordable places in the world to learn how to surf and the vibrant surf scene, huge variety of breaks, great weather and warm waters makes Bali one of the best surfing spots in the world.
The best time for surfing in Bali is during the dry season from June to September. This is also the busiest time, but Bali has good surf and warm waters all year round.
2. TREK UP A VOLCANO AT SUNRISE
Bali is also known as ‘the Land of the Gods’, and the island’s looming volcanoes have a somewhat mystical quality and are worshipped by the local Balinese population. One of the best active experiences you can have in Bali is trekking up one of the volcanoes, and there can’t be a more magnificent feeling than reaching the top of a volcano and witnessing the Sun rise. You really can't get any closer to heaven! There are four volcanoes in Bali: Mount Agung is the biggest and is a quite challenging hike; you also have Mount Batur, Bratan and Mount Merbuk. Keep in mind that all of these volcanoes are active and it's highly recommended to take a guide, especially if you are starting your hike in darkness in order to reach the summit for sunrise.The most popular volcano for tourists to hike is Mount Batur, it’s only a 2 hours hike to reach the top (over 1,700 m) and the summit offers breathtaking views from the peaks, piercing the clouds all the way down to Lake Batur, the largest crater lake on the island. It’s an unforgettable view from above the clouds so if you're physically fit and in good shape, hiking up one of Bali's volcanoes could be your most memorable moment from your time in Bali.
You can also drive up to lookout points for a breathtaking view of the volcanoes, without losing your breath!
3. LEARN HOW TO DIVE OR SNORKEL
Bali has many fantastic beaches and the waters around the island boast some of the most diverse coral reefs on the planet, making it the perfect place to don a snorkel or learn how to dive and explore the amazing underwater world. There are so many places you can snorkel around Bali but some of the very best locations are found at the nearby islands of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida. Here, the clear warm water and pristine corals are home to schools of vibrantly-coloured fish like the emperor angel fish, parrot fish, moray eels and even turtles and manta rays. Snorkel spots that are definitely a must see are Crystal Bay, Toyapakeh, Gamat Bay and Manta Point.Bali also offers incredible diving opportunities for all divers no matter whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver. The island also has a plethora of excellent dive sites, where you’ll find diverse marine life around the reefs and even some shipwrecks! The best dive sites in Bali are found along the east coast near Candi Dasa, Amed, Tulamben and near Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. One of the most interesting and most famous dive spots in the world, the USAT Liberty wreck from WWII, is also in Bali.
There are many professional scuba diving centers in Bali that offer scuba diving courses, PADI certifications, diving tours and even introductory taster dives with experienced guides and equipment.
4. CYCLE OR WALK THROUGH THE RICE TERRACES OF UBUD
The views of the Ubud’s famous UNESCO listed emerald green rice paddies and stunningly sculpted rice terraces are one of the must see sights in Bali. The majestic views over the rice terraces offer the perfect photo opportunity; but, for the more active and adventurous visitor, there is much more to do here than just click photos.Ubud is cooler than most of Bali and so it’s a perfect spot to get active. You can explore the scenery in more detail by simply taking a walk, joining a rice field trek or a bicycle tour. Enjoy soaking up the amazing views of the vast expanses of stepped green rice paddies and see local Balinese villages and farming communities, coffee plantations, fruit orchards, craft workshops and traditional Balinese homes. The rice field treks and bike tours are mostly downhill, so it’s a wonderful and not too strenuous way to experience the stunning natural beauty of inland Bali.
5. SPLASH AROUND AT WATERBOM PARK
Bali is home to Waterbom Park, rated as the best waterpark in Asia and one of the most popular fun and family-friendly things to do in Bali. Waterbom Park is near Kuta, and is a great day out for everyone, young and old, and heaven for kids. The waterpark has something for everyone, there are 17 thriller waterslides, a fun and safe play area especially designed for kids, and one of the highlights is the lazy river where you relax in a tube and let the river take you floating gently around the beautifully landscaped park through jungle and monkey temples.6. PRACTISE YOGA IN THE PADDY FIELDS
Whether you’re an experienced yogi or a curious newbie practising your asanas in Bali is a special experience. Ubud is the cultural heartland of Bali, and after being made famous by the film Eat Pray Love, yoginis, spiritual seekers and more have been flocking to Ubud to find some inner peace of their own in the artsy, spiritual and cultural vibe amongst the stunning rice field views. Owing to this, the area around Ubud has many great yoga schools and retreats where you can refresh, rejuvenate and practise yoga or even train to be a yoga teacher against the impossibly scenic backdrop of the lush green rice fields.The Yoga Barn is one of the biggest, most famous and most popular yoga schools in Bali with a wide array of classes and styles on offer but the massive class sizes might be too much for some. Radiantly Alive is also highly rated and offers smaller, more intimate but more expensive classes. Ubud Yoga House and Intuitive Flow offer a more laidback and personalised experience that is better for beginners. Many yoga retreats also offer other therapies, treatments, healing workshops, meditation sessions, and have fabulous spas and vegetarian or vegan restaurants.
7. tRY SOME WATER SPORTS
Bali’s beaches offer so much more than just a beautiful spot to laze. Swimming and snorkelling are popular pastimes and a huge variety of water sports are also available in Bali including banana boat rides, jet skis, water-skiing, parasailing, kayaking and stand up paddle boarding (SUP). Kite surfing, wake boarding, wind surfing and even water jet packs and fly-boarding are also possible; you can even hire or take a ride in a sailing boat or catamaran.Many of the bigger hotels and resorts also have water sports facilities or can organise these activities for you; there are many smaller private operators on the main beaches as well. For the best and most thrilling water sports, head to Tanjung Benoa that is more of a playground for water sports enthusiasts.
The Bali Seawalker is another fun activity that allows you to walk under the water with a specially-designed helmet that is perfect for those who always wanted to experience the underwater world without having to learn how to scuba dive.
8. GO QUAD BIKING THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE
Another fun and exciting way to experience the beautiful Balinese countryside is on a four wheeled quad bike tour. The vehicles are specially-designed to be able to cover all terrains and are fun to drive and easy to handle. Going quad biking near Ubud means that you get to combine a thrilling ride with the opportunity to see an authentic and hidden part of Bali that is far off the roads and tourist trails as you pass rice fields, cross jungles, splash through mud and drive through traditional Balinese villages called Kampongs. You can either drive yourself or just enjoy the ride and sit back and watch the scenery.9. GO WHITE WATER RAFTING THROUGH THE JUNGLE
Bali is an amazing place to go white water rafting. The Ayung River, not too far from Ubud, offers some exhilarating rapids amongst a backdrop of wild unspoiled rainforest, towering gorges, gushing waterfalls and magnificent rice paddy terraces.Rafting in Bali takes you on an adventure along an almost 10 km scenic stretch of the river, navigating through 33 Class II and III rapids deep in the jungle. There are several experienced companies that offer white water rafting in Bali, quite safe and suitable for the whole family. Other than being an exciting rafting adventure, it’s also a beautiful experience as you pass waterfalls and volcanic cliffs, deep-sided gorges, tranquil rice terraces and remote villages; but, of course, be prepared to get very wet!
If you’d prefer a more relaxing experience on the river, you can also go on a river canyon tubing adventure, where you just sit back and relax and float downstream in your own tube.
10. JUMP THROUGH THE TREES AND FLY ON A ZIP LINE
The Bali Treetop Adventure Park in the botanical gardens at Bedugul offers thrilling adventures and activities for all ages. You can explore the treetops of the forest through seven different adventure circuits of suspended bridges, spider nets, tarzan jumps, flying swings and many more fun challenges.There are activities that are especially designed for children right up to the more thrilling circuits for the dare devils. The highlight of the experience is flying through the trees on a heart-pounding 160 m long zip line adventure. Don’t worry, safety is taken care of and you are only let loose in the forest after a safety briefing and demonstration. You also remain attached to a life line support throughout the whole circuit and there are safety guards throughout the park to ensure that no one falls off a tree!
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