Far from the boisterous beach party scene of Kuta, in the central region of this remarkable little island, lies Ubud - the cultural centre of Bali. Surrounded by lush, terraced rice paddies, and exquisite temples, Ubud is jam-packed with tourist attractions. Its busy town centre is lined with a slew of art galleries, cafes, craft shops, and spas. One of the town’s most visited sites is the Sacred Forest Monkey Sanctuary, home to hundreds of wild monkeys as well as three Hindi temples. Spend your days strolling around the lively streets of central Ubud or get away from the hustle and bustle by cycling along ricefield-lined rivers where traditional village life carries on relatively undisturbed. Nights can be spent enjoying live music concerts, or one of the nightly Kecak Fire and Dance or shadow puppet performances.
Resting about 5 kilometres west of Singaraja on Bali’s northern coast, the tranquil beach town of Lovina beckons with its gorgeous black-sand shores, sea-facing bars, and idyllic hot springs. This is also prime dolphin-spotting territory, and there are numerous boat tours on offer to watch the Bottlenose at play. Other activities include diving, snorkelling, night-time volleyball, and visits to the enthralling neighbouring islands. The soft-sanded beaches are lapped by stunning waters which are perfect for swimming, and several luxe spas complete the package.
Mature travellers will delight in the relaxed seaside ambience of Candi Dasa, located at the edge of a freshwater lagoon in eastern Bali. A popular tourist spot since the ‘70s, this seaside town is renowned for its laid-back atmosphere, and superb snorkelling and diving conditions. The most impressive dive sites are around the rocky islets of Gili Selang, Gili Biaha, Gili Mimpang and Gili Tepekong, where divers can see exquisite coral gardens, several species of sharks and, between August and October, enormous oceanic sunfish, which grow up to six feet. A visit to Pura Candi Dasa, twin temples devoted to Shiva and Hariti, set atop the hillside overlooking the lagoon, proves a fascinating expedition.
You can’t go wrong with this traditional tourist resort on Lombok Island. Popular with holidaymakers, Senggigi features reasonably priced hotels along the sweeping bays, all set against a backdrop of mountainous jungle. Activity-wise there’s something for everyone, with cultural and wildlife tours, watersports and cooking courses, shopping and spas all being readily available. The resort makes a wonderful home base for visitors who want to take day trips to surrounding waterfalls, the Gili Islands, or any of the traditional villages in the vicinity.
