Tours

Bali holds true to its reputation as a paradise on earth, affording a wondrous tropical retreat resplendent with natural attractions, theme parks, nightspots, shopping opportunities, inland adventure and water sports. The fascinating indigenous culture and warm, gracious folk make a holiday here all the more interesting and pleasant. As unique as every individual is, the island promises a little something for everyone.

Island Highlights

Most shoppers consider the Kuta-Legian area the ultimate hunting ground for summer apparel, ethnic arts and crafts, jewelry and bric-a-brac. The main thoroughfares of Jalan Kartika Plaza and Jalan Legian teem with street-side stores and art markets, where prices generally inflate to profit from affluent tourists. To escape haggling, make a beeline for Western-style complexes, such as Plaza Bali, The Legian Arcade and Kuta Center, or department stores Matahari and Ramayana. Farther north, Jalan Raya Seminyak exuberates yet more shopping pleasure, with places like Bintang Toserba, a one-stop convenience mall. Other modern arcades include Diponegoro Shopping Center and Bali Mall in Denpasar and Galeria Nusa Dua, the largest in Nusa Dua.

Several theme parks also highlight Bali visits. Educational excursions to Bali Bird Park, Rimba Reptile Park and the Bali Butterfly Park prove particularly popular with families, as does Bali Botanical Gardens, which makes for a picture-perfect picnic. Kids particularly adore a day of sloshing fun at Waterbom Park & Spa—a compound of slides, pools and other sport facilities.

Ubud Tourist Information and other tourist centers distribute useful travel information and operate excursions. Most tours cover some of Bali's major temples, such as Pura Besakih, Pura Ulun Danu Bratan and Pura Luhur Uluwatu. It pays to employ guides when visiting places of worship, as even tourists must dress appropriately and adhere to certain etiquettes.

Some companies customize sightseeing trips to your preference; Dhyana Putri Adventures makes an ideal option for culture enthusiasts. Contact Akasia Tours and Money Exchange for your transportation needs, including cars and bicycles for free-and-easy exploration, or Mulia Tour for day trips around the island and beyond.

Marine Adventures

Bali's high mountains create superb conditions for kayaking, river-rafting and other white-water adventures. Generally rated class II and III, the rapids speed past Bali's tropical rain forests, eye-popping waterfalls and beautifully terraced rice paddies. Sobek and Bali Adventure Tours take eager rafters and kayakers on day trips down the Ayung River, while Bali Safari Rafting creates similar splash action down Telaga Waja.

Out on the open sea, one can indulge in every imaginable water sport. The Indian Ocean lends Bali and the surrounding islands some of the world's best surf breaks, especially from April to September when the swells are bigger. Learn to surf with Bali Surf Experience or let the masters direct you to the spots that suit your skill level. Uluwatu provides good waves all year round, while those off Sanur Beach yield some outstanding barrels, particularly over Sanur Reef. Most local surfers, however, prefer to take their marks near Kuta Beach and Legian Beach. During the wet season (October to March), the eastern coast at Nusa Dua affords some of the most powerful reef breaks.

Captain Zodiac Raft Expeditions organizes electrifying ocean rides on 12-person inflatable rafts, with snorkeling thrown in. Bali Hai Cruises runs similar ocean rafting on larger vessels, in addition to diving, snorkeling, banana boat rides and coral-watching from a mini-submarine. Waterworld also specializes in numerous marine activities.

The copious marine life and coral reefs make Bali a natural haven for marine exploration, particularly during the dry season. Sanur Dive College and Pro Dive Bali take care of snorkelers, amateur divers and seasoned divers alike. Bali Pesona Bahari, the island's premier dive center, conducts a full range of courses and rents out quality equipment. Other reputable dive outfits include Barrakuda Diving Center and Spice Dive.

Marine Cruises

If the topsy-turvy white-water madness does not fancy you, book a cruise to Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida with SailSensations or a longer journey to Lombok and the Gili islands with Bounty Cruises. Island Explorer Cruises schedules day and overnight trips to Nusa Lembongan on a yacht or speedboat, while Waka Louka Land Cruise, Sea Trek and SongLine Cruises let you sail away on a luxury catamaran or traditional schooner. For an unforgettable dining experience, take a romantic Starlight Dinner Cruise by the Waka Experience round Benoa Harbor and soak in the exhilarating sunset.

Aerial Adventures

Few may think of Bali as a destination for aerial sports, but many vacationers actually muster enough guts to engage in the numerous possibilities available. Thrill-seekers consult the experts at Bali Adventure Tours for parasailing (also provided by Waterworld), para gliding and sky-diving, while the less intrepid opt for helicopter rides. Bungee jumping by Bali Bungy Company and A.J. Hackett requires no training whatsoever and remains ever so popular. Also not for the faint-hearted, Bali Sling Shot offers nerve-racking mid-air excitement within seconds by catapulting riders 52 meters into the air.

Inland Adventures

Some companies combine morning sports such as hiking and cycling with afternoon rafting. A trek up Mount Batur takes about three hours and rewards climbers with a panoramic vista of hot springs, lava rocks, farms and Lake Bratan within the caldera. Lying at the rim of this volcano, Kintamani village serves as an excellent vantage point for viewing the crater lake; you can also book nature hikes here. Mount Agung, Bali's highest peak, challenges serious trekkers and cyclists with more arduous routes.

For better safety, scale the mountains with a guide between July and October. Waka Tangga offers mountain climbing through the countryside—a challenging journey of quiet reflection and eco-adventure. Alternatively, hire a guide from Bali Nature Land Tours, Bali Adventure Tours or Sobek for mountain biking or treks through rice paddies and jungles.

Other tour operators take sightseers off the beaten track in a jeep. Waka Louka Land Cruise ventures into centuries-old terraced rice fields, rainforests, traditional houses and hot mineral springs. Consult Usana 4WD for a similar escape to eastern Bali, through mountains, ancient villages, rivers and long-forgotten valleys.

Text by Debe Campbell Photo by Leonardo Wisnoe Marmanto

(Editor's Note: On 12 October 2002, a terrorist bomb exploded in Kuta's Legian nightlife district, killing at least 182 and injuring many others. Travel advisories have been issued. Before planning a trip to the Kuta Beach area of Bali, please consult your travel agent and/or your nation's consulate.)