Renowned for its vibrant atmosphere and lush, volcanic landscape, Bali offers so much more than your average tropical holiday location. If it's adventure you're after, the island boasts thrilling waves to suit both novice and pro surfers, bountiful reefs to snorkel around and untamed jungle to explore. If you're here for a relaxing holiday, Bali will happily supply speciality yoga retreats, serene ancient temple compounds and a local cuisine with freshness and flavour enough to rival its larger neighbouring islands.
Facts at a glance
- Flight times from the UK
- Average flight time is 15.5 hours
- Time difference
- GMT +8 hours
- Peak season
- April - October
Bali's climate, flora and fauna are similar to those of nearby Java. A string of six volcanoes, between 1,350m and 3,014m high, stretch across the island from west to east, while its other natural attractions include unspoilt crater lakes, fast flowing rivers, and deep-set rice terraces. The beaches in the south of Bali are pure white, while other stretches of the coast are decorated with a black volcanic sand.
Bali boasts a year-round tropical climate and, for the perfect sand and surfing opportunities, you should head south past Seminyak then onwards for a further 5km. The coastline you'll find here is pummelled by the kind of waves that put Bali on the map in the 1960s. For a family-orientated day, why not rent some beach chairs, join in a volleyball game with the locals, take surfing lessons or get a body-rub from one of the expert masseurs. The resorts of Jimbaran, Legian, Kuta and Nusa Dua, offering all you could hope for in a luxury holiday, are conveniently positioned on the tropical fringes of Bali's southern peninsular.
If you're here in search of culture, Bali's major feast, the Galungan Festival, is held throughout the island towards the end of March. Meanwhile horticultural lovers should head straight to the Bali Orchid Garden in Tohpati where, thanks to the local weather and rich volcanic soil, exquisite orchids bloom all year round. At this extensive estate you can see thousands of these precious flowers in a range of settings.
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Create a tailor-made multi-centre holiday in Bali
Our team of travel consultants will be happy to tailor make a holiday that takes in more than one resort in Bali, so that you can really experience the country. Or with so much to see in Southeast Asia, why not combine your holiday in Bali with another of our fascinating countries?
Have a look at some suggested itineraries for multi-centre holidays in Bali, or speak to a specialist about a bespoke luxury holiday that is tailored to you.
Recommended Bali highlights
We recommend the following experiences for your Bali holidays. Talk to our expert travel consultants about how to make your holiday in Bali extra special:
Volcanoes and Handicraft Tour With Traditional Balinese Cultural Show
Dances are a major part of Balinese culture and here you will see the tantalizing Barong and Kris dances at street level. After the show, why not continue to Bedulu to see the elephant cave and "Kintamani", perched dramatically on top of the crater rim of Mount Batur Volcano. En route from Seminak, pass through many of Bali's famous handicraft villages such as Mas for woodcarving, beautiful Ubud for paintings, Celuk for intricate gold and silverware, or perhaps a batik factory to pick up handmade fabrics from your holiday in Bali.
Monkey Forest Adventure and Tanah Lot Temple Retreat
If you fancy a day of spirituality and physically challenging adventure, then you should head from Kuta to the serene Royal Temple at Mengwi with its impressive architecture, moat and the monkey forest at Kedaton where giant bats nestle in the treetops. You should make the famous holy temple of Tanah Lot the highlight of your day - the temple is perched dramatically on top of a large black lava rock some 200-m offshore. You'll be surprised to see the sea snakes at the temple's base, which are believed to be the guardians of the temple.
Natural Beauty Of Bali's Lakes, Rice Fields and Plantations
Your guidebooks will undoubtedly tell you that you can only begin to experience the real magic and beauty of Bali by travelling right into the heart of the island and seeing the shear scale and variety of the terrain, and they're certainly right! If you're starting your journey in Tanjung Benoa, heading towards Candikuning, you will be amazed at the lush terraced rice field as you pass many coffee and clove plantations. Why not stop at the exotic fruit and flower market in Candikuning and the Ulundanu temple on the shores of Beratan Lake.
