Our Top 10 Must-Visit Attractions in Bali

We spent 15 days in Bali in May 2019, driving a rental car between Kuta, Munduk, Ubud and Nusa Dua with our two boys. Here are our 10 favorite places on the island (waterfalls, rice terraces, Hindu temples and monkeys), followed by our itinerary, accommodation and full budget: 14.663.000 IDR (1,015 USD) for a family of four.

Indonesia has more than 13,000 islands and hundreds of ethnic groups, so there is a lot to see. With only 15 days, we chose to focus on Bali, an island with a unique Hindu culture in an archipelago with an overwhelming Muslim majority.

Our Top 10 Must-Visit Places in Bali

Kuta

In Kuta, we slowed down for 3 days. We spent our time swimming in the pool, walking on the beach and through the shopping streets, while the boys worked on their surfing.

Munduk

On the way to Munduk, we stopped at the beautiful Ulun Danu Beratan temple. Dedicated to Shiva, built on a lake and surrounded by mountains, it is considered one of the most beautiful temples in Bali.

We then spent 4 days in Munduk, a remote corner of Bali surrounded by mountains, rice fields, waterfalls and breathtaking viewpoints.

Lovina

We stopped at the well-known Lovina Beach, where tourists take boat trips to watch dolphins. For that, you have to get up early, and since we are late risers, we went snorkeling in the afternoon instead. Too bad I didn’t bring my GoPro: we had rarely seen so many corals and fish!

Near Lovina, Brahmavihara-Arama is a Buddhist monastery with a strong Hindu influence. It was a lovely discovery, recommended by a local.

Ubud

While driving from Munduk to Ubud, I spotted a huge snake on the side of the road! I was the only one who saw it and nobody in the car believed me, so I turned around to check. Good call: we met a man who runs a refuge and showed us some of the injured animals he had rescued. We ended up face to face with impressive snakes, iguanas, a giant bat, civets and an owl. Mateo, who loves animals, was delighted; Luka was more wary, but happy too.

Ubud feels like a town in the middle of the countryside. Its streets are busy and the traffic is chaotic, yet a 10-minute walk takes you into the jungle or a rice field. We spent a long time watching a group of young people fly kites over a rice field.

Ubud is the heart of Balinese culture and tradition, and spirituality (along with its Hindu temples) is everywhere. You see it in everything the locals do. Their days are punctuated by rituals, offerings, incantations and processions meant to bring spiritual protection, blessings and luck.

Ubud Monkey Forest

Also in Ubud, we visited the Monkey Forest, where more than 700 mischievous macaques lived together (almost) peacefully when we were there. It is one of the most popular places in Ubud, and for good reason: it was amazing to see monkeys everywhere.

Goa Gajah

Goa Gajah, the Elephant Cave, is another popular site near Ubud. The 9th-century sanctuary contains Hindu and Buddhist artifacts, but the main attraction is a cave temple with a beautifully carved entrance.

Tirta Empul

On the way to Tirta Empul, we stopped at the Tegalalang rice terraces, one of Bali’s many photogenic spots.

Tirta Empul is a temple founded in the 10th century and dedicated to Vishnu. Its purification pools are fed by a sacred spring, making it a deeply spiritual place for Balinese people.

Pura Lempuyang Luhur

We took a day trip to Lempuyang Luhur temple, a fixture on the bucket list of Instagrammers chasing likes. The draw is a gate that frames the Agung volcano, an active volcano that was regularly spewing ash at the time. Let me tell you, this place wins the prize for ridiculousness in the “Instagram hypocrisy” category. First, it is remote: about 2 hours’ drive from Ubud (and 2 more to get back). Once at the temple, here is how to get the perfect picture that will earn you thousands of new followers:

1. Get to the end of the queue.
2. Use the 2-hour wait to plan three poses.
3. When your turn comes, hand your smartphone to the guy who takes all the pictures.
4. Run to the gate.
5. Strike your 3 poses. You have 10 seconds. Click! Click! Click!
6. Get out of the way! Next!

We didn’t have the patience to wait and visited the temple instead. If you are curious, search for “lempuyang temple gate” on Google. The best part: there is no water in front of the gate. The photographer holds a small mirror under the phone to fake the reflection, making the picture even more staged.

Garuda Wisnu Kencana

For our last 2 nights, we moved to the small peninsula in the south of the island. We went to the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park to see its monumental Hindu statue, which ranked 4th tallest in the world, pedestal included, when we visited. The evening included a traditional dance show and closed with a fire dance.

Uluwatu

Uluwatu temple sits at the tip of a cliff overlooking the ocean. Its monkeys are known for being particularly cheeky: we saw these little thieves snatch a handbag and a cell phone.

How to Plan 15 Days in Bali

Itinerary: Kuta, Munduk, Ubud and Nusa Dua

When we arrived in Bali, we relaxed for 3 days in Kuta, near Denpasar airport, before setting off around the island in a rental car. We then used Munduk (4 nights), Ubud (6 nights) and Nusa Dua (2 nights) as bases for day trips.

1. Kuta Beach
2. Pura Ulun Danu Bratan
3. Melanting waterfall
4. Red Coral Waterfall
5. Munduk Waterfall
6. Rice Terrace Munduk
7. Twin Lake Wanagiri spot
8. Handara Golf Gate
9. Wild Animal Refuge
10. Brahmavihara Arama
11. Lovina Beach
12. Pura Gunung Lebah
13. Campuhan Ridge Walk
14. Ubud Market
15. Ubud Monkey Forest
16. Goa Gajah
17. Tirta Empul
18. Pura Lempuyang Luhur
19. Garuda Wisnu Kencana
20. Pura Luhur Uluwatu

Getting Around by Rental Car

Our rental car was battered and dented. It looked 30 years old, yet it only had 100,000 km on the odometer! In first gear above 3,000 rpm, it was so loud we couldn’t hear each other. In second gear, it did fine on flat ground, but as soon as the road got steep it struggled and we had to shift back into first. Miraculously, it always got us where we were going. In any case, there are people everywhere, even in the countryside, so we always drove slowly. In short, driving in Bali was quite the experience!

Accommodation: Best Western Points and Homestays

We spent our first 3 nights in a beautiful suite at the Best Western Kuta Beach, where the staff treated us like royalty. Our Diamond Select status at Best Western (obtained through a status match with our Platinum status at Marriott) earned us wonderful breakfasts, welcome gifts, afternoon tea with appetizers and 50% off the hotel’s excellent food. Jessica shed a tear of joy eating their Mexican tacos, they were that good. The whole family enjoyed the rooftop pool overlooking the sea. All this for 8000 Best Western points per night, a bargain: a value of more than 300 USD for the 3 nights.

For 3 nights in Ubud, we stayed at the Best Western Premier Agung Resort Ubud for just 12,000 Best Western points per night. We checked in at 11 am into a lovely room overlooking the infinity pool. Our Diamond Select status again gave us wonderful breakfasts, afternoon tea, 50% off at the excellent restaurant, a free massage for Jessica and me, and a late check-out at 4 pm. A value of 380 USD for the 3 nights.

In Munduk, Ubud and Nusa Dua, we stayed in very comfortable homestays and bungalows with breakfast included, booked on Agoda for 300.000 IDR (21 USD) per night on average. Hotel rates in Bali are generally so low that it would have been a waste to use only our points for accommodation.

Mateo’s Accident

One of our worst fears came true in Bali, after 12 months on the road. Mateo slipped on a wet surface and broke two bones in his right wrist. A very professional team took good care of him at the hospital in Ubud, and he left with a half cast for a month. It was more fear than harm: we didn’t have to cut our trip short.

What to Eat in Bali

Nasi Goreng, Gado-Gado, Sate Ayam and Sate Lilit appear on EVERY restaurant menu in Bali. The island’s cuisine isn’t very varied, but it is good when well prepared.

Near Munduk Waterfall, we came across an unusual coffee producer. He regularly walks his plantation looking for the droppings of the twenty or so civets that live peacefully in his sanctuary. The droppings contain undigested but naturally fermented coffee beans, which give the coffee a subtler bitterness. Kopi Luwak, as it is called, is often described as the most expensive coffee in the world. And we drank some!

How Much Does 15 Days in Bali Cost?

Bali was, without a doubt, the destination where we spent the least during our entire trip. For our family of 4, our stay cost:

• 14.663.000 IDR (1,015 USD);
• 978.000 IDR (68 USD) per day;
• 244.000 IDR (17 USD) per person and per day.

Amounts were paid in Indonesian rupiah. US-dollar equivalents use the average exchange rate during our trip (May 15 – 30, 2019): 1 USD = 14,440.92 IDR.

In detail:

Expense Category	Amount Spent
Flight	1.991.000 IDR / 138 USD
Accommodation	2.867.000 IDR / 199 USD
Transport (including gas)	3.025.000 IDR / 209 USD
Eating out	4.282.000 IDR / 297 USD
Groceries	698.000 IDR / 48 USD
Activities	1.800.000 IDR / 125 USD
Total	14.663.000 IDR / 1,015 USD

Conclusion

We loved our stay in Bali, which many consider a paradise on earth. Its beauty, lush vegetation, fascinating culture and low cost of living are the island’s great strengths.

Time for a change of scenery, but we are not going far. Singapore, here we come!