What to do in Bali

The Monkey Forest is a sanctuary and natural habitat home to more than a thousand Balinese long-tailed monkeys. They roam freely, around magnificent temples, banyan trees, and all the visitors. Here you’ll stroll the meandering paths that wind through lush rainforest, enjoying close encounters with the entertaining animals nearly the entire way. There are usually lots of babies riding on their mother’s backs and many leaping through the trees, occasionally onto the shoulders of passersby. While it makes for great pictures, don’t attempt to feed them – dozens of monkeys crawling all over you is not the experience you want to have.

Munduk is located in the north Bali highlands and as the area gets quite a bit of rain, there’s lots of lush greenery and waterfalls. There are many that can be seen with just a relatively short like some of which cascade more than 75 feet. The most popular trek is the Munduk Waterfalls hike which leads to three different falls, including Larangan Melanting, Red Coral, and Munduk/Golden Valley. It can be accomplished within a few hours but you might want to plan to have lunch at the café overlooking the last waterfall as you’d be hard-pressed to find a better view than this.

Nusa Penida is a popular day trip from Sanur. The relatively undeveloped island is southeast of mainland Bali and easily reached by a boat tour, just a 45-minute ride away. Its beauty is striking, with pristine white sandy beaches and unique rock formations. The iconic attraction here is Kelingking Beach, a secluded stretch of powdery sands. This “secret” beach is one of the most photogenic spots, located on the southwest coast in the village of Bunga. It’s framed by soaring cliffs and brilliant cobalt blue waters that have led many to refer to it as “heaven on Earth.”

The Kecak Fire Dance is a mesmerizing traditional dance and one of the most iconic art performances in Bali. It takes place at a clifftop amphitheater at Uluwatu Temple in Ubud along the waterfront, providing magnificent views of the sea as well as an ideal vantage point for watching a glorious sunset. It adapts the famous Ramayana Hindu epic as a story told in the form of dance, performed against the orange glow of the sky as the sun goes down. The culmination includes a huge fire display without any musical instruments used. Instead, you’ll hear the haunting chants of the costumed men.