Just Chilling Out in Bali, Indonesia: Relaxation and Adventure Travel!

I recently spent two weeks in Bali and while I have very few photos to show for it, I really really enjoyed my time on the island! The past few months have been quite action packed – perhaps we’ve been trying to see too much in too little time – however things changed when we got to Bali.

We purposely chose hotels that were a little removed from the center of town, and most importantly, hotels that had nice big swimming pools!

I had a total of 2 days of sightseeing around the island, and the rest of the time was spent swimming in the pool, walking on the beach, swimming in the pool, having dinner at the beach, swimming in the pool… That was Bali for me.

I’m not going to taunt you with pool photos, since most people in North America are likely covered under a blanket of snow, however, here’s a look at what I managed to do around Bali:

Visiting the Ubud Monkey Forest

I had heard tales of the mischievous monkeys at the Ubud Monkey Forest and I was half expecting to walk into the park and be greeted by a brood of macaques flashing their sharp teeth at me. While that wasn’t exactly accurate, it wasn’t far from the truth either… The thing about the macaques at the Monkey Forest is that they have no fear of man! Between the lack of natural predators and the daily stream of visitors who enter the park with snacks in hand, the monkeys have become quite bold.

Sam and I made the mistake of going to the park early in the morning as soon as it opened, which meant we were the only ones walking around while hungry monkeys looked at us with expectant eyes. There was just something a little creepy about being the only people there in a park full of unruly creatures…isn’t that how horror movies start out?! I spent most of my time trying to avoid eye-contact and walk by unnoticed.

Climbing Mount Batur

Getting up in the wee hours of the morning to climb a volcano in the dark was one of the most strenuous yet fun activities I did on the island. The 2 hour climb had me scrambling up volcanic rock as I fought my way to the top, and the reward was a spectacular sunrise set over a lake and some of the surrounding mountain peaks. My legs were shaky for a few days after that, but it was totally worth it!

Watching a Fire and Trance Performance

During one of my first nights in Ubud, I attended the Kecak Fire and Trance performance. While there are various cultural dances on the island, the Kecak dance is considered a secular dance even though it takes place within the temple grounds.

The dance consisted of about 100 men sitting in a circular formation around a fire. It began with a handful of men chanting and it slowly grew in volume as the other men joined in with clapping and more chanting. I can’t say I knew what was going on as there was no explanation about the meaning behind the dance before they started, but it was entrancing to watch nonetheless.

Aside from the Kecak Fire and Trance Dance, there are numerous dance performances that happen across Ubud. The dances are rooted in Hinduism and they each tell the story of epics from Hindu literature.

Touring the island

If there’s one thing there’s no shortage of in Bali, it’s drivers. Anytime we went out for a walk we were met my a flood of offers – Taxi? Transport? You need driver? – so eventually we hired one to take us around the island.

I find the full day tours aboard a coach bus a bit too much to handle, so the option of hiring a driver and customizing the itinerary seemed like a good option.

In the end we ended up visiting the Tegalalang Rice Terraces, the Rock Temple of Gunung Kawi with its shrines carved into the rock wall, the Elephant Cave Temple, a coffee plantation, and we also enjoyed lunch at Sari Restaurant – a great little spot with magnificent views of Mount Batur.

It was a small taste of Bali, but just enough considering this trip was all about relaxing and having some down time.

Hopping over to Nusa Lembongan

If you’re looking to expand your horizons when it comes to Indonesia’s beaches, there are a lots of day trips available out of Bali to many of the surrounding islands. Some of the most popular choices are the Gili Islands, Lombok, and Nusa Penida, however, I went with the closest choice: Nusa Lembongan.

Not being one who likes to be out at sea, the 30 minute boat ride to Nusa Lembongan seemed like the most logical choice. This little island located just off of Bali’s southeastern shores was a really nice change from busy towns like Ubud and Sanur. The beaches were empty, the town was sleepier, and I couldn’t help thinking that this is what Bali must’ve been like many moons ago.

The main draw to Nusa Lembongan are all the water activities – snorkeling, scuba diving, freediving, surfing, and even kayaking. You can also visit a mangrove forest and a few of the local temples, but really, you come here for the beaches.

And that was Bali for me – a lazy vacation with not much on the itinerary. But I mean, can you blame me for not exploring more when I had a pool like this? 😉

Turning “Bali Time” Into Your Time: Practical Tips & Cost-Saving Hacks

Choose Your Base With Intention

Bali’s biggest rookie mistake is trying to see everything from one beach town. Traffic is real. Scooter horns will erode the zen you found at that sound-bath class. Instead:

Book three-night clusters in two locations rather than a fortnight in one. You’ll spend less on taxis and gain totally different micro-cultures.

Decoding Transport (aka Surviving The Scooters)

Option A – Self-drive scooter – IDP licence required, helmets mandatory, rental ~IDR 70 000/day. Only choose if you have actual motorbike experience; police love on-the-spot fines.

Option B – Grab / Gojek apps – Southeast Asia’s Uber. Cheap for hops under 20 km: airport-to-Canggu ~IDR 120 000. Beware airport “no ride-hailing” zone; walk 300 m to the car-park and book there.

Option C – Private driver – For temple loops or Mount Batur, negotiate 10-hour day rate (IDR 550 000–700 000 depending on distance/vehicle size). Confirm petrol included and whether parking fees are extra.

Tip: Swap WhatsApp numbers with a driver you click with. Reliability > saving a dollar with someone new.

Sunrise Volcano Etiquette

Climbing Batur or the tougher Agung? A few courtesies:

1. Local guide cooperatives set fixed prices (Batur ~IDR 350 000 pp including breakfast). Haggling undermines community income; focus on guide chemistry instead.

2. Pack in, pack out: banana peels count as trash at 1 700 m.

3. Head-torch & wind-breaker – mountain-top temps drop to 5 °C, and phone flashlights die quickly.

4. Respect ceremony zones – if villagers are laying offerings, photographs only with permission. Agung is sacred.

Beyond The Usual Day-Trips

• Tukad Cepung Waterfall – A cathedral-like shaft of light piercing a mossy cave. Arrive 8 a.m. to avoid Insta gridlock.

• Sari Organik Walk – Free nature trail starting behind Pura Taman Saraswati, Ubud. Leads through emerald paddies to tiny farm cafés serving rosella iced tea.

• Jatiluwih UNESCO Rice Terraces – Less tour-bus mayhem than Tegalalang. E-bike loop options, IDR 40 000 entry.

• Amed Freedive Snorkel – Black-sand bays, Japanese shipwreck in waist-deep water. Sunrise over Lombok volcanoes is goose-bump good.

• Cooking class at Grandma’s Home (Taman Sari Market, Canggu) – Grind sambal in a stone mortar, learn how to fold banana-leaf parcels, devour three-course lunch. Vegan modifications available.

Food: From Warung To Fine-Dine Without Breaking The Bank

• Warung tip – Look for local joints displaying trays of curries, tempeh, veggies. Point at what you want; plate rarely tops IDR 35 000. If it’s busy with Balinese families, hygiene is fine.

• Mid-range splurge – Hujan Locale (Ubud) for Chef Will Meyrick’s creative twist on street classics; share the Betutu duck and you won’t need dessert.

• Date-night blow-out – Locavore (advance booking essential) – 7-course degustation ~IDR 1.2 million pp but arguably Bali’s most inventive nose-to-tail menu. Budget travellers: try lunch menu for half price.

• Café culture – 9 a.m. queue at Crate in Canggu for smoothie bowls the size of mixing-bowls; or espresso-bar hop along Jalan Goutama, Ubud.

BYO collapsible steel straw; many warungs have ditched single-use plastics and will love you for it.

Sample 7-Day “Relax + Adventure” Itinerary

Costs average ~IDR 1 000 000 per person per day (USD 68) including mid-range rooms, a few splurges and private driver. Trim the bill by replacing Day-6 dinner with a street-side babi guling stall (IDR 40 000).

Packing Touch-Ups People Forget

• Microfibre sarong (temple cover, beach towel, bus blanket)

• Dry-bag 10 L for snorkel trips + Scooter monsoon downpours

• Universal sink plug + eco-detergent sheets for hand-washing swimwear

• Head-torch (power cuts + Batur sunrise)

• Reusable cutlery set – smoothie bowl take-away, night-market nibbles

• Ear-plugs (geckos start their raucous karaoke at 4 a.m.)

Balinese Phrases That Open Doors

Attempting the local tongue usually doubles the grin you’ll receive and sometimes halves the price of mangosteens.

Have you been to Bali, Indonesia?
What were some of the highlights for you?