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? 😉

Practical Tips for Getting the Most Out of Bali

Bali is easy to love and surprisingly easy to get wrong. Here’s what helps — choosing the right base, getting around without losing your mind to traffic, and finding the things that aren’t on every tour-bus itinerary.

Choosing Your Base

One of the most common missteps in Bali is trying to see everything from a single town. Traffic is real, scooter horns are relentless, and you’ll spend more time in a car than at a pool. The better approach is to cluster your nights around two areas that suit your mood:

Three-night clusters across two locations beats a fortnight in one. You’ll spend less on taxis and get genuinely different micro-cultures from each base.

For Ubud, Komaneka at Bisma is a consistently well-reviewed boutique on Booking.com — a hillside property with an infinity pool overlooking the Campuhan River valley and rice fields, close to the Campuhan ridge walk. For Canggu, The Bohemian Bali (a Design Hotels member near Berawa Beach) is the adults-only pool-and-garden option that suits the relaxed pace Audrey described perfectly. Both can be browsed on Booking.com alongside the full range of options for the other areas.

Getting Around

Self-drive scooter — IDP licence required, helmets mandatory, rental around IDR 70,000 per day. Only choose this if you have real motorbike experience; police are fond of on-the-spot fines for tourists who don’t.

Grab or Gojek apps — Southeast Asia’s version of Uber, and genuinely cheap for hops under 20 km. Airport to Canggu runs around IDR 120,000. Note: there’s a no-ride-hailing zone at the airport itself — walk about 300 metres to the car park and book from there.

Private driver — For temple loops or the Mount Batur run, negotiate a 10-hour day rate (IDR 550,000–700,000 depending on distance and vehicle size). Confirm whether petrol and parking fees are included before you agree.

Swap WhatsApp numbers with a driver you get along with. Reliability matters more than saving a few thousand rupiah with someone unfamiliar.

Sunrise Volcano Etiquette

Climbing Batur or the tougher Agung? A few things worth knowing beforehand:

1. Local guide cooperatives set fixed prices (Batur is around IDR 350,000 per person including breakfast at the summit). Haggling undercuts community income; focus on finding a guide you click with instead.
2. Pack in, pack out — banana peels count as rubbish at 1,700 metres.
3. Head-torch and windbreaker — summit temperatures drop to around 5 °C, and phone flashlights die quickly on the ascent.
4. Respect ceremony zones — if villagers are laying offerings, photographs only with permission. Agung is sacred in the fullest sense of the word.

Beyond the Usual Day Trips

• Tukad Cepung Waterfall — a cathedral-like shaft of light piercing a mossy cave. Arrive before 8 a.m. to avoid the Instagram queue.
• Sari Organik Walk — a free nature trail starting behind Pura Taman Saraswati in Ubud, leading through emerald paddies to small farm cafés serving rosella iced tea.
• Jatiluwih UNESCO Rice Terraces — considerably less tour-bus mayhem than Tegalalang. E-bike loops available, entry around IDR 40,000.
• Amed Snorkelling — black-sand bays, a Japanese shipwreck in waist-deep water, and sunrise views over the Lombok volcanoes that are genuinely worth the early start.
• Cooking class at a local home (Taman Sari Market, Canggu) — grind sambal in a stone mortar, learn to fold banana-leaf parcels, then devour a three-course lunch. Vegan modifications usually available on request.

Food: Warung to Fine Dining

• Warung tip — look for local spots displaying trays of curries, tempeh and vegetables. Point at what you want; a plate rarely tops IDR 35,000. If it’s busy with Balinese families, hygiene is almost certainly fine.
• Mid-range splurge — Hujan Locale in Ubud for Chef Will Meyrick’s creative take on street classics; share the betutu duck and you genuinely won’t need dessert.
• Fine dining — Locavore NXT (the reimagined successor to Ubud’s legendary Locavore, now in a new location just outside Ubud with a ~20-course tasting menu and overnight cabins) is a world-class experience for the serious food traveller. Book well ahead. Budget travellers should look at their more accessible spin-off concepts instead.
• Café culture — join the 9 a.m. queue at Crate in Canggu for smoothie bowls the size of mixing bowls, or espresso-bar hop along Jalan Goutama in Ubud.

Bring a collapsible steel straw — many warungs have ditched single-use plastics and will appreciate the gesture.

Sample 7-Day Itinerary

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

Packing Things People Forget

• Microfibre sarong — temple cover, beach towel and bus blanket in one.
• 10 L dry-bag — for snorkel trips and the inevitable scooter monsoon downpour.
• Universal sink plug and eco-detergent sheets — for hand-washing swimwear between pools.
• Head-torch — power cuts happen, and Batur starts in the dark.
• Reusable cutlery — useful for smoothie bowl take-aways and night-market snacks.
• Earplugs — geckos start their raucous karaoke well before 4 a.m.

A Few Useful Phrases

Bali FAQ

What’s the best base if I want relaxation first, sightseeing second?

Pick Ubud outskirts (Penestanan or Nyuh Kuning) for quiet stays near culture and rice fields, or Canggu (Berawa or Pererenan) for beach time with cafés. Split your trip into two bases of 3–4 nights each to cut transit time and keep the pace manageable.

Do I need a scooter or is a private driver better?

If you’re experienced on two wheels, a scooter gives you freedom for short hops. Otherwise, use Grab or Gojek for point-to-point journeys and hire a private driver for full-day loops — confirm whether fuel and parking are included before you agree on a price.

Any etiquette or safety tips for Ubud Monkey Forest?

Don’t feed, touch or make prolonged eye contact with the macaques; keep sunglasses, water bottles and snacks well secured. Go mid-morning when there are more people around — being the only visitors while hungry monkeys eye you up is as unsettling as it sounds.

How hard is the Mount Batur sunrise hike?

About 2 hours up on volcanic gravel with a steady gain — manageable for anyone with basic fitness. Pack a headlamp, light windbreaker, water and closed shoes. Respect temple and ceremony zones at the summit and follow your guide’s lead.

Are there good day trips from Bali that still feel relaxed?

Yes — Nusa Lembongan is an easy 30-minute boat hop for quieter beaches, snorkelling and mangroves. For rice terraces without heavy crowds, try Jatiluwih over Tegalalang.

What cultural experiences pair well with a relaxed itinerary?

An evening Kecak Fire and Trance performance in Ubud, a cooking class with a market visit, and a sound-healing session all offer genuine cultural immersion without heavy logistics — exactly the kind of balance this trip was about.

How should I dress for temples and performances?

Carry a sarong or borrow one at most entrances. Cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes where posted, and step around — never over — offerings placed on the ground.

I’m planning mostly pool days. What’s the smartest packing tweak?

Bring a microfibre sarong, a 10 L dry-bag for boat trips and sudden showers, a universal sink plug with eco-detergent sheets for washing swimwear, a headlamp for early volcano starts, and earplugs — the gecko chorus is very real.

What’s a simple 7-day plan that mixes rest and adventure?

Two clusters: Canggu (days 1–3) for beach, a surf lesson and sunsets, then Ubud outskirts (days 4–7) for the Batur sunrise hike, rice terraces, a waterfall visit, the Kecak dance and slow café mornings.

How much should I budget per day?

A comfortable mid-range figure is around IDR 1,000,000 per person per day (approximately USD 68) covering solid accommodation, a private driver day and a few splurges. Warungs and ride-hail apps keep daily costs lower on simpler days.

Is Bali still enjoyable if I don’t want to “see everything”?

Absolutely — and honestly, it might be better that way. Bali rewards slowing down. A quiet pool, one great sunset, and a single meaningful cultural outing can be far more satisfying than a checklist of ten attractions.

What are some ideas for when I do have extra energy?

Tukad Cepung Waterfall early in the morning, the Sari Organik rice-field walk, Amed snorkelling at sunrise, or a day in Sidemen Valley for jungle-fringed infinity pools and Mount Agung views.

Attempting a few words of Bahasa or Balinese usually doubles the smile you’ll receive — and sometimes halves the price of mangosteens.

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