Temples · Terraces · Wild places

Go beyond
the guidebook

A field guide to Bali's essential places—what they feel like, when the light is best, and the local details that make each stop worth the road.

Open the field guide

Where will Bali take you?

Eight places
worth the road

A practical field guide to the temples, terraces and viewpoints that shape a classic Bali itinerary—what each place feels like, when to go and what to know.

Tanah Lot01
Temple & Coastline

Tanah Lot

Tanah Lot is a sea temple perched on a rock formation just off Bali's southwest coast, and one of the island's most photographed sights. It's best visited in the late afternoon, when the temple silhouette catches the sunset and the tide recedes enough to walk out along the rocks. Expect crowds near golden hour — arriving an hour earlier gives you space to explore the surrounding cliffside market stalls and viewpoints before the light show starts.

Local note

Best time to visit: 4-6pm for sunset views and lower tide.

Uluwatu Temple02
Clifftop Temple

Uluwatu Temple

Set on a limestone cliff nearly 70 meters above the Indian Ocean, Uluwatu Temple is one of Bali's six key directional temples and offers some of the most dramatic coastal views on the island. Many visitors pair the temple with the evening Kecak fire dance performed at an amphitheater overlooking the sunset. Watch for the resident long-tailed macaques near the entrance — they're known to grab sunglasses and hats, so keep loose items secured.

Local note

Wear a sarong (provided at entry) and keep belongings zipped up near the monkeys.

Ubud Art Market03
Culture & Shopping

Ubud Art Market

In the heart of Ubud, this traditional market is a maze of stalls selling handwoven textiles, wood carvings, sarongs, jewelry, and Balinese art. Bargaining is expected and part of the experience — start at roughly half the asking price and negotiate from there. The market sits close to the Ubud Royal Palace and Saraswati Temple, making it easy to combine a shopping stop with a short walk through Ubud's cultural core.

Local note

Go early morning to beat the tour bus crowds and get better opening prices.

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary04
Nature & Wildlife

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

This forest sanctuary in Ubud is home to over 1,200 long-tailed macaques living among moss-covered temples and banyan trees. Walking paths wind through three ancient temple complexes dating to the 14th century, giving the reserve as much cultural weight as natural charm. The monkeys are habituated to visitors but can be assertive around food or shiny objects, so it's best to store snacks, sunglasses, and loose jewelry before entering.

Local note

Don't carry food or hold anything shiny — monkeys will try to take it.

Jatiluwih Rice Terraces05
Landscape

Jatiluwih Rice Terraces

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Jatiluwih's terraced rice fields showcase the centuries-old subak irrigation system that defines traditional Balinese agriculture. The terraces sweep across the slopes of Mount Batukaru, and a network of walking trails lets visitors get well beyond the roadside viewpoints. It's one of the quieter major attractions on the island, making it a good stop for slower, more scenic time away from crowds.

Local note

Bring water and sun protection — the walking trails have little shade at midday.

Gunung Kawi Temple06
Ancient Temple

Gunung Kawi Temple

Gunung Kawi is an 11th-century temple complex carved directly into a river valley cliff face, reached by descending roughly 300 stone steps through terraced rice paddies. The candi (shrines) are believed to be memorials to Balinese royalty and are among the oldest structures on the island. The climb back up is the real workout, but the valley setting — river, rice fields, and carved stone in one frame — makes it worth the effort.

Local note

Wear comfortable shoes; the return climb up 300 steps is the hard part.

Tabanan Countryside07
Rural Bali

Tabanan Countryside

Tabanan regency is Bali's agricultural heartland, known for rolling rice paddies, quiet village roads, and some of the least touristed scenery on the island. It's a good stop for slower travel — village temples, roadside coffee stalls, and farmers at work in the fields — away from the busier south. Many VW safari routes pass through Tabanan en route to Jatiluwih or the western coast.

Local note

A great stop for authentic village life without the crowds of Ubud.

Mount Batur Volcano View08
Volcano & Viewpoint

Mount Batur Volcano View

Mount Batur is an active volcano in the Kintamani highlands, with viewpoints along the caldera rim offering sweeping views over the crater and Lake Batur below. Sunrise trekking to the summit is popular for serious early risers, but the roadside viewpoints deliver dramatic scenery without the pre-dawn climb. The cooler mountain air here is a welcome break from the coastal heat.

Local note

Bring a light jacket — Kintamani's elevation makes it noticeably cooler than the coast.

Ready to map out your visit? Use our interactive trip planner at balisafari.tours, or see real guest photos from these spots at balivw.tours.

Choose your road

Full day tours

Three favourite private routes, with your own Volkswagen and local driver-guide for the day.

View all destinations
Ubud Tours by classic Volkswagen
Learn more

Central Bali · Full day

Ubud Tours

Visit Ubud's villages, temples, rice terraces and creative heart in a classic open-top Volkswagen.

Reserve Tour

Best price!USD$ 40 / person

Kintamani Volcano Tours by classic Volkswagen
Learn more

Bali Highlands · Full day

Kintamani Volcano Tours

Climb into the cool highlands for Mount Batur views, village roads, rice terraces and sacred springs.

Reserve Tour

Best price!USD$ 40 / person

Uluwatu Tours by classic Volkswagen
Learn more

South Bali · Full day

Uluwatu Tours

Follow the coast to Uluwatu Temple for Indian Ocean views, roaming monkeys and a golden-hour drive.

Reserve Tour

Best price!USD$ 40 / person

Tour pricing in Rp is 700,000. Small children are free. Hotel/Villa pickup and dropoff included!

Seen something you love?

Turn the guide into a journey

Send us the places on your shortlist. A local driver-guide will connect them into a realistic private route with the right timing, pace and a few good surprises.

Plan Your Tour Contact via WhatsApp

Usually replies within a few hours
+62 812 3781 2783