Travel is much more than seeing the sights and checking off the lists; it’s a change, permanent and everlasting in the foundation of how we live. Getting lost is inevitable and can often be the best part of any trip. Still, it helps to have an idea of where you want your adventures to begin. Whether seeking the inner truths of yoga and meditation, the sun-kissed beaches, or the local surf spots, Bali has just the place.
The Bukit Peninsula
Also known as The Bukit, this laid-back region is perfect for surfers, yogis, and beach bums. The inhabitants and visitors that drift to the relaxing ebb and flow of the crashing shores are content with days spent in the sand and nights spent in beach clubs.
Uluwatu
Drink: Single Fin and Finn’s Beach Club.
Eat: Nalu Bowl.
Pray: Uluwatu Temple, Morning Light Yoga.
Beach: Padang Padang, Nyang Nyang.
Bingin
Stay: Sal’s Secret Spot, Temple Lodge, Mick’s Place.
Eat: Cashew Tree, Temple Lodge, Swamis.
Massage: Acacia Bungalows.
Adventure: Rent a scooter and wind down to Balangan Beach.
Canggu
Canggu is the perfect balance of Balinese culture and comfort. With cozy beach villas, Canngu feels more like a home than a tourist destination. Scooters whirl down to the beaches and yogis flow with the rising sun at some of the most beautiful studios in Bali.
Stay: Desa Seni or Tugu Hotel.
Beaches: Batu Balong, Echo Beach, and, for a quieter option, Pererenan Beach.
Breakfast and lunch: The Shady Shack, Peloton Supershop, Crate Cafe.
Dinner: Betelnut Café, Avocado Café, La Baracca.
Yoga: The Practice, Desa Seni, Serenity Eco Guesthouse.
Drink: Old Man’s, The Lawn, Deus Ex, Pretty Poison.
Ubud
Ubud is all hustle and bustle, with scooters, pedestrians, and cars all packed into the meandering, narrow streets. Head in almost any direction and stumble upon ancient temples and places of worship. The greenness of this city permeates every corner: lush rice terraces, canopies of Jurassic jungle and rainforest, and organic farms with rich and abundant harvest. The gems of Ubud are the artists, who can be found in the surrounding villages.
Stay: Bambu Indah, The Hanging Gardens, Alam Ubud.
Eat: Moksa, Sari Organik, Alchemy, The Seeds of Life, Earth Café, Locavore, Sage.
Drink: Jungle Fish, Copper Kitchen.
Yoga: Radiantly Alive, The Yoga Barn, Intuitive Flow.
Pray: Tampak Siring (The Water Temple).
Adventure: Tegenungan Waterfall, Campuhan Ridge Walk, Tegallalang Rice Terraces, Batur Mountain, The Green School, Mas.
Relax: Nur Salon, Boreh Pijat Salon and Sauna.
Bonus
Head to Le Pirate Beach Club on Nusa Ceningan for that perfect postcard-tropical view, and Gili Air for secluded beach days and turquoise clear waters.
Bali is a game of choose-your-own-adventure, a playground of paradise. So pick a destination or two, but don’t be afraid to get lost in the middle.
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