A fascinating mixture of natural beauty, local hospitality and an excellent tourist infrastructure make Bali holidays an increasingly popular choice for many tourists. Part of the appeal is the sheer diversity of experiences on offer. Whether you want a relaxing holiday by the beach, an adventurous time in the jungle, or just to party until dawn every night, a holiday in Bali has something to offer you.
These are just a few of the things you can get up to:
Go Shopping for Traditional Balinese Goods
Bali is well known for its traditional arts and crafts which make for the perfect souvenirs to take home from your holiday. Those interested in arts and crafts have the opportunity of visiting the Handicraft Villages of Bali, small villages dedicated to a particular art form. These are Celuk (for jewellery), Batubalan (stone carving), Pengosekan (painting) and Mas (wood carving.)
Alternatively, if you d like some more mainstream shops, Legian Street in Kuta does a nice line in boutiques and Ubud has become the art centre of Bali.
Note that, with the exception of the western style shops in the major cities, haggling will be the normal way of doing business. So come prepared to bargain hard to get your souvenirs at the very best prices and bear in mind that many of the vendors will only accept cash.
Have a Jungle Adventure
It may be better known as a beach and clubbing destination, but those after something a little more adventurous on their Bali holidays will have plenty of options, most of which can be found inland in the jungles and mountains. White water rafting, jungle trekking, mountain biking and paragliding are just a few of the activities on offer, the most popular are the elephant treks, where you spend the day exploring the rich jungles of Bali on the back of an elephant!
Live it up at Night
Those who like to party the night away will find plenty to keep them entertained on a holiday in Bali – the island s nightlife is famous the world over! There are many different parts of Bali that offer late night entertainment, each one with its own unique character. The area of Kuta is for the hard partying crowd, with dozens of pubs and clubs open until the small hours (though be aware that nothing really gets going here until midnight). Seminyak is regarded as having a slightly more sophisticated and chic kind of nightlife, while those who want to see some traditional Balinese dancing should head over to Ubud and Sanur.
Relax in a Luxury Spa
Sometimes the best activity is one that involves doing hardly anything at all! With its outstanding natural beauty and the high quality of the spa hotels in Bali, a spa holiday here can offer perfect relaxation. There are plenty of accommodation options that have excellent spa facilities, but amongst the very best are the Oberoi Bali in Seminyak, the Four Seasons Resort in Ubud, and the Legian Bali.
Author Resource:
Claire Bryant is a Bali holiday specialist for key2holidays, an online tour operator offering Bali holidays (http://www.key2holidays.co.uk/bali/ ) as well as holidays to other destinations in the Far East.