It might be less than 90 miles long but the small island of Bali packs some of the most beautiful scenery that Indonesia has to offer. The white sandy beaches of Kuta with its beautiful sunsets contrast with the ancient settlements in the Badung, Gianyar and Bangli districts creating an island which is rich in sheer beauty and history. Many holiday makers visit Bali for the first time as a stopover en-route to other Asian countries or Australia to find temperatures in the mid 20°s although during the dry season, between June and September, temperatures can rise to 33°C. The wet monsoon season, between October and March, brings with it heavy showers and high humidity but even then, parts of the island still enjoy beautiful sunshine. The Bali bombings of 2002 had an impact on the island's tourism causing a drop in visitors but today things have improved substantially with over 1.5m tourists embarking upon Bali holidays in 2007.
| Some of the most beautiful scenery that Indonesia has to offer... |
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Holidays in Bali provide beautiful scenery and nightlife that will appeal to a wide spectrum of visitors, from sun worshippers looking for an island paradise to honeymooners and even backpackers stopping off on a round the world trip. The beaches appeal to visitors of all ages whilst younger travellers and couples will almost certainly enjoy the vibrant nightlife found in Kuta. But beware, most of the bars and clubs don't come to life until the early hours so be prepared for a late night. Backpackers and older visitors will also like the traditional villages that can be found across the island, many dating back hundreds of years.
What to do...
Visitors can travel the entire length of the island and see many of the sites in less than a day which is one of the reasons why it's so popular as a stopover destination. The most popular and heavily developed area of the island is Kuta. A Mecca for surfers and party animals, Kuta has evolved dramatically from its origins as a fishing village to today become packed with hotels, bars and restaurants catering for Bali's surge in holidaymakers. The 5km of beach that greet visitors is usually the most crowded on the island with surfers drawn from all over the world because of the lack of dangerous reef and rocks. Even first timers can learn to surf here with a choice of surf schools not far from the shore.
Nusa Dua which is found just south of Kuta is purpose built for tourists with its beautiful beaches and great surf. Luxury hotels and designer shops line the coast and offer a much more relaxed and quiet atmosphere than the neighbouring resort of Kuta, perfect for honeymoons or even island weddings. Whilst there, it's well worth a visit to the small island of Pulau Penyu (Turtle Island) which can be accessed by boat from the mainland. Here visitors can see a turtle conservation area where baby turtles are released into the wild and other local wildlife is preserved.
The traditional villages of Bali make up the true culture of the island and are a must see. Many also have traditional festivals and dances which take place throughout the year and give a real insight into the people and culture that make up the island. A short trip inland to the district of Gianyar leads to several villages including Batabulan Village, Mas Village, Peliatan Village and more. Villages can also be found in the districts of Bangli, Badung, Klungkung and Karangasem.
