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Beautiful beaches might be one of Bali’s biggest drawcards, but they’re only the beginning.
Venture beyond the coastline and your clients can find centuries-old temples, emerald rice terraces, traditional villages, local crafts, dramatic landscapes and rituals that remain an important part of everyday Balinese life.
It’s this combination of scenery and living culture that can turn a relaxing beach holiday into something much more memorable – and gives travel agents plenty of opportunities to help clients experience more of the destination.
From learning to cook Balinese dishes to watching traditional dance and walking through rice terraces, here are some of the experiences worth adding to a Bali itinerary – plus six hotels that make excellent bases for discovering another side of the island.
Discover Bali’s cultural heart in Ubud
For clients keen to experience more of Balinese culture, Ubud is an obvious place to start.
Located inland amongst lush landscapes and rice fields, the area is widely regarded as one of Bali’s artistic and cultural centres. Traditional dance, arts and crafts, temples and the surrounding countryside all provide reasons to spend time here rather than simply visiting on a day trip.
The famous terraced landscapes are another highlight. Bali’s traditional Subak irrigation system is about much more than creating beautiful rice fields: it represents a centuries-old relationship between agriculture, community, nature and spirituality and forms part of Bali’s UNESCO-recognised Cultural Landscape.
5* Sanggraloka Ubud
Set amid greenery in Bresela, Sanggraloka Ubud is a luxury organic farm resort that places nature and local experiences at the heart of the stay. Guests can take part in Balinese cooking classes inspired by the resort’s farm-to-table philosophy, traditional arts and crafts workshops, cultural activities and guided treks through jungles and rice terraces.
Experience Bali’s temples and spiritual traditions
Temples are woven into the landscape and everyday life of Bali, and visiting them can give clients a much deeper understanding of the island.
Among the best known are Besakih Temple, Bali’s largest temple complex; Tanah Lot, dramatically positioned on the coast; and the temples found throughout the island’s villages and communities. Bali’s temples are not simply visitor attractions but living places of worship and community life.
Clients should, of course, approach them respectfully, observing local customs and remembering that the rituals they may encounter are part of a living religion rather than a performance for visitors.
5* Jumeirah Bali
Set on the Bukit Peninsula, Jumeirah Bali gives guests opportunities to engage with Balinese traditions as part of their stay.
Experiences include visits to sacred Hindu temples and an authentic Balinese blessing at Wi Mukti Temple. Guests can also try activities such as batik painting and making Canang Sari, the small offerings that are such a familiar sight across Bali.
It’s a great example of how a luxury stay can incorporate meaningful connections with the destination rather than keeping clients entirely within a resort bubble.
See Bali through its arts and traditions
One of the joys of exploring Bali is that its traditions aren’t confined to museums.
Dance, music, crafts and ceremonies remain part of the island’s cultural identity. Traditional performances such as Kecak, Legong and Barong draw on stories and mythology, often accompanied by the distinctive sounds of gamelan music.
For clients, watching a performance can be memorable – but having the opportunity to participate in a workshop or lesson can add another dimension entirely.
5* Ayodya Resort Bali
Ayodya Resort Bali in Nusa Dua is particularly strong in this respect, with its own Bale Banjar cultural hub and a surprisingly extensive programme of activities.
Guests can learn Balinese dance, make traditional Canang Sari offerings, try coconut carving and ketupat weaving, learn about the Balinese language and watch Kecak and other traditional dance performances in the resort’s open-air Balinese Theatre.
That makes it a useful recommendation for clients who want the ease of a beachfront resort while still having opportunities to engage with local culture.
Get out amongst Bali’s extraordinary landscapes
Bali’s natural beauty stretches far beyond its coastline.
Inland, clients can encounter terraced rice fields, tropical forest and volcanic scenery, while elsewhere waterfalls, lakes and mountain landscapes offer a very different picture of the island from its famous beaches.
Walking and cycling are great ways to slow things down and appreciate the landscape, particularly around Ubud and central Bali.
5* Maya Ubud Resort & Spa
Set within 18 hectares of lush landscape between the Petanu River valley and rice fields, Maya Ubud Resort & Spa is beautifully positioned for clients who want to experience Bali’s greener side. The resort itself feels immersed in nature, with tropical gardens, walking trails and views across the surrounding landscape creating a real sense of escape.
Guests can explore the resort’s nature trail, take part in guided walks through the surrounding rice fields and villages, or venture further afield to discover waterfalls, temples and some of central Bali’s most beautiful scenery. There are also complimentary shuttles into Ubud, making it easy to combine peaceful surroundings with time exploring the town.
Discover Bali’s villages, crafts and everyday life
Some of the most memorable moments in Bali can come from experiences that seem relatively simple: seeing artisans at work, visiting local communities, wandering through a market or learning how traditional products are made.
Around Ubud and central Bali in particular, different communities have long been associated with arts and crafts such as woodcarving, painting and silversmithing. Exploring beyond the main tourist centres can help clients understand the skills and traditions behind the souvenirs they see throughout the island.
5* The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali
Surrounded by the greenery of Ubud, The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali provides a contemporary base for clients who want to explore the cultural heart of the island while still enjoying the facilities of a full-service resort.
Its location puts guests within reach of Ubud’s galleries, markets, temples and surrounding villages, while experiences at the resort itself offer opportunities to discover more about Balinese traditions. Guests can take part in activities such as Balinese dance, local craft experiences and other cultural programmes, providing an introduction to the island’s heritage before or after heading out to explore.
With an infinity pool overlooking the surrounding landscape and spacious accommodation to return to at the end of the day, it works particularly well for clients who want to balance sightseeing with downtime.
Taste Bali – and learn how to make it yourself
Food can be one of the easiest ways for clients to connect with a destination, and Bali is no exception.
A cooking class adds much more to a trip than another restaurant reservation. Visiting markets, discovering unfamiliar ingredients and learning how flavours are put together gives travellers something they can take home with them – sometimes quite literally in the form of a new recipe.
It’s also an experience that works for a wide range of clients, from couples and families to groups of friends.
5* Tanah Gajah, a Resort by Hadiprana
Set among six hectares of rice fields just outside Ubud, Tanah Gajah, a Resort by Hadiprana offers an intimate way to experience Bali’s countryside, cuisine and traditions. Once the private estate of renowned Indonesian architect and art collector Hendra Hadiprana, the resort retains a strong sense of place, with art, gardens and rice paddies forming part of the experience.
Food provides another way for guests to connect with the destination. The resort offers a Balinese cooking experience that begins with a guided walk through its organic garden to discover local herbs and ingredients before guests learn to prepare traditional dishes with the culinary team.
For clients who want to see more of the surrounding area, the resort also offers guided rice-paddy treks and other experiences designed to introduce guests to local landscapes and everyday Balinese life.
Help clients see more than one side of Bali
There’s nothing wrong with spending a few days doing very little beside a Bali pool – in fact, for many clients that’s part of the appeal.
But encouraging them to look beyond the beach can transform the holiday.
They might watch the sun rise over a rice terrace, learn the meaning behind the small offerings they see each morning, hear gamelan music during a traditional performance, try their hand at Balinese cooking or visit a temple and begin to understand the spiritual traditions that shape life on the island.
Bali rewards curiosity. And for travel agents, adding even one or two experiences beyond the traditional beach stay can help turn a great holiday into one clients will talk about long after they’ve returned home.
