Bali Travel Guide Part I

By Pretty Little Hangers June 5, 2017 2 Comments 5 min read

During the month of February, I was fortunate enough to travel to Bali for a bloggers retreat with Pangea Dreams. I experienced the trip of a lifetime and connected with other cool bloggers from around the globe. From the moment I arrived in Bali I felt right at home. The Balinese people were so kind to all of the tourists exploring the island. Whether you want to relax by the beach, immerse yourself in the culture, surf, practice yoga or enjoy the nightlife, Bali has something to offer for everyone. If you ever get a chance to visit this tropical destination then GO- you will thank me later.

I stayed in a private villa in Denpasar which is also where the international airport is located- talk about an ideal spot to make your home base. I spent a week in Bali which I found wasn’t enough time to see all of the beauty that the island has to offer. If you’re planning to go to this part of Indonesia, I would recommend going for two weeks to maximize your time and explore different areas on the island. Bali is extremely budget friendly so changing accommodations over the course of 14 days is a feasible option.

Two other things to take into consideration when finalizing a Bali itinerary is how you plan to get around the island and the amount of time it takes to get from one destination to the next. If you want to explore different parts of the island then consider hiring a private driver. Bali is a huge island with limited public transportation options and having a local driver is a bonus since they often share a bit of history about the island with you. Once you determine the best method of transportation for your trip, don’t forget to take travel time into account as well. Bali has a ton of traffic (I know I was surprised too!), and the reality is that there aren’t very many roads on the island so you can expect up to 60-minute delays while driving from one area to the next.

I decided to dedicate two posts to my Bali trip since I explored so many beautiful locations, and I have so much to share with you. Expect to see my travels from Seminyak, Ubud, Canggu, Kuta, and Uluwatu. So without further ado here is a peek at my trip to Bali part one.

What I wore: Top: Free People, SOLD OUT (similar style here & here) | Shorts: H&M | Shoes: Tory Burch | Sunglasses: Ray-ban

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Ubud:

Ubud is probably one of my favorite areas in Bali. This area is surrounded by rainforests, rice terraces, Hindu temples, and is everything I envisioned Bali to be with lush greens, wild monkey’s (aka Bo Bo’s), traditional crafts and gorgeous architectural details in every corner.

I had an action-packed day in Ubud that started with eating a delicious lunch at Jungle Fish. However, before lounging by the most breathtaking infinity pool at Jungle Fish, I did a sunrise hike up Mount Batur. I am extremely proud of myself for waking up at 4 am to hike 2+ hours through a snake infested rainforest in order to reach the top of this active volcano (I still have the battle wounds from this exceptional experience). After taking in Lake Batur’s beautiful view from the top of Mount Batur, (roughly 1.1717m above sea level) we quickly descended down the slippery slopes of the volcano back to the village where our driver was waiting to take us to Jungle Fish. I must admit I was relieved when I had the opportunity to enjoy the accommodations at this gorgeous resort. Not only does the resort have an incredible infinity pool that overlooks the Osh River Valley, but the restaurant near the pool offers yummy lunch options and delicious cocktails. Other notable resorts in the area include the Hanging Gardens, The Four Seasons, and the Ritz-Carlton.

What I wore: Leggings: Lululemon, (similar style here & here) | Shoes: Havaianas | Necklaces: pave necklace & horn necklace | sunglasses: ray-ban

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What I wore: Bikini: Missoni, (similar style here & here) | Necklaces: horn necklace & pave necklace | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

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After relaxing by the pool for a few hours, we were off to our next destination- the sacred monkey forest. Monkeys are one of my favourite animals, so I was really looking forward to visiting this special place in Ubud. Home to hundreds of monkey’s that are known for their pickpocketing skills, the Monkey Forest allows guests access to both a nature reserve and temple complex. From the moment I stepped foot inside of the main entrance to the sacred monkey forest, I was an immediate target to my fellow hairy friends. A little monkey climbed up my legs and stole a water bottle right out of my hands. This tiny primate walked away with my water bottle and successfully opened the bottle to take a sip of ice cold water. Not only did this monkeys actions catch me off-guard but the human-like nature that this animal exhibited when opening my bottle of water was also incredible to witness. I must warn you to be alert at all times if you decide to check out the Monkey Forest of Padangtegal as these cuties do enjoy monkeying around.

Next up on the list of must-see attractions while I was in Ubud was the Tegalalang Rice Terraces. These infamous cliffs of sprawling rice fields are so picturesque and gave me just the right amount of “zen” that I craved after an eventful afternoon playing with monkeys. Unfortunately, I did not spend too much time exploring the rice terraces since I was on a tight schedule and still planned to visit the Tirta Empul Temple that day, but I am happy I got to go to this iconic landmark and snap a few cool shots.

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I finished my tour of Ubud at the Tirta Empul Temple. The Tirta Empul Temple is a holy water temple where visitors can submerge their body in a pool of sacred water filled with koi fish and partake in a bathing ritual. When I visited the temple, it was raining so I was unable to capture my experience in photos, but I can assure you that my mind, body, and soul felt refreshed and cleansed afterward. Check out more information about the bathing rituals at the Tirta Empul Temple here.

I can honestly say I felt a spiritual connection with the island of Bali and can definitely see myself going back for another visit but until then stay tuned for part II of my Bali trip.

xo, Britney