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Bali isn’t just about surf, sun and drunk people in tank tops. This famous Indonesian island has an entirely different side to it that few people take the time to explore. We all know that people go to Kuta to party, then they go to Ubud to find themselves. And the surfers never stop talking about Uluwatu.
But what does Bali have to offer for the rest of us? Are there fun things to do in Bali for us “in between” people that like surfing but don’t talk about the waves as if they have feelings?! Why should we visit Bali? Well, mainly, it’s a tropical paradise. But there are plenty of reasons to visit Bali. Here are my top ideas for a unique and luxurious visit to Bali, Indonesia.
Luxury Things to do in Bali Indonesia
1) Yoga Retreat
Yoga and meditation sort of goes hand in hand with Bali. Yoga retreats are dotted around the country and are of a very high standard. If you want to chill, detox and enjoy some of the best vegetarian food in the world then you need to try a yoga retreat in Bali. Floating Leaf Eco Yoga Retreat, Fivelements and Como Shambhala are all very popular options.
If you’re an experienced yogini already then you can even spend a few weeks in Bali studying for your yoga teacher accreditation. I’ve recently gotten quite into yoga as I find it really helps my lower back. So I would be so very up for something like this.
2) Luxury Villa Party With Friends
This is TOP of my list of things to do in Bali when I return. Spend a week (or more) in one of the gorgeous luxury villas in Bali with your best friends, loved ones and/or family members. With this site you can even choose your villa based on the side of Bali that you want to experience, eg. surf, diving, spa and more.
Each villa has a concierge who will take care of you from the minute you land in Bali to the minute you depart, arranging daytrips, meals and basically anything you need. Eh, yes please. Can I just live in one of these Bali villas?! Some of the villas can work out as cheap as $30 per person per night and every villa has a pool. Bargain. This is the perfect spot to enjoy the best of luxury and relaxation in Bali with friends/family. You can check out their site here.
3) Take to the Sea
Escapes the crowds and hire a yacht for the day. Seriously. Did you know that you can hire yachts on AirBnB now?? How ridiculous is that?! There are also plenty of charter companies in Bali. This is the perfect idea for a romantic occasion or celebration.
After all, Bali is all about the sea. But this is a different way of seeing it. Hire a yacht for half the day, find the best deserted beaches, go snorkeling, crack open a bottle of sparkling wine and watch the sunset. The perfect luxury activity in Bali.
4) Go Private
Hire a private driver and be shown the best spots on the island by a local. Or, even better, take a private helicopter ride over Bali’s volcanoes. Usually when I’m travelling I just sort of tag along on group excursions. But over the last year or so I’ve started to value intimacy and privacy a lot more on my travels.
I like to travel with very small groups or go on private excursions with my boyfriend and a guide. I find that I get a lot more information from privately guided trips and, honestly, it’s just a lot better for photo-opps. Spend the extra money for a private trip and you will not regret it.
5) Escape the Crowds
Sick of the crowds and the vendors combing the beach trying to sell you anything/everything? Then it’s probably time to check out one of the many stunning beach clubs in Bali. You can chill by the pool with a view of the ocean and a cocktail in hand.
Potato Head in Seminyak is one of the most popular but there are plenty to choose from. Cocoon and Ku De Ta are also in Seminyak and are great alternatives to Potato Head. There are usually 2 for 1 cocktails hours around sunset. I don’t know about you, but sounds like my kind of place.
You can find luxurious and unique beach clubs dotted around the island of Bali, not just in Seminyak. Check out even more beach clubs in Kuta, Legian and Nusa Dua here.
Conclusion
I spent a few weeks in Bali a couple of years ago and I absolutely loved it. I tried a lot of the typical “things to do in Bali”, but I didn’t actually enjoy half of them because they seem to be aimed at backpackers. SO, that’s why I thought I’d write my own list of slightly more unique and luxurious things to do in Bali.
I didn’t speak too much about it in this post but honestly, the food in Indonesian is unbelievable. There is so much delicious veggie food. Have a read of this post here and skip straight to the food section. I would love to go back there and spend all my time in the spa and one of the beautiful luxury villas munching on Nasi Goreng and writing. PARADISE!
You can read more about Bali here.
Have you been to Bali?
What was your favourite thing to do?
Aand now I need to go to Bali! 🙂 Thanks, Tara! Hiring a yacht on AirBnB has got to be next on the list, how cool!
Excellent list! We’re planning to travel across Asia including Bali for our honeymoon summer 2018 and I’m already tired of reading about backpacking there. Beautiful villa, some cruises to the sea and other more luxurious things to do sound a lot better. 🙂 You have a wonderful blog btw, keep blogging!
what a useful post for a traveler. I just love to visit many places. I Have a plan to go to Bali with my family and friends. I heard many good things about Bali. And thank you for your helpful post, It will be very helpful for me.
OMG, I don’t know that Bali has such cheap villa rental price like this. I will certainly book it when coming to Bali in October. Thanks so much for your sharing!