Bali is a beautiful island in Indonesia that is very popular for nomads but also for travellers. On this large island, there are so many bucket list activities you can do, that even one month might make it hard to do everything! From cliff jumping in natural springs to climbing volcanos and swimming with manta rays and turtles, there’s endless options. The one bucket list activity we are talking about today is seeing wild dolphins in Lovina.
*This post contains affiliate links, which we may earn from. This does not come at an additional cost, but helps us to pursue this dream 🙂
Lovina is a small town located on the north coast of Bali. To compare to Canggu, it is roughly 3/4 hours away by car and requires a trip through the mountains to get there. This town isn’t too popular and doesn’t have many activities here to draw travellers to but is a beautiful seaside town. One activity that is close to Lovina is the Aling-Aling Waterfall where you can cliff jump and visit natural springs for an authentic, thrilling activity. You can learn more on this blog here.
How to Book to see Wild Dolphins
There are many ways to book this activity but the best way is to look on websites such as GetYourGuide to look for private hire. Here is a link to booking ready for your private boat trip to see wild dolphins!
This activity will provide you with the full experience to see wild dolphins in Lovina! Book it here.
Activity
Usually it is an early start. The best tour guides in Lovina will be starting the exploring first thing which requires you to be up and out by 7 am. Unethical boat tours will start around 6am whereas the dolphins are best admired around 7/8am when the water settles and boats clear.
You are picked up and taken to the beachfront where you are likely to catch the end of the sunrise which is a marvel within itself. This is something that we would recommend ALL to do when visiting Bali as there definitely are some amazing sunrises on this beautiful island! But this definitely isn’t what people are at the beach this early for so lets see the dolphins.
You can easily get into the water and wear some snorkelling goggles to marvel at the dolphins as they elegantly swim below you. As you have rented privately, you can agree a time you are out there and maybe even spend some of your time at the shore swimming near the corals and exploring the shallow water.
It truly is one of the best experiences so we would always recommend to do this but make sure to conduct it ethically to protect the dolphins and not to fund unethical practice.
Conservation for Wild Dolphins
Be careful for when you book your tour as many tours are unethical and ‘chase’ the dolphins which isn’t good practice. We always like to encourage people to be kind to the animals and support ethical organisations who allow for people to view these amazing mammals in the right way. Here we have done some research and the best ways to see dolphin’s in the wild ethically is by renting a private boat and awaiting dolphins to come to the boat or to rent a kayak or paddleboard to venture out and see them.
Many boats will be seen leaving at 6 am and chasing the dolphins but if you are able to get a private boat then make sure to find a nice spot in the ocean and turn off the engine. The dolphins are known to be social and come up close to boats and people to play or be near. So there is no need to chase them, the best encounters are when they come to you!
As it’s known, there’s so many amazing activities to do in Bali so be sure to check out some of our other Blogs in Bali!
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Our favourite must-needed travel resources
Where to Fly
Trip.com – Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
Kiwi – Use Kiwi’s amazing service that is pioneering in the flight space! They use virtual interlining, which means they can provide seamless connecting flights into one single itinerary!
CheapOair – Being one of the fastest growing online travel companies in the US, CheapOair offers great flight deals, hotel rooms, rental cars and more!
Where to Stay
Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
Vrbo – Find stunning vacation rentals with Vrbo! Offering over 2 million paid listings in 190 countries, find memorable experiences with this accommodation service!
Where to Explore
Viator – A trip advisor company, viator offers over 300,000 experiences over 200 countries, including water sports, walking tours, boat trips, food tastes tours and more! Including activities for many budgets, check out Viator!
Eat With – Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common too!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
Where to get Connected
Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
Where to be Protected
ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!
Our Top Traveller’s Essentials
Backpack – Osprey Farpoint 40 – This backpack is a staple amongst many travellers! Being a lot cheaper than the luxury brands, this is a quality backpack from a well known brand. It boasts quality durability, is lightweight with a great framework and is a great option for most people! This backpack has a hip strap to help carry the bag, a breathable harness strap, and comes in multiple colours!
Compression Packing Cubes – Compression cubes are our favourite packing accessory! These cubes are similar to the normal packing cubes, but feature a compression zip, meaning you can compress your clothes down… this makes packing easier, limits the space you are using, and means more room for souvenirs etc!
Powerbank – Don’t lose power when travelling! It isn’t always guaranteed to find charging ports, so we would always suggest carrying a spare power bank, just incase you do run low on power when you need it!
Universal Travel Plug Adapter – Most backpackers/travellers visit multiple countries during one trip. And that means it isn’t guaranteed you will be using the same plug head during each place. A universal plug is great as it lets you switch between each plug head style all in one item! We love ours, it has USB slots meaning multiple items can be charged at once.
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Bali is such a busy place for travellers and backpackers to visit that you often get caught up with the crowds. On the island there is so much to do and see that you can often get overwhelmed with the options. Do you head west to Canggu which is a surfers paradise? Or east to the party islands? Or maybe stay central in the small authentic town of Ubud? The island of Bali has so many locations that offers scenic views and adventurous activities so it’s easy to miss the small things! This is Aling Aling Waterfall, and is a place to check out for sure!
*This post contains affiliate links, which we may earn from. This does not come at an additional cost, but helps us to pursue this dream 🙂
Aling Aling Waterfalls
When doing initial research of Bali we can conclude that many don’t listAling-Aling Waterfallsat top of the itinerary but for us we would put it on there for sure. It’s location is isolated but is located roughly 30 minutes south of Lovina which is a popular spot to swim with wild dolphins! Be sure to check out our best spots in Ubud here to get the best itinerary for that part of the island.
Many seem to not notice the wonder that is Aling-Aling waterfalls and merely pass by it when visiting Lovina. However, we would totally recommend visiting and seeing the natural wonder hidden deep in the mountains.
Finding and Entering Aling Aling
This waterfall is a hidden wonder of Bali, off a mountain road and has 3 main cliff jumping points, and 1 natural water slide. At the site there is a large car park and an entrance fee of roughly £8 per person if you want a guide to take you, or £2 without a guide. Please note that if you don’t take a guide you are not able to swim or enjoy the natural waterslide or cliff jumps- and will be fined if you are caught.
The actual Aling-Aling waterfall doesn’t allow swimming or cliff jumping as it sits at roughly 200 metres which is far too high for us!! However, there are set locations which allow this with a 5 metre platform and a swimming area at the base of a natural waterslide. The waterslide is very simple. You sit at the top of the fall which is roughly 10 metres up and you slide down the rocks which is softened by the flow of water before dunking in the beautiful pool below
The Aling Aling Waterfall Experience
The 5 metre jump is perfect for people who aren’t too confident in heights (or water) and is an easy ledge to practice on! The slide seems scarier but once you do it, you are likely to want to ride it again! Below is the slide in action!
Further down the stream, you have higher cliff spots which are perfect for adrenalin junkies and confident jumpers. When we experienced these falls the weather really challenged us with torrential rain and flooding but this didn’t stop us from completing these jumps! The first cliff jump which is 10 metres was personally the hardest and is a simple leap from a ledge into the waters below.
The 2 further cliff jumping locations were 15 metres but looked the same as the 10 metre. There was only one slight difference minus the height difference. The 1st 15 metre jump required you to leap away from the side to avoid overhanging rocks before reaching the pool below. This is a hard thing to commit to but make sure to jump outwards! At each activity location there are steps so you can make your way back up to the jumping spot again or to watch your friendly make the leap!
We didn’t make our way to the final jumping spot due to the weather but as it was the same height it didn’t matter too much. The location is in the heart of the mountains, in the jungle so be aware of your footing as it is all natural terrain.
Usually this activity would take around 1/2 hours to enjoy and just beside the waterfall car park is a local place serving food which is a great place to grab a meal after all that jumping you did! It serves local food with the usual amazing flavours.
For us, this is an activity we would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Bali as it’s got everything! Adventure, beauty, nature, hiking. It’s a perfect way to spend half a day while travelling the island. We would recommend hiring a taxi to Aling-Aling if there is a group of you. If you are an individual or just you and a friend, you can also hire bikes and head there if you are confident in your motor skills!
We hope you enjoyed our experience and would love to know your thoughts on Aling-Aling waterfalls and if you would dare to jump the 15 metres!
We have found a full comprehensive tour here, for easy booking!
Our favourite must-needed travel resources
Where to Fly
Trip.com – Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
Kiwi – Use Kiwi’s amazing service that is pioneering in the flight space! They use virtual interlining, which means they can provide seamless connecting flights into one single itinerary!
CheapOair – Being one of the fastest growing online travel companies in the US, CheapOair offers great flight deals, hotel rooms, rental cars and more!
Where to Stay
Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
Vrbo – Find stunning vacation rentals with Vrbo! Offering over 2 million paid listings in 190 countries, find memorable experiences with this accommodation service!
Where to Explore
Viator – A trip advisor company, viator offers over 300,000 experiences over 200 countries, including water sports, walking tours, boat trips, food tastes tours and more! Including activities for many budgets, check out Viator!
Eat With – Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common too!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
Where to get Connected
Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
Where to be Protected
ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!
Our Top Traveller’s Essentials
Backpack – Osprey Farpoint 40 – This backpack is a staple amongst many travellers! Being a lot cheaper than the luxury brands, this is a quality backpack from a well known brand. It boasts quality durability, is lightweight with a great framework and is a great option for most people! This backpack has a hip strap to help carry the bag, a breathable harness strap, and comes in multiple colours!
Compression Packing Cubes – Compression cubes are our favourite packing accessory! These cubes are similar to the normal packing cubes, but feature a compression zip, meaning you can compress your clothes down… this makes packing easier, limits the space you are using, and means more room for souvenirs etc!
Powerbank – Don’t lose power when travelling! It isn’t always guaranteed to find charging ports, so we would always suggest carrying a spare power bank, just incase you do run low on power when you need it!
Universal Travel Plug Adapter – Most backpackers/travellers visit multiple countries during one trip. And that means it isn’t guaranteed you will be using the same plug head during each place. A universal plug is great as it lets you switch between each plug head style all in one item! We love ours, it has USB slots meaning multiple items can be charged at once.
Thank you for reading our Aling Aling Waterfall Guide
If you did enjoy the blog be sure to like and subscribe for more Bali and South East Asia Travel content. We also post our daily travel experiences on our social media’s which we have detailed before if you would like to check it out!
Check out our Social Media’s below! We share our daily activities, all of our budget friendly travel tips, travel inspiration and more!
Ubud is a secluded town located in central Bali and is known for it’s traditional lifestyle and setting. It’s not party like Gili T, or social like Canggu, but rather calm and old-fashioned in it’s look. Here you will find traditional areas and food spots to enjoy the local parts of what Bali has to offer.
This being said, there’s still so much to do. It’s definitely a location you would need to spend a few days at to make the most of the activities available. We would recommend 3/4 days here and it’s a place you cannot afford to miss! The activities are endless, and the food is to die for… so be sure to add this to your Bali plans!
*This post contains affiliate links, which we may earn from. This does not come at an additional cost, but helps us to pursue this dream 🙂
Ubud Travel Guide
Activities in Ubud
There are a range of activities that cover many interests so be sure to give yourself enough time to enjoy all Ubud has to offer!
Mount Batur
This is such an amazing experience that a lot of people tend to skip due to the length of the activity. You get to hike up an active volcano.. what more do you want??
The day will start of super early! Earlier than you think- at roughly 2 am for pick-up (depending where you are staying)! From here, you head towards the base of the mountain but stop off for breakfast on the way. It’s not a traditional breakfast but you will be offered tea or coffee and a fried banana for energy. As you relax, it’ll give you time to meet the people you will be hiking with. You then head off to the base of the volcano and begin your ascend. The initial climb is a long stretch of road that becomes steep and then you are to head up some steep steps.
The climb is likely to take 2/3 hours with time taken waiting for people to climb ahead. Unfortunately it can become somewhat congested with people when going up. However, when you get to the top it really feels like it’s just you up there. There’s so many viewpoints to choose from and when you get to the top you are perfectly in time for sunrise. This is the whole reason you wake up at 2am!
The views are absolutely stunning and that’s even on a cloudy day. Once you have taken photos and soaked up the beautiful views, you can head up further to the absolute top and see if from there! Be cautious as there are wild monkeys that live on the volcano and can be aggressive if provoked. The best way to deal with them would be to ignore them and keep your distance where possible.
At the top you will take an hour to soak up your surroundings and more importantly catch your breath and get ready to descend the volcano! Now this is the fun part!
At the top you are shown to a naturally heated spot where the volcano spurts warm gases and heats up the rocks. You can spend time here and the local guides will provide some cool information on how this happens! After this, you head across a narrow strip at the top which is no more than 2 feet wide at points with no rocks to keep your balance with your hands. So be careful!!
Once the scary part is over, the fun begins! The majority of the descent is down through hard grains which is almost like sand. Most people spent their time almost skiing down in their shoes which is much better than walking in our opinion!
The hike is a must and and really offers so much more than the views at the top (even though they are spectacular!). On the way back you are likely to stop off at the coffee plantation and you get the opportunity try many flavours of coffee. It’s not necessary the best thing to do after a long morning climbing a volcano as many would like to just go back and relax but the types of coffee available is awesome with loads of different flavours. These include avocado, coconut and honeycomb to name a few! Find the sunrise hike here.
Jewellery making class
This is a great opportunity to take something away that will always remind you of your travels or of the beautiful place of Ubud! You get to go to a jewellery making class which you are shown the steps to make your own designs and given the materials which is included in the price. If you make simpler designs, you may even be able to make 2/3 types of rings for any family members you want to gift them to!
They help you melt the silver and manipulate it so that it is ready to be cut and designed as you wish!
It’s such an amazing experience and is a great way to make a sentimental gift for yourself or someone important that isn’t just bought at a local market. It’s a design that you have created and the perfect way to round of your trip in Ubud! Just make sure to not book up that day as it’s a 3 hour slot to complete, and you will need most of that time to finish your jewellery. Unfortunately we booked to leave early that day so had to cut our time short on our jewellery making class. Find agreat class here.
Monkey Forest
The Monkey Forest is a popular spots for travellers and visitors when going to Ubud. It’s a forest located right on the edge the town which is home to many monkey that are allowed to roam freely throughout the forest and even into the town. Now, this has caused many problems with the monkey being hit by traffic and also going into shops and restaurants looking for food.
When visiting the park, it’s super important to be aware of your surroundings and keep anything small in a bag or left at your accommodation. This includes food! The monkeys have come accustom to people bringing food into the forest and now see us as providers of food. They will check your body (including pockets and your bag to see if they can find food. One even tried to open our backpack in search for food.
It’s such a beautiful forest which is well maintained for the monkeys and have some amazing spots to enjoy and take photos. However, we would recommend to respect the monkeys privacy and do not approach any monkey and if a monkey does approach, to slowly move aware safely. A lot of people forget these are wild animals and they deserve their privacy.
The park has some luscious walks and some cool bridges you can cross where you can get some amazing photos of the monkeys in all sorts of places. It truly is a cool place to visit to see how the monkeys live. Find a full guided tour here.
Local Markets
In Ubud there is a local market that is in the heart of the town and is a very traditional market. It’s relatively small but offers many handmade items that locals have handcrafted. The prices are affordable as it’s not a popular one for travellers to visit but the quality is there! The market has woodwork, mini statues and an assortment of clothing!
After visiting all the busy and energy zapping activities in Ubud, there’s no better way to relax than strolling through markets and looking at some local stalls!
Campuhan Ridge Walk
This is a very popular trail located a 10/15 minute walk from the centre of Ubud. It takes roughly 1/2 hours to walk the trail there and back so be sure to take your walking boots. On the trail, there is no shade from the sun so if you are to do this on a warm day, make sure to go early in the morning or later in the afternoon when its a little cooler.
The walk provides stunning views and has a tall single palm tree located on it’s path which provides great photo opportunity! We would recommend to walk the trail in the morning just after sunrise (or at sunrise if you can) or just before sunset to get the best views from the trail.
Kecak Fire Show
There is a local temple in Ubud that hosts shows almost every night for spectators to watch and enjoy. The shows are usually in the evening and boast local dances and songs. The fire show is a great way to wind down and spend the evening after you have just eaten and it will help you learn more of the local culture of Indonesia!
The show is placed in a traditional setting with the seating area likely to be stone blocks so don’t expect luxury! It’s a truly unique experience and one we would recommend for all to do!
Tegallanang Infinity pool and rice terraces
These infinity pools are a staple for Ubud and a really popular place for travellers and tourists. They have a number of pools located on the side of the building offering luscious views of rice fields, statues and so much more!
They have a few bars which you can enjoy some cocktails and order food to enjoy by the pools. There’s a lot of seating options available including seating towards in the pools overlooking the scenic views.
This place doesn’t just offer infinity pools and food but so much more!! there are walks you can take around the grounds which have perfect photo stops including aesthetic seating areas and large swings! There’s also bridges with water running through creating a peaceful aroma and it’s a place you can relax in for the day when you need a much earned rest!
The entrance fee is pretty cheap but the food and drinks inside are more expensive than most places in the area so be prepared to pay for that! You also can’t take any food or drink in which is important to know beforehand. Find this tour, where you can visit the Tegallanang Rice Terraces, waterfalls and a jungle swing!
Saraswati Temple
Sarawati is a local temple in the centre of Ubud that boasts some beautiful statues and water gardens. It is known as the underwater palace and has some of the best stone carvings across Bali. It’s home to some amazing artwork and even has a lotus garden which is great for capturing the best photos.
As with many locations, it would be best to visit first thing in the morning to avoid crowds or later in the afternoon. As it is a popular temple, you may find yourself in a busy temple if you don’t plan ahead when visiting. It’s a amall temple which you can walk through within 30 minutes but it’s completely free to visit.
Teganungan Waterfall
Teganungan waterfall is located around 30 minutes south of Ubud in a remote area of Bali. It’s one of the larger waterfalls in the central Bali area being 15 metres tall! There is a fee to entering the area but it is only roughly £1.50 or 20,000 Indonesian Rupiah.
There are some perfectly placed seating or bird nests that are used by travelers to get good photos with the waterfall in the background. You are allowed to go right up to the waterfall and swim in the waters below which is a great way to relax in such a tranquil place. If you aren’t fancying a swim, you can head up on the terraces to grab food with jaw dropping views of the waterfall.
These restaurants are slightly more expensive than local Bali restaurants but they have cheaper alternatives elsewhere on the complex. As it’s a popular spot, it’s likely to get busier the closer you get to lunchtime so if you want to avoid the crowds, it’s best to get there bright and early!
Places to eat in Ubud
There are many food options in Ubud that you can explore. They have a good range of different restaurants with some tasty authentic Indonesian restaurants!
Taco Cartel
This is a Mexican lunch spot that is like a takeout. There is seating but it is a rather small shop that does lovely tasting food! They offer the traditional Mexican choices such as tacos, burritos, and quesadillas.
They even offer deals such a each taco being 19 Indonesian Rupiah for lunch (as of October 2022). The food is cooked in front of you as they have an open kitchen. You can watch the chefs cook your food from scratch! The food from Taco Cartel is super flavourful and offered at a decent price compared to other locations. Our Favourite was the Pork Burrito which is super filling and comes with a lovely spicy sauce to enjoy. However, on the menu is a monster wet burrito which is perfect if you are starving and love a hearty meal!
They offer burgers and other grill type meals which look super good.
Rayjin Ubud
This is a beautiful Japanese food spot that you can’t miss out on! It is known for being a budget-friendly yet tasty Japanese restaurant, you can expect a delightful culinary experience without breaking the bank. The menu features an array of classic dishes like steaming bowls of ramen with rich, savory broths, perfectly cooked noodles, and toppings such as tender slices of pork, soft-boiled eggs, and fresh green onions. Sushi rolls are crafted with care, offering combinations of fresh fish, crisp vegetables, and tangy rice, all wrapped in delicate seaweed.
Donburi bowls provide hearty portions of seasoned rice topped with succulent cuts of teriyaki chicken, beef, or tofu, drizzled with a sweet and savoury sauce. Despite the modest prices, the quality of ingredients and the authenticity of flavours make each meal satisfying and memorable. The cosy, casual ambiance and friendly service further enhance the dining experience, making it a perfect spot for a delicious and affordable Japanese meal. It’s a stunning restaurant located in the heart of Ubud and one you must visit!
Bebek Bengil
This is a traditional restaurant that is bursting full of flavour. It’s a popular spot in Ubud providing high quality foods that is authentic Indonesian delicacies such as the Crispy Duck. The food is reasonably priced and the food is more-ish for people to return back to the restaurant the next day.
The food is certainly persuasive but the views out from the restaurant boast a scenery that not many restaurants in the area can compete with. They have luxurious views of local rice fields and nature creating the perfect experience for food lovers!
Cafe Lotus
This is a must visit as it is located perfectly in the centre of Ubud. It’s sandwiched in between the local temple, street markets, the main street and the local museum! It’s got the perfect location and also provides stunning views of local gardens which is the perfect way to relax in the day and soak up the sun!
The cafe offers hearty, high-quality meals that you cannot miss out on. The food comes at a premium cost but you do get some of the best flavours that Bali have to offer with each dish! They offer traditional meals but also so simple pasta, pizza and sandwich meals that are sure to fill you up and leave you satisfied! This is the perfect stop gap between your hectic day so you can enjoy some good food and stay within the heart of Ubud.
This is a quant hostel located outside the busy streets of Ubud in a quiet and hidden location. It’s premises are located by a small stream and is roughly a 20/30 minute walk into the main parts of Ubud. This location is perfect for travellers who love walking as it offers some beautiful morning walks at a fraction of the price of some stays closer to the centre.
This hostel charges roughly £5 per night for dorm stays and private rooms for £13. You get all basic amenities and there are also some tea and coffee dispensers available free of use! The hostel also provide breakfast included and you have a choice including a banana pancake or some assorted fruits. It’s a simple breakfast but it’s a great way to start your day and you can’t really complain at the price at all! Find it here.
This is a Hostel located close to the centre of Ubud and provides rooms of up to 2 people so it’s perfect for couples and friends who travel together or have met through travel. The rooms are super clean and come with balconies with luscious views of the street and surrounding areas. The rooms give a more hotel stay feeling as appose to a busy hostel which is great for those who like to relax!
The main benefit to this stay is the price and breakfast! The price is £12 each night but this is for a room of 2 so if you are sharing then it’s only £6. You can’t get much better than that! The breakfast also consists of toast, scrambled eggs, tea and fresh fruit. This comes as an extra but is so worth additional cost to start the day on the right foot! Find it here.
A perfectly placed hostel directly in the centre of Ubud allowing for easy access to most of the town’s busiest places and top activities. The rooms are offered at £9 for a dorm room which shares 12 or £24 for a private room for 2 people. For it’s location and luxury, it’s a great spot to stay and even has a pool to relax in on chilled days.
At the hostel they have a host of activities you can book to experience in Ubud. They organise the whole trip and make it comfortable for you so you don’t have to do anything but enjoy the ride! Breakfast is also included as part of your stay which is a local dish with fruits and a hot beverage of your choice. It’s a popular hostel for travellers so is a great place to meet people but without any party/drinking element!
Ubud is such a beautiful location full of activities, history, culture and nature. It’s a spot that is so diverse in setting that doesn’t resemble any other places we have visited before. It’s a place many should visit and experience with so many amazing activities to choose from!
We hope you enjoyed our breakdown of what to do, where to eat and where to stay in Ubud. It would be much appreciated if you could like the post if you enjoyed. Find it here.
Trip.com – Find amazing flight deals, with over 2 million flight routes, and being one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
Kiwi – Use Kiwi’s amazing service that is pioneering in the flight space! They use virtual interlining, which means they can provide seamless connecting flights into one single itinerary!
CheapOair – Being one of the fastest growing online travel companies in the US, CheapOair offers great flight deals, hotel rooms, rental cars and more!
Where to Stay
Booking.com – Offering over 28 million accommodations to book, we will always use booking.com! Having a rewards system built in, the more you book, the more perks you get!
HostelWorld – You cannot budget travel without hostel world! Having over 17,000 hostels, boasting over 13 million reviews, hostel world is one our of top websites for budget travel! They are now offering more ways to meet people abroad, with meet ups, group chats and more available!
Vrbo – Find stunning vacation rentals with Vrbo! Offering over 2 million paid listings in 190 countries, find memorable experiences with this accommodation service!
Where to Explore
Viator – A trip advisor company, viator offers over 300,000 experiences over 200 countries, including water sports, walking tours, boat trips, food tastes tours and more! Including activities for many budgets, check out Viator!
Eat With – Experience authentic travel experiences with locals worldwide! Use eat with to book unique and intimate dining experiences, such as dinner parties in big restaurants, big feasts with a local family, cooking classes with a local and more!
Get Your Guide – Book unique (and common too!) experiences and activities worldwide, including skip the line tickets to big attractions worldwide!
Where to get Connected
Airalo – With over one million people using Airalo, it is our go to eSIM provider for our worldwide trips! Having data packs from over 200 countries, find combined area packages and deals to suit your travel style and data needs!
Where to be Protected
ETKA – Every age from 3 to 85 can buy ETKA’s travel insurance, offering multilingual 24/7 chat support, and your insurance policy within 2-3 minutes!
Our Top Traveller’s Essentials
Backpack – Osprey Farpoint 40 – This backpack is a staple amongst many travellers! Being a lot cheaper than the luxury brands, this is a quality backpack from a well known brand. It boasts quality durability, is lightweight with a great framework and is a great option for most people! This backpack has a hip strap to help carry the bag, a breathable harness strap, and comes in multiple colours!
Compression Packing Cubes – Compression cubes are our favourite packing accessory! These cubes are similar to the normal packing cubes, but feature a compression zip, meaning you can compress your clothes down… this makes packing easier, limits the space you are using, and means more room for souvenirs etc!
Powerbank – Don’t lose power when travelling! It isn’t always guaranteed to find charging ports, so we would always suggest carrying a spare power bank, just incase you do run low on power when you need it!
Universal Travel Plug Adapter – Most backpackers/travellers visit multiple countries during one trip. And that means it isn’t guaranteed you will be using the same plug head during each place. A universal plug is great as it lets you switch between each plug head style all in one item! We love ours, it has USB slots meaning multiple items can be charged at once.
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Now, Bali is known to be a great place to socialise and meet new people. It is a central hub to a lot of people’s South East Asia travels, and is on par with Thailand and Vietnam for some. In comparison, it’s very different, but nonetheless an essential part of a travellers itinerary.
Bali is now one of the most popular spots in South East Asia, and draws in thousands of digital nomads. This has changed the environment… and therefore has created more westernised food options. If you are looking for traditional Indonesian food, you may find it harder in Bali compared to more traditional areas like Java or Jakarta. You can still enjoy the local foods, with my favourite being a Nasi Goreng, or if you prefer noodles; a Mie Goreng.
In this blog post, we will be covering some of the popular and niche places to dine across Bali, and the Islands surrounding, to make the most of the amazing food they have to offer. Please note, Bali is more expensive than the mainland and countries surrounding, so make sure to bring a few more pennies for the Bali tax!
Below we have highlighted 7 of the best places we have eaten at, and given recommendations according to our experiences.
The Best Places to Eat in Bali
Copenhagen – Canggu
Copenhagen is a well-renowned breakfast/brunch spot location in Canggu, where a lot of nomads and travellers use as their go-to spot. The menu allows for 3 options for 70,000 Indonesian Rupiah (£3.50) or 5 items for 100,000 Indonesian Rupiah (£5). The options included a tropical fruit salad, a pink smoothie bowl, freshly made bread and paninis, fresh fish or cooked meats, amongst many more options. They even had sweet treats which were perfect to finish off a breakfast fit for a king. For Asia, the price may seem higher than usual, but it definitely is one of the best brunch food spots we ate at. We can’t recommend this enough.
Finns Beach Club & Bar – Canngu
Finns beach Club is probably not on many people’s lists when it comes to good food. I mean it’s the perfect place to socialise, drink and party till your hearts content. Who doesn’t love bopping to music while drinking alcohol with friends by the sea in an actual swimming pool?
Even though the main attraction is the alcohol-filled pools, they don’t limit you to cheap takeaway food. There are 4/5 restaurants available to order and dine at; all you need to do is leave the pool and grab a table. But don’t forget your manners and put on a top! They have options including Pizza, Indian, Sushi and more!
I took this opportunity to fill my addiction of Sushi by ordering a freshly made platter (which definitely fixed my appetite ready for more pool time)! The food there is expensive… and not one to order at when you are looking to budget travel. However, every once in a while you deserve to treat yourself to a good time and nice food, and this is definitely the place to do this!
The Krusty Krab – Nusa Penida
Yes, you read it right…
It’s the Krusty Krab!!
In Indonesia, there is a restaurant that is the real life Krusty Krab… which even had Krabby patties! There was no chance we were to pass this opportunity up. It’s located on the North-west side of the Island, Nusa Penida.
They had Sponge Bob decor making you feel like you were in the show!
Of course we had to order and try the Krabby patty (which is the obvious choice). I mean the burger was nice, it’s not much more than a normal burger. The food was simple but wasn’t a showstopper by any means. It’s just more the fact you were at an iconic restaurant, and is something you and your friends can definitely make the most of when you are on this island! Its a fun experience and one we would recommend if you loved the show.
Suka Espresso – Uluwatu
Suka Espresso is a lively food spot just off the main strip of Uluwatu. They offer a wide range of food and is known for it’s high quality service and quality. We took advantage of their brunch food by ordering fluffy pancakes and colourful exotic fruits with fresh muesli and sweet jams. There is so much to offer on the menus, and is definitely a place we would recommend and go back to given the chance. The food is reasonably priced and a perfect stop before heading on to the beach only a few steps away.
Do note that this is a popular spot for travellers to eat, so try to attend during off-peak times if you aren’t happy with waiting for a table.
Corner House – Seminyak
The Corner House has a pub-like atmosphere at the end of a busy main street in Seminyak. The restaurant has live music in the evening, with western-style pub decoration and atmosphere. It almost feels like you are in a pub back at home! They serve a wide range of foods like stone cooked pizzas, pastas, noodles, meats etc.
It is a large pub which is in a great location for people to wander round shops and local area as there is so much to do.
My favourite meal is the vegetable stir-fry which only cost 50,000 Indonesian Rupiah (£2.50), which was the cheapest thing on the menu. Even though it was the cheapest, the dish was amazing and so good that I returned the next day for dinner to order the same meal again! Overall, the pub is usually costing 100,000 (£5) to 200,000 (£10) for main meals which is average for the area, but if the rest of the food is similar to the stir fry I had, then it is worth every penny.
Taco Cartel in Ubud
A perfectly quaint Mexican restaurant located in the heart of Ubud, Taco Cartel is one to visit! It is on the main street perfectly between the Bali rice terrace & infinity pools, the Monkey forest and right beside to the street markets – it’s perfectly placed! Now, it’s less like a dinner spot to sit down and have a fancy meal, but rather a perfect small restaurant which has an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs cook your food right in front of you.
We ordered 2 chicken tacos which came with a refreshing spicy sauce and a squeeze of lime, alongside a stuffed beef burrito. You best believe the food was beautiful! The tacos were at a reduced price of roughly 20,000 Indonesian Rupiah (£1) per taco as a lunch deal which was a steal.
Ours in Uluwatu
Ours is a place where we stumbled upon when searching for dinner but was definitely a highlight. It just so happens the day we ate there was the same day they offered pasta and wine (choice of 3 wines) for £95,000 Indonesian Rupiah (£5 roughly). When we saw this offer there was no way we were going to turn it down.
Due to the offer, we went all out and ordered a few starters to share and then a beautiful Chorizo Bolognese with a white wine to wash it down. The seating is perfectly placed all surrounding the bar in the middle, with dimmed lighting to create a lovely atmosphere. Definitely one we will return to once we come back to Uluwatu!
What are your thoughts?
Bali is a place full of fantastic foods that we wish we could try a mouthful of each. The local food is one we didn’t touch upon much, with Nasi Goreng being a favourite of mine. One we may cover in another blog post!
Shoutouts to the beach restaurant on Gili T (which we don’t know the name of) which offered free soup and bread for starter, District 6- the all you can eat pizza and pasta place in Uluwatu, and the little hotdog parlour opposite the entrance to the monkey forest in Ubud.
We would always recommend eating local, but sometimes it is nice resorting back to the foods from home you love.
Thank you for reading to the end of our blog, and we hoped that you will be dining at some of these lovely restaurants in the near future- or at least get to Bali to enjoy all that the island offers.
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