Bali Guide
North Bali and the central volcanoes
Heading into north Bali from the crowded southern plains, you soon enter a peaceful, cool and mountainous landscape. The centre of the island is occupied by the volcanic masses of the Batur and Bedugul areas, where dramatic mountains shelter crater lakes, and tiny villages line their shores. The mountains don't rival Gunung Agung in stature, but their accessibility and beauty are unbeatable. Most people come to the Batur area for the panorama from the crater rim or to trek up Gunung Batur, the most climbed peak in Bali, which still sends up occasional puffs of smoke. The Bedugul area offers more lakes, mountains and forests, but on a smaller scale. Several important, and stunning, temples are located on the shores of the central lakes and they are destinations for Balinese pilgrims and foreign day-trippers, especially Pura Ulun Danu Bratan on the shores of Danau Bratan.
Beyond the mountains, the northern coast is arid and rugged as the mountains drop steeply to the coast with villages and roads squeezed between shore and mountain. Many visitors head straight for the resort of Lovina, which is the largest outside the Kuta– Legian– Seminyak conurbation but still retains a laid-back air. Singaraja is a bustling, modern city, a major transport hub which is impossible to avoid.
Highlights
1 Gunung Batur Perched like a sea bird on a wave-lashed rock, this is Bali's most visited temple.
2 Bali Botanical Gardens Gorgeous highland area with hundreds of plant species – and an adventure park for the brave.
3 Danau Tamblingan The quietest, smallest and most picturesque of the lakes in the Bedugul area.
4 Munduk Cool temperatures, fine scenery and easy access make this an ideal base for exploration.
5 Singaraja Bali's second city offers wide boulevards, a stimulating ethnic mix and bustling street-life.
6 Pura Meduwe Karang The best example of the exuberant carving typical of northern temples.
7 Lovina Laid-back beach resort offering something for everyone.