Best Bali tours

Bali, the Island of the Gods, is a paradise for travelers seeking a mix of culture, adventure, and natural beauty. With so much to see and do, planning your itinerary can be overwhelming. That’s where tours come in — they offer a hassle-free way to experience the island’s temples, jungles, and beaches with expert guides. To help you focus your Indonesia itinerary, read on to discover the best Bali tours.

1. Climb Gunung Agung

Bali’s highest peak, the dramatic, 3031m-high Gunung Agung volcano, is home to a number of important religious sites. Summitting Bali’s holiest peak requires a very strenuous guided climb, but the ascent and descent can be managed in one day.

Climbing this iconic volcano is one of the best Bali tours, but be aware that this is a serious climb. It’s strongly advised hikers book an established trekking guide.

You’ll find many guide services in Sidemen village, 18km from Pura Pasar Agung; as well as Selat and Tirtagangga.

How to get to Gunung Agung

Gunung Agung is located in the eastern part of the island, near the town of Besakih. 

From Ubud or South Bali (Kuta, Seminyak, Denpasar), take a private car, taxi or tour vehicle to the trailheads near Besakih Temple (southwestern route) or Pura Pasar Agung Temple (southern route). 

When to visit Gunung Agung

The April to October dry season offers the safest and clearest hiking conditions. 

Avoid the November to March wet season due to slippery trails, poor visibility, and landslide risks.

In the early stages of planning your trip? Read our Bali travel tips, and make use of our guide to how to plan a trip to Indonesia.

2. Take a yoga class

Taking a yoga class in Bali is a transformative experience that combines the beauty of the island with the serene practice of yoga. As the gentle ocean breeze rustles the palm trees, you find yourself surrounded by lush greenery and a vibrant spiritual atmosphere.

Picturesque settings provides the ideal backdrop for your yoga journey, allowing you to connect deeply with nature and your inner self. 

The classes are often held in open-air studios or on pristine beaches, enabling you to soak up the breathtaking views while immersing yourself in the ancient wisdom of yoga.

Whether you're a seasoned yogi or a beginner, Bali offers a wide range of yoga styles and retreats, catering to all levels and preferences.

Into yoga? Read up on the best yoga retreats in Bali.

3. Summit Gunung Batur

Just like climbing Agung, climbing Gunung Batur, is one of the best Bali tours. 

On a clear day, no scenery in Bali can match that of the Batur area. With its volcanic peaks and silver-turquoise crater lake, the scale and spectacle of this landscape remain unrivalled.

The best way to see it is from the top of Bali’s most climbed mountain, the 1717m-high Gunung Batur (Mount Batur).

Wisps of sulphurous smoke still drift from smaller cones on the slopes of this ancient volcano, which last erupted in 2000. Given the scenery, it’s no surprise that this is one of Bali’s most popular tourist destinations.

Most only visit on a day trip but stay overnight in either lakeside Toya Bungkah or Kedisan and hike to the summit to experience the magic of the scenery at sunrise. 

Keen to cover more ground? Read up on getting around Bali.

How to get to Gunung Batur

Gunung Batur is located in Kintamani, northeastern Bali. From Ubud, the drive takes about 1.5 hours.

Most visitors join a guided sunrise trek, which includes hotel pick-up (around 2–3 AM), transport, breakfast, and a local guide.

The trek typically starts at Toyabungkah village, with the hike taking 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the summit (1,717 m).

A guide is required, and local authorities regulate access through ticketed entry.

When to visit Gunung Batur

April to October (dry season) is the best time to visit, when skies are clear and trails are safe.

Note that most hikes begin around 4am to reach the summit for sunrise.

4. Explore the rice fields around Ubud

There are several popular rice paddy walks on the outskirts of Ubud, some of which can be combined into one almost circular trek. 

Each has views that are perfect real-life versions of the Walter Spies-style paintings you see in Ubud's museums and galleries.

Cutting across the rice fields, the track becomes totally indistinct at times. But these narrow paths that run along the top of the dykes look out across to the amazing Gunung Agung (cloud cover permitting) as conical-hatted farmers work in the glittering rice paddies with the mountain in the background.

How to get to Ubud

Located in the central highlands, about 25–35 km north of Denpasar, Ubus can be reached by taxi or private transfer from Ngurah Rai International Airportis around 1.5 hours.

When to visit Ubud

Despite the rains, Ubud remains beautiful year-round due to its lush greenery, though June to September is peak tourist season, so book accommodation early if you decide to visit then.

For wider context, read our guide to the best time to visit Bali

5. Take a snorkeling day trip to Nusa Lembongan

Protected as a marine conservation area, the reefs around Nusa Lembongan attract divers from all over the world, not least for the chance to swim with manta rays and the one-tonne legendary local giant, the mola mola (oceanic sunfish), from early July to the end of October.

The diving here is unquestionably the most dramatic in Bali, but also rarely benign — currents and waves can be fierce. 

Meanwhile, many of the reefs are rewarding for snorkellng. Prime spots off Nusa Lembongan that are accessible from the shore if the tide is right are Mangrove Corner and Mushroom Bay.

Digging deeper into your trip plans? Read up on where to stay in Bali.

How to get to Nusa Lembongan

Take a fast Boat from Sanur Beach (30–45 minutes), or book a guided day tour.

When to visit Nusa Lembongan

April to October is best for calm seas and better visibility for snorkeling and diving.

6. Take a day tour of one of the Gili Islands

Fringed by dazzling white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and reefs that teem with turtles and fish, the trio of the tiny Gili Islands just off Lombok’s northwest coast are strikingly beautiful and have exploded in popularity.

Island life here can be incredibly seductive, and most visitors revel in long days spent snorkelling the reefs, eating fresh seafood and enjoying the spectacular views, with the volcanic profiles of Bali and Lombok filling the horizon.

It's one of the most popular Bali tours, as it's possible to visit any of the three on a day trip from Bali.

Gili Trawangan is the most developed. Diminutive Gili Meno, next east of Gili Trawangan, is the smallest and quietest of the Gilis, with no nightlife except a laidback bar or two. 

East again, Gili Air falls somewhere in between, with plenty of restaurants and bars but a much larger population of islanders to balance out the tourist influx.

Inspired to visit? Discover which Gili island is the best, and read up on the best Gili island hotels.

How to get to the Gili Islands

Located just off the northwest coast of Lombok, the Gili islands can be reached from Bali by fast boat services from  Padang Bai (1.5 to 2.5 hours) and Serangan and Sanur (2.5 to 4 hours).

Boats usually stop at Gili Trawangan first, then Gili Air and Gili Meno

From Lombok, take a public boat or private speedboat from Bangsal Harbor (10–30 minutes depending on the island).

When to visit the Gili Islands

May to October is best, but note that acccomodation books up fast during the July and August peak season.

7. See dolphins and waterfalls around Lovina 

Dolphin-spotting boat trips are wildly popular around Lovina and cultural activities including cooking classes are on offer too.

Lovina’s proximity to good snorkelling and diving sites, and as a base for day-trips to nearby waterfalls and temples are another key appeal and make this area a good spot to try different activities. 

The Buddhist monastery and hot springs (air panas) at Banjar, 10km west, and temples and waterfalls east of Singaraja make a good days out.

All of which means, this is a great place to visit if you're heading to Bali with kids — the region is loaded with experiences to keep the whole family happy.

How to get to Lovina 

A laid-back coastal town on Bali’s north coast, getting to Lovina from South Bali (Kuta, Seminyak, Denpasar) takes approximately 2.5 to 3.5 hours, depending on traffic and your exact starting point.

From Ubud, it takes around 2.5 hours by road.

Either book a private car with driver, with shuttle services available through some hotels and tour companies, or else rent a scooter.

When to visit Lovina

Again, May to October is best for  dolphin tours, snorkeling, and exploring waterfalls like Gitgit and Sekumpul.

8. Explore Bali's best beaches

Exploring the best beaches in Bali is an enchanting adventure that unveils a world of sun-kissed shores and turquoise waters. From the iconic Kuta Beach to the hidden gems like Nusa Dua and Uluwatu, each beach offers its own unique charm.

Kuta Beach, with its lively atmosphere and vibrant surf scene, attracts sunseekers and water sports enthusiasts alike. 

Seminyak Beach, just a stone's throw away, boasts trendy beach clubs and luxurious resorts, making it a hotspot for both relaxation and entertainment. 

For those in search of tranquillity, the pristine shores of Nusa Dua beckon, offering pristine white sand and calm waters perfect for swimming and snorkelling.

Further north, the black sands of Lovina Beach allure visitors with its serene ambience and the opportunity to spot playful dolphins at sunrise. 

When to visit Bali's best beaches

It'll come as no surprise that the May to October dry season is the best time to hit Bali's best beaches!

9. Go whitewater rafting on the Ayung River

Looking for adventurous Bali tours? On the Ayung River just west of Ubud, Sobek specializes in whitewater rafting and kayaking tours on the Grade II–III rapids of Bali’s longest waterway. 

The river is suitable for all levels of rafters and kayakers, from beginners to experienced paddlers, and offers a mix of gentle rapids and thrilling drops.

Courses generally last around two hours long and cover about 8km. Sobek also provide free transfers across southern Bali. Book in Kuta.

How to get to the Ayung River

The river runs just west of Ubud, and most rafting tour operators provide free pickup and drop-off from Ubud hotels (10–20 minutes drive to the rafting start point).

When to visit the Ayung River

April to October is the safest and most popular time, with moderate rapids and clear water.

10. Take a cooking class in Southern Bali

Once you tire of sea, sun, sand and shopping, you will be able to find more cultural and spiritual pastimes amid the hedonism of Southern Bali, with lots of opportunities to learn a new skill. 

Cookery Classes Cookly is a listing of independent chefs and cooks throughout Bali who teach classes, or run traditional Balinese organic, vegan, market and farm tours. 

11. Visit Lake Bratan 

Lying just below Candikuning at 1200m above sea level, Danau Bratan (Lake Bratan) is the largest and most visited of the three spiritually charged crater lakes around Bedugul. 

Thought to be 35m deep in places. It is surrounded by forested hills, with the bulk of Gunung Catur (2096m), the caldera’s highest peak, rising sheer behind.

The trail to the summit begins at Gua Jepang, caves built by Indonesian prisoners of war during World War II, and passes through agricultural fields ending where dense forest and the ascent begins.

The last few kilometres require climbing over exposed tree roots on muddy trails and at the top is Pura Puncak Mangu, a simple temple built by the first Mengwi raja and, of course, spectacular views of the three lakes below.

Nearby in Munduk, the most accessible of several falls in the area is the pretty Tanah Barak waterfall, also known as Red Coral Waterfall or simply Munduk Waterfall.

How to get to Lake Bratan 

Lake Bratan is located in the Bedugul Highlands of central Bali. 

From Ubud, it takes 1.5 to 2 hours by car (hire a private driver or rent a car) or scooter via the scenic highland roads.

Also note that some full-day tours of Bali’s temples and lakes include Lake Bratan as a stop.

When to visit Lake Bratan 

Visit outside the November to March wet season when fog and  ain may obscure views and dampen the experience.

12. Take a bicycle tour from Ubud

One of the best Bali tours is exploring its landscape by bicycle. A thrilling and immersive way to connect with the island's natural beauty and cultural heritage. 

As you pedal along, you'll be captivated by the ever-changing scenery, from lush rice terraces to cascading waterfalls and dense jungles.

Bicycle tours are particularly popular in Ubud, the cultural heart of Bali, and meander through its surrounding countryside. 

The iconic Tegallalang Rice Terraces are a sight to behold, with their intricate green terraces sculpted into the landscape. 

Take in the breathtaking views as you ride through the rugged terrain, passing by ancient temples and traditional Balinese architecture.

13. Ride a hot air balloon above Ubud

Experience the stunning natural beauty of Bali from a whole new perspective with the Island of the Gods' first and only ballooning adventure. 

Take to the skies in a 23-metre hot air balloon and soar above the breathtaking Tanah Gajah area, located amongst the legendary rice paddies of Ubud.

From the comfort of a cosy wicker basket, you'll climb to a thrilling 50 metres above the lush rice fields and float at the end of a tether, enjoying awe-inspiring panoramas of the tropical forests surrounding central Bali with Mount Agung on the eastern horizon.

Rough Guides tip: the journey only begins when you reach your destination! So find out how to get to Indonesia.

14. Explore the best temples in Bali

Last but definitely not least, including at least some of the best Bali temples in your trip itinerary is a must-do for culture vultures.

While many are scenically sited over cliffs or amidst lush jungles, others are easily accessible from major cities, towns and tourist hubs, including Goa Gajah.

Also known as the Elephant Cave, this ancient archaeological site is nestled in the lush jungles of Bali, and can be easily reached from Ubud by car or scooter — it's just 6km southeast of town.

Ready to head to Bali? For more inspiration while you plan your trip, discover the best things to do in Bali.

Not keen on planning? Browse our customisable Indonesia itineraries, and talk to our local experts.