Best of Bali Day Trips

"Take a Soothing Soak in Batur's Hot Springs The hot springs at Mount Batur are rich in minerals and said to heal rheumatism, muscle pain and stiffness, fatigue, and even to enhance fertility. Even if you don't have any such complaints, soaking in these pools and looking out over the lake is wonderfully relaxing. Your muscles will certainly thank you for stopping for a post Mount Batur trek or bicycle tour soak. These are public pools, so on public holidays they are usually extremely busy and not quite so relaxing as when they are less crowded. There is a simple restaurant with eating platforms by the pools, but you can also bring snacks and drinks with you. Getting to the hot springs takes about two hours from Kuta in a car, so it's really a full day tour if you want to have time to relax, eat, and take in the beauty of Kintamani."

"Multi-tiered Roofs of Bali The temples in Bali , Indonesia are famous for their multi-tiered thatch roofs. This was taken at Pura Taman Ayun in the village of Mengwi. Visitors are not allowed to enter the temples - we could only view from outside the walls. Thankfully the walls aren't very tall :)"

"Island of Dreams Located just off the eastern shore of Bali , Indonesia, is a small island called Nusa Lembongan. It is a great place for a day trip if you're vacation in Bali, and it's only a 30-40min boat ride from Sanur. There is a boat that will take you between the two islands a few times a day. Once arriving on the shores of Lembongan, it is best to rent a scooter for the day (US$6). There are only a few roads on the island, so it is impossible to get lost, and the beaches are well marked by signs. Unlike Bali, there is no traffic on the island! We set out around the island in a counterclockwise loop. We stopped and watched the villagers drying colorful seaweed along the shore (this is used to make ice cream). We stopped at the mangroves for a fresh seafood lunch, beach time, and snorkeling. And then explored the many picturesque beaches around the island. Our favorite was "Dream Beach," and it lived up to its name. Be sure you don't lose track of time on this paradise of an island. It's easy to do, and we almost missed our return boat back to Bali that afternoon!"

"The Beauty of the Balinese Highlands While quality time on the beach might be the first thing that comes to mind for many visitors to Bali , Bedugul—a mountain lake resort area at the heart of the island—is an experience not to be missed. There are three major lakes (Bratan, Tamblingan, and Buyan), a botanical garden (Eka Karya), as well as stunning temple architecture at water's edge (Pura Ulan Danu Bratan, pictured above), providing a different view of the island's natural history & cultural heritage."

"Gone Fishing There are some big fish out there in the Indian Ocean and you can get out and try to hook one for yourself. Arranging fishing trips in a small traditional boat or a bigger more modern boat is easy. The best fishing spots are on the east coast from Sanur all the way up to Amed where you'll be searching for tuna, marlin, snapper, mackerel and lots of other things that taste good on a grill. Ask around on the beach or at your hotel to arrange a trip out."

"A gorgeous Hindu temple complex built practically on the water of a lake based at the foot of two large volcanoes in central Bali . By Hilary Ford"