5 Swaps Worth Doing When Visiting South Bali

Discover some of South Bali’s lesser-known gems for a special experience when visiting Indonesia!

South Bali is the busiest area on the island given the number of tourists that flock there during their visit to Bali. The most popular things to do here include water sports such as surfing, relaxing and sunbathing at the beaches, shopping, splurging in pubs, clubs, bars, and restaurants. Many of the hot spots in South Bali are messy, unclean, and losing its charm. While places like Seminyak, Sanur and Kuta are popular and most commonly visited, we’re here to suggest some of the out-of-the-way gems to explore in South Bali so you can break the cookie-cutter mould and have a unique experience.

🚀 Swap the beaches for temples during sunset hour

While the beaches in South Bali are great places to be at during sunset hour, Bali’s temples are even more spectacular to visit when the sky goes ablaze towards the end of the day, with the old stone carvings and monuments there adding a distinct touch during sunset hour.

Uluwatu Temple is located on a cliff at the southwestern tip of the peninsula offering panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. You’ll get to wear a traditional Balinese sarong when visiting the temple, and you’ll find monkeys in the forest like gardens (so pop away those shiny sunglasses and cameras and don’t carry any snacks or water in your hands). Stay a little longer to witness the stunning evening colours; and if it’s up your alley you can stay back and watch the traditional Kecak dance performance by the locals dressed in beautiful and elaborately designed costumes at the adjacent cliff-top stage at 6:00pm to 7:00pm.

• 🕘 Uluwatu Temple Opening Hours: 9:00am – 6:00pm
• 🎫 Uluwatu Temple Entrance Fee: Adult IDR 30,000 (USD 2), Child IDR 20,000 (USD 1.5)
• 🎫 Ramayana Kecak Dance Ticket price: IDR 100,000 (USD 7)

Tanah Lot Temple is another temple that is equally or even more impressive, located just northwest of Kuta, that’s home to a Hindu shrine perched on a rocky cliff top. Mind you, this place can get overly crowded during sunset hours, but it deserves every bit of the audience for the painted sky framing the shrines and the waves crashing into the rocks!

• 🕖 Tanah Lot Temple Opening Hours: 7:00am – 7:00pm
• 🎫 Tanah Lot Temple Entrance Fee: Adult IDR 60,000 (USD 4) and Child IDR 30,000 (USD 2)

🚀 Swap the mainstream beaches for the remote and serene ones

The beaches in Kuta, Tanjung Benoa, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, and Seminyak are now overrated with most visitors frolicking there, and super commercialized with vendors enabling umpteen water sports activities, hawkers selling food and beverages, all of which have dampened the charm of these beaches.

So how about checking out the other lesser known and even more gorgeous beaches such as:

Gunung Payung Beach – Located 30km south of Denpasar; you will need to descend a set of 100 steep stairs to reach Gunung Payung Beach; being secluded and having calm waters, it makes for a great place to chill and snorkel. On a scorching hot day relaxing under the natural cave located there and enjoying the views is certainly wonderful! There is an entrance fee of IDR 5,000 (USD 0.4) per adult.

Balian Beach: Located 50km north-west of Denpasar is this beach near the Balian river, famous for its surf breaks. A great beach to walk on while watching the waves crash the shore, without a crowd thronging around you. There is no entrance fee for this beach.

Yeh Leh Beach: 12km north of Balian is this outstanding Mystery Boulder Beach featuring thousands of boulders on its shore – making for a spectacular scene, but isn’t ideal for swimming! There is no entrance fee for this beach.

Nyang Nyang Beach: Located half a kilometre’s drive southeast of the Uluwatu Temple is this long and least-visited beach that will require you to walk down the cliff for about 25 minutes before you arrive at the pristine 1.5-kilometre stretch of coastline. There is no entrance fee for this beach, just a small parking fee.

Suluban Beach: Also known as Blue Point, this is yet another gorgeous beach involving climbing down stairs to reach the beach where a coral reef cave, crystal clear waters, and white sand await you. You need to pay an entrance fee of IDR 20,000 (USD 1.5) to enter the beach area.

Tegal Wangi Beach: Tegal Wangi Beach is a short drive from the tourist area in Jimbaran Bay, accessible only via a steep set of stairs. It isn’t so great for swimming, but awesome for chilling and taking in the views of the dramatic cliffs located against the majestic blue ocean and creamy sand. There is no entrance fee for this beach, just a small parking fee.

🚀 Swap Waterbom for Nusa Blow

Kuta’s Waterbom is home to exciting water slides and splash pools in a 3.8 hectares landscaped tropical park setting. Being a mainstream attraction, it won’t blow your mind the way Water Blow will. Water Blow is located in Nusa Dua on the east coast of South Bali, and is famously known as a natural occurring phenomenon whereby you will witness large waves from the Indian Ocean crashing against the jagged limestone edges of the cliff reaching almost 30 metres high. The best time to visit is during high tide season, typically between July to October, so your chances of experiencing the splashes are higher.
There is no entrance fee for Water Blow, just a small parking fee.

🚀 Swap the Zoo for Conservation Centres

The Bali Zoo, elephant rides, and dolphin shows in Bali are greatly advertised influencing people to opt for these options when it comes to wanting to encounter animals in Bali. But the idea of visiting authentic conservation centres is just as fabulous and highly ethical! Bali is home to an umpteen number of conservation centres, some of which genuinely focus on projects of animal welfare. The Turtle Conservation and Education Centre in Serangan for instance houses and protects endangered sea turtles of Bali from the illegal trade, poaching, tourism and sea pollution. Other conservation centres focus on coral reef and marine life protection, including sharks. To say hello to cats and dogs, visit Villa Kitty or BARC4Bali – these sanctuaries ensure the well-being of local cats and dogs and offer fostering and adoption services. Let’s not allow mass tourism into the island to cause animal exploitation where animals are kept in enclosure and forced to entertain people. Let’s be kinder travellers 😊

🚀 Swap the big island of Bali for the smaller and splendid Nusa Islands

Instead of just exploring Bali, how about adding the Nusa Islands to your itinerary? Nusa Penida is an island just southeast of Bali, and alongside it are the neighbouring islands of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. They can be visited exiting from various ports in Bali, and they offer some truly beautiful sights to discover! Read more about the Nusa Islands here.

So next time you plan a trip to South Bali, get away from the hot spots and see if you can find awesomeness in the other unique places we have suggested.