Crystal clear water, breathtaking temples and strong coffee… Bali has it all!
So when my friend said she wanted to go, we booked our tickets and flew to Denpasar Bali via Singapore.
The trip began at Hotel NEO+ Kuta, Legian, 11 nights spent in the middle of a party town was perfect for us. With a central location and great choice of bars, clubs and restaurants, there was lots to see and do.
We spent the day at a number of beach clubs in the Seminyak area (30 minute taxi ride from Kuta, costing roughly £6) - my personal favourites were Potato Head, Mrs Sippy and Karma. Karma is within Uluwatu resort which has pristine sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. They host a monthly glow party which is incredible - filling the space with DJ dancers, fire eaters and body painters who make you glimmer under the UV lights.
Hiring a driver for the day will cost you roughly £40 - we were looked after by PJ who picked us up from our hotel at 8.30am. The early start was worth it, we saw a traditional Balinese show called Legong and Barong Waksirsa Dance, visited a number of temples - my favourite being the Tirta Empul with the purifying holy water - and enjoying lunch overlooking Mount Batur Volcano, one of the most sacred mountains according to Hindu beliefs, I was taken aback with the breathtaking views.
Next we stopped at a coffee plantation, where I tried Luwak - the best coffee I have ever tasted - but don’t google how it’s made!
Last on the agenda was Tegallalang rice terraces and waterfall. After walking down a million and one steps (not built for the faint-hearted) we ended up at the phenomenal waterfall - and luckily we had enough time to take lots of photos.
11 nights was enough time to explore Kuta, so we jumped on a boat towards our next adventure, the Gilli island of Trawangan. Known as the party island (can you see a common theme here?), we spent two hours travelling across the choppy waters and our faces hit the floor at how blue the ocean was. I pulled my suitcase across the sand and hopped on a horse and cart, which took us to our hotel, Jambuluwuk Oceano Resort. The island doesn’t have any motorised transport, so it’s either a horse or a bike… talk about a rustic adventure!
After a few days in Gilli we were ready to relax in Ubud, checking into Tjampuhan Hotel and treating ourselves to a few spa treatments.
It was an unbelievable trip and if you’re considering going to Bali I can’t recommend it enough - the locals are some of the friendliest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting… I would go back in a heartbeat!