- Tegallalang Rice Terraces (Ubud) — Classic Bali scenery with working subak terraces carved into steep hills. It’s a living agricultural system you can stroll through, photograph, and sit above with a coffee while farmers tend the paddies — a neat mix of culture and landscape that you won’t exactly get anywhere else.
- Mount Batur sunrise trek — Predawn hike up an active volcano for a sunrise that colors the caldera and Lake Batur below. It’s raw, elemental Bali: local guides, the smell of volcanic soil, and the option to soak in nearby hot springs afterward to warm up.
- Tirta Empul Temple (Manukaya) — A working water-temple where Balinese come for purification rituals in spring-fed pools. Watching or joining a purification is a memorable cultural experience — respectful, sensory, and very
- Tegallalang Rice Terraces (Ubud) — Classic Bali scenery with working subak terraces carved into steep hills. It’s a living agricultural system you can stroll through, photograph, and sit above with a coffee while farmers tend the paddies — a neat mix of culture and landscape that you won’t exactly get anywhere else.
- Mount Batur sunrise trek — Predawn hike up an active volcano for a sunrise that colors the caldera and Lake Batur below. It’s raw, elemental Bali: local guides, the smell of volcanic soil, and the option to soak in nearby hot springs afterward to warm up.
- Tirta Empul Temple (Manukaya) — A working water-temple where Balinese come for purification rituals in spring-fed pools. Watching or joining a purification is a memorable cultural experience — respectful, sensory, and very specific to Bali’s Hindu traditions.
- Besakih Temple (Mother Temple) — Bali’s largest and most historically layered temple complex on the slopes of Mount Agung. It’s a sprawling network of shrines with real worship activity, not just posing-for-photos tourism, and the views up the mountain are part of the draw.
- Sekumpul Waterfall — Hidden gem: arguably the most dramatic waterfall cluster in Bali, set in lush, steep jungle north of the island. It takes a proper local driver and a short trek to reach, but the payoff is a powerful, mostly uncrowded waterfall experience.
- Sidemen Valley — Hidden gem and personal favorite: quiet rice terraces, handwoven cloth workshops, home-stays with real family hosts, and slow life views of Mount Agung. If you want Bali that feels unchanged, with walking routes and local craftspeople, this is it — I go back for the calm and the great sunrise light on the fields.
- Tenganan Pegringsingan (Bali Aga village) — Hidden gem: one of the few villages that preserved pre-Majapahit Balinese culture, with unique double-ikat weaving (geringsing) and distinct customs. It’s a genuine cultural snapshot — workshops, narrow alleys, and rituals you won’t see in the tourist zones.
- Tulamben & the USAT Liberty wreck — A shore-access wreck dive/snorkel that’s famous for good reason: an intact WWII ship lying in shallow water packed with marine life. Easy to visit for non-divers and a must for snorkelers who want something different than a regular reef.
- Banyumala Twin Waterfalls (Munduk area) — A quiet, mossy canyon with twin plunges and a cool swimming pool at the base. Less crowded than the popular south Bali falls; the walk down is short but scenic, and the atmosphere is very green and peaceful.
- Pasar Badung (Denpasar) — the city market — Raw, chaotic, and utterly local: fresh produce, spices, ritual offerings, and street food stalls used by Balinese every day. Go early, wander the alleyways, sample local snacks, and watch the behind-the-scenes of Balinese daily life — it’s authentic and unforgettable.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.