The island of Bali, nicknamed the ‘island of the Gods’, is one of the most popular travel destinations among all kinds of travellers. Not just that, Bali is quite budget-friendly too, which makes it perfect for solo female travellers like you and me. And if Bali is your first solo trip, you are in for a treat!
It is surrounded by stunning beaches and clear water seas, which are reasons enough to take a break from the city life and spend some quality time in this gorgeous land. Along with the beaches and seas, Bali has plenty of other things such as waterfalls, markets, caves, and temples, among others for you to explore.
In this blog, I will take you through the top 30 things to do in Bali on your solo trip to have the most memorable experiences.
1. Get on the Bali Swing
Considered to be a unique version of exploring Bali, the swings are a must-try on your solo trip to the country. We all have dreamt about flying into the clouds and witnessing the beauty that this world is, but not all of us get to live the dream. But getting on the Bali swing is the closest thing to flying into the clouds!
The swing ranges from 10 to 78 metres in height, and you can select the height that is convenient for you. If you are not a fan of heights, I would suggest you still try to get on the swing and choose a lower height. Trust me, it will be one of the most beautiful experiences of your life.
The best time to visit Bali and try the swing is between the months of April and September. And to make the most of this activity in Bali, I would say mornings would be the best, so plan out your solo trip accordingly!
2. Visit the Tegallalang Rice Terraces
If you want to witness truly natural beauty, then the Tegallalang Rice Terraces is the place to be. The hills and slopes in Ubud are beautifully decorated with rice paddies that make the place look heavenly!
If you love capturing beautiful places with your camera or are just looking to spend a relaxed day admiring a visual delight, then include a visit to the Tegallalang Rice Terraces in your itinerary.
Also, if you love exploring local cultures, then a village tour at the Tegallalang Rice Terraces will be the perfect opportunity. You can also shop at souvenir shops to take a piece of Bali back home with you. You can visit the Tegallalang Rice Terraces at any time of the year.
3. Try out the Flying Fish!
As fancy as this activity sounds, it is equally fun to do as well. It is a water sport that will allow you to fly on a fish-shaped boat! Sounds pretty cool, right? It has recently been introduced in Bali and is comparatively different from other water sports. And don’t worry, the experienced professionals will be your guide, ensuring you have a great time trying out the flying fish. The ride lasts 15 minutes and is worth a try!
However, here is something you need to keep in mind while opting for the flying fish. Since this activity requires the fish-shaped boat to balance mid-air, three people get on the boat at once. So you will have to pair up with other people. But hey, this can also turn out to be a great way for you to make some friends on your solo trip!
4. Go trekking to the Mount Batur
Arguably, this is one of the most popular things to do in Bali. If you want to witness the gorgeous scenery of the sunset in Bali, then this adventurous activity is for you.
In usual cases, the trek starts at midnight. You will be given all the necessary equipment, such as night torches and headlamps, and once you finish the trek in the morning, you will reach Mount Agung, where you will witness the beautiful sunrise. After that, the journey to Mount Batur will take you approximately two hours. It is quite a thrilling adventure in itself and will definitely be the best trek of your life.
Here is an important thing to note. The trek will be taking you on an active volcano. So before you plan your trekking activity with the group, confirm whether there might be a volcanic activity or not.
5. Have a relaxed time at the Yoga Barn
You will come across a lot of meditation centres and retreats in Bali. If you are looking to spend a relaxed time in Bali, then the Yoga Barn is perfect for you. It is one of the most famous yoga retreats in the country that attracts many tourists from all around the world.
Yoga Barn is located in a quiet area of Ubud and consists of five different studios. It offers its visitors plenty of meditation packages for all levels of ability. You can opt for any of their cleansing and detox programmes to experience a slow-paced and peaceful way of life. Trust me, it will help your mind and heart relax in a way you would never have experienced before.
6. Try Jetpacking in Tanjung Benoa
If you are a water baby and love trying out different water adventures, then Tanjung Benoa is the perfect place to try out everything that you can think of. Jetpacking is one of the most popular water adventures offered at this place. Many tourists from all over the world visit Tanjung Benoa to try their hands at this adventurous water activity. The most exciting part about jetpacking in Tanjung Benoa is the scenic beauty of Bali from above the sea. It is very close to what you would call ‘heavenly.’
All you will have to do is strap on a jetpack and fly high into the sky from the sea. The maximum height you can explore with jetpacking is 10 metres. And each jetpacking session lasts about 20 minutes.
Even if you are a beginner at this, the experienced professionals will demonstrate everything that you need to know and have a fun time.
7. Visit the Ubud Monkey Forest
Although visiting a monkey forest may not seem interesting to many people. But trust me, you are going to have a great time in the Ubud Monkey Forest. The interesting thing about the monkey forest is that it houses over 700 different types of monkeys and also has a wide variety of different species of trees.
Many people visit the monkey forest for its community management programme. There are a lot of things for you to explore inside the forest. You can explore the temples situated inside the forest while being extra cautious with the monkeys around you! Since Bali is quite famous for its temples, among other things, this can actually turn out to be a great experience for you.
8. Visit the famous Bali Bird Park
Another famous activity to do in Bali, a visit to the Bali Bird Park, will offer you a splendid experience amongst the 250+ varieties of birds living in their natural habitat. If you are a nature lover, then the Bali Bird Park will not disappoint you!
Apart from bird watching, there are plenty of other things for you to explore as well. The park has its own programmes, exhibitions, and wine and dines offers.
9. Witness the magical Tukad Cepung Waterfall
A rather hidden tourist spot in Bali, Tukad Cepung Waterfall is no less than some sort of magic. It is hidden behind enormous rocks, making it not-so-easily-visible for the people. However, if you dig in a little, you will find this gorgeous place.
I have a little tip for you to make your visit to Tukad Cepung Waterfall a memorable one. The best way to capture beautiful pictures under the waterfall is to find an angle that allows the water to catch the sun rays, illuminating the whole place! Trust me, it will make for the perfect Instagram picture. You can ask the other people visiting to take your pictures.
10. Visit Tegenungan Waterfall
If you are a nature lover, Ubud will not disappoint you. Another one of its beauty, the Tegenungan Waterfalls, plays a major role in attracting thousands of tourists to Ubud. This beautiful waterfall is located between Ubud and Denpasar. If you are staying in Ubud, you can hire a car or book a taxi to get to the waterfall.
There are plenty of restaurants around the Tegenungan Waterfalls that offer delicious food to make your day complete. You can even try out some authentic Indonesian cuisine here while having the perfect view from the restaurants!
11. Visit the Tanah Lot Temple
It is believed that the Tanah Lot Temple is the most famous tourist attraction in Bali. It is a Hindu temple located on top of a beautiful rock formation. This is something that makes the temple so scenic as well. Over the last few years, the sea has separated the temple from the mainland, and during high tide, the view of the Tanah Lot Temple looks breathtaking.
If you decide on visiting the temple, make sure you plan your visit during sunset, as this is the most beautiful time to witness this place in all its glory.
12. Visit the Ubud Palace
One of the most stunning architectural masterpieces in Bali, the Ubud Palace is a must-visit for all history lovers. The palace has been constructed in a traditional Balinese style that adds to its beauty. It was built during the lordship of Ida Tjokorda Putu Kandel and was home to the royals of Ubud. However, it has now become a landmark of Ubud.
Every evening, several performances take place at the palace, including some traditional Balinese dances. You can spend your afternoon exploring the palace and enjoy the performances in the evening.
13. Walk in the sea at Tanjung Benua
A unique thing to do, walking at the bottom of the sea is something that should definitely be on your list of things to do in Bali. While you walk at the bottom of the sea, you will witness a huge variety of marine species.
If you are worried about never having gone inside water, well, then don’t worry. You don’t really need any skills to do this activity, and the trainers will train you about how to walk at the bottom of the sea.
If you end up getting your period on one of the days of your trip and you fear cancelling the rest of your day, read my guide on how to deal with your period.
14. Ride a scooter in the underwater
Sounds pretty fascinating, right? Well, this is Bali for you, the land of fancy water adventures. Riding an underwater scooter to experience marine life is one of the best things to do in Bali. This newest activity in the list of water adventures in Bali has attracted a huge chunk of tourists.
You will be given a scooter and a helmet to explore underwater life. And the helmet is injected with oxygen which will help you breathe underwater easily. Again, you do not need to be a pro at swimming to try out this activity. All you have to do is sit on a scooter and explore the magical marine life.
15. Swim with the sharks
If you have been fascinated by sharks all your life, then this is the chance to feed or even touch them in real life. This one-of-a-kind experience is a must-do on your solo trip to Bali. It will definitely make your visit to the country a whole lot memorable.
Now, when the instructor explains to you how to go about swimming with the sharks, I would recommend you listen closely. The instructors are the ones who know the sharks properly, so you do not want to miss out on tips and any information they might give you to have a smooth experience in the water with the sharks!
16. Go Hot Air Balloon-ing
Considering the beauty that Bali is, I would say there is no better way to explore it than from up in the clouds. Chedi Club offers hot air balloon rides for its visitors to witness the breathtaking views of Bali.
Some of the beautiful places you can see from the hot air balloon are the tropical rainforests of Ubud, rice fields of Tanah Gajah, and the holy Mount Agung! There is only one place that offers hot air balloon rides, so you know you are in for a great adventure. Since the hot air balloon rides are open 24 hours, you can even opt for one in the morning for the sunrise or evening for the sunset. The views are truly breathtaking.
Also, if you love photography, you can carry your camera along with you for the ride to capture some stunning shots of Bali from the sky!
17. Slide down the Aling-Aling Waterfall
The beautiful Aling-Aling Waterfall is famous for its natural waterslides. Many tourists visit the waterfall just for this one activity. And also, the four cascading falls the waterfall has.
I would highly recommend you visit the waterfall, especially for its natural waterslides. Once you slide down the waterfall, you will land in a pool of clear water where you can swim and relax. This is a great activity to add to your list of things to do in Bali on a solo trip.
To reach the summit of the waterfall, you will have to trek your way up. On the way, you will also witness lots of different species of flora and fauna that include some rare ones as well. You can visit the Aling-Aling Waterfall at any time of the month to have a fun experience.
Also, I would say this is where you can bring along your swimwear and flaunt that bikini body. You can also click some gorgeous pictures of the waterfall and take some Instagram-worthy selfies.
18. Get a massage at a Balinese Spa
Once in a while, we all need to release the tension from our bodies, right? And Balinese spas are one of a kind to do just that. You will come across different types of Indian and Chinese methods of applying pressure to the tired muscles and stimulating nerve endings at the spas.
After a tiring few days exploring the beautiful Bali, a day at a Balinese spa will provide your body and mind with what it needs – a relaxed time. Each spa session here lasts anywhere between 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the package you opt for. Along with a full-body massage, the spas offer other recreational activities as well to offer you unparalleled relaxation!
19. Visit the Balangan Beach
This half a kilometre long stretch is considered one of the most scenic spots in Bali. Covered with golden sand, the Balangan Beach offers some stunning views of the limestone cliffs covered with overgrown plants and trees.
The best way to spend some time at the beach is through sunbathing. The beach is quite famous for that. Once you are done with that, you can take a dive into the sea and explore the colourful reef located just off the coastline. But if you do not wish to explore the reef, you can climb up the cliffs to witness some gorgeous views of Bali.
I would say the best time to visit Balangan Beach is the afternoon. After sunbathing, if you plan on climbing the cliff, the sunset in the evening would take your breath away!
20. Create a personalised perfume at perfume workshops
In Bali, you can have fun even inside a workshop. And there are workshops for literally everything, jewellery making, cooking, arts and crafts, you name it, and you have a workshop for it. One of the most interesting workshops I came across on my solo trip to Bali was the perfume workshop. Now, I love smelling good. And there was no way I was letting go of a chance to create a personalised perfume for myself.
The workshops teach you how to create your own perfume from exotic Balinese ingredients. Trust me, if you love doing unique things on your solo trips, then creating perfumes is something you should definitely try out!
21. Have a delicious cup of tea at Bambu Indah Resort
Believe me when I say that the Bambu Indah Resort serves some of the best teas in the world! The resort has been creatively developed in traditional Balinese style that makes it so beautiful. The reason why you should visit the Bambu Indah Resort lies in the fact that it offers some of the best sunset views in Ubud. These are accompanied by the gorgeous views of the scenic Balinese mountain range and green forests.
You can either plan your stay at the resort and enjoy its world-class hospitality. Or, you can just visit the resort for a day and have their delicious tea. As a guest at the resort, you can enjoy the River Warung pools or take a stroll through the organic vegetable gardens. All in all, time spent at the Bambu Indah Resort will be some of your best in Bali.
22. Have a breakfast meal with Orangutans!
The Gayo Restaurant at Kampung Sumatra offers its visitors the opportunity to have a mouthwatering breakfast meal with the orangutans. Yes, you read that right!
These creatures have been trained under professionals to be friendly with human beings. This is one of the unique experiences you can have in Bali. Because who gets to meet such adorable orangutans on a daily basis, right?
The breakfast menu at the restaurant includes a wide variety of dishes, including tropical fruits, freshly baked bread, healthy fruit juices, and the main course of your choice. You can select from various main course options such as buttermilk pancakes, fried rice, or just cereal! Not only is this breakfast menu delicious, but it is healthy as well. And having it with orangutans takes the experience to a whole new level.
23. Watch an entertaining Kecak Dance
A Balinese Hindu dance form, Kecak Dance is one of the most popular forms of entertainment in Bali. First introduced in the 1930s in Bali, the dance form quickly rose to fame owing to the speciality of using fire as a centrepiece prop. This has also given the dance form a nickname called the “Fire Dance.”
To watch the Kecak Dance, you can visit the Uluwatu Temple. The amphitheatre inside the temple that hosts the dance performance is an open area. It has been situated in such a way that the setting sun works as a backdrop to the performances. This makes the whole performance all the more magical!
24. Take a cooking workshop at Bumbu Bali
Owned by Heinz von Holzen, Bumbu Bali is one of the most popular restaurants in Bali. If you want to have an authentic Balinese meal, then Bumbu Bali is the place to be.
But, it is more than just a restaurant. Bumbu Bali conducts cooking workshops as well. The workshops start in the morning, where you go to the local market and learn about the Balinese ingredients. Then you will learn to cook a traditional Balinese meal. Post cooking, you get to have a nice lunch with all the fellow attendees of the workshop. Oh, and you also get a certificate from the workshop for taking up the cooking lesson.
If you are someone who loves cooking, then this is a great opportunity for you to try your hands at cooking traditional Balinese cuisine.
25. Bathe in the sacred waters at Tirta Empul
In central Bali, there is a big temple complex built in 960 AD. The complex is surrounded by numerous water bodies consisting of purification baths, pools, fish ponds, and a holy mountain spring called Tirta Empul. And the holy spring is the thing that attracts many tourists to its fold.
If you have watched Julia Roberts’ movie “Eat, Pray, Love,” you can easily recognise Tirta Empul from one of the scenes in the movie.
As you visit the temple, you will first enter the lush gardens with several Balinese-style statues and tropical plants. Once you are inside the temple courtyard, you will see the different bathing pools. The place is believed to be drenched in legends and myths. And a bath in the sacred waters of Tirta Empul is also something you should definitely try out on your solo trip to Bali.
26. Shop at the Sukawati Art Market
A trip to any country is incomplete without doing a little bit of shopping. The Sukawati Art Market in Bali is one of the unique markets that sell some authentic Balinese artworks. It is a two-storey market, and the range of things you can purchase is quite huge!
At the market, you can purchase handmade decorative items, colourful clothes, and fabrics, aromatherapy incenses and candles, figurines of animals and birds, among many other things.
The art market is open from 6 AM to 6 PM every day, so you can plan your visit accordingly. Also, remember that it is mostly crowded with locals and tourists, so try not to carry any valuables with you and stay alert at all times while shopping. The chances of you getting pickpocketed are fairly low, but it is better to be safe than sorry!
27. Visit the Charly’s Chocolate Factory
Now, this is quite fascinating to do in Bali. Charly’s Chocolate Factory is one of the most famous chocolate factories known for its delicious homemade chocolates.
To add a fun thing to do in Bali, you can definitely add this to the list. You can book a tour of the chocolate factory and explore its premises. Also, you will come across the cute little hobbit-like houses in the factory. These are actually the production houses that look like hobbit houses.
Apart from getting a tour done of the chocolate factory, you can also purchase some chocolates from here. I would say that chocolates make for a great gift for a loved one, so don’t hesitate to pack a few with you!
28. Visit the Kuta Theatre
If you want to experience some live theatre in Bali, then the Kuta Theatre is the place to be. The theatre features nightly stage performances. The performers wear dazzling Balinese costumes that add to the glamour of these performances. And you will see a lot of illusions and tricks as well throughout the act. Some of the famous illusions include vanishing tricks, cutting a lady in half, and levitation tricks.
29. Watch the Devdan Show
If you want to witness something magical, then head to the Devdan Show at the Nusa Dua Theatre. This cultural programme goes on for 90 minutes. The best part about the show is the whole range of acts, including laser and light displays, acrobats, pyrotechnics, music shows, and aerial silk dance.
To take a memoir home from this spectacular cultural performance, you can even click pictures with the crew members after the performance.
30. Visit the Goa Gala Gala
Well, I saved the best one for the last. Goa Gala Gala is an underground house influenced by the Hindu mythology known as Mahabharatha. This spectacular house was built in 1961. As you enter further into the house, you will come across an underground network of caves. The most interesting part about these caves is that they have been hand-crafted from limestone!
To read more facts about this interesting place, check out this blog.
So what is your favourite thing to do in Bali?
Bali is one of the most beautiful places in the world. It is perfect to have a weekend getaway from your busy life and just have a fun time while enjoying all that Bali has to offer. The list of things I have mentioned here in this blog is only a few of the best there are. And although it may not be possible to do everything on one solo trip, you can still squeeze in as many things as possible in your itinerary since Bali is extremely budget-friendly!
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