Bali and Lombok can be incredible places to explore and with a little planning and research it's possible to avoid all the tourist traps and find your own piece of paradise. If you need to spend a night or two near Denpasar airport for flight connections, consider staying in Sanur, Jimbaran, or Bingin. Otherwise head away from the crazy as soon as you can and either head for the hills or out to the islands. Yes, it takes a little more time and money to travel an hour or two further, but it is totally worth it. Whether you sit on your quiet beach or walk through the rice terraces with not a tourist in sight, you can experience real Indonesia. Avoid Tuban, Kuta, Legian and Seminyak. These places are filled with enticing resorts at cheap prices, but as a result are filled to capacity and travelling through these spots is generally madness. Nusa Dua is a beautiful beach lined with expensive resorts and not a lot else. Although totally great for a few days of R and R, Nusa Dua is not a very authentically Balinese experience. 1. Beaches and Rice TerracesSanur, Nusa Lembongan and Sidemen. Stay your first or last night on Sanur beach depending on your flight times. Sanur is the departure point for the fast boats to Nusa Lembongan and the Gili's. (*UPDATE JULY 2022: most boats are now leaving from Padang Bai). It is just 30 minutes to Nusa Lembongan from Sanur beach. 4 nights at Mushroom beach to relax, then transfer back to Sanur and on to Sidemen for 2 nights (90 minutes drive). Sidemen offers a peaceful balinese village with exquisite rice terraces to hike to your hearts content. From Sidemen you can visit Pura Besikeh the mother temple or Tirta Gangga water palace. 2. Rice Terraces, Black sands and seafoodSidemen, Amed and Jimbaran Start by exploring Sidemen's rice terraces for 3 nights. Travel one hour to Amed via Tirta Gangga and pura lempuyang. Chill out in Amed for 3 nights for cafe's and diving, then head back to Jimbaran to get closer to the airport and feast at the seafood restaurants for your last night. |
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