RICE FIELDS, VOLCANOES, BEACHES, CULTURE & SO MUCH MORE!
Rice paddies, patchwork hillside terraces and beautiful sand beaches characterise this idyllic island. Encircled by turquoise waters, it’s fascinating culture comes to life with traditional dancers adorned with vivid costumes and incredible stemmed fingers. We are talking about Bali, the tourist hotspot of Indonesia.
BEACHES: Bali’s beaches are great for action or plain relaxation; the south’s white sandy beaches of Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Sanur and Nusa Dua (to include Tanjung Benoa) being the most popular. The fishing boats, which line Jimbaran beach offer the perfect waterfront view. The north coast, typically has darker coloured sand beaches (to include Bedugul, Lovina & Banjar) and is much quieter and more secluded in comparison.
SPORTS: Attracting adventure seekers from around the world, Bali offers activities from whitewater rafting down the Ayung River to the scuba diving in the south coast’s crystal clear lagoons. For surfers / windsurfers, the east has some wild waves and you can play golf, tennis and go mountain biking along the Batur Trail.
LOCAL TASTES: The food here is delicious with specialities including roasted pork, broiled lobster and a wide variety of fresh seafood options. For a street snack, try mie goreng, fried noodles topped with an egg, or chicken satay, cooked in a spicy peanut sauce. Tropical fruit is a popular snack or desert.
EVENING FLAVOUR: For the ultimate party atmosphere, Kuta has waterfront surf bars, discos and an abundance of shopping. Legian and Seminyak are home to a number of expat bars. In Jimbaran, sunset bars line the beach or head inland to Ubud for live shows, percussion music and traditional Balinese dancers. The bigger hotels in Nusa Dua tend to have daily in-house entertainment to entice the guests to remain within.
BEST BUYS: You’ll find local handcrafts, jewellery, woodcarvings, leather goods and duty free bargains. The markets at Kuta and Sanur are great for the usual souvenirs or take a look at beautiful batiks and bamboo works in arty Ubud. There are shopping malls with designer goods and department stores in Nusa Dua, Kuta and the capital Denpasar.
LIVE THE EXPERIENCE: Why not take an off road jeep safari through the heart of the north western region of the island? Catch a glimpse of the playful monkeys at Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest and watch the sunset at the famous Tanah Lot Temple, which is built on a huge rock outcrop in the sea.
WHEN TO GO: The dry season is from April to October, although Bali can be considered year-round.
WHERE TO STAY: We at Select Representation are heavily biased towards the 2 wonderful resorts that we represent in the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Holland and Scandinavia!
Option 1 = Situated in front of the famous Legian Beach, the 4* Bali Mandira Beach Resort & Spa is set amongst 5 acres of beautifully landscaped tropical gardens and looks out to the Indian Ocean. Ideally located within walking distance to all that Kuta and Legian an offer, with excellent shopping, traditional art markets, bars and restaurants. Legian’s wide sandy beaches and famous waves make it a heavenly place for swimming and surfing. The resort offers 2 swimming pools, high quality dining and spa facilities.
Option 2 = Located within the southern part of Bali, Tanjung Benoa, the 5* Grand Mirage Resort & Thalasso is regarded as the best ‘all-inclusive’ resort in Bali, with an extensive selection of activities and food / beverage options. The resort also offers a unique yet very separate family wing and complex, which has been designed as a kid’s paradise, with its rooms & suites, indoor and outdoor playground, pool water slide, kids club, mini water park and much more. The resort offers 8 varied restaurants, 3 bars, 3 swimming pools, a multitude of activities, daily evening entertainment and an amazing thalasso spa.
So there it is. Bali really has something for everyone. For more details on the hotels, contact us on: sales@select-rep.com. For touring or excursions, we can direct you to tour operators who utilise the ground services of our superb DMC.