Bali seduces travelers with its lush landscape of tumbling mountains, terraced rice fields, and mystical temples. It also enchants with its dramatic dance performances and colorful ceremonies, and with its luxurious beach resorts and exciting nightlife.
The island’s cuisine is diverse and unique. Locals eat a lot of rice, especially nasi campur, which is a mix of steamed white rice and various accompaniments including fried egg, bean curd, cucumber, grilled chicken satay, peanut sauce, and prawn crackers. The Balinese like a good amount of spice and chili and this is often served with their dishes, but you can request milder versions if you prefer.
There are also plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. Lawar, a traditional Balinese food made of finely chopped meat and vegetables, is very popular and usually comes in 2 varieties – red and white. The red version contains animal blood and may not be suitable for vegans and vegetarians, so choose the white option if you are either of these groups.
One of the best things to do in Bali for nature lovers is a hike through Taman Nasional Bali Barat, or West Bali National Park. This is a 77,000-hectare expanse of untouched nature, home to hundreds of species and an amazing variety of plants and wildlife.
Another highlight of a visit to Bali is sampling the renowned coffee and cocoa produced here. If you love tea, there is also a huge range of variants available in the island. Many shops and restaurants offer free tea-testing sessions.