Kuta
The heart of the tourist region, Kuta offers gorgeous beaches, great shopping, a huge choice of accommodation and dining, fabulous sunsets and frenetic nightlife.

Waterbom Park and Spa

When the kids find out about Waterbom Park they'll be begging you to take them! Thankfully, this exciting water park located in Tuban is fun for kids and adults alike. There's an assortment of exciting waterslides, tube rides as well as more leisurely river rides and a kiddy pool for younger visitors. There's also a restaurant serving up Western and Asian food, sand and water volleyball, badminton, table tennis and a gift shop.

Legian Beach

In Balinese, Legian means "sweet and pleasant". This beach is popular with sun-worshippers and watersport lovers who come for its excellent surfing, water-skiing, windsurfing and kayaking.

Ubud

Ubud is the art and culture centre of Bali, perched among rolling hills and rice paddies 450 metres above sea level. Far from the crowds of Kuta and Denpasar, peaceful Ubud is home to grand old royal palaces, temples, art galleries and museums. There are a number of family-friendly attractions close to the main town.

Monkey Forest Road

At the end of Monkey Forest Road, on the southern outskirts of town is a small nature reserve where a beautiful old temple has been taken over by hundreds of cheeky Balinese macaques. The monkeys are very tolerant of people, but are notorious for stealing everything from food to sunglasses and cameras from tourists – so watch your belongings and don't tease or attempt to pat the animals as they can inflict a nasty bite.

Bali Bird Park

Hundreds of beautiful and exotic birds fly through the tropical gardens at Bali Bird Park in Taman Burung. You'll get the rare opportunity to get close to colourful Indonesian parrots, handsome Birds of Paradise, magnificent Hornbills, the imposing giant cassowary and many other tropical bird species.

Bali Reptile Park

Adjacent to the bird park is the fascinating Bali Reptile Park, home to the most complete collection of reptiles in Southeast Asia. The park boasts the largest reticulated python in captivity, and an amazing komodo dragon exhibit. There's an open-air reptilarium where guests get the chance to handle iguanas, monitor lizards, tortoises and pythons.

Elephant Safari

The Elephant Safari park is about 1 hour from Ubud and gives kids a chance to learn all about elephants, watch them playing and bathing in the park lake, as well as hand feeding, photographs and elephant rides.

Touring

Perhaps the single best thing that Bali still has going for it is the amazing scenery - stunning terraced rice fields, dramatic river gorges, tropical waterfalls and ancient Balinese temples. You can take a pre-arranged tour by bus or hire a private driver to enjoy the countryside at your own pace.

Rafting

Rafting is an exciting sport suitable for all ages and levels of experience. Several professionally-run rafting companies run on the Ayung River, northwwest of Ubud and on the Unda river, north of Kungklung.

Surfing and Bodyboarding

Bali is a mecca for surfers and boarders and there are several excellent surfing beaches around Bali where annual competitions are held. Nusa Dua is popular with experienced surfers, while Kuta, Legian and Medewi Beach are good for beginners. The best season for surfing is between September and March.

TOP TEN things to do

Hire a tour guide and go on a sightseeing experience through some of the most majestic countryside in South-East Asia.
Check out some cheeky apes at the Monkey Forest, Ubud.
Practice your bargaining skills and score some great buys at the open-air markets.
Enjoy some great beach activities like volleyball, windsurfing and kayaking in Kuta Bay.
Ride the elephants at the Elephant Safari.
Take a scenic tour of the countryside and farmland in Ubud.
Race down a tubular waterslide at Waterbom Park and Spa.
Spend a day at the Bali Bird Park and Bali Reptile Park.
Watch a fascinating performance of traditional Balinese dancing.
Take surfing lessons at Legian Beach.

Events
The Balinese use two local calenders, the Hindu saka and wuku, along with the Western calender. This can make it difficult to determine which events fall on which days – check with a tourist office what festivals and events are coming up when you arrive in Bali.

Galungan Festival - This religious festival is observed in the 11th week of the 210-day Balinese wuku calender, (check with your travel agent or the Indonesian Tourism Authority for dates). This 10-day period is set aside for visiting family, friends and neighbours and is always accompanied by feasts and finery. Legend has it that during Galungan, all the gods come down from earth and this is celebrated by barongs (mythical lion-like creatures) dancing from temple to temple and village to village.

Nyepi - Usually falls between the end of March and the beginning of April and celebrates the New Year in the saka calendar. Preparations begin three days before Nyepi, with the effigies of the gods from each village being taken to the river in a long and colourful procession, where they are bathed by the god Baruna before being returned to their shrines. One day before Nyepi, exorcism ceremonies are held at all the villages and carnivals featuring the gods and giants of Balinese lore are held after sunset. Nypei day itself is eerily quiet, with nobody working or going about their normal activities. People stay inside their houses with the lights dimmed and the TV or radio down, and no traffic is allowed on the road. On this day, the world is cleansed and everything starts anew.