Bali Holidays

Of all the 17,500 islands in Indonesia, Bali shouts the loudest. It’s dubbed the Island of the Gods, and you’ll see their handiwork wherever you roam. You’ve got everything from liquorice-black beaches to cloud-shrouded volcanoes and bright-green rice terraces. Plus, Bali’s just a boat ride away from go-slow islands like Lombok and the Gilis.

Bali’s beaches excel at the big three – swimming, snorkelling and surfing. The main names are Seminyak and Kuta, where the sands are boosted by a collection of hip hotels, bars and spas. Off the well-worn path, there are surf spots and calm bays with nothing but coconut trees for company. Plus, the island sits within the Coral Triangle, which has the biggest diversity of marine species in the world, so the reefs are a diver’s dream.

Sands aside, there’s no end of landscapes taking up residence in Bali. You can move from the iconic rice terraces to thick forests and lava-spewing volcanoes. Speaking of the latter, if you don’t mind getting up in the middle of the night, a sunrise climb of Bali’s second-biggest is a must-do. From the top of Mount Batur, you’ll be rewarded with some of the best views on the whole island.

Bali’s charms aren’t all natural. A visit to Ubud takes you right to the heart of the island’s soul. It’s Bali’s spiritual centre, so the streets are hemmed with art galleries and museums. Here, you can do as Julia Roberts did in Eat, Pray, Love and shop in the markets, wander around its ornate palace, and dine in the authentic, al fresco eateries.