SURFING
Bali, in terms of surf tourism, was actually discovered by Australian surfers in the 1960′s. Before that, all the tens of perfect waves around the island had never seen a surfboard. During the last 5 decades Bali, and especially the area of Kuta which is surrounded by great surf breaks, have become known among the 25 million + surfers around the world as a dream surf vacation destination.
The coast-line of Bali facing South is exposed to the swells coming from the Indian Ocean. In fact, a straight line can be drawn on a map in between Bali and Antarctica, without any land blocking the way. The dry season from June until September is the preferred surf holiday season, with bigger swells and all-day off-shore winds on most of the better surf spots. However, Bali gets swell all year around, and on the wet season, the winds will be favorable for surfing on the East coast of the island. So no matter when you go to Bali, there will be a wave.
For a beginner, the sandy beach stretching for kilometers in front of Kuta, provides nice beach breaks which are more forgiving than those breaks with a reef underneath. Walk around the beach, and find a spot that suits your skills the best.
Once you have an idea how to get up on the board and ride a wave, waves such as KuDeTa, Berawa, Balian, and Medewi can be worth checking. And the better you get, the more options you will have! There are several reef breaks, which on their day can be considered as world-class waves, Uluwatu and Padang-Pandang being the most often mentioned spots. If the surf is too big for you, just spend some time watching, and you are most likely to see some pro-riders ripping the waves. When in Bali, just ask around; you will meet many surfers who have already surfed many spots in Bali, and will be willing to share their knowledge if you seem like a respectful surfer who’s there to have fun. Respect the nature, locals, and other surfers too – and you are sure to soon get a wave that will make you smile!
The best surfer is the one having the most fun out there!
WAVE REPORT:
DIVING & SNORKELING
Thanks to the warm water, extensive coral reef and abundant marine life, Bali offers you many amazing possibilities to dive and snorkel. Because diving is so much popular, you can find diving schools and operators everywhere on Bali’s coast, but the best sites are usually found from the south of Bali. Places like USS Liberty Ship Wreck, Tulamben, Amed, Sanur, Padangbai, Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida and Gili Islands are all popular among the divers. Actually one of the biggest problems will be where to find reliable diving or snorkeling operator. When choosing a dive company, just always remember to find out if staff is well trained and all equipment maintained and kept well. Prices are usually not too bad, and they vary from $45 (local day trips) to $400 (open-water diving trips).
TREKKING & HIKING
Although you can have a nice trek almost everywhere you go in Bali, the most popular trekking sites are undoubtedly the sides of the iconic volcanoes like Gunung Batur, Gunung Batukau and Gunung Agung. They all offer you memorable adventures and views you won’t ever forget. For some private treks you’ll need a guide, but there’s also many easy and short hikes where you can explore the island alone. These kind of short hikes are found around Danau Buyan and Danau Tamblingan, Tirta Gangga and Sidemen Road area.
RAFTING
River rafting is very popular and exciting way to see beautiful Bali island. Usually these day trips start from South Bali or Ubud, and while floating along the river you can have a nice look of beautiful waterfalls and flush rice paddies. There are many companies offering this kind of activity, what you just need to experience yourself.
CYCLING
One good opportunity to explore the island is to do it by bike. As soon as you get out of traffic-clogged streets of the south, the relaxed back roads of the island are going to make it up to you. You can go to see the peninsula of Bukit or the narrow mountain roads in Ubud, only using your imagination. Actually instead of telling you where to go, it’s much easier to tell you where not to ride your bike. Avoid cycling in Denpasar, Sanur area and Seminyak to Kuta because of the heavy traffic and narrow roads.
