This fabulous island attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. Surfers come here for high waves, designers and creative people for inspiration, office workers to relax on the beaches and in spas. Is it possible to fly to Bali on your own? Of course yes. It is not necessary to use the services of a travel agency.

Traveling “on your own” will cost 40 percent cheaper. Only a number of questions arise: how to get there, what documents need to be issued, whether a visa is needed, where to stay, what excursions to go on, which beach to choose. This guide will help answer all these questions and more.

How to apply for a visa

You need a visa to travel to Bali. You can issue it directly after arrival at the airport for $ 25. The waiting time will be 30 minutes. Or get to the Indonesian embassy in the Russian Federation in advance and resolve the issue with a visa there. In addition to a visa, a tourist will need a passport.

Which resort to choose

The question is very relevant for everyone who decides to fly to Bali. Which resort to choose? Tour operators help to quickly find a ticket, based on the requirements and wishes of the client, because they are specialists in the field of tourism. If you are going to the island on your own, then there is often no one to tell you which part of the island to go to and which hotel to choose. You will have to read numerous reviews of “experienced” travelers.

According to them, you can get some general idea about the resorts and hotels, get the information of interest. It will be necessary to “rummage” a bunch of sites. You can spend a lot of free time searching. If it exists, great. If not, please use the information below. They contain useful information about places where you can relax in Bali.

Kuta

A resort center where young people “hang out” and tourists actively relax. It is the most famous major resort on the island. You can get to it by taxi from Ngurah Rai Airport. Travel time is no more than 15 minutes. A cheaper option is to take the bus. The beaches of Kuta cannot be considered clean, at least in comparison with Nusa Dua.

Fans of nightlife will love this place. There are plenty of bars and clubs in Kuta. You can leave one and go to another. Street lights are lit at night. There are bars where you can watch a movie. A trip to the Waterboom Park water park will be a good entertainment. You can also go shopping. There are some markets even at night in the resort.

Nusa Dua

The most elite resort on the island. The beaches are the most suitable, and fashionable hotels are some of the best. Here you can have a great rest with children. The hotel has everything you need: swimming pools, restaurants, beaches and parks. And they are not fenced off. You can easily go to one or the other.

Tanjung Benoa Resort

Located next to the expensive Nusa Dua, compared to which it is much cheaper. It used to be a fishing village, now it's a small, quiet resort. In the evenings, vacationers are divided into two categories. One goes to the beach to watch the sunset, the other goes to Kuta to have fun in the clubs.

Jimbaran

Resort for wealthy citizens. Remarkably tasty fish is cooked in restaurants, more than half of the people go out to admire the sunsets in the evenings. You can dine right on the beach: tables and chairs are almost on the coastline. If staying at this resort is not affordable, then you should at least come here for a romantic candlelit dinner. A meal by the sea will be remembered for a long time as the most unusual way to eat deliciously and enjoy the local beauty.

Sanur

Sanur is considered an ideal place for families with children. The waves at this resort are low, so you can not be afraid for kids and teenagers. Silence reigns in Sanur, unlike other places for recreation. It's a long way to get to Kuta from here. This resort is not famous for entertainment until dawn. After ten in the evening you will hardly meet anyone on the street. The atmosphere here is the most suitable in order to be able to spend a holiday in a relaxed atmosphere.

Ubud

In Ubud, adherents of organic nutrition and enthusiastic yoga gather. Those who want to eat healthy sandwiches and talk about meditation and karma clearing stop here. By the way, in this secluded place among the jungle, the film “Eat. Pray. Love”, which quickly gained popularity after the release.

In Ubud, you can watch a national dance that introduces you into a trance. The cost of a ticket for such a spectacle is about 6 dollars. You can stay in a homestay at this resort for only $10/night. This is the minimum price. To dispel boredom, you should go to a local spa for a massage, go to the village of Kintamani to look at coffee plantations and admire the volcano Batur. The Antonio Blanco Museum is not to be missed. It was founded by a Spanish artist who settled in Bali.

These are the main resorts of Bali. Which one to choose is up to you. You can generally live in different parts of the island. This is the best of all options. You can adhere to the following program, arriving on a paradise island.

Day 1

Seminyak

For those who are used to having fun nights out, it is better to start with Seminyak. Hanging out there will be one hundred percent. After a memorable fun, you should think about something more interesting that will bring new knowledge and add impressions. We need to go on our first tour.

Java Island

A great solution is to fly to the island of Java. It is located outside the resort itself. The tour will cost a lot (about $ 300). This must be taken into account first of all. But if funds allow, then Java should be visited. There are many temples on this wonderful island: Borobudur, Mendut, Pavon. They are distinguished by their unique architectural style and special coloring. After studying all the most remarkable information and details about the structures, the legs will obviously get tired. You will need to take a break, so that later, with renewed vigor, go for vivid emotions.

You can grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant serving hearty meals. Lunch is included in the cost of the tour. Just do not forget that the food on the island for the most part is very heavily peppered. If anyone likes to taste food with a twinkle, then in Java it will work out. Those who do not particularly prefer spicy food should eat more rice and drink more water. After dinner and gaining strength, we must go again. Where? To the Hindu temple Prambanan. This building is amazing just by looking at it from the outside. What can we say about the interior decoration! The beauty in Prambanan is indescribable.

It's hard to write about it, you have to see it. It seems that the temple is a work not made by hands. It is hard to believe that such a wonderful architectural building could have been designed by man. It is one thing to come up with and think through all the details of the design, and quite another to embody all this. After admiring Prambanan, a return to Bali is expected. The day will come to an end, it will be necessary to go to bed without staying up late. Otherwise, the next day it will be difficult to get ready for a new excursion.

Day 2

Taman Ayun

Excursion day can be started from Taman Ayun. This is one of the most beautiful temples in Bali. It is located in a park where centuries-old trees grow and pure ponds amaze with their splendor. Before entering the temple, you need to cross the bridge. The path leads to a fountain built according to the symbolism. The number of jets (9 of them) is equal to the number of Balinese gods. The jets are directed in different directions according to the principle of the location of the cardinal points. Further, the path will lead to a more luxurious courtyard of the temple.

Lake Bro

After Taman Ayun, you can go to the very heart of the island, to Lake Bratan. It is considered sacred. The lake is located on a once extinct volcano.

Local residents use the water from it for cooking and for other purposes. Without him, they would have had a hard time. The nature around the lake is unusually clean. Many tourists believe that this is the best lake in Bali. It's quiet and cool here. You can watch the clubs of incense distributed by the Balinese during religious ceremonies.

Ulun Danu Temple

Here stands the Ulun Danu temple, which fascinates with the unusual structures of which it consists. You can go to the Botanical Garden. Just do not think that there is full of tropical evergreens. The garden is more like an ordinary park in central Russia. Therefore, if there is no extra time and money, then it is better to go somewhere else. On this, perhaps, day trips should be interrupted for a while.

Hiking Mount Agung

If you want something unusual and mega-memorable, then at night you should definitely make a trip to Mount Agung. You need to mentally prepare yourself for it. The path ahead is not easy. In the evening, you need to have a proper dinner and lie down for a couple of hours, even better – take a nap. As soon as the night approaches, we will have to pack on the road.

The opportunity to do something unreal arises in the head of every active tourist. So why not? Climbing the mountain peak, which is the highest point in Bali, not everyone can.

This is only possible for the desperate daredevils. Upon returning home, you can boast of conquering the mountain and your courage. This test is for strong-willed tourists, but it's worth it! Emotions overwhelm those who reach the top. It should be noted that it is always cool in the mountains. The farther from the earth, the colder and colder it gets. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to grab a warm jacket.

The closer to the cherished peak, the more difficult it is to climb. Strength becomes less with every step. But on the other hand, at the end of the path, such a bewitching landscape opens up, which cannot be described in words. One feels freedom and there is a feeling of boundless happiness. On this ascent, perhaps, it is worth finishing the second day of your stay in Bali. After such a rich program, it is definitely worth returning to the hotel, where you can treat yourself to a sound sleep.

Day 3

Rafting on the Telaga River

Love rafting? Then in the morning you can get ready to go down the Telaga Waja river. The cost of the alloy is about 70 dollars. Telaga is a mountain river with a “severe character”. You will have to learn to bypass the rapids and waterfalls. In short, only real extreme people can embark on such an adventurous voyage. The river will provide explosive emotions, stormy memories with the smallest details from such a descent will not be forgotten for at least a week. Most rafting enthusiasts are delighted with rafting on Telaga.

Before the descent, a briefing is given and the necessary uniforms are issued: helmets and vests. Tourists are offered a choice of two routes for rafting: along the above-mentioned river and the Ayung River, which is very “calm”. It is difficult to call it a mountain. This is even more likely not rafting, but just a walk along the river with the opportunity to view the local landscapes and take wonderful photographs.

It is unlikely that you will be able to take a photo yourself. Here it is necessary to follow the river “surprises”. On this kind of excursions, tourists are photographed by a professional photographer who swims along with everyone. I'll have to pay him for the photo disc. But there will be something to show to relatives! And it's better to buy such photos for yourself as a keepsake.

Day 4

In the morning you should go to the beach to soak up the sun and swim in the warm sea. In the afternoon, if you wish, you need to go again for another excursion. Do not waste time lying on a sun lounger! You have to try something new, see something incredible. Then the trip will seem not just a trip to Bali, but an unusual adventure.

The day can be spent visiting the water palaces. Such structures are rare to find. They are located close to each other, in the principality of Karangasem. Here everyone will delight their eyes with stunning landscapes and find out what the life of the Balinese rajas was like.

Taman Ujung

The elegant palace of Taman Ujung used to be the residence of one of the Rajas. The complex includes three swimming pools with palaces designed for a good rest. The buildings are a combination of local and European architecture. They are cool even on the hottest days due to their location on the surface of the water.

In the 20th century, the temple was partially destroyed by a volcanic eruption and an earthquake. In 2004, Ujung was restored. Tourists are given the opportunity to walk around the residence, see the Raja's bedroom.

From the hill you can admire the magnificence of what you see here: rice terraces, Agung volcano and fishing villages will shake you with their irresistibility. Everything in Tirtaganga Palace is reminiscent of Ujung. These are reservoirs, and fountains, and numerous sculptures.

It is noteworthy that in this place there is a spring, which symbolizes the origin of life on earth. At least it is symbolic for the locals. Water is taken from it for rituals and ceremonies. One such excursion per day should be enough. “What to do with yourself?”, the reader will ask.

shopping

The fourth day of your stay in Bali is suitable for shopping. In a few days, whatever one may say, you will find out where, what and how much. So – let's go shopping! In Bali, you should not buy things a year in advance. It is better to avoid clothes of famous brands here. It is preferable to make your choice in favor of carved wooden products. If you didn’t take enough dresses or sundresses with you (for most, the suitcase bursts at the seams before the trip, but you still can’t shove everything you want), then you can buy good models in Kuta or Legian.

Walking around the shops and shops will take several hours. To find what you really like, you have to run around and spend precious time. The good thing is that it is available and will not be wasted. How many pleasant little things are waiting for their only buyer in Bali! Those who are still chasing popular clothing brands are waiting for two large shopping centers in Kuta. These are Discovery and Matahari. They are close to each other. But if you want to find something unique, then you should take a walk through the many streets in search of a dream product. And the purchase will be successful, and the mood will rise.

It is not known whether it will be possible to be on this most wonderful island at least once in a lifetime, take a leisurely walk around its surroundings, admire the unique charms that this tropical island is so rich in. You can end the day with a delicious dinner in a restaurant or cafe. It's hard to recommend a specific place. It all depends on where you live, income level and food preferences. In general, finding a place where they cook well, even if there is not a lot of money, is not a problem.

Day 5

Car rental

This day would be good to spend with maximum benefit for the body and soul. You can start it with a tour, and then treat yourself to something pleasant. The choice of excursions is huge, how to prioritize? To see as much interesting and unusual as possible, you can take a car with a driver. Russian speakers – the best option. He will become both a driver and a guide in one person.

If you come across an English-speaking driver, who is the vast majority in Bali, you will have to somehow find a common language with him. Travel prices are negotiable. Approximately for half a day you can pay about $ 50. As an example – a trip to the south of Bali.

Bali Cultural Park

The first significant attraction is Bali Cultural Park. The park has recently appeared, construction and design work is still going on in it. Despite the unfinished work, there is no shortage of what you can see. Sitting back in the car, you can chat with the driver. If, of course, there is mutual understanding.

Locals are happy to talk about local customs and traditions. For example, you can find out that children in Bali are called names in order of priority. The first baby born in the family is called Wayan, the second is named Made, the third is Nyoman, and so on. Moreover, the fifth is again given the name Wayan. Accordingly, there are many children with the same names. It takes a long time to distinguish one from the other.

Dreamland beach

After talking heartily and replenishing your knowledge base, you will probably drive up to Dreamland beach. This is one of the most beautiful places on the island. The water on the beach is such an azure color that it is difficult to describe. One drawback is that everything on the beach is paid. This applies to the umbrella, toilet, shower. It's not worth sitting here for long.

uluwatu temple

The beach is beautiful, but there are other attractions that deserve more attention. In particular, the temple of Uluwatu. It is better to look at it during the daytime, as there are crowds of people in the morning and evening. Many come to this place for the sunset, which is extraordinarily beautiful. You can enter the territory where the temple is located for 20 rupees.

Tourists in open clothes are not allowed here. You will either have to buy a sarong for rent, or be left without impressions behind the fence. The most interesting thing is that it is necessary to cover the bare parts of the body not only for women, but also for men. Tourists are not allowed inside the temple. But this is not a problem. In Bali, you can generally visit a small number of temples as a foreign tourist. You should get used to it.

People come to Uluwat for the amazing views of nature. The temple is located, one might say, at the end of the world. Therein lies its wild popularity. Having admired, you can return home to rest.

Day 6

SPA programs

In the morning you can go to the beach. In the afternoon, it is better to go for spa treatments or massages. Indonesia takes pride of place in the spa rankings. It's better here than in Thailand or India. To experience how the body slowly relaxes is a must. Fatigue and stress will instantly leave the patient.

Employees of the spa centers will help you navigate among the many services provided. In the evening, you should take a walk on the beach along the coast, dream and take pictures as a keepsake. Dinner in a relaxed atmosphere will complement this day in the best possible way.

Day 7

The last day in Bali should be spent in such a way that it will be remembered as one of the best. It is worth trying to do everything that was planned. At the end of the holiday there should be only positive emotions and moments. On this day, it is better not to go on excursions, but to devote yourself to enjoying the warmth and exotic. Of course, you can’t help but go to the beach to swim and sunbathe, and in the evening you should pack your suitcase and, without wasting your last hours in Bali, take a walk through the streets before going to bed.