Becky from Perchalla & Turner Travel Associates lists Bali as one of her all time favourite destinations. She's put together 5 tips for the perfect Balinese holiday.
Beautiful landscapes, enchanting culture, luxurious accommodation – there’s more than just a few reasons why Bali is one of the world’s most popular island destinations. As such, Bali holidays can come in many forms. A time to indulge, explore, relax, celebrate, meditate, enjoy thrills and more. Whatever holiday you have in mind, there are a few key factors for making your good Balinese holiday, a great one.
For getting there: Flights from Australia to Bali can take between five to eight hours depending on the airline and if there is a stopover location – usually Kuala Lumpur. Airlines that operate flights from Australia to Bali include Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Virgin Australia and Garuda Indonesia. To make the most of your flight, consider booking an accommodation and flight package, or for a more scenic journey, make your way to Bali by cruise ship.
Balinese landscape
For accommodation: As one of the world’s favourite island destinations, Bali is well equipped with a wide range of travel styles. The most popular option for a Balinese holiday is to stay at an all-inclusive resort where buffet breakfasts, cultural activities and water sports are often included. On the other side of the spectrum, Bali’s boutique hotels and villas offer a more intimate and luxurious holiday amongst secluded surroundings. For something even more lax or specialised, Bali also has a number of spa and yoga resorts designed to focus on well being and relaxation.
For sightseeing: Sightseeing in Bali can take on a wide range of forms. Apart from the typical walking, horse riding and boat tours, a unique way to see the sights is by segway, which can be hired in Sanur and around the main tourist areas. While the sunsets are legendary on the west coast of the island, such as at Seminyak, the east coast offers clearer conditions for snorkelling, particularly off the coast of Candi Dasa, about an hour north of the airport. If you’d like to get closer than snorkelling but don’t have your scuba diving licence, consider taking the Bali Marine Walk from Nusa Lembongan. With the help of a scuba type helmet, the walk involves walking on the bottom of the ocean, allowing you to see reefs from a diver’s perspective.
Balinese Barong mask
For experiencing local culture: As a famously spiritual island, blessing ceremonies are a wonderful way to experience Balinese culture. Many of the temples and some resorts (Amankila for example) have blessing ceremonies, which are not religious per say, but more spiritual and given with good intentions. Taking place around a pillar or in a large temple, ceremonies usually require you to be dressed in the traditional garb (generally a sarong and sometimes a special headdress for males) before being blessed with incense, water and rice.
For souvenirs: A souvenir from Bali doesn’t necessarily have to mean a tacky key chain or inauthentic tribal statue. Instead, you can bring home a piece of Bali your way with a custom-made fragrance or piece of jewellery. Fragrance in particular is of a high standard in Bali, with many French fragrance houses sourcing Indonesian essences for their creations. As a result, it’s possible to make your own custom perfume, best done so at L’Atelier Parfums et creations in Jimbaran. If you prefer jewellery, consider joining a silver smith class in Ubud and bring home your own custom-silver piece as a souvenir.
For more information or to start planning your Bali getaway call 13 70 71 or you can email us.
