Welcome on the blog of Swarga Odyssey, a local travel agency specialized in Indonesia. Here, we give you all the advice and tips to prepare your trip to Bali and Indonesia.
Get lost in the rice fields
If you come to Bali, the experience not to be missed is getting lost in the beautiful rice terraces.
Some are very easy to access, often in the center of the island, the best known being those of Tegalalang. There are many other less touristy and just as splendid ones in the north or east of Bali. Go down for a walk in this greenery and admire the work of the locals in the rice fields, you will be captivated. At sunset, the lights are incredible and you will have few people. Many cafes are located at the top of the rice fields and the view is magnificent.
Some spots : the rice fields of Tegalalang in Ubud or those of Jatiluwih in Tabanan
Purification in Holy springs
Bali is attracting more and more tourists in search of spirituality. It is present everywhere on the island of the gods! Early in the morning, you will see Balinese people praying and making offerings in front of their homes and shops with the scents of incense in your nostrils.
The unique experience to do in Bali is Melukat. This Balinese ritual is a purification of body and mind. They practice it regularly in specific temples dedicated to the god of water and in sacred waters. There are a lot of temples to do your purification, even if the best known remains the temple of Tirta Empul. This temple is sacred to the Balinese, but it is losing authenticity so many tourists come to do the ritual.
This is why it is necessary to talk with the locals, to discover other splendid temples where you can live a real experience of purification in a traditional way.
Swim with manta rays
A childhood dream, to be able to swim with these majestic marine animals. Off the coast of Bali, near the cliffs of Nusa Penida, is a very particular spot where manta rays come to be cleaned every day. They parade slowly near the reefs to attract cleaner fish. You will have plenty of time to admire them.
They are not shy, they come to see you and brush against you before diving deeper, an incredible moment guaranteed. We are always speechless in the face of these giants.
This experience is very rare to achieve while snorkeling, very few spots in the world allow you to admire manta rays in their natural habitat. Often the spots to see them are deeper, so only for those who practice diving.
This experience is one of the unforgettable activities to do!
Seeking waterfalls
Bali is known for its spirituality or its paradisiacal beaches, but nature is very present in the center and in the north of the island.
There is absolutely something for everyone when it comes to waterfalls in Bali, each more impressive than the last.
It is always difficult to make a choice about which stunts to perform as many as you can see on social networks. In Bali, there are hundreds of them, some very touristy, others where you will be absolutely alone. Quick tip: Adapt! everything depends on your itinerary, your desires and your physical condition, it should remain a pleasure to see waterfalls not a chore. The most touristy waterfalls are mainly found in the Ubud region and are often very easy to access. But if you go further north of the island you will find hidden treasures. Admission to the waterfalls in Bali is generally chargeable and the more touristy ones are frequently more expensive.
Some spots: Kanto Lampo in Ubud or Leke Leke in Tabanan
The paradisiacal beaches
Between white sand beaches or black sand beaches, Bali offers a range of wonderful beaches. In the south of Bali, in the Uluwatu region, you have the most beautiful white sand beaches on the island. From the small abandoned cove to the fanciest beaches with its numerous pool bars at the top of the cliffs. You will find what you are looking for to relax for a day. On the west coast is Canggu, the famous black sand beach, ideal for watching the surfers in the late afternoon while sipping a good cocktail. You can't mention the most beautiful beaches in Bali without talking about Nusa Penida! This island off the coast of Bali with its steep cliffs gives us exceptional views of the turquoise beaches below sometimes making us dizzy!
Access to the beaches is more difficult to access, but the effort is worth it. You will be captivated by so much beauty once you are down. Even though Kelinking Beach is the best known thanks to Instagram, it is overcrowded. Nusa Penida offers a multitude of beaches as splendid as each other, and you will not have the hordes of tourists.
Quick tip: Go see T-Rex Beach from above at the end of the day for the sunset. Then take your time to go down to another beach in Nusa Penida.
Meet the turtles
You will have to make a short sea crossing to reach the Gili Islands to be able to meet the hawksbill sea turtles. A species in critical danger of extinction. The Gili Islands are like small atolls only 2 hours away by boat from Bali. The turtles come to eat there every day. A lot of spots are possible to see turtles in the Gili Islands, whether you take a small fishing boat that takes you to the spots or directly from the beach, you can swim with them. After having wandered around Bali a lot, a getaway to the Gili Islands promises you a relaxing and paradisiacal break.
Participate in a Balinese ceremonie
Religious ceremonies and holidays punctuate the life of the Balinese.
During your stay, you will be able to see many ceremonies, since the Balinese religion also depends on the rhythm of the moon, so for each new moon, full moon, there are ceremonies everywhere in Bali. All the temples are dressed in yellow and white, the sacred colors of the Balinese.
But the most impressive holidays on the Balinese calendar are Nyepi, Galungan and Kunningan and the mystical Ogoh-ogoh.
Le Nyepi or the silent day
is the most important day in the life of the Balinese. The Day of Silence takes place in early March, a day of rest for nature. But also in beliefs, a day when evil spirits return to earth and do not have to realize that the island is inhabited!
For this special day, everything is closed, you are not allowed to leave your house. You don't have to cook, you can't turn on the light, only the hospitals stay open, even the airport is closed. It is an ideal day to live this incredible experience in the heart of nature and to recharge your batteries for a day by candlelight.
Galungan & Kuningan
Galungan and Kuningan are the two holidays that mark the new year for Balinese people. It takes place twice a year. All of Bali is decorated with Penjors in front of the houses, long bamboos decorated by Balinese families with care that represent all the elements of the earth.
For two weeks, all of Bali is in turmoil, children play in the streets with the costume of the famous Barong (protective guardian). The Balinese celebrate during these 15 days, because in their traditions, their loved ones come back to see them. A great time to come and discover Bali.
Ogoh Ogoh
The Ogoh-Ogoh, a very particular festival that takes place on the eve of Nyepi. It is the most loved holiday by the Balinese. They are all on the streets in the evening for this special day. For months, they make huge statues of monsters, and on the evening of Ogoh-Ogoh, they take them out, have them paraded, and then burn them before Nyepi. In their religion, the Balinese want to lock up evil spirits in statues and then destroy them by fire, before the day of silence.
Learn to surf
Bali is a world class surf spot. From the white sand beaches of Uluwatu to the black sand of Canggu, you have dozens of places to learn to surf on the Island of the Gods. In southern Bali, surf culture is everywhere.
This activity is a must if you come to Bali. All beaches on the coast have rental companies and surf lessons available.
Add this incredible activity to a dream setting during your stay in Bali. There are many beaches accessible to beginners, depending on your itinerary in the south, do not hesitate to add surfing to your activities.
Explore the Monkey Forest
In the heart of the city of Ubud, is the mythical Monkey Forest. This enchanted forest is home to gray macaques with long tails. Discovering these animals in the wild in a setting straight out of an Indiana Jones movie is a magnificent experience. Seeing them play, jump or even nap is an incredible sight.
A little advice : go there when it opens in order to be more peaceful in the forest, because at the end of the morning, a lot of tourists start to arrive.
Admire a sunset
You can't come back from a trip to Bali without admiring a sublime sunset. Asian sunsets have a reputation for being splendid and in Bali there is no shortage of them.
For an unforgettable experience, there are two spots to admire the sunsets in Bali.
First, Canggu, the famous Hipster/surfer district on the Island of the Gods. You can watch the sunsets with your feet in the water on ottomans while drinking a good bintang, the famous local beer.
After heading to Uluwatu, in the south, the sunsets on the west coast of the peninsula are magical. Perched at the top of the cliffs, bask in front of the sunset while contemplating the giant waves breaking below. Numerous bars offer you a breathtaking view for the sunset.
During your stay, you should also see a sunset when you are in the heart of the jungle or rice fields, the colors are magnificent.
Some spots: La Brisa in Canggu, The Edge in Uluwatu