Offbeat experiences in and around Bali

It is safe to say that Bali is one of the most fun places to visit in the world. But with this popularity comes the problem of places and attractions getting flooded by visitors. Crowd – one horrible truth about famous tourist places.

So we have come up with some offbeat experiences for you to try out when in Bali. These offbeat experiences will take you to places mysterious, scary, quaint, and fun-filled. It’s a weird combination but we guarantee you that it’s a fun one.

The only way to visit the pretty island of Nusa Lembongan is by boat. Nusa Lembongan is a lesser-known island with no crowd, perfect for a quiet and stress-free holiday. There are no cars on the island; you will only find two wheelers, and small trucks are available on the island for your pick and drop, to and from your hotel. It’s a great island to put your legs to good use. So get walking when you are in Nusa Lembongan.

Located about an hour away from Bali, Kawah Ijen or Mount Ijen will impress every adventure lover. With great hiking trails around, the climb is exciting but that’s not the most impressive part. It’s the blue fire streaming down the side of the mountain that’s going to leave you awestruck. What a sight it would be to see at night! Nearby is a pretty lake with turquoise water. So pretty and so toxic! Best time to visit is April to October.

Nusa Penida is spectacular, and its beautiful white sandy beaches are legendary. But the island is not only about the lovely beaches, it is also home to one of the most offbeat temples in Bali, if not the world. Pura Paluang or the Car Temple is located deep in the forest. The temple’s main attractions are the two main shrines in the shape of cars. Locals find the existence of the temple a tad bit confusing as they have no clear idea how and when this temple came into being. You will hear some locals even say that the temple existed even before cars in Bali.

If you are into scuba diving, put the Underwater Temple Garden in your itinerary. This man-made underwater temple garden is home to many beautiful statues. It is a wonderful sight to see how this underwater temple supports so many aquatic lifeforms.

The Monkey Forest Ubud is a wildlife park with a twist. We’ll tell you how. Monkey Forest Ubud is a sacred forest with many ancient temples. The forest gets its name from – you guessed it – monkeys. And lot’s of it. The long-tailed macaques are in huge numbers here and most probably they will approach you. Great if you can keep calm! There are different zones inside the forest complex. Some things you need to keep in mind and follow: a) dress appropriately, and b) do not feed the monkeys.

Turtle Conservation and Education Center is a turtle sanctuary where you can be a turtle parent! Here you can adopt a turtle and can leave a donation towards the upkeep of the centre. When your turtle is strong enough to go into the ocean on its own, it gets released for you. This is a very cool way to make your Bali visit meaningful and memorable.

Located in Bangli Regency in Bali, Penglipuran Village is a destination you must add to your Bali itinerary. All the houses are made of bamboo. So eco-friendly! Penglipuran is also one of the world’s cleanest villages. The residents of this village believe in proper disposal of waste and recycling. A stay in this village will definitely give you that feel-good feeling.

Located in Sanur, Bali, Taman Festival Bali is an abandoned theme park. Some say the place is haunted too. One can see that once upon a time, the creator of this amusement park had grand plans for Taman. But the park never opened. Taman Festival Bali is an offbeat attraction, standing desolate in its incomplete form, busy spooking visitors since Day 1.