A Guide To The Authentic Side Of Bali, Indonesia [UPDATED FOR 2026]

Bali is a destination that seems to split opinion. Many flock their due to its popularity, especially backpackers and Australian tourists. Others avoid it like the plague exactly because of that, considering it to be too touristy and lacking in real culture. The truth is we were very interested to visit to see the reality between what Bali really is, after visiting pretty much every corner of Southeast Asia, from remote villages to busy westernised cities as well as many other areas of Indonesia we had a great perspective. What we discovered was a diverse island with many areas that appeal to everyone. Sure there are the tacky bars, overpopulation of tourists and an influx of western culture… but that is only is a small area of the island. The rest is filled with villages, unique culture, beautiful landscapes, quiet beaches and isolated waterfalls! Here’s our guide to authentic Bali!

Bali: More than just one tourist-filled town, but real authentic Bali!

One of the main misconceptions when it comes to Bali is the size and make-up of the place. Bali isn’t a town, it is an island of 5,780 km² so there are many varied places to see and things to do.

Bali is made up of many various and different towns and villages from Kuta, to Ubud, Canggu, Sanur and Nusa Dua as well as many others. Each area of the island has completely different characteristics, some are tourist hubs, and digital nomad hotspots, full of Western shops and restaurants.

Others are very rural, and mountainous, filled with villages and local Hindu temples. Some areas of the island are very isolated, others quite developed, and the weather and landscape change from hot, humid and sunny to cold, cloudy and fresh.

Bali has so much diversity on offer when it comes to what to see, experience and do. Be sure to plan out your Bali Itinerary so you can take full advantage of ALL it has to offer whether that be incredible beaches, historic temples, unique culture or looming mountains!

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Where to stay in Bali

Making the most out of your time in Bali and also importantly getting the right impression of the island depends highly on staying in the right location.

Many people do head over to Bali for a traditional beach holiday, especially Australian families and young adults looking for a relaxing break or a party on the beach. Though this isn’t our way of travelling this still has its place and Bali is of course perfect for this. Staying down on the beach in Kuta and Seminyak you will be surrounded by lively western-style clubs, hotels and restaurants and only a short walk from many beaches and great surf spots. It is no wonder many on their first trips abroad flock to this area where they can take still be surrounded by familiar culture.

For a great mixture of local culture, landscape with peace and quiet combined with smaller independent restaurants, boutique hotels and general amenities, Ubud took it for us as the best place to stay. It’s location also means that it is close to many amazing places to see in Bali and also quite central so exploring the rest of the island is easy. Ubud is a great place to see the real authentic side of the island as well as have the option to stay in some amazing villas surrounded by rice paddies too.

The best three places I’ve found for booking cheap accommodation are HostelWorld, Booking and Airbnb. 

Guide to the best of Bali: Both the popular and off-the-beaten-track spots

Hire a scooter and search for the amazing waterfalls 

Hiring a scooter is the ultimate way to see all Bali has to offer. Public transport on the island isn’t great and tours are overpriced and rushed. Hiring a scooter in Asia for the first time might been daunting, but compared to the rest of Southeast Asia Bali is very safe and the traffic outside of Kuta pretty relaxed. Over here it is cheap and easy to organise and everywhere on the island is accessible for a day trip. Just make sure you have maps on your phone and internet if you can as some of the road layouts can mean long return journeys back to the right turning!!

Bali is an island of lush mountain scenery, jungles hugging the sides of active volcanos and as a result many stunning waterfalls. As with Bali there are many different experiences you can have at the waterfalls in Bali, some are very popular, lined with shops on the walk down and quite over bearing.

Book a Rental Car

Best Place to Organise a Rental Car

Depending on the type of trip you’ve got planned you might just want to rent a car.

This is a great way to see much more of a place and get to some pretty out-of-the-way and hard-to-visit places.

When it comes to options, we always use Discover Cars to find the best deals.

Book Your Rental Car Here

Other waterfalls around the island involve trekking through isolated jungles in areas of the island that are quite difficult to access. There is a waterfall for everyone over here and many that combine the best of both worlds by being in remoter areas of the island but with tracks made for visitors. This is a great way to see the authentic Bali and some beautiful spots too.

Some of the popular waterfalls are:

Tegenungan Waterfall, Gitgit waterfall

Some of the more off-the-beaten-track waterfalls that are still very accessible are:

Munduk Waterfall, Aling Aling Waterfall

SafetyWing Travel Insurance

SafetyWing

Travel insurance is one of those annoying things that no one likes to think about, let alone pay for, when you’re planning your next trip. It can also be bloody annoying as a backpacker/long-term traveller to find affordable coverage that meets the itinerary-less lifestyle (*cough* World Nomads *cough*).

So instead of getting subpar travel insurance, now we just always go with  SafetyWing. It takes like 5-10 minutes to purchase your policy and essentially functions as a monthly subscription plan with near-global coverage!

Get a Quote Now!

For the more adventurous:

Sekumpul Waterfall, NungNung Waterfall

Of course, there are many many more. So get exploring. This is a great post on some of the best waterfalls Bali has to offer: Best waterfalls in Bali

Head for the mountains 

Heading to Bali you might think you are in for just a standard beach holiday! But if you prefer your travel to be a little bit more on the adventurous side then Bali is also perfect for you. The Indonesian Islands are full of volcanos, many still active and Bali is no different. Here you can take single and multi day trekking trips up into the mountains to climb the highest peaks of Mt Agung and Batur where you will find the climate to be very different to the coastal areas of the island.

Even if you don’t fancy a long hike you can still take your scooter up into the higher altitude areas of the islands and see how the landscape and way of life changes in the true authentic Bali. Visit some of the many waterfalls mentioned above, some of which have rock slides, canyoning and jumps or see some of the wonderful lakes up in the hills too.

Discover the unique culture of Balinese Hinduism in the many temples

Bali has a very unique culture not only for Indonesia but for the world and is a result of the fascinating history of this region. Whilst Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim country, Bali is still Hindu and has been for thousands of years.

The result of this religion existing here for so long alongside indigenous cultures is a unique Balinese Hinduism that involves many traditions that survive today.

If you head out of the areas around Kuta it is easy to see many traditional festivals and ceremonies around places such as Ubud, locals wearing sarongs and folded head scarfs, this is authentic Bali!

There are over 20,000 Pura (Balinese for Temple) in Bali. Many are large public temples with washing pools, tranquil gardens and huge Pelinggih Merus (Like pagodas!) constructed still from natural materials in the traditional fashion.

Many have highly detailed carvings on every surface and gateways with intricate images of the guardians and gods of the spiritual religion. Each family will also have their own personal temple still based on the Tri Mandala concept of Balinese space allocation for even the smallest of designs!

As we’ve already established with Bali when it comes to things to see there are always the very popular and busy places and then there are the much lesser-known gems that take a little bit more effort to visit. The temples of Bali all offer different and unique experiences, architecture and atmosphere.

Sort Your Tours & Tickets Out

Best Place to Organise Your Tour & Much More

A great site to check out if you’re looking to book tickets or organise a tour is Viator

Viator often offers different tours to other companies, ones that aren’t otherwise available or have tickets still on sale when they have sold out. It’s the company we trust the most when it comes to booking top quality, unique and exciting tours when travelling.

Organise Your Tours & More

Some of the not to be missed are:

Tanah Lot: Set on an island off the rocky coast it is only accessible at low tide

The Besakih Temple: The largest temple on the island and a long ride out to the north of the island. Watch for the scammers though!

Pura Tirta Empul: The amazing water purification temple 

Pura Ulun Danu Beratan: Set on the water its iconic towers and pavilions on the mountainous lake are a perfect setting that appears on the 50,000 Rupiah note!

Pura Dalem Agung: The famous monkey temple of Ubud

Goa Gajah: The 9th century Elephant Cave

Gunung Kawi: The awe-inspiring 23ft high-carved shrines that sit inside the mountainside and are surrounded by lush rice terraces

Ubud Palace: Much more than a temple, the heart of this traditional town where many ceremonies are held.

There are of course thousands of other temples to visit, many of the best are just sitting along the roadside as you explore this island where you can just pull up and take a look, usually having it all to yourself.

Remember to wear a sarong or long trousers for both men and women when visiting temples and cover your shoulders to respect the Balinese culture.

Visiting the many beautiful rice terraces 

You’ve probably guessed there is a theme here. The brilliance of Bali is that of all the different things to do and see there are always several options that range from the easy and popular to the more remote and quieter. It really means all bases are covered and visiting the many rice terraces that characterise this island is another example of that.

Like much of Southeast Asia, the rice growing industry is one that has existed in Bali for thousands of years. The amazing rice terraces are not only an amazing visual spectacle but also a marvel of engineering especially given just how long they have been here.

The traditional farming methods are still alive today and given the mountainous terrain of the island, they are still the most effective way to grow rice in this challenging environment.

Things may have changed over the years in Bali with the rise of tourism, but for many of the people who live in the more remote areas of the island live remains very much the same and these terraces are a piece of authentic Bali life!

Tegallalang Rice Terraces in Ubud are one of the most popular but don’t let that put you off, people flock here for a good reason! The huge steep terraces spread out along the hillside with their lush green sprouting leaves punctuated by a forest of palm trees.

You can still find many local people tilling the fields and terraces using traditional techniques. It really is both a fascinating and beautiful place to explore and if you walk a little further than where most people congregate its quite easy to find a wonderful view all to yourself!

Jatiluwih rice terraces are a little further out and less visited but consist of a stunning and dramatic landscape that spans an awesome vista. These ancient terraces are some of the most stunning on the island and in the region as a whole.

Attend some of the fascinating Balinese festivals 

The unique blend of culture in Bali means that nearly every week there is some kind of festival, from smaller local affairs to one that takes over entire towns or even the island! Speaking to local people and doing some research means that if you want to dive into the colourful and loud traditions of Bali then there should be plenty of chances!

Whilst in Ubud, which has quite a strong traditional spirit, we attended a huge funeral procession. Rather than a sombre and sad affair, it was a festival of celebration, music and dancing filled the streets alongside huge constructions to be burnt alongside the woman who had passed.

She was apparently a well-respected member of the religious community in Ubud and this was a time to reflect on a life well lived alongside the rest of the town. This is a great way to see authentic Bali and real life!

Explore the vast and varied coastline from surfing to dirt biking

Of course, Bali isn’t just all about the mountains, temples, festivities and rice terraces… there the amazing beaches too! Many are initially drawn here for the endless coastline that goes from popular beaches just off the main strip of Kuta to wild jagged and isolated cliffs. There really is something for everyone once again and a place to enjoy the different vibes and activities that the coast can bring.

Bali is famous for its world-class surfing and it’s no wonder so many Australians are tempted away from their own amazing coastline to head over here. Right by the main towns, there are some awesome breaks and plenty of places to rent out all kinds of boards, take lessons and also rent a scooter with a board wrack if you want to explore further afield.

Bali also has some incredible black sand beaches made as a result of the volcanic region in which it sits. This means that just a few KM apart you can go from a white sand paradise to a dramatic black beach, perfect for dirt biking! Just another way on Bali to enjoy the incredible coastlines!

Don’t forget too that just because there isn’t a beach that doesn’t mean the coast isn’t still wonderfully beautiful. Along Bali’s shoreline, there are many amazing and rugged cliffs offering dramatic views over the landscape, rock pools, blow holes and unique places of worship.

Meet the locals: The wildlife that is! 

Bali is a place for a bit of fun too and where the monkeys across South East Asia can be a bit scary, the ones here in the Ubud monkey forest are a little more tame! This forest infested with these cheeky monkeys is actually a temple in their honour. The sacred area was built to achieve peace between humans, animals and the environment and so interaction is encouraged as part of this spiritual Hindu belief system.

However, you can just enjoy this serine and lush forest without having a monkey use you as a climbing frame if you don’t quite fancy it! However, if you choose to visit this fascinating place you will find it a pretty intriguing and unique experience!

Visit the surrounding islands!

Bali is also in a great location to explore some of the other areas of Indonesia. Firstly there is the massive island of Java to the west which can be reached at its far end by a 30-minute ferry from Bali. Here you can quite easily head to the amazing volcanoes of Bromo and Ijen on public transport or a tour.

These are truly stunning examples of the volcanic landscape of Indonesia and are absolutely jaw-droppingly beautiful. You can also very easily head further across Java over a longer period of time to places like Yogyakarta and Jakarta.

Read more here:

Hiking to the sulphuric acid lake on Mt Ijen

The smouldering summit of Mt Bromo

Historic Yogyakarta

To the east, there are several amazing islands to visit. The closest and easiest to get to are Lombok and the Gili islands. Lombok itself is a really interesting place to visit and quite different to Bali.

Here there are far fewer tourists and many more small rural villages up in the mountains including many traditional Sasak tribal settlements. Lombok also has its share of amazing nature to take in, from yet more white sand beaches, immense waterfalls and the two-day hike up Mt. Ringjani, another wonderful live volcano!

Read about getting to these islands here:

Java, Bali, Lombok and Gili transport!

Off the coast of Lombok, there are three tiny islands, the Gili Islands. These are absolutely paradise, and cheap too! The islands have no cars, sandy roads, perfectly clear turquoise waters, wild sea turtles, white sand beaches and a laid-back hippy vibe!

Read more about them here:

The paradise Gili Islands!

Book your accommodation here

Book your transport across Indonesia and Asia here:

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Have you ever been to Bali, do you think it’s too touristy or still has many undiscovered charms?