How many times have you read recommendations of things to do in Bali? For an island covering a mere land area of 5,780 km², there are almost too many activities on offer – so I thought I’d help save you some time in identifying those that (I think) should be removed from your Bali itinerary:
1) Don’t bother visiting Pura Lempuyang. Pura Lempuyang is a Balinese Hindu temple. It looks spectacular on social media and I was so surprised to not find it in any of the guide books – a grand temple, with a mountain backdrop, next to a large expanse of water: a highlight of the island, right? Sadly, I discovered that these photos have all been COMPLETELY edited. There is no body of water next to the temple – the photographers (who apparently charge extortionate amounts to take your picture) use mirrors to give the impression of a lake. The mountain and overall appearance of the photos has also been enhanced. It’s all completely fake! Apparently people still wait in a queue of around 3-4 hours to have the mirror photo taken – crazy. Go and do something better with your time: why not check out my list of top 10 things to do in Bali here for an alternative option ;)?
2) Don’t pay to go on a swing. Everyone who visits Bali seems to have a photo of themselves on a swing atop the rice terraces of Ubud. It’s expensive, an awkward experience and the photos are pretty naff (see cover photo to this blog piece for proof). My advice – don’t bother waiting an hour to be pushed on a swing 10 times, just head to your local park on your return from the island.
3) Avoid the western coast if you’re looking for a picturesque beach holiday. I would assume that when most people think of Bali, they imagine crystal blue waters and golden sands. The beaches of Kuta and Seminyak do not match this description. If you’re in search of beautiful coastline, definitely avoid Kuta Beach and, in general, the western coast of Bali.
4) Don’t go to the monkey forest in Ubud. This might just be personal preference, but the idea of being around wild monkeys – with a tendency to nab people’s personal belongings – doesn’t really float my boat.
5) Don’t leave without visiting Nusa Lembongan. OK this isn’t a flaw. In fact, quite the opposite – but I was struggling to find 5 things wrong with Bali. I have heard of so many people who have been to Bali and not visited the Balinese island of Nusa Lembongan and I feel very disappointed for them. For me, this was the most incredible part of my trip. Admittedly, I imagine what made it so special is that the island feels reasonably untouched by tourism. However, its laid-back vibe and beautiful coastline were the qualities that I had been seeking on booking a trip to Bali and for this reason I think it is essential to include Nusa Lembongan in your itinerary. You can book a trip to the island of Nusa Lembongan via Rocky Fast Cruises here.
Let me know in the comments if you’ve been to Bali and have any opinions on the above!
I had no idea that photos of Pura Lempuyang were THAT edited– it’s insane (and an unfortunate rip-off). Thanks for sharing your tips on things to avoid in Bali; should I go there, I’ll know what to expect!
I disagree. I think that Lempuyang temple is a place to visit; the sanctuary and all the temples are amazing! Ok, yes, wait for a picture 3/4 hours is insane..I am one of these people (but I waited just for one hour). 😉 In any case it is possible to skip this part of the temple and visit all the rest.
Monkey forest is also a place that a person in Bali must see; monkeys are spitefuls but the temples and the atmosphere in the forest are beautiful.
About the swing I’ve never seen people wait for one hour or more…most of the swing were empty when I visited Bali. Maybe depends of the season…I went in july.
I agreed with you for Seminyak and Kuta…too much tourists and few paradise beaches.
Thank you for your comment! There are an abundance of beautiful temples across Bali and so I think people can go and check out options elsewhere and definitely closer to where they’re staying, as Lempuyang is in the middle of nowhere. The only thing bringing people to Lempuyang over other temples is the possibility of having a heavily edited photo taken to post on social media and I don’t agree with this. With the swing, it was less about the waiting time and more about how gimmicky it was – it felt like a complete waste of money. You’re definitely better off waiting for one of the free swings in the sea! I will soften my attitude towards the monkey forest though 😉…I do understand that people like that kind of thing but, for me, being around wild and roaming monkeys just personally made me feel very uncomfortable! It’s making me itchy thinking about it haha. Thanks again for the discussion though, it’s great when someone expresses opinion, we can’t all agree about everything! 😀
Thanks for this post, been planning for a trip to Bali last March but got cancelled due to Covid! 😂 I’ll take note of your recos. Thx a bunch 🙂
Ugh so disappointing! No worries and I hope you get to rebook it soon!
Bali was a fun place to visit but as you mentioned look out for the monkeys in Ubud …fiesty creatures..I saw them steal my friends sunglasses.
Jagatnath:-lord of universe
Jagatnath is a Hindu pilgrimage site in india which has various facts and mysteries related to it.
Do visit
Loving it
I like to invite you to visit my new blog link on
Jagatnath-lord of universe
https://wallwritter.wordpress.com/2020/07/23/jagatnath-land-of-lord/
Ahh, Pura Lempuyang. I wanted to visit on my first trip but didn’t have enough time. Later on, I found out (from a friend who visited) that the pics on social media are heavily edited, using the mirror effect as you mentioned. Such a shame, really. I reckon the temple itself is nice though.
My friends and I made the big mistake of driving our motor scooters all the way from Ubud to Pura Lempuyang. Let’s just say navigating those roads was quite character building, and the end result was just a line of people dressed in trendy clothes for a photo!
Haha oh my gosh I don’t envy you – that must have taken some time as well, the island is so much bigger than I had imagined!
Thank you for you tips! I’m planning a trip to Indonesia (once we’re allowed to of course) and this will come in very handy 🙂 Thanks again!
No worries at all, fingers crossed the world gets moving again soon so you can head to Indonesia. I’ve only been to Bali but it truly is an amazing place! 😀