Bali is one of those places where you can spend the day relaxing by the beach, or find yourself doing something completely different just a few hours later.
On the several times I’ve visited Bali, I ended up trying a mix of activities that ranged from really chill to a lot more adventurous than I expected. So I thought it’d be fun to rank them from lowest to highest based on how much energy they required.
Starting with a relaxing Sunday market by the beach, all the way to watching the sunrise from Mount Batur, here are five Bali experiences ranked from chill to extreme.
Now, this is not an exhaustive list of all the fun things you can do in Bali.
These are some quick ideas for your own set of itineraries.Â
Let’s get into it.Â
La Brisa Bali Beach Club and Sunday Market
Starting off with the most chill activity on this list, we have La Brisa Beach Club in Canggu.
If you’re looking for a place to slow down and just enjoy the Bali experience of chilling by the beach or beach club, this is a pretty good spot to start.
It’s located right next to Echo Beach, this is one of the more popular beach clubs in Bali to have a good time relaxing by the water.
Also, if you happened to be visiting on a Sunday, they have a weekly market!
There are local vendors selling clothes, snacks, and other handmade items.
It can get pretty crowded especially during the Sunday Market but it’s a very interesting experience.
If you’re not into markets, you can simply relax by the beach club the whole afternoon – best of both worlds.
Dolphin Watching at Lovina Beach
Next is something a little more adventurous — dolphin watching at Lovina Beach in North of Bali.
Now, this tour (depending where you’re staying) you may have to wake up really early to get to the beach to begin the tour.
Most tours begin early in the morning and head out into the calm waters.
You will see many boats in one spot, that means they spotted dolphins swimming and jumping in the water.
It’s not physically demanding, but the early wake-up and boat ride make it a step up from a relaxed market visit.
Also, if you want to make it more exciting, you can swim in the water and see the dolphins under the water. It’s a whole new world down there.
Sambangan Secret Garden
Next up is Sambangan Secret Garden and this is still located in the northern part of Bali.
Compared to the first two activities on this list, this one is a lot more active.
The area is known for its waterfalls and getting to this spot involves a fair bit of walking (just like any other waterfalls or beaches in Bali… If you know, you know)
One of the main reasons people come here is for the cliff jumping.
Now, when we got here I honestly thought we’re just chilling by the waterfall but I was so wrong…
It’s popular for its cliff jumping.Â
Depending on how adventurous you’re feeling, there are different jump points ranging from lower jumps to much higher ones.
If jumping isn’t your thing (like me…), you can still enjoy swimming in the natural pools and exploring the waterfalls around the area.
Just make sure to wear proper footwear, as some of the trails can be slippery, especially with people coming in and out of the water.
My favorite part of this was sliding down the waterfall – you’ve got to give it a try at least once!
ATV Adventure
If cliff jumping isn’t exciting enough for you, the next activity on this list is an ATV adventure at Alas Harum Bali.
Here, you’ll get to ride through muddy tracks, jungle paths, and off-road terrain while taking the scenic views of Bali.
It’s a fun way to add a bit of adrenaline to your trip, and don’t be surprised if you end up covered in mud by the end of it – cause gurl, it WILL get dirty.
So just make sure to wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty and don’t forget to bring spare clothes.
They have a shower and lockers facilities as well.
They do provide rain boots for you to wear during the tour but at the time we did this, they gave us a small plastic bag to wrap our feet – well, it’s better than nothing.
Some of the trails can be challenging and steep, especially if you’re not an experienced driver – you can do it in tandem with your partner or friends who are more experienced.Â
Even if you’re a passenger princess or prince, you will still enjoy the entire experience nonetheless.
Hiking at Mount Batur
And finally, at the top of this list, we have Mount Batur.
Whether you choose to hike or take a 4WD jeep tour, this is probably one of the most memorable sunrise experiences you can have in Bali.
Most tours start very early in the morning, usually around 2 or 3 AM (depending where you’re staying), so be prepared for a lack of sleep – but it will be worth it.
If you’re up for the challenge, the hike takes you to the summit of Mount Batur just in time for sunrise.Â
Based on my experience, it could take about 2-3 hours of hiking – especially if you’re a beginner.
Now, I’m a total beginner and this is my first intense hike – I think it was achievable. Also, there are dozens of people hiking with you along the trail – so having the unity to reach the summit is amazing.
The ground can be filled with gravels or stones while some parts you can be stepping on a soft sand almost. It can get slippery sometimes.
So it’s best to get a good pair of hiking shoes, a hiking stick and a jacket.Â
It gets really cold up there.
4WD Jeep Tour at Mount Batur
But if hiking isn’t your thing, the 4WD jeep tour offers a more comfortable way to explore the volcanic landscape while still enjoying the views.
Now, this tour do not reach the summit but the parking ground is still enjoyable while you sitting down on the top of the jeep.
Your tour guide will also take your pictures in the most amazing way possible!
Breakfast is also provided, AND – you don’t have to fight for it with the monkeys.Â
Our food got stolen by the monkeys up in the summit on our first trip here. Lol.Â
Depending on your tour package, you may also get to experience the black lava area.
Either way, waking up this early and making the journey is what earns Mount Batur the top spot as the most intense activity on this list.
*BONUS*
Bingin Silver Class
And here’s a bonus activity if you want to do something creative with your hands.
Silver Class in Bali is very popular. There are dozens of classes that teaches you to make silver jewelry from rings to bracelets.Â
There are many other locations around Bali for Silver Class but the one that we chose is the Seminyak Silver Class by BSC which has a couple of locations around Bali as well.Â
The instructor will teach you the basics and you’ll get to try to design your own jewelry.Â
For myself, I made a hammered external design ring with my initials on the inner band.
By the end of the session, you’ll leave with a handmade piece of jewelry that you created yourself — making it a unique Bali souvenir.
And that’s it for this list.
From spending a relaxing morning at La Brisa to catching the sunrise at Mount Batur, these were some of my favorite experiences in Bali ranked from chill to extreme.
Definitely, there are more things to do in Bali and these are just some of the amazing experiences you may have on the island.
So, let me know which one you’d try first, and if you have any other Bali recommendations, feel free to share them in the comments.
There more things coming up for Bali so make sure you follow, so you won’t miss them out.
Until then, I’ll catch you on the next one!
