🌺 Rice terraces that cascade like emerald staircases. Volcanic peaks that pierce morning mist. Coral gardens that bloom beneath sapphire waves.
Forget everything you think you know about Bali. Beyond the southern buzz of Canggu and Ubud lies an island of three distinct souls — each one waiting to show you something different, something deeper.
Here’s how I spent three weeks chasing sunrises across East Bali’s black sand beaches, diving into West Bali’s untouched reefs, and getting lost in North Bali’s highland mist.
🌅 East Bali: Where Dawn Breaks on Sacred Ground
The east is where Bali keeps its most sacred secrets. Mount Agung looms here like a sleeping giant, and the beaches shimmer with volcanic black sand that warms your feet at sunset.
🏛 Temple Hopping & Soul Searching
Pura Lempuyang Luhur
The “Gateway to Heaven” — yes, it’s touristy, but arrive at 5 AM and you’ll have those famous temple gates to yourself. The climb is steep, but the views… chef’s kiss
Tirta Gangga Water Palace
Former royal water gardens with stone carvings and koi ponds. Perfect for slow mornings with a book and fresh coconut water.
Pro tip: Skip the crowds at Besakih. Instead, visit Pura Goa Lawah (Bat Cave Temple) at sunset — thousands of fruit bats emerging against golden skies.
🍽 Food That Feeds the Soul
Warung Bale Udang Mang Engking
Floating bamboo platforms over fish ponds. Order the grilled prawns and watch the sunset paint the water gold.
Sate Plecing Arjuna
Street-side satay that locals queue for. Get the mixed grill with extra plecing sauce — thank me later.
Virgin Beach (Perasi) Warungs
Multiple beachfront shacks serving the freshest grilled fish. Bring cash, bring appetite, bring patience — good things take time here.
🏖 Beaches Beyond the Guidebooks
Virgin Beach (Pantai Perasi)
White sand, clear water, zero pretense. Rent a plastic chair for 20k rupiah and claim your slice of paradise.
Amed
Black volcanic sand and traditional outrigger boats. Best snorkeling on the east coast — coral gardens just steps from shore.
🤿 Snorkel tip: Bring your own gear or rent from Made’s shop near Amed Beach. The USAT Liberty wreck in Tulamben is a 30-minute drive and worth every minute.
🌊 West Bali: The Wild Side
West Bali is where the island shows its untamed heart. This is jungle-thick, reef-rich, monkey-filled wilderness that feels like stepping into a nature documentary.
🏞 Bali Barat National Park: Primal Paradise
The only way to truly see West Bali is to get lost in it. Hire a local guide (ask for Wayan at the park entrance — he knows every bird call and secret trail).
Must-dos:
- Bird watching at dawn — rare Bali starlings and hornbills
- Jungle trekking — humid, wild, and alive with sound
- Mangrove kayaking — paddle through twisted root systems
🐠 Menjangan Island: Underwater Cathedral
This is some of the best diving in Indonesia, and that’s saying something.
Menjangan Island Diving
Crystal-clear water, wall dives, and coral gardens that feel prehistoric. Book with Spice Dive — Kadek and his team know every current and coral head.
What you’ll see: Reef sharks, eagle rays, turtles the size of coffee tables, and coral formations that look like underwater cities.
⚡ Insider tip: Stay at Plataran Menjangan Resort if budget allows — private boats to dive sites and sunset views that make you forget the world exists.
🍃 Secret Spots & Local Flavors
Pemuteran Bay
Black sand beach with a coral restoration project you can snorkel through. It’s like swimming through an underwater museum.
Sumber Panas Hot Springs
Natural hot springs hidden in the jungle. Perfect for sore muscles after long dives.
Warung Made Pemuteran
Family-run spot with the best gado-gado in West Bali. Made’s wife grows the vegetables behind the kitchen.
⛰ North Bali: Where the Mist Meets the Mountains
North Bali is cool, misty, and mysterious. This is where Bali keeps its waterfalls, mountain lakes, and ancient temples wrapped in morning fog.
💧 Waterfall Chasing
Sekumpul Falls
Seven waterfalls tumbling through jungle canopy. The hike down is slippery and steep, but standing beneath those falls… pure magic.
Fiji Waterfall (Air Terjun Fiji)
Hidden gem with turquoise pools perfect for swimming. Less crowded than Sekumpul but equally stunning.
Git Git Twin Falls
Two waterfalls side by side. Easy walk, great for families or if you’re waterfalled-out from the bigger hikes.
🏔 Highland Villages & Coffee Culture
Munduk Village
Mountain village surrounded by clove and coffee plantations. Stay at Sanda Butik Villas for views that stretch to the sea.
Coffee plantation tours
Skip the touristy spots. Ask your homestay owner to take you to their family’s coffee garden — you’ll learn more in an hour than most tours teach in a day.
🏛 Temples in the Mist
Pura Ulun Danu Beratan
The iconic “floating temple” on Lake Beratan. Yes, it’s on every postcard, but there’s a reason — arrive early for mirror-still reflections.
Brahmavihara Arama Buddhist Monastery
Peaceful hilltop monastery with meditation halls and gardens. Free to visit, donations welcomed.
🍯 Where to Eat & Sleep
Warung Rekreasi Bedugul
Mountain views and warming soup perfect for cool highland evenings.
The Damai Resort
Luxury eco-resort with infinity pools overlooking rice terraces. Splurge-worthy for special occasions.
Alam Sari Keliki
Boutique property with traditional Balinese architecture and organic gardens.
🗺 Planning Your Three-Region Adventure
How long: 10-14 days minimum to really taste each region
Best time: April-October for diving, year-round for everything else
Transport: Rent a scooter for freedom, hire a driver for comfort
📱 Apps You Need
- Gojek — for scooter transport and food delivery
- Google Translate with camera function — lifesaver for menus
- Tide charts — essential for beach and diving planning
💰 Budget Breakdown (per day, per person)
- Backpacker: $25-35 (homestays, local warungs, public transport)
- Mid-range: $50-80 (boutique hotels, mix of local and restaurant meals)
- Luxury: $150+ (resorts, private guides, premium experiences)
🌟 The Real Bali Awaits
Bali isn’t just one island — it’s three experiences wrapped in tropical skin.
The East teaches you about sacred space and volcanic power.
The West shows you wilderness and underwater cathedrals.
The North whispers stories in mountain mist and waterfall spray.
Most visitors never leave the south. Be different. Chase sunrises over Mount Agung, dive walls that drop into indigo depths, and find yourself in highland villages where the air tastes of cloves and possibility.
This is Bali beyond the ‘Gram. This is the island that changes you.
Ready to explore all three faces?
Contact our travel designer and she will craft the perfect multi-region itinerary just for you.
Want the full map with every spot pinned? Just ask — we love nothing more than sharing the real Bali with fellow wanderers.