Do not miss out on north Bali if you prefer an authentic experience to crowded tacky touristy areas!
Here is a great route I have mapped out for you based on my travels, for a ten-day to two-week visit to north Bali that you won’t forget!
The international airport in Bali is located in Denpasar on the southeast tip of the Island. While distances in Bali are not that far, motorbike travel is much faster and cheaper than a car, so this is the best way to visit north Bali. Check out here how and where to rent a motorbike for just 4$ a day in Canggu.
If scooters aren’t your thing, then don’t worry, most of these places are accessible by car as well. But it will take longer and cost more money. Now let the journey begin!
Less than an hour’s drive north by motorbike from Canggu, Ubud is a good place to stop on your way.
While Ubud is nice, it is a mainstream tourist type of place.
Still, you can take a nice walk in the rice fields, do a bit of shopping and visit some nearby waterfalls. They were a bit too crowded for me (keep reading to discover the ultimate waterfall paradise!) but still very cool. I snapped this picture at Kanto Lampo falls in between all the Instagrammers clogging the waters (:
I would pass on the sacred monkey forest. You can see plenty of monkeys on the way with your motorbike.
What Ubud used to be 20 years ago. That’s how some people describe this laid-back district in northeast Bali.
I actually skipped Sidemen initially because I just didn’t know about it, and only circled back there later, but it’s on the northeast route, so should be on your itinerary if you are traveling by motorbike You will get here a magnificent view of Mount Agung volcano, locals working in the rice fields, waterfalls, and good food. A nice place to relax for a couple of days.
This famous temple offers the ultimate Instagram photo at the temple sky gate, behind an infinity pool overlooking mount Agung. But be warned, you will have to wait around 3 hours just to snap this photo!
I personally decided to pass, but hey, you can see the view for yourself here
Mount Agung from the east is a spectacle in itself, and I also got to visit two amazing beaches along the way, which are the complete opposites of each other. Bias Tugel with its virgin white sands, and Black Sand Beach with its ashen volcanic sand.
Amed is the name for an entire stretch of coast in north Bali with several beaches.
An enchanting laid-back atmosphere, with great snorkeling and diving spots during the day, amazing viewpoints at dusk to watch the sun go down behind the magnificent Mount Agung (Sunset Point and Sea You Again Cafe are recommended), and you can listen to surprisingly good music by local bands in the bars at night!
The highlight of my trip! Sitting at the center of the endless mountain and jungle views, above all else, Munduk is a waterfall heaven! There are dozens of them, that’s not an exaggeration, and unlike other places in Bali, many of these don’t have many tourists.
It’s quite likely you will get to enjoy some of these beautiful waterfalls, each one unique in its own way, all by yourself. A wonderful chance to really connect with nature.
8-9. Banjar hot springs and the twin lakes of Danau BuyanTwo locations within striking distance of Munduk by motorbike. The Banjar hot springs offer three pools of varying heat against a beautiful backdrop.
The twin lakes of Danau Buyan are breathtaking and a great place to snap some legendary photos!
A beautiful temple complex is highlighted by the iconic section sitting on an island in the lake. Constructed in the 17th century, the temple has an interesting mix of the classic Hindu style of Bali with Buddhist architecture.
There is also a Buddhist stupa located at the complex, a great example of religious coexistence.
Here is the route I took for reference, follow it and you can hit all the locations on this list quite easily! The 9 hours listed are for the entire trip and remember times are significantly shorter with a motorbike so keep that in mind!
