Bali Indonesia

With beaches galore, Bali Indonesia is a sunbather's paradise. Boasting a picture post card landscape, Bali Holidays are set amongst a backdrop of rice paddies, soaring volcanoes, lush tropical forests and warm Indian Ocean waters.

Bali tourism has long been popular among backpackers, young and trendy for its laid back vibe. Bali Indonesia has a lively art scene, with dance and writers festivals. Predominantly Hindu, a spiritual culture runs throughout the island with many of its temples and shrines the centre of daily ceremonies. The annual Galungan Festival presents the biggest religious festivity on the island.

Bali is just one of many Indonesia Islands and sits close to both Java and Lombok. Connections to Bali from Malaysia and Indonesia are well established. The western Bali port of Gilimanuk has regular ferries to Java. From Padang Bai ferry services run to Lombok every few hours. Rental bicycles, rental cars or motorbikes offer a particularly good way to break out from the regular Bali tourism traps and explore the island independently. Although most arrive in the transport hub of Denpasar, everyone heads straight out to Bali's famous south coastal region.

The biggest of Bali attractions and certainly what Bali tourism is famed for the fantastic beach culture. Bali Indonesia has been blessed with some super beaches. Although Bali's black volcanic beaches of the northern coast boasts a quieter atmosphere, it is the popular white sandy beaches of Bali's southern coast that draws most visitors on Bali vacations.

Bali holidays are also famous among surfing enthusiasts. At Kuta, world renowned breaks come crashing into the beach providing excellent surfing. The good breaks here have led to a surf sub culture developing all over the coast. Beach parties by night are the norm, while by day Bali's beaches are just as lively with about every beach activity you can imagine on offer. A further surfing hot spot at Padang provides fierce off shore breaks and perfect conditions for more challenging surfing. The beach here isn't bad either!

Away from the Bali tourism center of Kuta beach, are the up-market 5 star resorts that line beautiful Legian beach. The beaches here are much less crowded and have sweeping views of the coast. Popular for Bali vacations are the top resort hotels located in Nusa Dua right on the southern tip of Bali.

At Sunar beach, day tripping Indonesian's and keen tourists enjoy the great views of the Indonesia islands mighty Gunung Batur volcano. For equally spectacular views, a trek up to the cliff top Hindu temple at Uluwatu rewards you with an absolutely magnificent site. Below the precarious drop stands Uluwatu beach, which is perhaps the islands greatest spot of sand. It is certainly one of many Bali attractions not to be missed.

For food and nightlife, superb restaurants in Seminyak provide Indonesian and Malayan cuisine. Both Seminyak and Kuta have a buzzing bar scene. Seminyak also provides good shopping. For local crafts and artwork, a series of craft villages between Sanur and Ubud in the central foothills is worth browsing. Located here is also a small forest full of monkeys within which are housed 3 sacred temples. The forest is also close to the spectacular rice terraces of Sayan.

Bali vacations are usually both a relaxing and adventurous experience. Those seeking active Bali holidays will be pleased to find white water rafting on the Ayung River and a series of trekking trails through the jungle canopy. Active Bali attractions also include some great scuba diving at Pulau Menjangan. Bali out of most of the Indonesia islands boasts some quite diverse dive sites with the most popular proving the shipwreck of the USAT Liberty, which was torpedoed by the Japanese in 1942.