Pura Tanah Lot is one of the most sacred temples in Bali, which inevitably means it’s rather commercialized and busy. However, it’s still certainly worth a visit. So rather than pass it by, hire a driver and combine seeing the temple with a trip north up the coast where you can cruise through lush green rice fields and find desolate sparkling black sand beaches. It’s such a treat to get a beach to yourself in Bali. Visit the temple in the day so you can enjoy it at its quietest. However, if you really want to go at sunset, escape the crowds and head left up the hill to one of the local cliff top bars.

Finn’s Beach Club located at Ungasan 45 minutes from Seminyak. Stare in amazement at your first glimpse of the beautiful turquoise Indian Ocean below which makes the stunning landscape for Finns Beach Club. The 180 meters of private white sandy beach is accessed by an inclinator that will carry you down the sheer drop of the cliff face providing the perfect backdrop for spectacular photo opportunities. Laze away the day in the sun enjoying the cool tunes and the service from the friendly Balinese staff. Plenty of great food choices on offer including an array of healthy juices, colorful cocktails, delicious seafood, authentic pizzas, and fresh salads.

Biku Restaurant Try this Javanese carved house where they serve agreat English style high tea from 1pm every afternoon along with a full menu for lunch and dinners.Check out your future with the in house fortune teller and look at their interesting gift shop of books and other memorabilia. Located on Jl Petitenget, Seminyak,almost opposite the entrance to Potato Head.

Big Tree Farms Chocolate tours and workshops. If you love real chocolate, pay a visit to the Big Tree Farms Bamboo Chocolate Factory. Working in partnership with farmers across Indonesia, Big Tree Farms support local communities to grow organic coconut, salt, cashews and cacao that is used to make the tastiest products. Join one of the daily tours around their factory Mon to Fri from 13:30 to 14:30.

Great Massages there are many cheap massage places in Seminyak.You will pay from Rps 50,000 for 60 minutes on the beach in front of Double Six along to GadoGado Restaurant, with one of the many masseurs whom you will find daily, waiting to greet tourists. If you are happy to pay a little more, Bodyworks close by La Luciola is very popular spa and will cost Rps 250,000.JariMenari (Dancing Fingers) is a great place where a full body massage costs Rps 350,000 for 75 minutes. Always book in advance.

Mama San Restaurant in Seminyak decorated in a “Colonial Shanghai”theme, with a stunning mural of a gentlemen’s club madam “Mama San” watches over diners at this modern two story warehouse. The old meets new theme shines through in a menu that features a modern twist on traditional dishes that span the continent.From an Indian lamb and chanadahl curry to a grilled Thai beef salad, roasted Peking duck and Vietnamese spring rolls. What unites this Asian culinary odyssey is the flavorful punch packed by each and every dish. Kick things off with one of five Martinis featuring local ingredients.

Nusa Lembongans laid-back island and ocean living. Escape Bali’s lively south on the laidback island of Nusa Lembongan for a few days’ peace and quiet. If you are feeling active there are plenty of ocean activities including surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkelling and diving, or simply relax with a massage and soak up the views of the volcano Mount Agung on Bali and, on a clear day, Rinjani on Lombok. Getting over there is easy, just hop on one of the daily boats out of Sanur or Benoa.

Power of Now Oasis Yoga by the Sea. If you’re an ocean lover, why not try an alternative to the many yoga schools in Ubud and do yoga by the sea. Located on the beach in Sanur.The Power Of Now Oasis offers a range of yoga classes in their stunning bamboo studio. At the end of class, continue your health kick by popping into Warung Kecil. Run by Balinese-born Novi, she serves up the cleanest, freshest and healthiest nasicampur in town, plus fresh juices, panini and salads made from organic and local ingredients. She even sources Bali-made camembert cheese!
Green Village Bamboo TrailsDiscover Bali’s amazing world of bamboo. For an island so rich in bamboo I was thrilled to recently discover a unique Bali experience. Learn all about bamboo at the Green Village on an inspiring tour that takes in the design workshop of master Balinese craftsmen, a visit to the renowned Green School campus, the world’s biggest bamboo chocolate factory, and the super-stylish private residences at the Green Village. Email or call the office to book ahead.

The Best Of Bali Go Overland. By far the best way to appreciate the diversity of Bali is to go on an overland safari. Trips can be tailored to specific timescales and interests including: rice paddy walks, volcanoes, crater lakes, jungle trekking, mountain retreats, coffee plantations, local traditions, temples, waterfalls, coral reefs and WWII wrecks. My personal favorites are: a stop over in the sleepy village of Pemuteran where you can plant your own baby coral and visit nearby Menjangan Island to dive, snorkel, see resident deer if your lucky and enjoy views of Java; a trip up the east coast for rice paddy views, a visit to Taman Tirtagangga Natural Pools, and a stop-over in the laid-back village of Amed to see traditional salt makers, snorkel at the newly-sunk Mermaid reef restoration sculpture, or try your hand at free diving. Ask locally for recommended drivers and guides.

Cocktails on a cliff the Rock Bar a 30 min cab ride from Seminyak if there’s no traffic. ‘The Rock Bar’ a stunning bar located on the end of a cliff overlooking the ocean and is favorites. The sunset is spectacular and really takes your breath away. The Rock Bar is located in at ‘Ayana Resort’ and due to its popularity there is usually a queue for the sunset view, this is mainly because quests of the resort get priority over visitors and the inclinator only takes 8 people at a time. Don’t let the queue deter you, it’s worth the wait!

Chill at Ku De Ta this beachfront bar and fine dining restaurant still holds its own and well worthwhile a visit. It has a slightly more chilled out and relaxed vibe than Potato Head but still an amazing venue for watching the sunset, enjoying a few cocktails (Vanilla & Passion fruit Mojitos, and listening to some great beats. The restaurants here are great for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Cocoon Pool Party, Cocoon has hosted some of the Island’s hottest poolside events. It’s a glamorous and sleek venue, offering a fine dining restaurant, a stunning bar and a poolside beach club complete with cabanas, palm trees and frangipanis. There’s always something exciting on here. Check the site for all upcoming events or if there’s nothing good on, pop in for a Sunday session.

Laze at Potato Head a great venue to spend an afternoon. Beach front, cocktails, sunshine & beautiful people. This is a popular spot so you want to get here as early as possible to secure a Cabanna. It’s worth the wait, the Cabaña is yours all day with your own waiter for cocktails and nibbles (they have amazing cheese platters and the passion fruit and vanilla vodka cocktail is delicious). Each cabana comes with a min spend of Rps 500,000. You will make more than one visit to this place as the sunset is also spectacular here. Have a few cocktails while enjoying the view, after sunset have a meal at one of three restaurants – ‘Potato Head Bistro’ (Bar food), ‘Lilin’ (serving tapas style East Asian dishes- My pick) and ‘Tapping Shoes’ (French fine dining). The restaurants concave around the 500 square meter lawn in the center of the venue, which extends out to meet the beach-facing infinity.

Ubud Beyond Monkey Forest, a trip to Bali isn’t complete without a visit to Ubud, the cultural and spiritual centre of Bali. Escape the crowds of tourists at Monkey Forest and do something different. Hop on a bike with Bali Eco Cycling and get into the heart of the surrounding countryside and villages. Join a local ceremony or festival, which can include the rather unusual cremation ceremonies.