Spend 7 Slow-paced Laid-back Sunny Days Exploring Lesser-Known Coasts and Hidden Local Temples Across Bali Island
Skip overcrowded famous tourist hotspots, follow practical local tips to enjoy quiet waves, fresh tropical fruits and zero-stress getaway moments far away from noisy crowds
Most first-time visitors to Bali immediately rush to the most popular beach strips filled with chain cafes and crowded surf spots right after landing, but the real charm of the island hides in the quiet villages spread across its central highlands. You can skip pre-booked luxury resort stays in the busiest zones, and choose a small family-run homestay tucked between rice terraces that only local residents know about. Wake up at 6 a.m. to walk down to the open-air local morning market, where you can pick up warm roasted banana snacks, ice-cold fresh coconut water and hand-woven small souvenirs at a price less than one fifth of what you would pay at tourist-facing shops. You do not need to arrange dozens of scheduled trips in advance, as the most interesting scenery on the island often appears when you take unplanned detours along rural roads lined with bright green palm trees.
Renting a simple motorbike with proper protective gear to travel south along the coastal rural roads will bring you far more unexpected surprises than any paid group tour. Half an hour’s drive away from the busiest coastal resort zones, you will find small hidden beaches that have no public signposts and rarely see any foreign visitors. The soft pale sand on these beaches stays almost empty for hours, and the gentle rolling waves are perfect for wading slowly at shallow areas even if you do not have any surfing experience. Local fishermen pull their small wooden boats onto the shore at dusk, sorting out the day’s catch of bright colored tropical fish, and they are usually happy to share a few pieces of freshly grilled fish with you if you greet them politely with a simple local greeting.
There is one little practical local tip almost no mainstream travel guide mentions: you will see small square stone altars placed at the front entrance of almost every local household, with one or two fresh plumeria flowers laid on the top of the tiny altar. These flowers are part of the residents’ daily small religious offerings, not random decorative pieces left on the side of the road by other people. Even if the plumeria petals look perfectly intact and pretty, you should never touch or take these offerings away from the altars, as this will be seen as a sign of disrespect to local traditions. This tiny easy-to-follow rule will help you avoid unnecessary misunderstandings when wandering through residential areas in small villages.
When you finish exploring the southern coasts, drive north for around two hours towards the foot of the island’s famous active volcano, and you can skip the highly advertised paid commercial hot spring scenic spots. Follow the small dirt trail that local villagers use to walk down the hills, and you will reach a series of natural hot spring pools hidden in the tropical bush, with warm mineral water flowing nonstop from the cracks of the surrounding rocks. No tickets are required to use these pools, and local vendors sitting at the entrance of the trail sell fully ripe durians and freshly picked mangosteens at a price far lower than the ones sold in southern tourist zones. The cool mist blown from the nearby rainforest mixes with the warm steam rising from the hot springs, creating an extremely comfortable experience that you can not find in crowded commercial scenic areas.
For the last two days of your trip, you can head to the eastern side of the island to enjoy calm shallow waters that are perfect for casual snorkeling. You do not need to pay for overpriced snorkeling tour packages from big travel agencies, just walk to the small fishing port before 9 a.m. and find a local fisherman who is willing to take you out on his small wooden boat for a very small fee. He will take you to a stretch of unprotected coral reef two kilometers away from the shore, where the sea water is so clear that you can see colorful small tropical fish swimming through corals even when you are half a meter above the water surface. You can swim around for hours without meeting other tourist groups, and the whole experience feels like you have your own private piece of the tropical ocean.
When it is time to head back home, you do not need to pack heavy bulky souvenirs that are mass produced for tourist markets. A small bag of locally roasted coffee beans picked from highland plantations, or a few small handcrafted coconut shell ornaments made by local villagers, will be enough for you to keep the warm soft memories of this Bali trip for a very long time. The whole seven-day trip does not require you to follow a tight rushed schedule, and every slow unplanned moment you spend on the island will leave you feeling fully rested and refreshed long after you get back to your daily routine.