Bali packs an unusual amount of variety into a fairly small island — sunrise volcano hikes, Bali's holiest temple complex, a monkey-filled jungle sanctuary, and one of Southeast Asia's more interesting art scenes, all within a couple of hours of each other. Rather than trying to cover the whole island, these five spots make a solid backbone for a first-time itinerary.

Mount Batur

Every morning before dawn, a steady stream of hikers sets out for the 1,717-metre summit of Mount Batur, an active volcano in the Kintamani district, about an hour's drive from Ubud. The trail is well marked and takes roughly two to three hours each way, ending with a view over the Batur caldera, the surrounding highlands, and Lake Batur — the island's main source of irrigation water. Mornings up here are genuinely cold, so a jacket is worth packing even though you're in the tropics.

On the way back down, it's worth stopping at Pura Ulun Danu Batur on the lake's northwest shore, one of Bali's most important temples, before winding down at the hot springs in Toya Bungkah village on the lakeshore.

Lovina, on the north coast

Bali's north coast moves at a noticeably slower pace than the south. Lovina's beaches are known for dark volcanic sand rather than the white sand further south, and it's a good base for dolphin-watching boat trips, snorkelling, and diving without the crowds of the more built-up resort areas.

Besakih Temple

Known locally as Pura Besakih and often called Bali's "Mother Temple," this is the island's most important Hindu temple complex, spread across sloping terrain on the side of Mount Agung, Bali's most active volcano. Rather than a single building, it's a network of temples spread across several terraces, each with its own shrines and courtyards — Pura Penataran Agung, the central and largest temple in the complex, is generally the main one to focus on if your time is limited. Pura Pangubengan, the highest temple on the mountainside, has the best views back over the complex and the valley below.

Ubud Monkey Forest

A short walk from central Ubud, the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary combines a genuine nature reserve with a working temple complex — Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal, its main temple, sits at the centre of the forest, with hundreds of long-tailed macaques living around the grounds and mossy stone relics. It's a real research site as well as a visitor attraction, with ongoing study of macaque social behaviour based here.

A couple of practical notes if you visit: avoid direct eye contact or smiling at the monkeys, as it can read as a threat display, and keep any food well out of sight — they will take it if they see it.

Ubud's art scene

Ubud's reputation as Bali's cultural centre predates Eat, Pray, Love by a long way, but the book and film certainly widened its audience. The area's royal palaces and temples fed directly into the modern Balinese art movement, and a handful of museums now anchor that history — ARMA (Agung Rai Museum of Art) and the Neka Art Museum are both close to the Monkey Forest and worth the detour, alongside smaller spots like the Setia Darma House of Masks & Puppets and Museum Puri Lukisan.

Across the road from Ubud's art market, the Puri Saren Royal Ubud Palace is worth a look even if you're not shopping — and if you are, gentle bargaining is the norm rather than the exception. In the evenings, a traditional Balinese dance performance is one of the better family-friendly things to do in Ubud, and some villages run hands-on workshops in mask-making or jewellery for visitors travelling with kids.

Putting it together

These five don't need to be rushed into one trip — Mount Batur and Besakih both work well as day trips from Ubud, while Lovina suits a slower two- or three-night stop if your itinerary has room for it. If you're planning a Bali trip, take a look at Quintrip's Bali holiday packages to see how these fit into a full itinerary.

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