10 Natural Wonders in Bali

You can find Bali’s national park in the north-western part of the island. It’s a densely forested area that spans 19,000 hectares and was the original endemic habitat of the Bali myna, also known as the Bali starling. Some hotels in the area – such as The Menjangan and Naya Gawana Resort & Spa – offer nature tours to the park as part of their guests’ experiences.

The inner areas of the park comprise savannahs and rainforests while mangrove swamps border the northern coasts. Offshore, there’s Menjangan Island which has pristine coral reefs that make it one of Bali’s best snorkelling sites.

Most of Ubud is made up of cool highlands, with natural scenes of green valleys and rivers filled with flora and fauna. Scenic river valleys in and around the Ubud area include the Petanu, Campuhan and Ayung. Ayung also happens to be one of Bali’s premier whitewater rafting rivers. It allows you to experience Bali’s nature from up close with sightings of exotic birds and local wildlife on adventure and sightseeing tours.

The Campuhan watercourse is actually the confluence of 2 smaller rivers and the Campuhan Ridge features a savannah with a quiet scenic path. It's easily one of the must-visit places nature lovers in Ubud.

The regency of Tabanan in Bali’s mid-west is one of the island’s greenest areas, with natural forests bordering the lush highlands and the West Bali National Park. Generally known as the island’s major rice-producing region, there's one specific area in Tabanan, known as Jatiluwih in the village of Wangaya, that’s famous for offering vast expanses of manmade wonders: rice fields.

The site covers over 600 hectares and was once a UNESCO Cultural Heritage site candidate. The flowing green hillsides with Batukaru Mountain looming in the background are a truly remarkable sight. You can take in the view over coffee and snacks from the many small restaurants run by locals.

A few kilometres up from the popular Jatiluwih rice fields in Bali’s central-west is the majestic temple complex of Batukaru. Batukaru is highly regarded by Balinese Hindus as one of the island’s key mountain temples. All around the complex, you can find cool tropical forests, which make it a great sightseeing stopover for a mix of culture, history and nature.

A holy water source within the temple is fed by natural springs, and its multitude of shrines with tiered roofs and ancient sculptures covered in green moss make it a truly exotic sight to behold. The adjacent forest features a nature trek that climbers can only go on with an official permit.

Beratan is one of Bali’s 3 mountain lakes, famous for its iconic lakeside temple, known as Ulun Danu Beratan. The highland and lakeside area is great for photo opportunities. The lake itself offers water sports action, too. The other 2 lakes – Buyan and Tamblingan – are surrounded by dense forests and feature campsites and nature treks.

Another must-see in the Bedugul region is the Bali Botanic Gardens. It's popular among visitors looking for great scenery, with vast collections of tropical flower nurseries and orchards. The gardens are also home to the Bali Treetop Adventure Park, which offers active fun for the whole family.

As one of the best panoramic mountain viewpoints on the island, the highland village of Kintamani promises great views over the active Batur volcano and its magnificent caldera lake. Head to the ridge of Penelokan for a different angle. The vastness of the range, with patches of dark volcanic ash and starkly verdant green forests on its hillsides, is as dramatic as it gets.

Dotted around the area are the lake shores of Toya Bungkah, the Batur Temple, and a collection of small resorts with hot springs and great views. Kintamani also has a good collection of restaurants where you can enjoy traditional Indonesian and Balinese cuisines with views of the caldera.

Go on a ‘pilgrimage’ to East Bali’s Lempuyang Temple, named after the mountain on which it is located. The temple sits at the peak of the forested mountain inhabited by hordes of timid grey long-tailed macaques. The climb is for the fit, as you need to go up 1,700 steep steps to get to the top.

The higher you get, the better the views, as you enjoy panoramas across the green forested slopes and neighbouring Mount Agung, Bali’s highest mountain. The prize view is found at the temple at its peak, with the ocean in the distance. You'll also encounter exotic bird sightings along the climb.

Another highlight of Ubud is the viewpoint at the traditional craftsmen’s village of Tegallalang, some 10 km north from the Ubud town hub. Lined with multiple local art shops and cafés and restaurants that make good use of the view for their dining guests, the beautiful green rice terraces adorn the hillsides of the valley and are visible from some parts of the road.

Both sunrise and sunset can be dramatic here. Near harvest time, the rice terraces of Tegallalang tend to put on a beautiful glimmer of green. After harvest, it’s a radiant yellowish gold. You can even take the path down to the paddies and explore the valley.

Many of Bali’s finest waterfalls are particularly remote, surrounded by the dense jungles of the island. Their far-flung locations simply add to the sense of adventure. Among the few that are worth mentioning are the waterfalls of Gitgit and Singsing and the cool springs of Yeh Sanih in North Bali. In Bali’s central west, there’s the Blahmantung falls in the Tabanan regency.

Most waterfalls and springs in Bali are set against dense foliage, and sightings of exotic birds and wild orchids are commonplace. The surrounding neighbourhood of these falls mostly feature lush orchards and local fruit plantations – great added features to your excursions.

For a great offshore experience and to discover great underwater beauty, Nusa Lembongan features crystal-clear waters that are superb for snorkelling and diving. Lembongan has a collection of great snorkelling sites, such as Crystal Bay, Manta Point and Toya Pakeh, where sunfish, mantas and sea turtles have become common sightings.

If you’re a nature lover but don’t dive, you can still get the opportunity to experience the coral gardens teeming with tropical fish through ‘marine walk’ tours as well as submarine safari adventures that are part of fun cruises. Nusa Lembongan is connected to its sister island, Nusa Ceningan, by a yellow bridge that stretches over a narrow strait.