What to do

Activities in Bali

Temples, terraces, surf and water — the things worth building a day around, with real prices.

Updated August 2026 — entry fees and operator prices change; confirm on-site or with the operator.

Highlights

Things worth your time

🛕

Tanah Lot & Uluwatu temples

Sea temples perched on rock outcrops. Visit Uluwatu at sunset for the Kecak fire dance overlooking the cliffs.

Entry ~IDR 30,000 (~USD 2)
🌾

Tegallalang Rice Terraces

Tiered paddies outside Ubud, best visited early morning before the tour buses. A small donation is expected at each viewpoint.

Donation ~IDR 20,000–30,000 (~USD 1–2)
🏄

Surfing at Uluwatu & Canggu

Reef breaks for experienced surfers around Uluwatu; beginner-friendly beach breaks at Batu Bolong in Canggu.

Lesson from IDR 350,000 (~USD 23)
🧘

Yoga classes

Drop-in classes across Ubud and Canggu, from open-air jungle studios to beachside decks.

IDR 130,000–180,000 (~USD 8–12) / class
💦

Waterfalls

Tegenungan (easy access) and Sekumpul (a longer jungle hike) are the two most rewarding, roughly an hour apart.

Entry IDR 15,000–20,000 (~USD 1) → Bali's best waterfalls ranked
🤿

Snorkeling & diving

Manta rays off Nusa Penida, and the USAT Liberty wreck dive at Tulamben, one of Bali's best-known dive sites.

Day trip from IDR 600,000 (~USD 40) → Diving the USAT Liberty wreck
More to add

Worth building a day around

🐒

Ubud Monkey Forest

A shaded sanctuary of over 1,000 long-tailed macaques among moss-covered temple ruins. Keep sunglasses and loose items zipped away — the monkeys are opportunistic.

Entry ~IDR 80,000 (~USD 5)
🌋

Mount Batur sunrise trek

A 2am start and a 2-hour uphill hike to catch sunrise from the crater rim, often above the cloud line. Guides are compulsory and include breakfast cooked over volcanic steam.

Guided trek from IDR 400,000 (~USD 26) → Want it harder? Climbing Mount Agung
🎡

Bali Swing & jungle photo spots

Several operators around Ubud offer giant swings and nests over the jungle canopy — popular for photos, best visited early to skip queues and harsh midday light.

From IDR 250,000 (~USD 16) per swing
💆

Spa & wellness day

Balinese massage, flower baths and body scrubs, from simple village spas to elaborate wellness resorts, concentrated in Ubud and Seminyak.

IDR 150,000–500,000 (~USD 10–33)
Planning

Where each activity fits

Match activities to your base region to avoid burning a day on the road.

ActivityClosest baseBest time of day
Tegallalang Rice Terraces, Monkey Forest, Bali SwingUbudEarly morning, before tour buses
Surfing, beach clubsCanggu, Uluwatu, SeminyakDawn or late afternoon surf; sunset for clubs
Tanah Lot & Uluwatu templesSouth coastLate afternoon into sunset for the Kecak dance
Mount Batur sunrise trekUbud or KintamaniPre-dawn start, non-negotiable
Snorkeling & divingNusa Penida (mantas) or Amed/Tulamben (wreck)Morning, before afternoon swell picks up
WaterfallsUbud area (Tegenungan) or north Bali (Sekumpul)Morning, to avoid afternoon crowds and rain