Where to stay and what to do in one of the most beautiful parts of Bali.
Where to stay
As a female solo traveller I can’t recommend Puri Garden Hostel and Hotel enough. For the price you could get your own hotel somewhere else but if you’re travelling on your own staying in a luxury 4 person room is a great way to meet like minded people. Personally, I find it easier to sleep with others in the room than when I’m in a hotel on my own. The hostel hosts different activities each day and night as well as trips to see the best of Ubud. Highlights for me were the morning yoga classes, manicures and massages every day and puppy therapy on the Friday.
I treated myself to a one night stay at Pramana Watu and it was stunning. Gorgeous rooms, delicious food and drinks at the restaurant and the infinity pool had the most amazing view. The night I stayed there was a Lunar New Year celebration dinner with traditional Balinese dancing which was wonderful- fantastic performances and brilliant 6 course dinner with welcome cocktail. Also saw the best sunset ever here.
Getting around
Ubud is one to two hours away from Denpasar Airport (depending on notorious Bali traffic). I pre ordered my pick up from the airport through Klook then used the Grab App to get around locally.
Where to eat
While you’re in Bali try the local dishes Nasi Goreng (chicken, rice fried egg) and Mie Goreng (similar but with noodles instead of rice). There’s a range of different cuisines from Thai, Indian, Mexican and Italian.
Taco Casa – really great tacos, burritos and cocktails.
Suka Espresso – lots of different dishes, I got the spicy clam pasta which was delicious.
What to do
Bali Swing- there’s a few different ones I did the one at D Alas restaurant and had lunch after which was delicious. I was terrified at first but after the first swing (going backwards) it was just really fun and I enjoyed the second wing (going forwards) a lot more.
Tegallalang rice terraces- you can’t visit Ubud without seeing the stunning rice terraces.
Lahangan Sweet- when you’re in the north of Bali you need to pay visit to this stunning viewpoint. Not yet overly touristy you get a great view without the crowds. Your driver can only take you so far then you need to go in a 4×4 to the top which is an experience in itself (not for those with a fear of heights). You might want to book a tour that does both Lahangan Sweet and Gates of Heaven in the same morning as they are close by each other.
Gates of Heaven- the iconic temple with the view the mountain is a great photo opportunity. The reflection that looks like a lake is a camera trick but the real view is still stunning especially as clouds move across the mountain. Be warned, you’ll be given a ticket and will have to wait around 2 hours until your number is called for the photo so bring your headphones and download a playlist or podcast while you wait.
Waterfalls- Bali waterfalls deserved a blog post of their own!
Mount Batur- sunrise trek to Mount Batur is a must if you’re reasonably fit and able to do so. I was lucky with the weather and got a stunning sunrise. A steep but not too long hike (1-2 hours up 1 hour down) nothing beats that sense of achievement when you finish a climb. Take plenty of insect repellent spray and layers- you’ll feel hot walking up but when you’re waiting for that sunrise it’ll start to feel chilly as it’s so early in the morning and you’re at a high altitude.
Visit a Balinese house- in Bali families have an ancestral home where each person has their own mini house of a plot of land including places of worship. Going around these houses with a guide you get to learn a lot about traditional Balinese culture
Sacred Monkey Forest- be warned these monkeys can be vicious but when I went early one morning they were pretty chilled. It’s great to see the monkeys interacting with each other but make sure you follow the rules- including no eye contact with the monkeys- this can make them aggressive.
Links to trips I went on
Sunrise Trek to Mount Batur and Hidden Waterfall
Gates of Heaven and Lahangan Sweet
Other tips
Get pro-biotics a week before and your first week in Bali. Bali belly is just a cute name for food poisoning and a lot of people catch it on their first trip to Bali.
Bottled water- you can’t even brush your teeth with the tap water in Bali make sure you keep enough bottled water on you, can get it from your hotel or a local shop.
If you do get sick, The Dose Bali offer doctors to visit you at your hotel/hostel and administer any medication/ IV drip needed.