Kuta day trips and excursions
Udud's rice paddies make a relaxing break from Kuta
Kuta is the perfect base getting out and exploring Bali’s most fascinating sights and attractions. It has an excellent road network allowing quick and easy travel throughout the island and virtually everywhere can be reached during a single day’s outing. The resort is home to numerous professional tour companies each offering dozens of excursions catering to adventure seekers, family fun days out, art and culture tours and nature lovers. The island itself will offer up some fascinating contrasts where you can explore enchanting artisans’ villages, exotic temples, lush rainforests and towering volcanoes.
Adrenaline fuelled days out in the countryside can indulge in thrilling white water rafting, rock climbing or quad biking and a number of animal theme parks and zoos will keep the kids happy for hours. For a little more freedom hire a car and driver for the day and devise your own customised tour of Bali.
The most popular and accessible day out from Kuta is a visit to Ubud, the island’s celebrated centre for the arts. It has so much to see and do, one day is simply not enough. The town is packed with elegant art galleries, workshops, a historic royal palace and many evocative Hindu temples. It is also the gastronomic centre of Bali with over 300 restaurants.
Take time to visit its surrounding artisan’s villages of Pengosekan and Batubulan, world renowned centres for painting and stone carving respectively. Unmissable highlights in Ubud include an encounter with the mischievous residents of the Sacred Monkey Forest and an evening at Ubud palace for an enchanting Balinese dance performance.
A leisurely day out is assured cruising Bali’s waters and soaking up the sun and stunning ocean vistas. There are several cruise itineraries from nearby Benoa harbour to the idyllic islands of Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida and the Gili Islands. Onboard activities include offshore snorkeling and water sports or take in a sunset cruise complete with gourmet food and music. Enjoy the romance of the open seas onboard Bounty Cruises (Benoa Harbour tel: +62 (0)361 726666, Price: adult US$80, children US$40).
Head into the hills for a rewarding tour of the Bedugul region which offers lots of fun for youngsters and inspiring scenery. If nature is your thing, you will be spoiled for choice. It is an area of misty mountains, lakes and Bali’s popular Botanical Gardens (Kutuh Kaja, Bedugul tel:+62 (0)361 970951 open daily 09.00-18.00) . It is a great environment for hiking, mountain biking and a host of water sports at Lake Bratan.
The daily market at Candi Kuning is the most colourful in Bali and a popular stop on the tour circuit. Kids are not left out with a thrilling time at the Bali Tree Top Park (Kutuh Kaja, Bedugul, tel: +62 (0)361 8520682, open daily 10.00-17.00). It has a hair raising rainforest canopy walkway offering great views and lots of exotic wildlife to spot.
The sacred temple of Tanah Lot (Beraban Village, Tabanan tel: +62 (0)361 880361) is invitingly close to Kuta and is the most photographed image in Bali. It boasts a spectacular location and fully deserves its status as Bali’s most popular sight. It is a beautiful multi tiered temple that sits dramatically on a rocky outcrop pounded by crashing waves and offers striking panoramic ocean views. It is the perfect evening excursion for the dance performances at sunset when it is beautifully silhouetted by the setting sun.
