Sanur
Sanur occupies a happy medium between other Bali beach towns—it's not as frantic as Kuta, and it's not as expensive (or insulated) as Nusa Dua. The white-sand beach, which is lined with outrigger canoes, fronts spacious hotel compounds.
The offshore reef makes the water calm for snorkeling, although the reef itself isn't all that spectacular. Rental shops lease sailboards, surfboards and paddleboards. There are a number of good shops and restaurants along Jalan Danau Tamblingan and Jalan Poso.
As with most places in Bali, day trips can be organized to visit nearby temples and craft villages. It is located 4 mi/6 km east of Denpasar.
Ubud
Hidden among the rice paddies, foothills, and steep ravines is Ubud, the cultural center of Bali renowned for its arts, dance and music. The town was an important source for medicinal herbs and plants wherein Balinese the word 'ubad' means medicine. It was a Javanese priest in the 8th century who discovered Ubud while meditating between two crossing rivers. Here, he discovered the Gunung Lebah Temple on the valley floor which today, remains a pilgrim destination. Tranquil, visitors can find serenity in nature and inspiration in its ancient temples and palaces. Make friends at the Ubud Monkey Forest, but hold on to your belongings. Meditate at Anand Ashram or hike through the rice paddies.
Bali
Known as the "Island of the Gods," Bali is famous for its shimmering beauty and fascinating culture. Hundreds of Hindu temples, towering mountains and verdant rice terraces form a spectacular backdrop to the charm of the Balinese people. Here are mysterious volcanic lakes and jungle-shrouded volcanoes, wondrous ancient temples, fabulously creative painters and wood-carvers, and the legendary dancers who re-enact the stories of their Hindu deities.
Sanur occupies a happy medium between other Bali beach towns—it's not as frantic as Kuta, and it's not as expensive (or insulated) as Nusa Dua. The white-sand beach, which is lined with outrigger canoes, fronts spacious hotel compounds.
The offshore reef makes the water calm for snorkeling, although the reef itself isn't all that spectacular. Rental shops lease sailboards, surfboards and paddleboards. There are a number of good shops and restaurants along Jalan Danau Tamblingan and Jalan Poso.
As with most places in Bali, day trips can be organized to visit nearby temples and craft villages. It is located 4 mi/6 km east of Denpasar.
Hidden among the rice paddies, foothills, and steep ravines is Ubud, the cultural center of Bali renowned for its arts, dance and music. The town was an important source for medicinal herbs and plants wherein Balinese the word 'ubad' means medicine. It was a Javanese priest in the 8th century who discovered Ubud while meditating between two crossing rivers. Here, he discovered the Gunung Lebah Temple on the valley floor which today, remains a pilgrim destination. Tranquil, visitors can find serenity in nature and inspiration in its ancient temples and palaces. Make friends at the Ubud Monkey Forest, but hold on to your belongings. Meditate at Anand Ashram or hike through the rice paddies.
Known as the "Island of the Gods," Bali is famous for its shimmering beauty and fascinating culture. Hundreds of Hindu temples, towering mountains and verdant rice terraces form a spectacular backdrop to the charm of the Balinese people. Here are mysterious volcanic lakes and jungle-shrouded volcanoes, wondrous ancient temples, fabulously creative painters and wood-carvers, and the legendary dancers who re-enact the stories of their Hindu deities.
