10 Places to Visit in South Bali

Located roughly 20 km south of the downtown area of Bali but in south Bali, Tanah Lot Temple is one of the most popular and fascinating Bali’s tourist attractions. In the outskirts of Indonesia, there are outlying islands and among them, there is an old Hindu temple that is reflected in the sea and connected by a restaurant, a theatre where non-stop cultural programs are performed, and small shops.  

Looking at the artistic variety, except for the principal building, the view and the offering are as splendid as most Buddhist temples.  On the way to the temple, there are certain intervals or resting places and also a maintained garden area along with shopping arcades selling some souvenirs. 
The temple is 12.5 miles from Kuta and is among the most popular sites visited in the cultural tour conducted in Bali. 

Sanur Beach has always been listed among the most attractive places to visit in South Bali since it allows tourists to sightsee Nusa Lembongan Island and swim into the waters.  

Blissfully located with a chain of offshore reef barriers and a large reef platform off the coast, Sanur enjoys wide, shallow, secure aqua territory ideal for swimming and other water sports including snorkeling.  But while it is very possible that even the canyons may not be deeper than 10 meters at the lowest of tides, the rocks off Sanur are some of the best waves anyone would ever wish for in the water if only the conditions for surfing are right.

If you are wondering what to do in South Bali? Then don’t worry Sanur Beach offers a lot of exciting activities to do. Starting from water skiing to wake boarding, kite surfing to paragliding or windsurfing or even just plain old surfing stay in the water.  My dear, less athletic tourist, the activity here is not too strenuous; you can hire a banana boat to scoop you up and take a sail along the shallow waters.  This is where the Sea Walker designer did not attempt to reinvent but came up with a version of the regular shoe scuba diving is set free for people to look forward to.

One of the stunning Bali tourist attractions is the Uluwatu Temple. It stands majestically atop the cliff on the seafront.  This temple is reported to provide shelter for one of the most scenic sunset views and is believed to fend off the spirits from the sea and there are monkeys in the forest who are supposed to fend off evil spirits too.

Apart from the beautiful vista of the sea and shores, another feature of this temple is the Kecak dance show performed daily. You should order your tickets before the event, to make sure you get your place in the amphitheater, where there will be held Kecak –a fire dance with a background of sunset and the sea.

South Bali among the most fabulous places that one will want to learn more about are the Nusa Dua Theater which is known to captivate the audiences with its performance that includes dancing, illusions and costumes, acrobatics most enhanced by sound, lights, and various appearances.

This air-conditioned modern theater will offer family entertainment for its clients in the shortest time possible. The major and most popular show at Nusa Dua Theater is the Devdan show which is a combination of the Indonesian archipelago tour that lasts for 90 minutes.

The plot is about two young boys and two girls who are bored with their tour guide and decide to sneak outside of the tour area where they discover an exciting chest where valuable items are being hidden, and there is a large collection of items from every island of Indonesia.

If you are looking for a tranquil place to visit in South Bali, then you must visit Jimbaran Beach instead of the popular Kuta and Seminyak Beach. Besides Ngurah Rai International Airport is only fifteen minutes away from the central area, this beautiful and charming is packed with several sites of interest for those interested in the paradisiacal world-class Bali luxury with native flavor.

Jimbaran was early on recognized only as a fishing village but with beautiful black sand beaches and attractive views the place has turned into one of the island’s most visited and unique destinations offering holidaymakers beautiful sandy beaches, delicious seafood, and interesting shopping. In addition to the clear sea, Facarne Beach provides a quiet atmosphere, with the restaurants on the beach offering the finest seafood.

Among the most tranquil and beautiful places to visit in South Bali, is the rocky Bingin Beach zone where there is a small shop selling varieties of surf equipment and clothing, cafes, and some small hotels built on the edge of a cliff to provide the most stunning sea views.

As it is one of the most famous surf destinations as well, it might be quite casual here to have a pitaya bowl, which is a chilled fruit and granola with coconut chips, while practicing vigilance and enjoying the vivid performances of surfers. One of the things Balinese can do is tables set directly on the beach and up with local warungs or small family businesses selling freshly grilled prawns while watching the sunset.

Said to be lying behind a massive limestone cliff in the eastern region of Central Pandawa in South Bali, Timbis Beach is one of the fascinating beaches that could make vacationers realize that Bali has more than just its famous Kuta or Legian beaches. The natural beauty that is well concealed by the wonderful world holds its place on this beautiful beach. For those with a more leisurely and relaxed inclination to find a less boisterous Pandawa, the gold sand beach is the place to go.

Paragliding is one of the best things to do in South Bali; this is especially true if you are at Timbis Beach because it features the largest cliff known as ‘the giant flying fox’. When paragliding hovering across the perfect turquoise waters en route to the beach, you will get to see the marvelous coastline of Timbis Beach. From the morning to the evening Timbis Beach is quiet and you can simply take a walk and meditate by the coastal line listening to the sound of ocean waves.

After exploring some of the popular tourist attractions, wondering what to do in Bali? Then don’t miss to explore the Sukawati art market. Located in the township of Gianyar, Sukawati art market is one of the many central shopping areas of South Bali for those who merely indulge in a shopping spree or for pilgrims who wish to encounter the usual, ubiquitous and generic Balinese tropes in trinkets, knickknacks, and crafts.

If you can negotiate and find out that it will cost a specific amount, then it will be much cheaper than Kuta, Legian, or Seminyak. This wholesaler’s paradise remains one of Bali’s best-established and well-recognized arts and crafts emporiums. As for the market that is detail selling art-related products, it is called ‘Pasar Seni Sukawati’ locally.

They used Balinese curios paintings, wooden sculptures, paintings of Balinese fine art curios and beautiful wooden Carvings, Handmade products, and traditional handcrafted products. It is easily accessible by most tour operators especially those touring the central and northern parts of the island and can be an effective and cheap one-stop-shopping centre.

If you are voyaging with kids or if you are an animal lover then make beyond any doubt that you do not miss going to the Bali Zoo. The time spent there can amount to the entire afternoon or even the evening, and it is still in proximity to Ubud. The activities that one can get to enjoy when at the zoo are; When you go to a zoo, you easily get to learn about the many programs that are provided there.

Bali Zoo currently hosts more than 500 animals accommodating all classes of vertebrates including birds, reptiles, and mammals. These are some of the animals seen at the Zoo so many including lions, otters, tigers, cockatoos, deer, orangutans, elephants, gibbons, and crocodiles.

The beautiful tropical garden are also located here and accompanied by the mangosteen trees and other trees or plants that are found in Indonesia, while walking along the shaded pathway, one can see and experience different flora and fauna of Indonesia and perhaps take photos with some of them and even participating in other activities.

Tegenungan Waterfall is one fascinating site that nature lovers on a vacation or a trip to Ubud or visiting Sukawati should not miss on the itinerary. This is claimed to be the closest natural zone to the Ubud Central, which is found at only half an hour's drive to the southeast of the region. You will find a plunge pool at the base of the large pebbly area an ideal place to take a bath but cannot recommend swimming after a downpour for fear of flash floods.

Featuring a natural plunge pool beneath the falls, you can also swim and capture photos of the beautiful waterfall. When you consider the other gorgeous waterfalls in Bali in conjunction with those in Ubud you could easily plan a waterfall tour as a full-day trip.

Several restaurants in the nearby vicinity offer some incredibly delicious local dishes, including the Balinese-styled Crispy Fried Duck – one can have this place as a great spot to chill/rest while enjoying the Tegenungan Waterfall or before or after enjoying its attractions.