Travel Bali Part Two- North Bali

Experience secluded mountain adventures, volcanoes, and sunrise dolphins boat rides

Written by Gracie Rounds

Introduction

The farther north you go in Bali, the more chance you will have to experience an off the beaten path Indonesian adventure. The north is known for being less developed, and with the exponential increase in tourism to Bali, you might enjoy adding a couple of days in this area to your itinerary.

The north can bring epic volcano adventures, beautiful waterfalls, and sunrise dolphin tours. Based on the multi-year long stay of my sister, world-traveler Callie Rounds, this guide will show you the best hidden gems Bali has to offer.

Where to Stay

Around the entire island, there is a company called Bali Super Host that manages many incredible properties. Usually marketed for a bigger group of travelers, these are amazing villas that you can rent out. One of these is in North Bali, and if you have a bigger group of people looking to adventure here, the Tropical Sharing Villas is an amazing spot.

If you’re looking for an unforgettable stay, the Camaya Bali is an incredible choice. This location includes sustainably built bamboo huts that are really magical. They also have jacuzzis overlooking rice paddies that just elevate the stay to another level.

Waterfalls

Sekumpul Waterfall is one of Callie’s favorite waterfall adventures on the entire island- and if you’ve already read our Bali Part One blog, you’ll know that’s saying something. The falls here are incredible cascading waterfalls, and are also one of the best places to fly a drone.

Sekumpul is accessible by a popular hiking trail that is considered more of a moderate route, that takes between 30-45 minutes to complete. If you hang left, you can walk directly down to the waterfall. If you hang right, you will find Figi Falls, which is less well-known and less touristy. Not a lot of people know that if you fly a drone over Figi Falls you will be able to get footage of rice fields above the falls as well. It’s an incredible, well-worth adventure.

Dolphins

Tours to see dolphins at sunrise on a beautiful boat ride leave from Lovina Beach. Be cautious that you’re choosing an ethical company to go on this tour, as some stray farther from moral code than others.

Just sitting on the front of the boat watching the sky turn red and sipping a cup of coffee is an amazing experience. Then add in the chance to see dolphins.

Volcano Hikes

Above all other reasons, volcanoes are the highlight of an adventurous trip to North Bali. Some hikes are more popular than others due to accessibility and difficulty, but are entirely worth the effort.

Mount Batur is a popular sunrise hike that you can choose. If you’re wondering if this is a safe volcano to hike, specialists monitor the activities of the volcanoes in the area to make sure they are safe to do. You also can take a motorbike up to the top of this if you aren’t looking for a hike. Whichever way you choose to get there, you’ll be rewarded with an incredible view.

Now… If you’re in for more of a Callie-type-adventure-volcano-hike… You will want to look in to hiking the Agung Volcano. This is not recommended for anyone who isn’t in really good shape as it is a very strenuous hike, and is quite the challenge. You have to contact a guide to hike this volcano, and hands down the best guide would be Bagawata.

Kadek Bagawata’s mission is to protect the environment and spread love and joy to all. He only hikes barefoot, will often carry baby trees to plant along the way, and will bring his guitar to serenade you during breaks. If you are able, this is who you should reach out to to take you up Agung. It will be a life-changing experience.

At this point you can probably tell that a trip to North Bali is certainly not to miss!