Must-do things for your Bali holiday on a budget

Credit: Kai Lehmann

Yes, it is possible! Holidaying on a small budget on the island of Bali. The unique exotic Balinese culture, the mystical ceremonies at the temples all over the island, the stunning nature and the beaches – it’s all for free. You can even add a notch of luxury to your budget holiday in Bali, and it won’t drain your bank account in seconds. My suggestion would be to pick a nice affordable private villa and make this your base to explore the island. Here are 5 must-do things for your Bali holiday on a budget:

Stay in a villa

No, you don’t need to be swimming in money to be able to stay in a villa in Bali. There are beautiful private pool villas found all around the island, ranging from traditional to modern. The more you move away from popular towns, the cheaper the villas get but even in places like Seminyak, Canggu and Ubud, there are affordable villas find. You will have a garden with a swimming pool, a living room with a kitchen and bedrooms with air-conditioning and all is private. A hotel just can’t compete! Find the perfect villa for you here. It is much more affordable than you’d think!

Campuhan Ridge Trek

This is one of the top things to do on the island of Bali, and the best thing is that it is completely free. Set your alarm for an early morning rise and leave the compounds of your villa to go for a sunrise stroll in the rice paddies surrounding this cultural town of Bali. You’ll get struck by the stunning sceneries along the way. The hike is easy, and the sweeping hilltop views to the backdrop of the endless rice terraces is breathtaking! Not an early bird? Go for an afternoon walk instead and see the sunset over the island. Read more about the Campuhan Ridge Trek here.

Get yourself around on a motorbike

The cheapest and most fun way of getting around is on a motorbike. You see more of the environment, pick up the scents and the feel of the island without getting stuck in traffic jams for hours. Renting a bike is cheap and the longer you rent it for, the cheaper it gets. For monthly rental, you will be looking at around US $40. Perfect for travelers on a budget! If you don’t have an international driver’s license with your or you don’t dare to drive, the best way of getting around in busy towns is on a Go-Jek. They’ll pick you up wherever you are and drop you off where you like, and it costs very little.

Coffee and tea tasting on a local plantation farm

Did you know, that on the Luwak Plantation Farms, you can do a free garden tour with complimentary coffee/tea tasting in the end? It is quite lovely! You will see the red coffee berries and learn how they are processed and roasted to provide you with your daily cup of goodness. You will also see many other local spices during this garden walk, and at the end, you get to taste a selection of 10 local teas and coffees infused with things like coconut, vanilla, ginger, chocolate, rosella and so on. For Rp.50,000 you also get a taste of the (in)famous Luwak Coffee, one of the most expensive coffees in the world that is made with the help of the Luwak animal – you will learn all about it during the tour.

Eat at warung and traditional markets

Not only the cheapest but also the best, most delicious and most authentic local food is found at small little streets stalls called ‘warungs’ and on the traditional night markets that take place all around Bali. For lunch, stop at a busy local warung where you can get a plate of ‘nasi campur’ which means ‘mixed rice’. There is a whole array of local Indonesian dishes to choose from to go with your rice – simply point at the ones you would like to try. For dinner, head to the market to get a taste of real authentic nasi goreng (fried rice), ayam lalapan (fried chicken) or pisang goreng (fried bananas). Yum!

 

Written by Stephanie from Villa-Finder.com