I've been twice, most "recently" in 2015. It was magical. And there were places where tourists were few. As Narina hints, 75% of the tourism is on 25% of the island, so it's not hard to break away if you want to.
Thanks Samantha and Narina! How wonderful to hear about your life in West Bali Narina and know that it’s not all developers gone mad. I’m due for a visit and will def go for a reccie.
West Bali is such a wonderful escape from the madness that Canggu/Ubud/Uluwatu can so often be. I hope you make it there sometime Jan - would love to show you around if you do :)
Thank you for sharing this wonderful write-up. I adore Bali. My boyfriend and I explored the West 10 years ago, including Balian, West Bali National Park, Menjangan and Permuteran. Such a special place.
What great timing. My husband and I are travelling SE ASIA right now and were considering where to spend the month of November. We were hesitant on Bali given the over tourism but it still is drawing us in! Good to know there are still peaceful spots. Would you recommend staying on the north coast?
Hi Stephanie :) There are some lovely spots along the north coast. My absolute favourite is Pemuteran, which is a great base if you're into snorkelling or diving. The national park is about 20 minutes away, and the marine life around Menjangan Island there is spectacular. You can also go walking, mountain biking and birding in the park. Lovina is a town that comes up often on Bali itineraries, but I've never understood its appeal. To me, it has an uncomfortable vibe and I've always felt on edge there. I put together a few suggestions on where to go, depending on what you want to do, here: https://narinaexelby.substack.com/p/bali-places-to-go
Thanks! Appreciate the reply. We love scuba so this sounds like a great option. We are in Japan now but the (under reported) jellyfish population here has put a damper on water activities. I’ll check out your posts for more info!
If you're wanting to dive then another place worth visiting is Nusa Lembongan, or her tiny 'sister' Nusa Ceningan. Plenty of dive spots around these small islands, which are a short ferry ride from Sanur. Ceningan Divers is an excellent - VERY eco-conscious - dive operator, and they have a few cottages too.
Brilliant - I appreciate this so much. My partner wants to get his dive master this year with a reputable company and this outfit is worth speaking to. We have travelled to other places and been very disappointed with the divers so inside tips are so helpful.
I've been twice, most "recently" in 2015. It was magical. And there were places where tourists were few. As Narina hints, 75% of the tourism is on 25% of the island, so it's not hard to break away if you want to.
Thanks Narine and David! Time we got our act together
So true, David – it really isn't all that difficult to break away. You just need to navigate some traffic first... :)
Thanks Samantha and Narina! How wonderful to hear about your life in West Bali Narina and know that it’s not all developers gone mad. I’m due for a visit and will def go for a reccie.
West Bali is such a wonderful escape from the madness that Canggu/Ubud/Uluwatu can so often be. I hope you make it there sometime Jan - would love to show you around if you do :)
Great window on a place and blogger I knew nothing about. Thanks, Samantha and Narina!
I loved reading about how other people live in a magical but overwhelmingly popular place & the responsibilities that come with that.
Loved reading about this beautiful island! Thanks, Sam, for sharing with me and others.
Interesting. That means there is a lot real Bali left!
https://travel.joopeter.de/babylon
Very thoughtful questions and beautifully written responses. Thanks for bringing a bit of Bali into our hearts. Time to get back 'home' soon I think!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful write-up. I adore Bali. My boyfriend and I explored the West 10 years ago, including Balian, West Bali National Park, Menjangan and Permuteran. Such a special place.
So exquisite, thank you for sharing.
What great timing. My husband and I are travelling SE ASIA right now and were considering where to spend the month of November. We were hesitant on Bali given the over tourism but it still is drawing us in! Good to know there are still peaceful spots. Would you recommend staying on the north coast?
Hi Stephanie :) There are some lovely spots along the north coast. My absolute favourite is Pemuteran, which is a great base if you're into snorkelling or diving. The national park is about 20 minutes away, and the marine life around Menjangan Island there is spectacular. You can also go walking, mountain biking and birding in the park. Lovina is a town that comes up often on Bali itineraries, but I've never understood its appeal. To me, it has an uncomfortable vibe and I've always felt on edge there. I put together a few suggestions on where to go, depending on what you want to do, here: https://narinaexelby.substack.com/p/bali-places-to-go
Thanks! Appreciate the reply. We love scuba so this sounds like a great option. We are in Japan now but the (under reported) jellyfish population here has put a damper on water activities. I’ll check out your posts for more info!
If you're wanting to dive then another place worth visiting is Nusa Lembongan, or her tiny 'sister' Nusa Ceningan. Plenty of dive spots around these small islands, which are a short ferry ride from Sanur. Ceningan Divers is an excellent - VERY eco-conscious - dive operator, and they have a few cottages too.
Brilliant - I appreciate this so much. My partner wants to get his dive master this year with a reputable company and this outfit is worth speaking to. We have travelled to other places and been very disappointed with the divers so inside tips are so helpful.