7 Comments

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.

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Thanks Narine and David! Time we got our act together

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So true, David – it really isn't all that difficult to break away. You just need to navigate some traffic first... :)

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I loved reading about how other people live in a magical but overwhelmingly popular place & the responsibilities that come with that.

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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?

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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

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Loved reading about this beautiful island! Thanks, Sam, for sharing with me and others.

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