My Favorite Adventurous Activities in North Bali: Unmissable for Nature Lovers
“Bali’s too crowded” this, “Bali’s too touristy” that – People are very opinionated on Bali. The unfortunate truth is that most travelers who visit the Island of Gods go to Canggu or Uluwatu, and then go home, without seeing all the beautiful untouched Nature that the island still has to offer. While I won’t claim the items on this list aren’t popular, they certainly are, the adventurous natural activities I did in North Bali are night-and-day in comparison to the tourist-zoos in the south of the island. I hope you enjoy this short list of things to do in North Bali, comment below if you have any questions or reach out on the new Traveler’s in Bali Facebook Group.
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Aling Aling Waterfall
I love Aling Aling Waterfall! It’s actually a complex of several waterfalls, with the largest and most impressive being Aling Aling. What sets Aling Aling Waterfall complex apart from most of the waterfalls in Bali is how interactive it is. The waterfall itself is easy to get to (especially by Bali standards), at a less than 10-minute walk from the parking lot, but what’s exciting about this waterfall is the numerous cliff jumps, swings, and natural waterslides you can enjoy there. That’s right. Aling Aling has NATURAL WATERSLIDES.
Bali is so amazing, there are so many hidden gems like Aling Aling waterfall that I had never even heard about before. At Aling Aling there’s a 5, 10, and 15-meter cliff jump (I was too chicken to do anything past the 5-meter!), and a waterfall that a guide will help you slide down. I have no idea who first figured out, that you can (safely) slide down this waterfall, but I’m happy they did! It’s one of the most insane things I’ve done in Bali.
Visitor Info: You do need a guide to visit Aling Aling, not because it’s run by a Balinese “Tourist Mafia” like some of the other sites in Bali, but for safety reasons – Your guide will show you where to jump and slide. You can hire a guide on-site at the waterfall or take a tour that includes hotel transport.
Swim With the Dolphins in Lovina
Swimming with the wild dolphins is hands down the BEST thing I have done on Bali mainland. Positioned on Bali’s North Shore, Lovina still has untouched-paradise vibes, which is a welcome change from the much over-touristed Southern Bali beaches. In typical unhinged Bali fashion, you’re not just watching the dolphins from above the water, but the locals have rigged swings to the sides of all of the fishing boats that take tourists out. From the swing, you get to dunk your head under the water and watch the pods of dolphins as they swim and play – It’s an insane experience.
The only word to describe watching these dolphin migrations is magical.
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
Many travelers coming to Bali are disappointed by the rice terraces – This is because they go to the ultra-touristy Tegallalang terraces north of Ubud. If you want to experience the rice terraces and nature in Bali the way they were intended, I recommend making the trip to Jatiluwih! These rice fields are huge, and while the main areas can get crowded, you can find plenty of walking paths where you’ll be the only person exploring the fields. Keep in mind that while rice terraces in Bali welcome tourists for the supplemental income, they’re all still very much active rice farms – so expect to see farmers harvesting while you visit (and don’t get in their way!)
Looking for the BEST rice fields in Ubud? The Kajeng Rice Fields & Sari Organic Walks are the most scenic in town.
Leke Leke Waterfall
Leke Leke Waterfall is one of the most photogenic in all of Bali – It’s only a 15-minute hike from the parking area to the base of the falls, so Leke Leke is also a convenient addition to most North Bali itineraries. Leke Leke looks so beautiful and picturesque because it’s pretty tiny. Although lots of Instagram Reels of the waterfall feature girls in Bikinis, you can’t swim in the water at Leke Leke – it’s only ankle-deep. I recommend bundling a visit to Leke Leke with a day of waterfall-hopping from Ubud, or to other North-Bali activities. It’s beautiful, but maybe not worth the drive out (1-hour from Ubud) on it’s own.
Please enjoy my non-touristy local’s guide to spending one fantastic day in Ubud!
Handara Gate
Handara Gate is the smaller (and less touristy) iconic photo gate in Bali, the other one is the Instagram-famous “Gates of Heaven” which frequently boats over one-hour wait times for a photo (!!!!). Handara Gate just recently became a tourist attraction/photo spot by accident. It’s really just the entryway to the Handara Golf Course & Resort.
Love Golfing? People don’t really think of Golf when it comes to Bali, but Handara Golf Course is supposed to be one of the nicest on the island. The colder temperatures in North Bali make for a more comfortable place to do sports for long hours outside.
Munduk Viewpoint & Village
Munduk is certainly something special. This high mountainous region in Bali is famous for its Balinese coffee plantations, due to the fertile volcanic soil. We had lunch at one of the cafes lining the Munduk Twin Lakes viewpoint while we were driving back from Lovina where we swam with the dolphins, and it was gorgeous. Munduk Village surrounding the crater lake is also a charming pit stop. The fertile soil and colder climate makes this area sort of the “Bread Basket of Bali” so you can pick up some quality local produce. While we visited they were having a corn and strawberry festival with rows and rows of farmers selling on the street.
Katie’s Tips ✶
Munduk is at a higher altitude and it’s COLD! Pack a jacket for this portion of the drive unless you’re taking a car.
Sekumpul Waterfall
I’m mentioning this in the guide but in a “maybe don’t visit” kinda way 😅. Sekumpul is one of the main waterfalls in Bali, but over the past year, it has started to become run by a local mafia. “Mafia run” sounds scary, but it’s actually pretty typical for attractions in Bali to start operating as a scam – Other notable instances of this are Wae Rebo in Flores and the Balinese taxi mafia that operates all over the island. At Sekumpul now the mafia is harassing tourists to use an overpriced guide – it’s sad! I recommend going to Aling Aling instead.
Ulun Danu Temple
Ulun Danu Water Temple is a bit of a tourist trap in my opinion, but plenty of people seem to enjoy it heaps so I figured I should include it in my round-up of North Bali attractions. The thing I’m not too keen on about Ulun Danu is that it’s really just a photo spot, the temple is “floating”, which means you can’t go to it. If you purchase a special Instagram Tour, it is possible to take a small rowboat around the lake with a photographer, but while Ulun Danu looks great in photos it’s extremely tiny in real life.
