Honeymooning in Bali

It didn't take much deliberation to decide Bali as our honeymoon destination and looking back, I can say it is still the all-around perfect honeymoon destination! From our few weeks there, I discovered how much Bali truly has to offer- from its beautiful natural landscape, warm colorful pallets of sunsets and sunrises, romantic jaw dropping accommodations for every budget type, cultural richness, adventurous excursions, the kindest most wholesome people, and lastly some incredible vegetarian food! We spent the first leg of our trip in Sanur for a romantic escape for a relaxing few days followed by the second leg in Ubud full of adventure and activities among its natural lush beauty.

Where to stay

1. The Fairmont Sanur Beach, Bali: We wholeheartedly enjoyed our time at Fairmont, located in the serene and picturesque coastal town of Sanur. I remember waking up to yoga every morning, followed by a luxurious 5 star buffet breakfast, and a morning stroll on the private and secluded resort beach, taking in the warm tropical morning air before starting our day.

2. Natya Resort Ubud: For the second leg of our trip in Ubud, we stayed in this intimate boutique 5 star property, a peaceful retreat in the heart of Bali. Our villa had a private infinity pool overlooking the Ubud forest, an unbelievable sight to wake up to every morning. We were spoiled with a customizable breakfast each morning, spa services, and traditional dance performances at night.

Activities & Excursions

In addition to taking in the peace and beauty of Bali by submerging ourselves in relaxing activities like massages, yoga, candle light dinners, sunrise and sunset walks on the beach, we soon got antsy to try some sports and activities. Parasailing is really popular in Sanur(we were able to find a place walking distance from the hotel) and Ubud has some great white water rafting.

If you're not into sports on the honeymoon, try a local cooking class! We took Ketut's balinese cooking class (vegetarian friendly) in Ubud which was one of my most memorable experiences there. We even went shopping for our own vegetables beforehand at the local market!

Must Visit Sites

The easiest and quickest way to get around the island of Bali is via a driver. We looked at

all transportation options and were so happy with our decision to hire a private local driver who knew the roads and could get us to all the places we wanted to experience. Bali is surrounded by beautiful temples, rice plantations, unique parks, and numerous waterfalls.

Tegallalang Rice fields

After a slow and relaxing start in Sanur Beach, we started our first day in Ubud with a trip to the infamous Tegallalang Rice fields and Bali Pulina to taste some local Luwak coffee. We were able to get a tour of how the coffee is made at their coffee plantation. The most bizarre thing we learned was that this unique coffee is made after coffee beans are first eaten by the Asian palm civet, a small animal native to the area. The coffee beans are then broken down by the digestive system of the civet and collected from its feces! After learning this, I no longer had the courage to try the coffee at the cafe here but I saw tons of people enjoying the coffee overlooking the fields.

Besakih Great Temple

Bali is home to some of the most beautiful historic temples of the world and is even known as "Island of the Gods". We visited a few of these iconic temples during our trip and truly felt that each one reflected a unique culture and spirituality of the Balinese people.

Before entering the temple, it's often required to wear a sarong to cover the legs, a way to show respect. There are plenty of shopping stalls and I was lucky enough to find one where the store owner helped me learn how to tie it properly(see below)!

Saraswati Temple

Pura Goa Gajah Temple

Tanah Lot Temple

Ubud Monkey Forest

We had heard a lot about the sacred monkey forest and knew we didn't want to miss it! Monkeys surround you with no barriers, swinging from trees, playing in their natural habitat. We observed that these monkeys were fearless, and even saw some jumping onto tourists, snatching their belongings.

Chasing Waterfalls in Bali

Bali is home to some of the greatest waterfalls in the world and on our last few days, we were determined to hike to a few! Many waterfalls in Bali require you to hike to them and the trail is often steep, muddy, and treacherous. Banyumala and NungNung waterfall were the two mesmerizing waterfalls we visited!

Bali will forever have a special place in my heart. It was my first trip to South East Asia and I can't wait to go back. Head to the Travel Itineraries page to see my full day by day itinerary for this honeymoon trip!