Slow down. Breathe. Discover the real Bali.
Why skip the crowds in Bali?
From packed beach clubs to traffic-clogged roads, Bali's most famous spots can feel more exhausting than relaxing. But beyond the tourist trail, there's a gentler, deeper side of the island - one that invites you to slow down, connect, and truly experience the Balinese way of life.
Here are 7 authentic things to do in Bali that will take you far from mass tourism and closer to the island's true spirit:
1. Join a Local Balinese Cooking Class in Sidemen 🍛
Forget Ubud - head to the lush valley of SidemenWhere rice paddies stretch as far as the eye can see.
Here, you can join a traditional cooking class with locals in their home.
Learn to make dishes like lawar, sate lilitand urap, while understanding the cultural meaning behind each spice and step.
2. Explore the Water Temples of North Bali 💧
Instead of overcrowded temples like Tanah Lot, venture north to Pura Beji or Pura Ulun Danu Batur.
These sacred water temples are not only breathtaking - they're less visited, beautifully preserved, and central to Bali's unique subak irrigation philosophy.
Go early, go humbly.
3. Trek Mount Lesung Instead of Mount Batur 🌋
Skip the sunrise queue at Mount Batur and climb Mount Lesunga dormant volcano surrounded by jungle.
With hardly any tourists, it's a peaceful, mystical hike ending at a crater covered in moss and fog.
Combine it with a canoe ride on Lake Tamblingan for a spiritual day out.
4. Sleep in an Eco-Lodge in West Bali National Park 🦜
The west is Bali's best-kept secret. Stay in a jungle eco-lodge and wake up to birdsong, not traffic.
Go snorkeling around Menjangan Islandexplore mangroves, or join a ranger-led wildlife trek.
This is Bali's wild side - untouched, biodiverse, and unbelievably serene.
5. Take Part in a Village Ceremony or Clean-Up Day 🙏
Many villages like Tenganan or Penglipuran open their doors to respectful travelers.
Ask about joining a local temple ceremony, Gamelan music lessonor even a gotong royong (community clean-up).
It's a beautiful way to engage with purpose, not passively.
6. Discover Amed’s Underwater World 🤿
Instead of partying in Kuta, head to Ameda fishing village with black sand beaches and epic coral reefs.
Snorkel over the Japanese Shipwreck, dive the Liberty Wreckor simply chill with a view of Mount Agung in the background.
It's all slow, local, and deeply peaceful.
7. Practice Yoga in a Bamboo Shala by the Jungle 🌿
Avoid the packed yoga studios of Ubud and look for open-air jungle shalas in Sidemen, Pemuteran, or Tejakula.
Many of these places are run by Balinese teachers and focus on yoga as a spiritual practicenot just fitness.
Let the sound of the river guide your breath.
Final Thought: Travel with Intention 💭
Avoiding overtourism in Bali isn't about saying no - it's about saying yes differently.
Yes to local voices, to hidden paths, to meaningful moments.
Travel slow. Stay longer. Give back.
Want to explore Bali beyond the cliché?
Join our small-group trips designed to connect you with real people, not tourist filters. Sustainability, authenticity, and joy - that's the kind of Bali we believe in.
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