{"id":9431,"date":"2019-01-02T13:18:38","date_gmt":"2019-01-02T17:18:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/?p=9431"},"modified":"2023-03-15T10:17:06","modified_gmt":"2023-03-15T14:17:06","slug":"balis-top-5-best-kept-secrets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/2019\/01\/balis-top-5-best-kept-secrets\/","title":{"rendered":"Bali\u2019s Top 5 Best Kept Secrets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you have ever been to Bali<\/a>, it may be no surprise to you that this island was recently rated as the world\u2019s top travel destination<\/a>. From the breathtaking cliffside views, perfectly sculpted rice terraces, magnificent underwater world to intricately carved Hindu temples, it\u2019s hard not to fall in love with this paradise also known as the Island of the Gods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With such popularity and notoriety, however, comes\ncrowds.  Masses of them, depending on\nwhere you go.   For example, what was\nonce a quiet seaweed farming island of Nusa Lembongan just six years ago has now turned into a major tourist\nattraction, welcoming thousands of day-trippers\nwho travel by truckloads.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But fear not.  There\nare plenty of beautiful hidden gems in Bali left to explore away from the\ntourist traps.   This post will uncover\nBali\u2019s 5 best\nkept secrets \u2013 make sure that you put them on your bucket list for your next trip to this incredible paradise!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Nyang Nyang Beach <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Nyang
Nyang Nyang beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When you dream of Bali, you may picture pristine white sand beaches and turquoise blue waters that stretch for as long as you can see.\u00a0I have visited most of Bali\u2019s beaches on all four coasts, but Nyang Nyang beach in Uluwatu is the only one that took my breath away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located on the south coast,\nNyang Nyang beach has the longest stretch of white sand in all of Bali.  But that alone is not what makes Nyang Nyang\nspecial.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite being the most stunning beach on the island, Nyang\nNyang incredibly remains off the radar from most visitors.   I have been to Nyang Nyang a number of times but only encountered a\nhandful of couples and groups even in the midst\nof a high season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trek down to the beach takes about 20 minutes from the parking lot, but believe me, you don\u2019t want to miss this hidden gem in Bali!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And you can always find a terrific hotel on the beach in Bali<\/a> to take advantage of these epic beaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Tukad Cepung Waterfall<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Tukad
Tukad Cepung Waterfall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With the rise in social media coverage in recent years, Bali\u2019s\nmagnificent waterfalls have begun to receive well-deserved attention from\naccredited photographers, online travel platforms, and Instagram fans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps some of the most\nfamous waterfalls in Bali are the Sekumpul and Gitgit to the north of\nthe island.   One of the lesser known, yet equally breathtaking\nwaterfall in Bali is the Tukad Cepung. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes this waterfall unique from the rest is its impressive opening inside the cave that lets the water and sunlight fall through in unison, creating a mesmerizing sight. I recommend that you visit Tukad on a sunny day, as the sun ray beaming into the cave adds so much to the view of the waterfall!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tukad Cepung waterfall is also near Ubud – about an hour\noutside the city center – so it\u2019s easy to add it to your day trip itinerary if\nyou ever want to tour the nearby temples including the famous Monkey Forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. Menjangan Island<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Menjangan
Menjangan Island<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It is no secret that being\nlocated in the Coral Triangle, Indonesia hosts some of the most magnificent coral\nreefs (and their residents) in the world.  \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bali attracts scuba diving enthusiasts who travel from all\nover the world to get a glimpse of the Mola-Mola, as well as snorkeling fans\nwho seek a rare chance to swim with the majestic manta rays around Nusa Penida.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Menjangan Island, located at the northwest tip of the\nisland, is a marine reserve known to be the home to some of the most pristine\nreefs and abundant fish species in all of Bali. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps due to the distant location from the central hub of the south, Menjangan Island remains\nrelatively quiet from the massive crowds who prefer to head to alternative\nmarine reserve such as the Nusa Islands. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can access Menjangan Island in West Bali National Park by hiring a local boat and a guide for a day trip to the island.\u00a0 \u00a0Whether booking snorkeling or scuba diving activity, a package will generally include a guide, a shared boat, lunch\/water, 2 (snorkel or dive) trips, and rental gear. And check out some great Scuba hotels in Bali here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to experience one of Bali\u2019s best underwater wonderlands, head straight to Menjangan Island and explore its magnificent reefs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Keramas\u2019 Black Sand Beach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the many\nincredible things about Bali is that not only does the island offer stunning\nwhite sand beaches in the south, but also black sand beaches along the east\ncoast.   <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Keramas
Keramas beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Originating from volcanic sand, black sand beaches in Bali\nhave become well-known, particularly in the regions of Lovina, Tulamben, and\nAmed.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is one black sand beach,\nhowever, that remains undiscovered by most visitors of Bali: the\nKeramas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this undeveloped region of the island, there is only one\nresort on the beach, with a handful of local homestays peppered around the\nvillage.  While other black sand beaches consist\nof rocks and pebbles, there is a section of Keramas called Pantai Masceti\n(slightly to the north) that is composed of pure, powdery, shimmery black sand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a rare sight worth traveling for! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a real \u201coff the beaten\npath\u201d experience in Bali, be sure to check out this unique volcanic sand\nbeach at Keramas.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Sidemen Valley<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Sidemen\"
Sidemen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the attractions that has<\/g> undoubtedly helped place Bali on the world\u2019s best destination list is the endless view of lush green rice terraces.   There are several rice terraces that Bali is known for, including Jatiluwih UNESCO World Heritage site and Tagalalang in Ubud, which have<\/g> all become quite the tourist destinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to experience a rural Balinese village life\nwhile witnessing some of the most incredible rice fields, visit Sidemen Valley\nbefore it\u2019s too late.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related: Top things to do in Bali<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have visited and seen many rice terraces in Bali, but\nSidemen felt like an \u201cexperience,\u201d while others felt like an \u201cattraction.\u201d  Jatiluwih and Tagalalang, for instance, have\ntrails and viewing points for visitors to pause, take photos and observe the\npanoramic scenery.  Sidemen, on the other\nhand, is a simple village.  You are\nnaturally immersed in the authentic culture and local way of life.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located only about an hour east from Ubud, you will be blown\naway at how distant you will from civilization when you reach this charming and\nquaint village. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s one of Bali\u2019s most beautiful hidden gems \u2013 be sure to\ncheck it out on your next trip to Bali! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even though Bali has become commercialized, you don\u2019t need\nto be put off by tourism.  There is plenty of the island left to discover and explore!   I hope this post gave you some inspirations\nfor your Bali itinerary, where you can still enjoy the raw beauty of Bali\nwithout dodging the crowds.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you ever get a chance to visit any one of the Bali\u2019s best-kept secrets, I would love to hear about your trip! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you have ever been to Bali, it may be no surprise to you that this island was recently rated as the world\u2019s top travel destination. From the breathtaking cliffside views, perfectly sculpted rice terraces, magnificent underwater world to intricately carved Hindu temples, it\u2019s hard not to fall in love with this paradise also known as the Island of the Gods.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":9435,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_type":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1237,172,1229],"tags":[106,1062,781,892,266,1032,1121,217],"class_list":["post-9431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-budget-travel","category-photography","category-southeast-asia","tag-backpacking","tag-bali","tag-budget-travel","tag-diving","tag-indonesia","tag-scuba-diving","tag-swimming","tag-traveling","entry","has-media"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-07-23 22:33:02","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/57"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9431"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9431\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14224,"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9431\/revisions\/14224"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9435"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9431"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.budgetyourtrip.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}