Good news for all of you like us who want to travel to Bali on a budget because attractions around Bali are not overly expensive!
For example, You will typically pay a small entrance fee of 10,000-15,000 IDR ($1) to visit temples and waterfalls (at least those on the tourist radar).
Hiring an all-day tour guide to take you around to a selection of major sites will cost around 1,000,000 IDR ($70). We always recommend people to contact our friend and local from the heart of Bali, Wayan Remy!
Getting your PADI diving certification will cost around 5,000,000 IDR and there are many companies around Bali, the Gili Islands, and Lombok that you can dive with (shop around for the best price).
While a sunrise trek up to the top of the famous Mt. Batur costs between 500,000-900,000 IDR.
Though many things like clubbing, expensive tours, and lavish resorts will gobble your money right up, there are still plenty of affordable things to do in Bali that will leave you feeling happy and fulfilled at the end of your trip.
When Traveling In Bali On A Budget You Should….
Visit Incredible Temples
No trip to Bali is complete without exploring a few of the ancient temples around the island. These are important religious sites for the Balinese and you will be able to witness what a typical day of prayer looks like.
Just remember to always be respectful!
Check out these links to read about some of our favorite temple sites around the island:
Go Scuba Diving & Snorkeling
Bali is a great place to explore life under the sea. Getting your diving certification can be done for a fraction of the cost compared to most Western countries and the quality of instruction is top notch at all of the reputable dive schools.
We opted to stick to snorkeling and had a wonderful time exploring the reefs around Candidasa and the Gili Islands. Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan are supposed to be great places to snorkel as well.
Watch A Traditional Balinese Dance (Ubud or at Uluwatu Temple)
A truly unique cultural experience is witnessing the traditional Kecak or other Balinese dances around the island. Ubud is a popular destination for this, if you walk down the main street for a few minutes someone will ask you if you would like to attend one of the ceremonies that evening.
Another great place to see the Kecak dance is during sunset at Uluwatu Temple. Highly recommend!
Take A Traditional Balinese Cooking Class
This is one of our favorite past times in every country we travel. There is no better way to get to know a local culture then by learning how to cook its cuisine. Plus we usually make a few new friends in the process.
A quick search on TripAdvisor will reveal all of the best cooking schools on the island. We usually like to go check them out before we book just to make sure it will be a wonderful experience.
Attend A Yoga Retreat
Bali is home to countless yoga studios and retreats where you can practice your Vinyasa flow for weeks on end.
Alli Recommends Serenity Eco Guest House in Canggu where she stayed and took part in daily yoga classes and meditations for a week.
Explore Bali’s Many Amazing Waterfalls
One of our favorite things to do when we were in Bali was to head out for the day in search of waterfalls. Home to some incredible falls scattered all around the island, Bali is an ideal place to simply set out for the day and explore!
Some of our favorites waterfalls were:
Go Surfing
Surfers travel from around the world to catch Bali’s waves. Indonesia is home to some of the best swells in the world and Bali has plenty to offer surfers of any level. We surfed for the very first time at the beaches in Kuta and Seminyak. More seasoned surfers venture all over the island in search of the best swells.
Some of the top spots include:
- Canggu
- Ulu’s
- Green Bowl
- Blue Point
- Padang Padang
Attend A Traditional Balinese Morning Market
Rise with the sun and attend a traditional balinese morning market in Ubud. A wonderful cultural experience where you can mingle with local restaurant owners, farmers, craftsman, and villagers from around the island. The earlier you get there the less touristy things will feel as most of the “local market” stuff disappears and is replaced by more tourist focused items after about 10AM.
For a truly “local” experience head out to one of the nearby villages such as Tampak Siring and attend the morning market there. You will most likely be the only tourists. Our friend and local tour guide Wayan Remy can give you the tour and take you to his villages major temples.
Trek Through Rice Fields
When people see pictures of Bali it is usually of the beautiful beaches and lush rice terraces which are so iconic to this island. A trip to the island of smiles is not complete without driving around to see these beautiful plots of land. Some of the easiest to reach are in Canggu, Ubud, or Tampak Siring.
We like to rent our own motorbike and spend an afternoon driving around the island in search of beauty.
And Last But Not Least, Party Hard!
Though this one is not going to help you keep your trip to Bali on a budget, let’s face it, there is some top notch partying to be done in Bali. We particularly enjoy going out in Canggu and Uluwatu, but theres plenty of places to check out around the island for those looking to go out or just to grab a drink and see what its all about.
Some favorites include:
- Sky Garden in Kuta – All you can eat and drink buffet from 5-9 and world class DJs all night.
- Single Fin in Uluwatu – Sunday nights this is the place to be!
- La Laguna in Canggu – They claim “you will be transported into a mystical and stunning world like no other”…. We can confirm that this place is beyond words.
- La Brisa in Canggu – Think disco tree house with beach front pools. Not cheap, but worth checking out at least once if you’re in Canggu.
- Old Man’s in Canggu – This is one of the most iconic party spots in Bali. Most nights you will find huge crowds dancing the night away by the beach. Wednesdays especially tend to go off the biggest for their “Dirty Old Wednesday” party.
- Deus X Machina in Canggu – They make motorcycles, surf boards, and attract a pretty cool crowd. Live music throughout the week and delicious craft cocktails ready to be enjoyed.
- Finn’s Beach Club in Canggu – If you are looking for a place to do a bit of day drinking and party in the pool all day this is the place to go in Canggu.
Heading To Bali? Then You Will Definitely Want To Check Out These Posts Too!
- Best Places to Visit in Bali: The Ultimate Bali Itinerary
- Cost Of Living In Bali For Couples
- 8 Ways To Save Money In Bali
Safety Is A Big Concern When It Comes To Riding Motorbikes But Here Is Another Factor You Might Not Have Considered…
Ubud Is A Magical Place Just Be Ready For Some Crowds
Looking For A Homestay?
Temples To Explore
- Bali Temple Guide: Pura Tirta Empul
- Bali Temple Guide: Pura Gunung Kawi
- Bali Temple Guide: Pura Mengening
- Exploration Guide: Pursuit of Paradise – Gili Islands & Lombok
Share this: use the sharing icons below to share this with your friends! And be sure to share your adventures with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (tag @LifeIsMeantForExploring to make sure we see it 🙂 ).
Life Is Meant For Exploring 
Published by