Bali, it’s one of the most beautiful natural places. A picturesque southeast Asian island, it’s one of the most popular travel destinations.
You might worry that it’s hard to explore this stunning island off-the-beaten-track. But Bali is still full of a bunch of breathtaking hidden gems that you can’t miss as you’re exploring!
Want to discover our favorite cascading waterfalls, remote beaches, and luscious forests? Check out our best 30 Bali hidden gems that you simply have to add to your itinerary!
Bali Hidden Gems: Waterfalls
Yeh Mampeh – Les Waterfall, Tejakula
Yeh Mampeh is one of Bali’s most hidden and magical waterfalls. The waterfalls are located around 1km from the coastline in a forested area just behind the village. It is one of Bali’s tallest waterfalls, with water cascading down from the horizon at the height of over 100 feet tall!
We love the scenic hike to get there, although it’s quite tricky! You can read a guide for hiking there here. But your reward is a refreshing dip in its rock pools whilst taking in the luscious verdant scenery.
Golden Valley of Waterfalls, Gobleg
Located in the jungles of Munduk, Golden Valley is relatively unknown to most tourists. Located off-the-beaten-track, it’s an easy fifteen-minute hike to one of the most scenic waterfalls standing at 50 feet tall. It’s a great spot for photographers. The pool is shallow enough to walk right up to the waterfall, so it’s great for pictures!
Banyu Wana Amertha Waterfall
Located in the North of Bali, the Banyu Wana Amertha offers not just one but three incredible waterfalls! Each is completely diverse from the other and well worth a visit. You have to pay a small fee of 20K IDR, but it’s well worth the investment.
It’s one of our favorite places to take a refreshing dip. You’re surrounded by lush vegetation and a curtain of rain coming from the waterfall.
Goa Rang Reng Waterfall
Goa Rang Reng Waterfall is for the inner adventurers. Only accessible by motorbike, it is located by a sacred cave possible to visit with a guide.
Despite its wild entry, the Goa Rang Reng has a gentle flow. Most unique is the small rock pool at the top of the waterfall. It’s great for taking a dip in! It’s easy to find a guide when you arrive. You can find more details about how it works here.
Melanting Waterfall
The greatest thing about Melanting Waterfall is the scenery that surrounds it. Located amongst coffee and clove plantations set up in the mountains. It’s a very remote and natural atmosphere, creating the most calming setting for all its visitors.
Munduk village is great for visiting too. There are some great trekking routes located from here, and friendly locals are sure to offer you some guidance! You can find a great selection and how to go about it here.
Kanto Lampo Waterfall
What is interesting about the Kanto Lampo Waterfall is its history and formation. Hidden away in the Bali jungle, the waterfall formed after the Kanto Lampo river was hit by an avalanche and it is a must on your Bali itinerary.
Kanto Lampo is one of the most accessible waterfalls in Bali. So if you don’t fancy hiking for miles and miles, we definitely suggest adding this one to your Bali bucket list!
Tukad Cepung Waterfall
Tukad Cepung is definitely a spot you should put on your travel checklist. Nestled between two cliffs, the flowing water often creates a rainbow that decorates the horizon. The direct translation means ‘River flow,’ and whilst it’s quite a climb down some rocky stairs to reach, it’s worth it for the view!
Bhuana Sari Waterfall
Buhuana Sari is one of the many waterfalls you can find at Banyu Wana. It’s the most accessible (which makes it a firm favorite with tourists) and can be reached within a five-minute walk.
The most unique about Bhuana Sari is that it is a collection of small cascading waterfalls instead of just one. So it truly is a unique spectacle you can’t miss on your waterfall exploration of Bali!
Bali Hidden Gems: Beaches
Bali Hidden Gems:
Tejakula is a popular beach destination for community-based tourism. In the village of Les, you can often find multiple ‘dive-volunteerism’ projects if this is a form of travel you would like to get involved with.
Les Village was devastated by a volcanic eruption in 1963, and it’s one of the poorest areas in Bali. However, it’s relatively untouched by tourism, so it offers a unique experience in this sense.
Bayu Beach, Amed
Amed is a charming fishermen village located on the southeast coast of Bali. It is a unique glimpse into a more authentic portrayal of Bali before its siege of tourism. It’s our favorite place to sample fresh local and delicious seafood cuisine. We loved sitting here for hours whilst enjoying the hum of a traditional coastal Bali village.
Melasti Beach
Melasti beach is located in the most southern point of Bali. One of our favorite aspects is the journey to Melasti. The drive involves twists and turns through limestone cliffs and winding roads that open out to incredible seaside views! The water here is a remarkable shade of turquoise.
You won’t experience a shade like this anywhere else in Bali!
Tembeling Beach
Tucked away below the cliffs of Nusa Penida on Bali’s west coast, you’ll find the small beach of Tembeling. Access is a bit tricky here, and the hike can take an hour each way. However, you can find a great guide for how to do it here.
It’s one of our favorite spots and definitely worth it! It’s got some incredible sea caves which are great for exploring. Unfortunately, you won’t find any restaurants down here as it’s pretty remote, so make sure you bring plenty of water!
Tegal Wangi Beach Cave and Natural Pools
Tegal Wangi Beach is located in the south of Bali. One of our best moments is when you first arrive at the cliffs. They offer some of the finest panoramic views out to the rugged and raw coastline. On an especially clear day, you can even see out all the way to Balangan beach!
You can’t miss the natural rock pools that lie above the exposed coral reef. They’re great for taking a dip in after all that hiking!
Atuh Beach
Atuh beach is one of the most epic spots in Bali. Want to see it in all its glory? Then try to visit during high tide. The sea is an incredible shade of blue, and you see its full exposure when the tide is high. The hike down is pretty tricky, but you can also get some amazing views from above on the cliffs if you don’t fancy the trek down.
Full of surprises and vast in its variety, Atuh beach is the sort of place you could visit over and over again. It will be different in its beauty every time!
Kelingking Beach Cave
Kelingking beach is one of the best Bali hidden gems and is located in the Nusa Penida. It’s just below the famous Kelingking viewpoint, famous for its ‘T-Rex jaw’ formation!
The hike down to the beach takes around two hours on a round trip, but it’s worth it for the golden sands and hidden beach caves. You can find some useful pointers on how to tackle the hike here. Try to get there early, so you have the path to yourself, it gets quite busy in the afternoon!
Beach of Yeh Leh
Yeh Leh is still a relatively untouched beach spot in Bali. It’s one of the most beautiful places to sit and embrace the unique tranquility felt in Bali.
Unlike the typical sandy beaches you find in the south, Yeh Leh is decorated with small rock pebbles. As a result, it’s easily accessible and the best spot to enjoy the soft crashing of the waves solo. You won’t find that in many places in Bali.
Pekutatan
Pekutatan is one of the most popular surf beaches in Bali. So if you fancy picking some adventure into your Bali holiday, then we suggest adding this spot to your travel checklist! It’s where you’ll find most of the beach resorts because of its stunning sandy beaches. In addition, it’s a great spot for relaxing with plenty of facilities close by.
Suluban Cave
Suluban is a hidden cave located on one of Bali’s most unique coastlines. The beach is concealed by natural limestone cliff formations. It is a great spot for watching pro surfers daring to tackle reef breaks. Unfortunately, it’s a bit of a walk to access the main beach once you reach the bottom.
But there’s plenty of small cafés and shacks serving local delicacies. Unfortunately, there’s a strong tide here, so it’s not recommended as a spot for families with young children.
Bali Hidden Gems: Forests & Temples
Sideman Village
Sideman Village offers one of the most stunning authentic rural views of a typical Bali countryside. Imagine a panoramic view of verdant green paddies plantations home to local farming communities.
A highlight is a tour of the rice paddy fields. We enjoyed this best by bicycle. It’s also where a large proportion of fine silk is produced, so it’s a great place to get your hands on some fine products!
Gunung Kawi Water Temple, Sebatu
A tranquil Water Temple located in central Bali, this spot is a true hidden gem. It’s absolutely beautiful, and the luscious gardens are filled with lotus flowers and ponds home to colorful carp.
It’s possible to bathe in the pools and fountains that decorate the temple, and you’ll find a lot of locals doing it!
One of our favorite settings is the Taman Suci. It’s a large pool with the most stunning green hillside backdrop. We could have stayed here for hours!
Canyon Beji Guwang
The secret canyon of Beji Guwang is one of the most sacred Bali experiences. Most special about the canyon is the gentle stream that flows from the river, which dances off the rock formation beautifully.
Unfortunately, it’s a pretty demanding trek to reach the canyon (you can find an honest review here!)
But the spectacular scenery is a welcome reward. The local community considers it to be a sacred spot, so treat it with care!
Sangeh Monkey Forest
Sangeh monkey forest is located near the village of Sangeh. Comprising six hectares of giant nutmeg trees, and is one of the most stunning verdant scenes in southern Bali!
However, the hundreds of wild monkeys that call the jungle their home are most unique about the protected jungle area.
They’re very friendly and approachable! Just make sure you don’t have any important belongings hanging on you, as they love to play a game of snatch and run!
Mount Batur and Pinggan Village viewpoint
Pinggan village is a relatively unexplored area by tourists, but it’s arguably one of the best places to enjoy a sunrise! We suggest staying overnight here so that you can do a Mount Batur sunrise trek.
It offers one of the most stunning and diverse sunrise views over the Bali volcanoes.
The viewpoints are easy to access, and no strenuous hiking is involved in enjoying the stunning views! However, if you want some recommendations or guidance, we suggest checking out this tour provider here. They are the best on the island!
Munduk
Munduk is a luscious mountain forest home to some of Bali’s most stunning waterfalls. It’s one of our favorite spots for mountain rainforest trekking.
There are plenty of routes in the forest that are easily accessed and well-marked. For incredible green fauna and flora with unique mountain scenery, you can’t miss this forest spot!
Wisata Alam Rice Fields, Ubud
The Wisata, Alam Rice fields offer some of the most stunning scenery in Bali. For thousands of years, the local Balinese have been cultivating rice on terraced fields as a source of income.
It’s a must-thing to do whilst you visit Bali and Wisata is one of the most beautiful! The best part? It’s off-the-beaten-track with tourists, so you’ll be able to explore this completely to yourself!
Sukawati Canyon
Located along the Oos River, the Sukawati canyon is a true hidden gem! With the most unusual rock formations in a tropical setting, it’s a nature-lover and adventurers’ dream spot!
The canyon is surrounded by exotic fauna and flora. It’s a picture-perfect summary of the beauty of a Balinese jungle!
If you want to try some canyoning, best do it with a guide. They know the waters by heart here!
Pinggan village
Pinggan is famous for its stunning morning sunrises. So we definitely recommend spending a night here to experience this! It’s a popular camping site, and we’d recommend doing this to get the true authentic Balinese sunset experience.
There’s a campsite that overlooks Mount Batur, and it’s a popular spot with locals. The sky is a unique shade of pink in the morning… it’s so stunning you won’t believe your eyes!
Angseri Natural Hot Springs
If you want to experience a truly authentic Bali hot spring experience with locals, then you have to visit the Angseri natural hot springs! It’s absolutely breathtaking too.
Located by terraced rice fields, the surrounding panorama is so soothing.
With fresh bamboo forests decorating the edges, it is a truly refreshing experience. But, perhaps most special about Angseri is its location at the bottom of a river.
A short 150 meters away, it’s possible to access a waterfall. It’s great for cooling off after the warmer waters.
In general, Bali is known for its great hot springs. If it happens that you are traveling around with family, think about visiting Toya Devasya hot spring.
Final Thoughts about Bali Hidden Gems
Feeling inspired? It’s not difficult to find hidden gems in Bali, and we hope that this selection has enticed you! If you are already in Indonesia, check the latest transportation options to get to the island at an affordable price.
Anyways, Bali is a must on your Indonesia itinerary. So what are you waiting for? Quench that thirst for wanderlust! Your unique, undiscovered Bali adventure is ready and waiting to mesmerize you just around the corner!
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