Beyond the Infinity Pool: 9 Off-The-Path Bali Highlights for Adventurers
Bali is magical. It’s also, in many places, incredibly crowded. The popular spots of Canggu, Seminyak, and Ubud are wonderful, but they are only one face of an island that is still teeming with rugged, raw, and real adventure.
If you’re the type of traveler who’d rather wear hiking boots than spa slippers, this guide is for you. It’s time to look past the beach clubs and yoga barns and discover the “other Bali” that awaits.
Here are 9 of the best off-the-beaten-path highlights for adventurers.
1. Sidemen Valley: The “Real” Ubud
Location: East Bali
Forget the traffic-jammed streets of central Ubud. An hour to the east lies Sidemen Valley, a vast, emerald-green expanse of rice terraces and farmland set against the backdrop of Mount Agung. This is what Ubud felt like 30 years ago. The adventure here isn’t a high-octane thrill but one of pure, unfiltered immersion.
The Adventure: Rent a scooter and get lost on purpose. Drive through tiny villages, hike between rice paddies (hire a local guide so you don’t get lost), and take a dip in the pristine river. The real highlight is staying in a small, family-run guesthouse and waking up to the sounds of nature, not traffic.
2. Telaga Waja River: Next-Level Rafting
Location: East Bali
Most tourists who go white water rafting are funneled to the gentle Ayung River. For a genuine thrill, head to the Telaga Waja River. This is Bali’s most challenging rafting run, boasting fast-moving Class III and IV rapids. You’ll paddle through narrow canyons, under pristine waterfalls, and navigate technical sections of the river, all culminating in a stomach-dropping 4-meter dam drop.
The Adventure: This is a 16-km, 2.5-hour adrenaline rush. You’ll be actively paddling and navigating rapids, not just floating along. It’s a full-body workout with a massive payoff.
3. North Bali Waterfall Trek: Sekumpul & Aling-Aling
Location: North Bali (near Munduk/Singaraja)
The waterfalls in North Bali are in a different league from their southern counterparts. They are bigger, more powerful, and require real effort to reach. Sekumpul Waterfall is often called the most beautiful on the island, a massive cascade of seven falls thundering into a jungle gorge. The hike to the bottom is a strenuous 30-40 minute trek involving hundreds of stairs and a river crossing.
The Adventure: For the ultimate thrill, head to Aling-Aling Waterfall. While the main fall is a sacred, no-swim zone, the adjacent “Secret Garden” is a natural waterpark. It’s a popular spot for guided canyoning tours where you can cliff-jump from 5, 10, and 15-meter ledges and slide down natural rock waterslides.
4. Beji Guwang Hidden Canyon: A Canyoning Quest
Location: Sukawati (near Ubud)
This is not a gentle stroll. The Beji Guwang Hidden Canyon is a sculpted gorge carved by a river over millennia. A proper adventure here means hiring a local guide and committing to a 2-hour journey of wading through chest-deep water, scrambling over slick boulders, and pulling yourself up rock faces as you explore the canyon’s depths. It’s a challenging, full-body scramble that feels like a scene from Indiana Jones.
The Adventure: Go in the dry season when water levels are safer. You will get completely soaked, so wear a swimsuit and water shoes. This is a true physical challenge and not for the claustrophobic.
5. Mount Batur 4×4 Tour: Explore the Lava Fields
Location: Kintamani
The sunrise hike up Mount Batur is one of Bali’s most popular (and crowded) activities. The off-path alternative? Explore its base in a 4×4. After the hikers have gone home, you can hire a guide to drive you in a rugged Jeep across the vast, black volcanic lava fields from the volcano’s past eruptions. You’ll drive on terrain that looks more like the moon than a tropical island and can explore hidden lava caves and steam vents.
The Adventure: It’s an eerie, otherworldly experience to be the only one on the volcano. Combine it with a stop at a natural volcanic hot spring at the base of the mountain to soak your muscles.
6. Amed’s Japanese Shipwreck: A Snorkeler’s Prize
Location: East Bali
Most divers head to the massive USAT Liberty Wreck in Tulamben, which is often swarmed with groups. For a more intimate and adventurous underwater experience, head to the nearby village of Amed. Just off the coast in Banyuning, a small, 20-meter-long Japanese patrol boat wreck rests in a shallow bay. It’s easily reachable by snorkeling from the beach (no boat needed) and is covered in vibrant corals, sponges, and fans.
The Adventure: The thrill is in the discovery. Grab your snorkel gear, swim out from the quiet black-sand beach, and find this piece of WWII history for yourself.
7. Tembeling Beach & Forest: Nusa Penida’s Hidden Oasis
Location: Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida is Bali’s rugged, adventurous sister island. While everyone else is stuck in the queue to photograph Kelingking Beach, you can have a real adventure finding Tembeling. Reaching this spot involves a steep, challenging 30-minute hike (or a white-knuckle scooter ride) down a concrete path into a lush jungle ravine. At the bottom, you’ll find a stunning natural pool of turquoise water, a sea-cave temple, and a secluded beach.
The Adventure: The journey is the adventure. After your sweaty hike, plunging into the cool, fresh water of the jungle pool is one of the most rewarding experiences on the island.
8. Mahana Point Cliff Jump: Leap of Faith
Location: Nusa Ceningan
Nusa Ceningan is the tiny island connected to Nusa Lembongan by a small yellow bridge. On its rugged eastern edge, you’ll find Mahana Point, a simple warung (local restaurant) perched on the cliffs. But it’s not just for lunch. The restaurant has two diving platforms built into the rock: one at 5 meters and one at a much more intimidating 10 meters (about 33 feet).
The Adventure: For a small fee to the restaurant, you can take the leap straight into the deep blue, crashing surf below. It’s a pure, simple, adrenaline-pumping thrill. (Note: Only jump at high tide and check the conditions with the staff first).
9. The “Ghost Palace” Hotel: An Eerie Exploration
Location: Bedugul
For a completely different kind of adventure, explore the PI Bedugul Taman Rekreasi Hotel. This massive, opulent luxury resort was reportedly built in the 1990s but was abandoned before it ever opened. Today, it’s a “Ghost Palace” being slowly reclaimed by jungle. You can (unofficially, and at your own risk) explore its decaying grand halls, spooky empty rooms, and moss-covered terraces.
The Adventure: This is a classic “urban exploration” adventure. It’s eerie, strange, and offers incredible views over the Bedugul highlands. It’s a fascinating look at a different, mysterious side of Bali’s development.
