Ni Ketut Wirati Product manager,
Asian Trails Indonesia
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION?
I like the fact that Bali is a small island with a huge offer of cultural and natural attractions. Due to its small size, we can easily monitor new hotel developments and know every small corner of the island by heart. The influence of Hinduism in every Balinese’s daily life and the preservation of traditions and culture in this modern world makes Bali a unique place to visit.
WHICH PLACE OF INTEREST SHOULD TOURISTS COMING TO BALI NOT MISS?
Ubud as the cultural heart of Bali with its spiritual ambience attracted many artists and painters in the past. A little bit further north the mountain village of Kintamani offers breathtaking views over Mt. Batur and the Batur crater lake. There are also plenty of activities close by such as river rafting, cycling or hiking. The white sandy beaches of Jimbaran and Nusa Dua should also not be missed while visiting the island of the gods.
WHICH ROUNDTRIP WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO FIRST TIME VISITORS TO BALI?
Our Bali Classic Private or Seat in Coach roundtrip! During four days we show our clients the ‘must see’s’ of Bali including Ubud, Kintamani or Besakih. This tour offers a good combination of culture and nature of our beautiful island. To meet different budgets, we allow our clients to choose from three different hotel categories at each place of overnight. All roundtrips are guides by English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch or Russian speaking tour guides.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DESTINATION IN INDONESIA OUTSIDE OF BALI?
Yogyakarta would be my preferred destination. First of all the climate is really nice there. Due to its location, between the nearby mountains and the Indian Ocean, there is always a pleasant breeze in the early morning hours and before sunset.
Yogyakarta is also the centre of Indonesian culture. The city get its modern feel form the many universities, attracting students from every part of Indonesia. Small local artist are spread out through ‘Kota Gede’, the old part of Yogyakarta. The city is famous for Batik textiles and souvenirs made of silver, which are in galleries open for visitors.
Only 1 hour from the city center is the largest Buddhist temple in the world: the mighty Borobodur. Borobudur’s counterpart, though a Hindu temple, is the Prambanan. The best way to discover this temple is by bicycle, along rice fields and small villages. On selected days of the week, visitors can watch an evening performance of the Ramayana myth with the temple in the background.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT INDONESIA?
In our part of the world there are only two annual seasons. The rainy season is from October – March and the dry season from April – October. But even during the rainy season Indonesia can still be visited, since it only rains during 2 hours in the afternoon.
WHAT IS THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN YOUR OPINION?
Virgin Beach near Candidasa on the East coast of Bali. The beautiful beach is only reachable by a small car on a bumpy road.
WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE IN BALI TO SEE THE SUNSET OVER THE INDIAN OCEAN?
The best place to see the sunset over the Indian Ocean would be from the high cliff point of Uluwatu, where the holy temple with the same name stands. But the hotels and restaurants along Seminyak beach are also great places to enjoy a drink during sunset.