The Best Bali Day Trips For Nature & Wildlife Lovers!

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Last updated on April 8, 2023 by Wandering our World

With a captivating blend of tranquil lakes, forested mountains, active volcanoes, scenic waterfalls and exotic beaches, Bali is the epitome of paradise.

The most famous vacation spot in the Indonesian archipelago offers unforgettable experiences, particularly for nature and wildlife lovers.

Below we show you some of the best day trips if you want to experience nature in Bali and wildlife in Bali.

Whether that’s discovering the rich marine life here or the unbelievable gushing waterfalls and forests brimming with monkeys. (Recommended: How To Stay Safe In Bali).

But first, here’s a few fun facts about this stunning island!

  • The water around Bali is some of the world’s richest for coral and sea life.
  • Bali is famous for its arts heritage, and has countless traditional handicrafts and dances.
  • The most expensive coffee in the world – Kopi Luwak which is collected from civet excrement – is made in Bali.
  • Bali has two different monkey species!

First we look at some of our favourite day trips that will allow you to experience the best of nature in Bali. Then we show you some of the best spots to find wildlife in Bali. Let’s get started!

Bali coastline
iStock.com/R.M.Nunes

6 EPIC Day Trips To Experience The Best Of Bali’s Nature!

Bali is one of the world’s best holiday destinations due to its pristine jungle, tranquil lakes, rugged mountains, scenic river valleys and stunning waterfalls that cascade dozens of meters.

Below we share with you some of our top picks for experiencing nature in Bali!

1. Bhuana Sari Waterfall

This breathtaking hidden gem in Bali is guaranteed to make your jaw drop – at least it did for us!

This waterfall is a 2.5-hour drive from Denpasar, and after 20 minutes of trekking, you will reach the waterfall which cascades down the rock face in dozens of smaller waterfalls. It’s quite a sight.

This untouched natural beauty also includes a shallow natural pool where you can cool off and have a swim.

Keep an eye on the trees as there’s often a variety of birds flying above in the tropical Balinese jungle.

2. Kintamani, Mt Batur

Located in the Bangli region of the island, this moderate trek is a popular hike for tourists and locals that visit the area.

This active volcano had its most recent eruption in 2000, but is beautifully set amongst stunning natural scenery and offers rewarding panoramic views from the top.

At 1,717 meters tall, you can hike up Mount Batur in 3 hours, but you can always take an official guide as a safety precaution if you wish.

What we recommend is hiking early in the morning so you can catch the sunrise as it hits off the Batur caldera and Lake Batur.

Panoramic view of volcano Batur on Bali, Indonesia in a sunny day
iStock.com/bloodua

3. Sekumpul Waterfall

Sekumpul Waterfall is said to be the biggest and best waterfall in Bali, and with its collection of seven narrow but towering cascades surrounded by lush green bamboo forest, it’s hard to disagree.

Situated in Sekumpul village, this waterfall is about an hour away from Lovina Beach and while the trek from the village to the falls takes some effort, it’s a memorable sight not to be missed.

With the highest waterfall here reaching 262 feet, you will hear the noise of the roaring water long before you catch a glimpse of this magnificent natural sight.

4. Tanah Lot Temple

This is one of the most iconic temples in Bali, and is an example of how a manmade marvel can blend beautifully into nature.

Located in Tabanan, this ancient Hindu pilgrimage site is situated on a large coral rock, and has some of the most stunning sunset backdrops.

Situated on top of the rock formation that juts out of the ocean, Tanah Lot is surrounded by dramatic crashing waves and is easily one of our favourite Bali day trips.

Near the temple on the mainland, you will find great facilities such as shops and even a cultural park showcasing regular dance performances.

We recommend trying the great food at The Fat Hog – it’s a restaurant surrounded by beautiful rice paddies, and has a superb ocean view of Tanah Lot from upstairs.

Tanah Lot, Temple in the Ocean. Bali, Indonesia.
iStock.com/Ismail Rajo

5. Tukad Cepung Waterfall

Nestled deep in a canyon, this majestic waterfall is actually located in a cave and requires some effort to reach.

You will tackle 200 steep steps that will lead you to the base of the waterfall and the cliffs that encircle it – above your head is where the waterfall is fed by a flowing river that cascades down into the cave opening!

Tukad Cepung Waterfall has only recently been discovered, and in our opinion it is the most beautiful place to experience nature in Bali.

The best time to visit is from 9AM to 11AM as the sun’s rays hit the top of the waterfall at this time. It’s mesmerising.

Woman stand in underground cave pool under falling fresh water of Tukad Cepung waterfall. Nature day tour, hiking activity adventure and fun at family tourist camp on summer vacation in Bali island
iStock.com/bicho raro

5 EPIC Day Trips To Discover Bali’s Amazing Wildlife!

Besides the stunning temples, nature and beautiful beaches, Bali has a wide variety of wildlife.

Bali is home to around 280 different species of birds, two different species of monkeys -the Crab-Eating Macaque and the Javan Langur – as well as countless adorable animals that can be seen in the rainforests and mountains.

Below we show you some of the best places to discover Bali’s amazing wildlife!

1. Ubud Monkey Forest

This sacred monkey sanctuary is set in a forest and is home to over 1000 macaques. It’s a fun way to spend the day as you will have the opportunity to feed them bananas and other fruits!

Situated in the village of Padangtegal, this is the natural habitat of 1049 long-tailed macaque who are divided into 6 family groups. You will love the infant monkeys as they are incredibly playful and adorable.

Keep a hold of your sunglasses and hats though as these monkeys are known for their stealing skills!

But if they do steal anything from you, you can trade with them – just give them a banana for your belongings.

Long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in Sacred Monkey Forest, Ubud, Indonesia
iStock.com/nvelichko

2. West Bali National Park

Known as Taman Nasional Bali Barat, this captivating national park is considered Bali’s main wildlife and nature conservation area.

Covering 19,000 hectares of mountains and coast, this park is home to around 300 different species of animals and birds.

Keep an eye out for the endemic Bali Starling, as well as the Javan Langur which is a less common species of monkey in Bali.

We loved spotting the baby monkeys here, which are actually born with an orange color but gradually turn black.

Along with stunning dense rainforests and open savannahs, West Bali National Park is also home to wild bulls, the black racket-tailed treepie, the crested serpent-eagle, and leopards.

Young couple walking through rainforest
iStock.com/jacoblund

3. Bali Bird Park

Situated on the Gianyar Regency, Bali Bird Park is home to more than 1,000 birds and is divided into seven regions that recreate the natural habitats of these animals. It also has amazing indigenous plants.

Along with great facilities on site such as a restaurant, cafe and mini theatre, you will fall in love with the stunning birds here and the 2 hectares of fine tropical gardens to explore.

You can also visit the Reptile Park which is adjacent to the bird park for more Bali wildlife such as reptiles and amphibians.

4. Mason Elephant Park

This multi-award winning park is Bali’s dedicated elephant rescue facility and was built to protect these magnificent creatures from illegal poaching.

With 32 critically-endangered Sumatran elephants here, you will have the opportunity to learn about these gentle giants and interact with them.

Set within 4 hectares, these elephants enjoy an environment which has been made to mimic the original habitat of their home – Sumatra.

Wild elephant walking on a road in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand with a car stopping to let it by.
iStock.com/infocusvideo

5. Bali Sea Turtle Society

Bali Sea Turtle Society is a great place for animal lovers as it was set up to help with the conservation of endangered sea turtles in Bali.

At the hatchery you can learn about the endangered turtles and you can even volunteer here if you’re staying on the island for a few weeks! This conservation group works relentlessly to protect olive ridley turtles, and you can even help release baby sea turtles into the ocean.

Kuta Beach happens to be a sea turtle nesting and hatching site where eggs are laid and hatched from approximately April to October each year. Seeing the hatching here is one of our favorite wildlife in Bali adventures!

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  • Wandering our World

    Hi and welcome to Wandering our World! This article was written by one of the Wandering our World team - a team of travel enthusiasts who live around the globe.