The best tours in Bali and tips for a fun drive

ArabiaWeather - Driving a car in Bali is not for the faint-hearted. Get off the beaten path and away from the crowds that besiege the southern highways, enjoy stunning views of the mountains and rice fields, and stop at simple roadside restaurants for traditional Indonesian meals like ikan bakar (grilled fish) and babi guling (roasted suckling pig).

Whether you choose to drive yourself or rent a car with a driver – a safe and increasingly popular option – a road trip in Bali will give you a sense of the island's interesting geography and rich culture that's hard to get from the back seat of a tour bus, especially with Bali's limited public transportation system. Which causes frustration.

To enjoy the best of this beautiful island, here are five highly recommended ways to road trip in Bali

Ubud Falls Road

Best road trip to photograph rice fields and waterfalls

The beginning and the end - Ubud; 80 km (50 mi); one day

Ubud is famous for its temples and crafts, and in the age of Instagram it gets attention thanks to its many picturesque natural waterfalls, including the towering Tegenungan Waterfall and the cliff-ringed Tokad Chepung, which looks gorgeous when photographed illuminated by the sun.

This spectacular one-day tour combines rice field views with three of the most famous waterfalls, as well as the rice fields of Tegallalang and the beautiful Mount Kawi Sebatu Water Temple, and is a less-visited alternative to the lesser-known but less stunning sacred springs of Tirta Empul.

Local tip : Start the trek early in the morning so you can make photo stops at Tignungan, Tibumana and Tukad Chepung Falls, before heading north to Gunung Kawi Sebatu and south through the rice field landscape of Tegalalang, then back to your starting point.

© Elizaveta Galitskaya / Shutterstock

East Bali course

Best road trip for hiking and snorkeling

The beginning and the end - Candidasa or Padangbai. 130 km (80 mi); Two or more days

East Bali offers some of the island's most dramatic scenery, as well as slender, satisfying beaches where you can get away from the crowds. Experience all of this in a slow multi-day cycle that can take a couple of days or as long as you like.

Start either in Padangbai, a pretty little coastal town, or in the more developed tourist area of Candidasa, and head out early to beat the crowds to reach Pura Lemboyang, a magnificent complex of seven temples on the slopes of Mount Lemboyang. Rather than standing in line to take a photo of the Heaven's Gate – an open Balinese gate enclosing perfect views of Agung Volcano – it's worth walking up to the upper road to take in the architecture, ambiance and scenery.

Next, turn southwest through the historic Water Palace at beautiful Tirta Ganga, enjoy lunch with a view of the rice fields, then head up the winding mountain road to the strip of fishing villages in Amed and spend at least one night at the seaside. Be sure to snorkel or mask-ski the wreck of the US military transport Liberty, a caved-in World War II ship that now teems with marine life like sweetfish, trevally, loggerhead parrotfish, crustaceans, and sea turtles. Close the loop by following the beautiful coastal road east, stopping at Taman Ujung Water Palace and other royal ruins around Amlapura.

About the island

The best car trip to Bali's famous beaches

Beginning and End - Sanur; 500 km (310 mi); Three days

Driving in Bali is a time-consuming task. With the main road on the west coast, the main route for inter-island transport trucks, and the main road on the east coast from Sanur to Padangbai, which is one of the few fast highways on the island, driving can be dangerous and exhausting. But there are rewards for those who make the effort.

If you're committed to the trip, start in the coastal town of Sanur, head northeast, then follow the north coast, descend on the west coast, and take the Bukit Peninsula back to your starting point, allowing at least three days. En route, you can visit several of the island's famous - and busiest - surf beaches and beach temples, including Kuta Beach and Tanah Lot Temple.

© Wonderful Nature / Shutterstock

From south to north across Bali

Best road trip for beginners in Bali

Ubud - Singaraja; 80 km (50 mi); tow days

Driving through Bali from south to north is much easier than driving around Bali. Volcanoes, volcanic lakes, rice fields, temples and waterfalls offer bountiful rewards for landscape enthusiasts and photographers. Start in Ubud (or further south if that's where you're based) and follow the main road across the island north towards Singaraja.

Stop in Bedugul to admire the world-class botanical gardens and Pura Ulun Danu Bratan temple overlooking the lake. Continue north past the towering Gitjit Falls – two cascades too – to Singaraja. After an afternoon of exploring Singaraja, return the next morning the same way you came.

Overnight stay in Nusa Penida

The best caving road trip

The Beginning and the End - Bede, Nusa Penida; 130 km (80 mi); Two days

The narrow, cliff-side roads of Nusa Penida offer some of the most beautiful drives in Bali, and it's worth spending a few days exploring this quaint island off the coast of southeastern Bali. Spend a day exploring the southern and eastern sides of the island, stopping at the magnificent Goa Giri Putri cave temple, beautiful Diamond Beach, and Atoh Beach.

The next day, explore the more well-trodden northwest of Nusa Penida, where you can snorkel at Crystal Bay, photograph towering Kelingking Beach, marvel at a collapsed sea cave known as "Break Beach," and swim in a natural infinity pool known as "Angel's Billabong."

© Artush / Shutterstock

Tips for driving in Bali

Driving in Bali can be a challenge. Expect to find yourself sharing the road with anything from dogs and chickens to kaki lima (street hawkers) food carts, not to mention tired trucks, masses of motorbikes and tourists who are as unfamiliar with local road etiquette as they are with the buttons on their bikes. Fireworks. Road conditions vary widely, but even what are considered main roads can have uneven surfaces and potholes (if you're lucky) indicated by a plastic bag being swayed with a stick.

Driving in Bali is officially on the left side, although you will see some creative approaches at intersections. It is common to see motorcycles going the wrong way on the inside of the highway instead of trying to turn through traffic. Smaller vehicles are expected to move to make way for larger vehicles on often narrow roads: never try to hold your position on the road against an oncoming truck.

As a general rule, driving in Bali requires managing what's in front of you rather than worrying about what's behind you. If you drive without proper documentation, you will be expected to pay at least a cash bribe if you stop. Foreigners are vulnerable to exploitation even after a minor traffic accident, so drive carefully and obey the rules, even if the locals don't seem like it.

© Stefan Victor / Lonely Planet

Should I rent a motorbike?

Instead of renting a car, many travelers follow local advice and rent a motorbike, which costs around 80,000-100,000 IDR per day. Before considering this, keep in mind that your travel insurance will only cover you if you have a valid motorcycle driving license from your country with a valid international license or an Indonesian driving license.

Although it is widely ignored, according to the law, drivers and passengers must wear a helmet. Bali really isn't the place to learn to ride a motorbike – if you don't already have a licence, consider renting a go-kart instead.

Rent a car in Bali

A small entry-level rental car, with all damages covered at your expense, can cost you up to IDR 300,000 per day. However, the cost of renting a car from an international rental company with full insurance coverage - which is recommended - will be much higher. Renting a car with a driver may be cheaper than renting on your own, costing around IDR 700,000 per day. This will give you all the freedom of a Bali road trip without having to take the risks of driving yourself.

Source: lonelyplanet