Bali is renowned as a tourist destination and there are many famous attractions worthy of a trip. The cliffs of Uluwatu, The Sea Temple at Tanah Lot, The Monkey Forest Temple in Ubud, and Gunung Batur volcano are all amazing, and also very popular. You can also just get lost and find rice field vistas and tiny temples all over the Island. Here are a five places you can visit on a day trip from Seminyak that we recommend that are in between unknown and full of visitors.

Tegenungan Waterfall

Located a short hour and a half drive from Seminyak near Ubud, this waterfall is not exactly a secret, but its not crowded either. After a short hike through the verdant jungle, you will come to thundering cascade plunging fifty meters down into a big pool. It is easy to avoid getting to close to the turbulent water through the falls and you can safely swim in the pool before making the hike back through the jungle to Tegenungan Village. There is a small entry fee. Ubud is just 5 kilometers away, so you can easily combine this trip with the many more popular sight seeing and entertainment options in Ubud. Or you can opt for this next “secret spot” which is visited by very few foreign tourists although you might see some Indonesian tourists there.

waterfall bali, tegenungan waterfall

Bukit Campuhan Trail

Campuhan hill is also about an hour and half from Seminyak and around five minutes from Ubud. There is a trail at the top of the hill that runs for around 5 kilometers on the ridge. From here you get spectacular panoramic views of rice fields, villages and elegant villas in the distance. There were not tourist services here at the time of our last visit, so make sure to bring water. There is also very little shade, so we recommend going early in the morning or late in the day. Click for a map to help you locate Campuhan Hill.

champuhan hill champuhan ubud

Pinggan Village in Kintamani

This quaint village can be reached in about 2 hours driving from Seminyak. Stop anywhere you like and get out of the car and stroll around to take in the views. There are lots of great spots to take photographs of the fog shrouded valleys and rice terraces leading the foot of Gunung Batur volcano looming in the distance.

pinggan village, kintamani view

Pasih Uug Beach, Nusa Pendida Island

This quiet beach on Nusa Pendida Island can only be reached by a short hike from Sumpang Village; there is no road to the beach. There is a lovely blue water bay ringed by coral cliffs and a natural sea bridge carved from the coral that you can walk across. Sometimes you can see Manta Rays from the cliffs.

pasih uug, nusa penida bali, beautiful beach

Devil’s Tears, Nusa Lembongan

We will end with a bang! At “Devil’s Tears” on nearby Nusa Lembogan Island, a rocky point jutting into the ocean makes waves explode as high as 15 meters into the air. Adjacent the point you can visit  Dream Beach and Sandy Bay, aka Sunset Beach, which are usually not crowded. Sandy Bay has a lovely white sand beach below the limestone cliffs and a dramatic sea cave. Make sure to get in and out on the low tide; at high tide you cannot get back to the main beach.

devil tears devils-tear2

So – there are few ideas of lesser known attractions that are reasonably close to Seminyak. You may also want to check out our forthcoming guide to more popular attractions near Seminyak. We will keep you posted here when we publish it.