What are Bali's best hidden gems off the beaten path?
To see Bali without the crowds, head west: the Tabanan and Jembrana regencies are full of black sand beaches, mountain rice terraces, fishing harbours lined with painted boats and Christian villages with Balinese-style churches, two to three hours' drive from the south. In the centre of the island, Mount Batur's lava fields add an almost lunar landscape.
The west is the least visited part of Bali: few hotels, few tour buses and village life that carries on as normal. You come for the road trip and its stops rather than one headline attraction.
The seven places in this section:
- Pura Batu Ngaus: a temple on a rock facing the waves, 3 km (2 miles) from Tanah Lot, without the crowds.
- Soka: a black sand beach on the west coast road and the gateway to the mountain rice terraces.
- Vihara Dharma Giri: a Buddhist monastery and its great reclining Buddha in the hills of Pupuan.
- Perancak: a fishing port full of brightly painted boats, plus a turtle conservation centre.
- Palasari and Blimbingsari: two Christian villages with Balinese-style churches.
- Mount Batur black lava: a 4WD trip through a black landscape in the middle of the island.
A 2- to 3-day itinerary, heading west from the south:
- Day 1: Pura Batu Ngaus in the late morning, lunch at Soka beach, then the mountain road from Antosari to Pupuan through the rice terraces, and Vihara Dharma Giri. Overnight in the hills or on the coast near Medewi, a surf spot famous for its long left-hander.
- Day 2: the clifftop temple of Rambut Siwi, Perancak in the morning for the boats, then Palasari and Blimbingsari in the afternoon. Overnight near Pemuteran or Gilimanuk.
- Day 3: West Bali National Park and Menjangan Island, see What can you do in West Bali National Park?, then back via the north coast or Ubud.
How it works: you'll need a driver by the day (or a car and experience of Bali's roads), as Grab and Gojek are scarce in the west. Allow 3 to 4 hours from the south to Perancak depending on traffic, and carry cash: ATMs thin out away from towns. The Batur lava fields are a separate half day from Ubud.
Verdict: west Bali suits travellers who've already done Ubud and the south and want a more authentic side of the island; with just one day, pick Batu Ngaus and Soka, both easy from Canggu.
Tip: start early and avoid driving after dark. The main west road carries the trucks heading for Java and gets hard work once night falls.
Information checked in November 2026; confirm before you travel.
More landmarks in this section
- Is Soka Beach in Tabanan worth a stop?
- Where can you see Bali's colourful fishing boats (Perancak)?
- Why are there Christian villages in Bali (Palasari)?
- Where is Bali's reclining Buddha (Vihara Dharma Giri)?
- How do you explore Mount Batur's black lava fields?
- Is Pura Batu Ngaus, near Tanah Lot, worth visiting?