Unique Bali Day Tours Beyond the Usual Tourist Route
Ubud's rice terraces, Uluwatu's cliffside temple, and Tanah Lot at sunset are Bali classics for a reason — but if you've done the standard route before, or simply want to see a different side of the island, there's a lot more to explore. Here are day trip ideas that go beyond the well-worn path.
Sidemen: Weaving Villages and Quiet Rice Fields
Tucked in East Bali beneath Mount Agung, Sidemen is known for its songket and ikat weaving traditions, where local artisans still hand-weave intricate textiles using techniques passed down through generations. The valley's rice terraces are less visited than Tegallalang's, which means quieter walking trails with equally striking views. It's a strong choice if you want a cultural, slower-paced alternative to Ubud's more crowded terraces.
Tenganan: An Ancient Bali Aga Village
Near Sidemen and Candidasa, Tenganan is one of Bali's oldest villages, home to the Bali Aga — descendants of Bali's pre-Hindu Majapahit-era inhabitants, who maintain distinct customs, architecture, and social structures from the rest of the island. The village is also known for its rare double-ikat weaving technique, found in very few other places in the world. It's a good stop for travelers interested in Bali's cultural history beyond temple visits.
Jembrana: Buffalo Racing and West Bali Traditions
Jembrana, in West Bali, is far less touristed than the island's south and center. It's known for Makepung, traditional buffalo races where pairs of decorated water buffalo are driven through fields by local farmers — a deeply rooted agricultural tradition rather than a tourist performance. The district also has rice terraces and coastal areas that see a fraction of the visitor traffic of Ubud or Canggu.
Amed: A Submerged Temple Underwater
On Bali's northeast coast, Amed is better known among divers than day-trippers, but it holds one of the island's most unusual sights: a submerged Buddha temple, where statues and shrine structures have been gradually claimed by coral and marine life underwater. It's an offbeat alternative to Bali's land-based temples, and a good reason to pair a day trip with snorkeling or diving.
Tirta Gangga: A Royal Water Palace
Also in East Bali, Tirta Gangga is a former royal water palace with ornamental pools, fountains, and stepping stones across koi-filled ponds, set against a backdrop of rice terraces. It draws a fraction of the crowds of Ubud's palace sites, making it a peaceful stop for photography and a slower pace.
Penglipuran Village
Penglipuran, in Bangli regency, is a traditional Balinese village known for its uniform, well-preserved architecture and car-free main street lined with identical family compounds. It offers a look at traditional Balinese community layout and daily life, and is often combined with nearby temple visits like Tirta Empul or Gunung Kawi for a fuller East Bali cultural day.
Bedugul and Lake Bratan
North of Ubud, the Bedugul highlands offer a cooler climate, coffee and orange plantations, and Lake Bratan, home to the iconic Ulun Danu Beratan Temple. A scenic drive or cycle around the lake takes you past hidden waterfalls and quiet mountain villages — a good option if you want Bali's cooler, greener side rather than another beach or rice-terrace stop.
How to Build a Unique Day Tour
Most of these destinations sit in East, West, or Central-North Bali, away from the well-covered Ubud–Uluwatu–Canggu triangle, so they work best with a private driver who can plan an efficient route rather than trying to self-navigate between several rural areas in one day. Pairing two or three of these stops (for example, Sidemen weaving + Tenganan village + Tirta Gangga, all in East Bali) makes for a full, culturally rich day without retracing the standard tourist route.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What's a good alternative to Ubud's rice terraces?
- Sidemen, in East Bali, offers similarly scenic rice terraces with fewer crowds, plus traditional weaving villages nearby.
- Are these destinations easy to reach independently?
- They're accessible by private car or scooter, but a driver familiar with the routes makes for a smoother, more efficient day given how spread out some of these sites are.
- Can I combine several of these stops in one day?
- Yes — destinations within the same region (for example, Sidemen, Tenganan, and Tirta Gangga in East Bali) can realistically be combined into a single day tour.
- Is Amed worth visiting just for the submerged temple?
- It's best combined with snorkeling or diving more broadly, since Amed's underwater sites and relaxed coastal atmosphere make for a fuller day beyond the temple alone.
My Day Gili arranges custom Bali day tours beyond the standard tourist circuit. Contact our team to build an itinerary around East or West Bali's cultural highlights.
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