Surfing is a must in Indonesia, of course. In Bali, head to Uluwatu for some of the best waves on the island, no matter your experience. In Kuta, Lombok, head to any one of the surf shops in town and chat to the locals about surf lessons or boat excursions to find the best waves. Bobby’s Bar and Surf, belonging to the tourist-nicknamed “King of Kuta” is your best bet – he certainly knows his way around a wave. A few minutes’ walk away you’ll find both Blondie Surf and The Beach Boys – extremely friendly locals who will welcome you into the group and show you the best surf spots (and the best bar spots, too).
In Ubud, Bali, make sure to check out Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary – buy a bunch of bananas and feed the (extremely confident) monkeys in amongst the beautiful jungle-like surroundings. Make sure not to carry anything loose like sunglasses, and especially food, ‘cause the monkeys, if cute, will steal your belongings if given half the chance.
If you fancy a “hike” that’s as easy as it is rewarding, the Campuhan Ridge Walk from Ubud is not to be missed. It will only take a couple of hours, so this is a great early morning activity for some stunning rice paddy views before brunch.
Be sure to hike Mount Batur if you get the chance – you’ll be picked up at around 2am, given “breakfast” and then handed a head torch to follow your guide with. It’s a very doable hike, and you’ll reach the summit just in time to witness one of the most spectacular sunrises of your life. Bonus: you get to refuel on eggs cooked in the volcanic spring.
Fancy more of a challenge? Get yourself over to northern Lombok to take on a three-day hike up to the summit of Mount Rinjani, where you’ll get panoramic views like you’ve never seen, and some seriously refreshing dips in volcanic lakes and hot springs. There’s truly nothing quite like it.