The 10 Best Bali Tours, Excursions & Activities - D Asia Travels

Bali is a beautiful place to be when visiting Indonesia. The beautiful beaches with white sand make it feel like a paradise. If you are planning to visit here, be ready for different excursions, tours and activities. From the great dives on the coral ridges, or the amazing Second World War ship wreck to the artistic dances in different Bali villages. Each day is full of exciting things to do when in this city. Bali has something for every visitor and below a list narrowed down to the 10 best Bali activities, tours and excursions.

Taman Ayun, Tanah Lot and the Monkey Forest

Bali has an amazing cultural heritage that you can discover through day time tours. The Pura Taman Ayun gardens are the home to the complex ancient temple. The temple has a beautiful compound with lush gardens, stunningly renovated structures and magical water features. You will be blown away by the serenity of this water temple with the tiered shrines and beautifully lotus dotted pools. You can also watch the ever excited primates at Kedaton Monkey Forest. The gray macaques hop from one tree to another swinging swiftly and are always welcoming.

The sunset beauty is magnificent and you can view it at the Tanah Lot, which is a temple on a rock in the middle of the sea. It's a pilgrimage site and during the day, you enjoy watching waves crashing around it.

Cultural Heritage exploration

Choose one day and spend it exploring Bali's cultural heritage and unique natural scenic surroundings. Visit the Blahbatuh traditional village and enjoy mingling with friendly locals. You will be surprised by the villagers' gong-smith skills and their Balinese gamelan traditional orchestra.

The archeological museum exhibits the heritage, art and culture of Bali people. This is where you also get to see where the royal family's coffins.

From there, go to Sri Batu village and participate in the walking tours. You can enjoy a fresh breeze full of vanilla, coffee, spices and fruits fragrance. Proceed to another great spot, Kintami and get a fantastic sight of the shiny lake Danau Batur volcanic crater and an amazing view of Barur Mountain.

The day should not end without visiting the Panglipuran village where you will learn about Balinese traditions.

Enjoy the traditional dances-Barong, Kintami and Ubud.

There are traditional dances in Bali that will entertain you as you explore different villages. The best places to participate in the dances are Ubud, Kintami and Barong where they wear Bali dancing costumes and play traditional instruments. You also get a chance to buy some beautiful ornaments, which are handmade including necklaces, bracelets, rings and other shiny ornaments.

Ayung River- Rafting and other activities

Paddling in the Ayung River with a professional guide is fun. You also get to lazy pools where you can swim. All precautions are taken and no one is allowed in the water with a life jacket.

This is the best place to snap your photos with an amazing background of thick canopy of trees and stunning cliffs.

Sunset Dinner Cruise

If you are looking for a romantic destination, Bali should be your first choice. This is where you get a tasty dinner on the Bali Hai Cruise. You can enjoy your dinner in full view on the marvelous sunset. The dinner is accompanied by beautiful live music. You can also relax and have a good time as you listen to your favorite songs played live in a karaoke session that follows.

Private Coast Tour

The natural landscapes of Bali's coast are breath taking. There is also the great Mother Temple of Besakih where you can feel the rich culture and the people's heritage. The Alam Giri Plantation is a major producer of spices and fruits. It has different exotic fragrances that you will love including the lemon grass, the salak (a local fruit) and coffee.

Dolphin Cruise

The Dolphin Cruise gives an unforgettable encounter with dolphins. These native creatures are fascinating and visiting their habitat will refresh you. As you cruise in a high speed boat, you will see the dolphins swimming and jumping. They also communicate in a unique way. You are able to listen to their conversation using a transmitter, which is usually underwater connected with your boat. Its high quality and you hear clearly.

A Day Trip at Lembongan Island

Cruising on Lembongan Island shores gives you a chance to enjoy the sea. Through the voyage, you can visit the wildest parts of the sea and relax in the quietness and unique nature.

At the Lembongan Island, you will be taken to a private pontoon where you can enjoy lunch. Since its buffet, you have a chance to try out a number of foods. You can also go for kayaking or use a banana boat to have some fun. There are also snorkeling and diving spots where you can swim with colorful fishes. From here you will carry some great memories of Bali's spectacular water.

Explore the forests

If you love adventures, Payangan rainforest is the best to begin with. You can also enjoy tubing excursion at the Siap River. You will find it interesting to walk in the paths where they are swaying palms. The paths are not smooth and you have to overcome obstacles and avoid many challenges. You can also stop in different viewpoints and just enjoy Bali's expansive green fields of rice, which are beautifully framed by mountains.

Devdan Show

You should not leave Bali without discovering the rich cultural heritage of Indonesia full of both traditional and contemporary dances, breathtaking acrobatics and dazzling illusions.

The Devdan Show highlights the rich culture of Indonesia. They offer a great mixture of modern and traditional Indonesian dance and many other impressive and unique special effects.

Author: Arshad Abdullah

Things to Do on the Island on a Vacation

An island is any smaller area of land that is surrounded by water on its sides. It is a place where you can spend the quality time with your family and friends under nature. It is the perfect choice for your vacation when you are looking for a family trip, romantic getaway or a nature vacation.

An island is popular because of its amazing view and pleasant climatic conditions. It offers all the modern conveniences that an individual strives for while on a holiday. One can find a variety of comfortable places to stay like hotels, inns, private guest cottages, etc. on the area.

Things you can do while on an Island

An island offers several fun activities and diversions off and on-the-beach both. One can happily spend their quality time by involving themselves in various activities.

Nature tours

There are water bikes and Segways on rent for people who love to have adventures. One can enjoy on-the-beach tours of the island while having fun with water sports. Go out with your partner to have the view of the island on water vehicles and make your vacation much more exciting.

Relaxing beaches

Not everybody wants those adventurous activities. For all the lazy people out there, they have beach mats and chairs to relax while having the sunbath in an amazing view. After that, have your lunch and dinner at the fancy restaurants that are there to serve you on the beach itself.

Off the beach tours

Beside the beach, one can have a tour of the place and explore it with the scooters and bikes on rent. Shopping is one of the options women can go for. The place would have a lot of beautiful shops and galleries filled with unique and antique things. Remember, there is no cluster of malls rather there are beautiful shops to have your shopping done appropriately.

Others

For the people who want some sort of activities that are similar to their regular life, they can go for golfing, tennis, badminton, cinema, etc. The popular island offers such activities. Also, if you don't want to go out of your hotels, you can try these activities at your hotels only without going out.

All in all, there is something for everyone to satisfy themselves and there is a surety that you would not be able to stop yourself from visiting an isle again and will make some very beautiful memories to be cherished for the whole of your life.

Make a plan out of your hectic schedules and offices and visit some island. Pamper yourself, and have the best time of your life with your partner, family, and friends at some Island.

Remember you will not get such activities on a deserted island. On a deserted island, you will have to explore the things yourself without any help. But, if you don't want to go for any experiments, popular islands are the best option for you where you can get all the conveniences while enjoying yourselves.

Author:  Achal Mehrotra

Top 5 Benefits of Travelling

Exploring new and different places always ends up with great memories and stories to be remembered later in life. Also, when you get to meet new people, you are able to understand the human psychology in a better way.

It has also been proved that travelling improves one's overall health and refreshes the mood. Take a break from your hectic and mundane life schedules, and go out for some time to be spent in the lap of nature, or anywhere you have always wanted to go. You never know what life has in store for you.

Various benefits of travelling are given below:

1. Real-life Education

One always get to meet new people and explore new places while on a trip, and this provides you with new information and education, which you can never get at traditional schools. Schools never provide us with the real-life experiences. You will get to know about different cultures and societies and their way of living by travelling. Overall everything new is served you.

2. Improves Social and Communication        Skills

If you are an introvert person, travelling can help you in improving your personality. You will meet different types of people, of different regions and religions, and you have to communicate with them. This will help in improving your social skills to a great extent.

3. Get to Know Yourself Better

By travelling alone or with friends or family, you might get yourself stuck in difficult situations and they are always new to you. But, you will find a way to solve them with your capabilities. In such a situation, you get to explore yourself and meet the inner you.

As it is always said that you can never know what you can till you try. So, try some new places with new adventures and let your inner-self get explored.

4. Travel Sharpens the Mind

While travelling to new places, you get to do new things, all unfamiliar to you, like reading foreign languages, trying new things, making quick decisions, and altering your new eating and sleeping schedules.

Everything from your regular life gets changed for that particular period of time. Your brain even welcomes that change. Once you return home, you'll be sharper than ever and will better organize and spruce up your daily routine.

5. A positive Shift in Perspective

Nobody comes back in the same way they started their journey. Being exposed to new people and cultures will greatly shift you to a healthier perspective.

You will always return back with renewed energy, a new set of mental filters that are ready to take on the next big project or challenge. You will be proud of yourself that you explored a new place and successfully completed it by tackling all the hurdles in your way.

Getting away for some time will greatly upgrade your skills and attitude towards everything. You will feel positive towards people.

Even though it requires a great effort to take a break from the hectic schedules of life as after you will come, the work for those days will surely get piled up. But, your productivity will increase that will help you to complete all the work in much less time than before.

Breaking up the monotony for a while proves to be a considerable way to reduce stress and fill in some excitement in the life. And, once you come back, you will not be able to stop yourself from planning out the next one.

Author: Tularam Mehrotra

6 Useful Luggage Accessories for Organized Travel

Luggage accessories are a practical and handy solution to make organizing your bags or paperwork easier. They can range from the convenient items like travel wallets and packing cubes to those items that improve safety, such as the security straps. Let's take a look at a few of the most useful options to get ready for traveling:

Travel wallet

A travel wallet is a very convenient item for the frequent traveler with its ability to keep items like the passport, money and tickets safe. They can also include multiple small pockets which are great to hold loose change, pens, credit cards, etc. Any wallet made in a waterproof material will be favored because it will make sure the contents are protected in the event of getting caught in a rain shower. Additionally, they are still light and compact enough to easily fit in a rucksack or handbag.

Packing cubes

The packing cubes are a useful solution to pack clothes, accessories, toiletries, etc. in a suitcase without getting everything screwed up. Alternatively, they can simply be used to divide the space in a suitcase by placing the cubes down the middle.

Waterproof toilet bag

This is a useful all-in-one solution to hold a complete collection of bathroom products. They are typically spacious with multiple pockets and compartments. When in use, it will conveniently unzip and hang on its plastic hook in a hotel room or similar. Also, they can make a very useful option for camp trips when it is necessary to navigate to bathroom facilities in the dark.

Luggage security straps

The luggage security straps give extra peace of mind in knowing the suitcases are better protected with less chance of being broken into. Also, they can be used to secure extra items onto the suitcase that are too bulky to fit inside, such as a rain poncho, sleeping bag or roll-mat.

Money belt

A money belt that is easily hidden under clothes is a great way to secure the valuable items while exploring a busy market, rushing through a crowded airport, or similar environment with plenty of other people about. They are great for holding items like money, passports, bank cards, tickets, or other valuable documents.

Dry bag

A dry bag is a must-have travel supply for anyone involved in outdoor activities, such as kayaking, rafting or simply days on the beach. This type of bag is great for holding a spare set of clothes, towels, muddy clothes, or damp swimming gear. Many of these bags can be fully submerged and still keep the contents dry.

Discover more of the best luggage accessories and Zuca bag options for all types of travel.

Author: Leo Eigenberg

How to Choose the Right Travel Luggage for Your Vacation

Hurling luggage to and fro can be a breeze, or it can cause strain on your travelling experience. The first thing you need to do is consider your travelling style and cater specifically to those needs when choosing the right travel luggage for your vacation. With that in mind, we have compiled a list of some important things to consider beforehand.

Suitcase or Backpack?

We mainly focus on suitcases rather than backpacks in this article for the following reasons:

Convenience

Maneuvering through airports with a lot of people and traffic, while carrying a large weight on your back is not easy. Suitcases are a lot simpler to maneuver through traffic with ease.

Wheels

Simply roll your luggage with ease. This is our top reason for picking a suitcase.

Organization

A backpack does not give much organization leeway. You will only have access to a top-loading packing mechanism where you will be forced to remove everything to reach an item at the bottom. A suitcase gives you a clear view of all your belonging as soon as you unzip or open it.

Impressions

Carrying a backpack doesn't really look good.

Hard or Soft?

You should choose your travel luggage based on your travelling needs. For example; are you travelling for business, or for fun? Are you planning to carry any expensive items that might break easily? A hard carry-on is perfect for anyone carrying items such as an expensive camera, or if your vacation is going to be in areas with harsh weather conditions. Hard casing will offer protection to any item prone to breakage.

Soft luggage is perfect for anyone looking for added storage. These bags can expand making them ideal for anyone wanting to carry some souvenirs back with them. Also, soft carry-on cases are easy to stuff into an overhead compartment.

Size

One main thing to keep in mind is to never purchase a carry-on that's larger than you can actually lift over your head. Next, how long is your vacation going to last for? Many people are able to survive with fewer items than others but when visiting a foreign place, a smaller carry-on is more ideal. Before purchasing a carry-on, inquire about that specific airline's international and domestic size requirements.

Some airplanes allow smaller carry-on's so it's best to always restrict yourself to buying a suitcase that's approximately 21 x 13 x 9 and aim for a weight of 15 - 20 pounds.

Here's a breakdown of some popular carry-on sizes:

International carry-on size is mostly 18 - 20 inches

The most popular size of a carry-on is 21 - 22 inches - This is a great size, offering ample space, yet light enough to lift. You can travel for a month without much hassle.

If you're travelling with a loved one, then a medium size would be perfect. So, consider purchasing a 23 - 24 inch carry-on.

For those who love having extra space, then 25 - 27 inches will provide you with lots of room to carry your souvenirs or your clothing items. Also, if you are vacationing with your family, then you can easily fit everyone's belongings into just one of these suitcases for easy handling.

A 28 - 32 inch size is simply too large for a travel suitcase. It's very bulky and can be very hard to maneuver. This size is simply best suited for anyone planning to move abroad or anyone thinking of going to live in another country for long durations of time.

Sometimes it might be better to purchase two smaller suitcases as opposed to buying a large, heavy one. Granted, you'll have to pay extra but it'll be worth it because you won't have to worry about stuffing everything into one bag or, incurring overweight fees when travelling back home with some souvenirs.

Color

It's best to purchase a bag with unique prints and colors. This way, you'll find it easy to spot it on the luggage carousel. Also, you won't accidentally mistake it for someone else's bag.

Wheels

Wheel choices come in two options; two or four. Two wheels is the most common as these bags tend to be lighter and easier to run with. You can also yank your bag over stairs with ease without having to manually lift it. However, these type of cases tend to tip over easily.

Four wheels stand upright allowing you to easily roll them sideways in crowded or shallow pathways, such as inside a plane.

Look for bags with locking wheels - this will prevent your bag rolling away.

Material

Always make sure that your luggage has water resistant materials or it has at least been treated with a sealant on the inside to keep your belongings dry. This is quite important as sometimes your luggage might be placed on wet, sticky, or dirty surfaces by baggage handlers.

If your bag doesn't have a moisture-resistant sealant, then simply line the top and bottom of your suitcase with plastic bags (a garbage bag or a dry cleaning bag will do just fine.) This simple trick will keep your clothes dry even if your suitcase gets wet on the outside.

Straps

Purchase a suitcase that comes with adjustable straps. These straps will help keep your belongings secure and compressed.

Piggy Back Clip

Have you ever seen those looped clips located on top of some travel bags? They are called piggy back clips and they allow a traveler to clip a smaller second bag on top of the larger one - this way, your items will stay secure together throughout your travels.

If your carry-on doesn't come with any piggy back clips, you can go online and buy one for a reasonable price.

Compartments

Compartments come in handy when you want to organize your belongings. For example; instead of storing your small shampoo, or liquids, with your clothes, store them in an external pocket (this will prevent your clothes getting ruined in case of any spillage). Plus, they'll be easy to locate when the need arises.

Author: Bob Tom

25 essential tips for traveling with kids

No matter if it’s your first trip with your first child, or your fifth with your fifth, traveling with children will always be daunting. From what to pack to how to get there, it’s rife with potential worries.

However, there are some tips that can help you prepare, and save you from going insane. Below, we’ve listed 25 top tips for traveling with kids. Some are for babies, some are for older children, and some are for you.

1. Just do it!

While the idea of traveling with children might be overwhelming, the most important thing to remember is: it will end. You will get there. You will survive.

2. Take it slow

You might be used to rushing off the airplane and through the airport, making use of all those secret shortcuts, but those days are over. Sit back, let everyone rush around you, and just go with the flow. You’re not in charge anymore – enjoy it.

3. Don’t overpack

Remember that almost everything can be bought abroad. It might not be the same brand, but you’ll manage. Diapers are often a concern as 100% eco and organic brands are sometimes hard to find. If you’re used to using an eco-brand, do a test run with a non-eco brand before you leave to see if your little one has any kind of reaction.

4. Hotel or vacation rental?

Hotels have perks (room service, meals, baby-sitting services, etc.), but vacation rentals mean you can make it your home – and prepare your own meals, which might be useful if your child has a special diet. It’s a personal choice, but one worth thinking about.

5. Book wisely

If you go the hotel route, take your time booking. You might have stayed there before and loved it, but think long and hard about it. Was your room up a steep hill? Were there lots of steps? What might have been paradise for just the two of you can easily be a nightmare when you’re pushing a stroller and a baby.

6. Brand ‘em and track ‘em!

If you’re worried about your child getting lost, you can brand them by writing your name and phone number on their arm. That way, if they are found, you can be contacted easily. You could also invest in a GPS tracking device. Attach it to your child’s wrist or bag, and follow along via the app.

7. Pool vs. sea

Even if you plan to stay by the beach, you might want to consider making sure there’s a pool as well. Lots of children love being in the sea, but others can’t stand it. A pool is perfect for little ones to splash around in, cool down in – and get exhausted in.

8. Baby carriage vs. stroller vs. sling

This is a common dilemma when traveling with kids and there’s no easy answer. A lot of it depends on where you’re going. Will the streets be even and paved or will there be potholes and off-roading involved? Will it be extremely humid or fairly cool? What is your child used to?

An all-around good option is a light stroller. They’re easy to travel with and can be taken right up to the gate; they can be used as a temporary bed for afternoon naps; they’re light and breathable but can also be insulated with blankets and a rain cover; and they’re good on almost all terrain.

9. Car seat or not?

Some people swear by them, others think it’s madness to bring such a large item for the short time they’ll be used. They require an extra seat on the flight, and are quite bulky, but then you’re guaranteed to have it for any kind of car ride. If you do plan to take one, it might be worth investing in a car seat/pushchair combo so you don’t have to lug even more weight around.

10. Pack wisely

Your nappy bag will count as your carry on, so make sure you’ve got everything (you might want to factor in possible delays too): baby wipes; spare pacifiers; diapers; snacks (but not full of sugar! However, it is worth bringing a few suckable sweets to help with the pressure change during take off and landing); a change of clothes; plastic bags (for diapers and in case clothes get really dirty); headphones; toys; a pillow; extra batteries or power packs; tablet/DVD player; and baby wipes.

If there’s any room left for your things, fill it with baby wipes – you’ll need them.

11. Packing baby food

Many airports will allow baby milk and baby food to be carried through security in containers over 100ml. They usually open containers to screen contents at the security point, but this only takes moments and doesn’t contaminate the food in any way. It’s worth checking with the airports you’ll be traveling through, just to make sure.

12. Plan your flights

Try to plan your flights around bedtime. Evening flights can be more expensive, but if ease is what you’re after, a sleeping child is a blessing for everyone. If you have to make a connecting flight, be sure to leave a good amount of time – the last thing you need is a mad dash through an unfamiliar airport.

Try, as much as you can, to make the journey part of the vacation. Give yourself a couple of hours, stretch legs, visit bathrooms, eat, talk, play, and get ready for the next flight. And don’t forget that your best bet for the cheapest fare is to book 53 days in advance.

13. Research your destination

If you’re breastfeeding, it’s worth having a Google about whether or not breastfeeding in public is OK wherever you’re headed. Some countries are totally OK with it, others require you to go somewhere a little more private. If in doubt when you’re there – just ask.

14. Research, research, research!

This is for both pre-trip and during trip. Does your baby need a visa? What jabs do you – and your child – need? Should you bring medication, e.g. malaria tablets? You don’t want to get caught out last minute.

15. Where to sit?

Where you can sit on a plane with a small child is sometimes dictated by the aircraft’s design: some only have extra oxygen masks over certain seats. However, not all aircraft are like this, so double check with the airline, and take a moment to think about what seat is best for you.

Sitting at the very end of the airplane does mean you’ll disturb fewer people. It also means you can get up and make use of the galley, and have the toilets close by. However, sometimes these seats don’t recline fully, and the back of the aircraft can be noisy.

The middle of the plane gives you the option of using the bulkhead seats. Not only does this mean more legroom – and thus more floor space for play – it also means the possibility of a baby cradle (if the aircraft has them). However – it also means no storage under the seat in front of you.

Sitting at the front is similar to the back, except the kitchen area is typically smaller, and busier. One other thing to consider that really depends on the child’s age is: window or aisle? Is it better to be tucked away or with space to move easily?

16. Do a practice run

This could be a practice pack and trip to the airport – or as far as you can go – for both your sake and the child’s. Airports are big and busy, and your child might find it all a bit much. Easing him or her into it might make things smoother for the day. Another good tip is to do a practice flight. Maybe a weekend away somewhere domestic? A short hop on a small plane will introduce your little one to flying, and let you see if he or she has any particular worries or concerns.

17. Is low-cost worth it?

While it might be tempting to make use of low-cost carriers now that you’re a family, bear in mind they often fly into remote airports, which could mean more travel. It might be worth ditching the low-cost airlines and paying a bit more for ease and peace of mind (not to mention the fact that the price difference, once you factor in the extra transport from the remote airport to the city center, is often minimal).

18. Airport time – check-in online

Try to minimize time spent waiting in line once at the airport. One of the easiest things to do is check-in online, then all you have to do is hit the bag drop and get through security. More often than not, there is a family area at the security check, so you know that everyone around you is in the same boat; or should that be plane?

19. Leave plenty of time

While you want to minimize time waiting in line, you certainly don’t want to have to rush. Leave home with hours to spare – if you get to the airport quickly, make use of the play area and get those children exhausted: the more energy they spend on the ground, the less they’ll have in the air.

20. What could go wrong?

Before you go, write a list of everything that could go wrong, from complete meltdown mid-flight to missing the flight entirely, and jot down how you’d cope. Running through situations before they happen can leave you mentally prepared – just in case!

21. Explain the journey

If your child is new to flying and traveling in general, talk them through it. Let them know what’s going to happen and when it’s going to happen, like when they have to fasten their seatbelts and why. Most children think flying is fun, so the best thing you can do is encourage it. It is an adventure after all!

22. Plan – but don’t overdo it

You want to keep your children entertained, but you don’t want the whole trip to be regimented. Instead of booking dozens of excursions, have them written down – or keep track of them in an app. 

23. Meet and assist

Check if your airline or the airport provides a meet and assist service. Not all do, but many will help you as much as possible, from boarding to arrival. If you’re traveling with more than one child, alone with one child, or if you’re completely new to this, these services can be a lifesaver!

24. Keep calm

If your child chooses the worst possible time to turn into a screaming beast from another dimension, take a deep breath and try to keep calm.

25. Enjoy it

Leave lots of time, pack well, and make the travel part of the journey. Just remember that you’ll be OK, and you’re supposed to be enjoying yourself!

Author: Lara Mulady