A journey through the spiritual and natural heart of Bali, across seven places that tell the most authentic story of the island. Sacred temples hidden in the forest, agricultural terraces recognised by UNESCO, holy lakes and sunsets over the ocean: this is the Bali that lies beyond the crowds — the one worth seeking when you travel across Asia with intention and curiosity. Batukaru Temple: Spirituality Deep in the Forest Hidden on the slopes of Mount Batukaru, far from the most visited tourist routes, Batukaru Temple is one of the most significant sacred sites in Bali. The atmosphere is humid, intimate, almost suspended in time: shaded courtyards, dark moss-covered stone, natural springs flowing in silence. This is not a temple that impresses with grandeur. It impresses with authenticity. It is one of those places where Balinese spirituality manifests in a quiet, personal way, in perfect harmony with the nature that surrounds it. An essential stop for anyone who wants to discover the true religious soul of the island. Jatiluwih Rice Terraces: UNESCO Heritage and Unfiltered Beauty The Subak: An Ancient System That Still Feeds the Island The terraced rice fields of Jatiluwih stretch as far as the eye can see across the hills of Bali’s interior, shaping a landscape that is both orderly and breathtakingly harmonious. Behind this beauty lies the subak — the ancient communal irrigation system that has regulated the island’s agricultural life for centuries, and which earned Jatiluwih its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking among these terraces means entering a delicate balance between people, water and land, where daily work still follows the rhythms of nature. It is one of the most profound and authentic expressions of Balinese culture, and one of the travel images from Asia that stays with you forever. Kopi Luwak: Indonesia’s Most Famous Coffee A stop at the Jati Wangi Coffee plantation offers a chance to discover the celebrated Kopi Luwak — coffee made from beans partially digested by the Asian palm civet. The visit takes place in a relaxed, green setting, among coffee plants and tropical spices, with guided tastings of unusual varieties including coconut and lemongrass coffee, each said to carry its own health benefits according to local tradition. A light and enjoyable experience, perfect for a fun break between one temple and the next. Ulun Danu Beratan: The Temple That Floats on the Lake On the shores of Lake Bratan, in Bali’s central highlands, stands Ulun Danu Temple, dedicated to Dewi Danu, goddess of water and fertility. Its pagodas appear to float on the surface of the lake, surrounded by cool mountain air and often wrapped in soft morning mist. During a visit it is common to encounter worshippers in traditional dress, with grains of rice on their foreheads as a sign of blessing. Ulun Danu is not a museum temple — it is an active place of worship, where spirituality, landscape and daily life coexist in perfect balance. The Ubud Monkey Forest: Nature, Monkeys and Hidden Temples In the heart of Ubud, the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is a lush green area crossed by shaded paths leading through ancient trees, old temples and moss-covered statues. Hundreds of Balinese long-tailed macaques roam freely within the forest, organised into territorial groups with their own hierarchies and social dynamics. Observing their behaviour — the interactions, the play, the occasional tensions between groups — is a direct and authentic encounter with an animal community living by its own rules. A must for families travelling to Bali or for anyone who loves nature up close. Taman Ayun: The Quiet Elegance of Mengwi Taman Ayun Temple, in Mengwi, is surrounded by a wide moat that symbolically separates it from the outside world. Built in the 17th century as the spiritual centre of the Mengwi dynasty, it expresses traditional Balinese architecture with elegance and restraint: layered thatched roofs, wooden structures and stone carvings in conversation with manicured gardens and towering trees. Walking through its courtyards means moving through a space designed for contemplation — a quiet testament to the culture and history of the island. Tana Lot: Sunset Over the Island of the Gods No itinerary in Bali is complete without Tana Lot. Perched on a rock surrounded by the ocean and accessible only at low tide, this temple is one of the most iconic symbols of the island. Dedicated to the spirits of the sea, it stands as one of the sacred pillars of Balinese spirituality connected to water and the protection of the island. As the sun descends over the ocean and the light shifts through shades of gold and orange, Tana Lot brings the day to a close with a simple yet powerful image: sunset over the Island of the Gods. The perfect ending to a journey through temples, nature and everyday life — and a reminder of why Bali, among all travel destinations in Asia, remains truly one of a kind. Have you visited Bali? Share your experience in the comments or explore more itineraries at asianitinerary.com.

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On a recent trip to Ubud, I made a stop at one of Bali’s boutique coffee plantations: the Laksmi Bali agro tourism. It is there, in the mountainous areas close to Bali volcanoes, that the perfect climate allows for the growing and production of coffee beans, and amongst these beans is the most famous and most expensive coffee in the world: Kopi Luwak. I must admit that up to a few years back I was unfairly unaware of this special brew of coffee and of its production, which involves a particularly slow roast method. Also, I am Italian and that makes me a coffee-lover! That is why, after spotting a couple of big signs advertising coffee farms, I prompted my driver to stop. We were greeted by a smiling young woman in uniform, who welcomed us to follow her inside the plantation. It was immediately clear that the plantation was huge.  The guide was incredibly informative while she took us along well-manicured paths. Inside the gardens, we were guided through a token plantation past several spices-producing plants like vanilla and cinnamon, and different varieties of coffee, variations of arabica and robusta. The guide was a wealth of information indeed, and time flew in her company. She made a point of informing us that coffee in bali can be grown sustainably and ethically, as it uses less water than other fruits, and as the industry employs local farmers and work in tandem with the Bali way of life. Impressive! As we followed the track, we reached an area where a couple of small possum-like creatures rested in their tree-house, curled up like armadillos. These were the stars of the show: the Civet cats. One of them was awaken by our arrival and immediately reached the front gate to sniff us out. It appeared to be well looked-after, and we had to resist the temptation to cuddle it. The guide was quick to warn us: despite being cute-looking, Civet cats are wild animals and are prone to biting. But let me tell you more about them. This cat-like nocturnal animal native to South East Asia and Africa only eats the freshest coffee berries thanks to their fleshy pulp. The berries travel through the cat’s digestive tracks, getting treated with enzymes in a process that removes much of the coffee’s bitterness. Once they berries are defecated, their flavour is superb, creating the smooth rich blend everyone talks about: Kopi Luwak, the most expensive coffee in the world, which can be sold in the West at anything from 300 to 700 euros per kg! The guide then took us to the place where Kopi Luwak is processed, where we experienced the way the beans are washed, sunned and eventually their seeds extracted for roasting and grinding, all of it by hand! Amazing! We were then taken to a hangout area which has the most breathtaking view of the rice plantations across. There were wood chairs and tables roofed by a wooden gazebo; we were invited to be seated and to taste a series of locally grown teas and coffees of various flavours, amongst which were vanilla, cinnamon and ginger, one of my favourites. They also offered us to purchase a tasting cup of Kopi Luwak at the inexpensive price of 50,000 IDR (about 3 euros), not bad at all for a unique cup of coffee that would cost us up to 40 euros in the West. We immediately took advantage and sipped our Kopi Luwak while contemplating the valley below and the cool wind that had started blowing from the mountains. Once the tasting was over, our nice guide headed to the plantation shop where visitors can purchase most of the products tasted during the tour, including of course Kopi Luwak, all packed up nicely and ready to be presented back home as a gift. The price of teas and coffees at the shop may be a bit higher than your average Bali supermarket, but considering they grow it on site and that the visit to the plantation is free, we did not hesitate and filled up a carrier bag. We spent a lovely hour in the company of a great guide, who rightly received our congratulations and a nice tip as well. I highly recommend a stop to the Laksmi Bali agro tourism: it is a great place to drop by if you are touring the island or are staying around Ubud, it is so different to anything else in Bali, and in the end you do not need to spend anything if you do not want to. Find Laksmi Bali agro tourism on the way from Ubud to Kintamani. Like their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LaksmiBaliAgro/

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