Activities and attractions (North) Bali

The direct vicinity of Villa Insulinde and Lumbung offers a variety of activities and attractions such as:

Snorkeling, Diving and Dolphin watching

Directly in front of the houses there are coral reefs worth visiting. Do you want more, then go to Palau Menjangan (Deer island), an uninhabited island to the east of the villa that is part of the national park Bali Barat. Menjangan is situated less than 10 km from the coast. The coral reefs stretch to the bottom of the ocean and Menjangan is considered one of the best diving locations on Bali. The deer after which the island is named are rarely seen; the island is also a nature reserve for the Bali starling.

A boot with captain can be rented in Dencarik for dolphin watching or snorkelling. On request you can be picked up from the beach in front of Villa Insulinde and Lumbung.

Golfing in Bali Handara Kosaido Country Club

In the lush highlands of Bali, at a height of more than 1000 meter above sea level, one can find the Bali Handara Kosaido Golf & Country Club, surrounded by tropical rainforests and with a magnificent view of the nearby lake Danau Bratan. Bali Handara Kosaido Golf & Country Club is one of the largest golf courses in the world. This 18 hole (par 72) championship course was designed by the famous international golfer Peter Thomas in 1974. There are 2 golf sets in the villa for both men and ladies.

Brahma Arama Vihara

Brahma Arama Vihara in Banjar is the most important Buddhist monastery on Bali. Here one finds among other things a large gold statue of Buddha and a miniature version of the Borobudur from Java. Buddhist meditation lessons are given in the ashram twice a year in April and September. Visitors are welcome throughout the year, provided the house rules are followed: properly dressed, no shoes, calm pace and speak. The location of the monastery on top of a hill guarantees superb sea views.

Air Panas Warm Water Springs

The Air Panas warm water springs are located in the village of Banjar. The springs are a public pool, complete with changing rooms and restaurant.

Gitgit Waterfalls

At about 10 kilometers uphill from Singaraja you will find Air Terjun Gitgit, a waterfall that has been a popular attraction for many years. The waterfalls are beautiful, especially at the height of the rainy season. However, the many retail stalls at the end of the 500 meter long path to the waterfalls can be a nuisance.

Danau Bratan

The peaceful Danau Braten lake is located on the mountain ridge that separates the north of Bali from the south. The lake, that is often shrouded in mist, is situated in the crater of the Gunung Catur volcano, that extinguished a long time ago. The lake is important for irrigation of the surrounding fields. This is why the villagers of Bedugul worship the goddess of the lake, Dewi Danau. Her temple, Pura Ulun Danau Bratan, is located on a small peninsula in the lake.

Botanical Gardens of Bali

Just north of Bedugul one can find the market of Bukit Munggu, called Candi Kuning by the Balinese. Here you can buy wild orchids, colorful lilies and tropical vegetables. Kebun Raya Eka Karya Bali, the botanical garden of Bali is located next to the market. The 320 ha large garden has more than 650 different species of trees and 400 varieties of orchids.

West-Bali National Park

The head quarters of Taman Nasional Bali Barat, the West-Bali National Park is situated in Cekik. Permits for hikes through the park can be obtained here. The use of an official guide is compulsory; large parts of the park are not accessible to the public. The 760 km2 nature reserve is one of the last untouched parts of Bali and the habitat for deer, civet cats, apes and small numbers of bantengs (wild cattle). The park is also the last remaining refuge for the nearly extinct Bali starling.

Java, Lombok and South Bali

From Villa Insulinde and Lumbung it is also possible to visit the, mainly Islamic, island of Java. Java can be reached by car and ferry in about 2 hours. A visit to the island of Lombok, influenced by both Islam and the Balinese Hindus, is another possibility. Lombok is mainly visit for its natural beauty.

It is relatively easy to spend a couple of days in the more touristic south of Bali, e.g. in Seminyak, Legian, Sanur or Kuta. A variety of accommodations is available. The journey to the south through sawah's and over the mountain tops is enjoyable by itself and takes about 3 hours.