12 Unique Things to Do in Bali 2026: Unusual Experiences

Across Lake Batur from Kedisan, the Bali Aga village of Trunyan keeps a burial custom found nowhere else on the island: the dead are neither buried nor cremated, but laid under the fragrant Taru Menyan tree, covered only with cloth. The tree is said to mask any smell, and the village name may come from it.

Only married villagers who died a natural death are laid here, and no more than eleven at a time. Boats leave from Kedisan pier; the crossing takes 15–30 minutes. Treat it as a sacred place: don't touch anything, and ask your guide before taking photos.

Bali's highland arabica from Kintamani was Indonesia's first coffee with Geographical Indication status, and tasting it on a plantation is a lovely half-day. Look for single-origin tasting flights, or learn to brew at a barista class such as Seniman Coffee's in Ubud (IDR 450,000).

We recommend skipping kopi luwak. A 2016 study of 16 Bali coffee plantations found the civets kept for tourists in small, barren, wire-floored cages. If a tour shows you caged civets, that's the red flag: don't pay to photograph them.

On Nusa Lembongan, Goa Gala-Gala is an underground house dug by hand by a local puppeteer and farmer, Made Byasa, over about 15 years from 1961. About 7 m deep, it has five entrances, a bedroom, kitchen and living room, and was built as a place to meditate.

The tunnels are low and narrow, so skip it if you're claustrophobic. Combine it with Lembongan's beaches and mangroves.

On the Klungkung coast, Goa Lawah was founded in the 11th century by the priest Mpu Kuturan around a cave mouth where thousands of bats roost. The dragon Naga Basuki, believed to keep the cosmos in balance, decorates its steps.

Visitors watch the cave shrine from the courtyard; ceremonies are frequent. It's an easy 30-minute stop on the road to Padang Bai, Candidasa or Lempuyang.

Off Pemuteran in North-West Bali, more than ten stone statues and a 4 m Balinese gateway stand on the seabed at about 28 m, slowly covered in coral. A shallower section at about 15 m has plinths and statue heads.

The main garden is a deep dive, so book it as an Advanced or Deep dive, or ask about the shallower section. Pemuteran is also known for its Biorock coral-restoration project.

For more than a thousand years, Balinese have come to the spring-fed pools of Tirta Empul, founded in 962 AD, to purify body and spirit in the melukat ritual, moving from spout to spout. Visitors of any faith can join if they follow the customs.

Wear a sarong and sash and bring a change of clothes. Women who are menstruating may not take part. Come at 8 AM, before the tour buses.

Cross the Yellow Bridge from Lembongan to tiny Nusa Ceningan for a zipline over a cliff-lined inlet of turquoise water. The ride is short, but the views are worth it, and reviewers say the ticket includes pool access.

Pair it with the Blue Lagoon viewpoint nearby, but don't swim there.

Soar above the limestone cliffs of the Bukit peninsula with a tandem pilot. Riug Paragliding flies over the Nusa Dua cliffs from April to September and from Uluwatu from October to March; Timbis, near Pandawa, is the other popular launch.

Flights depend on the wind and are rebooked if it's too strong, too weak or raining, so keep your afternoon flexible. GoPro footage is usually included.

Reef manta rays gather year-round at Manta Bay and Manta Point off Nusa Penida's south-west coast, and you can snorkel above them on a day trip from Lembongan, Sanur or Benoa. Sightings depend on the sea, so they're never guaranteed.

Mantas are fully protected in Indonesia. Keep at least 3 m away at cleaning stations, never touch or chase them, and don't use flash.

At Paon Bali in Laplapan village near Ubud, a Balinese family teaches you to cook in their own home. The morning class starts at the Ubud market, continues with a village and rice-field walk, then you grind base gede spice paste and cook a full Balinese meal.

You'll also learn how a Balinese family compound is laid out and lived in. Meat and vegetarian menus are available, and it's rated 4.9 from more than 1,400 Google reviews.

About 600 hectares of subak-irrigated terraces at Jatiluwih form the heart of Bali's UNESCO World Heritage listing. Cycling the farm tracks is the best way to see them, with stops at small temples and coffee huts.

Book a guided ride through the village's own site at least two days ahead. You can't drive onto the trekking routes, and picking rice or plants is forbidden.

Inland from Candidasa, Tenganan Pegringsingan is a Bali Aga village whose traditions predate Majapahit influence. It's one of the few places in the world where gringsing double-ikat cloth is still woven; the name is said to mean 'not sick', and wearing it is believed to keep you healthy.

Walk the stone lanes between the old houses and watch the weavers at work. In June, the village holds Mekare-kare, the ritual pandan-leaf battle.