ATV quad bike
Ride through rice fields, jungle and mud around Ubud, on your own quad or two on one. No experience needed.
One to two hours on the quad, with a shower at the base afterwards.
Things to do in Bali
Ernest books the activity with people he trusts and drives you there and back. Combine one with a day tour, or plan a whole day around it.
Adventure
Mud, rapids, a swing over the jungle and a volcano at sunrise. Most of it is around Ubud, an easy day out from anywhere on Bali.
Bali swing
Fly out over the jungle and the rice terraces near Ubud, safely in a harness, with photo spots all around.
Go early in the morning, before the queues.
White-water rafting
The Ayung River near Ubud: about 12 kilometres through a jungle gorge, past waterfalls and rice terraces, with gentle to medium rapids and a guide in every raft. Want more thrills? The Telaga Waja in East Bali is wilder, with bigger rapids.
About two hours on the water, with steps down to the river and back up. On the Ayung, children can usually join from about 7 years old.
Mount Batur sunrise trek
Walk up an active volcano in the dark with a local guide, and watch the sun rise over Lake Batur and Mount Agung from the top. Breakfast is often cooked in the steam of the volcano.
Pickup in the middle of the night; about two hours up. A reasonable fitness level is needed.
Ernest's adventure day
ATV, rafting and the Bali swing in one day
All three are close to each other around Ubud. Pick two or all three, and Ernest books them and drives you from one to the next.
See the Ubud adventure dayOn the water
Calm bays for watersports, coral reefs for snorkelling and dolphins at sunrise.
Watersports
Tanjung Benoa, next to Nusa Dua, has sheltered water and a row of watersport centres: parasailing, jet ski, banana boat, flyboard and seawalker, where you walk on the seabed with a diving helmet.
Best in the morning, when the sea is calm. About 30 to 45 minutes from Uluwatu, where Ernest lives.
Snorkelling and diving
Snorkel straight from the beach in Amed, dive the Liberty shipwreck at Tulamben, or swim with manta rays on the Nusa Penida complete package, Ernest's favourite.
Snorkelling suits all ages. Diving courses are available for beginners.
Dolphin watching in Lovina
At sunrise, small outrigger boats leave the beach at Lovina to look for the dolphins that swim along the north coast. Afterwards, the hot springs of Banjar and the waterfalls nearby.
Boats leave at dawn, so a night in Lovina is best. See the Lovina tour.
Culture, crafts and shopping
Cook, make and see what Bali is famous for, and take some of it home.
Balinese cooking class
Start at a local morning market to buy the ingredients, then cook a full Balinese meal with a local family or chef: the spice paste called base genep, sate lilit on lemongrass sticks, vegetables in peanut sauce and a sweet dessert. Then you eat what you made.
Usually a morning or an afternoon, around Ubud. Good for children too.
Arts and crafts
The villages around Ubud each have their own craft. Make your own silver ring in Celuk, try woodcarving in Mas, or paint a batik cloth with hot wax and dyes. Ernest takes you to workshops where you learn from the makers themselves.
Two to three hours per workshop. Combine with the Ubud day tour.
Kite making
Kites are a big part of life in Bali. In the windy season the sky fills with huge traditional kites, some many metres long, flown by whole villages. Build a smaller one yourself with a local kite maker, then fly it on the beach.
A fun half day for families.
Water blessing at Tirta Empul
Join the Balinese in the purification ritual at the holy spring of Tirta Empul. Ernest explains the meaning of the ritual and how to take part respectfully.
Bring a change of clothes. Part of the Ubud day tour.
Kecak fire dance: Uluwatu or Melasti
A circle of men chanting "cak" tells the Ramayana story: Prince Rama rescues his wife Sita from the demon king Rawana, with the help of the monkey king Hanuman. It ends with fire. There are two places to see it, both close to where Ernest lives:
- Uluwatu Temple: the classic, in an open-air theatre on the cliff, about 70 metres above the ocean.
- Melasti Beach: a stage on the beach in Ungasan, at the foot of white limestone cliffs.
Both start around sunset, at about 6 pm. Ernest gets your tickets. Part of the Uluwatu tour.
Shopping tour
The art markets of Sukawati and Ubud, silver in Celuk and woodcarving in Mas, or the boutiques of Seminyak. Ernest waits with the car, so your bags are safe while you shop on.
Half day or full day. Bring cash for the markets.
Book an activity
Choose a date and the number of guests, and tell Ernest which activity you would like.