No visit to Bali is complete without a visit to the island’s stunning North region. Just a couple of hours from the airport you find to some of the most beautiful and iconic attractions on the island. Some are famous around the world, like the serene water temple Ulun Danu on lake Bratan,  while some are still waiting to be discovered. The waterfall in Ambengan, for example, is every bit as spectacular as the more famous waterfall in Git-Git, yet it lies completely undisturbed, except for the monkeys, that sometimes play tag in the vines above the natural pool at the waterfall’s base.

LOVINA Five small fishing villages along the black volcanic sands of the North Bali coast form the area of Lovina. Named by the last king of Singaraja, Lovina offers plenty of relaxed tropical charm, and it is the perfect vantage point for exploring Bali’s northern region. The beaches are some of the prettiest on the island, most are wide and undisturbed, with majestic palms framing the dark sand and the gentle tropical sea. The villages are famous for their dolphin trips. Every morning at sunrise a handful or more of converted outrigger fishing boats venture out in search of the pods of dolphins that roam the calm waters of Lovina bay. Most often a few dozen dolphins are sighted, playing and somersaulting in the wake of the boats, but just as often you can be lucky to see groups of hundreds as the sun rises over Bali’s green mountains. Maybe the early morning expeditions are the cause of the quiet, easygoing nightlife of Lovina, with guitars on the beach rather than discoteques.

SINGARAJA Nowhere on the island can you experience the rich history of Bali’s old kingdoms like in North Bali. The town of Singaraja, just a few minutes drive from Lovina, was once the proud capital of Bali, and the kings that ruled here was recognised as the foremost of all Bali’s royalty. Today the the wide and pleasant avenues is a testament to the city’s colonial past – and although without many tourist atractions as such, a visit to Singaraja will let you participate in life as it is led in the real Bali. By special arrangement with the royal family of Singaraja, Damai can arrange a tour of the palace, where a member of the royal family will guide you through the rich history and culture represented in these modest buildings, that are as much a family home as a royal dwelling. Or you can venture out on a morning visit to the towns bustling food market, where one of Damai’s chefs will show you where many of our supplies come from.

BEDUGUL The name Bedugul is the official name for the North Bali region – but the name also covers the central highland region of Bali. Here you drive through majestic volcanic mountains, sometimes with views stretching from coast to coast. Most of Bali’s produce comes from this fertile soil and you can sample it in the central highland market. Here you find the three holy lakes Tamblingan, Buyan and Bratan, with the muted splendor of the Ulun Danu temple, and of course Kebun Raya, Bali’s beautiful botanical gardens.

MUNDUK This small farming village in the highlands behind Lovina is still waiting to be discovered by the general tourist visiting the island. The picturesque town, which hugs verdant mountainsides, surrounded by coffee plantations and chrysantemum farms, almost brings to mind the legend of Shangri-La.

The southern tourist centres of Bali has today sprawled to be almost interwoven, and is so well connected by a network of roads, that many think of it as one homogenous area. But still each area has it’s own distinct atmosphere, and even in the one spot where tourism is most concentrated, the original, unspoilt Bali culture flourish effortlessly side by side with the restaurants, the bars and the brand name shops. Even here, the ricefields are never more than a short walk away.

JIMBARAN is a small fishing village with probably the best beach in Bali that manages to be close to everything while maintaining the distinct Balinese village atmosphere.

SEMINYAK has grown to be the dining Mecca of Bali. Here the restarants lie side by side and the area offers a more mature and relaxed nightlife than neighbouring KUTA and LEGIAN, where bars and discos dominate rather than restaurants and lounges. SANUR is often the place of choice for families, a quiet, relaxed beach resort village with a clean white beach and a wide range of souvenir shops and inexpensive restaurants.

UBUD Despite being one of Bali’s most visited tourism areas the culture flourishes here more than ever, and the town is undoubtedly the artist’s centre in Bali. Along the famous ‘Museum Mile’ you can visit the main art museums of Bali, and serveral interesting temples are found in the area. The villages around Ubud all offer many oportunities for handicraft shopping and Ubud itself has a good selction of restaurants and quiet nightlife.

PADANG BAI Besides being the harbour from which the ferry to Lombok departs the tiny village of Padang Bai offers two beautiful bays with crescent sandy beaches, scattered with a choice of basic accomodations and restaurants.

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