Bali is an incredible location, so much history, a must see for any travel fan. About 90 minutes’ drive northeast of Ubud, the emerald-hued Sidemen Valley evokes the feel of Old Bali, before the tourist throngs descended on the island. Sleepy villages snuggle in the valley amid cascading rice terraces, and cloud-capped Mount Agung looms in the background like a benevolent sentry. A highlight of a visit here is strolling around the small villages, surrounded by farmland and rice paddies, where the locals still tend to their traditional activities. You can also hike through the countryside to the summit of Mount Agung or trek through the rice fields and lush countryside past cocoa and coffee plantations. Other popular things to do here include rafting the rivers; yoga retreats; and taking part in cultural activities such as dancing, carving, or traditional weaving. Homestays and B&Bs are particularly popular in this area, but you’ll also find some luxury villas overlooking the rice fields.

Gili Air is kind of a mix of Gili Meno and Gili T. Personally it’s the one I’d skip if you could only visit two of the islands, but it does have all the attributes of an island paradise, so it could be a good option. Getting to the Gili Islands: You can catch a fast ferry from Bali to the Gili Islands – it’ll take a few hours all up and can be booked from popular destinations in Bali such as Seminyak and Kuta. It’s not the cheapest option and apparently the seas can get rough, but it’s the most common way to get there. You can also take a public ferry to Lombok (from Padang Bai in Bali) then travel overland to Bangsal where you can take a local boat to your island of choice. Another option is to fly to Lombok then organise transport to Bangsal. Read more details at Bali to Gili.

Besakih Temple (also called Pura Besakih) is the most sacred Hindu temple in Bali. An important place of pilgrimage for devotees, the magnificent temple sits on the slopes of the volcanic Mount Agung. Split between six terraced levels, the complex is made up of more than 20 individual, but associated, temples. A spiritual Hindu site for at least 2,000 years, it is widely believed that the area has been a holy place since the prehistoric period. There are many fascinating shrines throughout the stunning complex along with a wealth of interesting architecture. Some 70 religious festivals take place at the temple every year.

You will find Menjangan Island in the north west of Bali and although it can take some time to get here, it is more than worth it is you want to visit the Menjangan National Marine Park. As well as trekking on the island the main reason to come here is for the diving and you will find a plethora of underwater delights such as coral reefs and colorful fish. There is also a good chance of seeing other sea creatures such as turtles, octopus, crabs, and rays.

Gili Air is a fair bit smaller and more refined compared to Gili Trawangan. Compared to both Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno, it is safe to say that Gili Air offers the best of both worlds and is the second most popular island to head to after the more established Gili Trawangan. Source: https://giliferries.com/.