What to do in Bali - Part 3

At about the halfway mark of our holiday we decided to make our way to the Gili islands. I'd read a lot about the journey over to the island before the holiday and had got pretty worried about the boat journey (a quick Google will tell you why), but we didn't want anything to hold us back. Our boat trip to the Gili's was organised by the owner of our Air BnB but there's loads of places around Ubud you can book onto a boat.

A mini coach picked us up from the Hostel on the morning of the trip and we made our way to the dock where crowds of people were also waiting for their boats. It was pretty hectic but we eventually made it on board! I'm not going to lie, it was pretty rocky but I just put a podcast on and zoned out and it wasn't long before we were on Gili T.

There are 3 Gili islands: Gili T, Gili Air and Gili Meno, and each has their own vibe. We decided on Gili T as Ellie was turning 23 so we wanted somewhere to party and Gili T seemed like the perfect place. (We didn't visit either of the other Gili's properly but I've heard Gili Air is great and a bit more chilled, while Gili Meno is more coupley and relaxing).

Gili T definitely attracts a younger (and more Australian) crowd, there's a "strip" along the seafront where all the clubs and bars are located and everyone heads here on a night time. In the daytime rent a bicycle (we got ours from the hostel we stayed at) and you can take the coastal path round the whole island. You'll have your pick of beaches and beach bars to rest at and it's easy to wile away the hours admiring the crystal clear seas.

(You'll find a lot of these sea side swings along the island, a photo is obligatory)

 There's loads of fun looking hostels to choose from on the Island, we opted for Broken Compass which is pretty basic room wise but it's got a great bar people hang out on an evening and (though it was broken while we were there) a pool. Restaurant wise there's a lot of options along the sea front, but if you're hankering for something a bit different after weeks away there's actually an amazing pizzeria called Regina Pizzeria you should definitely check out.

It was Ellie's birthday while we were on the island, so as well as an obligatory night out which began in a beer pong bar and ended at a jazz club, we booked onto a snorkelling trip. You can rent out some snorkelling equipment along the beach front but as we'd never snorkelled before we decided to go for a guided trip. 

We had to make our way down to the boat pretty early (and made us slightly regret the obligatory night out) and took us to 3 main spots around all 3 islands that are great for snorkelling. As well as an array of colourful fish we were lucky enough to spot turtles as well! I'd definitely recommend making sure you get some snorkelling action in while on Gili T.

One thing that Gili T does really well is sunsets. Head to a beach spot away from the main strip to grab a sun lounger and take in the views before cycling home. I can't think of a better way to spend an evening.

After a few amazing (and boozy) days on Gili T it was time to head back to Bali where we had another quick pit stop at Ubud before heading onto Canggu.

I unfortunately don't have many photos of Canggu which is a shame because it's a very cool place, definitely more "hipster" then anywhere else we went to. There were boutiques with amazing clothes and jewellery, and rather than the little warungs we'd become used to there were actual restaurants.

We stayed in the most amazing hostel here called Water Born (check out their playlist on Spotify to get a feel for the atmosphere). It was just a short walk to the beach and had its own pool for lazier days. While you're in Canggu definitely check out Old Man's Bar - everyone piles here after a day at the beach and it's the perfect place to grab some beers.

Our trip ended with a couple of nights in Seminyak which has to be the most built up and "touristy" spot we stayed in. I personally wouldn't recommend staying here but that's not to say we didn't have a lovely final few days!

 As long as there's sun, sea and a beach you can't go wrong! We did our usual routine of finding a sun lounger to relax and spend the day reading and podcasting. As the afternoon went by the restaurant we'd chosen brought out colourful beanbags and umbrellas and we swapped our sun lounger for a beanbag at the front, affording us a gorgeous view as the sun set on our final day.

In case you weren't able to tell from my posts I had the most incredible holiday in Bali. There's endless activities to get involved with, or if you prefer r&r on holiday it offers this in buckets too (I'm talking seriously cheap massages). The Balinese people are also so kind and welcoming to tourists which made our trip even better!

If you've got any questions about Bali or something I mentioned in one of my posts just ask!

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Labels: bali , Travel