Bali Without The Bogans
โLing, Iโve been told to call you a Boganโ, my friend Ara said to me at Denpasar airport, eagerly waiting for my reaction. โWhat!?โ I yelled, as the others around us began to giggle. After the laughter passed, Ara turned back to me and sheepishly asked, โWhatโs a Bogan?โ
What is a โboganโ?
For our international readers, a โboganโ is used to describe someone considered loud, unsophisticated and of bad taste (similar to a hillbilly, redneck or a chav). They are typical to Australian culture, often depicted in white singlets, mullets and โpluggasโ (aka thongs or flip flops); southern cross tattoos are optional. They also happen to frequent Bali.
To Australians, Bali is known as Bogan territory. If youโve been to Bali, you would have seen them, Bingtang singlets, cornrow hairstyles, alcoholic beverages and boisterous voices in tow. This was one of the main reasons I had been hesitant to visit Bali. Donโt get me wrong, thereโs nothing particularly wrong with bogans, but they are normally not my crowd. But Iโm here to tell you that there is so much more to Bali than just the bogans. Iโm talking about awesome beaches, historic temples, dreamy sunsets, friendly locals and cheap, tasty food.
Feeling pinspired? Hover and click on the images to save them to your Pinterest boards!
My friends were surprised to hear how much I loved Bali. Especially since I was, to be frank, a travel snob and had previously voiced my disdain for Bali and all the bogans that would frequent there. But here I am, unequivocally apologetic and eating my words, as it turns out Bali is amazing, breathtakingly Instaworthy and I love it there!
Where to go
If you are like us, and want to avoid the โbogansโ, our first general advice is to stay away from Kuta. Even Seminyak is looking more commercial and overrun with Bintang singlet, and Southern Cross tattoos these days. If thatโs your crowd, by all means, enjoy! However, if you prefer the quieter, less touristy areas, then we say head north or south.
For Breathtaking Beaches: Uluwatu
Uluwatu is approximately 1 hour south of Seminyak. There is a very cool surfer-hippie vibe here and Bingin Beach is really laid back. Itโs where the โbeautiful peopleโ go. The beaches are pristine, offering a decent swell for the surfers and the warungsย (small family-run cafรฉs/restaurants) offer delicious food-with-views, including smoothie bowls and nasi gorengs, for reasonable prices.
Think Bali has the best beaches in Indonesia? Check out our post on Raja Ampat to see true paradise.
For Temples & Tradition: Penglipuran Traditional Village
Imagine paths lined with bamboo archways, Balinese temples and traditional houses, barely touched by time. Penglipuran village is a highland village, located approximately 2 hours north-east of Seminyak (although this time can vary substantially on traffic). The locals are friendly and will often invite you into their home to look around, but be warned that they will try to sell you souvenirs at the same time.
If traipsing out to Penglipuran Village is a little far from where you are staying, worry not, as you will find opportunities to see Balinese culture and tradition all over the island. In fact, there are over 6,000 temples spread out all over Bali. The popular ones are Uluwatu Temple, Tanah Lot and Besakih Temple. The Kecak and Fire Dance can be seen at Uluwatu Temple most evenings. With hypnotic chanting, elaborate costumes, enchanting flames and a plot that rivals the Bold and the Beautiful, this ritual is interesting and unlike anything I had seen before.
If you do go attend the performance though, please, please donโt be one of those people who leave while the performance is still going. We saw so many groups of people awkwardly try to manoeuvre their way through the crowds whilst the performance was underway, bringing more attention to themselves than the performers. If you are going to watch, stay until the end. Itโs just rude (and dare I say, โbogan-likeโ?) to leave beforehand.
Love destinations with a mix of culture, adventure and beauty? Check out our 25 Things to do in Yogyakarta post forย inspiration!
For Luscious Surroundings: Ubud
Ubud is increasingly getting popular for tourists, thanks to Julia Roberts in Eat, Pray, Love. Luscious rice field terraces, Hindu temples and craft stores are definitely part of its appeal. The air is also a lot cleaner and cooler up there, making it the perfect setting for yoga and a nature retreat.
Where to stay
A visit to Bali, no matter where you decide to visit, is incomplete without a stay in your very own private villa. You will truly feel like royalty when you have someone come and deliver your meals to you, away from the hustle and bustle outside the private villa walls. A villa with a pool is an absolute must (swimmers optional)!
We stayed at the Kamaya Villas in Sanur and The G Villas in Uluwatu and loved both of them. There is no shortage of villa options throughout Bali, so pick one that suits your wants and budget.
If a villa stretches the budget, our tip is to stay somewhere within walking distances to where you want to visit, as traffic jams are all too common here and you will find yourself sitting in traffic for far longer than it may take to walk! During my Trip of Wonders with the Ministry of Tourism, I stayed in the Golden Tulip Devins Seminyak and could walk to the stores, clubs and restaurants nearby. If you do stay here, check out the rooms with Jacuzzis!
If your typical hotel isnโt your thing (us neither) and you do want to escape the crowds, you canโt go wrong with the bungalows lining Bingin Beach. We absolutely loved our stay at The Inn Possible. Located at the end of Bingin Beach, the bungalow has stunning views of the beach, where you can enjoy your breakfast from the balcony. Be warned! The only way to get to Bingin Beach and the bungalows is down a massive flight of uneven stairs, so be prepared to test your fitness and pack light!
What to do
Island Mermaids
For something a little different, you can live out your mermaid fantasies and do a half-day tour with Island Mermaids.
Ever dreamed of being a mermaid? You can! Read about Island Mermaidsย mermaid school in Bali here!
Go-Jek scooter to other beaches
You can hire your own scooter quite cheaply in Bali for 80,000 rupiah (approximately $10), but if you arenโt confident in riding, Iโd warn against it. So many tourists end up in accidents, and donโt get me started on the lack of concern for helmets! If, like me, you arenโt great at riding a scooter, you can always hire a GoJek. They are essentially like Uber (which is illegal in Bali), but on scooters. You can even order food, massages and other goodies by GoJek, and itโs a cheap and easy way to get around.
TIP: Bali is not easy to get around! Between the lack of public transport and traffic jams, hiring a personal driver is one of the better options. If you decide to take a taxi, make sure you go for a Blue Bird taxi and make sure it’s metered or you agree to a price before setting off! Taxi drivers are renownedย for ripping off tourists and saying, “the meter’s broken”, to then charge whatever they want.
Day clubs
If you want to really treat yourself, purchase a ticket to one of the many day clubs in Bali. The Karma Kandara Beach Clubย is our favourite, located on a spectacular private beach in the south of Uluwatu. For Rp500,000, you get entrance and use of the facilities and Rp300,000 food and drink credit (so it really only costs Rp200,000 = AU$20). They also offer beachfront massages, spa treatments and water activities, but the exclusive beach is the main attraction.
If you have a late flight departing Bali, the VIP Boarding Lounge Experience from Sundara in Jimbaran Bay is an absolute must! Show your boarding pass/e-ticket to the concierge and purchase Rp750,000+ (AU$75) of Food and Beverage credit ย and you will get full use of the pool, loungers and facilities for the day. For the coveted day beds, itโs first in, best dressed, so get in early to nab yourself the best seat in the house. The food is half decent too, and what better day to finish up a trip to Bali, than to relax by the pool, with a tropical cocktail. With the airport only 15 minutes away (subject to traffic), you can laze the day away, right through to the night.
Night clubs
Donโt say I didnโt warn you, but you are bound to find bogans here (like anywhere, really). Butโฆ the night clubs in Bali are pretty amazing. On our last night in Bali, we visited La Favela and I was blown away. The dรฉcor was unlike any club I had seen and it was a maze of mirrors, plants, ponds and vintage items. Drinks arenโt cheap, but the free entrance, music and atmosphere make up for it. The other club that looks amazing is Mirror. We only saw it by day, but itโs also popular with the techno crowd at night.
Massages!
You canโt come to Bali and not indulge in a massage! You can either take the cheap route and get one off the street (average prices between Rp6,000 to Rp120,000), or spend the extra and really get pampered. Having experienced both the cheap and more expensive (but still far cheaper than what we pay at home) massages, I would advise to cough up the extra as the saying is true: You get what you pay for. The upper end massages are normally in opulent settings, with tea and wet towels provided, and the lower end may end up leaving you with burn marks or in more pain than when you started (but what can you expect from a $6 massage?). The best massage I had in Bali was at Prana Spa in Seminyak. With exotic trimmings, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in an Arabic palace when you are there, and the treatments are heavenly.
Having had such wonderful times in Bali on both occasions I visited and posting the โInsta-worthyโ photos from my trips, my friends (who also had avoided Bali up until now) have since decided they need to give Bali a go as wellโฆ
If you want to avoid the โbogan crowdโ and see the absolutely beautiful surroundings Bali has to offer, basically avoid Kuta and the more touristy areas of Seminyak. Having stayed in Seminyak, Sanur and Uluwatu, our pick is definitely Uluwatu. Itโs a bit further away from the hustle and bustle, but if you are seeking a relaxing and tropical getaway, this is the place to be.
What do you think? Have you been to Bali before? We’d love to know what you thought of your time there! Comment below.
A huge thanks toย the Indonesian Ministry of Tourismย for inviting me on their #TripofWonders and showing me some of Bali’s beautiful features.
This post contains some affiliate links. Booking via these links wonโt cost you any extra, but will help me get closer to my dream career, so thank you in advance!
Latest posts by Kim-Ling (see all)
- 9 Gifts for the Traveller at Home in 2020 - November 27, 2020
- Tropicfeel Shoes – The Travel Shoe for Everywhere, Every Day - June 22, 2020
- Light to Light Camps – The best way to do the Light to Light Walk - July 30, 2019
what a comprehensive post… and just learned about Bogans .. I am not sure if we have an equivalent here in Gurgaon ( may be everybody is one here ๐ )
Haha Thanks Prasad! I didn’t get the ‘bogan’ vibe from you when we met, so perhaps there aren’t any in Gurgaon ๐
A great guide, thanks! I am currently looking into Bali for later this year and this helps me immensely with the planning ๐
We’re glad to hear, Nat! We hope you enjoy it! ๐
You made me miss Bali now. I was here for a week and stay at Seminyak. I could say that Seminyak is way better than Kuta in terms of everything. Uluwatu is a good choice too. One of the reasons why people leave The Kecak and Fire Dance early is because of the advice of some tour company. They need to leave early to avoid the traffic out of the temple. Nice article! I hope I could visit Bali again ๐
Thanks Cai! We figured people were leaving early to avoid the traffic, but if they chose to sit closer to the exits, as opposed to sitting up high and having to climb over people when leaving it might not have been as distracting – it was not very subtle! We loved Uluwatu ๐
We have something in common. I too am a bit of a snob and had refused to go to Indonesia until this year when we made a cruise ship stop in Bali. In just one day I fell in love with Ubud, and can’t wait to go back – now with a list of new things to do like the nightclub with the mirrors, more foods, and bogan free beaches. We didn’t hit the beaches as it was raining all day.
Thanks, Rhonda! What a shame it was raining when you were there. Ubud is lovely, and hopefully when you return, you will get to enjoy some of the more stunning beaches!
Bali is indeed a perfect destination. The beaches and the food, they are just perfect for a holiday.
Oh yes, the food is wonderful! I certainly indulged in my daily mie gorengs when there! ๐
Bogan is such a great term. Sounds just a little sour and pungent when it rolls out of your mouth. Like you are spitting out a hairball or something. Yet, it rolls so nicely in your title alliteration. What a great article and concept. We just got back from Thailand and were faced with many of the same Bogan dodging issues that you were. perhaps, at the end of the day, you need to qualify who you are getting your advice from. Bogans, having a predisposition to being loud and self assured with their knowledge, are always offering advice. You get what you ask for if you follow it. Great article.
Thanks Jenn & Ed! Yes, the word bogan is so perfect for the description.. especially if you say it with a very occa Australian accent! There’s also many bogans in Thailand! I guess the secret is to go to the less-touristy areas.
Never heard of Bogans before, but i hate loud and noisy people around me-so i must say i hate bogans.wow bali is such a pretty place to go and relax and those stunning beach are just perfect getaway place.
Thank you Anneklien! Yes, Bali has some wonderful beaches and places to unwind!
Very convincing Ling! I am almost tempted to give Bali another go!!
Thanks Rish! I really hope you do get to go back and love it as much as we did!
I should really give Bali a second chance. I wasn’t very charmed when I saw it for the first time but it was long ago. Thanks for telling me about Bogans, I never heard the word before but we have a type of tourist going that way in Southern Europe, not sure if they have a nickname though. I think every country has them and it’s great to get some suggestions on how to avoid them where you can!
Thanks Anto. It’s a shame you weren’t impressed with Bali, and perhaps it’s not for everyone. I truly believe where you stay is a huge factor for a good experience here!
This is a gorgeous place, I have never heard of the Bogans and would love to see Bali – it looks very pretty.
Thanks Stacey! Yes, ‘bogan’ is an Aussie term. I’m sure every culture has an equivalent though! Bali is wonderful ๐
I’m the first to admit, as an Australian, that my level of interest in Bali has always been low, for many of the reasons that you have alluded to. Having visited other parts of Indonesia early last year, I know there is so much more to it than Bali. In doing so, it’s made me now reconsider my thoughts about Bali. I know there’s stuff I won’t like, but I will focus on the real beauty that so many others talk about.
Agreed, Kerri! I think it’s definitely a place that has a lot to offer, and by avoiding the more ‘touristy’ areas, you can find the real beauty of Bali.
Great post. Finding the quiet places in the party destinations is always a fun challenge. Thanks for the advice
Thanks Rand! It’s all about finding those perfect places! ๐