Bali &Gili islands
Jun 27th, 2010, 12:13 PM
#1
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Bali &Gili islands
Hello.
Just wondering if anyone would recommend a little side trip of 3 days to one of the Gili Islands if visiting Bali for 2 weeks?
Which of the islands would be better for:
1) spotting turtles
2) Good off shore snorkelling
3) couples looking for a chilled break
Any tips on fastest sea crossing company from Bali and from where would be greatly appreciated too.
Thanks.
Just wondering if anyone would recommend a little side trip of 3 days to one of the Gili Islands if visiting Bali for 2 weeks?
Which of the islands would be better for:
1) spotting turtles
2) Good off shore snorkelling
3) couples looking for a chilled break
Any tips on fastest sea crossing company from Bali and from where would be greatly appreciated too.
Thanks.
Jun 27th, 2010, 05:19 PM
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a flight is the fastest....the ferries take 4-5 hours i believe...
we like qunci villas on lombok....very laid back, very nice accomodations, excellent food... easy to get to.... fantastic pool seaside...
we like qunci villas on lombok....very laid back, very nice accomodations, excellent food... easy to get to.... fantastic pool seaside...
Jun 27th, 2010, 06:39 PM
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Lombok and the Gilis have been undergoing a bit of a Renaissance lately and information is in flux. There are now fast ferries from Bali to both Lombok and to the Gilis; I haven't done this trip myself so I'll leave it to someone else to give you details.
On Lombok, everyone seems to like Qunci Villas. If you have a larger group you may want to look into a villa rental. Accomodations on the Gilis have also markedly improved in the last two years, and although the new and renovated resorts are getting better the beaches are still just so-so.
I'm also fairly negative on the snorkling off the Gilis. Although there's a recent and aggressive reef conservation program in place, it's going to take decades to get the sealife back to healthy conditions. The area is, however, good for deep, drift diving with large pelagics.
Can't help you on the turtles.
On Lombok, everyone seems to like Qunci Villas. If you have a larger group you may want to look into a villa rental. Accomodations on the Gilis have also markedly improved in the last two years, and although the new and renovated resorts are getting better the beaches are still just so-so.
I'm also fairly negative on the snorkling off the Gilis. Although there's a recent and aggressive reef conservation program in place, it's going to take decades to get the sealife back to healthy conditions. The area is, however, good for deep, drift diving with large pelagics.
Can't help you on the turtles.
Jun 28th, 2010, 05:05 PM
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We snorkeled in andaround Lombok a few years ago. unless nature has re-invented itself by lighh years the conditions cannot yet be considered very good. Yes, you can see blue Sea Stars (yes, stat fish are technically called sea stars I just learned on my expedition trip around Sulewisi and banda Islanlands in March). If you want terrific snorkeling it is a short flight to Monado and snorkel in Bunaken National Park. you will think you "died and went to heaven".
Jun 30th, 2010, 08:12 AM
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Thanks for the top tips guys!
Quinci Villas looks lovely.
My concern is the decline of good snorkelling around there now Mmmm???
Would you guys suggest heading further northwest or southeast of Bali for better snorkelling?
Manado looks fab but bit of a trek for this holiday thanks as we have stay quite locally for the 2weeks as we have a wedding to attend mid holiday.
Looks like a must for another time though!
By the way, is 3 nights ample time to explore in and around UBUD, Bali?
Would you say the traditional dance put on in the evenings is a must?
Thanks again guys.
Quinci Villas looks lovely.
My concern is the decline of good snorkelling around there now Mmmm???
Would you guys suggest heading further northwest or southeast of Bali for better snorkelling?
Manado looks fab but bit of a trek for this holiday thanks as we have stay quite locally for the 2weeks as we have a wedding to attend mid holiday.
Looks like a must for another time though!
By the way, is 3 nights ample time to explore in and around UBUD, Bali?
Would you say the traditional dance put on in the evenings is a must?
Thanks again guys.
Jun 30th, 2010, 03:28 PM
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The reefs around Menjangnan in North Bali are beautiful. The fish and coral are in good shape. My only caveat is that the shelf can get quite crowded with snorklers and dive boats.
You can get to North Bali as a day trip from Ubud but it's a long day. Pemuteran is a nice place to stay in the area.
I looked at the Alam Shanti Gilis on TripAdvisor. Several guests raved about the snorkling there, so maybe it's worth pursuing further.
I think you could fill up more than three days in Ubud as there's a lot to do involving both nature and culture. Yes, do go to at least one dance performance.
The Ubud Palace is always good. Get there early and sit in front. I also like Peliatan and especially the kecak at Jungjungan. Jungjungan is a bit farther out and the setting is really atmospheric.
You can get a dance schedule at your resort or at the Ubud information center. Be aware however that plans can change at the last minute.
If there's a temple festival going on there will be on-site dancing and gamelan which is wonderful to see. This is where a good guide is helpful.
You can get to North Bali as a day trip from Ubud but it's a long day. Pemuteran is a nice place to stay in the area.
I looked at the Alam Shanti Gilis on TripAdvisor. Several guests raved about the snorkling there, so maybe it's worth pursuing further.
I think you could fill up more than three days in Ubud as there's a lot to do involving both nature and culture. Yes, do go to at least one dance performance.
The Ubud Palace is always good. Get there early and sit in front. I also like Peliatan and especially the kecak at Jungjungan. Jungjungan is a bit farther out and the setting is really atmospheric.
You can get a dance schedule at your resort or at the Ubud information center. Be aware however that plans can change at the last minute.
If there's a temple festival going on there will be on-site dancing and gamelan which is wonderful to see. This is where a good guide is helpful.
Jul 1st, 2010, 01:36 AM
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Menjangan Island is a wonderful trip to go to the northern part of Bali. Along the way, you can drive through some amazing rice field views, visit the Botanical Gardens, see the temple in the Lake, and just see some very nice scenery in cool surroundings. (because of high elevation.) I usually do at least 2 nights in Pemuteran, as it's a few hours trip up North, so I snorkel off Menjangan the next morning until early afternoon, then relax, have a massage. The next morning snorkel off the beach and then have a leisurely ride back on whatever round I want to take back to Ubud. I do this quite often, and have never seen any crowds at all. At most there are one or two other boats, and as there are at least 5 different spots for snorkeling/diving, you can easily avoid the other people.
For the evening dance/gamelan performances, yes, if you don't know these art forms you should go to a different one every night! The Tourist Information Center (973-285) has the up-to-date schedules and can let you know if there are free shuttles available from their office in the center of downtown Ubud. I personally don't like the performances at the Ubud Palace, there are others much better, but then the schedule changes every day of the week so it depends on what you want to see: Legong, Kecak, Barong, Wayang Kulit, Jegog, Trance Dance, etc etc. And, of course there are frequent ceremonies, but they are very different and not all ceremonies involve dances or shadow puppets. (and the tourist office usually knows their schedules too, but they depends on each villages' calendar...several times a year). Yesterday in our village there was a cremation of a lay priest and quite a few (about a dozen) tourists came to the procession and walked down to the cemetary but didn't stay for ritual burning of the body.
For the evening dance/gamelan performances, yes, if you don't know these art forms you should go to a different one every night! The Tourist Information Center (973-285) has the up-to-date schedules and can let you know if there are free shuttles available from their office in the center of downtown Ubud. I personally don't like the performances at the Ubud Palace, there are others much better, but then the schedule changes every day of the week so it depends on what you want to see: Legong, Kecak, Barong, Wayang Kulit, Jegog, Trance Dance, etc etc. And, of course there are frequent ceremonies, but they are very different and not all ceremonies involve dances or shadow puppets. (and the tourist office usually knows their schedules too, but they depends on each villages' calendar...several times a year). Yesterday in our village there was a cremation of a lay priest and quite a few (about a dozen) tourists came to the procession and walked down to the cemetary but didn't stay for ritual burning of the body.
Jul 4th, 2010, 01:43 PM
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Gilicat fast boat takes 1 1/2 hours to Gili T a little pricey about 130 US RT.
Hotel: Scallywags
www.scallywagsresort.com
Hotel: Scallywags
www.scallywagsresort.com
