Bali holidays

Snorkelling and diving rank as two of the most unforgettable experiences on our Bali holidays. There is a string of sites along the north and east coasts showcasing coral gardens flush with tropical fish, barrel sponges and sea anemones, no distance at all from the shore. The coral-covered WW2 wreck at Tulamben is breathtaking with a ban on fishing inviting vast numbers of of eels, octopus, squid and barracuda alongside shoals of damsel, butterfly and clown fish. Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida, just off the southeast coast, promise manta rays via dive boats around Penida whilst at Mangrove Point on Lembongan, currents are much gentler to allow a safe drift over fish-filled coral nurseries. Bali Barat National Park always promises successful snorkelling with Menjangan Island, particularly the shallow reef, coral canyon and subsequent drop off, conjuring up sea turtles, white tipped sharks, eagle and sting rays.

Away from Bali’s beaches it’s rice terraces melting over hillsides like clocks in Dali's Persistence of Memory that attract those seeking solace from the heat. Central highland villages like Jatiluwih, overlooked by Mt Batukaru, are awash with scenic, water-filled paddy fields. For photographers looking for the greenest of green shoots, February to April is the best time to visit the rice terraces although if you come a couple of months later, in June and July, you’ll find the fields alive with activity as crops are harvested before Sasih Karo storing ceremonies in August. Walking and cycling is certainly the best way to explore in the central highlands. Quiet country tarmac lanes lead between rice terraces, fruit orchards, spice plantations and pockets of rural life to be found in and around villages like Munduk, just a two hour drive north of Ubud.