Not Touristy Places to Escape the Crowds in Bali

Bali is a paradise island. Unfortunately for people who don’t like crowds, this is a well-known fact, so a lot of Bali has become touristy and crowded. But there are still parts of Bali that are not touristy and where you can enjoy the paradise in peace and quiet.

To preface, I traveled in Bali mostly in off season, so that may influence the low crowds I encountered in some of these places. But they will still have considerably less people even in peak season.

I’d recommend visiting these not touristy places using a scooter, since they’re in more remote parts of Bali. It’s also the cheapest and often easiest way to travel in Bali. Alternatively, you can rent a car or hire a private driver to take you to these places. But those are more expensive options.

Bonus tip: The first time I was in Bali was in September, and highly suggest visiting during this month. It’s when the crowds dwindle down after summertime and just before rainy season starts around October.

Munduk

The area around Munduk is remote but gorgeous. The ridge road that leads to Munduk has some of my favorite views of Bali. This small town is the perfect base for quiet relaxation. It’s not very big, and the glamping site I stayed at was almost empty. For those seeking solitude, it was paradise.

The surrounding mountains in Munduk are home to many beautiful waterfalls. For most of them, you’ll have to pay a small entrance fee or donation to the locals. But it’s not a lot and very much worth it.

My favorite was the Twin Waterfalls. This beautiful waterfall comes down in two immense streams, hence the name. It’s one of the most impressive waterfalls I’ve ever seen (and I’ve visited a lot).

You can swim in these waterfalls, so make sure to bring a swimsuit if you’re willing to brave the cold water! The cold swim will be very worth it though when you swim up to the waterfalls and are able to look up at the massive force of the water. I felt incredibly small being so close next to something so powerful.

Other than waterfalls, you’ll find lots of quiet places to enjoy the nature in Munduk. While you will find tourists here, it’s definitely not as touristy as other places in Bali due to the remoteness.

Krisik Waterfall

This waterfall is much quieter than nearby Insta-famous Tukad Cepung waterfall. Whereas there you’ll have to line up to take a photo, you might have Krisik Waterfall all to yourself.

It’s one of the least touristy waterfalls I found in Bali, and it’s really worth the small entrance fee.

And like with the neighboring Tukad Cepung waterfall, you’ll have to walk through a water-filled canyon to get to Krisik Waterfall, so it’s just as an adventure to get to it. In fact, I thought the path to the waterfall was more interesting than the waterfall itself.

And since this waterfall is not so touristy, you can get some good photos of the nature without other people in the shot, unlike with other places in Bali.

Tembuku Village

Located near Ubud and by Krisik Waterfall, there lies a village called Tembuku. Out of all my Bali explorations, this was the least touristy place I visited. Because unlike other places in this article, you probably won’t hear about this place elsewhere.

The only reason why I found out about it was by accident. And because a local requested I tell the world about his home, I’m doing that now.

We wandered into a rice field in this village trying to find a good spot to watch the sunset.

I’ve paid money in other places for sunrise and sunset tours, where hoards of other people were also watching the sunset. While those were all very beautiful places, this one was one of my favorites because there were no other people around.

That is, except for the local rice farmers walking back from a day working in the fields, all smiling despite the hard day they must have had.

As the sun set over the vibrant green rice stalks, with Bali’s volcanoes silhouetted in the distance, I felt like I truly experienced the real beauty of Bali.

So if you’re visiting Krisik Waterfall, make sure to stop by the rice fields of Tembuku village to watch a gorgeous sunset.

Pura Gunung Kawi

This temple definitely had some tourists, but it’s not as touristy as other places in Bali, like the nearby water temple. While there is a more modern temple here, the main draw is the archeological site with the shrines to ancient kings. These shrines date back to the 11th century!

The great thing about this site is that it’s quite big and spread out, so there were places where we were the only ones despite seeing other tourists elsewhere in the complex.

You’ll also find some rice terraces here, so you can some nice photos with no tourists in the background, unlike other more touristy places in Bali.

GGC Waterfall

This is a waterfall that may one day be touristy, as evidenced by the locals working hard to make it one of Bali’s many insta-famous waterfalls. When we were there, the locals were maintaining paths and telling us where to go for the best shots.

For now, though, you’ll likely have it to yourself. You can actually climb up the waterfall for a cool picture (although be very careful—it’s slippery). And to the left of the main waterfall, you can wade through the river to a swimming hole in front of a smaller waterfall. This was probably my favorite not touristy waterfall and swimming hole in Bali.

Not touristy often means tricky to get to when it comes to Indonesia, and that’s true here. You’ll have to drive and walk through rice fields to get to the path down to the waterfall, but the locals will be happy to point you in the right direction.

This waterfall is currently free to enter, although a donation is suggested.

Pemandian Air Panas/ Natural Hot Spring Piling Kawan

This natural hot spring in northern Bali is small, but it’s not touristy, so you might find yourself the only one there.

What I liked about this hot spring (besides the lack of crowds) was that there were manmade pools with the hot spring water pumped through, but there were also natural springs in the river below.

It’s not deep enough to swim in there, but you can sit under the pipes and “shower” using the hot spring water coming out.

Just be sure to take extra care on those rocks, as they’re very slippery. I banged up my toe really badly on one of those rocks.

Bedugul

Most people visit Bedugul for the temple. They stop by the temple and lake for just a bit and leave. But along the road that leads up to the lake, the village of Bedugul offers some peaceful and quiet homestays where you can have a more authentic look at Bali.

Perhaps because it’s a bit tricky to get to and there aren’t many Western comforts, but the accommodation I found in this rural area was not touristy at all, with hardly any foreigners around.

The first homestay I stayed at is definitely not for luxury travelers, but it’s one of the most unique experiences I had in Bali. It’s a treehouse homestay! The room is basic and you have to share a bathroom, but the countryside views are stunning and a friendly family runs it.

The other homestay I stayed at was Pondok Nyoman, which has much better amenities. In addition to a nicer room and more food options, there’s a pool overlooking rice terraces that is absolutely stunning. The owner is so welcoming and loves having conversations with his guests, so it’s a great place for local immersion.

Lovinia

This beach town had a bit of an abandoned vibe to it. Maybe because I was there during off season and there weren’t any crowds, but many of the hotels seemed like they had their glory days in the 70’s and 80’s. So if you’re looking for hip, modern accommodation and cafes to feature on Instagram, stay on the south part of the island. You’ll find plenty there.

Up at Lovina, you’ll instead find quiet beaches with cheap accommodation. True, the beaches aren’t as pretty as other places in Bali. But there are dolphin watching tours you can go on every morning and nice spots to watch the sunset in the evenings.

Not far from Lovina is Air Panas Banjar Hot Spring. This hot spring was mostly visited by locals when I was there. It was quiet with the perfect atmosphere to relax in a not so touristy part of Bali.

Secret Gardens

Entry to the Secret Gardens allows you to see several waterfalls.

The locals will try to sell you a tour to explore these waterfalls and go cliff jumping and swimming, although you can visit on your own if you prefer solitude. You’re just no allowed to go jumping.

The first waterfall is the Blue Lagoon. It’s a cool one, and you’re allowed to swim there without a guide. There’s a small waterfall at the top of it with a pool above it.

From Blue Lagoon, you can walk down to cross a stream. There should be a wooden plank, but the current wasn’t too strong and it’s shallow enough to walk through.

And on this side, you can walk through to see the other waterfalls. The first one after Blue Lagoon is Aling-Aling Waterfall. It’s probably the most impressive one.

We were told it’s considered sacred, so definitely no swimming in this one, even with a guide.

Bonus:

If you’re exploring Bali on motorbike, there were gorgeous views to drive along near the Secret Gardens. I’d recommend carving out some time to drive around this area and stop to take some beautiful pictures.

Along with the rice fields common to Bali, you can find other crops growing, like the marigold flowers used in Balinese ceremonies, along with mountaintop views of the ocean.

Uluwatu beaches

Uluwatu Temple is one of the most touristy places in Bali, but that’s where most tourists go in Uluwatu. The rest of Uluwatu is largely quiet, and it’s probably the most beautiful part of Bali.

Some beaches in Uluwaru do get crowded. But others are more quiet, so they’re great for anyone looking for not touristy beaches in Bali. I really liked Dreamland, which was quite empty when I was there (besides some early morning surfers).

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And if you want to explore more of what Indonesia has to offer, check out the nearby islands that are way underrated, a lot more not so touristy and—in some ways—better than Bali!

Did your favorite not so touristy spot in Bali make the list? Share it with us in the comments below!