This Indonesian island is famous for its tropical beaches and the welcoming smile of its inhabitants. It is a private and exotic place with a fascinating volcanic landscape and age-old, highly-coloured, agricultural and Hindu rituals.

For the last thirty years or so, Western tourists have ranked Bali as a major destination for tropical tourism. The Indonesian island, situated between Java and Lombok, presents the image of an exotic Garden of Eden where superb amenities are matched only by the fabulous landscape which is maintained by a people whose kindness knows no bounds. Bali is often mentioned in connection with its beaches. To the south of the island, near the capital Denpasar, Kuta, Jimbaran, Sanur and the island of Nusa Penida, fringed with white sand beaches, are home to a number of hotels of charm for visitors in search of exquisite delights.

There is also much to discover in the interior of Bali. The population, with its Hindi-Balinese religion, maintains more than twenty thousand temples dedicated to famous goddesses such as Shiva and Vishnu not to mention Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and Bata Sri, the goddess of rice. Between these villages, which frequently spring into life with religious festivals, there is the truly memorable sight of rice paddies sculpted into terraces on the sparkling green slopes.

The heart of the island throbs too to the rhythm of its towns and volcanoes. Klungung, the former capital of the kings of Bali, is full of surprises in much the same way as its neighbour, Ubud, utterly charming. Ubud, the ‘cultural epicentre’ of Bali, is renowned for its museum of painting and its performances of Balinese music and dance.
The volcanoes form part of the geological foundations of the island. From the summit of Agung volcano, the highest (3 142 m) of the three craters on Bali, stunning views confirm Bali as an island of thrills and spectacular sights.