Bali’s position close to the equator means that it has a tropical climate with a dry season and a rainy season. However, the seasons are not always clear cut. Travelers can expect that there will be days with rain, no matter what time of year they take their Bali vacation. Fortunately, there is plenty to do in Bali, even when it’s raining. This article details ten fabulous tourist activities for wet days.
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Relax in a spa
Travelers can use a rainy day in Bali to take advantage of one of the island’s luxury spas. More than 20 of the world’s highest rated spas are situated in Bali and a wet day is a perfect time to pamper yourself with a massage, manicure, pedicure or revitalizing full body treatment. Many of the resorts, such as Banyan Tree in Ungasan, feature their own spas, and there are also day spas such as Away Spa W in Denpasar. The rain on the roof will add to the feeling of being cleansed and renewed as professional therapists massage away the stresses of modern life.
Related article: SPA The Balinese Way: 10 Best Luxury SPA in Bali
Go for a sea walk
What better time to get up close and personal with marine life than when it’s too wet for lounging on the beach? Bali Seawalker in Sanur offers travelers the opportunity to take an underwater tour of the coral reefs wearing specially designed helmets with a steady flow of oxygen. No diving experience is required, depths of approximately seven meters are reached, and oxygen tanks are stored on the boat above. Children from the age of ten are able to participate, and the underwater part of the tour lasts around thirty minutes. The activity gives participants a chance to view the colorful tropical marine life on the island’s coral reefs and a little rain on the surface has no effect on visibility at this depth. Sanur is a popular resort town on Bali’s east coast, a twenty-minute drive from the international airport.
Take a Yoga class
The ancient Indian art of Yoga is a perfect way to release tension, practice mindfulness and build strength and flexibility. Yoga classes can be taken whatever the weather and at the many Yoga centers and retreats in Bali. Take advantage of the natural environment of the island to enhance the feeling of peace and meditation. Most of the highest-rated Yoga centers in Bali are situated among the rolling rice terraces of inland Ubud. Mind, body, and nature will be at one and rain will be accepted as a life-giving gift, rather than a nuisance.
Shopping
Travelers who enjoy a spot of souvenir shopping will not even notice the rain as they enjoy the boutiques and malls of Bali. In the popular party destination of Kuta Beach, the new Beachwalk shopping and dining complex offers tourists a wide range of international brands and franchises as they shelter from the rain outside. The complex has interesting architecture, including fish ponds and fountains and many cafes and restaurants to choose from as well as the shops. Shoppers looking for unique Balinese arts and crafts to remember their holiday by will find an abundance of locally crafted items in the artist villages and art markets of inland Ubud.
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Learn to cook
What better souvenir to take home from a holiday than the skill of creating authentic Balinese dishes? And what better way to shelter from the rain outside than by working in a warm and welcoming kitchen? In popular Kuta Beach, the Anika Cooking Class takes participants through a culinary journey that begins with shopping for local ingredients in the Kuta markets and ends with the creation of nine delicious dishes.
Watch the theater show
The Devdan Show takes place four days a week at the Bali Nusa Dua Theater in South Bali, 30 minutes from the international airport or from Kuta. The show highlights an eclectic smorgasbord of Indonesian dance, performance and music and runs for ninety minutes. Travelers watching the captivating and perfectly choreographed show will forget all about the weather outside. The Devdan show is known as “The Treasure of the Archipelago” and is a must do on a holiday in Bali, even when the weather is clement.
Do handicraft
Bali is famous for its intricate local handicrafts, and many of the best-known artist workshops offer classes for travelers. One of the most popular courses is the Batik Popiler II in Tohpati, 35 kilometers from Denpasar City. Participants can shelter from the rain as they learn the ancient art of Batik, Indonesian textile painting.
Appreciate arts at the local museum
Bali has a rich culture and history and many well-preserved artifacts, and artworks can be viewed in the local museums. The largest concentration of museums is in Ubud, Bali’s art and craft capital, but other museums are scattered through the towns and locations of the island, too. One of the must-see museums is the Blanco Renaissance Museum in Ubud. Here travelers can view the extensive body of work of painter Don Antonio Blanco and enjoy the palatial home that he lived and worked in.
Chill out at a chic cafe
Bali is not only known for its tropical beaches, exciting nightlife and intricate arts and crafts: it also has some of the world’s most sought after coffee. Bali has a plethora of chic coffee bars, perfect to relax, converse, try Balinese and Java coffee varieties while sheltering from tropical downpours. Seminyak, the popular high-end resort town on the west coast, boasts many classy cafes while Kuta Beach has more alternative, relaxed venues. There are many unique and welcoming coffee bars peppered through the towns and villages of the island, and cafe hopping can be a perfect way to wile away a rainy afternoon.
Related article: The Most Unique Cafés In Bali
Learn to make jewelry
In Celuk Village, ten kilometers northeast of Denpasar City, travelers will find a cluster of master gold and silversmiths. At Prapen Jewelry, one of the major design houses, they offer tourists the chance to create their own beautiful jewelry under expert guidance. A rainy day on holiday need not be wasted when it can be used learning authentic Balinese jewelry methods, with the added benefit of walking away with a one-off piece of jewelry as a keepsake.
Image sources: bali-indonesia-com, anikacookingclass.com, devdanshow.com, facebook.com/Batik-Popiler, blancomuseum.com, ladyironchef.com, facebook.com/BaliActivities