Bali’s Ancient Ways Inspire Tourists To Connect With Life’s Simple Pleasures

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One of the biggest joys of traveling to Bali is the opportunity to connect with Balinese culture. Here at The Bali Sun, we are big advocates for holidaymakers adding cultural experiences to their vacations, and now Wonderful Indonesia, the national tourism board, is highlighting even more ways to connect with the province’s ancient ways of life.

Wonderful Indonesia is encouraging tourists to connect with Bali’s crafts, rituals, and daily traditions while on vacation. This is easier than you might initially think.

Culturally respectful and meaningful travel is the top priority for the Bali travel sector, and whether tourists stay just a couple of days or a couple of months, connecting with Balinese culture is inescapable in all the right ways. 

From daily canang sari offerings to staple dinners like nasi goreng, there are small, simple ways tourists can experience Balinese culture during their vacation. There, however, are seriously engaging ways to dive deeper into Balinese culture and discover more of what this truly unique province has to offer. 

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Bali’s museums and cultural parks are the best place to start if you’re looking for a comprehensive introduction to Balinese culture. As highlighted by Wonderful Indonesia, top starting points are Taro Village, just outside of Ubud, the Samsara Living Museum, and the GWK Cultural Park.

Here at The Bali Sun, we will also throw our hot takes into the mix and recommend the ARMA Museum and the new Mekotek Cultural Park just outside of Canggu. 

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Desa Taro is a stunning traditional village in Gianyar Regency, located just minutes from the heart of Ubud. Home to traditional rice paddy terraces and an impressive eco-tourism program, a day trip to Desa Taro is a fantastic way for tourists visiting Bali to deepen their knowledge of local life by experiencing it firsthand. While the residents of Desa Taro are warm and welcoming, it is the village’s four-legged inhabitants that often steal the show.

Desa Taro is home to the sacred white cows of Bali, known as Lembu Putih. During a visit, tourists can meet the cows firsthand while local tour guides explain the animals’ mythology and their place in modern culture.

While in the Ubud area, it is possible to couple a half-day visit to Desa Taro with a tour of the ARMA Museum in Ubud. This is a great way to balance out experiencing living culture, cultural heritage, and history in one truly inspiring vacation day. 

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A trip to Desa Taro is ideal for those staying in Ubud, but for those staying on the Bukit Peninsula, that is to say, staying in Sanur, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, or Uluwatu, the best option for a cultural day trip is a visit to the GWK Cultural Park.

The highlight of the GWK Cultural Park is the impressive Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue, which is so tall that it can be seen upon descent into Bali Airport and, on a clear day, even be spotted from as far away as Canggu.

The GWK Cultural Park is great for the family and even solo travellers too. With live daily cultural shows, exhibitions, and workshops for guests to enjoy, this is not a place to rush through.

Tourists visiting GWK Cultural Park should allow a full day to explore, and we bet you’ll still want to return the next day!

GWK Cultural Park famously hosts one of Bali’s biggest and most impressive New Year’s Eve festivals, so if you’re going to be in town for the countdown, you know where to find the party!

GWK Cultural Park, being located so centrally to the top tourism resorts, welcomes a huge number of tourists each day.

For those looking for an immersive cultural experience that is a little more on the quiet side, a visit to the Samsara Living Museum in Karangasem Regency is a must.

This adorable living museum gives tourists the opportunity to connect on a deeper and authentic level. Guests have the opportunity to take part in a Balinese dance lesson, take part in a traditional orchestra class, or even learn how to make Balinese palm liquor known as arak.