Bali has long been considered the destination of choice for travelers looking for the chance to relax and unwind.
In fact, Tourism Minster Sanidaga Uno wants to promote the island as a destination for ‘serenity, spirituality and sustainability’ for which tens of thousands of travelers are heading to the island to experience.
A study conducted by Grand View Research Inc shows that ‘the global educational tourism market size is expected to reach USD 947.7 billion by 2030.
For many, the first ideas that come to mind about educational travel are school field trips, university study, or even cultural immersion. While this is undoubtedly the case, Bali offers a wide variety of educational experiences that are fun and not too labor-intensive.
In December 2022, the Deputy for Marketing of Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Ni Made Ayu Marthini, said that travel trends show that tourists in Bali want to do more than just relax.
She explained, “the age range of [tourism] market consumers in Indonesia is currently dominated by the millennial generation who are hungry for knowledge and information that is interesting, concise, and clear. So, as a means of promotion, it must be catchy, concise, clear, and full of pictures”.
So with so much to learn and so little time, what educational experiences can travelers explore on their next visit to the Island of the Gods?
As the arts capital of the province, many of the most popular and exciting educational and cultural experiences can be found in and around Ubud.
Bahasa Indonesia is considered one of the easiest languages in the world to learn. While most tourists learn ‘terima kasih’ (thank you), ‘apa kabar’ (how are you) or even ‘om suastiastu’ (hello in Bahasa Bali), learning a little more than the absolute basics can dramatically enhance the experience tourists have on the island. Most tourism workers can speak proficient English, but learning the basics of Bahasa Indonesia is not only enjoyable but respectful to the communities tourists visit.
Many people in Bali are incredibly patient when it comes to foreigners mixing their words as they learn, and being able to communicate better helps affirm friendships along the way. Tourists can take free drop-in classes at cafes and yoga studios across the island or enroll in short courses at language schools like Cinta Bahasa.
Top 5 Travel Insurance Plans For 2023 Starting At $10 Per Week
Easily Earn Points For Free Travel
Cinta Bahasa is one of the island’s most highly regarded schools, located in both Ubud and Sanur. For those wishing to dive deeper, the school offers a range of group and private classes to suit learners’ needs.
Free or by donation language classes are offered weekly in Ubud at The Yoga Barn and Sayuri Healing Foods Cafe, with more tourist venues jumping on board across the island and offering classes weekly.
Silversmithing in Bali is a historic artisanal skill. It may take years to become a master, but tourists can take a half-day class in Sideman and learn to make a piece of silver jewelry of their choosing.
Guided by local artisans, tourists can use traditional equipment to design and create their own silver jewelry. One popular class is offered by Silver Agung. Classes start at IDR 450,000 and include 5g of silver.
Like many small businesses in Bali, Silver Agung does not have a website but can be found on social media @silver.agung
Bali’s spectacular natural wonders are not only found on land. There is a wealth of landscape and life to explore under the water.
Tourists can learn the basics of freediving in just two days with the help of teachers at dive centers like Apnea in Amed.
Learning to free dive is a great way to enhance day trips out to the Gili Islands and Nusa Penida to explore the reefs and, if you’re lucky, encounter a green turtle or, in the Nusa Islands, a manta ray.
Silk painting and wood carving are two of the most famous artistic practices in Bali. Like silversmithing, it can take a lifetime to master, but in the space of a few hours, tourists can learn the basics, and the history behind the practice, even create a design of their own to take away with them.
Hundreds of artisans in Bali are offering silk and batik painting workshops and wood carving lessons. Art centers like Five Arts Studio come highly recommended by all who visit.
Ceramics classes are a fun and sometimes messy way to spend a few hours on vacation. Ceramics studios like Kevala Ceramics in Sanur offer classes for all ages.
They often host themed workshops, such as their Coral Restoration Workshop held earlier in the year. Serayu Pottery in Ubud also offers pottery throw classes and paint-your-own pottery classes for kids and adults.
The educational experiences on offer across Bali give travelers a chance to dip their toes into new skills, hobbies, and cultural practices, as a part of their wider vacation itinerary.
This is by no means an exhaustive list. Travelers in Bali can learn everything from surfing to skateboarding, cooking to bamboo construction, permaculture gardening to traditional cultural practices, and so much more.
Remove All Ads & Unlock All Articles… Sign up for The Bali Sun Premium
Plan Your Bali Holiday:
Book The Best English Speaking Drivers For Airport Transfers & Tours
Choose From Thousands of Bali Hotels, Resorts, and Hostels with Free Cancellation On Most Properties
Book Cheap Flights To Bali
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance That Covers Medical Expenses In Bali
For the latest Bali News & Debate Join our Facebook Community
SUBSCRIBE TO NEW POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to The Bali Sun’s latest breaking news, straight to your inbox.
Raymond
Thursday 6th of April 2023
Learn to drive like an arsole, taught by Russian driving instructors.
Plus Russian swimming lessons, and Russian yoga lessons.
Raymond
Saturday 8th of April 2023
@Wayan Bo, Have another joint bro.
Wayan Bo
Thursday 6th of April 2023
@Raymond, fighting nazism still the best lessons.
Exp
Thursday 6th of April 2023
Quote "Learning to free dive is a great way to enhance day trips out to the Gili Islands and Nusa Penida to explore the reefs and, if you’re lucky, encounter a green turtle or, in the Nusa Islands, a manta ray."
You make it sound like fun and games. But people need to know that diving around Nusa Penida / Nusa Lembongan is not for beginners. It is very challenging and sometimes strait up dangerous due to very strong current. People drown in these waters on a regular basis.
Some of the dive operators are substandard. And if an accident occur it is far away from quality rescue and medical care.
From scubaboard online:
(Nusa Penida) is a popular dive site due to the periodic presence of Sunfish (Mola-Mola.) However, there are some serious potential hazards there for divers, especially inexperienced and/or unwary divers.
The area is subject to very strong currents, including substantial downcurrents, which can suddenly force a diver to descend far deeper than planned - and quickly.
This has caused numerous accidents, including multiple deaths and severe cases of decompression illness. Divers can be unexpectedly dragged to depth and run out of breathing gas and/or have very rapid ascents when the current eventually releases them.
Such downcurrents occur regularly in a variety of sites around the world but most reports that DAN AP has received over the past few years have been from Indonesia. Unfortunately the safety standards and preparedness of dive operators varies greatly and unsuspecting divers sometimes find themselves in perilous situations.
Firechef
Friday 30th of June 2023
@Randy, I think that YOU need to open your eyes and look around you. He only speaks the truth that you obviously don't want to admit!
Randy
Saturday 8th of April 2023
@Alex, You have such a negative soul. No wonder Bali is not the right place for a person with deep resentment and hatred. Take a chill pill. Will ya...
There are still places in Bali, off-the-beaten-path where you don't have to share your sunset with crowds or waterfalls with hordes of people such as you.
Ganivet
Friday 7th of April 2023
@Alex, your comment could be from me....
Alex
Thursday 6th of April 2023
@Exp, Absolutely right. Well done. The people who write this rubbish are dangerous, clueless fools. This "newspaper" is simply a magazine promoting any ridiculous idea from the Bali tourism department. Every article claims that Bali is first in the world for everything, when in fact it is quite primitive compared with Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. And it is light years behind every European country. Every day an absolutely ridiculous claim is made. Apparently, there will be a World Class Hospital in Sanur in 3 years. Not a chance. The photos with that article actually came from another country showing a body scanner which Bali will not have. Bali has massive ground water pollution. Its "Mangrove Reserve" at Benoa is disgusting, stinking and filthy, and Lovina has the dirtiest beach that I have visited anywhere on Earth. This island needs complete change of approach.
Randy
Thursday 6th of April 2023
Why is it always about Bali?? As a govt official dealing with tourism he should know that there are other alternatives to study Indonesian language and arts in Jogyakarta,the soul and culture of Indonesia. Having said that the curious Europeans, other nationalities rather than the typical Aussie tourists would wander off to Java and elsewhere in Indonesia.
Wayan Bo
Wednesday 5th of April 2023
🐵: Come to Bali to become educated