I hit the road in Bali, on nothing but a 125cc motorcycle and armed only with a mask and snorkel and some questionable driving skills.
Indonesia’s most popular island is a magnet for tourists and travellers, and some would say it’s over run, that the resorts and nightclubs have taken over and irreversibly changed this paradise for ever, but travelling Bali by bike is the greatest way to get off the beaten track, to escape the tourist traps and to really explore the last untouched stretches of this diverse land. During my ride around the island I dodged death on the mad, mad roads, stumbled upon pristine sands, walked on volcanic beaches, and swam to underwater ship wrecks. I even tried my hand at a spot of spear fishing.
Here are the best photos from my road trip. This is Bali by bike.
The rice paddy fields of Bali, and the beast that took me around me the island.
The pristine beaches of the West Bali National Park.
Going underwater off Tulamben, and into the blue.
The mighty volcano.
The volcanic, black sand beaches of Amed in the north.
Chilling with a view. One of the many coastal fishing villages of Bali.
A jaunt into the ocean.
Snorkelling the Japanese Shipwreck of Amed.
Fishing boats wait for action by the lagoon of Candidasa, East Bali.
A cock fight for rent?
A storm sweeps along the beach, near Padang Bai.
Spearfishing. I caught and cooked a feast of fish.
Relaxing with the monkeys. Ubud.
Sunburnt but loving life after traversing the whole island by bike.
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All photos property of Richard Collett
Like these Photos From The Road? Want more? Then have a look at these from Borneo!
Hey dude. Enjoying your site. How was riding a scooter around bali? I ride motorbikes and am pretty safety conscious, people say it’s the best way to get around but I’ve also heard some horror stories of tourists getting hurt. I’m visiting in June and would love to hear what you think
Hi Pie, I’m not gonna lie, the roads are completely insane and more than a shock if you haven’t experienced Indonesian roads and traffic before. They aren’t exactly great quality, they are absolutely packed with other mopeds and huge trucks and cars and it’s everyone for themselves. There are A LOT of accidents each year, so you have to be incredibly careful and on the ball constantly. However, once you are used to the chaos- it’s in a way organised mayhem- then it gets easier, even fun, but you have to be aware that anything could go wrong. So it’s a calculated risk. If you are an experienced biker, then once you’ve adjusted to the different style of driving, it should be okay, but not everything will always be in your hands. It is the best way to see Bali though, as public transport is basically none existent to the off the beaten track places, and private and shared transport that is put on for backpackers is very expensive in comparison to the cost of renting a bike and petrol.
The traffic is worse in the cities of course, but I found that once I got away fro the southern roads, things got quiet, even peaceful and it was much easier to relax on the bike.
Let me know if you need any more info or any specific details to help you plan your trip 🙂