The use of natural materials is a defining feature of traditional Balinese design; bamboo, teak, coconut and sandstone are particularly common, underscoring a connection with nature. Find yourself at the intersection of heritage principles and a modern approach at Abiansemal’s Green Village, a collection of staggering bamboo structures – including a school, villas and wellness area – about a 35-minute drive north of Denpasar. Tours of the village lead visitors past the permaculture-focused Green School, communal dining area and expertly crafted bamboo houses and villas that soar before your eyes. The Kapal Bamboo Boutique and Workshop, a collective of more than 600 artisans, about 15 minutes away by car, is not to be missed for a beautiful piece of jewellery or a neck-craning look at its sculptural  interior.

Few images better evoke Bali and its fertile landscape than its near-neon-green rice terraces, an agricultural and spiritual staple of the island’s green centre. These tiered terraces aren’t just beautiful – the social system that underpins their maintenance is thousands of years old and serves the community as a whole. The Tegalalang Rice Terrace, part of the UNESCO-recognised cultural landscape of Bali – a 25-minute drive north of Ubud – is one of the country’s most popular and best admired by wandering down its elevation (this can take between 30 minutes and 1.5 hours). Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, about two hours away, rewards visitors with similarly stunning terraces set against the distant backdrop of Mount Agung.

Bali has plenty of tropical-island appeal, courtesy of its laid-back beaches. White sand and craggy cliffs make for dramatic coastal scenes, like those in the sleepy Uluwatu region on the Bukit Peninsula. Picture-perfect Suluban Beach is the highlight – access is via a cave-like entrance. Thomas Beach, just around the cove north of Uluwatu Beach, is more drop-your-towel territory. It features a long stretch of golden sand and warungs (food stalls) serving up an authentic lunch.

Few experiences will immerse you in Bali’s natural beauty more than a leisurely hike. The paved path of the Campuhan Ridge Walk – an easy two-kilometre loop on the outskirts of Ubud – winds through rich vegetation and rice terraces, as well as jagged palm trees and serene shrines. Heart-pumping trails also exist. Mount Batur at sunrise is stunning, with tour groups departing in the early hours to enjoy summit views over the two calderas, just in time to see sunrays light up the nearby peaks.

Bali has more than 10,000 temples, with many serving as cultural, spiritual and social hubs for locals to connect with community, worship deities and banish misfortune. Those who aren’t deterred by an uphill trek will be well rewarded by taking the two-hour, 1700-step trail to the top of Pura Lempuyang Luhur in the island’s far east – one of six temple complexes dedicated to Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa, the supreme God in Balinese Hinduism. Prefer a more accessible site? Opt for Uluwatu Temple, which you can reach via a coast-skimming path in the island’s south-west, or Manukayu’s Tirta Empul (30 minutes’ drive north of Ubud) – the temple, dedicated to the deity Vishnu, is adorned with 30 spouts spilling water from the nearby courtyard’s spring.

Cabins ensconced in jungle, villas decked out with plunge pools, oceanside havens fringed by lush gardens – there’s a Balinese resort for every type of traveller, whether you’re seeking a vacation with a permanent poolside spot or a deep dive into local culture. The newest luxury offering is Regent Bali, a Canggu beauty centred on a sprawling pool that reaches almost to the shore of nearby Pantai Munduk Catu beach. Find a more intimate stay in The Huntley – a Cali-style haven of pale breezeblocks, cascading bougainvillea and terracotta parasols that’s set to open in in Canggu in May – or Nuanu City’s Oshom, a dreamy seaside retreat on the edge of a cliff in Tabanan.

Fiery and delicious, the flavours of Indonesian cuisine are as diverse as the thousands of islands the country lays claim to. Some of the best restaurants in Bali celebrate traditional recipes in a modern way. Berawa’s Ulekan, for example, dishes up king mackerel with grated coconut, served with icy Bintangs beneath a vaulted pavilion. Ubud’s Locavore NXT, a lauded hyperlocal eatery with polished-concrete floors and its own fermentation lab, rooftop food forest and mushroom fruiting chamber, is not to be missed. The seasonal menu not only channels traditional recipes, it also utilises its own produce alongside that of local farmers and fishmongers for a real taste of Bali.

Bali’s position in the Indonesian archipelago makes it ideal for island hopping and plenty of spots can be reached with a quick boat ride. Nusa Lembongan is perennially popular, thanks to its vibrant coral reefs, opportunities to spot manta rays and proximity (about 30 minutes by ferry from Sanur); while on Nusa Penida, some 30 to 45 minutes from Sanur, the scenery is characterised by dramatic cliffs. In the Gili archipelago, a laid-back outpost of three isles (Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno) where the only modes of transport are bicycle and horse-drawn cart, a new level of off-grid adventure awaits. You won’t have to give up all creature comforts, though – the luxurious Pondok Santi on Gili Trawangan is proof.

It’s possible to experience a slower, more authentic pace than what’s on offer in buzzy neighbourhoods such as Seminyak so be sure to include some of Bali’s smaller villages in your itinerary. Charming Tampaksiring has a thriving bone-carving trade and you can watch the artisans at work in several of the village’s shops. Locals and visitors also breeze in and out of Tirta Empul to partake in a purification ceremony in the temple’s sacred spring waters, offering insight into centuries-old customs. While you’re in the area, visit the impressive 11th-century Gunung Kawi Temple. Known as Bali’s “Valley of Kings”, this ancient site features shrines carved into seven-metre-high niches in the rock face.

Touted as the spiritual heart of Bali, yoga-studio-packed Ubud thrums with energy – a heady mix of wild greenery, art studios and traditional temples, as well as hip cafés with views of rice fields. Start your day by exploring the lively Ubud Art Market – a treasure-trove of handcrafted goods and local crafts – before a midmorning stroll through the tranquil jungle, where locals will happily lead you to the most advantageous terrace views. Or take in the surroundings from above at Capella Ubud, a stunning stay that capitalises on the region’s lush landscape from its lofty position.

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