Bali is not just a tropical paradise—it is a cultural tapestry woven with tradition, artistry, and centuries-old customs. Beyond its famous beaches, the island offers a wealth of experiences that immerse visitors in its rich heritage, from mesmerising dance performances to deeply spiritual temple ceremonies. Whether you’re an aficionado of history, a lover of craftsmanship, or simply keen to explore the island’s traditions, this guide highlights the unmissable cultural activities that define Bali. Prepare to step into a world of enchanting rituals, masterful artistry, and celebrations that resonate through generations.
Awakening Chakra Spirit at The Apurva Kempinski Bali
Start your holistic journey with a chakra meditation early in the morning, to open your chakra, followed by a purification led by a pemangku or Balinese priest. This process is called melukat, a purification ritual where water becomes the main medium to cleanse the physical, emotional and spiritual state of a person. As an essential part of Awakening Chakra Spirit, melukat helps to heal blocked energies and realign the seven major chakras. As the final step, coconut is served to freshen up the body and purge toxins from the inside.
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Cultural Evening of Music & Dance at IWA Restaurant
Every Thursday evening, the majestic Bale Agung Hall at Hotel Tugu Bali transforms into a living stage for Bali’s rich and soulful heritage. The Cultural Evening of Music & Dance at IWA Restaurant is not just a performance—it’s a journey into the heart of ancient Bali.
Starting at 7:30 PM, guests are welcomed into an enchanting evening that revives almost-forgotten dances and musical traditions once performed only in sacred temples and royal courts. The sounds of traditional gamelan and the graceful movements of Balinese dancers evoke the spirit of centuries past, allowing guests to witness a piece of history brought vividly to life.
This intimate and authentic experience is more than just entertainment—it’s a tribute to the island’s deep cultural roots, carefully preserved and shared with reverence. Whether you are a first-time visitor or a long-time lover of Balinese culture, this event offers an unforgettable glimpse into the soul of Bali.
Pair the performance with a specially curated dinner at IWA Restaurant, and you’ll leave not only with a satisfied palate but also a deeper appreciation for the beauty and complexity of Bali’s living traditions.
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Silver Making Class at Sanur Jewellery Studio
The jewellery-making class helps you develop the skills to create professionally soldered rings, and pendants, and cut out charms in sterling silver. This class enables you to use the jeweller saw, soldering equipment, cut metal, file and sand the pieces of silver, creating a professional and smooth finish to the silver jewellery that you are trying to create. Normally, you will be given step-to-step guidance, focusing on providing sufficient knowledge for the polishing techniques and texturing of the silver into beautiful pieces of jewellery.
In Sanur, Sanur Jewellery Studio invites you to make the unique piece of sterling silver jewellery you have always wanted to make and learn all about the process from the very raw silver through to the finished product. Offering full and half-day workshops on all levels of silver-smiting, you are about to learn the process using traditional Balinese tools, with a slant on modern design and techniques. The studio is housed in a stunning banana plantation, hidden inside a high ceiling space with air-conditioning, a perfect gateway for couples who want to make wedding rings or anyone who wants to explore creativity in private.
Pemulan Bali Farm Cooking School
If you’re looking for more than a cooking class, come to Pemulan Bali Farm Cooking School—where food, fun, and culture come together in one unforgettable day!
Set in the quiet village of Taro, Pemulan gives you a full-on Balinese experience. You’ll start with a local market visit to learn about tropical ingredients and traditional snacks. Then it’s off to the farm, where you’ll walk through rice fields and pick your own veggies and herbs.
Cooking is relaxed and hands-on, with friendly instructors showing you step-by-step how to make tasty Balinese dishes. You’ll laugh, learn, and definitely eat well! Classes are small, menus can be adjusted to your diet, and the setting is peaceful and beautiful.
Whether you’re travelling solo, with friends, or family, this is the perfect way to connect with Bali’s culture in a fun and delicious way. And yes—free shuttle from Ubud is included, so it’s super easy to join!
Weaving workshop
Visitors to the island can participate in an immersive experience at the weaving session at Make a Scene Bali. The workshop is maintained by local weavers who are committed to maintaining traditional weaving methods, and it is situated in the creative centre of Ubud. Visitors can learn about Balinese weaving’s history and culture and even try their hand at making their own textiles using time-honoured methods and supplies. The workshop offers a laid-back and welcoming environment, and experienced weavers are on hand to lead and help participants. Visitors who take part in the weaving session can develop new abilities, help out local craftspeople, and have a greater understanding of Balinese art and culture.
Painting Class at Five Art Studio
“This world is a Canvas to our Imagination”. The main focus of painting class is to visualize things from one perspective and translate it into an art form on a piece of canvas. In addition to enabling the artistic expressions on the canvas, these art classes are also focused on learning practical painting techniques. Students are free to paint whatever they desire, such as landscape, portrait, still life, figure drawing, printmaking and much more. Normally, they use charcoal, pastel, acrylics, oil and watercolours. Getting a grasp of the colour theory and design with a good understanding of the theoretical and practical knowledge of painting will help students to make reasonable colour choices in their artworks. The teacher will also share their advanced painting tips, such as taking care of painting brushes, choosing the right mix of colours, and properly cleaning the palette to help the students excel in their painting work.
Batik Workshop at Hoshinoya Bali
Batik, a traditional Indonesian art form, has deep roots in Balinese culture. And what better way to immerse yourself in this cultural heritage than by trying your hand at batik-making? Join a local workshop where skilled artisans will guide you through the process of creating your unique batik masterpiece. Experiment with vibrant colours, and intricate patterns, and let your imagination run wild. Making your personalised batik creation might just become your most cherished Balinese memory.
Rayunan Royal Dinner at Karma Kandara
Let’s join every Wednesday at Di Mare Poolside for the Rayunan Royal Dinner, featuring captivating Balinese dance performances. This enchanting evening combines culture and cuisine in a stunning poolside setting. Savour a menu of traditional Indonesian dishes, including Ayam Taliwang, Bebek Goreng, Rendang Sapi, Udang Bumbu Merah, Sate Ikan Lilit, Terong Balado, Urab, Steamed Red Rice, and Sambal Matah. End your meal with delicious desserts like Bubur Injin, Klepon, and Dadar Gulung. Enjoy the rich heritage of Indonesia with the grace of Balinese dance and the flavours of authentic cuisine.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the poolside venue, this dinner offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich heritage of Indonesia. The graceful Balinese dance and the tantalizing flavours create an unforgettable cultural experience that will captivate your senses and leave you with lasting memories.
Aksara Learning
The Balinese script, natively known as Aksara Bali is an abugida used on the island of Bali, most commonly for writing the Austronesian Balinese language and the liturgical language Sanskrit. The script is a descendant of the Brahmi script and has many similarities with the modern script of South and Southeast Asia. Aksara Bali, along with Aksara Jawa, is considered the most elaborate and ornate of all the Brahmic scripts of Southeast Asia. This script has a significant prevalence in many of the island’s traditional ceremonies and is strongly associated with the Hindu religion. Today it is mainly used for copying lontar or palm leaf manuscripts containing religious texts.
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Gamelan Class
The gamelan class involves the artistic concept of music with a focus on helping students to understand more about the historical background of culture. The values of harmony, interdependence, and balance are brought forth through music and dance to support the students learn this art with close coordination. You will also get the chance to experience an amazing excursion into Balinese culture and ecology. It is an unparalleled opportunity to gain artistic, cultural and personal insight into Bali.
