Bali with its picturesque hills and mountains, rocky coastlines and sandy beaches is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. While many people have visited the so-called Island of Gods and experienced what this place has to offer, Bali still has some aces in its sleeve. If you want to come to this intriguing and mesmerizing island but you wish to see something other than standard tourist attractions, you are in luck. Bali has everything from crowded markets and kite festivals, to abandoned airplanes and weird temples, so you definitely won’t get bored.  Here are just some of the non-touristy attractions worthy of your time.

Visit a local market

If you really want to experience Bali, the right way is to get up early in the morning and visit a local market. Here you will be able to blend in with the locals and feel more at home and less like a tourist. These markets tend to get very crowded around 5 am since the farmers bring their fresh products around 4 am. Therefore, if you want to get your hands on some of the best things, you need to be an early bird. Here you will be able to get cheap souvenirs such as scarves and accessories, but you will also get intoxicated by all the scents, colors and sounds a local market has to offer.

Check out tunnel cliffs in Nusa Penida

If you are looking for a non-touristy place that will take your breath away, check out the cliffside views in Nusa Penida and you won’t be disappointed. However, make sure you don’t go during high tide or you won’t be able to see as much as you would otherwise. This is an amazing place to have a picnic with your family, so pack a basket with all kinds of goodies and make sure you bring some picnic games for children so they don’t get bored. 

Go to a kite festival

Who doesn’t like kites? Since from May to August the wind in Bali is ideal for flying a kite, many locals love to take part in this activity. An amazing Kite Festival takes place in July when the whole sky gets painted with all kinds of impressive kites. These giant creations can really knock your socks off, not to mention gather a lot of likes on your Instagram profile.

Hike Mount Catur

If you visit the second largest lake in Bali, Lake Beratan, and look up, you will be able to see one of the highest volcanic peaks on this island. The trail to the top starts from the Gua Jepang caves, a network of underground WWII Japanese bunkers built by prisoners. The hike to the peak takes about three hours and the trail is easy to follow. However, don’t go on this adventure during the rainy season, unless you want to have problems with leeches.

Make your own batik shirt

If you cannot decide which souvenir to take home, making your own batik shirt might be the ideal gift for a loved one or something you can keep to remind you of your incredible journey. Batik is the traditional Indonesian art of decorating textiles, and you can find several places where they will teach you how to make your own, unique shirt by using wax dye and liquids. 

Explore the abandoned airplanes

Believe it or not, there are several abandoned airplanes in Bali you can explore, so if lying on the beach is not your cup of tea, rent a motorcycle and try to find all these abandoned aircrafts. There is one in the Southern part of Kuta, and the interesting fact is that no one really knows why this plane is there. However, don’t let that stop you from taking some interesting photos! The other one is on the rooftop of the failed Gate 88 Mall and there is also one just 5 minutes away from Pandawa beach.

Whether you want to see the most popular attraction or you wish to path less traveled, Bali is a place that won’t leave you indifferent.