What to do and see in Bali in January

[bjd001]

I'll be doing a liveaboard in Raja Ampat January 10 - 18, 2026 and would like to spend some time in Bali beforehand. Looking for recommendations on where to stay, what to see (non-diving) and places to dive in Bali (not a liveaboard). I'll be flying to Sorong on Jan 9th or so and would like to spend at least a week in Bali.

I'm doing additional research on the above, but would like input from this group as wel!

 

[GF99/99]

I'll be doing a liveaboard in Raja Ampat January 10 - 18, 2026 and would like to spend some time in Bali beforehand. Looking for recommendations on where to stay, what to see (non-diving) and places to dive in Bali (not a liveaboard). I'll be flying to Sorong on Jan 9th or so and would like to spend at least a week in Bali.

I'm doing additional research on the above, but would like input from this group as wel!

For diving info on Bali just search this forum. This topic has been covered many many many times and there is lots of good info
Diving Bali
Bali then liveaboard Labuan Bajo to Komodo
Trip Report - Bali (Indonesia) - the northern region
Question - BALI recommendation
Indonesia for the 1st time! Would love some travel suggestions
Question - Bali in February


But if you have time beforehand or after your R4 trip and you don't have your heart set on the island of Bali and your up for an adventure then I would say skip the island of Bali. Indonesia has soooooo much more to offer than just Bali. Remember it is just 1 of about 17,0000 islands.

Having lived in Indonesia on and off more many years and knowing what Bali was like 25+ years ago and even 5 years ago it is really sad what has happened to Bali. And ever since Corona 19 era and the Russia war Bali has really gone downhill, lets just say the Ukraine is not the only county Russia invaded. The amount or rude foreign tourist in Bali is out of control and its so sad to see the local people paying the price for this.

So my recommendation would be go to Lombok the next island over. I absolutely love Lombok! Lombok is just as beautiful as Bali if not more. Check youtube there are a million bloggers that compare them both and show how Lombok is the "new Bali"

Or my other recommendation is go one more island over to Sumbawa. This island is amazing too and one of my favorites! the beaches and surfing is like no other.

Or if you want to get further away from Bali the list gets Huge! I would recommend: East Java, Manado area, Wakatobi area, Labuan Bajo area, Banda area, Timor, Sumba, the list can get endless!

Just some sneak peeks from my last trip to Sumbawa. Notice how the white sand blue beaches are empty (you wont find this in the dirty influencer crowed beaches of Bali)

And one waterfall shot. Same thing you wont find empty pristine influencer free waterfalls like this in Bali

 

[diveUAE]

January isn’t really the best time to visit Bali - doesn’t mean you can’t have a great time. There’s tons of things to do: waterfalls, hiking mt. Batur, bike ride through rice fields and cooking classes are popular. Most of this you can find close to Ubud.
Just be aware Ubud is really, really, really busy. You’ll want to stay somewhere you can walk to restaurants and markets- or if you have a licence and your insurance covers you: rent a scooter.

All that being said: I’d go for an extra week en RA instead - it takes such a long time to get to RA, that I’d just rather stay there longer. Or go somewhere with a direct flight to Sorong.
I know there’s sometimes a direct flight between DPS-SOQ, but right now people in the RA fb group is complaining they’re getting their flight cancelled and now has to fly via Makassar.

@GF99/99 we last visited Bali in 2022 and even though we thought Kuta was really not to our liking, Padang Bai was lovely.
Have you been to Permuteran and Amed or Tulemben recently and are they getting overrun by tourists as well or is it more the south that suffers?

 

[Blackcrusader]

I dived Padang Bai January 2024. It was really low season so promised dive trips to Nusa Penida did not happen as sometimes I was the only diver with Geko divers. If not diving I would head to the north side of Bali. I first did this in 1981 and rented an off road bike. Singaraja and the hot baths in the volcano waters was fun.

 

[GF99/99]

January isn’t really the best time to visit Bali - doesn’t mean you can’t have a great time. There’s tons of things to do: waterfalls, hiking mt. Batur, bike ride through rice fields and cooking classes are popular. Most of this you can find close to Ubud.
Just be aware Ubud is really, really, really busy. You’ll want to stay somewhere you can walk to restaurants and markets- or if you have a licence and your insurance covers you: rent a scooter.

All that being said: I’d go for an extra week en RA instead - it takes such a long time to get to RA, that I’d just rather stay there longer. Or go somewhere with a direct flight to Sorong.
I know there’s sometimes a direct flight between DPS-SOQ, but right now people in the RA fb group is complaining they’re getting their flight cancelled and now has to fly via Makassar.

@GF99/99 we last visited Bali in 2022 and even though we thought Kuta was really not to our liking, Padang Bai was lovely.
Have you been to Permuteran and Amed or Tulemben recently and are they getting overrun by tourists as well or is it more the south that suffers?

If the OP wants to do diving activities then I 100% agree with your suggestion to just spending the extra time in R4 as well. Just stay on one of the islands like Mansuar, Urai, Pef, Arborek, Kri, etc. etc. and just do land based diving. It's cheap, relaxing, and low key. Or heck even just snorkeling off these islands is epic!!!
Highly recommend diving with Warahnus Dive Center. Locally owned and operated so your supporting the locals and the money goes to the village not some European, super nice friendly people and they know the area like the back of there hand. If I remember correctly with your own gear it was like 500k per dive (about USD $32). And they will pull the boat right up the your bungalow ladder to pick you up and drop you off. Its great!

Permuteran, Amed/Tulemben are still much better than South Bali, it is becoming busier but not that much more. Thankfully these areas still hold there charm. If you have to be in Bali and do the whole Bali thing then yes northern Bali the better place to be. But yes like you said Ubud is a mad house now. I just don't even participate is that jackpot. If you want rice fields, relaxed yoga type vibe, waterfalls just go to Tetebatu in Lombok. Same thing as Ubud with out the crowds (It is what Ubud use to be 20 years ago) And same goes for the waterfalls, plenty of Bali style waterfalls in Lombok with out a 1hr line of super rude Russians in butt cheek bikinis trying to get there TikTok influencer photos. Check youtube also for Tetebatu, lots of blogs about how great it is over Ubud. My favorite place to stay is Les Rizieres (its on google maps)


Kri preview, that's me sitting in the bean bag in the middle bungalow. Spent one of the most relaxing weeks of my life here.

 

[bjd001]

Thanks for the info so far! I will definitely check out those other threads.

I'm also looking at a second liveaboard Jan 23 - Feb 3 going to Raja Ampat - Halmahera - Lembeh, which would give me about 4 -5 days to hang out in/around Sorong, which I have not heard great things about. There are spaces available on the Komodo Aggressor, but I've been told January is not the best time to go there. Initially looking at Bali because some people at a local dive shop recommended it, but I'm open to other suggestions. Looking at sight-seeing and also local diving.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Having lived in Indonesia on and off more many years and knowing what Bali was like 25+ years ago and even 5 years ago it is really sad what has happened to Bali.

I haven't spent nearly as much time in Indonesia as many here, but I still think Bali is a must-see simply because it is such a contrast with the rest of Indonesia, even if its best days are behind it.