Wednesday 9 November 2016

The Ultimate Uluwatu Trekking

Uluwatu has an actual twilight buzz. Many surfers from all over the world flock here every calendar year merely to have a go in the waves. When it comes to discovering hidden beaches, Uluwatu provides more than enough unique spots in Bali, ranging from limestone beaches to calm and remote beaches. In fact, the beaches are the strongest magnet that pulls people to visit Uluwatu area. Trekking across the route into these secluded beaches is indeed a true adventure.
Nyang Nyang Beach is well deserving of the title ‘hidden beach’, and therefore trekking is a must to access this beach. You will need to check out a dirt road near to Uluwatu Temple and keep a lookout for an indicator stating “Nyang Surfing Beach”. Next, you cross a field where you will see a beverages stall before alighting the 500 steps over the cliff that covers the beach to finally see it with naked eyes. The cliff itself is covered with forests and will take about 15 minutes to go down. Now, here comes the difficult part, involving walking down a narrow and sometimes steep flight of stairs that leads to the beach. Bear in mind to make your way back to the top of the cliff before dark as the journey back over the steps and the field will become difficult in the dark.
 
About 15 minutes south of Nyang Nyang Beach, Green Bowl Beach is relatively easy to locate, but quite remote and off the tourists’ radar. The road is quite straight forward and signboards are everywhere. You will need to follow a convoluted path towards the entrance of the beach. A small fee is required either for the entrance or parking space. You will be directed to a derelict staircase surrounded by trees filled with monkeys. The trekking comes in this part, to conquer the hundreds of steps down to the beach before you reach at a very clean, rocky beach. You can continue the exploration at the cave nearby, but keep alert from the bats.
 
You can also explore the abandoned plane at Gunung Payung. It is a 30-minute walk from Pandawa Beach where you will find this massive Boing 737 abandoned plane lies in the sideway of the main street of Gunung Payung, hidden behind a huge fence of steel. Please bear in mind that this is not an official tourist spot, and therefore to get inside is a bit tricky, involving climbing and jumping off the fence. Once inside, you can get on the plane, and even climb on top of it. 

Still located in Ungasan Village, Balangan Beach has a different irresistible charm. Peace and quiet, this beach offers secret access to the more secluded part of the beach. You can trek along the beach to discover these spots, but be sure to leave the beach before the sunset, or otherwise the high tide will trap you until the next morning. 

All the way down until you reach Jimbaran, Jimbaran Bay Beach delivers the most romantic trekking experience in the southern part of the island. You can walk along the shore, while enjoy the calming sounds of the ocean caressing the shore. If you go for a sunset treat, you can witness the last rays of the day’s sunshine disappear into the horizon. 

Along the seaside road that goes from Jimbaran to Uluwatu, you can find Bingin Beach. The beach is not easy to spot on for first time trekker, and therefore bringing a friend who knows the area would be beneficial. The road distance is about 15 minutes after which you reach a cliff with steep stairs that will take you down to the beach. Finding the stairs is a bit of a challenge as you need to walk and make a few turns around houses and local establishments. The stairs itself are very steep, and can be a bit tiring climbing down. However, once you are on the beach, you will thoroughly enjoy the breathtaking view. It is recommended to visit Bingin Beach during low tide as during high tides the beach gets subdued in water.

Suluban Beach is a home to surfers, and you'll find almost everyone surfing around here. To reach the beach is quite a hard work, as you need to make a long walk passing through local eateries and surf shops. After that, you need to hike down via stone stairs, passing through the bridge into the cave before finding a small beach that will lead to the heaven of the surfers. 

Finally, the last area you can trek is the clifftop views of Uluwatu Temple. Situated on top of a very tall ocean cliff, the trek offers relaxation and peace as you ascend the stairway. The stairway showcases Bali’s crafty and unique handiwork which was built by its ancient dwellers. It is caressed by trees at both ends so you are adequately shaded the entire way. While you are walking along the stairway, you will definitely notice monkeys around you, which are believed to guard the temple from bad influences. Uluwatu Temple offers visitors an unforgettable stunning view of the horizon that you will not want to miss. Once here, do stay for a bit longer to watch Kecak Fire dance performance arranged against a backdrop of Uluwatu’s breathtaking cliff advantage views. 

The most important thing to note before you start trekking to these places is you need to have a good pair of walking shoes. Climbing the 500 odd stairs down and back forth will put some strain on your feet, and you need to get used to that. Don’t waste your time using GPS to find the place, better to stop every once in a while to ask local people. It is also recommended to drive a scooter instead of a car or big bike, as the access road to some of these places are not friendly for big vehicle. 

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