Most people who visit Bali, the most popular island to visit in Indonesia, fly into Denpasar International Airport and then stay in the nearby areas of Kuta, Seminyak or Nusa Dua. Some people even venture a bit further north than Ubud.

For people willing to travel a little further north to the Buleleng regency, they will arrive on the north coast of Bali. The capital of the regency and the second largest city of Bali, Singaraja was the former colonial capital of Bali. Singaraja has wide, winding streets and is much easier to get around than the crowded places in South Bali.

Traveling east along the coast, you will come across a place called “Air Sanih”, which is famous for its fresh, natural water pools, which are a great way to cool off from the tropical heat. They are located right on the beach.

Moving west back through Singarajah and a short drive along the coast, you will come across the resort town of Lovina. Lovina has many excellent hotels and restaurants and they are generally much cheaper than you would pay for similar service in the south.

Lovina is famous for being able to see dolphins swimming in the Bali sea. Boats leave Lovina Beach just before sunrise to catch feeding dolphins. However, you will not be alone, as dolphin watching is very popular with tourists.

Lovina is a great place for day trips to other northern areas. Mejangan Island is about an hour’s drive from Lovina and is a great place for snorkeling and scuba diving. Munduk is a cool mountain retreat and a great place to go if you want to escape the tropical heat.

If you are looking for a place to kick back and relax, the Banjar Hot Springs, located just west of Lovina, is a fantastic place to go. The hot springs are located in a tropical garden and massage facilities are available.

Many visit Lovina and stay longer than planned due to the quieter, more relaxed feel than the popular southern Bali resorts. Be sure to include Lovina in your travel plans the next time you come to Bali.