Things to do

Clearly the main thing to do at Villa Talia Vashti is to relax and enjoy the villa and the beach and let the staff look after you. If however you are interested in getting out and about and experiencing Bali then there are loads of things to do if you want to. Bali is blessed with an amazing culture and history and the people are very friendly and welcoming particularly in the less touristed east side of the island where Villa Talia Vashti is located.

The villa also has easy access to some of Bali’s most important historical attractions as well as its more modern attractions, in particular scuba-diving. While you can make use of the agents in Candi Dasa to set up tours, sometimes it is better just to hire a car and guide/driver and just go. The staff at Villa Talia Vashti will of course be there to help arrange things for you should you need it.

Diving & Snorkeling

Bali is a great place to dive, and most of the best and most easily accessible dive sites are in the East of Bali close to Villa Talia Vashti. Candi Dasa has many agents who will arrange trips and equipment to enable even the most inexperienced divers to be able to enjoy these sites and our staff our happy to help arrange a trip should you wish to go.

My personal favourite is the Liberty Wreck at Tulumben which is less than 45 minutes drive from Villa Talia Vashti. Lying on a black sand bottom, you can pick your depth on the wreck which lies as shallow as 3m, and goes as deep as 30m. The fish life on the wreck is amazing, and personally I love the atmospheric swim-thrus that you can do. Watch out also for some of the smaller creatures that can be found on the wreck including sea horses (on the fan corals on the deeper edge of the wreck) ghost pipefish and at least two different varieties of garden eels in the shallow lying sands inshore of the wreck.

There are also however excellent dives close to Padang Bai (less than 15 minutes from Villa Talia Vashti) and Amed (about 40 minutes away). For more advanced divers some of the best diving in Bali can be had at the small islands that you can see directly offshore from Villa Talia Vashti (Gili Tepekong, Gili Mimpang & Gili Biaha) that can easily be reached by boat direct from Candi Dasa.

For more detailed information on dive sites in Bali see http://www.divesitedirectory.co.uk/indonesia_bali.html#overview

Snorkeling

Some of the best snorkeling in Bali can be found just out from the beach in front of the Villa. The protecting coral reef means that currents never get very strong, and the depth is never more than a couple of metres which is ideal for snorkeling. There are several great sites with pristine coral including a fascinating stag coral community with many thousands of small fish directly opposite the villa. As well as the colourful fish and corals we have seen loads of interesting and unusual creatures such as snake eels, scorpion fish, blue spotted rays, lobsters and razor fish.

Snorkeling equipment is available to use free of charge at the villa.

Cultural Attractions

Ubud

Small inland town pleasantly set amongst some beautiful rice paddies with regular festivals and ceremonies and a strong claim to be the cultural heart of Bali. Despite the increasing numbers of tourists, Ubud still retains its charm. Ubud is an attractive hour's drive through the hills and rice paddies from Candi Dasa.

Goa Lawah - Bat Temple

Besakih - The Mother Temple of Bali

Tirtha Gangga

Tenganan Village

Home of the "Bali Aga", an original community, surviving from the pre-Hindu time, which strictly adheres to a traditional life of ritual and ceremony. Famous for sacred hand woven Geringsing-double ikat cloth and for crafting music instruments such as Genggong, a bamboo harp and Gamelan Slunding an iron met allophone orchestra. Only 3km from Villa Talia Vashti and Candi Dasa. The most famous of these ceremonies is the Perang Pandan, a unique & colourful Bali Aga ritual held in Tenganan Gerinsing, usually around June/July.

Klungkung

Once the centre of the most powerful Balinese Kingdom, Klungkung is famous for the finely detailed paintings portraying vivid scenes from heaven and hell on the walls and roof of the Court of Justice. Only 20 minutes from the villa.

Other Activities

Fishing & Boat Trips

Submarine Trips

Yes apparently only one of three places in the world where you can take a trip on a real submarine. Less than 10 minutes drive from Villa Talia Vashti, the submarine takes you down to 30m before steering along the reef in Amuk Bay. Expensive at US$69/person including a buffet lunch, but great fun especially for kids who go half price.

Trekking & Hiking

There are numerous opportunities for trekking and hiking around Bali and Candi Dasa in particular, from gentle walks to more challenging treks into the hills around Candi Dasa with great views of Gunung Agung. Most companies in Candi Dasa can arrange this for you if you want (including nearby Candi Beach Cottages). Alternatively just walk from the villa and see where your feet take you - which for us tends to be the pleasant 40 minute walk through the shady forests to the Alila hotel where we can reward ourselves with a Dark Chocolate Sorbet (highly recommended!). For the even more active amongst you the Bali Marathon is held every April in Candi Dasa.

Balinese Cooking Course

It is possible to experience either a two-day or a half-day course to learn Balinese cooking at Bali’s original and most famous cooking school the Alila Manggis, which is only a 5 minute drive from Villa Talia Vashti.

Other Activities

Most of the agents in Candi Dasa can arrange a number of different activities including White Water Rafting; Mountain Biking; 4WD Excursions; day trips to Lombok or even Java as well as trips to other sights in Bali.