Villa Mandalay’s manager will have a wealth of information about nearby places of interest and will help arrange transport and make any bookings required. Do also ask the staff about the local area. Many of them live nearby and will be able to give an interesting insight into some of the fascinating aspects of Bali life. In the meantime, here is a taste of the many and varied activities on offer within reach of the villa. Villa Mandalay is close to the famous temple at Tanah Lot (8km), a beautiful temple set on a rocky, wave-battered island just meters off the beach. In peak season a few too many tourists may transform a sunset visit into more of a heaving photo opportunity than a moving experience. Visiting early in the morning (8-9 am) provides a better idea of the power of the location and the chance to see it undisturbed apart from perhaps an offering ceremony. A nice sunset alternative is to head down to Echo Beach(6km) where a number of cafes offer good sunset views and cold beer, including the famous nightly barbecue at Echo Beach House. Note that the beach here is dark volcanic sand and the waters are better suited to surfing, having a pronounced swell and rip, rather than children’s swimming. Hotel Tugu, a very stylish and eclectic boutique hotel a few minutes further down the coast, was created by one of Indonesia’s premier art collectors and provides a range of atmospheric dining experiences. Horse-riding at Kuda P stables on professionally trained horses and ponies will take you through the lush rice terraces around Kerobokan, or provide the chance for a sunset gallop through the surf along the rugged southwestern coast. Fashionistas, trendies, and shopaholics should hot-foot it down to Seminyak, Bali’s most cosmopolitan enclave (6km). Here, you can indulge for hours in the glut of stylish, chic boutiques. There is a wide choice of fine dining, mid-range, and cheap ‘n cheerful restaurants in Seminyak too: fine dining venues include Mama San, Sardine, and Métis. Explore the charming Tabanan Regency, revealing terraced rice fields of emerald green, volcanic mountains, and black-sand beaches dotted with fishing communities. Or head north to explore the volcanic lakes near the mountain town of Bedugul, including Lake Bratan with its photogenic and stunningly positioned Pura Ulun Danu – one of Bali’s most important temples. Acclaimed as the world’s best, the atmospheric Elephant Safari Park in Taro (north of Ubud) provides a sanctuary for elephants rescued from Sumatra, with opportunities for trekking, hand feeding, and photo-taking. There is also a fascinating museum and an excellent restaurant in a beautiful tropical setting deep in the forests of Bali’s hinterland. The most exclusive Bali trekking tour promises breathtaking vistas and heart-warming encounters while supporting sustainable social change in the once-forgotten villages of Muntigunung. Explore the scenic rice-field landscape and rural villages; a great way to get under the skin of the ‘real’ Bali. Stop off at a local warung (café) to sample some basic Balinese fare or cool off with a cold drink. Covering 3.8 hectares of tropical parkland in Kuta, Waterbom Bali has 16 water slides (including The Climax with its 360-degree loop) to entertain the young and the young at heart. A great family day out, but go early to beat the crowds.