In Reply to: Guided Tour or Driver? posted by Pieboy on Friday, 26. May 2006 at 19:21 Bali Time:
For sightseeing, you can divide Bali into areas:
• the Bukit Peninsula (one day trips to see Nusa Dua, Sanur, Tunjung Benoa or a day to see the GWK park, Uluwatu, Bingin/Dreamland/Belangan/Padang and Jimbaran Bay)
• the east coast (a loooooong day or better still an overnight/two night trip to see Padangbai, Candi Dasa, Mt Agung, Besakih, Amed and sights in between)
• the north of Bali (generally an overnight/two night trip to see Lovina, Singarajah and other sights on the way like Git Git or Munduk waterfalls, coffee plantations, Pura Ulan Danu/Lake Bratan, hot springs at Banjar, buddhist temple)
• the mountains (drop in to the Bird and Reptile parks on the way, make Ubud your base for at least a few days and during the day you can visit the monkey forest, check out cultural/artistic places/museums, drive to places like Gunung Kawi, Tampaksiring, the volcano and lake at Kintamani, Tegalalang, or if you're feeling active you can go whitewater rafting or bike riding)
• the west coast (Canggu and Tanah Lot can be done in a day but Medewi is a looooong day)
• the north west corner (at least an overnight but preferably a couple of days to go snorkelling/scuba diving at Menjangan & Tulamben, visit Bali Barat National Park or travel across to Gilimanuk)
• South Bali (depending on where you're staying this is the area for Kuta/Legian beaches, Waterbom park and other distractions, shopping and a huge range of restaurants and nightclubs)
This is by no means a complete list. I have been going to Bali over a number of years and like someone else mentioned there are still places I haven't been to or things I haven't done.
Do some research, put together an itinerary and talk to drivers. 400 000rp is a fair price for an all day booking.
Oh, and most important, don't try to do too much on your first trip. Leave plenty of time to relax and soak up the atmosphere.
There's always next time (wink wink).