bigtravelbuzzBali is known among travelers for its stunning nature, surfing, temples and beautiful resorts. Exploring the best waterfalls in Bali is an amazing experience, but why not learn about the real Balinese life? We promise that staying with a local family in a Bali homestay will be the best in the list of things to do in Bali.
Homestays in Bali
Nyoman, Ella and her daughter Ayu. A Balinese family lives in Gadungan, a small village an hour north of Canggu. Her nephew Adi who lives in Denpasar speaks English and accompanies each visitor during their visit to Gadungan village as a guide, translator, driver and most importantly. friend.
Our Balinese family call them after staying there several times. We were all shy when we first visited in 2017. We broke the ice by sharing the cookies we brought over from Netherlands.
Help in their Balinese farm
Nyoman who helps out on his Bali farm has his own farm and rice factory near his home. After a short walk through the rice fields, he reaches a farm where he grows all kinds of fruits and vegetables. After you’ve helped with the rice or harvested it, a refreshing treat awaits you with a coconut fresh from the tree.
The best local Balinese cuisine
Era serves lunch for all those who work on the farm. She is such a sweet lady and she definitely knows how to cook delicious meals.
Most dishes are made fresh from their own farm. You can find out about the ingredients used and ask if Ella can cook.
Oh, and then. By the way, the local sweet snacks were great!
Find out how Balinese people live during a homestay in Bali.
We were lucky enough to attend the birth of a little boy in our family. A unique experience and an even deeper insight into their culture.
New Friends
The family welcomes you warmly and is always open to new travelers. I can only communicate with hand gestures and body language, but after being with my family for a few days, friendship quickly develops.
One day, Nyoman wanted to introduce Hindu culture in Bali, which is different from India. Before that, he visited Besakih Temple, the most important temple in Bali which he visits only twice a year. All visitors receive a bracelet.
Nyoman gave us a bracelet called “Tridatu”. It is said to bring peace, security and good luck when worn by Balinese people.
Sightseeings
Adi will guide you through the village, the temple at the top of the valley of rice paddies, nearby waterfalls and one of the best rice paddies to be seen in Bali. Yes, better than Tegallalang Rice Terrace in Ubud.
Learn Balinese and Teach English
Bring games and books. It started raining during our stay and didn’t stop until the next morning. Ayu had a textbook written in Indonesian and its English translation. We basically chatted all night about Ayu’s textbooks and Google Translate when we had a 3G connection.
How can we do a homestay in Bali?
Spend time with a local family in a homestay in Bali. The door of family is always open to you.
The price per person (2 nights) is 2,000,000 IDR (~145 USD). This includes 3 meals a day, transportation, community activities, private rooms, bathrooms, cooking, visits to amazing local temples, rice field tours, and much more.
Expect to get back to basics during your stay. Basic room with double bed and fan, outdated bathroom but hot water. No problem with children. You will have the time of your life with all the local children.
The price of your stay includes hotel pickup and drop-off, all meals, and support for Gadungan’s family and community.
