travel and leisure in Bali

Lush, languid, and lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, the island of Bali is legendarily beautiful. Although it’s just one of 17,500 islands in the Indonesian archipelago, it alone has earned the moniker “Island of the Gods.” Here, the long, sugary beaches lead inland to hillsides terraced with jewel-green rice paddies, and forests dotted with ancient temples abound. These centuries-old shrines—there are thousands of them—are evidence of Bali’s deep, enduring spirituality. For the island’s three million, mostly Hindu residents, daily routines are punctuated by prayer, blessings, and rituals—and it’s these traditions, even more than the spectacular landscapes, that make Bali a destination of the spirit.