The town of West Yellowstone just over state lines is a great base for National Park adventures. Plus, it’s the only place you’d actually want to run into a grizzly bear. When it comes to Montana’s big moments in history, The Battle of the Little Bighorn might sound familiar, aka Custer’s Last Stand (not Custard, as some of us may have thought as children). Today you can visit a monument to the battle near Crow Agency, Montana, taking in the beautiful sculptures and gravestones dedicated to the men and women who died there.
The Crow fair is another important stop during August, when the hills surrounding the Little Bighorn River are turned into the “teepee capital of the world.” Members of the public are welcome to witness the parades, rodeos and dance competitions celebrating tribe culture. Ya·qawiswit̓xuki—or Glacier National Park as it’s known in English—is your next stop. It was formerly a homeland of the Kootenai people, but years of development and global warming have changed the landscape greatly. Visiting is allowed, just take time to be respectful of the land and learn about the local history before you go. The glaciers are receding more each year, but a day hike in Many Glacier Valley can still provide you epic views of Grinnell Glacier and Salamander Glacier. If you’re pushed for time, plan ahead for a drive along the infamous Going-To-The-Sun Road and keep your eyes peeled for the Jackson Glacier Overlook sign. Bring binoculars for the big reveal! The Kootenai and Salish Tribes are also responsible for something wholly unexpected in the area—The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas. You’ll be transported straight to Tibet, surrounded by colourful prayer flags, a shrine to Yum Chenmo, and—as you may have guessed—one thousand statues of Buddha
As with most of the smaller islands around Bali and Lombok, Nusa Lembongan is a veritable paradise. It lies around 15 miles southeast of Denpasar, alongside Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida. But despite the proximity, getting there isn’t straightforward, since the island has neither an airport nor a pier. So, whichever boat transfer you pick from Sanur, just know that you’ll be getting your feet wet before you even reach the hotel (heavy, wheelie suitcases not advisable). Of the three Nusa Islands, Lembongan is the most developed, offering the most accommodation and dining options. Unsurprisingly, that also means it’s the most popular of the three as a base for visitors to the islands. So if it’s a hidden gem you’re looking for, this might not be the one – you should expect more than one or two “Instagram tourists”.
There are good reasons why people want to come here, though. The picturesque beaches exist IRL as well, with never-ending sandy bays ideal for swimming, snorkelling and surfing alike. Lembongan is regarded as having the Nusa Islands’ best surf spots, which also come with names that mean business, like Razors and Lacerations. If you’re brave enough, even beginners can head out on Razors, though we’d probably start with the less aggressive-sounding Playgrounds. You can also lean into Bali’s hippy yoga lifestyle on Nusa Lembongan, with several schools on the island offering multi-day retreats. Aside from coming away feeling more chilled and flexible than if you were just sipping mojitos at a beach club, booking a retreat package tends to mean that your accommodation, breakfast and transfers from Bali are completely sorted. Most generally give you the option to include surf classes and/or snorkelling, too. We found bookyogaretreats.com to be a handy comparison site for seeing what’s available and when.
One of the most authentic Balinese experiences you can have on Lembongan is visiting the seaweed farms. Seaweed farming is the area’s main source of income after tourism, and it made a real comeback during the COVID-19 pandemic. At low tide, you can see hundreds of locals working on their plots in the channel between Jungut Batu Bay and Nusa Ceningan. It’s an impressive sight, especially when low tide happens to fall at sunrise or sunset, but please remember to ask permission from the farmers before taking any pictures! Crossing the channel to Ceningan is easy, too, since it’s connected to Nusa Lembongan by its iconic Yellow Bridge. The island is small and walkable, although you may want to rent a motorbike to avoid spending hours walking in the sun. Natural coastal beauty is on the cards here as well, with the Blue Lagoon topping every list of things to see. Since you can’t actually get in and swim here, you know it must be impressive when the colour of the water alone is enough to draw crowds. Thankfully, you don’t have to go far for a swim, since there’s a really popular cliff diving spot just around the corner. On the road back towards the Yellow Bridge, look out for little signs pointing you down to Secret Beach. It may not really be a secret, but it is secluded and has some of the clearest waters around. There’s a good chance you’ll have all 50 metres of coastline to yourself, as well as the perfect conditions for checking out its reef. While the Nusas definitely aren’t as hopping as Bali proper, this is probably about as much real peace and quiet as you can hope for in an area that’s only growing in popularity.
Here are a couple of other nearby suggestions (relatively speaking) for an even better chance at seaside serenity: Lombok: Just next door, but so much less popular with the Instagram crowd (except maybe Pink Beach!). The landscape is varied, with hikeable volcanoes, a deluge of waterfalls, and a huge choice of quiet beaches, where you can build sand castles without worrying some big brute will come and kick them over. Unless you’re on Selong Belanak beach at sunset when the water buffalo come out.
Flores & Komodo Island: Flores is much less developed for tourism than Bali or Lombok, but as the gateway to world-famous dive sites and real life dragons in Komodo National Park, we can’t imagine that’ll last too long. This trip can involve as much activity as you like, with canyon jumping, cave swimming and treks through the highlands to visit the traditional village of Wae Rebo all on the cards. But don’t miss out on their Pink Beaches, either – they’re arguably much pinker than Lombok’s! Weh Island: Much more off the beaten path, everything moves more slowly on Weh Island. The waters here are warm, clear and full of marine life, making it the ideal place for some leisurely snorkelling or affordable diving. Iboih and Gapang Beaches are best for proximity to the dive centres (and seaside bungalows), but if you just want to float around in peace, head to Sumur Tiga Beach. As a Muslim island under Sharia law, you won’t find much partying going on here – but tourists aren’t held to the same rules as locals, so long as you’re respectful of local tradition and etiquette. In short, you’ll find the odd beer on sale here or there, and bikinis tend to be okay on the beach.
Contrary to what you may expect from winter in Georgia, the weather doesn’t tend to be all that harsh, especially in cities like Tbilisi or Batumi. While the western regions are damp, and the Caucasus become a haven for snow bunnies, you can expect lovely conditions for wandering through the capital and its (absolutely massive) botanical gardens.
Arguably, winter is the best time to fully appreciate Tbilisi’s famous sulfur baths. It’s easy to be lured in by the fancy mosaic facade of Chreli-Abano – what it lacks in traditional domed roof, it makes up for in high-end (English-speaking) service. Gulo’s Thermal Spa offers the best of both worlds, with the classic brick walls, marble and intricate murals, topped off with a hot tea after your soak.
But if you’d rather plunge into the authentic local experience, head to Sulfur Bath No. 5, where the baths may or may not be in order and customer service is especially “gruff”. Just what you want when you’re half naked in front of strangers.
With the festive season in Georgia comes a whole raft of new treats for us to claim we’re having “just one more” of. The main ones to watch out for are gozinaki, a chewy, crunchy, honey nut brittle usually made with walnuts, and churchkhela, a strand of nuts threaded along a piece of string and dipped in grape syrup until they resemble candle sticks. And of course, that’s all best washed down with a nice warming glass of chacha.
There are a couple of staples on every Christmas table in Georgia, too – the obligatory Imeruli khachapuri, and aubergine rolls stuffed with – you guessed it – walnuts. Traditionalists needn’t worry, as turkey still features (albeit covered in walnut sauce), but other Georgian celebrations will be less familiar. Christmas is celebrated on 7th January, according to the Orthodox calendar, so don’t be surprised if you find people burning shaved hazelnut branches and parading through the streets after New Year.
Near Ho Chi Minh City – Sailing among the floating markets and traditional villages on the Mekong Delta is high up most Vietnam lists, but the nearby Cu Chi Tunnels are not to be missed either. If you’re feeling brave crawling through the pitch-black tunnels will provide a good idea of the harsh reality experienced by Vietnamese soldiers. Safely above ground, you can peruse the booby trap exhibition, which somehow scares us less.
Nha Trang – Around 7.5 hrs north of Ho Chi Minh City by train, the seaside retreat is popular for its idyllic beaches, scuba diving and spas. It’s also home to an island theme park, Vinpearl Land, which is best reached via a scenic cable car ride across the bay. A visit to the impressive Po Nagar Cham Towers will be in order afterwards to calm any residual endorphins.
Hoi An– This is the place for anyone who likes to shop, with markets galore selling food, souvenirs, clothes and local crafts. It’s also one of the few places you’ll get a chance to take a ride in a traditional bamboo basket boat and bob along like the local fishermen.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang – About two thirds of the way from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, near the city of Dong Hoi, is Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Scrambling around the world’s largest cave should be top of your list there, but a walk through the surrounding jungle will suit any animal-lover.
Lan Ha Bay – Swap the main part of buzzing Halong Bay for peaceful Lan Ha Bay, and you’ll be rewarded with equally picturesque views – minus the crowds. Larger boats can’t access the area, but a smaller Junk Ship cruise will get you to those secluded spots where you can strap on your life jacket and go kayaking in safety.
Slovenia is one of Europe’s least-visited countries overall for international travel – but we’re here to shake the extraordinary capital of Ljubljana in your face and tell you why that needs to change.
Ljubljana is a small city with a young vibe – about a sixth of the population is taken up by its 50,000 students – and a complex history that dates back to the Roman era.
And in wintertime, Ljubljana becomes…look, we’re going to resist the urge to use the words ‘fairy-tale’, but there is something particularly charming about its snow-capped architecture, its splendid Christmas lights and markets, its outdoor ice skating, skiing day trips, and – yes – its massive outdoor New Year’s Eve celebrations.
For us, though, the real trump card is Ljubljana’s quite frankly ludicrous artistic scene – over 14,000 cultural events take place in the city every year, ensuring that you’ll never be at a loose end on a rainy day.
Founded as a squat in an old army barracks in 1993, the Metelkova neighbourhood is a punky cultural centre and network of clubs, and it’s rightly famous as the city’s alternative, underground heart. (The neighbourhood hostel, Cecilia, is an old prison that welcomes guests into its 20 colourfully-designed cells.)
For travellers whose raving days are long behind them, however, the city centre also holds a wide variety of museums, concert halls, theatres, and much, much more.
If you can’t make it for Christmas, then we’d head to Ljubljana in February, in time for the Pust or Karneval celebrations, where in Slovenian tradition fearsome masked figures parade to chase the winter away. (In Ljubljana, the parades are led by the city’s mascot, the green dragon.)
Eating and drinking
With a heavy emphasis on pork and deliciously doughy desserts, Slovenia is a great choice for warming winter food – but Ljubljana is way too trendy to rest on its laurels. Last year, the city had 17 mentions in the Michelin Guide, with praise going out to its talented chefs fusing traditional Slovenian cuisine with Mediterranean, Thai and Japanese influences.
While we haven’t been there ourselves, we’d be tempted to take a cab out to the delightfully infamous Gostilna Skaručna, an eccentric family-owned restaurant serving traditional Slovenian cuisine just outside the city. Wash it all down with an excellent glass of Slovenian wine, local plum schnapps, or the up-and-coming local vodka – which, for some reason, has Bill Murray as its ambassador. (Maybe Lost in Translation gave him the idea?)
Bulgaria has a good amount of mountainous coverage – which means it’s showing off some of Europe’s most stunning waterfalls across its three national parks. In the north, you’ll find gorgeous glacial lakes and craggy hiking routes past ruined medieval fortresses and monasteries.
While we’d make it a priority to visit the Seven Rila Lakes or the rocks of Belogradchik (pictured above) in the mountains for some unforgettable walking trails, there are also lovely hiking options up Vitosha Mountain, less than an hour’s bus ride from Sofia.
In the south, you’ve got charming coastal towns like the UNESCO-recognised Nessebar – or if you want to really get away from it all, head to the completely undeveloped and peaceful Pasha Dere beach for some Black Sea RnR.
Only around 300,000 foreign tourists visit Gdansk on Poland’s Baltic coast every year – compare that to the nine million visitors who descend upon Brugge every year.
It’s a huge pity; the city boasts a magnificent old town with some stunning Mannerist architecture and a number of lush walking routes and cycling trails to keep you occupied.
And in the autumn, Gdansk (when it isn’t raining) comes alive in colour – Poland is famous for its ‘golden autumn’ in October when the beech forests are particularly gorgeous. It’s a great time to drop in on Gdansk’s scenic 10-hectare Oliwa Park, which features stunning beech alleys, duck ponds, and the Groty Szeptów, or ‘Whispering Caves’.
Eating and drinking
Traditional Polish pierogi are popular in town, as are potato pancakes and rosół meat soup. For a properly authentic experience, head to one of the city’s ‘milk bars’ – low-cost diner-style restaurants popularised during the Soviet era. (The folks at Nothing Familiar have some tips here on the best milk bars to visit.)
And to drink? Well, there you’re spoiled for choice. The city has an almost ludicrous volume of beloved craft beer bars, but there’s also Polish vodka ( remember to toast), the cherry liqueur wiśniówka, and Gdansk’s resident fancypants drink Goldwasser, containing gold flakes and made famous by the European royals who believed it held alchemical properties.
Perhaps most surprisingly to foreigners, winemaking has a centuries-old history in Poland and it’s seeing a resurgence across the country, mostly led by talented enthusiasts – Gdansk has one such ‘amateur’ winery, the Winnica Modzrew, which is well worth checking out.
Tanzania is generally a cheap place to travel ( Budget Your Trip estimates that the average traveller will spend £18 per night on meals and £70 on accommodation) – however, there’s one notable exception.
Yes, the country’s safaris are infamously costly, and they’re likely to eat heavily into your budget thanks to a combination of expensive national park entry fees (the Serengeti and Nyerere National Parks will charge £60 per adult entry alone during the peak season plus a number of add-on costs – high fuel prices, vehicle and guide hire, and accommodation costs.
Ngorongoro Crater was actually named by the Maasai after the sound of cow-bells, quite beautifully.
There are a few ways to ensure you get to see the out-of-this-world natural beauty of Tanzania’s national parks (and why would you want to miss out?) while still cutting back on costs, however:
Consider when you travel. The high season of May to October will be expensive, particularly during the Great Wildebeest Migration. The low season (March to May) is cheaper for a very good reason, with the heavy masika rains falling throughout these three months. But in January to February, Tanzania experiences a second, shorter dry season which may be… very slightly cheaper, although the entrance fees themselves will remain steady.
If you’re willing to rough it, you could spend the night in one of the Serengeti’s six public campsites rather than at a fancy lodge, and simply pay the camping fee at the entrance. Don’t expect five-star accommodation – the toilets in particular see a lot of complaints online – but you’ll certainly get an authentic safari experience for less (and likely hear a few wild animals in the night!). Pimbi Camp appears to be the best rated campsite out of the six.
In theory, you could also cut back on guide costs by simply renting your own 4×4 for the day and drive yourself around the parks (you’ll still need to pay the vehicle fee). However, we’d strongly advise against this, for a few hopefully obvious reasons! You’ll save a little money, but you’ll be losing out on expertise, driving skill, and unless you speak Swahili and have a working two-way radio, you’ll likely struggle to figure out where the animals actually are.
For budget safaris, we’ve seen a number of travellers recommending Krisha Africa Safaris, based out of Arusha, for a combination of reasonable rates and quality experience, so that might be a great place to start.
And on a related note – we’d definitely note that a Kilimanjaro climb is likely out of the scope of a budget holiday (and beware of unscrupulous operators who claim they can get you up the mountain for cheap)!
Rest and restaurants in Zanzibar
For good budget accommodation in Zanzibar, we’ve seen a lot of buzz and positive traveller feedback around New Teddy’s On The Beach, a hostel that’s based (as you’d imagine) on the Jambiani beach out on the eastern coast, about a 30-minute drive from Jozani Forest and its famous red Colobus monkeys.
New Teddy’s has private rooms with their own en-suites available – a double will set you back about £50 per night – plus a range of beach activities, and the usual local guides on hand to organise scuba diving, tours of Stone Town’s famous bazaars and ornate doorways, or visits to Zanzibar’s spice farms. Guests rave about the relaxing, laid-back vibes (and ample hammocks) – sounds ideal.
If you’d rather stay in the bustling heart of Zanzibar City itself, Shoki Shoki House is another well-rated and cheap hotel located in Stone Town – just remember that if you’re visiting during Ramadan, some of the restaurants and markets in the city may be closed! (Also, one of the city’s famous sights, the ‘House of Wonders’ and Palace Museum, has been sadly closed since 2020 due to a partial collapse.)
When it comes to getting around – both in Zanzibar or on the mainland – the true budget option is the dala-dala. These open-backed mini-buses can be chaotic and crowded, but they can cost less than a pound per journey ( just watch out for con-artists). If you’re not feeling quite as adventurous, you can speak to your hotel about private mini-buses or car hire.
Yes, it’s true, visitors to the Dead Sea may often end up in Jordan’s cluster of plush five-star Crowne Plaza and Marriott resorts rather than seeing the breadth and width of the country.
But a number of Jordanian institutions have also put an astonishing amount of effort and energy towards supporting and sustaining responsible tourism over the past 50 years – and that makes it relatively straightforward to plan a trip where your money is actually going back to local communities.
For instance, if you head out to the stunning Wadi Rum valley, you’ll find that virtually all of the tourist enterprises are run by local Bedouin families from the Zalabia tribe, from day tours to overnight camps, and collectively organised by the local Rum Tourism Cooperative.
Even when booking a visit to ultra-popular Petra, it’s not too difficult to skip past the big international tourism agencies and support brilliant local guides and homestays instead – one of the best-rated private tours on TripAdvisor is run by Abdullah Nawafleh, who grew up in the area working on the excavation site. (Guests rave about Abdullah’s brilliant knowledge of Petra, his love of Jordan, his kindness, and his singing ability.)
In the north of Jordan, Baraka Destinations organises tours and experiences run by locals (from archaeological hikes to basket-weaving and beekeeping).
And even if you head out for a hike across the many isolated wadis, canyons and waterfalls of the Dead Sea Trail, you could end up stumbling onto one of the handicraft workshops and shops which are run by Wild Jordan, an offshoot of Jordan’s longstanding Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, with the aim of supporting craftswomen from local communities.
Back in 2018, the Jordanian tourism board actually created its own official ‘Meaningful Travel Map’, which encourages travellers to visit community-run sites, hotels, guest-houses and social enterprises across the country.
The map isn’t exhaustive, but it’s a great place to start and offers a wide range of different possibilities for your next trip (or your next tips for European tourists).
After months of restrictions and staycations, the world is once again our oyster, and you may be about to embark on your first far-flung holiday since the pandemic began. But while being filled with excitement for that well-earned break, you might also be battling anxiety about travelling for the first time. Here, we lay out our top tips on how to stay well and get the most out of your long-awaited break.
Figures show that spending on hotels, resorts and holiday accommodation rose 16.6% in April 2022, compared with the same month in 2019, as we all look forward to some well-deserved time off.
But the pandemic means that, for lots of us, there is an understandable element of anxiety about travelling again for the first time.
The potential for restrictions changes, lowered immunity and virus transmission can make, what should be an exciting prospect, a real headache. And with the pandemic triggering a 25% increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide, it’s perhaps not surprising that travel worries has crept in alongside.
But this should not be holding you back.
Worker burnout is at an all-time high and it’s important you take some quality, relaxing time out. After an extended break from travel, many of us could also do with a reminder of how to stay well (and how that may be a bit different now), particularly as research suggests that up to 79% of people get ill during travel or on arrival.
So, here’s our expert guide to being stress-free and healthy on your next get away.
Plan for every eventuality
First, check if you need any jabs for your destination. “Travel vaccinations should be planned a minimum of eight weeks prior to travel, as some may need several doses spread out over a few weeks or months,” said Dr Verity Biggs from H3 Health.
“The main travel vaccines available on the NHS include polio, typhoid, hepatitis A and cholera. It is essential to plan in advance, as although it may feel urgent to get them done if you have planned a trip last minute, it isn’t classed as urgent for the NHS,” warns Biggs, who also recommends making sure you are up to date with any health checks and making sure you have your usual supplies of medication for travel. Head to NHS site FitForTravel to find out what you need.
Travel vaccines are also available via some health insurance plans, such as Vitality’s Worldwide Travel Cover, which allows people to claim up to £100 each year on a range of vaccinations, including anti-malarial, typhoid and cholera.
Wash your hands in airport hotspots
Due to a reduction of holidays and travel, concerns have risen that this could have an impact on our immune systems. So, does this make us more vulnerable to illness while on holiday?
“When our immune system doesn’t ‘see’ viruses for a prolonged time, our immunity tends to wane, which means we may get a more severe form the next time we are exposed,” said Immunologist Dr Jenna Macciochi, author of Your Blueprint for Strong Immunity.
“But two years of restrictions is very short in terms of immune function, which is built up over your entire lifetime,” she explained.
We still, however, need to maintain a certain level of vigilance when it comes to hygiene, Biggs warns.
“Being in close proximity to others and touching different surfaces will spread germs,” she said. “We still need to remember the advice to wash our hands regularly, use hand sanitiser and cover our faces when coughing and sneezing.”
Pandemic-proof yourself
So, the good news is your immunity shouldn’t be affected. But there are still extra precautions that should be taken, particularly if you’ve had Covid-19.
The risk of deep vein thrombosis can be elevated for up to three months post-infection. So, if you’re travelling by plane, try to move around during the flight as much as possible, don’t cross your legs, stay hydrated and consider compression socks. It might also be a good idea to take a small dose of aspirin – this helps thin your blood, making clots less likely.
If you’re still concerned about Covid-19 when you get to your destination, do whatever makes you feel comfortable: carry hand sanitiser, wear a mask (particularly in enclosed indoor spaces, such as public transport), and do your research, many businesses will publish their Covid-19 policies on their websites, so you can have peace of mind you are going somewhere you feel safe.
Pack a first-aid kit
As well as a good book and a deck of cards, bring along some health must-haves.
Biggs recommends buying a pre-prepared first aid kit, containing the usual suspects such as: gloves, plasters, bandages, antiseptic wipes and antiseptic creams, but also bringing rehydration sachets, over-the-counter painkillers and insect bite cream.
“Also pack probiotics, known to be helpful for traveller’s tummy. Look for Symprove, which is water-based food supplement beneficial for the gut, and the ‘good’ bacteria (Lactobacillus casei, acidophilus and plantarum as well as Enterococcus faecium) added.
Avoid tummy troubles
So, you’ve got your probiotics, but do also remember to follow all the usual rules when it comes to avoiding holiday tummy troubles:
Go for fruit that needs to be peeled,
Avoid salads that could have been washed in contaminated water,
Be cautious around shellfish,
Check that you can drink the local water, and if you can’t, don’t have ice in your drinks and use bottled water to brush your teeth.
Be clever at buffets – food that has been sitting around poses a greater risk of food poisoning, so choose dishes that are piping hot.
If you do fall sick, Biggs recommends seeking medical attention if your symptoms are severe. “Symptoms should normally only last three to five days and get better on their own without needing treatment,” she said.
And remember, emergency treatment costs and repatriation expenses are covered under Worldwide Travel Cover, up to £10m.
Know when to worry about a bite
We may be used to the critters we face at home, but different creatures may bite us abroad.
“Insect bites are common in many parts of the world, but monitoring the bites for changes is recommended,” said Biggs.
“It is common for a bite to become red and itchy, but if the redness is spreading, or becoming more painful and swollen, seek medical advice. Use creams formulated for bites, try to avoid scratching them and keeping them cool can all help.”
To avoid bites, the NHS recommends applying insect repellent that contains 50% DEET, staying away from strongly perfumed personal care products that can attract bugs, being careful around flowering plants and stagnant water, and keeping food and drink covered outside.
Stay safe in the sun
It’s always important to protect ourselves from the effects of the sun. And if you haven’t been abroad anywhere hot for a couple of years, you may need to redouble your safety efforts, both from a skin perspective and to avoid heat stroke or dehydration.
“Keeping hydrated and avoiding the midday sun is key to avoiding too much sun and heat,” explained Biggs.
“Stay out of the direct sun from noon to 3pm and wear a hat. Sun cream should be a minimum of SPF30 and needs to be reapplied regularly throughout the day, remembering areas of the body which can be easily forgotten – your ears and feet, for example.”
Be open to change
Above all, be kind to yourself. You might not want to do the things you used to on holiday – visiting crowded tourist attractions, for example, and that’s fine.
Instead, look to connect with nature, include some self-care (we’re not saying no to a spa day), or fit in some activities that get your body moving – all will help you feel your best.
Natural coastal beauty is on the cards here as well, with the Blue Lagoon topping every list of things to see. Since you can’t actually get in and swim here, you know it must be impressive when the colour of the water alone is enough to draw crowds. Thankfully, you don’t have to go far for a swim, since there’s a really popular cliff diving spot just around the corner. On the road back towards the Yellow Bridge, look out for little signs pointing you down to Secret Beach. It may not really be a secret, but it is secluded and has some of the clearest waters around. There’s a good chance you’ll have all 50 metres of coastline to yourself, as well as the perfect conditions for checking out its reef. While the Nusas definitely aren’t as hopping as Bali proper, this is probably about as much real peace and quiet as you can hope for in an area that’s only growing in popularity.
