Celukan Bawang, Bali, Indonesia

Think of Bali, and you’ll likely picture the perfect beaches of the south—and certainly, Celukan Bawang has its share of those. But this modest harbor on the north of the island reveals a Bali shaped by nature and tradition. Once a 19th-century timber port shipping hardwoods from the island’s rainforests, Celukan Bawang now offers quiet entry into a region that is elemental and off the beaten path. Just 10 miles from the port, and you could be soaking in the mineral-rich waters of Banjar Hot Springs, long believed to hold healing properties. Or wander the hillside paths of Brahmavihara-Arama, the island’s largest Buddhist monastery, where terraced gardens are lined with stupas and prayer flags. A 40-minute drive brings you to Singaraja, Bali’s early-20th-century capital, and its lively markets brimming with lontar manuscripts and temple offerings. For those who want a deeper sense of the island’s spirituality, continue inland to Lake Bratan, where locals present daily offerings at the 17th-century water temple of Pura Ulun Danu—a serene and beautiful sight.