Though the northern part of Bali is less popular among tourists than the southern part, it is actually home to plenty of natural attractions and unique traditional cultures.

Here are some of our recommendations of things to do when you are exploring this less crowded, yet very exciting area.

Canyoning at Gitgit waterfallNestled in Singaraja, Gitgit village is blessed with several beautiful waterfalls that are popular among tourists. It is especially famous as the '€œit'€ destination to do '€œcanyoning'€.

Canyoning Gitgit means exploring its waterfalls and caves, slipping down the natural water slides, rappeling down the waterfalls and cliffs and swimming in the natural spring basins.

The canyoning operators usually offer packages according to several levels of experience and physical condition. Wisely pick the one that is safe, yet challenging enough to test your agility and physical endurance.

Dolphin watching during sunrise at Lovina Beach Stretching along Bali'€™s northern coast to the west of Singaraja, Lovina is blessed with gorgeous sunrises and pods of dolphins swimming freely in the open sea '€“ and has been a popular destination among tourists seeking to enjoy both.

When you first arrive at the spot, you may find its narrow black sandy beach and surrounding view are not that appealing.

But wait, if you visit the place just before dawn and rent a jukung (traditional wooden boat) to leave the beach, you will discover one of the most beautiful sunrises in the whole island, thanks to the addition of the many dolphins surfacing and leaping out of the sea.

Other than taking a mental picture, bring a long-focus lens along with your camera when possible to share the experience back home.

Many of the visitors are family with young children because, of course, what kid would not get excited watching dolphins playing in the sea?

Trekking Mount Batur Kintamani is home to at least two very attractive natural sites, the Lake Batur and Mount Batur.

Mount Batur is actually a sacred place for the Balinese Hindu, but visitors are allowed to trek it to enjoy the gorgeous sunrise from the top.

As the activity is getting more and more popular, you can easily find tour operators in Bali that offer local guides to help you reach the summit point, which is around two hours away from the bottom of the mountain.

Visiting the traditional Trunyan cemetery. Also in Kintamani, there is a place called the Trunyan cemetery in Trunyan village that has a very interesting tradition.

While Balinese people usually cremate or bury the dead, people in Trunyan have their own tradition of laying them out in bamboo cages at the cemetery. Strangely, while the dead body decomposes, there is no unpleasant smell around the place. According to the locals, the smell is gone because it is absorbed by the cemetery'€™s gigantic Taru Menyan tree.

Only 11 bodies can be laid under the bamboo cages. Thus, when a new one comes, Trunyan people will move one of the older dead bodies to the other side of the cemetery while the skulls will be put next to the tree. You can see a collection of skulls lies on the stone platform next to the Taru Menyan tree and bones around the area.

The people of the Trunyan village itself are also interesting; they are considered to be the old Bali Aga, which literally means the Balinese who live in higher lands and still preserve their own unique customs.

Situated at the eastern part of Lake Batur, you can reach the village by renting a motor boat at the Kedisan port.

(jakpost.travel/Edna Tarigan)

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