Adventurous choices for vacationers

Adventurous choices for vacationers

DENPASAR, Bali (JP): To some vacationers, sunbathing and
swimming on beaches in Bali is not enough, particularly when
there is so much more from which to chose.

Thanks to astute investors with innovative ideas, this tiny
island province now has a wider range of attractions, including
the elephant safari at Elephant Safari Park in Desa Taro in Ubud.

This attraction, operated by Bali Adventure Tours (BAT), gives
visitors the chance to interact with the animals. Tickets range
from US$10 to $112, depending on age and the number of people in
a group.

BAT claims that a visit to the Elephant Safari Park is a must
for visitors to Bali, which is the country's premier tourist
destination.

Elephants can be seen immersing themselves in the park lake,
or visitors can hand feed and touch them or take pictures with
them.

A full graphic and video display is provided to inform
visitors of the history and diversity of the pachyderms.

Visitors also get the opportunity to witness the exotic nature
of the creatures by taking a ride on them.

Sitting high atop an elephant in a traditional teakwood chair,
while swaying, has, for some people, been an unforgettable
experience.

BAT also offers jungle treks through the beautiful nature
reserve of Mount Batukaru.

Accompanied by guides, visitors will comprehend the hidden
world of Bali's magnificent flora and fauna as they pass by
ancient trees and ferns, while overhead there are canopies of
exotic wild orchids and hanging liana, and a variety of tropical
birds and animals.

Another tourist-related tour is the rice paddy trek. This
facility is located in Bali's spectacular Carang Sari rice bowl
area and offers a chance to see traditional rural life unchanged
by modern life.

Skirting the beautiful Ayung River valley, visitors follow the
tracks through emerald green paddy fields observing the timeless
routine of planting and harvesting using hand-crafted tools and
age-old techniques.

Innovation in touristic products is necessary in the attempt
to lure even more visitors to the famous, popular Bali.

Mountain cycling is one such adventure to attract tourists. A
cycling tour will take you on a 25-kilometer excursion in the
mountains to Mayungan village, passing temples and shrines on the
way.

Water sports is another adventure activity already popular in
Bali. For those fond of white-water rafting, Ayung River is
Bali's premium place for this adventurous attraction.

Bali Adventure Rafting boasts the longest course on this river
and has unique facilities that have attracted several
celebrities.

Other water activities include river kayaking, diving,
parasailing, banana boat riding, jet skiing, snorkeling and
dolphin sighting tours.

Water sports complement the already popular adventurous
activities like bungee jumping and skysurfer which are readily
available.

In addition, visitors can also enjoy exotic reptiles and birds
at the Bali Bird Park and the Rimba Reptile Park.

Hundreds of the world's rarest and most beautiful birds can be
seen at the bird park. While strolling throughout the park,
visitors can also see a multitude of palms and rich tropical
flora.

The Rimba Reptile Park, meanwhile, is home to various
vertebrates. It has the most complete collection of reptiles in
Southeast Asia.

More attractions are off-road motorcycling, the motocross
circuit, helicopter adventures, tandem parachuting and tandem
paragliding. (icn)