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)