Indonesia is the world’s second-most biodiverse country (after Brazil), and Bali Botanic Garden – known locally as Kebun Raya Bali (kebunraya.id; weekday/weekend 15,500/25,500Rp) – showcases some of its most spectacular floral riches. Established in 1959 as a branch of the national botanic gardens at Bogor, near Jakarta, it covers more than 154 hectares on the lower slopes of Gunung Pohen.
You could spend an entire day wandering around the collection of themed gardens, but if time is short, hire an e-scooter, electric moped, e-bike or bicycle from the ticket office at the entrance (10,000-100,000Rp). These vehicles are rented out in half-hour blocks, but to do justice to these extensive gardens takes at least an hour.
Highlights include the Cactus Greenhouse, featuring 68 species, and the Rhododendron Garden, with more than 100 varieties. The Orchid Garden – at its most colorful when many specimens are flowering around July and August – is mind-blowing, and Taman Usada has more than 300 plants used by traditional healers.
Bali Botanical Garden boasts 2400 species of plants in total. Bird-watchers are also drawn here by an estimated 79 resident and migrant bird species.
