Ubud is Bali's cultural and spiritual heart — a town in the central highlands surrounded by emerald rice terraces, sacred Hindu temples, jungle waterfalls and artist villages. It is quite different from the beach resorts of the south coast — cooler, greener, quieter and infinitely more culturally rich.

The Tegallalang rice terraces are the most famous sight — emerald green terraces cascading down a steep valley, carved over centuries by the traditional subak irrigation system. They are best visited at sunrise or late afternoon to avoid the midday crowds and the heat. The terraces are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is home to over 700 long-tailed macaques and three ancient Hindu temples set in dense jungle. The monkeys are bold and entertaining — keep your belongings secure. The temples, particularly Pura Dalem Agung, are extraordinary.

The traditional dance performances are unmissable. The Kecak fire dance, performed at sunset at Uluwatu (45 minutes from Ubud), is the most dramatic — 150 men chanting in hypnotic unison around a fire. The Legong and Barong dances, performed nightly at the Royal Palace in the centre of Ubud, are equally extraordinary.

Mount Batur, an active volcano 45 minutes from Ubud, offers one of the most memorable experiences in Bali — a 2-hour pre-dawn trek to the 1,717m summit rewards with extraordinary sunrise views over the caldera lake. Guides are required and depart at 2am.

Ubud has the best food scene in Bali. Locavore, one of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, serves extraordinary Indonesian fine dining. The warungs (local restaurants) serve nasi goreng, babi guling and sate lilit for a few pounds. The quality and variety is extraordinary.

The best time to visit is April to October — the dry season. We search across Travelpack, Emirates Holidays and JTA Holidays for the best deals, with the FIBI discount applied automatically.