It wasn't until our most recent (and third) visit to the Island of the Gods that we finally got to tick another destination off our bucket list; Ubud, Bali. Don't get me wrong, I'd heard amazing things about the very trendy cultural district, but we'd never managed to find the time to travel north between our stays in Seminyak and Nusa Dua.

This time though, I made sure we were staying in Ubud, and I'm sure glad we did. During our stay at the beautiful Kamandalu resort with The Luxe Nomad, we somehow managed to tear ourselves away from our Pool Villa for a morning to tour and experience the surrounding area. So, today I'm sharing with you the 4 (of many!) reasons you should put exploring Ubud on your Bali bucket list.

We found ourselves descending steep stairs at our first destination, early in the morning, already dreading the walk back up. Long after hearing its roar, we finally had a glimpse of Tegenungan Waterfall through the dense green jungle. By the time we reached the base of the waterfall, we were drenched with the steaming mist that created a dreamy humid haze through the river valley.

Our 6:00AM start was well worth it too, for we had the entire place to ourselves. Truth be told, I kind of wish we had've enjoyed a dip in the cool waters once we had climbed the steep stairs back up to the town (it was hot!), but we were up and onto our next destination.

North east of Ubud lies the picturesque Mt Batur, which is famous for its sunrise hiking tours and incredible views. The best part is that it's just a short trek from Ubud (around 1.5 hours drive), so after visiting the waterfall, we made our way to the edge of Lake Batur.

Over breakfast from Kamandalu, we sat by the lake, and ooh'd and aah'd over the magnificent view of the active volcano and surrounding mountains.

I'm wearing (above): Missguided boyfriend t-shirt, Levis denim shorts, Ace of Something hat and Rebecca Minkoff bag from Shopbop, and Senso sandals.

I've always wanted to go to the famous Tegallalang Rice Terrace, but when we arrived the crowds and traffic was like nothing I've ever seen before. The sheer amount of people here, there and everywhere was almost enough to put me off joint them. Almost.

Among the hustle and bustle, we made our way down to one of the platforms where we were greeted with the most incredible sweeping views of the layered rice paddies. It was like we'd stepped straight into the pages of the National Geographic, dotted with tropical palm trees and hundreds of people in awe of the lush valley before us.

Was it worth joining the mass of people? Absolutely. After all, if it's busy, there's usually a pretty damn good reason for it. In saying that though, I'd most certainly make sure to get there as early as possible next time!

If there's one thing you need after a day of exploring, it's a home away from home to relax and rejuvenate (after all, isn't that what going on a holiday is all about?). Ubud is brimming with some of the world's most luxurious accommodation, but our pick this time was Kamandalu for its Balinese culture, authentic rice paddies (see last image) and stunning pools.

During our stay with The Luxe Nomad, we were treated to an array of amazing experiences right in our resort, from a Balinese Cultural Night with delicious food and a traditional performance, to a private cooking class, where we learnt about Balinese cuisine (and got to eat our hard work afterwards). The things I would do for that chicken soup again - delicious!

Oh, and of course we vlogged our experience, so keep an eye out for the video on our YouTube channel very soon!

Have you been to Ubud in Bali? What are your favourite things?