The Bukit, literally ‘hill’ in Indonesian, is an elevated limestone peninsula that is connected to the rest of the island by a skinny isthmus. Despite a relatively unforgiving savannah like landscape with little groundwater, the Bukit reveals evidence of human habitation dating back to prehistoric times. Famous cliff top temple, Pura Luhur Uluwatu has foundations dating back to the 11th Century, and is one of Bali’s most important Hindu places of worship. It's also one of the island's most popular tourism products and the site of a daily performance of the famous kecak dance as the sun sets dramatically over the Indian Ocean, 80 meters below - both spectacles well worth witnessing. What the Bukit lacks in terms of picturesque rice paddies and verdant jungle it makes up for in panoramas. Over the last few years, there's been a rash of super exclusive resorts setting up (five-star) camp here, drawn by the astonishing vistas and the white sand beaches that are a relative rarity in Bali.

The busy Jalan Bypass Nusa Dua connects the Bukit Peninsula to Kuta through Jimbaran, and this is the only route in. One should take this main road south to the junction with Jalan Uluwatu II (the famous McDonald's junction), turn west towards Jimbaran Bay, continue about 2 km and at the four road junction make a sharp left up the hill (signposted for Uluwatu). Continuing on this road we enter into the heart of the peninsula. A number of Bali's very best beaches including Balangan, and the top surfing spots on the island are in this region. The two main towns with strong local communities on the Bukit are Pecatu and Ungasan.