Bali is full of surprises, and some of the best experiences happen when you step away from the beaches and try something hands-on. Whether the sun is out or the skies turn grey, the island has a whole world of creative activities that are fun, thoughtful, and perfect for slowing down. Over the years, we have discovered workshops and classes that feel special no matter the weather. They are relaxed, personal, and led by people who genuinely love what they do.
From perfume making and ceramics to pasta workshops, silver jewellery, matcha tastings, and cultural crafts you will not find anywhere else, these are the activities we return to again and again. They are great for couples, families, groups of friends, or anyone who simply wants a break from the usual Bali itinerary.
Here is our guide to the best rain or shine creative activities in Bali, ones that feel good on a sunny afternoon and equally good on days when you want to explore something meaningful indoors.
Perfume Making at L’Atelier
If you love perfume or you’ve ever wondered why certain scents feel like “you,” this workshop is one of the most fascinating things you can do in Bali, especially when the rain sets in. L’Atelier offers a three-hour deep dive into the art of fragrance, guided by trained perfumers who learned directly under its founder, Nora Gasparini-Chalono. Nora studied classical perfumery in Paris and brought that knowledge to Bali back in 2009, pairing French technique with the rich aromatic world of the Indonesian archipelago. Think ylang-ylang, vetiver, exotic florals, spices, and a few essentials from overseas like musk.
The experience is hands-on from the moment you sit down. You explore dozens of oils and extracts, learning how each note behaves and how your personal preferences reveal themselves through scent. You don’t just make one perfume; you build three versions, refining the balance each time. It becomes a little journey of its own, and by the end, you’ll choose your favourite blend, name it, design the label, and take home a full-sized bottle of something unique.
It’s soothing, creative, and strangely introspective, which makes it perfect for a slow day. Many people come solo, but it’s also popular with couples who want a shared signature scent, hens’ groups looking for something fun and meaningful, and friends who want to try an activity that feels a bit different.
L’Atelier uses only premium ingredients, with every essence handpicked for quality. The team also hosts perfume events and encourages anyone who wants to keep exploring the craft. You walk out not only with your own fragrance but also with a new appreciation for how scent is built.
Cake Icing at Cake Empire
Cake Empire has become one of those places in Seminyak where people go to get creative with cake without feeling intimidated by the process. The space sits along Sunset Road and doubles as a bakery and a workshop venue, which means the atmosphere is already warm and welcoming before you even pick up a piping bag.
Their classes are relaxed and hands-on, designed for beginners as well as anyone who simply enjoys the playful side of baking. You usually start by learning the basics, practising simple piping techniques and textures before moving on to decorating your own cake or cupcakes. The team guides you just enough to build confidence, but still gives you plenty of room to play with colours, shapes, and ideas.
It feels social and easygoing, which makes it a great activity for friends, couples, or families looking for something creative to do on a rainy afternoon. There’s always a bit of laughter, especially when everyone compares their final designs, and somehow the cakes always turn out better than expected. At the end, you take home your decorated cake, which is either enjoyed immediately or saved for a little coffee moment later.
Cake Empire has a way of turning baking into a fun, low-pressure escape. It’s light-hearted, hands-on, and the kind of workshop that leaves you smiling long after the icing sets
John Hardy Workshop Tour & Long Table Lunch
The John Hardy workshop tour is one of Bali’s most thoughtful creative experiences, especially if you’re interested in heritage, sustainability, or the stories behind handmade jewellery. The property was designed with intention, using bamboo structures that sit lightly on the land, allowing rivers to flow beneath walkways and heritage rice fields planted as part of the original vision. It feels peaceful the moment you arrive, like stepping into a working village dedicated to craft.
The tour takes you through the heart of the workshop, where artisans sit together shaping and polishing silver using techniques passed down through generations. Watching each piece come to life is fascinating and gives you a new appreciation for the brand’s global reputation for craftsmanship. You’ll also spend time in the design room, where guests can sketch ideas for their own jewellery. You can have the piece made or simply enjoy the creative moment.
If you join the morning tour, you’re invited to the Long Table Lunch, a Balinese-inspired meal shared with the designers and management team. It’s warm, simple, and elegant in a very Bali way. Before leaving, explore the gallery and store, where the pieces suddenly carry more meaning after seeing how they’re made.
Ceramic Making at Kevala Studio
Kevala is known across Bali for its beautiful ceramics, so joining a workshop at their studio feels like stepping into the creative process behind pieces you’ve probably seen in many of the island’s best restaurants. The studio is calm and light-filled, and the team immediately puts you at ease, even if you’ve never worked with clay before. They guide you from preparing the clay to shaping, smoothing, and glazing.
Something is grounding about working with clay. It slows you down, keeps your hands busy, and lets you focus on the physical sensation of creating something from nothing. You’ll experiment with shaping techniques, learn how different glazes behave, and get a feel for the rhythm of ceramic work. The pace is unhurried, which makes it ideal for a rainy-day activity.
One of the highlights is choosing the glaze for your final piece and imagining how it will look once fired. The studio handles the kiln process, so you return later to pick up your finished work. It’s always exciting to see how your creation transforms after firing.
Kevala’s workshop offers a rare chance to make something functional and beautiful with your own hands. It’s creative, therapeutic, and a lovely way to bring home a personalised piece of Bali.
Silver Jewellery Making at Bali Turtle Jewellery Workshop
Bali Turtle Jewellery Workshop is one of those activities that looks intimidating from the outside but feels surprisingly approachable once you sit down. The workshop costs 500K per person and includes 7 grams of silver, which is enough to create a ring or a simple pendant. They have a few designs for inspiration, but you’re also welcome to sketch your own piece. When I visited, I designed a shell-shaped ring — a little more complicated than the usual styles — but the team made the whole process feel easy. They are incredibly skilled at turning even rough ideas into something polished and wearable.
You shape, file, solder, and polish the silver yourself, moving slowly through each step with plenty of guidance. I always assumed ring-making would be technical and overwhelming, but the instructors break it down so clearly that it becomes almost meditative. With more practice, I think anyone could eventually make a ring independently. You can also add your initials or a small engraving, which gives the piece a more personal feel.
The whole session is laid-back and hands-on, the kind of workshop where time passes quickly because you’re absorbed in the process. If you want a new hobby, a meaningful souvenir, or a creative break in between Bali adventures, this is a genuinely fun way to spend a few hours.
Cheese Making at Brie Restaurant & Cheesery Bali
A cheese-making class is not usually something people expect to feel calming, yet the Brie masterclass creates exactly that kind of atmosphere. The studio is intimate and quiet, and the cheesemaker guides participants through each stage with patience and clarity. There is no rush and no pressure, just the steady, soothing rhythm of stretching curds, shaping burrata, and learning how stracciatella gets its silky texture.
The hands-on element is a big part of what makes the experience so grounding. Feeling the warmth of the milk, watching the curds transform, and understanding the small details that give fresh cheese its character makes the workshop both educational and unexpectedly meditative.
The session ends with a freestyle salad-building moment, using fresh ingredients and topping each plate with the cheese made earlier in the workshop. It is playful, creative, and a satisfying way to bring everything together.
This class becomes more than a simple culinary lesson. It feels like a small stress-relief ritual, slow and mindful, and a refreshing break from the busier parts of Bali. It suits food lovers, curious travellers, or anyone looking for a calming and nourishing rainy-day activity.
Phone Charm Workshop at Barefoot Aristocracy
Barefoot Aristocracy is one of Canggu’s most charming little jewellery shops — the kind of place filled with unique pieces, colourful beads, sunglasses, and accessories you don’t see everywhere else. Their phone charm workshop has become a favourite because it’s relaxed, fun, and surprisingly social. You do need to book ahead, especially on weekends.
The bead selection is almost overwhelming in the best way. Pearls, glass beads, quirky shapes, tiny charms — so many good options that choosing feels like its own creative challenge. The instructor walks you through the process step by step, showing you how to build a strong base, space your beads, and secure the final knot. During our session, they even brought us coffee, which made the morning feel extra cozy.
It’s a great activity to do with friends or family, especially when you want something creative but not too serious. You sit, chat, laugh at your indecision, and slowly build a charm that ends up looking more polished than you’d expect. The atmosphere feels friendly and warm, with just enough structure to keep everyone on track while still letting you play with colours and textures.
It’s the kind of workshop that feels easy but memorable — a simple way to make a personalised keepsake and enjoy a relaxed hour or two in Canggu.
Pasta Making at Amici with Chef Alessandro D’Amico
Amici’s pasta-making workshop is led by Head Chef Alessandro D’Amico, which already makes the experience feel a bit special. There’s something very charming about learning Italian cooking techniques from someone who lives and breathes pasta. Chef Alessandro teaches the foundations — the right flour, the correct hydration, how the dough should feel under your hands — and then shares a few Italian secrets that instantly make you rethink what good pasta actually is.
I won’t lie: kneading the dough is tough. You need endurance, rhythm, and a little determination, and it takes longer than you expect. This is the moment when you truly realise that eating pasta is definitely easier than making it. But once the dough comes together and you start shaping it, the process becomes fun and social. You chat with the chef, compare your progress with others, and slowly watch your pasta transform into something recognisable.
The best part, of course, is eating it at the end. After all the work, the first bite is incredibly satisfying. You can be creative with sauces, garnishes, and finishing oils, which adds a little personal flair to the final dish. It’s a warm, engaging workshop that suits couples, friends, or anyone who enjoys learning through doing — challenging at times, but always worth it.
Indigo Dyeing at Threads of Life
Threads of Life offers one of Bali’s most meaningful creative workshops, rooted in traditional Indonesian textile practices. The half-day indigo class introduces you to natural dyeing techniques used across the archipelago, and the team explains the cultural and environmental importance behind each step. It feels more like being invited into a lineage of craft than attending a typical workshop.
You begin by preparing the cloth and learning how patterns form through folding, binding, or stitching. Then you move to the indigo vats, where the dye works its magic through repeated dips and air exposure. It’s slow, rhythmic work, and watching the cloth shift from green to deep blue is a small moment of wonder each time.
The studio environment is calm, and the instructors are generous with their knowledge, which makes the experience both creative and educational. You leave with your own dyed textile — often beautifully imperfect — along with blue-stained hands that prove you did the work yourself.
It’s a grounding way to spend a rainy morning or afternoon, connecting you to Indonesia’s craft traditions in a tangible, memorable way.
Cooking Class at Bali Asli
Bali Asli sits in quiet East Bali, surrounded by rice fields and views of Mount Agung. The restaurant was created by Chef Penny Williams, who arrived in Bali as a five-star chef and fell in love with the people, flavours, and rhythms of this region. Her kitchen relies entirely on traditional methods, cooking over fire with clay stoves and terracotta pots. Nothing here feels rushed or modernised, and that’s exactly what makes it special.
A cooking class at Bali Asli begins long before you pick up a knife. You travel to the local market, meet small producers, and learn how ingredients arrive in the kitchen. Back at the restaurant, Penny’s team guides you through recipes that are deeply rooted in local culture. You grind pastes, cook over open flames, adjust seasoning as you go, and then sit down to enjoy lunch overlooking one of the most scenic landscapes in Bali.
If cooking isn’t your thing, booking lunch alone is worth the journey. The menu changes based on what’s available that morning, and everything feels honest and connected to the place it comes from. It’s one of those experiences you think about long after you’ve gone home.
Chocolate Making at Mason Chocolate
Mason Chocolate’s workshop in Taro, Tegallalang, is one of the most complete chocolate experiences you can do in Bali, especially if you love seeing how things are made from the very beginning. The session starts with a short ride through the plantation, where cacao trees stretch across the landscape. Chef David leads the workshop himself, explaining the basics of cacao cultivation, how the beans are harvested, and why Balinese terroir creates such distinctive flavours. We even tasted raw cacao straight from the pod, which was surprisingly sweet and not at all what most people expect.
After the plantation tour, we returned to the main building and were greeted with either a chocolate cocktail or a hot/iced chocolate — a very welcome treat after being out in the heat. Before entering the production area, we put on full protective gear from head to toe. It feels a bit like entering a laboratory, but it’s all part of maintaining a clean, temperature-controlled environment.
Inside the factory, you get to see where the magic happens. We tasted chocolate flowing from the chocolate fountain and sampled truffles as Chef David explained each stage of the tree-to-bar process. It’s immersive, generous, and genuinely fascinating.
The final part of the workshop takes place in a dedicated room where you make your own chocolate bar and truffles. Before creating anything, you taste all the chocolate varieties, a moment where we fully accepted our fate as chocolate addicts. It’s fun, hands-on, and suitable for families, couples, and groups. For kids, especially, this is one of those memorable holiday activities they’ll talk about for a long time.
Matcha Tasting at Chontea Ubud
Chontea Ubud has this whimsical, intimate feel that makes it perfect for a slow, relaxing activity, especially when the weather turns. The space is small and cosy, almost like a little tea hideaway, and you sit around a central counter where everything happens up close. It is the kind of spot where you instantly feel comfortable settling in for a laid back afternoon.
The matcha tasting begins with a casual conversation with the tea specialist, who explains the different grades of matcha and how to recognise quality through taste, aroma, and texture. Instead of a formal workshop, it feels more like a guided chat while you sip your way through several cups. You taste everything as it is being explained, which helps you understand matcha in a way that feels simple and enjoyable rather than technical.
You can also order a matcha latte from the menu afterwards, and there is no need to worry about the flavour because the matcha here is genuinely good. To make things even better, they often serve a small mochi ice cream or a similar sweet treat that pairs beautifully with the tea. Chontea also offers a coffee workshop for anyone who wants to explore something different on another day.
It is intimate, calm, and a lovely way to spend an hour or two in Ubud, especially if you want something creative and relaxing without too much structure.
Incense Making Workshop at Desa Potato Head
Incense is such a big part of daily life in Bali that joining an incense-making workshop feels like getting a small, meaningful peek into the island’s culture. At Desa Potato Head, the session is simple and laid back, the kind of activity that works just as well for a quiet solo moment as it does for a fun, creative afternoon with friends or family.
You start by learning about the natural ingredients used in Balinese incense, then mixing your own blend based on the scents you’re drawn to. There are earthy notes, floral notes, and a few that feel distinctly Balinese, and it’s interesting to see how your instincts guide the fragrance you end up with. Once your mixture is ready, the guide shows you how to roll the incense by hand and shape both long sticks and shorter cones. The process is calming and repetitive in a nice way, and everyone moves at their own pace.
What makes this workshop special is how rare it is to find something like this in Bali. You see incense everywhere on the island, especially in offerings, but you rarely get the chance to understand how it is made. Walking away with a set of your own handcrafted incense feels meaningful and personal, like carrying a small piece of Bali home with you. It is gentle, creative, and a lovely break from the busier side of Seminyak.
