India, June 9 -- What's better than sun, sand, and surf in Bali? We say, island hopping to sandy gems - a hop, skip, and ferry from Bali. Picture deep-sea diving in Nusa Penida, hiking active volcanoes in Lombok, spotting wild Java rusa deer taking a dip in Menjangan Island's waters, and yachting in Gili Trawangan - all under 2.5 hours of travel time from Bali. Wondering where to start? Check out our guide to the top nine day trip destinations from Bali.

Also, explore our guide to the most beautiful places to visit in Bali.

For this story, we sat down with Kelsang Dolma, the Director of Public Relations & Special Art Projects at Nuanu Creative City and a Bali local! We've compiled some epic insider tips to bring you the best day trips f...