Well before you even set foot on the island, you’ll be familiar with the distinctive, multi-tiered form of Tanah Lot, whose shrines rise seamlessly from the rocky coast, 16 miles (26km) west of the Balinese capital Denpasar. The temple has become the unofficial symbol of Bali, and as such appears in tourist literature the world over, ensuring it sees more than its share of foreign visitors from nearby resorts. It’s easy enough to sidestep the crowds, however: get to the site early in the morning, or follow the cliff path northwest for a superb panoramic view of the shrine set against the Bukil plateau of Bali’s southwestern tip.