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10 Days in Bali: The Perfect 10 Day Bali Itinerary For Your First Visit

last Updated: March 27, 2024 bali gili islands indonesia

FYI: Affiliate links may be sprinkled throughout the awesome, free content you see below. I’ll receive a small commission when you purchase from my links (at no extra cost to you), which I’ll totally blow on adult things like boba tea and avocado toast. As always, thanks for the support.

Heading to Indonesia and looking for the best Bali itinerary out there? Well, my island-loving, sunset chasing friends, I’ve cooked up just the thing – the perfect 10 days in Bali to help plan your trip!

Don’t miss this ridiculously-detailed Bali travel blog! You may wanna grab a notebook and pencil – this thing is jam packed with necessary information (just saying).

Bali is full of lush, green jungle. Palm trees swaying in the wind. All the tropical fruit you want and large, inexpensive coconuts (with the most delicious coconut water).

Trendy beach clubs and cafes. Idyllic sunsets. Impressive infinity pools. I could go on and on. Bali’s a living postcard. That ultimate Indonesian fantasy-land you’ve been dreaming about for oh so long. And plus, you get a lot for your money, too!

I knew Bali was special (hey, there’s a reason why people go and never return). I just didn’t realize how special it was until I visited the island (and it’s surroundings) myself.

It seems as if every other travel blogger/instagrammer to walk the earth has already spent considerable time in the area, and I was determined to find out why everyone raves about it so dearly.

*I was also a tad worried the entire island would be overrun with “influencers” taking photo after photo of themselves for hours on end (it’s got a bad rep for that), but I was pleasantly surprised.

Yes, I encountered a few groups of this, but thankfully there is just SO much to explore on the island it’s easy to escape the intense mobs of photo takers.

So with that being said, if you’re planning your own trip to Bali, you’re in for a real treat.

And if you don’t wanna plan it yourself (truuuust me, there’s TONS to do and a crazy amount of places to see it all gets overwhelming in approximately .23 seconds), feel free to use my (ridiculously-detailed) Bali itinerary below.

It’s the exact one we followed this past July, and quite honestly, other than wishing we had a few more days, there’s nothing I would change. 

Got a bit less time? This 10 day Bali itinerary can easily be modified for a well-rounded 7 days in Bali if you’ve only got yourself a week. Sadly, take out the few days in the Gili islands and you’ve got yourself a 7 day Bali itinerary.

Have longer than 10 days in Bali? Well, lucky you! We had a little more than 2 weeks in Indonesia, so snuck in a few days over at Komodo National Park to see the dragons, bask on a pink sand beach, and snorkel with manta rays and sea turtles. I’ll be writing allllll about that experience soon, so keep your eyes peeled! EDIT: Read for the most amazing trip to Komodo.

But first, a pre-travel guide to Bali to learn a bit about the island and what to expect when you’re there.

MAIN REGIONS VISITED ON THIS ITINERARY:

• Ubud (3 days)
• Jimbaran/Uluwatu (2 days)
• Gili Islands (3 days)
• Seminyak/Canggu (2 days)

This Bali itinerary starts in Ubud (the farthest spot from the international airport – on purpose), heads south to Jimbaran/Uluwatu, a quick boat ride east to the Gili Islands (technically not part of Bali, but a wonderful addition to any Bali itinerary), and ends in Seminyak/Canggu.

There are so many different areas on the island to explore, but this 10 day Bali itinerary is a great mix of lush, jungly Ubud, trendy Canggu cafes, fire culture in Uluwatu, and a good amount of beach/pool time in Jimbaran and Gili .

Where in the world is Bali anyways, you ask?

Not to sound all textbook-ey, but Bali is an island located in the Indonesian archipelago, to the west of Lombok and east of Java. And nope, although many think it is, Bali is actually NOT a country – it’s part of Indonesia!

Many visitors who visit Indonesia only make it to Bali, so the whole country/island thing is kiiiinda understandable. But geography is important, so just remember that Bali is in fact NOT a separate country! 🙂

Currency and Exchange Rates in Bali and Indonesia in General

Bali (and Indonesia in general) uses the Indonesian Rupiah, with the exchange rate being approximately 15,600IDR = ~$1USD – or, which is even more confusing, 1IDR = ~$0.000066USD (as of February 2024).

I recommend using a currency converter (such as XE Currency on your cell phone or a currency converter on the web) to get the most up to date currency exchanges for all forms of currency. 

Converting prices in our head was confusing to say the least, but after a few days we got the hang of it quite quickly. I found it easy to think in 150,000s, since that’s approximately equivalent to ~$10USD (so therefore, 75,000 rupiah = ~$5USD).

You will notice that many locals/shop owners/restaurant menus simply leave off the thousand, and speak in hundreds. For example, 100,000 rupiah would be spoken/written as 100 (so if you see a meal of mie goreng for 75 rupiah, you won’t be paying 5cents, but $5.) 

Note that you may find that many ATMs are broken/don’t accept your bank card. Don’t fret – there are rows of ATMs from different companies in order to compensate for this. You’ll be able to find tons of ATMs in Bali’s most populated areas, and I bet at least one of them will work!

I read online to use caution when using the ATMs as some can be untrustworthy, but we had no issues with our bank cards.

Some restaurants and higher-end stores/shops take credit cards, but it’s wise to always have some cash available for market shopping, eating at local warungs, getting that spontaneous $7 massage on the street, etc.

How to get the best exchange rate: I always suggest you take out local currency at ATMs upon arrival and never ever through an exchange desk or beforehand in your home country. ATMs provide the best exchange rate, always.

I always take out cash at an ATM at the airport upon arrival in the new country I’m visiting. And if you want to avoid those pesky ATM fees every time you take out cash, simply look into a no-fee debit card, such as through Charles Schwab (which I have and love).

Language in Bali/Indonesia

First things first, English is widely spoken in Bali. We were surprised at just how many locals knew an impressive amount of English, and thus we didn’t need to use any Indonesian/Balinese during our 10 days in Bali at all.

Of course, since tourism is so prevalent, it’s understandable for Balinese to speak a level of English to communicate with tourists, but so many spoke rather advanced English as well. Coming from someone who only knows one language, I was quite impressed!

We met a few drivers who were keen on practicing their English, so you might run into some extra chatty ones!

Just so you’re aware, the national language is Indonesian, with many locals living on Bali speaking Balinese (and yes, they’re separately languages!). 

WHEN TO VISIT BALI:

Before planning a trip to Bali, it’s important to understand its weather patterns. Bali experiences two distinct seasons, the dry season (April to October) and the rainy season (November to March).

And since Bali is oh so close to the equator, you’ll find day time temperatures relatively constant year round, between the mid-80s and low-90s, making for decent sightseeing temps no matter the season.

If you’re looking for comfortable temperatures and little to no rain, I highly suggest you visit during the dry season, which is actually Bali’s winter. Don’t be put off by “winter”, as the temperatures are still in the 80s (and clear and sunny) almost every day!

However, this picture-perfect weather is high season (for good reason), causing hotel prices to rise, especially during July and August. For slight discounts on accommodations, try visiting just before/after high season in May-June/September-October.

And just for the record, my research states that Bali encounters a tremendous amount of rain during its rainy season, bringing high humidity and unrelenting mosquitos. My advice – just visit during Bali’s dry season and you’re good to go. 🙂

Top Tip #1: Regardless of the month you’re planning to embark on your 10 or 7 day Bali itinerary, the sun will set around 6-6:30pm. Since the island is so close to the equator, both sunrise and sunset times don’t vary much.

Because of this, plan to wake up early to take full advantage of the daylight. One benefit to an early sunset – you’ve got no excuse not to watch it every single night (which is oh so different to visiting Norway in the summer with sunsets past 10pm)!

Top Tip #2: If you’re planning on visiting other countries nearby, do keep in mind that the dry season is quite opposite from other Southeast Asian countries. Do your research ahead of time to avoid unpleasant wetness (with possible monsoons) in other areas.

Health and Safety in Bali

HEALTH : 

Water : Do note that you absolutely cannot drink the water in Bali; you’ll find that all hotels/restaurants provide fresh drinking water (either bottled or from large treated water jugs). Because of the unsafe water, Bali belly is quite common – which is just a fancy name for food poisoning.

I encountered some minor gastro issues during our trip (bloating, frequent bathroom visits – hey, just being real!), but it thankfully cleared up without any medication in 1-2 days.

You may want to ask your doctor for a prescription of Ciprofloxacin for serious travelers diarrhea in case you find yourself with any disturbing stomach issues. We always pack immodium as well, just in case.

Vaccinations : The CDC states that all travelers to Indonesia should be up to date on routine vaccines (MMR, tetanus, chickenpox, pollo, flu shot). In addition, it’s also wise to get the Hep A, Hep B, and typhoid vaccination as well (some of these are good for years, so if you plan to do a lot of traveling to other undeveloped countries, you’ll probably need them there – might as well get them now and keep yourself protected always).

As always, talk to your doctor.

Malaria : Thankfully there’s no worry for malaria in Bali, but if you’re visiting Komodo National Park (like we did later on during our trip), you’ll need to consider taking malaria pills. Talk to your doctor about this first of course.

Travel insurance : Yes, you need this. I always recommend purchasing travel insurance before your trip. You never know what might happen (flight delays, lost baggage, illness), and travel insurance definitely helps with all of those unfortunate unexpectancies.

I highly recommend the company SafetyWing (which thankfully includes pandemic coverage) and ALWAYS buy a short term plan (depending on how many days/weeks we’ll be away) before we leave for any trip!

Even if you don’t end up using it, peace of mind is 100% worth it in my opinion. Find plan options and pricing here (and at only a few bucks a day, there’s no excuse not to!) I always say, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford your trip. It’s that easy.

Not convinced you should be using travel insurance? Check THIS out, I explain it in much more detail over there.

SAFETY : 

We felt safe the entire duration of our stay in Bali, and used the typical precautions we normally do (no flashing expensive items/electronics, stayed together at night, knew about possible scams). 

And while we’re talking about staying safe, keep in mind that driving in Bali is kinda crazy to say the least, so don’t plan on renting a scooter unless you’re extra confident and can call yourself an expert bike driver.

No visa is required for U.S. citizens traveling to Bali (and Indonesia in general) as long as a valid tourist passport and proof of onward travel is in possession, and you’re traveling to the country for 30 days or less.

How to Get to Bali

Most international flights arrive in southern Bali at Ngurah Rai International Airport (also known as Denpasar International Airport, airport code DPS), many with layovers in neighboring/nearby countries.

Our flight stopped in Taipei, Taiwan, which we would have decided to make into an extra long layover to explore the city if we hadn’t already done that on our previous trip to Thailand . Why not get some time in another country if you’re already there, am I right?

I like using Skyscanner and Google Flights to check for prices. For reference, we chose to fly premium economy (between regular economy and business class), and paid around $1,500 per person on China Airlines round trip from the West Coast USA during Bali’s prime season of July.

If your dates are more flexible (and your husband will put up with standard economy class) you can surely find cheaper airfare, although we did not have this luxury. For reference, I commonly see roundtrip economy flights from San Francisco for around $800, with flights as cheap as $550 occasionally! 

How to Get Around Bali

Although the island isn’t toooo large, it’ll still take a decent amount of time to get from place to place. What I initially didn’t realize is that there aren’t many roads from east to west on some parts of the island, so although two spots look relatively close on a map, you may need to first travel south in order to actually get north. 

And boy oh boy is that Bali traffic a thing – a few miles will mostly take the good portion of a half hour (or hour!), so plan accordingly and leave extra time if you have reservations anywhere/need to get somewhere at a certain time.

I’ll explain in more detail as I go day by day on our exact Bali itinerary below. However, if you’re on a bike/scooter you can bypass some of this traffic.

We originally thought we’d be able to use Grab (similar to Uber), and downloaded it ahead of time planning to use it to get around (between areas and within towns as well).

HOWEVER, we ended up only using the Grab app ONCE our entire trip, from the airport to Ubud (for about $28) our first day. Since it didn’t work in multiple areas (specifically within Ubud and Canggu), private drivers through WhatsApp were our saving grace.

We were able to use taxi stands on the street (bargain for a reasonable rate) when we didn’t have any numbers and/or just wanted to go short-ish distances. Do not rely solely on Grab as you’ll be thoroughly disappointed and frustrated. 

ELECTRICITY :

Bali uses a different type of electrical outlet as found in the USA – the round two-pin plug (type C/F), commonly found in parts of Europe. Get your worldwide travel plug adapter here (which you can use on other trips around the world as well).

It’s also important to understand that the amount of voltage is different and you’ll need a converter (different than an electrical adapter) to change the amount of electricity pushed to each device if you plan on bringing anything which uses an excessive amount of power (including hair dryers, curling irons, and/or straightening irons). 

If you don’t want to worry about this, I suggest you invest in dual-voltage devices made especially for travel like this dual-voltage blow dryer , dual-voltage mini straightener , and this dual-voltage curling iron .

WHERE TO STAY IN BALI: (MORE INFO ON EACH ONE THROUGHOUT ITINERARY BELOW)

Ubud : Komeneka at Tanggayuda and/or Maya Ubud Resort and Spa ( we stayed at both )

Jimbaran : Ayana Resort and Spa Bali

Gili Air : PinkCoco Gili Air

Seminyak : The Elysian Boutique Villa Hotel

A note on Bali hotels, resorts, and hospitality in general: Bali is the place to go all out, because you can likely afford it here. While there’s accommodation of all price points, we found 5-star hotels for ~$250-300 a night, which is the same price we paid for a 3-star hotel night in Boston just a few weeks prior.

Many of these luxurious resorts include a whole slew of extras, making the price more than worth it (free breakfast, infinity pools, complimentary afternoon tea time, shuttle service, private plunge pools, etc). And oh, the people! Never in all our travels have we experienced such wonderful hospitality anywhere else in the world.

The authenticity and graciousness of those in Bali was an unexpected surprise, as we found everyone we encountered to be extra helpful, overly polite, and always cheerful with a smile on their face. 

WIFI AND STAYING CONNECTED

Although you will most likely have wifi at your accommodation, it’s a good idea to bring along a pocket-sized personal WiFi hotspot , to keep you connected during your time in Bali. WiFi hotspots are a cost effective option to ensure you can use GPS apps like Google Maps, check your emails, and catch up with friends and family while away.

With this portable device , you’ll have WiFi wherever you go (even if your phone doesn’t have service), unlimited internet (on up to five devices at a time!!!), and it’s fast and reliable. At less than $9 a day, this device can’t really be beat.

Note that some cell phone plans allow for international use, but many of these are costly. I accidentally turned on my phone service for LESS THAN 2 MINUTES and got charged $150 by my phone carrier! I desperately wished I had a personal WiFi hotspot with me then!

Find more information and plan options here . HIGHLY RECOMMENDED especially when you don’t speak the native language of the country you’re visiting. A true life saver.

Foods to try in Bali:

• snake fruit: kinda like an appley-tasting fruit, quite good!
• Balinese steamed cakes: made out of rice flour with a wide array of fillings, wrapped in a banana leaf 
• Mie Goreng : A classic Indonesian dish consisting of fried noodles, served with your choice of vegetables, chicken, shrimp or pork.
• Nasi Goreng: very similar to Mie Goreng, but fried rice instead of noodles.
• Sate : meat skewers, including chicken sate, fish, lamb. All with their famous peanut sauce (my favorite)
• Nasi Campur : mixed rice dish that comes with a simple selection of steamed rice and side dishes including steamed Long beans, meats, vegetables, peanuts, eggs, and fried-shrimp krupuk

• Balinese coffee: it’s quite strong and usually drank black!
• Babi Guling: suckling pig; a combination of crispy pork skin, pork blood sausage, pork roll, and fried pork meat and has a reputation for being Bali’s national dish.
• Bebek Bengil: crispy pig, literally translated to “dirty duck”, deep fried to a crispy finish.
• Prawn crackers : not my favorite, but they’ll be served at every meal so you’re bound to run into them on more than one occasion 
• Lemongrass and ginger drinks 
• Allll the fresh juices 
• Whole fresh coconuts : I had the best coconut water in Bali, in the largest coconuts I’ve ever seen, for the cheapest price (way larger than those I got in Panama, and for ⅓ the price!)

WHAT TO BRING TO BALI:

• Because of its hot, sticky climate, you’ll want light, airy clothing.
• Appropriate clothing for temples: Long pants, shoulder covered shirts, shawls. Do note that sarongs/shawls are provided (either for rent or for free) at all the temples we visited. Feel free to bring your own if you wish, although FYI, you still may be required to use one from the site.
• Comfy footwear- you’ll be walking ALOT! We both got basic black canvas tevas before our trip, and although I didn’t wear them much (husband wore them a lot), I can say when I did put them to use my feet were always well-protected and comfortable (I even went hiking in them in Komodo once on some pretty rough terrain [post coming soon]).
• Sandals/bathing suits for the islands
• Personal WiFi HotSpot Device

10 Day Bali Itinerary

In a nutshell: Ubud (3 days) → Jimbaran/Uluwatu (2 days) → Gili Islands (3 days) → OPTIONAL: Komodo National Park (3 days) → Seminyak/Canggu (2 days) → departure from DPS

This itinerary will supply a full 10 days in Bali, meaning that it’ll start on your first FULL day in Bali. Do note that for a full 10 days, you’ll most likely need a good 12 days or so for your trip, as the flight is quite long and you’ll be going over the international date line if you’re coming from the states. 

First off, FLY TO BALI (DPS)! 

The airport you’re looking for is Ngurah Rai International Airport (also known as Denpasar International Airport, airport code DPS). The flight is long from most parts of the world (a whopping 18 hours or so of flight time from the West Coast USA, and a bit less around 12-17 hours from Europe, depending where you’re flying from) without many inexpensive direct flights, but I promise you, a trip to Bali is well worth it! 

Psst – check out Skyscanner and set up price alerts to snag the best deal.

Do note that you’ll be crossing the international date line if you’re traveling west (USA to Bali), which means you’ll lose a full day, besides travel time (we actually lost the Fourth of July on our flight!). But dontchu worry – this just means you’ll arrive home the same day you depart when headed back home at the end of your trip, even with all those hours of travel.

Part I: 3 DAYS IN UBUD

*Where we stayed in Ubud: Komaneka at Tanggayuda and Maya Ubud Resort and Spa

There’s a million and 5 places to stay in Ubud – and each one looks amazing. Talk about difficulty choosing just one (and I’m already an indecisive gal)! Because of this, we decided to split our time in Ubud (4 nights) at two different hotels (at different locations near/around Ubud) for 2 nights each. And this ended up being the perfect decision.

Plus, I kinda thought staying at the same hotel for 4 nights would get kinda monotonous when there were so many others to check out. We adored both for different reasons, which I’ll share below:

Komaneka at Tanggayuda : To make things short and sweet, we loved absolutely EVERYTHING about this 5* boutique hotel. From breakfast overlooking the absolutely gorgeous infinity pool and complimentary afternoon tea, to the lush grounds of the resort and tropical fruit trees found just about everywhere, there’s not much we would change.

Upon first glance the resort doesn’t look to be all that, but trust me, as soon as you start wandering around you’ll see what I mean.

We opted for the 1 bedroom villa with a private pool and valley view which cost us roughly $300 per night (an absolute bargain for the place – you’ll see).

To be completely honest, we kind of wished we had stayed an extra night at the Komaneka as we didn’t allow for enough time to fully enjoy the resort (as we were out and about each day).

Do note that this luxe resort is located roughly 25 minutes north of Ubud center, so you’ll need to arrange for a driver/taxi if you want to head into town (which is why we chose to stay closer to town the next few nights, at Maya Ubud – more details below).

Also note that you’ll find other hotels within the Komaneka brand in other places near Ubud, so be careful when booking if you want to stay exactly where I did. I cannot speak to the service or grounds of the others (as we did not stay elsewhere), but if they’re on par with Tanggayuda, I bet they’re top-notch as well. Read reviews and check prices here.

Maya Ubud Resort and Spa : The Maya Ubud had suuuuch a different vibe than the Komenaka (not a good or bad thing, it was just different). For starters, it was oh so much larger, but also (possibly because of this) a bit more standard-hotel feely, but still wonderful nonetheless.

The gardens were magnificent, the infinity pools impressive, and the service impeccable. We were generously upgraded to a private pool villa (not exactly sure how that happened, but thanks!), and to say I enjoyed our private outside space at Maya Ubud is an understatement. 

Since the Maya Ubud is pretty close to Ubud Town (a tad east), there’s a complementary shared shuttle running throughout the day to the center of town (taking roughly 10 minutes or so).

We used it quite a bunch and found the service very convenient. If you miss the shuttle or don’t feel like waiting, the walk to Ubud Town is only about 20-25 minutes – but remember it’ll be hot out!

Although we loved most aspects of the hotel, the spa (and flower bath in particular) really did it for me. Imagine soaking in a tub full of rose and frangipani flowers with calming river views… I was obsessed after 5 minutes.

I’ll explain my experience in a bit more detail during the itinerary, but just know that I highly encourage any bath lover to give it a try! Read reviews and check prices here.

Day 0 | Arrival into Bali, and head to Ubud

Use this first day for arrival into Bali, as it’s very possible that you’ll arrive a bit later on in the day (depending on where you’re coming from of course). 

And if you decide to follow this Bali itinerary to a T (all heavily researched and 100% tested by us!), you’ll be heading straight to Ubud from the airport!

Thankfully we were easily able to use the Grab app to hire a driver/car to drive us straight to the Komaneka at Tanggayuda (where we stayed first near Ubud), which cost us roughly $28 for the 2 hour drive.

Since we didn’t land until 3pm-ish, and with a bit of that infamous Bali traffic, we arrived to our hotel near Ubud around 5:45pm or so. If you are lucky to have an earlier flight, I highly recommend hanging by the pool for a bit, watching your first Bali sunset, and enjoying dinner at the Komaneka.

I wouldn’t suggest heading into Ubud Town your first night if you’re staying where we did, as you’ll most likely be especially tired (and the food at the Komaneka is quite tasty!).

Where we slept: Komaneka at Tanggayuda 

Important Note on Day 1 and 2 : The traffic in and around Ubud (and Bali in general) can be horrendous. As you’ll notice on Day 2 of this Bali itinerary, we actually didn’t make it to all of our intended spots due to crazy amounts of unforeseen traffic.

Don’t be upset – it’s all wonderful and no reason to ruin your entire day/trip over. Just understand that you may need to be a bit more go-with-the-flow than normal.

→ Read Next: The Perfect 3 Days in Ubud

Day 1 | Day Trip to East Bali

It’s your first full day in Bali, so it’s time to wake up and explore! Use the jetlag to your advantage and plan for an early morning wake-up call (5AM to be exact) to head out to the eastern parts of Bali.

We chose to hire a private driver to take us to Lempuyang Temple, Taman Tirta Gangga, Tibumana waterfall, and Pura Tita Empul (in that order).

Note that we chose to book through AirBnB experiences , and were able to choose exactly where we wanted to go. Our guide took great photos of us and we had the best time with him.

And psst – if you sign up for AirBnB through my link , you’ll get $15 off any experience of at least $50 (so if two people go that discount will work!). If you choose the same spots as we did, just know that you’ll need to pay all entrance fees as they are not included (roughly $10 per person).

If you don’t feel like signing up for AirBnB (it’s not that difficult I promise), this tour is very similar and takes you to the famous Lempuyang Temple, water palace, a waterfall, rice fields, and ends with the famous Bali swing.

We got picked up by our driver before the sun even rose, getting an early start of 5AM. And since we traveled to the furthest stop first (roughly 2 hours away), we were able to sleep/rest a bit in the car!

Perrrrfect! I have to admit, it was oh so nice having a local drive us around, especially considering the roads seemed a bit confusing. We didn’t have to worry about a thing – and we loved it!

Oh right, breakfast! Since the Komaneka at Tanggayuda includes breakfast, they boxed up a to-go breakfast for us to enjoy on our tour to East Bali. We ate it during our time at Lempuyang Temple, while our guide waited on line for us (more info on that below).

Stop #1) Lempuyang Temple

First stop – Lempuyang Temple! I guarantee you’ve seen numerous photos of this Hindu temple, primarily due to it’s famous gates, the Gates of Heaven, with perfectly framed views of the Agung Volcano. It’s pretty iconic of Bali, and it’s absolutely gorgeous (especially with that early morning light).

The Lempuyang complex is actually comprised of 7 different temples (with TONS of steps), so just plan on doing the first and most popular one if you don’t plan on spending all day there. 

Lempuyang Temple, also known as Pura Penataran Agung Lempuyang (yes, it’s a mouthful), is one of Bali’s oldest and most highly regarded temples in the entire country. Please be respectful and read below.

• Once you arrive, you’ll need to rent a sarong to wear (yes, no matter if you’re already wearing a long skirt or pants). Since Pura Lempuyang is a sacred place, sarongs are custom, so just wear one willingly and be respectful. Covering your shoulders is also required, so plan on bringing along an extra shawl, cardigan, or simply, just wear a tee shirt like I did.
• No kissing or close physical touch is allowed at the temple. My husband kept forgetting and I had to literally shoo him away! 

I’ll let you in on a little secret – the reflection is fake. Yup, those photos you see (here and elsewhere)- one lie after another. But that doesn’t mean we didn’t get the obligatory photo for ourselves – of course we did.

We’re just happy we didn’t actually wait on the horrendously long line (our guide thankfully did while we were off exploring other parts of the temple/eating our breakfast boxes).

Just another reason to take a tour; I’m guessing most tour guides stand in line for their guests. If you need to wait for yourself and arrive at the temple around 7am or so like we did, just know the line will probably take at least an hour. Plan accordingly. 🙂

*Note: Pura means temple. 🙂

Stop #2) Taman Tirta Gangga (water palace)

Tiered fountains. Stone sculptures of mythical creatures. Giant lily pads. Girls in flowy dresses. And all the hungry koi fish you can think of. Yes, we’re talking about Bali’s water palace – Taman Tirta Gangga. This former royal palace is one of East Bali’s most famous sights, and breathtaking it is.

Make sure to buy some fish food at one of the little stalls before the ponds (5,000IDR). 

Although we overall enjoyed this stop, it was pretty crowded already when we got there, and taking decent flattering photos without tons of other in the frame proved relatively difficult.

You’ll see what I mean with the stepping stones and people going opposite directions when you visit. Lots of people here to get that instagram shot.

Stop #3) Tukad Cepung Waterfall – or – Tibumana Waterfall 

Put on your bathing suit, because it’s waterfall time! There are a whole slew of waterfalls in and around Ubud, so you’ve definitely got a few to choose from.

I had originally wanted to head to Tukad Cepung, which I heard is really cool with sunbeams shining through a cave, but our guide warned us that it’d be exceptionally crowded.

He instead suggested Tibumana, which was actually on my list as well (for another day), so we agreed and are so thankful for his honesty! 

After an easy walk down on some bamboo bridges and stairs (took about 10-15 minutes or so), we were greeted with not only a beautiful swimming spot, but a crashing waterfall amongst so much lush greenery. And hardly any people, which makes sense considering it’s deep in the jungle. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves:

Stop #4) Pura Tita Empul (water temple) 

Not to be confused with the Water Palace, Pura Tita Empul (also known as the Water Temple), is a completely different thing, so don’t miss it during your 10 days in Bali! Being one of the largest and busiest water temples in all of Indonesia, you’ll want to do your part in being respectful by wearing a provided sarong within the complex. 

Forget about selfies here – take it all in, observe the rituals, and do yourself a favor and just watch. By visiting this Hindu Balinese water temple, you get to experience the culture firsthand by watching Hindu devotees purify themselves in a bathing ritual. And boy were the holy springs a sight to be seen. 

Visitors can bathe as well (and we saw a few do so), but since we are not believers of Hinduism, we didn’t feel right participating in the cleansing ritual. Note that there’s an additional charge for this as well, and you’ll need to be dressed from head to toe so bring an additional change of clothes if you plan to bathe in the holy waters.

Our guide showed us around the complex — it’s actually quite large; the purification pools are just one part!  We also saw a koi pond, the inner courtyard, and tons of Hindu shrines.

Back to the Komaneka (or your hotel of choice)

We got back to the Komaneka around 3ish or so, giving us a few hours of sunlight to enjoy the hotel’s luxurious infinity pools, have a late lunch and complimentary tea and snacks, and just relax from our first day of activities.

Remember, the sun sets around 6pm (every night no matter the season), so if you want some pool time, be sure not to cram in toooo much on this first day. We had some dinner before heading to the spa for our first (of many) Balinese massages.

Day 2 | Day trip to North Bali

Psst (logistics tip): If you’re following this itinerary exactly to a T (or switching hotels tonight like we did), be sure to put things in the trunk of your private car so you don’t need to go back to hotel #1 just to move your bags to hotel #2. We kept everything we brought to Indonesia with us in the trunk for the entire day and felt completely safe doing so.

Today’s another busy day, so wake up, grab some coffee and breakfast at the hotel, and hit the road! We decided to hire another private driver for the day to experience northern Bali (through the same AirBnB experience as the day before), and it was a great decision!

This Northern Bali private tour takes you to a bunch of the same spots if AirBnB’s just not your thing. 

→ Using AirBnB? Remember to sign up via this link to save $$$ off your first activity!

Although we didn’t get to visit all our intended spots (that traffic I tell ya, it’s the worst!), I’ll list them all out for you below. Hopefully you have better luck than we did!

Stop #1) Tegalalang rice terraces and Bali swing, coffee/tea tasting 

There’s a reason everyone visits Ubud , and the rice terraces are it. Ridiculously scenic, this terraced hillside is covered in rice paddies among rice paddies, as far as the eye can see. Do not miss it. I repeat – do not miss it.

As soon as we arrived, we couldn’t stop admiring all the greens – we were just wowed the entire time. Being surrounded by lush green rice terraces on all sides of you is just something you don’t forget. Ever. Our guide took us wandering throughout the fields, while explaining a bit about the process of harvesting the rice as well. 

Choose to visit early in the morning, as not only will the lighting be better for photos, but you’ll beat the crowds – there was hardly anyone else there when we visited around 8:30am! I honestly couldn’t believe it! 

We opted to do the famous Bali swing over here too, costly roughly $15 for fantastic views of the rice fields. There were other options to do the swings over near the area we stopped for coffee, which seemed much more crowded and I’m guessing costly.

We were unfortunately unable to visit the following due to Bali’s mad traffic, but here’s a bit of info I had researched ahead of time.

Stop #2) Lake Beratan Temple (Ulun Danu) 

This temple is located on an island completely surrounded by water, which makes it quite picturesque, especially with it’s manicured gardens nearby. And if you’re up for it, you can even take a boat out and view the temple directly from the water (I’ll be doing that next time I head to Bali). 

However, do note that since the lake is considered holy, you cannot swim in it (although renting a boat is fine). Some people say it’s kinda a tourist trap and filled with swarms of visitors, so research a bit more to decide for yourself if you wanna stop.

Stop #3) Handara Gate (Balour Balinese Gate of Handara)

It’s a gate you guys – a gigantic, exotic looking traditional Balinese gate, with lush, smoky green hills as it’s backdrop.

As such, it’s one of the most iconic photos you’ll see of Bali, with special thanks to instagram. Because of this, it gets rather crowded, so you’ll most likely need to wait in line to get THE photo.

Not many people realize this, but this gate, dubbed the pathway to serenity, is actually the entrance to a golf course! Yes, a golf course – the Handara Golf & Resort Bali to be exact! 

Stop #4) Banyumala Twin Waterfall

Like it’s name suggests, this ain’t just one stream of water – it’s a whole slew of falls in one. Girls we had met later on during our trip said the short hike down to Banyumala (10-15 minutes) was most definitely worth it, so be sure to add it to your Bali itinerary.

And make sure to wear/bring a bathing suit as you’ll most likely want to take a dip in the falls. We unfortunately missed out on this one! 

Stop #5) Wanagiri Hidden Hills

Yes, this stop at Hidden Hills is primarilyyyy for the cheesy IG photos, BUT if you’re following this day’s itinerary you’ll already be in the area – so might as well make a quick(ish) stop.

There are different sections within Wanagiri Hidden Hills, with each area having different set prices with different attractions. Most include a nest, a swing, and another type of bamboo lookout, with the bird cage and boat viewing post some of the more popular ones.

Once you’ve paid your entrance fee, you’re free to hang around for as long as you want taking photo after photo. Kinda cheesy, but hey, you’re in Bali – might as well take advantage and get some of those typical IG shots. And plus our tourism dollars help the locals make a living.

HOWEVER, you’ll find some of these photo opps at other attractions near Ubud. We saw a bunch earlier in the day at the Tegalalang Rice Terraces (where the above photo was taken) and then again at Leke Leke Waterfall, so don’t feel like you neeeed to stop at Hidden Hills if you’re not especially into it.

Because the traffic was SO bad, we didn’t make it to Lake Beratan, the Hadara Gate, Banyumala Twin Waterfall, and Hidden Hills. Yuuup, basically the rest on my itinerary.

We did however find a waterfall trek to do instead (Leke-Leke), which was a blessing since it got us outta the car for a while.

Since we missed out on so much of what the north has to offer, that’s definitely an area I’ll be visiting on my next trip to Bali (oh you better believe there’ll be a next time).

And I’d absolutely love to stay at Munduk Moding Plantation Nature Resort , which looks absolutely insane and beautiful all at once. Note that you can visit for lunch as long as you purchase a day pass in advance, but guests are not allowed on property otherwise.

If you have more time in the north, the Aling-Aling waterfall and Jatiluwih Rice Terraces all look worthy of your time. 

We spent the remainder of the day blissing out in our private pool at the Maya Ubud (after checking in of course) and stuffing our faces with fresh fruit juice and Balinese snacks.

Since we hadn’t checked out the restaurant scene in Ubud just yet (we had only really feasted at the Komaneka), we took the free shuttle into town and somehow got a table quite quickly at Hujan Locale for some innovative, modern Indonesian food.

So good and highly recommended, although it’s probably best to make a reservation in advance, as it was crowded and the restaurant is getting popular.

Where we slept: Maya Ubud

Day 3 | Wander around Ubud Town and Surroundings

Finally, a day to actually explore Ubud! After venturing east and then north, it’s about time we plant our feet and stick to the actual town!

Here’s how our day went – and I suggest you do the same as we hit up all the top places (IMO) in/near Ubud Town:

1) Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

I have to admit, after walking ⅞ of the way there, I almost backed out of visiting the Monkey Forest. You see, we came across monkeys in town before even getting to the sanctuary. Who knew the monkeys were everywhere surrounding the area?!

They were climbing on power lines above us, running on the sidewalk next to shops/restaurants, and were just waaaay too close for comfort in my opinion. But I faced my fears, kept on going, and in we went.

The actual experience (after calming myself down and giving myself a short pep talk) was a positive one, as the monkeys were thankfully very interested in their food and each other, and not us humans. And the babies! Quite possibly the cutest thing I’ve seen to date.

Keep your eyes wandering, as you’ll see monkeys above you in trees, running at your feet, jumping from here to there, etc. I was definitely on watch the entire time, constantly looking in all directions in order to keep myself aware of any nearby monkeys, as they just run around where they please.

Be sure to get past the beginning and into the actual forest – the grounds are so lush and beautiful, with a giant banyan tree over the river. Thankfully we didn’t see any monkeys jumping on people like I had heard about, but people we had met later on during this 10 day Bali itinerary said they lost sunglasses and hats, so be extra careful.

A few precautions when entering the monkey forest, as yes, they are wild animals and yes, there are a few ground rules to be aware of to protect yourself and everyone around you (including the monkeys):

• Leave your accessories behind; this includes sunglasses, hats, large earrings, etc. You never know – the monkey’s may snatch them!
• And on that note, if a monkey takes something of yours, its theirs to keep – aka, don’t attempt in getting it back. Monkeys will bite if they feel threatened.
• Forget feeding the monkeys, let alone bringing any food/water bottles into the park in general. The monkeys can smell food and will even open up bags/backpacks and go searching/stealing! 
• Never make eye contact with a monkey. They see this as a form of aggression, so never stare directly into a monkey’s eyes.
• Do not sit anywhere there are monkeys present. You’ll most likely find yourself with a monkey climbing on your shoulders (which I most definitely wouldn’t want).
• The baby monkeys are exceptionally cute; but just remember, wherever you see a baby, there’ll be a mama monkey nearby. Therefore, don’t get too close to the babies, as mamas may attack to protect their young. 

I was glad to learn that the Ubud Monkey Forest is more than just a tourist attraction. Apparently there’s tons of research (and conservation efforts) going on within the forest, mostly regarding the monkeys behavior and social interactions.

However, I’ve also read that some of the staff use possibly inhumane techniques in order to stop the monkeys from any bad behavior. Do your research ahead of time.

After congratulating myself for not getting eaten by a monkey, we made a pit stop at Habitat Cafe (so cute and trendy) for some well-deserved fresh juices and relaxation time.  

2) Ubud Traditional Art Market 

Color, clatter, commotion, chaos. That’s the market experience for ya! Anything you want to buy in Ubud, you’ll find at the market, that’s for sure.

The market specializes in traditional art and handicrafts, and I loved exploring the stalls tucked away in the little alleyways (get away from the main strip). Even if you don’t plan on buying anything, just wander and browse for a bit – it’s an experience (albeit rather crowded) in and of itself!

Although it’s quite chaotic, the alleyways of the Ubud market make for a fun time. Just be sure to haggle/bargain before purchasing! Even though I’m sure we paid a bit too much on several occasions, we would typically be able to get the shop owner to agree to less than half of their original asking price.

If they don’t agree to your price, just walk away, and they’ll quickly quote you less! They want your business – trust me , as there’s probably the same/similar items in the shop next door.

If you have an idea you’ll be buying a few items, it’s always cheaper to buy from the same stall – they’ll typically give you a multi-item discount. I say, browse a bit before buying anything, decide what in fact you want to buy, and find a stall that has everything you want. You’ll get the cheapest possible price that way.

I couldn’t leave the market without buying one of those trendy straw/rattan Bali basket bags – you know, the round ones you see all the influencers promoting on instagram?

Yup, the online companies sell them for $75-$85, but I got mine in Bali for $8. Can’t beat that. And another gorgeous handheld bamboo bag for $15ish (which I could have probably haggled down more).

But I always like to remember – the locals in the market make a living selling the products. An extra dollar or two (USD) doesn’t mean much to me, but it could get their family an extra meal or two. 

Things to buy: cotton sarongs, bamboo straws, the famous Bali bags, dream catchers, wood carvings, straw hats, crochet tops/bikinis, stackable storage boxes

LUNCH! We hit up Locavore To-Go for some meat sandwiches (a must!), Acai Queen for, you guessed it, acai bowls, and Frozen Yogi for a chilled dessert. We were on vacation – don’t judge us! 

3) Saraswati Lotus Temple, Ubud Centre

Next up, a quick stop at Saraswati Lotus Temple! We stopped by this temple for a few minutes, took a few pictures, and moved on with the show. It should be noted that tourists are not allowed to enter the temple, but it’s the stunning grounds that are the biggest draw for the crowds.

The main walkway was filled with lily pads on either side, although there were unfortunately no lotus flowers in the pond (which I heard there typically are).

4) Campuhan Ridge Walk at Sunset

After spending all day in the busy centre of Ubud, get outta there and into some nature! The Campuhan Ridge Walk is arguably Ubud’s best known trek, as it offers sweeping hilltop views and minimal crowds.

And plus, it’s not difficult at all – it’s more of a walk than a hike (I guess that’s why it’s called a ridge walk …). Anyone can do this lush, scenic trail, although there were a few steep steps at the very beginning and end.

If you aren’t planning on eating at The Sayan House (which you 100% should), I recommend walking the ridge walk just before sunset, which I believe would be absolutely gorgeous. We visited around 4:30, so the sun was already low in the sky making for some beautiful photos. And plus, it’ll be too hot to enjoy during the day.

Soooo we had a bit of trouble finding this place as we deliberately followed Google Maps like we always do – which got us to the general area, just a bit too far. We asked a worker in a nearby shop/hotel (I forgot) and they were able to direct us to the entrance – there’s no signs and the entrance is quite inconspicuous, so I’m not sure how others found it without help.

Sorry I can’t be of more assistance, 😉 But I promise, once you find it, it’s worth the hassle. It was about a 20 minute walk or so from the center of Ubud Town.

5) Dinner at The Sayan House 

This Japanese/Latin Fusion Restaurant is absolutely perfect for a date night (and ya gotta add in a few special nights to any Bali itinerary). :p 

Yes, it’s a little annoying to get to as it’s located a few minutes outta town (and not very walkable), but 110% worth it in my opinion. You’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the lush valley below, along with innovative cocktails, fresh fruit juices, and unusual dishes with unique flavor combinations.

Make a reservation for this place ahead of time (and ask for a table facing the sunset) because boy, it’s a showstopper. It’s wise to remember that the sun sets on the earlier side in Bali, so if you actually want to catch the sunset, you’ll need to arrive before/around 6pm.

We made a reservation for 6pm and ended up heading over early for sunset drinks at the bar area with breathtaking views of the rice terraces below as the sun was setting. Absolute perfection if you ask me.

6) Foot massages or Balinese Performance in town 

After getting massages in Thailand every single damn day, we made it our mission to repeat that in Bali. And while we didn’t meet the goal of alllll the days, we came pretty close. After dinner we ended up at Kristina Ubud Spa in town, and got foot massages for 80,000/ hr (which comes out to roughly $5.50USD). Can’t beat that price!

Note that you can opt to watch a traditional Balinese performance at the Royal Palace (Puri Saren) in Ubud Town if massages aren’t your thing (who are you?).

Since we were already planning on heading to Uluwatu Temple later on in the trip to see the Kecak Fire Dance, we skipped the performance in Ubud. (Starts at 7:30pm, costs 100,000IDR pp, length of 1 ½ hours).

Part II: 2 DAYS IN JIMBARAN/ULUWATU + (OPTIONAL) Day Trip to NUSA

*Where we stayed in Jimbaran: Ayana Resort and Spa Bali

I had originally wanted to spend our nights in Uluwatu (to take advantage of South Bali’s trendy beach clubs), but after booking ourselves at the Ayana , I’m glad we did.

Located in Jimbaran, about a half hour north of Uluwatu, it’s a bit more central to other spots in Bali and honestly, we didn’t need to leave the resort if we really didn’t want to.

The Ayana Bali has 4 pools (Ocean Beach Pool, River Pool, Upper Pool, and Lower Pool), numerous spots for sunset drinks, a whole slew of restaurants (albeit overpriced of course), a luxurious spa, and it’s own private beach club – Kubu Beach (which you need to take a gondola down to reach!).

I’ll explain in more detail below, since we happily spent a great deal of time at the resort. 🙂

Day 4 | Early Morning in Ubud, off to Jimbaran!

Teeeechnically you can head back into Ubud Town to finish exploring this morning if there’s more you wanna see, but we chose to enjoy some activities at Maya Ubud. 

Flower Bath at Maya Ubud

After a private breakfast by our pool, I headed to the spa for my flower bath. It seemed like the ultimate Bali thing to do, so I knew I couldn’t miss it during my 10 days in Bali. Yup, 30 whole minutes of pure serenity and relaxation, all with rose and frangipani flowers floating around me.

The flower bath was everything and then some – I could have stayed in there all day (minus the fact that my fingers were turning into a prune of course!). I honestly thought girls just did flower baths for the ‘gram, but I have to say, I left feeling super relaxed, hydrated, and tranquil. Didn’t hurt that I got a few cute pics outta it too. 🙂

Note that you can also make reservations ahead of time at Karsa Spa located near the Campuhan Ridge Walk if you want a flower bath experience and aren’t staying at Maya Ubud, which I definitely want to experience next time!

That morning, since my husband wasn’t participating in the flower bath, he headed to an early morning yoga class and then relaxed by the pool. If you’re staying closer to town, you can head to a class at the Yoga Barn which is apparently rather popular (although a bit overpriced I heard).

Head South to Jimbaran

After breakfast and activities at the resort (yoga, pool, spa), off to Jimbaran we went! Since we had taken a few taxi rides the previous day in Ubud, we managed to acquire a few WhatsApp #’s so scheduled for a pickup from Maya Ubud to take us to our next hotel – The Ayana Bali!

I don’t think Grab will work (the app didn’t work at all in Ubud at all), so definitely don’t count on that like we originally did. The trip took roughly 2 hours or so if I remember correctly, so plan to rest a bit in the car.

We used J Wayan at #+62 812-4608-156 to get from Ubud to Jimbaran. Tell him Jessica and Noah sent you!

We had originally wanted to stop at Bambu Indah for some lunch after reading some rave reviews, but I wasn’t feeling too hot (remnants of Bali belly, perhaps), so we went straight to The Ayana.

If you end up going, lemme know how it is! Bambu Indah is actually hotel known for its interesting architectural designs, completely made out of bamboo. Maybe next time we’ll decide to stay there!

Hang at Hotel/Sunset Drinks at Rock Bar

After an easy check-in process, go explore for a bit then head on down to Rock Bar for sunset drinks (psst – you’ll need to take the cliff-side gondola to get down)! Overlooking the Indian Ocean with the waves crashing onto the rocks, there’s really no better view for sunset, and because of this, it does get quite busy!

People who are not staying at the hotel are allowed to visit Rock Bar (with advance reservations), but if you’re a hotel guest of the Ayana , you’re VIP baby (you should get in just fine – no reservations needed)!

We headed down around 5pm for a 6:15ish sunset, got a bunch of drinks and appetizers, and just watched the sun set into the rolling ocean waves. I can see it being the perfect place for a romantic night out, especially if you snag one of the large plush beds like we did. 

If the Rock Bar doesn’t excite you (and ohhh, it should), I heard that Single Fin in Uluwatu is also great for sunset cocktails and dinner (but it’s 40 minutes away by car, so probably just easier to stay at the resort).

Where we slept: Ayana Resort and Spa Bali

Day 5 | Uluwatu/Jimbaran -or- Day Trip to Nusa Penida

Today’s choice day! Depending how you anticipate to be feeling (and if you booked yourself at a resort like the Ayana with tons to do), you can either:

→ 1) spend ½ day at the resort (beach/pool time) with a ½ day trip to Uluwatu Temple -or- 

→ 2) take a verrrry long day trip to Nusa Penida

If you think you’ll want a more relaxing day (after a few nonstop days of go-go-go), then trust me, take advantage of the resort pools and beach club, and leave Nusa for another trip.

However, if you can’t fathom coming all this way and not seeing Kelingking Beach, suck it up and head to Nusa Penida (I heard it’s gorgeous, yet the climb down/up is excruciating, especially in the heat). We had originally planned for the long day trip to Nusa (and even signed up for a tour ahead of time), but with my stomach acting up a bit and already feeling utterly exhausted, we desperately craved a beach day.

Use your judgement and think about what would be best for you. And if you’ve got an extra day, you could easily do both!

Choice 1: Resort Pool Day and Uluwatu Temple + Kecak Fire Dance

Pool + Beach Time

As mentioned, if you’re staying at a luxurious resort like the Ayana Bali, I can promise you’ll never find yourself bored. We got an early morning start at the Ocean Beach Pool, had breakfast overlooking the ocean, and loveddd the fact that no kids are allowed (sorry, kiddos, there’s other pools for you).

We then made our way to Kubu, Ayana’s private beach club for some more loungin’, before heading back to the room to get ready for our trip to Uluwatu Temple! You can also schedule some time at the spa for a treatment, play a bit of golf, or visit the ultra secluded (and hardly crowded during the day) River Pool, located near the private villas.

Trip to Uluwatu Temple

It’s not the temple itself per say that makes this place absolutely remarkable, it’s the magnificent location high up on a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean. The dramatic coastline of the Bukit Peninsula sure is something else. We could have stared at those rolling waves all day long. But you’re not just here for the views – you’ve got the Kecak Fire Dance awaiting you as well!

Since Uluwatu Temple is roughly 45 minutes away – without traffic, you’ll want to get picked up via private driver around 3:30pm to get there in time to purchase tickets and look around. Tickets to the Kecak Fire Dance performance go on sale at 5pm, and it gets crazy busy around this time.

Our driver graciously waited on line for us in order to get us tickets to the show so we could walk around the temple and admire the ocean and all those crazy waves. 

Do note that others have seen cheeky monkey’s at the temple – so just like in Ubud, be careful with your things as they are known to steal loose items from unsuspecting guests! We were surprised that we didn’t see a single monkey, especially considering how many people told us to watch out for them. But nevertheless, you’ve been warned!

Now, what is the Kecak Fire Dance you ask? Oh, it’s a whole lotta fun – with a huge cast of dancers and chanters interpreting the Hindu history in Bali, the show is quite funny (but I won’t give away any spoilers). I hiiiighly recommend reading the informational paper they hand out, as you’ll be wildly confused otherwise. 

This traditional Balinese dance show is performed every night at Uluwatu Temple as the sun is setting (at 6pm), which makes for an absolutely breathtaking evening. Since the temple is on a cliff directly facing the sun setting into the ocean, you can only imagine what a sight it’ll be.

And just FYI – the temple and performance area gets exceptionally crowded; don’t be one of the last to get seated or you’ll wind up sitting on the hard concrete floor (and trust me, they squeeze in as many people who buy tickets…).

*Note that if you hire a driver, make sure they stay during the show to take you back to your accommodation afterwards (you’ll have a hard time finding a ride otherwise). For reference, if I remember correctly, we paid 400,000 rupiah roundtrip for the two of us (excluding tickets to temple and show, which came out to be an additional 150,000 rupiah per person).

If you want to have it all planned out ahead of time, there’s a bunch of organized tours you can book before you land in Bali . If you don’t mind winging it a bit and leaving your luck up to chance, hire a private driver once you arrive (the day of or the day before).

Since we changed our plans last minute since I wasn’t feeling so hot, we didn’t have the option of booking in advance. Thankfully we had met a gal at lunch the day before who gave us her drivers WhatsApp number. If we didn’t have this number we probably would have unfortunately had to take an overpriced taxi from the hotel, and I would have wished we had booked an organized tour ahead of time. Check out private tours to Uluwatu and the Fire Dance here.

Choice 2: DAY TRIP TO NUSA

If you have your heart set on heading to Nusa Penida, today’s the best day on this Bali itinerary to do it! Just know it’ll be a verryyyyy long day regardless of who you book with, as you’ll first need to make your way to Sanur and then take a fast boat to the island.

Get ready for some rocky, bumpy roads, and possibly a sore back, as the roads are exceptionally treacherous on the island of Nusa Penida. 

But alas, the natural landscapes look breathtaking and I’ve heard the beaches are to die for (although you’ll have to work aka hike down…and then back up, for some of them)! However, coconut trees, sandy beaches, and turquoise blue water awaits!

On a day trip to Nusa Penida from Bali, you’ll visit the following spots: Kelingking Beach, Broken Beach, Angel’s Billabong, Crystal Bay, and Sampalan Beach. All tours are very similar and visit the most popular spots. We booked a tour very similar to this one , although as mentioned, decided to cancel it. The tour does hotel pickup, brings you to the fast boat, then hooks you up with a private driver on Nusa Penida for the rest of the day.

Since we unfortunately missed this day trip, I’m thinking we’ll spend a few days on the Nusa Islands (there’s 3 in total!) to really get a feel for the islands next time we visit Bali (sooner than later, fingers crossed)!

Part III: 3 DAYS ON THE GILI ISLANDS

The Gili islands are full of white sandy beaches, curious sea turtles, coconut palms, and more puka shells you’ve ever seen; it’s absolute paradise and then some. And being so close to Bali, you’d be crazy to miss out on these little islands during your stay in Indonesia, which is why I included it on this 10 day Bali itinerary!

I promise you – after a few busy days in Bali, the Gili’s will feel like a breath of fresh air since you don’t have to do much to have a good ole time here. Think pool, beach, snorkeling, fresh fish, lots of cheap Bintangs, and 1 hour massages for $7.

*You’ll need to decide which island you want to base yourself on (outta 3 main ones). We chose Gili Air, and loved our decision. For reference, there’s Gili Trawangan (commonly called Gili T), which is the largest, liveliest, and most developed island, with tons of late-night beachside parties and lots of drinking (apparently).

Gili Air, where we stayed, is a bit more low-key, but there’s still a whole slew of restaurants, bars, and relaxed nightlife (think listening to live music on the beach in some bean bag chairs while sipping some Bintangs – the local beer).

And finally there’s Gili Meno, the smallest of the islands, for those who just wanna get away from it all (it’s by far the quietest of the bunch without much nightlife).

Read Next: The Complete Guide to Gili Air (everything you need to know before visiting)

Where we stayed: PinkCoco Gili Air

To say we fell in love with the Pink Coco is a huge understatement. There’s just something about it that we found ourselves drawn to immediately. From all the pink accents to the breakfast overlooking the beach, it was the perfect place to rest our heads while on Gili Air.

And plus – all the staff were especially helpful and accommodating (when we had a mishap with our bags). It didn’t hurt that our room was just steps from the scenic pool, which was covered in palm trees and where we spent the bulk of our time while on the islands.

Day 6 | Jimbaran in early morning, then off to the Gili Islands!

Hey, it’s your last day at The Ayana Bali , so take fulllll advantage!

We decided to hit up the instagram famous River Pool, where electronics (yes, including phones, cameras, etc) are not allowed between the hours of 9am – 5pm (which they’re surprisingly crazy strict about – there’s even lockers for your phone at the entrance to the pool)…. Hence the need to go early to snap a few photos, of course!

I must admit that this was not my proudest moment, queueing up in the pool for a bunch of photos, but the water was warm and thankfully not tons of people were out when we arrived at 7:30am. By 8:30am, the place was swarming with instagrammers getting their perfect shot – and that was our cue to head on off to breakfast! 

Transfer to Gili Air 

Finish that hearty breakfast, because it’s time to pack up — we’re heading to the Gili Islands! Yeah, yeah, yeah, the Gili’s are not techhhhnically part of Bali, but since they’re so close (near the northwest coast of Lombok), it’d be an absolute shame to miss out on them. 

There are a few different boat/ferry companies to take you to the Gili Islands, but I highly encourage you to book with Blue Water Express . They are a very reputable company, and after experiencing some pretty rough seas (I still can’t believe we went out – those swells were insane), I’m sooo glad we didn’t take the public boat.

Yes, Blue Water Express is obviously more expensive, but so worth it to me for the 2-3 hour boat ride (plus free pickup at your hotel if I recall).

Although there’s usually an early morning option, I’d opt for the later one around 11am, so you don’t need to rush for checkout (and plus, you’ll have enough time on the Gili’s if you follow this Bali itinerary, I promise). 

Arrival in Gili (around 2pm-ish)

Our first few hours in Gili were spent relaxing by the pool, wandering the cute little town, and taking photos at the famous swings (located all over the island and also at the PinkCoco – where we stayed), which are just perfect for your instagram feed.

Remember that the sun sets around 6pm, so you don’t have tonssss of daylight on this first day in Gili, but much of the appeal of Gili is to slow down and relax, so you’re fine. Make sure to find some live music, order a few fresh juices and/or Bintangs, and plop yourself down on a beach-side bean bag chair and just chillax. That’s the life right there.

Remember, I wrote a full detailed guide on all things Gili Air , so be sure to check that out!

Day 7 | Snorkeling the Gili Islands  

No trip to the Gili’s would be complete without exploring its vast underwater world, so today we’re off snorkeling! You can either pre-book or book once you get to the island (we were spontaneous and booked the day before while walking to our hotel).

Book ahead here if you’d like to ensure a spot and not get jammed in on a beat up boat like we were (with janky masks and snorkels as well).

Most snorkel tours visit Turtle Point (for you guessed it, turtle spotting), near Gili Meno to see the underwater statues, and another spot or two with coral gardens to see a wide array of tropical fish. I saw a few turtles (my favorite) as well as tons of colorful fish.

A quick note on turtles and underwater life in general: NEVER attempt to chase/touch/pet/feed turtles, as human contact can give them diseases and make them sick. Admire these beauties, (and get your photos), but NEVER at the expense of the animal. PLEASE keep wildlife WILD. 

The area near the statues was unbelievably crowded, as there were quite a few boats there when we were. However, if you know how to free dive (dive below the water without your snorkel), you can easily escape some of the crowds on the water’s surface.

Our boat left around 9:30am or so for snorkeling, stopped on Gili Meno for some lunch, and we returned back to Gili Air at our hotel around 3ish or so.

We spent the rest of the day at the Pink Coco pool, indulging in apps and drinks, and come night time, grabbed dinner on the beach and some lovely foot massages at a stand near our hotel (which we did every day while in Gili Air).

Where we stayed: Pink Coco Gili Air

Day 8 | Wednesday, July 17: Gili Islands, then transfer back to Bali!

Psst: Today’s mostly a travel day. But the Gilis are worth the hassle, I promise you!

Morning in Gili Islands

It’s your last (partial) day in Gili, so either take advantage of the island, or do absolutely nothing – your choice!

There are a few cooking classes in town, which usually happen before lunch, so you can definitely squeeze this in if that’s up your alley, get a massage (either at Slow Spa which I heard is marvelous for a Balinese massage or a simple one from a beach-side stand), spend time at the beach and/or pool, and head into town for breakfast and/or lunch!

We especially loved the smoothie bowls at Gili Bliss Gili Air, and enjoyed a hearty breakfast with some specialty coffee at Coffee and Thyme.

Back to Bali!

Time’s up on Gili Air unfortunately, and it’s time to head back to Bali! Again, like heading to Gili Air, I highly recommend you book with Blue Water Express ! We chose the 2:30pm sailing to Serangan Marina (east coast of Bali and closest to our next stop of Seminyak), which came out to about 870k rupiah per person (or approximately $60).

The sailing took a few hours and because there was crazy traffic upon arrival in Bali (hotel transfer included in our booking), we didn’t get to our hotel in Seminyak until roughly 7/8pm or so. It’s safe to say we passed out riiiiiight after dinner that night. No shame!

Where we slept: The Elysian Boutique Villa Hotel

Part IV: 2 DAYS IN SEMINYAK/CANGGU + Go Home 🙁

Where we slept in Seminyak: The Elysian Boutique Villa Hotel

This boutique villa was the perfect spot to end our time in Bali, as we had our own private villa (bigger than our 3-bedroom condo I may add)! This stylish property is tucked away on a quiet street in busy, busy Seminyak, making you feel like you’re away from it all, when in reality, you’re only a few minutes walk to the hustle and bustle of town! 

The first-class attention to detail was phenomenal, food outstanding, public and private pools utterly fantastic, and our massages at the full-service spa were much needed. 

And because there are only 28 villas total at the resort (ALL with private pools), it never feels crowded in the common spaces, making for a very intimate, private experience. To say The Elysian is everything and then some is a complete understatement. 

I partially chose this location for our last stop in Bali as the Elysian is pretty close to the airport, (20 minutes or so without traffic), so I knew we’d be able to enjoy the hotel up until the last possible minute!

Book a few months in advance if traveling during the high season as this place books up fast (especially due to the small number of rooms).

Day 9 | Spend the day in Canggu

Relaxed Morning by the Pool

Because, well, we were utterly tired at this point and you probably will be too! Not to mention, the pool was absolutely beautiful and hardly crowded (we were actually the only ones taking advantage of it while we were there…. possibly because everyone has their own private pools, but it was also 9am when most were still sleeping).

We had our breakfast overlooking the pool, then brought the rest (they give you a whoooole lot, trust me) to nosh on at the pool.

Shopping and Cafe Hopping

Although we chose to sleep in Seminyak (one photo of the Elysian and I fell in love), we decided to spend part of the day in Canggu, only 30 minutes or so away.

Canggu is a super hip, trendy surf town, with tons of cute boutiques and countless colorful cafes, making it the perfect day trip from Seminyak. And all those hipster smoothie bowls and instagram photos? Yeahhh, they’re probably taken in Canggu.

After finding a taxi on the side of the road (again, we couldn’t get a Grab driver), we had him drop us off at Cafe Cinta on Pantai Batu Bolong Road. We used this as a drop-off spot so we could easily walk down this main road in Canggu to find local boutiques, well-known surf shops, and colorful hipster cafes.

If I were you I’d plan on hanging out Batu Bolong Road, getting lunch at The Loft (the poke dish was oh so good), grabbing ice cream at Mad Pops, exploring Love Anchor Canggu (a flea market type area with tons of stalls), and going shopping in the local boutiques and surf shops.

And whenever we got hungry/thirsty, there was always a coconut ready for drinking!

Sunset Drinks and Dinner

Once you’ve had your fair share of coconuts, fresh fruit juices, and smoothie bowls around town, head on over to The Lawn for some sunset drinks. Besides the fact that this beach lounge is located directly on and above the black sand beach of Canggu, there’s a pool. A POOL! So if you plan on hanging here for a while, be sure to bring your suit to go for a swim.

Do note that there are different sections at The Lawn, with a beach area, upper deck spot, day bed area, and small table/umbrella area on the actual lawn. If you want a specific spot, you definitely need to either reserve in advance or put your name down.

We enjoyed the lawn area and our cocktails, as it had such a fun vibe and we could feel the breeze from the beach.

Hungry?! I highly recommend heading to Fishbone Local for dinner afterwards as it’s right near The Lawn. We tried the beer-battered fish, fish tacos, and mini tuna tostadas, and loved them all! The garden in the back is so pretty – there’s string lights that just add to the overall ambiance.

Oh, and once we arrived back at The Elysian, we treated ourselves to 1-hour Balinese massages (which were just heavenly and the best way to -almost- end our trip).

Day 10 | Brunch in Seminyak; fly home!

Pink Walls and Chill Vibes at KYND Community

It probably definitely sounds extra millennial, but did you really go to Bali if you didn’t have brunch at Kynd Community? You know all those photos of girls holding up their gold-encrusted pineapple spoons about to indulge in a perfectly crafted acai bowl with BALI spelled out in fruit?

Yea, that’s the place. And I wasn’t ashamed one teeny bit to have this last Bali meal for myself (even if the photos are a bit cringe-worthy as everyone and their 235423 best friends have the same insta-worthy shot). :p 

The food? It was pretty damn good, as was the cool, tropical pink decor (there’s a reason why it’s so popular with instagrammers and bloggers). Psst: the place is vegetarian, just FYI, so don’t expect to find your regular bacon hamburgers on the menu.

We got there pretty early (around 8:30ish) and didn’t have to wait at all, but expect a line if you get there later, especially if you want to sit by the instafamous pink wall.

Extra Time Before Your Flight?

We had to get ready for our flight, but if you’ve got more time in Seminyak, there’s tons more to do. Other foodie spots to check out if your flight is a bit later: Sea Circus Bali, known to be the most colorful restaurant in all of Bali, and Motel Mexicola, which I’ve heard has absolutely scrumptious Mexican specialities and cocktails (not your average taqueria, that’s for sure).

Itching for one last massage? Head on over to Jari Menari for a new massage technique that you’ve probably never had before. Some even claim it’s the best massage you’ll have! I’ll have to be the judge of that next time I’m visiting Bali!

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Are you in the process of planning a 10 day Bali itinerary? If so, hope your 10 days in Bali is an absolute blast (can I come with you, pretty please?)

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August 7, 2020 at 5:28 pm

literally looking at bali next year for my bday cause of this haha !

August 7, 2020 at 6:06 pm

OMG Bali is incredible – it would perfect for a birthday! I can't wait to go back!

August 7, 2020 at 6:00 pm

Wow, this guide is incredible! Everything in Bali looks beautiful. I cannot wait to visit one day!

August 7, 2020 at 7:21 pm

Planning my third trip to Bali and although I've been there twice already I have to say Thank You, I learned a lot from this guide to look forward to for trip #3. I've had my eye on Ayana Resort for a while as it's a bit out of my budget but it looks worth it and it's good to see you recommend it too!

November 23, 2020 at 6:07 am

Bali is one of the best places for Indian tourists because there are lots of Hindu religious temples. I have read your article and I’m impressed with your article and you give full information for Bali.

May 29, 2022 at 10:15 pm

This guide was sooo very usefuly! Thank you so so much. Just booked our anniversary flight to Bali in September and it’ll be 10 days excluding 4 days of travel! Really excited and can’t wait!

June 22, 2022 at 7:33 pm

We are definitely going to follow this itinerary- thanks so much for sharing! I had a question for you – our flight arrives in Bali at midnight. Any recommendations on what we should do the first day? Thanks so much!!

November 5, 2023 at 3:41 am

Thank you for such detailed itierary, helps a lot with planning for a newbie! ♥

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Travel Itineraries | Luxury Travel | Travel Tips

The Best of Bali – Indonesia in 9 Days | Travel Itinerary + Guide

Unveil the enchanting allure of Bali , where vibrant culture, breathtaking landscapes, and culinary delights converge to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our meticulously crafted 9-day Bali travel itinerary , covering some of the best places to visit in Bali and the best things to do in Bali , invites you to immerse yourself in the heart of this Indonesian gem, exploring diverse locales that range from the cultural haven of Ubud to the beachside bliss of Seminyak .

Indulge in exhilarating outdoor adventures, savour authentic Balinese and international cuisine, and bask in the island’s natural beauty. Whether you’re trekking at dawn to witness the sunrise from the majestic Mount Batur , relishing the laid-back island vibes of Gili Trawangan , or catching waves during a surfing lesson on Kuta Beach , Bali promises an extraordinary journey filled with unforgettable moments.

Join us as we guide you through the best sights, activities, and dining experiences that Bali has to offer, ensuring that your Bali getaway is not just a vacation but a remarkable odyssey. Discover why Bali is often referred to as the “ Island of the Gods ” as you explore its wonders day by day in this 9 Day Bali Trip Itinerary.

Welcome to your Bali adventure of a lifetime!

PS – Before you head to Bali and discover the beauty of the Top Sights and Attractions in Bali , during your 9 Day Bali Travel Itinerary , as  listed below, check out these 20+ Travel Hacks and Resources , that will help you plan better for a trip and ultimately elevate your Travel experience to a different level all together.

Day 1 – Arrival | Dive into the Culture in Ubud

Day 2 – ubud | rice terraces and countryside cycling, day 3 – ubud | sunrise atop mount batur, day 4 – gili trawangan | island paradise, day 5 – gili trawangan | island adventures, day 6 – seminyak | beachside bliss and partying, day 7 – nusa penida day trip | instagrammable locations, day 8 – kuta beach | surfing adventure, day 9 – departure | farewell to bali, top sights and attractions in bali, eat these local dishes in bali, where to stay in bali, things to buy in bali –  your bali shopping guide, ➡️ do indians need a visa for bali, ➡️ what’s the best time to visit bali, ➡️ what should i pack for bali, ➡️ what should i wear in bali, ➡️ is bali a safe destination for travellers, ➡️ what currency is used in bali, and where can i exchange money, ➡️ what are the must-visit attractions in bali, ➡️ is it safe to drink tap water in bali, ➡️ what’s the local language in bali, and do people speak english, ➡️ what are some of the most common terms and phrases in the local language in bali, ➡️ are there vegetarian and vegan food options in bali, ➡️ what are the best indian restaurants in bali, ➡️ what are the cultural norms and etiquette to follow in bali, ➡️ is bali an expensive destination for travellers, ➡️ can i use my credit card in bali, ➡️ how can i get around bali, ➡️ what should i do in case of a medical emergency in bali, 9 day bali travel itinerary – summarised, share this:, bali trip itinerary – 9 days in paradise.

• Morning: After landing at Bali Airport, make your way to Ubud. You can download GRAB or GoJek – the best travel planning mobile apps in South East Asia, and book your cheap taxi to Ubud from Bali Airport. After checking into your Ubud Hotel, you can Begin your Balinese adventure at the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary . Wander among ancient temples and lush jungle while curious monkeys play around you.
• Afternoon: Dive into the heart of Ubud’s cultural scene by exploring its traditional markets, including the Ubud Art Market . Pick up unique handcrafted souvenirs and immerse yourself in the vibrant local atmosphere.
• Evening: As the sun sets, head to the Ubud Palace for a mesmerising traditional Balinese dance performance.

Traditional Balinese Dance Performance at Ubud Palace ☑️

• Morning: Explore the breathtaking Tegallalang Rice Terraces . Stand in awe of the emerald green stepped fields that are iconic to Bali, and tick off the famous Bali Swing photoshoot here. Then make your way to a Coffee Plantation and try over 12 varieties of Coffee and Tea, including the World’s Most Expensive Coffee – Luwak Coffee, also known as cat poo coffee. You’ll also learn the different steps followed in the production of Luwak Coffee. The next stop will be for Brunch in Kintamani Bali overlooking the majestic Mount Kintamani Volcano.
• Afternoon: Post brunch, its time to feel the wind in your hair as you embark on a Bali Countryside Cycling Tour . Pedal through charming villages, lush rice fields, bamboo forests and meet friendly locals along the way. You will even get the chance to visit the village of Penglipuran , which has been rated as one of the Cleanest Villages in the World.
• Evening: Relish some free time for relaxation or choose to explore more of Ubud, perhaps visiting an art gallery or enjoying a spa treatment.

Get clicked at the Insta Famous Bali Swings ☑️

Bali Countryside Cycling Tour with a visit to Penglipuran Village and Bamboo Forest ☑️

• Early Morning: Begin your day with an adrenaline-pumping adventure – the famous Mt Batur Sunrise Trek . Watch as the sun paints the sky with vibrant hues while enjoying breakfast with a view.
• Late Morning: Descend from the volcano hike and return to your Ubud hotel for a well-deserved rest.
• Afternoon: If you’re up for more adventure, explore nearby attractions like the natural hot springs at Toya Devasya or go on the Tirta Empul Temple Tour by GetYourGuide.
• Evening: Head to the popular club – Cretya Ubud for an epic Sundowner and reflect on your incredible sunrise experience while enjoying a tranquil evening in Ubud.

Witness a glorious Sunrise from Mt Batur ☑️

• Morning: Travel from Ubud to Gili Trawangan by speedboat, where paradise awaits.
• Afternoon: On arrival in Gili Trawangan , make your way to your Gili Trawangan hotel, such as Gili Beachfront Suites , by walking or by hopping onto a cidmo *horse – drawn carriage). Post check in, take your time to soak in the beauty of Gili Trawangan. You can choose to just relax by the beach, or even jump into the crystal clear waters for a quick swim.
• Evening: Experience the island’s laid-back charm, vibrant night life and diverse cuisine at the Gili Trawangan night market or at any of the numerous lively Gili T bars and restaurants.

PS – The island of Gili Trawangan, is known as the Party Island, so be prepared to let yourself loose, and just party the night away.

Chill by the beach in Gili Trawangan overlooking pristine blue waters ☑️

Try out local Indonesian delicacies ☑️

• Morning: After a leisure breakfast go Scuba Diving in Gili Trawangan or hop on to a boat for the popular 3 island Snorkelling Tour . Don’t forget to check out the famous BASK Nest – the Gili Meno Underwater Statues.
• Afternoon: Explore the island’s charms on a bicycle, Indulge in more beach time or head towards the west side of Gili Trawangan for the best sunset vibes.
• Evening: Enjoy the vibrant nightlife on Gili Trawangan. Dance under the stars and make new friends from around the world.

Scuba Diving in Gili Islands ☑️ | Finding Nemo ☑️

Sundowner in Gili Trawangan ☑️ | Shopping at Gili T Night Market ☑️

• Morning: Return to Bali by speedboat and head from Padang Bai to your Bali hotel in Seminyak/Kuta. Post check in, head to the beach and sink your toes into the golden sands and relax to the sound of the waves.
• Late Afternoon and Evening: Head to any of the popular and famous beach clubs of Bali such as Potato Head Beach Club. Soak into the vibes, enjoy the delectable dishes and craft fully concocted cocktails, as you enjoy a beautiful Bali Sunset. Post sundowner, the atmosphere of Potato Head Beach Club completely transforms, and becomes even more lively, making this one of the best things to do in Bali.

Sundowner at Potato Head Beach Club ☑️

• Morning: Get transferred from your hotel in Seminyak/Kuta to Sanur to embark on a thrilling ferry ride to Nusa Penida for the Nusa Penida Day Trip .
• Day Trip Highlights: Explore Angel’s Billabong – a natural infinity pool, Broken Beach – a surreal coastal formation, the mesmerising Kelingking Beach with its T-Rex shaped cliffs. and relax at Crystal Bay.
• Evening: Take the speedboat ferry back from Nusa Penida to Sanur, and Return to Seminyak/Kuta to enjoy a leisurely evening. Or you can head to the Seminyak Flea Market or the Kuta Beach Street to indulge in some shopping therapy.

Visit Kelingking Beach and other highlights of Nusa Penida ☑️

• Morning: Ride the waves with a surfing lesson at Kuta Beach . Bali is renowned for its surf culture, and Kuta is a fantastic place for beginners to catch their first waves.
• Afternoon and Evening: Use this time to just soak in the Bali vibes by the beach. Later in the afternoon head to another famous beach club of Bali – Finns Beach Club , for a couple of drinks and an epic Bali sunset. Party the night away on the last day of this Epic 9 Day Bali Travel Itinerary, whilst enjoying the sumptuous food, and artisanal cocktails.

Party at Finns Beach Club – The Best Beach Club in Bali ☑️ | Photo by shawnanggg on Unsplash

• Morning: Depending on your flight time, consider some last-minute shopping for souvenirs or relaxing at the beach.
• Afternoon: Check out of your Bali hotel and head to the Bali Airport for your departure from this enchanting island.

After 9 beautiful days in paradise, this 9 Day Bali Travel Itinerary comes to an end. And it’s time to bid adieu to Bali, and fly out with with bucketloads of memories.

Pin this Bali Travel Itinerary and Guide and SAVE it for your Epic 9 Day Bali Trip.

• Uluwatu Temple: Explore this clifftop temple with dramatic views and attend the Kecak Fire Dance at sunset.
• Tanah Lot Temple: If time permits, do visit this iconic sea temple during low tide and add it to your Bali Travel Itinerary.
• Ubud Art Market: Browse art, textiles, and handicrafts made by local artisans.
• Tegenungan Waterfall: Take a refreshing dip in the pools beneath this beautiful waterfall near Ubud.
• Jatiluwih Rice Terraces: Explore another stunning rice terrace area, known for its UNESCO World Heritage status.
• Besakih Temple: Known as the Mother Temple of Bali , it’s the largest and holiest temple on the island, and should definitely find a spot on your 9 day Bali Travel Itinerary.
• Ulun Danu Beratan Temple – The iconic temple on the shores of Lake Beratan.

The Ulun Danu Beratan Temple – One of the Most Iconic Attractions of Bali | Photo by Guillaume Marques on Unsplash

Bali offers a diverse and flavourful culinary scene that combines traditional Indonesian dishes with international influences. And while you can get delectable dishes from International Cuisines, easily in Bali, in this Bali Travel Guide and 9 Day Bali Travel Itinerary , we recommend you that you try the local Indonesian cuisine as well, and appreciate the local flavours and culture even more.

To make your life easy, here are some local dishes and delicacies you can relish in Bali, as experimenting local dishes is one of the Best Things to do in Bali :

1. Nasi Goreng (Balinese Fried Rice): Nasi Goreng is a popular Indonesian dish consisting of fried rice mixed with vegetables, egg, and a choice of chicken, shrimp, or seafood. It’s often garnished with prawn crackers and a fried egg. (Vegetarian option available.)

2. Mie Goreng (Balinese Fried Noodles): Mie Goreng is a delightful stir-fried noodle dish that includes vegetables, soy sauce, and your choice of protein. It’s a flavourful alternative to fried rice. (Vegetarian option available.)

3. Nasi Campur (Balinese Mixed Rice): Nasi Campur features a small serving of steamed rice accompanied by an array of side dishes, including vegetables, peanuts, eggs, and a protein of your choice. Presentation can vary widely. (Vegetarian option available.)

4. Ayam Betutu (Balinese Stuffed Chicken): Ayam Betutu is a Balinese specialty that involves stuffing chicken with a blend of traditional herbs and spices, wrapping it in banana leaves, and slow-cooking it to perfection.

5. Bebek Betutu (Balinese Stuffed Duck): Similar to Ayam Betutu, but duck is the star of this dish. It’s seasoned, marinated, and slow-cooked to create a rich and flavorful dish.

6. Nasi Padang (Sumatran Feast): While originally from Sumatra, you can find Nasi Padang restaurants in Bali. It’s a hearty meal consisting of rice served with a variety of small dishes, including meats, vegetables, and curries.

7. Sate (Balinese Skewers): Sate are skewered and grilled meats, often served with a delectable peanut sauce. Varieties include Sate Ayam (chicken), Sate Babi (pork), and Sate Lilit (minced seafood).

8. Lawar (Balinese Vegetable Mix): Lawar is a traditional Balinese dish featuring finely chopped vegetables, coconut, and minced meat or fish. It’s seasoned with aromatic herbs and spices, creating a burst of flavors.

9. Babi Guling (Balinese Roast Pig): Babi Guling is a Balinese-style roast pig, usually reserved for special occasions. The pig is marinated with turmeric and spices, resulting in a flavorful and crispy skin.

10. Pisang Goreng (Balinese Banana Fritters): Pisang Goreng is a beloved snack made from deep-fried banana fritters, often dusted with sugar for an extra touch of sweetness. (Vegetarian)

11. Dadar Gulung (Balinese Green Pancakes): Dadar Gulung is a delightful dessert comprising green crepes rolled around a sweet coconut and palm sugar filling. It’s a visually appealing and delicious treat.(Vegetarian)

12. Kopi Tubruk (Balinese Coffee): Enjoy Balinese coffee, often served with palm sugar, known for its robust flavor and aroma, making it a must-try for coffee aficionados.

13. Es Campur (Balinese Mixed Ice): Satisfy your sweet tooth with Es Campur, a refreshing dessert that combines crushed ice with a medley of fruits, jellies, and sweet syrup.

Indulge in these mouthwatering Balinese dishes to savour the diverse and delectable flavours of this Indonesian paradise. Bali’s culinary scene offers a delightful blend of tastes and textures that cater to a wide range of palates.

Experiment with Local Flavours of Bali ☑️

Bali, which is one of the best solo trip destinations in South East Asia , is known for its rich culture and craftsmanship, making it a fantastic destination for souvenir shopping.

Here are some of the best souvenirs to buy from Bali, that we recommend in this Bali Travel Itinerary and 9 Day Bali trip guide:

• Balinese Handicrafts: Bali is famous for its intricate woodcarvings, stone carvings, and silver work. You can find beautifully carved masks, statues, and figurines that represent Balinese culture and mythology.
• Batik Fabric: Batik is a traditional Indonesian art of dyeing fabric. You can purchase batik clothing, sarongs, scarves, and tablecloths in vibrant colours and patterns.
• Jewellery : Bali is renowned for its silver jewellery. You can find exquisite silver necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings often featuring Balinese motifs and intricate designs.
• Traditional Balinese Paintings: Balinese artists create vibrant and colorful paintings that depict scenes from Balinese mythology, landscapes, and daily life. These make for beautiful wall art and souvenirs.
• Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppets): Wayang Kulit are traditional Indonesian shadow puppets made of intricately carved leather. They are used in traditional performances and can be a unique and decorative souvenir.
• Traditional Masks: Balinese masks are not only beautiful but also have cultural significance. They are used in dances and ceremonies. A Balinese mask can be a striking decorative piece for your home.
• Luwak Coffee: Bali is known for its coffee, and Luwak coffee is a specialty. It’s made from beans that have been eaten and excreted by civet cats. The unique processing gives it a distinctive flavor.
• Spices and Seasonings: Balinese spices and seasonings, such as vanilla beans, cloves, and nutmeg, are of high quality and make excellent souvenirs for food enthusiasts.
• Traditional Balinese Textiles: Apart from batik, Bali also produces ikat and songket textiles. These can be purchased as fabric or in the form of clothing, bags, or accessories.
• Bali Fragrances: Bali is known for its fragrances, including incense, essential oils, and aromatic soaps. You can find unique scents like frangipani and sandalwood.
• Bali Coffee and Tea: Alongside Luwak coffee, you can buy a variety of locally grown coffee and tea as souvenirs. These come in attractive packaging and make for great gifts.
• Bali Bamboo Products: Bali is known for its sustainable bamboo products, including homeware, utensils, and even bamboo straws, which are eco-friendly and stylish.

When shopping for souvenirs in Bali, consider visiting local markets, art shops, and galleries to find authentic and high-quality items. Bargaining is common in markets, so don’t hesitate to negotiate the price to get the best deal.

Shopping in Bali ☑️

Bali Travel Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Answered

Travellers from India often have specific questions when planning a trip to Bali, given the cultural differences, visa requirements, and other considerations.

Here are some common FAQs related to Bali specially for Indian travellers:

Indian citizens can visit Bali with a Visa on Arrival for up to 30 days for tourism purposes. If you plan to stay longer, you may need to apply for a visa extension. You don’t need to show any documentation, you simply have to hand over your Passport along with the Bali Visa on Arrival (VoA) fees of 35 USD, at the Bali Immigration Counter.

Bali’s dry season, from April to September, is considered the best time to visit, with pleasant weather and lower chances of rain. However, Bali is a year-round destination, so the choice of when to visit depends on your preferences.

Pack lightweight clothing, swimwear, sunscreen, a universal power adapter, mosquito repellent, and comfortable walking shoes.

Bali is a tropical destination, so lightweight and comfortable clothing is recommended. Modest clothing is appreciated when visiting temples, and it’s important to pack swimwear for beach activities.

Bali is generally safe for tourists. Exercise the same caution as you would in any other tourist destination, such as safeguarding your belongings and avoiding poorly lit areas at night.

The currency used in Bali is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). You can exchange money at airports, banks, or currency exchange offices in tourist areas.

Bali offers numerous attractions, including the Ubud Monkey Forest, Tegallalang Rice Terraces , Uluwatu Temple, and stunning beaches like Kuta Beach and Seminyak Beach. Check here for more of the Best Sights and Attractions in Bali.

It’s best to drink bottled water to avoid any potential stomach issues. Bottled water is readily available and affordable.

The official language is Bahasa Indonesia, but many Balinese people working in the tourism industry speak English. Learning a few basic Indonesian phrases can be helpful and appreciated.

When traveling to Bali, it’s helpful to know some common terms and phrases in the local language, which is Bahasa Indonesia. While many people in Bali also speak English, using a few local phrases can enhance your travel experience and show respect for the local culture. Here are some common terms and phrases:

• Selamat Pagi (seh-LAH-maht PAH-gee) – Good morning.
• Selamat Siang (seh-LAH-maht SEE-ahng) – Good afternoon.
• Selamat Sore (seh-LAH-maht SOH-ray) – Good evening.
• Selamat Malam (seh-LAH-maht MAH-lahm) – Good night.
• Apa Kabar? (AH-pah KAH-bar) – How are you?
• Baik (BAH-eek) – Good, fine.
• Terima Kasih (tuh-REE-mah KAH-see) – Thank you.
• Sama Sama (SAH-mah SAH-mah) – You’re welcome.
• Permisi (pehr-MEE-see) – Excuse me.
• Maaf (MAH-ahf) – Sorry.
• Tidak (TEE-dahk) – No.
• Ya (YAH) – Yes.
• Tolong (TOH-lohng) – Please.
• Sampai Jumpa (SAHM-pahy JOOM-pah) – Goodbye.
• Saya (SAH-yah) – I, me.
• Nama Saya (NAH-mah SAH-yah) – My name is…
• Bisa bicara Bahasa Inggris? (BEE-sah BEE-CHAHR-ah BAH-hah-sah ING-griss?) – Can you speak English?
• Di mana…? (DEE MAH-nah) – Where is…?
• Berapa harganya? (BEH-rah-pah HAR-gah-nyah?) – How much is it?
• Tolong bantu saya (TOH-lohng BAHN-too SAH-yah) – Please help me.
• Ini enak (EE-nee EH-nahk) – This is delicious.
• Boleh minta bon? (BOH-leh MEEN-tah bohn?) – Can I have the bill/check?

Learning and using these basic phrases can enhance your interactions with locals and make your trip to Bali more enjoyable. Indonesians generally appreciate when travellers make an effort to speak their language, even if it’s just a few words.

Yes, Bali offers a wide range of vegetarian and vegan restaurants and menu options, especially in popular tourist areas like Ubud and Seminyak.

Travellers can find a variety of Indian restaurants in Bali, including in popular areas like Kuta, Seminyak, and Ubud. Indian cuisine is widely available, and many restaurants offer both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Here are our recommendations about The Best Indian Restaurants  in Bali – 

Ubud – Queen’s of India | Warung Ganesha | Ganesha Ek Sanskriti

Gili Trawangan – Pesona Lounge

Seminyak / Kuta – Indian Delites | Queen’s Tandoor | Kailash Parbat | Gateway of India | Spice Mantraa

Balinese culture values politeness and respect. It’s important to dress modestly when visiting temples, remove your shoes before entering someone’s home, and be mindful of local customs and traditions.

Bali is one of the most popular budget travel destinations in the World, and is quite affordable, specially for Indian travellers, especially when compared to some other international destinations. Accommodation, food, and transportation options vary, so budget-conscious travellers can find suitable options.

Credit cards are widely accepted in Bali, especially in tourist areas. However, it’s a good idea to carry some cash, especially for small purchases or in more remote areas.

Transportation options in Bali include taxis, ride-sharing apps, rental scooters, and private drivers. Be sure to negotiate taxi fares before starting your journey. We recommend you to download the best travel planning app in Bali – GRAB or GoJek.

Bali has medical facilities, but it’s advisable to have travel insurance that covers medical expenses. In case of an emergency, contact your embassy or consulate for assistance.

We hope that the FAQs, shared here in this Bali Travel Itinerary, should help everyone, specially Indian travellers plan a smoother and more enjoyable trip to Bali. It’s always a good idea to stay updated on travel advisories and guidelines, especially in light of changing conditions.

The Beauty of Tegallalang Rice Fields in Ubud | Photo by Frans Daniels on Unsplash

✴️ Day 1 – Arrival in Bali | Airport transfer from Bali Airport to Ubud | Check In at Ubud Hotel | Visit Monkey Forest Ubud and explore the traditional markets of Ubud including the Ubud Art Market

✴️ Day 2 – Visit Tegallalang Rice fields and tick off the Bali Swing experience | Enjoy brunch at Kintamani Bali overlooking the Kintamani Volcano | Bali Countryside Cycle Tour | Leisure time in Ubud

✴️ Day 3 –  Wake up at 2 AM to get picked up for the Mt Batur Sunrise Trek | Relax at the Ubud hotel | Optional visit to Tirta Empul temple | Sundowner at Cretya Ubud

✴️ Day 4 – Transfer from Ubud to Padang Bai Harbour | Speedboat transfer from Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan | Check in at hotel in Gili Trawangan | Day at leisure | Chase the famous Gili sunsets and enjoy the vibrant nightlife in Gili T

✴️ Day 5 – Go Scuba Diving in Gili Islands or do the 3 island Snorkelling Tour | Day at Leisure | Sundowner by the Beach | Visit the Gili Trawangan Night Market for local dinner.

✴️ Day 6 – Speedboat transfer from Gili T to Padang Bai harbour | Transfer from Padang Bai to your Bali hotel in Seminyak/Kuta | Check in at Hotel in Seminyak/Kuta | Day at leisure | Sundowner at Potato Head Beach Club

✴️ Day 7 – Transfer to Sanur from hotel | Speedboat from Sanur to Nusa Penida | Nusa Penida Day Trip | Return to Sanur and evening at leisure | Shopping at Seminyak Flea Market / Kuta Beach Road

✴️ Day 8 – Surfing lesson at Kuta Beach | Day at leisure | Evening at Finns Beach Club

✴️ Day 9 – Transfer from Seminyak/Kuta to Bali Airport | Departure from Bali by flight

This meticulously designed Bali trip itinerary combines cultural immersion, outdoor adventures, and beachside bliss to make your Bali experience truly magical. Let Bali’s charm enchant you, leaving you with lasting impressions of this remarkable destination. Don’t miss the opportunity to embark on the adventure of a lifetime – Bali awaits your arrival!

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13 things to know before going to Bali, Indonesia

Jan 18, 2024 • 8 min read

These top tips for visiting Bali can help you plan the perfect trip © Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images

The Indonesian island of Bali is a sun-soaked paradise that attracts every type of traveler, from budget-conscious backpackers to luxury jet-setters.

But – as with any destination – the vast majority of travelers (especially first-timers) will have a number of questions, whether it's "Can unmarried couples stay together in Bali?" (an increasingly common one in the light of recently-introduced new rules for tourists in Bali, which we'll get to later) or "What should I wear?"

Thankfully, Bali is one of the easiest destinations to explore, although its size – the island covers 5776 sq km (2230 sq miles) – means travelers should take the time to think about what they want to see and do relatively early on. For example, places such as Seminyak , with its beach clubs and five-star hotels, tend to become somewhat crowded during peak season, while more rural destinations, such as Ubud , might well require a longer taxi journey but are absolutely worth the effort, especially for those keen to avoid the crowds.

It's also worth bearing in mind that Bali is one of Asia's safest destinations. As with any holiday hot spot, there are always going to be certain things we can do to ensure we stay safe while traveling, but crackdowns on petty theft and bad behavior have all helped transform the island into a wonderfully family-friendly destination .

Here are our top tips for anyone heading to Bali.

1. Check your vaccinations are up-to-date before traveling to Indonesia

There are no mandatory vaccinations for visitors to Bali (barring the need for travelers arriving from countries with a high yellow fever transmission risk to carry a yellow fever vaccination certificate), although Hepatitis A, typhoid and tetanus are often recommended. Bali falls into the "low to no risk" category when it comes to malaria.

Rabies remains a big problem in Indonesia, and although it claims fewer lives in Bali than elsewhere (according to the World Health Organization, 11 people died from rabies in the first half of 2023), it still exists, and the rabies vaccination is worth considering. Working out what vaccinations you need for a holiday to Bali is mostly a personal choice, but if you have concerns, contact your local physician for the latest guidance.

2. Bring a reusable bottle

One of the most asked questions by tourists: "Is Bali's tap water safe to drink?" The short answer is "no." Stick to bottled water or, better still, bring a bottle with a built-in water filtering membrane. Purchasing bottled water – especially in restaurants – can quickly become expensive, which is another reason we're fans of reusable filtered ones, such as Larq and Lifestraw. These are also handy when it comes to purifying water used for cleaning fruits and vegetables. Additionally, try to steer clear of ice and use bottled water to brush your teeth.

3. Don't write off the rainy season

Having a rough idea of when dry and rainy seasons fall is undoubtedly something that is useful to know before heading to Indonesia . But bear with us – Bali's rainy season, which takes place between October and April, is a great time to visit. It's typified by short, sharp showers that often only last a few minutes. And in addition to the fact that prices for everything – from regional airfares to hotels – plummet, the island becomes wonderfully lush, the weather is still warm (typically hovering between 24°C/75°F and 29°C/85°F), and the main tourist attractions are blissfully crowd-free. You'll also find it easier to snap up places on excursions, such as snorkeling tours and guided hikes .

4. Buy some bug spray

To be clear, Bali doesn't have a major mosquito problem, but like anywhere in Southeast Asia, these pesky biting bugs love the occasional bloodsucking session – in the case of Bali, particularly during the rainy season between November and April. Lighten the load on your wallet by purchasing your repellent in Bali and opting for bug sprays made in Asia. Popular (and much cheaper) Asian brands you'll find throughout Indonesia include Soffell (snap up the surprisingly pleasant floral-scented version if you can).

5. Avoid traveling during peak times

Traffic in Bali can be horrendous – especially around busier spots such as Denpasar and Kuta – and estimated journey times on apps like Google Maps or Grab are notoriously unreliable. Peak times tend to be 6am to 8am (but roads often remain busy until 10am when day-trippers head out) and 4pm to 7pm. Allow plenty of time to get from A to B, especially when heading to the airport.

6. Pack clothes that will cover you up for when you're not on the beach

In Bali, skimpy swimwear is fine for the beach , but definitely not for trips to a supermarket or restaurant.

Men and women need to ensure their shoulders and upper legs are covered when visiting religious sites, although most of these places will have sarongs for visitors to borrow. Pack like a pro by taking a light cotton scarf that can double as a sarong if you visit a temple or other religious site, and a pair of light cotton trousers (bonus points if they've got a built-in mosquito repellent), which will protect you from bites while also providing enough coverage at sites where tiny denim shorts or a vest just won't cut it.

7. Behave respectfully

Various media reports might give the impression it's easy to get into trouble in Bali, but it's not. In reality, you just need to be sensible: don't do drugs (being caught with under a gram of cannabis will land you in prison), be respectful and dress appropriately at religious sites, don't ride a motorbike or moped without a helmet (Bali's police have recently started cracking down especially hard on foreign moped drivers), and treat locals with respect.

8. Locals will be keen to share their knowledge with you

Staying at a hotel with a concierge or a friendly receptionist? Feel free to grill them about the best local bar, beach or restaurant. The Balinese are incredibly proud of their island  – don't be surprised if the bartender at your favorite beach bar ends up inviting you to their home for dinner with their family – and love nothing more than telling visitors about their favorite beach, nature walk or temple.

9. Eat, drink, stay and shop locally

Don't be afraid to go local, whether this means eating at tiny family-run restaurants or opting for local drink brands. You'll pay less and enjoy delicious local dishes, and you'll be contributing directly to the local economy, too. These days, even the smallest restaurants, bars and independent hotels will be listed on online review sites such as Zomato (especially popular in Asia), and a quick glance should tell you whether the business in question is reputable or not.

10. Carry some loose change

Many businesses in Bali will take payment by card, but there are still plenty of places that only take cash. These include temples, smaller souvenir shops and beachfront masseuses (which, by the way, offer some of the best massages going). ATMs on the island can be unreliable and are also few and far between in some areas. Additionally, don't assume you'll always have the mobile data you'll need to book a ride-share taxi. If you need to hail a tuk-tuk or taxi from the side of the road, it's highly likely you'll need to pay in cash.

When using ATMs, opt for ones connected with major banks (in Indonesia, these include BNI, Bank Mandiri, BCA and CIMB Niaga) to avoid withdrawal fees and remember that Indonesian ATMs issue the cash first, so don't forget to wait for your card to appear.

11. Get around by moped (but always wear a helmet)

Mopeds are the cheapest way to get around Bali  and often – especially during rush hour in places such as Kuta – the quickest, too. They're also offered as a mode of transport by Grab and Gojek (Bali's most popular ride-sharing apps), and prices for journeys via mopeds are significantly cheaper than those made by car. Just remember to check the reviews of your chosen driver and always wear a helmet (the driver will typically provide one). Avoid hailing scooter taxis on the street – you won't be able to check their credentials, and, in reality, Grab and Gojek have so many scooter drivers (both identifiable for their bright green jackets) that there's simply no need.

12. There is a no-sex-before-marriage law

In December 2022, the Indonesian government brought in a new law that forbids sex outside of marriage. Technically, this law applies to visitors as well as locals.

At the time, it was announced that the legislation won't be introduced until late 2025. Since then, Bali's governor has said that the law – dubbed by some newspapers as the "Bali bonk ban"– won't apply to tourists and, additionally, guilty parties can only be reported by spouses, parents or children. In summary, the law represents a worrying development for human rights in Indonesia, but it's not one that is likely to affect tourists.

13. Prepare to pay a daily tourist tax

As tourism has roared back after the pandemic, authorities have responded to environmental challenges (especially plastic waste on beaches) and overtourism concerns by finally launching a long-mooted fee for foreign visitors as of February 2024. The fee of 150,000 Indonesian rupiah per visitor (about US$10, €9 or AU$15) is payable upon arrival on the island.

This article was first published May 30, 2019 and updated Jan 18, 2024.

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• 8 Days Bali Itinerary

Bali Itinerary 8 Days

Quick navigation, day 1: arrive in seminyak.

Best of Thailand

Day 2: Uluwatu

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Day 3: Ubud

Best of Singapore

Day 4: Day Trip to Tegallalang Rice Terraces

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Day 5: North Bali

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Day 6: East Bali

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Day 7: Nusa Lembongan

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People Also Ask About Bali

How much will it cost for the 8 days bali trip, is 8 days enough for bali.

Bali Top Attractions

Located near Ubud, Bali Swing is a famous hotspot of tourists who are looking for aesthetic thrills which makes it a must to include in your Bali tours. These swings are a perfect fit for those searching for an adrenaline rush while admiring the beauty of nature.One of the best ways to appreciate Ubud's beauty is from the Bali swing which gives the bird’s eye view of the entire region. The fresh air will prove to be refreshing as you swing high above the ground looking over paddy fields.Enjoy the jaw-dropping views of Bali with the exceptional topography that makes this place perfect for a couple’s photoshoot. The tranquil environment will provide you with dreamlike images for you to cherish forever.Click Here to Book Now: Bali Swing in Ubud

It is home to more than 60 species, all of which meander aimlessly in huge walled in areas that copy their characteristic living spaces. Appreciate riding on a safari transport to visit the creatures, viewing interesting elephant ability appears, get cuddly with child orangutans, and view infant sharks at the aquarium.Highlights: In Bali Safari and Marine Park there are 80 species and around 400 species from three regions - Indonesia, India and Africa, including spotted deers, Himalayan bears, nilgai, dark bucks, African hippos, zebras, camels, ostriches, monkeys, blue wildebeests, and lions. The most epic in plain view are the unbelievable Indian white tigers. Visitors board safari transports to go through various regions of the recreation center.Location: Bali Safari & Marine Park is located at Jl. Bypass Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra Km. 19,8, Serongga, Kec. Gianyar, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80551,Indonesia. Timings: Opens from 9:00 AM–5:00 PMClick Here to Book Now: Bali Safari and Marine Park TicketAlso Read: Best Activities to Do in Bali

Nestled amid the lush green hillocks in Bali’s Ubud region, are the elegant Tegallalang Rice Terraces, a delight for the eyes in the true sense. The perfect zig-zag pattern in which the entire hillside has been cut out is conducive to the local agricultural system.It is an old irrigation system used to extend water to all parts of the fields evenly. Irrespective of the purpose, however, the beautiful landscape of the area complete with verdant paddy fields has managed to mesmerize visitors who throng here from all parts of the island.If you visit Kintamani in Bali, The Tegallalang Rice Terraces will be an ideal stopover, a mere 20-minute drive from Ubud. As you make your way up the twisting and turning paths of the hilly areas of Tegallalang, you will instantly mark the difference in air quality and surrounding views.At 600 m above sea level, the weather is extremely pleasant, there is a cool breeze here that accompanies the mesmerizing panoramic views. You may also spot the local farmer tending to his produce lined along the distinctive oblique steps. The dramatic sights here make for great photography opportunities to create lasting memories.

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Things To Do In Ubud: 4-Day Perfect Itinerary For Your Upcoming Bali Trip

Planning a trip to Bali? Here are things to do in Ubud that will make your vacation memorable.

Renowned for its epic natural beauty and authentic cuisine, Ubud is a hotspot on every Southeast Asian bucket list. Since it offers dotted waterfalls, exotic rice paddies, peaceful yoga retreats, bustling markets, and artistic hang-out spots, you quickly experience the best of both worlds. 

Thus, in this 4-day itinerary, you will explore all this tropical paradise’s significant attractions and hidden gems. Don’t worry; the itinerary is curated in a way that it covers everything from navigating along the main sites followed by a guide to help you plan better. With that said, let’s dive right into the best bits!

Day1: Cover The In-City Attractions of Ubud 

Campuhan ridge walk.

Start your day early to enjoy a walk at Campuhan Ridge. This is one of the best things to do in Ubud, so try wearing something comfortable. This mellow hike introduces you to the mesmerizing beauty of Ubud.

You will get a scenic view of rice fields, green-lush hills, and a massive valley filled with palm trees and tropical foliage.

It will take approximately 2 to 3 hours to complete the whole trail. Make sure you carry sunscreen and ample water. Moreover, opt for a good hat to protect yourself from the heat. Your walk will conclude at Hilltop Cafe, where you catch your breath, indulge in a quiet meal, and re-energize.

Visit the Ubud Water Palace

After having your morning walk and meal at Campuhan Ridge, you can visit the Ubud Water Palace which is approx 700 mts away, where you can worship at the Saraswati Temple.

You will be stunned by the huge idols, intricate architecture, and a beautiful pond filled with lotus flowers.

Check Out The Ubud Palace

Also referred to as Puri Saren Agung, Ubud Palace is one of the iconic places to visit in Ubud. You will get familiar with the royal family’s routine and get a quick peek into the Balinese culture. You can get snaps of the complex yet beautiful architecture and stunning courtyards. You can buy tickets for the traditional dance show in the evening, which cost 100,000 IDR. It starts at 7:30 PM and goes on for 90 minutes.

Explore the Local Ubud Art Market

Approx 1 km ahead will be the local Ubud Art Market.

Walking along the Jalan Raya road after visiting the temple, you can explore the traditional art market, where you will find several indigenous products of the local craftsmen and artisans. There are several shops where you can explore local handicrafts, clothes, bags, artwork, etc. It is the perfect place to buy souvenirs for your loved ones.

Stop at Monkey Forest Sanctuary

Covered by a dense jungle, the Monkey Forest Sanctuary is home to three Hindu temples, tall trees, and several cheeky monkeys. Located in the center-heart of Ubud, visiting the place is one of the popular things to do in Ubud. 

There is an entry fee of 80,000 IDR on weekdays and 100,000 IDR on weekends for adults. It goes down to 60,000 IDR on weekdays and 80,000 IDR on weekends for kids (3-12 years). It is a relaxing exit from all the noise and buzz of the town.

Day 2: Cover the Off-beat And Popular Ubud Waterfalls

Considering you will be tired your first day, we will rejuvenate today.

Explore Sumampan Waterfall

Managed by a local family, Sumampan Waterfall is an offbeat tourist attraction where you will get proper jungle vibes. Depending on the power of the water current, you can even enjoy a refreshing bath in the waterfall. 

Besides this, there are several Balinese God stone carvings at the waterfall. It is best to visit the waterfall early and set a relaxing tone for the whole day. There is a donation box at the entrance where you can donate between 5000 to 10,000 IDR to aid the local family in properly maintaining the waterfall.

Visit the Uma Anyar Waterfall

Uma Anyar Waterfall is another hidden gem that is the perfect place to unwind and relax. This multilevel wonder is a perfect place to sit in the water stream, take a quick swim, and click some beautiful snaps. 

It has recently opened for tourists, so you will not find massive crowds there. You can trek to the second level of the fall to sit on the top of it and click some pictures. 

On the other hand, you can climb down the rocks to the base of the fall to enjoy a quick adventure. In short, it is a quiet place to enjoy with your loved ones and connect with nature.

Relaxing dip at Tegenungan Waterfall

Once you check out the local, less-crowded waterfalls, it is time to explore the majestic Tegenungan Waterfall. The waterfall is 15 meters high and features some stunning and picturesque scenes. 

The water descends into a calm pool where you can enjoy a relaxing dip with your loved ones. If you are not interested in a swim, you can enjoy the soothing sound of rustling leaves and connect with nature.

The entrance fee for the waterfall is 20,000 IDR. The mornings are crisp, with quiet surroundings creating a serene ambiance, whereas the evenings are filled with the energy of fellow travelers with a vibrant atmosphere.

Shop at Celuk Village

Famous for its silver and gold handicrafts, Celuk Village is a must-go place for fashion lovers. Visiting the village and exploring the jewelry items is one of the popular things to do in Ubud. 

Moreover, some art shops offer custom jewelry designs. Besides this, the market offers beautiful cultural symbols, models, and medals.

Note: You can also add or replace Tukad Cepung to the list but the aim to get back to the hotel early.

Day 3: Get ready for A Unique Mount Batur Trek

Watch sunrise at mount batur, kintamani.

Mount Batur Trek is one of the best things to do In Ubud and add to your bucket list while visiting Bali. Start your day pretty early to reach the active volcano. It is located around 40 km in the Kintamani region. You can book a car to reach the destination. Ensure you hire a guide before starting the trek to explore the region properly.

The trek is challenging and requires 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the highest point. Once you reach the peak, you will enjoy picture-perfect views in every direction. Mind you, the whole trek is blessed with stunning views and scenery.

You can also opt for the Jeep Lava Tour, which we did.

Spiritual getaway at Tirta Empul Temple

While returning from the trek, stop at the sacred Tirta Empul Temple to purify your mind and soul by bathing in the holy spring. It is believed that the water at the temple is blessed by the God Indra. 

The entrance fee of the temple is 50,000 IDR for adults and 25,000 IDR for kids(5-11 years). You can access it between 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM local time. If you wish to go through the purifying ritual, you have to pay 25,000 IDR extra.

Explore Tegalalang Rice Terraces and Swings

After worshiping at the temple, you can stop at Tegalalang Rice Terrace. It is home to cascading rice fields and a true gem for nature lovers. Get ready to witness the iconic views since the whole terrace is surrounded by lush green jungle and towering palm trees. 

There are a plethora of paths that you can explore. However, you have to pay a donation of 10,000 IDR at every checkpoint to penetrate deep into the fields. 

While exploring the emerald-green fields, you can enjoy sweet coconuts and opt for a stunning photo session at Aloha Ubud swing. You have to pay a little extra for the swing ride, but it will be an exceptional experience for your whole trip.

Enjoy a relaxing spa

After exploring the Mount Batur Trek and other attractions on the way, it is time to relax and pamper your body with a relaxing spa. It is a must-do thing to add to your Ubud vacation. Whether you wish to opt for a fancy spa session or a traditional Balinese massage, you can book a session at any of your desired resorts. Moreover, you can try several other body treatments to end the day on a relaxing note.

Day 4: A road trip to Lempuyang temple via Sidemen

Go to lempuyang temple (gate of heaven).

Lempuyang Temple is a group of seven Hindu temples serving as the top-notch place to worship. Moreover, its enchanting beauty and mystic ambiance will keep your eyes and mind glued to the viewpoints of the temple.

The temple is a great spot for photo fanatics and spiritual seekers, and the site is pretty popular for its Gate of Heaven snaps. You can capture mesmerizing stills at the gate frames with the gorgeous backdrop of Mount Agung. The surreal view justifies its name as it serves as a stepping stone into the divine. However, you have to be patient with fellow tourists to capture an awestruck still.

The entrance fee for the temple is 100,000 IDR for every person. In the fee, you will get a professional photographer who will aid you in capturing your pitch-perfect photo. Moreover, you can pay 50,000 IDR extra to avail the benefits of the shuttle service to reach the top of the temple comfortably.

Whether you are traveling solo or planning a visit with your whole family, visiting Lempuyang Temple is one of the best things to do in Ubud.

Explore the Sidemen Region

While you go to the temple, you will cross Sidemena area.

Encircled by vast rice fields and hills, the Sidemen region is an excellent getaway to connect with nature and visit beautiful temples and roaring waterfalls. You will experience a slow and relaxing atmosphere with a warm welcome from the locals.

There are stunning backdrops to click some spectacular pictures to collect memories. You can even spend time in the rice fields with your loved ones. 

Stop at Tirta Gangga

Tirta Gangga will allow you to dive into the rich and sacred Balinese culture. It is a majestic retreat for tourists, surrounded by clean and maintained lawns and gardens. Boasting a maze of koi ponds, fountains, and pools, this place turns out to be the best place to relax and cool off.

You can feed the fish in the koi pond with your hands. The prime attraction at Tirta Gangga is the 11-tier fountain, where you can click some beautiful photos with your loved ones. Besides this, there are several natural springs with crystal-clear water. 

The entrance fee at Tirta Gangga is 50,000 IDR per adult and 15,000 IDR per child. Also, you have to pay extra for parking.

Other Things To Do In Ubud

Start your final day at Goa Gajah, also known as Elephant Temple. You can explore the shrines and click some quick photos of lily ponds, sculptures, and other viewpoints. You can reach the location in 10 minutes from Ubud. The entry fee for the temple is 50,000 IDR per adult and 30,000 IDR per kid.

Helpful Guide To Plan Well Ahead

How to reach and explore ubud.

Located in Central Bali, you can reach Ubud in an hour from the Ngurah Rai International Airport. There can be slight delays as the roads are busy with traffic. You can opt for a motorbike in Ubud to get around if you are an experienced driver. It is one of the cheapest ways to explore the place besides walking. 

Besides this, you can book taxis or opt for a shuttle bus to get around and visit the popular tourist attractions located near the town.

What is the best time to visit Ubud?

The best time to visit the town is in the dry season, which starts in May and lasts till September. The peak season time frame lies between July and August. 

The rainy season will commence in October and last till April. It is best to avoid this time frame due to high humidity and dense rainfalls.

Ubud is a truly magical place, and there is something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you are interested in culture, nature, art, or simply relaxing in a beautiful setting, Ubud has it all.

Originally published here .

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5-Day Bali Itinerary | First-Timers Guide to a Perfect Vacation in Indonesia

Bali is a true traveler’s paradise where you’ll never run out of things to see and do. The only challenge is figuring out which attractions and activities to make time for! To help you see the very best of the island, here is the ultimate five-day Bali itinerary that will take you through Nusa Dua, Uluwatu, Seminyak, Canggu, and Ubud. Find out the top spots at each of these locales that you should add to your trip plan. Explore stunning beaches and beautiful temples in between shopping trips and stops at cultural landmarks.

Getting around Bali

There are many different options for getting around Bali . Courageous travelers may choose to rent a car or a moped but, if you prefer a more relaxing experience, then hiring a professional driver to take you between destinations is the way to go. Bali’s professional drivers are familiar with the roads and traffic and will get you from point A to point B quickly and securely. Hiring a private driver for a day will cost around 400,000 IDR. If you just need to get from attraction to attraction around town, then the best options are either a taxi or one of the two local ride-hailing apps: Grab and Gojek. If you opt for a taxi, then Blue Bird Taxi is the most highly recommended option as it charges by the meter.

5-Day Bali Itinerary | Day 1: Nusa Dua and Uluwatu

Upon arriving in Bali, you should naturally head to the beach, so the first stop on this itinerary is the resort area of Nusa Dua . Located in southern Bali , Nusa Dua is just a 20-minute drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport . It is a fantastic area for families but a great spot for all travelers to begin their Bali adventure and unwind after a long flight. The top activities here are relaxing, shopping, and sightseeing: just what you need to get geared up for your vacation!

Nusa Dua Beach and Waterblow

Nusa Dua Beach is a picture-perfect stretch of clean and well-maintained sand along the scenic southern Bali peninsula . It is flanked by palm trees and beach resorts on one side and warm, blue-green water on the other. You can find all of your favorite beach activities here, including swimming and sunbathing. If you’ve brought along your snorkeling gear, then you can even take in the underwater sights! Nusa Dua Beach is also a prime location for exciting water sports like Flyboard and parasailing, for those who want to start their vacation with an adrenaline rush! The top, must-see attraction on Nusa Dua Beach is Waterblow . This is an area along the peninsula where large waves from the Indian Ocean crash against the limestone cliffs and are channeled into a narrow crag that sends the water shooting upwards, like from a whale’s spout. During periods of high tide between July and October, the impressive spray can reach almost 100 feet! From Waterblow , you can also enjoy 240-degree views out over the ocean water, which makes for some stunning photos.

For the second half of your first day in Bali, it’s time to head to Uluwatu . Located about a half-hour drive from Waterblow , Uluwatu lies on the southernmost tip of the island. The serene town is known for having a laid-back atmosphere as well as some of the prettiest beaches, bluest waters, and most dramatic cliffs. There is also a great mix of luxury and more affordable accommodations here where you can spend your first night. Before checking out the town and relaxing for the evening, however, you should pay a visit to the most important attraction in the area: Uluwatu Temple.

Uluwatu Temple

Just past town, situated on the coast, lies Uluwatu Temple . Perched high on the edge of a cliff, Uluwatu Temple is considered to be one of the most important temples in Bali . You can explore the temple for a fee of just 30,000 IDR per adult and 15,000 IDR per child. Take in the many beautiful carved statues and traditional architecture. You will also likely encounter some of the temple’s resident monkeys. These cheeky creatures are known for snatching visitors’ belongings, so make sure you watch your things and remove any jewelry. The best time to visit Uluwatu Temple is around sunset, when the daily Kecak Fire Dance is held in the amphitheater. As you watch the performance, you can also delight in the stunning background sunset.

Check In to Kubu Nyang Nyang Uluwatu , Step Out to Uluwatu Temple

5-Day Bali Itinerary | Day 2: Seminyak

For day two of your Bali adventure, start with a 40-minute drive from Uluwatu to the upscale area of Seminyak . One of the more developed and touristy resort towns on the island, this trendy locale offers a great mix of beaches, cultural sites, shopping, dining, nightlife, and more. It is also known for having magical sunset views and stellar surf spots. Get ready for a full day, and make sure your schedule includes a stop at each of the following four attractions.

Nyaman Gallery

The easiest first stop on a Bali itinerary once you’ve entered Seminyak is Nyaman Gallery , a contemporary art gallery located in the heart of town. The word “nyaman” translates into “cozy” or “comfortable,” and that’s precisely the feeling you’ll get when you walk in. Enjoy traditional Bali charm and hospitality as you view art created by local and Indonesian artists, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, hand-blown glass, and photographs. Almost everything in the gallery is for sale, so you can even do some shopping for one-of-a-kind art and jewelry to decorate your own home or to bring back as souvenirs for loved ones. Best of all, it’s completely free to come in and look around!

Petitenget Temple

Just like Uluwatu, Seminyak has its own coastal temple known as Petitenget Temple . Constructed in the 16th century, it is one of the only cultural attractions in the area, and so is a highly recommended visit while you are here. Petitenget Temple is an active place of worship, but tourists are welcome to come and look around for an entrance fee of 50,000 IDR per person. It is a fairly small and compact temple featuring traditional Balinese architecture, scenic views, and relaxing garden spaces. Many religious ceremonies take place at the temple throughout the year, and you might be able to catch one if you are lucky.

Seminyak Beach

When vacationing on the coast of Bali, you should never miss an opportunity to spend some time at the beach. Seminyak Beach is a popular stretch of lovely golden sand that tends to feel less crowded than other top beaches in the area. It’s a great place to go swimming, and there are some excellent spots for surfing as well. You can also rent a sun lounger and simply soak in the sun with a cold drink in-hand. There are plenty of public facilities around and numerous restaurants nearby. Once you’re at the beach, you should aim to hang out long enough to catch the spectacular sunset.

Seminyak Night Market

After you’ve taken in the sunset at Seminyak Beach, venture into town again for the Seminyak Night Market . Starting around 6 p.m., the street food stalls around Seminyak begin selling delicious hot meals and Balinese treats. Among the most popular offerings are fish, barbecued prawns, and all sorts of satay meats. Hop from stall to stall until you get your fill of the best Indonesian cuisine. Adding the market to your Bali itinerary is a great way to sample a wide variety of local food in one sitting. Best of all, Seminyak Night Market is known for being easy on the wallet. The popular night market has a lively energy, and the vendors and locals have a reputation for being very friendly.

Check In to Alila Seminyak , Step Out to Seminyak Beach

5-Day Bali Itinerary | Day 3: Canggu

Start your third day in Bali with a 40-minute drive from Seminyak to Canggu . Once a sleepy village, Canggu has risen considerably in popularity over the past few years. It is now home to numerous trendy cafes, affordable resorts, bars, beach clubs, a growing number of yoga studios, and a large population of digital nomads. The village is mainly known for its numerous beaches and its shopping scene, as well as for nearby Tanah Lot Temple . Let yourself enjoy a less structured day and take your pick of some beaches and shops that you would most like to visit.

Canggu beaches

One of the best ways to start a day in Canggu is by going beach-hopping. The coastline of the village is divided into five beaches, each with its own unique character. Whether you are interested in surfing, swimming, sun tanning, or sightseeing, there’s a beach for everyone in Canggu.

The five beaches of Canggu

• Berawa Beach : Offering panoramic views and great waves, Berawa Beach is a top surfing spot. There are a wide variety of waves to challenge surfers of all skill levels, and it is not usually very crowded here.
• Nelayan Beach : A quieter beach that is home to a small fishing fleet, Nelayan Beach is a favored place for lounging and walking. As the water is calm, it is also good for swimming and wading.
• Batu Bolong Beach : The busiest and most popular of Canggu’s beaches, Batu Bolong Beach always has a lively atmosphere. It is lined with a variety of restaurants offering a mix of western and authentic Indonesian food.
• Echo Beach : With its strong waves, Echo Beach is not a good place for swimming but a great beach for surfing. There are also sun loungers spread out along the beach so that you can relax, work on your tan, and enjoy a drink.
• Pererenan Beach : Another beach better suited to surfing, Pererenan Beach tends to be quieter and more popular among locals than tourists. It’s easy to find an empty stretch of sand to enjoy.

Shopping in Canggu

Canggu has a higher concentration of fashion stores than perhaps anywhere else in Bali. You will find both boutique island brands and designer labels everywhere you look. It is a great stop to add to your Bali itinerary and a perfect place to upgrade your wardrobe and pick out some new outfits for the rest of your travels.

Best places to shop in Canggu

• Berawa Luxe : A popular boutique store among locals, Berawa Luxe carries easy-to-wear clothing for women that blend functionality with the quintessential bohemian aesthetic of Bali.
• Mila The Label : Another great spot for local Bali aesthetic, Mila The Label sells chic, classy, and comfortable clothing suited just as well to your island vacation as to everyday life.
• FLKLR Surf : Canggu’s go-to surf shop, FLKLR Surf offers high-quality surfwear and accessories made out of alternative and eco-friendly materials.
• Wanderlust Bikini : If you need new swimwear before heading to the beach, make a stop at Wanderlust Bikini . Find flattering pieces in versatile styles you can wear in Bali and at home.
• Magali Pascal : A homegrown brand, Magali Pascal blends French elegance with the flowing style popular in Bali designs. While there is also a store in Seminyak, the Canggu location is not as busy, allowing you to really take your time.

Tanah Lot Temple

A 25-minute drive from Canggu, Tanah Lot Temple is built on top of a large rock formation just off-shore. The name “Tanah Lot” itself translates to “land in the sea.” The architecture of the temple melds harmoniously with the rocky outcrop. It is accessed via a land bridge lined with a variety of souvenir stalls where you can pick up local handicrafts, food and drink, and accessories like sandals, sarongs, and t-shirts. The entry fee for Tanah Lot Temple is a bit higher than most other temples in Bali, at 60,000 IDR for adults and 30,000 IDR for children. However, the temple’s unique location and status as one of the most iconic temples in Bali certainly make the price worth it. The best time to visit Tanah Lot Temple is during sunset, when the surrounding sea is painted gold.

5-Day Bali Itinerary | Day 4: Ubud

After enjoying the best that Bali’s coast has to offer, it’s time to head inland to Ubud , the spiritual, cultural, and artistic heart of the island. Ubud is the center of both traditional dance and crafts in Bali. There is also an abundance of yoga studios and retreats. The journey through the countryside to reach this special locale is a magical experience in and of itself. You’ll be making your way through scenic rice paddies and picturesque ravines of the foothills. No Bali itinerary is complete without a visit to Ubud. Before making your way into town, however, it is recommended that you make a stop at Tegenungan Waterfall.

Tegenungan Waterfall

Tegenungan Waterfall is located about a one-hour drive from Canggu and half an hour out from Ubud. It is one of the most famous waterfalls in all of Bali, and definitely worth the stop. The entry fee is not too pricey, at just 20,000 IDR. The trail down from the entrance to the waterfall consists of about 100 steps, and the view from the bottom is truly breathtaking. You’ll also find some fun props to take photos with, including a large swing! Because it is so popular, Tegenungan Waterfall can be quite busy. However, there are many secluded vantage points around where you can take a break from the crowds. Facilities include bathrooms, changing rooms, and cafes so that you can stop for something to eat and drink and even go swimming if it’s a hot day! Tegenungan Waterfall is easily one of the top must-see attractions in Bali.

Ubud Monkey Forest

Once you reach Ubud, your first stop should be the Ubud Monkey Forest . Located right in town, it is a sanctuary for Balinese long-tailed monkeys. A visit to Ubud Monkey Forest provides a wonderful opportunity to watch these monkeys in their natural habitat. The reserve doubles as a temple complex, and it is an important spiritual and cultural site. There are more than 700 monkey residents in the forest, in addition to over 150 different species of trees! It’s a great way to immerse yourself in the nature of Ubud. Visitors are asked to please not feed or make any physical contact with the monkeys, but you are more than welcome to come and observe their playful antics. The entrance fee for Ubud Monkey Forest is 80,000 IDR per adult and 60,000 IDR per child.

Check In to Komaneka at Rasa Sayang Ubud Hotel , Step Out to Ubud Monkey Forest

Shopping in Ubud

Make sure you allow plenty of time on the day you arrive in Ubud to do some shopping. Downtown Ubud is the hub of shopping activity in town, offering a great mix of souvenir stalls, fashion stalls, and traditional art stalls. Whether you still need some souvenirs for friends and family back home, or you’re just looking to do a bit of shopping for yourself, you’re sure to find everything you need to complete your Bali shopping experience. There are a variety of traditional and handcrafted products on sale here, meaning that each one is truly one-of-a-kind. Meandering through the winding streets is also a great way to immerse yourself in the local atmosphere.

Top things to buy in Ubud

• Art and antiques
• Traditional ceramics
• Fashion accessories
• Gold and silver jewelry
• Bathing suits and surfwear
• Local coffee beans

5-Day Bali Itinerary | Day 5: Ubud outskirts

Travelers owe it to themselves to spend at least two days inland when visiting Bali, and Ubud is the perfect jumping-off point for exploring the surrounding rainforest and rice fields. There is plenty to do within a short distance of town and a lot to pack into your final full day on the island. You’ll want to wake up bright and early so that you can beat the crowd to your first stop: Tegallalang Rice Terrace.

Tegallalang Rice Terrace

Tegallalang Rice Terrace is only a 20-minute drive north of Ubud. It is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the area, and a must-have destination on any Bali itinerary. The lush, terraced rice fields are an agricultural icon and an enduring symbol of the region. Located in a valley, the rice paddies appear to stretch on endlessly. They are brilliantly green in color, which makes for some truly stunning pictures. There is a small entrance fee of 15,000 IDR per person to walk around the rice fields, so make sure you bring some cash. Visitors can also purchase drinks and snacks. If you’re up for a bit of a thrill, you can try out a jungle swing or a zip line as well! A Bali vacation would not be complete without a visit to Tegallalang Rice Terrace.

Kehen Temple

From Tegallalang Rice Terrace, it is a 45-minute drive to the beautiful Kehen Temple . Built into a hillside, this Balinese Hindu temple was established as far back as the 13th century. It once served as the state temple of the Bangli Kingdom, which is today the Regency of Bangli. Set amidst eight terraces and surrounded by trees, the temple has a mystical and relaxing atmosphere. Kehen Temple is considered to be one of the finest temples in eastern Bali , and it is a fantastic example of traditional Balinese architecture. Stone steps will lead you to the main temple area, which houses three courtyards, a gorgeous 11-tiered shrine, and many intricate carvings. There is a 15,000 IDR fee to enter the temple.

Campuhan Ridge Walk

The Campuhan Ridge Walk is one of the most popular walking trails in Bali. It is located about an hour away from Kehen Temple and just five minutes outside of Ubud. This relatively short and easy trek along a paved walkway offers spectacular views of the surrounding jungle and the distant mountains. Hikers follow the Campuhan Ridge as it gently slopes upwards and leads to the top of the hill. One of the best times to do the Campuhan Ridge Walk is close to sunset, when the temperatures will be cooler and you won’t have to contend with as many crowds. The colors of the sunset will also paint the greenery in stunning shades of orange and pink. There is no entry fee, and it is a wonderful place to take some of your last photographs in Bali. The Campuhan Ridge Walk is a great way to end your Bali vacation on a high note.

Check In to Bucu View Resort by Pramana , Step Out to Campuhan Ridge Walk

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32 Brutally Honest Tips Before Visiting Bali For First Timers 2024 Guide

Thinking of visiting Bali for the first time and unsure if it’s going to be a holiday for you? We were in the same boat too. Having lived in Australia for over 11 years now, I can’t say I’ve ever heard good things about visiting Bali in Indonesia.

But, with Bali being so close to Australia, we decided it would be a good time to visit the notorious Indonesian island and see it for ourselves over the Christmas holidays in the rainy season.

While we were there, we made loads of notes of things that stood out for us that we wish we knew before exploring Bali. So, we hope our Bali travel tips come in handy for you before visiting this South East Asian island.

We 100% recommend getting travel insurance when visiting Bali because it’s not uncommon that many travelers need to visit a doctor or the hospital. We always book Cover More Insurance which covers us for everything.

Table of Contents

Best things about visiting Bali

In this Bali travel guide, we’re going to start off by sharing the pros for visiting Bali. The natural beauty of the island, combined with the local cuisine and yoga studios dotted around the jungle, it’s no wonder many people have an amazing time when they visit Bali Indonesia.

1. No jet lag!

One of the best things that stood out for us when visiting Bali is how close it is to Australia. Obviously we all know that, but sitting on a flight for just six hours and there being only a 2 hour time difference is absolute gold dust for anyone living in Australia. This meant we could start our trip straight away as soon as we landed as Ngurah Rai International Airport without feeling a bit delirious when we landed.

2. Accommodation is hard to choose because it’s all amazing

We are big travellers and have visited many countries around the world. But we often don’t stay in really nice places because we want our money to stretch far on our trips. But, when it comes to Bali, the accommodation is honestly on another level.

We found it really hard to decide where to stay in Bali because all of the accommodation really is incredible. On our first night, we stayed at Maya Sayang in Seminyak and we couldn’t believe it that we had an entire villa to ourselves. We had a big private swimming pool, kitchen and lounge room with an ice cold bedroom which was beautiful.

With that in mind, make sure you check that your hotel room comes with air con because one of the final hotels we booked had more expensive rooms without aircon. We thought that was kind of weird, so just check to make sure.

The places we booked in Bali which were all amazing were the following:

Seminyak: Maya Sayang

Canggu: Villa Kano

Ubud: Menzel Hotel

Uluwatu: Gravity Hotel (adult’s only)

3. Pre-book a taxi to your accommodation

I strongly recommend booking a taxi from the airport to your accommodation before you arrive in Bali. Your hotel will be happy to book but will most likely cost more than a taxi. We booked our via Booking.com for about $12 AUD from the airport to Seminyak.

The taxi drivers are really efficient in Bali and will get in touch with you via Whatsapp the day before you arrive and in the hours leading up to when you arrive. When you get to the airport, they will be waiting outside the arrivals with a sign with your name on it.

4. Understanding the how to hire a driver for the day

If there’s one thing everyone said to me when I mentioned we were going to Bali, everyone had a driver we could contact. Firstly I just didn’t understand what a driver really is. But, what they mean is a taxi driver. I’m not sure if public transport is something that many travelers do in Bali, but it seems everyone gets around using motorbikes or drivers.

The taxi driver who picked us up from the airport gave us a story about how he’s desperate for work, and of course we paid him more than double to take us back to the airport the following morning for our flight to Flores. In hindsight we should have bargained with him, but we had just landed and I totally wasn’t in the mood to haggle $10 or so.

5. Download Grab and Gojek

I had heard people talking about Grab and Gojek before, and they are basically Indonesia’s version of Uber but much more. You can get a motorbike taxi or order a car taxi from both. If you order a motorbike taxi, each person in your holiday will have to order a motorbike taxi too (you can’t order for multiple people). This means your motorbike taxis won’t turn up at the same time.

It’s also worth mentioning that you need to be careful when typing in the address of the place you want to go to. We tried to visit a temple but because there are many with almost the same name, we lost each other for about 1h30m while we ended up at different sites.

Also bear in mind that there are certain no go places in Bali for Grabs and Gojeks because of the local taxis. So if your Grab or Gojek ask you to walk a bit for them to pick you up, it’s because you’re standing next to the local taxis and they can’t pick you up from there. Gojek by the way is the cheaper one to order taxis from.

I personally wouldn’t hire a car to drive around Bali myself as we saw some tourists crash and also you have to watch out for the motorbikes. I also wouldn’t recommend hiring a motorbike unless you’re a super confident motorbike driver.

6. Buy a SIM card from Telkomsel not from XL

When we arrived at Denpasar airport, we ended up buying a mobile sim card from XL because they had no line. There’s a reasons why Telkomsel had a line because they are the most popular network to go with. XL didn’t work in Ubud or Sumba for us.

One thing to note is to get way more internet data than you think you’ll need. I tried to top up on the XL app but it wouldn’t accept any bank cards. So, on our final day, one of the staff from our hotel helped me do it and I gave her the cash.

It’s also worth noting that buying a SIM at the airport will cost you 350,000 IDR ($35) for 25GB. Our driver told us we paid $10 more than we should have for this.

7. It’s not as hot as other Indonesian islands

We were expecting Bali to be super hot, but it’s actually not as hot as even Cairns is at Christmas. Sumba and Flores were way hotter and of course Ubud was hotter than by the beach areas. We were told by locals that it gets hotter in the dry season when it’s sunny.

It also surprised us not to see that much pollution in Bali. The air is much cleaner than we were expecting.

8. More Europeans than Australians visiting Bali now

I was expecting to see mostly Australians in Bali, yet we just heard mostly Europeans and Brits there which definitely surprised us! Maybe it’s true the Aussies are all heading to Europe now instead?!

9. Prebook restaurants

We were surprised that you have to pre-book some restaurants in Bali, especially if it’s the weekend. If you’ve been to Thailand or Vietnam, Bali isn’t the same with the restaurants having plastic kids chairs out on the street. Expect to see fully Westernised restaurants in Bali which are home to healthy food, you might think you’re back in Australia!

When we were in Uluwatu, we had to wait about 1h30m to get a table at a restaurant so it really helps to plan where you want to eat out.

I feel like the food is better in Bali than in Australia, tasting fresher and better dishes. Expect to pay around $40 for breakfast for 2 and about $80 for dinner in Bali. Unsurprisingly, it’s not that easy to find proper local restaurants in the touristy areas.

10. Flower baths are absolutely amazing 

One thing we just loved about Bali are the flower baths. It might sound random but they are the most relaxing thing ever. I watched the woman put the flower petals in the bath and she literally threw them in, there didn’t seem an art to the one we got in. She also nailed the perfect temperature for the bath as well.

But, it’s not only the flower baths, the actually bath tubs in Bali are just incredible and feel like you’re in a sunken rowing boat. Honestly, it’s the best thing in the world!

11. Book a visit to Karsa Spa

Talking about flower baths, you have to book a visit to Karsa Spa in Ubud. Our friends told us about this place and just wow – I think it was our favourite thing we did in Bali. This is also one of the best spas in Bali for a reason. We paid $40 each for the best one hour massage we’ve ever had, a body scrub and flower bath and it was absolutely amazing.

Be prepared to randomly pay $5 for your taxi driver to take you down to the spa. The village where the spa is, is currently charging cars to drive through. When you reach the spa, it’s in the most beautiful rice paddies. Honestly, this place is just incredible!

12. The jungle in Ubud really is incredible

I knew Ubud would be beautiful but the jungle is exceptional here. I felt like I was walking in an ancient rainforest all the time around this area and can see why expats live here. There’s a super peaceful energy about the jungle vibes here, just a shame about the crazy traffic in the town.

13. Head to Uluwatu for the beach not Canggu

If you’re looking for a beach holiday, stay away from Kuta, Seminyak and Canggu and head to Uluwatu as this is the area you’ll want to be in. We heard the beaches aren’t great in Bali, but wow… we visited Canggu beach and it had dirty brown sand, and wasn’t inviting in the slightest.

14. Bata Bolong for buying stone Buddha statues 

When we travelled back down from Ubud to the airpot, we passed by Bata Bolong which is home to the famous buddha statues you can buy for your home. We would have loved to spent a bit of time looking at these shops as they are pretty amazing.

15. Cover up at temples

Might seem obvious, but cover up when you visit Bali temples. You’ll need to have your knees and shoulders covered, but most of the entrance fees will include a sarong to borrow while you’re there.

16. Beach clubs are fun

We wanted to check out one of the beach clubs because Bali is home to the biggest beach club in South East Asia. While we visited the one next door called Finns Beach Club, it’s not as intimidating as you might think. What surprised me was seeing everyone party here, including families with their grandparents!

17. Choose where to spend New Years Eve wisely

If you’re visiting Bali over New Years like we were, I would choose where to spend New Years Eve wisely. Originally we were going to go to Finns Beach Club in Canggu or Sundays Beach Club in Uluwatu but we decided that logistically it made more sense to spend it in Ubud.

When people asked us where we were spending New Years, I could tell everyone had that look of ‘oh Ubud’ like a ‘poor you’. And to be honest, they were probably right. When we went out, the bars were dead. We found one bar that had a good live band that we had fun in the end. But if we had really known, we probably would have spent it by the beaches if we were up for partying.

We found a YouTube page called Online Bali Driver & Tours so we could get a bit of an understanding about the areas in Bali. It’s just a guy driving around on a motorbike, but I like how authentic his videos are – none are edited.

18. It’s an easy toned down version of India

Bali is a brilliant little island to introduce you into the South East Asia because there are so many westernised places here. While many people feel Bali is spiritual, especially in the area of Ubud, it’s a great place to start with, with more of the luxuries you’ll get back home, like food and accommodation.

The not so good things about Bali

In this guide to Bali, we’re also sharing the not so good things to know because there are quite a few that stood out for us even though it is a beautiful island.

19. Bali belly is indeed a big thing

You may have heard about Bali belly and unfortunately it really is a thing. Within 16 hours of being back in Bali after our trip to Flores Island, I got severely ill with really bad stomach cramps and had to spend a few days in bed. I thought it was from ice at the beach club, but it turns out the bars have to import the ice in so it could have been from a restaurant.

And while the ice has to be imported, make sure you brush your teeth with bottled water and never drink tap water. I personally wouldn’t drink hot drinks as Steve had a coffee in Sumba island and he ended up in bed for a couple of days too.

Although the food in Bali Indonesia tastes so fresh, we actually spent pretty much the entire trip eating nasi goreng (fried rice) because we thought it would be better to eat Indonesian food than western food considering how ill we got.

Tip – since we recently returned from Bali, we met a couple who lived there for two years and avoided getting Bali belly the entire time. I couldn’t believe it considering I got it within 16 hours of being there. They took dukoral before they landed in Bali and again a few weeks later and swear that was the reason they never got sick!

20. It’s like being in an Instagram shoot all day long

The main problem we found with visiting the touristy areas of Bali is that it felt like we were gatecrashing everyone’s Instagram shoots. It felt like this from the moment we got up until the moment we went to bed and it definitely took away the excitement travel usually gives us. Be prepared because it is really full on, much more than we personally saw in Italy and Greece months beforehand.

21. But the Balinese culture is evident

And even though the tourists in Bali are probably the worst part about visiting Bali, the culture is evident. I loved seeing beautiful temples hidden down laneways in Ubud. I also loved seeing the offerings everywhere on the streets throughout Bali and the culture definitely isn’t something that is hidden away from you.

When you see offerings on the floor, please do not step on them so just be careful where you’re walking.

22. Everywhere takes longer than Google Maps will tell you

When you’re planning your trip to Bali no matter if it’s in the rainy season or dry season, don’t take Google Maps as gospel. While the distance between Canggu and Ubud for example doesn’t look that far, the traffic will add on extra time when visiting this Indonesian island. That 1h15m drive actually took us 3 hours simply because we were sat in traffic for so long.

But, there is a way to get around it. Book a driver for first thing in the morning and you’ll cut the time down significantly because it seems the traffic doesn’t build up until after 10am.

When we were visiting Uluwatu in Southern Bali, it took us only 40 minutes to get there from the airport because we arrived early, but we had to give ourselves at least 1hr-1h30m to get back because of the traffic. Many tourists end up heading over to Gili Islands to go snorkelling or scuba diving, and Nusa Dua, Sanur Beach and Nusa Penida are super popular destinations.

You’ll also notice a trend with Bali taxi drivers. They will ask you the same questions, all trying to poach you to give them extra work. After a while it will become exhausting.

23. It’s not quite as cheap as you think it will be

As we’ve spent a fair bit of time in Southeast Asia, we were expecting the food to be super cheap in Bali. To be honest, it’s not. While it’s obviously cheaper than Australia, the cost of eating out isn’t that cheap. We spent $40 on breakfast at a Westernised restaurant, and about $80-$100 on dinner. While you can eat local food away from the touristy areas, we didn’t expect touristy areas to be that expensive.

If you’re looking to drink alcohol, cocktails are around $12 and wine can be as expensive as $17 for a small glass of Australian wine.

24. And floating breakfasts are hard to eat 

When visiting Bali, you have to buy into the floating breakfasts because it is the ultimate Bali experience! The funny thing is they are really hard to eat at! Because the breakfast is floating on water, it’s near to impossible to eat with cutlery because the breakfast is floating. Order fruit and toast and you should be alright!

25. Always carry toilet paper around with you

It’s a no brainer, especially given how bad Bali belly is, but always carry toilet paper with you when you’re on a road trip to Bali. You may need to stop off in the middle of nowhere to run to the toilet so bring some toilet paper with you.

When we visited the nearby Sumba Island, we struggled to find toilet paper because they just don’t use it.

26. It’s not very walkable

It really surprised me how Bali Indonesia is actually not that walkable. While I was expecting areas to be a bit like Koh San Road in Bangkok with a strip of bars, restaurants etc, most of the places in Bali are spread out. This means you have to order taxis or hire a motorbike to get around.

It you’re especially visiting Uluwatu, you will need to hire a cab or bike to go everywhere because it’s all spread out. In Canggu, there’s no footpaths so you have to share the path with so many travelers on motorbikes which isn’t a very enjoyable walk. We gave up in the end and hailed down a cab.

27. How much do things really cost?

It’s also kinda hard to know how much everything costs because they also add on 21% onto food and drinks at bars and restaurants. Read the fine print on the menu as it should say whether the tax is included in the price or not.

28. Tegallalang Rice Terrace feels like a theme park

We were looking forward to seeing the famous rice terraces, and while we only visited Tegallalang Rice Terrace, it really did feel like a theme park, no matter how beautiful it is. With the ‘Love Bali’ sign, the endless amount of big swings at every restaurant lining the rice terrace, it just felt like a theme park for us and we didn’t stay too long.

Some friends of ours told us about Tis Cafe where you can use their infinity pool over looking the rice terrace when ordering food or drinks here. The pool is beautiful but get here early to secure a sun lounger.

29. Be aware of the monkey forest

I had heard about the infamous monkey forest, but be careful if you go because some of our followers told us about how they got bitten and had to go to hospital to get a rabies jab. As I said, make sure you get travel insurance from Cover More here before you go.

Weirdly I was expecting to see monkeys everywhere in Ubud, yet they seem to stay in one place from what we saw.

30. Rainy season actually means rain

We decided to visit Bali in the wet season which is also one of the high season too because it was at Christmas, but it rained a lot. I was expecting a shower in the afternoon but it’s like a monsoon when it rains and everywhere floods.

Looking back on this, I would have booked in the dry season instead.

31. Expect people smoking or vaping at outdoor restaurants

If you’re reading this Bali travel guide from Australia, you’ll probably find it weird to see a lot of people smoking in restaurants. Don’t worry too much, people only smoke in outdoor restaurants, but it surprised us as we never see smokers much anymore where we live.

32. What about the sex before marriage law?

If you’re concerned about the sex before marriage law, don’t worry too much. It doesn’t impact tourists as it’s a law for local people, no matter how crazy it really is.

We hope this guide to Bali has helped prepare you for your trip to this Indonesian island! If you have any questions, please let us know in the comments below!

Thank you for sharing your Bali experience. Very helpful information as we are visiting there in 3 weeks.

Thank you for sharing! I am taking a few pointers. It will be our first visit to any part of Asia. Very excited however want to go with my eyes open. Also thank you for being really about Bali belly. Everyone says ‘don’t worry about it’, but I rather want to be prepared. We will be heading over in Sept 24.

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How to Plan the Perfect Bali Itinerary (7 Days-3 Weeks)

By: Author Taylor Lorenz

Posted on Last updated: 10/25/2023

Bali is an idyllic island with a name so famous that many people often think that Bali is a country. It’s actually one of many islands that make up the incredibly diverse country of Indonesia and acts as a great jumping-off point for further travels to Lombok and Flores .

Bali is by far the most popular island, and where I called home multiple times during my travels. drawing The beaches, iconic rice terraces, jungle-covered volcanos, unique culture and heartwarming people are just a few of the Island of Gods perks.

Whether you’re a luxury traveler or a backpacker, this Bali itinerary guide will serve you well. I’ve detailed multiple options for you to pick and choose what serves your Bali vacation best. There’s no one-itinerary-fits-all here.

Planning a trip to Bali can be really daunting as there’s no set route or place or place to start. This Bali travel guide will tell you what to do in Bali, the places you must visit in Bali and the top things to do in Bali. It’s the ultimate Bali trip planner from someone who knows Bali well.

Table of Contents

Bali Fast Facts

Currency in Bali: Indonesia Rupiah Language:  Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) which is spoken throughout Indonesia and Balinese Population:  4.2 million Religion: Balinese Hinduism (a mix of Buddhism and Shivaism)

Recommended Bali Tours

Skip planning your trip yourself with these top-rated tours around the country.

• Wanderlands Bali – 8 Days
• Bali Bucket List Boutique – 10 Days
• Bali One Life Adventures – 12 Days

Bali Itinerary

Creating a Bali itinerary can be very difficult because it really depends on what a person is looking for. Below I’ve created mini itineraries for each place recommending how long to stay and the top things to do. Unfortunately, there is no best itinerary for Bali as it really depends on what you want to do.

Bali Trip Itineraries by Length

Follow the order that each itinerary is listed in and you’ll have yourself a route! These itineraries move at a decent place so if you plan on relaxing more then drop one of the locations. If you want an itinerary for 4-5 days I recommend picking one or two spots maximum.

7 Day Itinerary

• Ubud (2 days)
• Uluwatu (2 days)
• Canggu (2 days)
• Nusa Penida (day trip)

10 Day Itinerary

• Ubud (3 days)
• Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan & Nusa Penida (3 days)

2 Week Itinerary

• Seminyak (1 day)
• Amed (day trip from Ubud)
• Gili Islands (2 days)
• Nusa Islands (3 days)

3 Week Itinerary

• Seminyak (2 days)
• Munduk (2 days)
• Lovina (2 days)
• Amed (2 days)
• Extra day to spend wherever you like!

Breakdown of my Bali Trip Itinerary

Ubud: 3-4 Days

Though easily a week could be spent in Ubud if you love wandering around, this cultural hub can be fully explored in just 3-4 days. Ubud is where you’ll do most of your Bali sightseeing.

DAY ONE:  Spend the day exploring around town. Hit up the Monkey Forest and make your way up Monkey Forest Road (watching out for the monkeys of course) where you can poke in and out of shops full of jewelry, souvenirs, local art and more. By the end of the road you’ll hit the Ubud Market where you can easily spend an hour or more.

After the market make sure you make it over to the Campuhan Ridge Walk for sunset over the green fields. Grab some food, there are lots of options nearby and head back to your accommodation.

DAY TWO:  Today is full of temple hopping and some waterfalls. Hire yourself a scooter, get a driver or do a tour. The first stop before it gets busy is Tirta Empul where you’ll get into the water and bless yourself under the holy water. Gunung Kawi is close by and is very Balinese with beautiful rice terraces surrounding it. Next are the stunning and most famous rice terraces on the island, Tegallalang Rice Terraces where you can spend some time taking pictures and trekking through the terraces.

After, make your way to Tibumana Waterfall, a pretty but simple waterfall that is easy to get to but not very touristy. The next waterfall, Tegenungan Waterfall, is big and powerful but touristy. On your way back to Ubud stop at Goa Gajah, also known as the Elephant Cave, another temple which I’m sure you’ve seen pictures of before.

DAY THREE: Day three is the day to spoil yourself. Get yourself into a spa where the low prices will have you getting multiple treatments. Indulge in a yoga class. The most famous yoga studio in all of Bali is located in Ubud, the Yoga Barn. I can vouch that the classes and spaces are excellent! In the morning or afternoon squeeze in a cooking class so you can try multiple dishes from traditional Balinese cuisine.

DAY FOUR:  Get up early and hike Mount Batur for sunrise . The second half of the day is either for sleeping or getting in some extra sightseeing. Some suggestions are visiting the Bali swing, stuffing your face with more great food, visiting the Bamboo Forest which is excellent for Instagram-worthy shots or watching a traditional Balinese dance.

READ MORE: 21 Incredible Things to do in Ubud &  Where to Stay in Ubud

Canggu: 2-3 Days

Canggu is a major chill out zone but it is easy to get caught here, there’s just something about the place that makes people want to stay longer.

DAY ONE:  Do what Canggu is best known for, hang out on the beach. If you can’t sit all day then catch a surf lesson or hit up a yoga class. Spend your evening at Old’s Man, the main bar in town or party at one of the nightly hot spots. Make sure you catch sunset on the beach. Most hostels will have a schedule up of when to go to Pretty Poison, Sand Bar and more for the best party.

DAY TWO:  Hit up the beach again or check out a beach club where you can live a little luxury without spending a fortune. Eat at some of the best spots in the area (the food here seriously does not disappoint) and do a mini shopping trip at the Love Anchor Market. For sunset visit the famous Tanah Lot just outside of Canggu, but we warned it will be busy. Then catch sunset on the beach.

DAY THREE:  Another day to relax, do another surf or yoga lesson and party. Find yourself on a rooftop pool, at a spa or back at the beach. Don’t forget to catch sunset again, Canggu seriously has the best sunsets!

READ MORE: 30 Cool Things to do in Canggu & Where to Stay in Canggu

Seminyak: 1-2 Days

If you’re not planning a relaxing holiday for a week then I would move through Seminyak quickly as the luxe lifestyle here has prices that add up quickly.

DAY ONE:  Today is a fun day, basically spend your time eating your through Seminyak at all of the trendy cafes and drinking at the stylish bars. Check out Bali’s very first speakeasy bar, Baker Street Social. But if you don’t just want to eat all day (who doesn’t?) then chill out with some massages. At night you can party at Sky Garden that’s open until 5AM and is often host to world famous DJ’s.

DAY TWO: Hit the beach or a beach club. Potato Head is one of Bali’s most famous beach clubs and it is fabulous. If you’re at the beach you can try your hand at a surfing lesson. If you need some more activities while in Seminyak then try a little retail therapy or visit the escape room or Museum Art Trick 3D. End your night at another hot spot to party at and don’t forget to enjoy a beautiful sunset on the beach!

READ MORE: 13 of the Finest Things to do in Seminyak & Where to Stay in Seminyak

Bukit Peninsula (Uluwatu): 2 Days

DAY ONE:  There is nothing better to do in Uluwatu than beach hop . You have so many choices, the most famous ones being Dreamland Beach, Padang Padang Beach (where a scene from Eat, Pray, Love was filmed and also some of the best parties) and Uluwatu Beach. However, my personal favourite is Melasti Beach and Nyang Nyang Beach is also awesome. Spend your evening at one of the most famous Bali attractions: Uluwatu Temple where you can see the sunset as you watch a Kecak dance, otherwise known a as a fire dance. Beware of the monkeys here.

DAY TWO:  Get active and get surfing or spend another day beach hopping. If you happen to be in Uluwatu on a Sunday then don’t miss the party at Single Fin. Even if you’re not here on a Sunday it’s worth a visit to Single Fin to watch sunset or to see the surfers during the day on the epic waves. There are also lots of pools that you can hang out at if you buy something or pay an entrance fee.

READ MORE: 10 Fantastic Things to do in Uluwatu & Where to Stay in Uluwatu

Nusa Dua: 2-3 Days

If you’re up for a quick visit as a globetrotter, 3 days is plenty, but this little paradise could easily be where to stay for a week if you want more of a holiday.

DAY ONE:  Visit the beaches where you can also eat and drink. The top ones to check out are Nusa Dua Beach and Geger Beach. Off of Nusa Dua Beach is a great snorkelling spot. Another water activity is witnessing the water blow, where water literally blows from a rock formation. In the evening you can catch a Cirque d’Soilel like show at Devdan Show .

DAY TWO:  Day two is for exploring. If you’re a shopping lover than stop at Bali Collection for a mix of stores. If you like culture then visit  Puja Mandala, a religious monument with temples, mosques and more. Or if you want to be active then join a cycling tour. In the evening you can stroll along the Nusa Dua Promenade.

DAY THREE: Feel like a real-life pirate and visit Pirates’ Bay, get back into the water for some water sports such as jet skiing and parasailing. Nusa Dua is full of entertainment! Lastly, you can check out the Surf n’ Turf park that has practice waves and instructors waiting for you.

READ MORE: 15 Awesome Things to do in Nusa Dua & Where to Stay in Nusa Dua

Nusa Islands: 1-5 Days

This group of three islands are absolutely stunning. Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan can be visited as day trips or you can choose to spend time on each island. I recommend spending more time on Nusa Penida (2-3 days) and less on Nusa Lembongan (1-2). Nusa Ceningan is so small it can be visited as part of your time on Nusa Lembongan as it’s connected by a yellow bridge which is a short walk or drive.

I have detailed itineraries for each island:

• Nusa Lembongan (most visited)
• Nusa Ceningan (smallest)
• Nuda Penida (largest and most scenic)

Kuta: 1-2 Days

Kuta is a love or hate kind of place. You either want to spend some time here or avoid it like the plague.

DAY ONE:  If you want some water entertainment for the day that doesn’t involve a beach then make your way to Waterbom Bali or Circus Waterpark. If that’s too western for you then head to Kuta Beach where you can also catch one of Bali’s best sunsets.

DAY TWO:  Day two is another day packed with entertainment. You have the option to visit Kuta Theater which has a magic show, Dream Museum Zone which has immersive life scale paintings, try the 5GX “reverse bungee’, get your surf on at Amanda Flow House, Upside Down World Bali (self-explanatory, I think), or Pandora Experience Bali.

READ MORE: 11 Entertaining Things to do in Kuta &  Where to Stay in Kuta

Munduk: 2-3 Days

Munduk is great to do as a couple day trip from Ubud or as a trip from Canggu to Ubud. There is a lot of driving involved but the scenery is beautiful! Grab a bike or a private driver and you’ll love the nature here.

DAY ONE:  You’ll spend a good chunk of today driving to the Munduk area but once there you can stop at some stunning waterfalls such as Munduk Waterfall, Gitgit Waterfall, Aling-Aling Waterfall, Banyumala Waterfall (if you only visit one, make it this one!) and Melating Waterfall. Spend the night in Munduk, trust me you’ll be tired.

DAY TWO:  If you choose to spend 3 days exploring Munduk then this is your hiking day. Get up early before the clouds roll in to see the epic views over the rolling hills and mountains. Guided tours are available.

DAY THREE:  This is the day you head back to Ubud or move onto Ubud from Canggu. Get up early again so you can get to the hot spots before the crowds appear. Stop at the Twin Lake Wanagiri Spot (that’s the name on Google Maps) for an Instagram heaven with a swing that has a view over one of the lakes.

Next visit some beautiful gates that are really only gates to a golf course (Handara Golf & Resort Bali). They’re still awesome though. Lastly, stop at one of the most famous temples on the island, Ulun Danu Beratan Temple that sits along a lake with the mountains in the background. There are also lots of viewpoints to stop at along the drive through the lakes.

READ MORE: 8 Magical Things to do in Munduk

Amed: 2 Days

Your time in Amed really varies depending on what you want to do. If you’re not diving then 2 days in fine to explore the basics, but if you want to spend more time in the water then budget time accordingly. You can also get scuba certified here.

DAY ONE:  Amed is small to explore so spend the day in the water or along the beach. Go snorkeling or free dive at the top sites. Chill out on the beach, pop your head into the few shops or enjoy some yoga. In the evening make your way to the best viewpoint in town, Jemeluk viewpoint for sunset and a tasty dinner or a few drinks.

DAY TWO: Day two involves a mini day trip to the most Instagramable spot on the entire island:  Lempuyang Luhur Temple . It’s famous for having the ‘Gates to Heaven’ that frames Mount Agung, Bali’s tallest volcano, in the background. It will take about half the day and the second half you can do activities from day one that didn’t get to.

Lovina: 1-2 Days

Lovina is worth a quick visit or can even be worked in as a stop on a trip to Munduk.

DAY ONE: Hangout on the black sand beach. Visit any waterfalls between Lovina and Munduk and hop into the freshwater springs or the Banjar hot springs…or both!

DAY TWO:  Go on a dolphin spotting tour , take a cooking class, visit Brahmavihara (a Buddhist temple) or spend even more time on the beach.

Best Time to Visit Bali

While Bali can be visit year-round there is definitely a best time to travel to Bali . Bali experiences only two seasons: wet season and dry season. The wet season, November to March, brings heavy rains but it never rains all day, mostly just showers for an hour or two during the day. The dry season, April to October has some rain but it is minimal and it is not uncommon to have dry days for weeks.

The temperature is consistent year-round with temperatures reaching as low as 23°C and highs of 34°C.

The busiest time of the year to visit in July and August so if you want to avoid crowds then the best time to visit is during the shoulder seasons April-June and September-October. It’s a treat to visit in the spring as it’s just after the wet seasons has finished and the island is covered in lush greenery.

Bali Trip Budget

Bali can be a budget destination or it can be a luxury destination. The island has it all and you can choose how much money you want to spend. Though I found it slightly more expensive than other countries in Southeast Asia , I found Bali to be very flexible when it came to budgeting for accommodation, food and transport.

If you want to be tight $25USD day will get you by no problem but if you’re looking to be on a budget but with some wiggle room plan for $35-45USD a day. This is if you’re staying in hostels (100,000-150,000 a night), eating local food (15,000-50,000 per meal) and using budget apps to find transport which varies widely. Activities will fit into this budget but not daily.

If you want to live more comfortably, perhaps staying in a guesthouse, a cheap villa or hotel plan to spend $60-100USD per day. Accommodation in this range will cost you 300,000-600,000 per night.

On this budget you can eat all western food and enjoy the fancier restaurants with meals ranging from 100,000-350,000. Cocktails will run you anywhere from 70,000-200,000. You can also afford to take taxis or hire private drivers. You can also afford to do activities daily.

Activities range but typically cost between 100,000-300,000 with some costing more or else. Entering a temple is anywhere between 15,000-60,000, a yoga class is 100,000-130,000, a cooking class 300,000 and hiking Mount Batur 300,000.

Anything above $100USD a day you’ll be able to stay in hotels, resorts and enjoy the totally luxe things on the island. Though know that Bali is home to some of the most expensive hotels in the world!

How to Get to Bali

There are 3 ways to get to Bali: plane, boat and bus. The most popular way to get to Bali is by plane, flying into the Ngurah Rai International Airport or Denpasar International Airport. There is one Bali airport (two names) that serves Bali and is located in Denpasar.

By boat is also an option with the most common route being from Java, which is a common way for travellers to travel between the two major islands. Lastly, you can take the bus from Java’s capital of Jakarta which takes 23 hours.

Travelling Around Bali

Getting around Bali is easy and you have a few options. Unfortunately, there is no public transport in Bali so you will have to rely on private drivers and apps to find you drivers or drive a scooter.

Luckily it never takes more than 2 hours to get between destinations unless you are planning on travelling far across the island which shouldn’t be the case as there is plenty to see and you’ll want to make stops and stay in more than one or two areas.

To get from the Bali airport to where you are staying

It is best to have a transfer booked ahead of time before you get to Bali. Private airport transfers are very affordable which can be booked online. Many accommodations also offer transfers too.

To get from destination to destination

The cheapest way to move between different areas is to hire a Grab, Uber or Go-Jek (the Indonesian version of Grab/Uber). A price will be shown, however, drivers will always try and negotiate. This is normal so get your bargaining skills ready.

I recommend booking private drivers between destinations which are very affordable and less of a hassle.

The most expensive way is to hire a taxi, Blue Bird taxis are the main and trusted taxi company. Of course, if you’re comfortable driving a scooter with your baggage then you can hire a scooter and drive wherever you please.

There are some shuttles available, mostly from Ubud that are a cheaper shared option. If you’re taking a boat to the Nusa Islands, Lombok or the Gili Islands then transportation is usually organized and included in the price.

Getting around in an area

You can continue to hire cars or taxis or you can rent a scooter to scoot around to all of the highlights. Scooters cost 50,000-80,000 per day. Driving in Bali can be challenging because of traffic and I highly recommend only driving if you have experience . If you do not then either choose not to drive or practice somewhere quiet first. Through Go-Jek you can hire drivers to take you on a scooter which is a fraction of the price and extremely affordable.

READ MORE: 11 Common Southeast Asia Travel Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

Travel Insurance

READ MORE: 51 Tips for Backpacking Southeast Asia

Where to Go in Bali

A quick overview in map form of where to go in Bali with more detailed descriptions of each place below.

This is the big question and often the most difficult part of travelling in Bali for people. It’s a large island, over 5,000 sq. km and there are many places to see in Bali. Below I’ve listed the highlights of the best places to visit in Bali and where to stay in Bali to help you decide which area or places you want to spend your time in. These are listed in no particular order.

Ubud is the most famous area in Bali and it’s here that you’ll recognize the rice fields from Eat, Pray Love . Ubud is a town located in the centre of the island and is most known for its culture and abundance of yoga studios and yoga retreats in Ubud . A stop here is in order if you want to see temples, traditional dancing and crafts and to shop. Just outside of Ubud are the most famous rice terraces and some of the islands most famous scenery.

READ MORE: 11 Best Yoga Retreats in Bali

Canggu is a digital nomad hub with lots of westerns living here permanently or spending a few months on the southern coast. Canggu has a distinct backpacker vibe as there are no resorts in the area (though it’s considered an up and coming resort area). It’s busy but also has black sand beaches and it’s easy to find a party. The areas biggest draw are its easy surfing waves, cheaper accommodation prices and Australian style cafes. It’s very common to find yoga here as well.

Seminyak is an area on Bali’s southern coast, next to Canggu that is known for its high-end luxury Bali resorts, villas and spas. There isn’t much to do in Seminyak as it’s an area to hang out and relax in. High-end shopping, excellent restaurants, beach clubs, bars and beach sunsets are most common as it’s popular for Bali nightlife. Surfing is also popular here. But don’t forget your wallet if you plan on visiting here!

Bukit Peninsula (Uluwatu)

The southern tip of Bali, Bukit Peninsula, is often referred to just as Uluwatu which is only one area of this area. It’s different from the rest of Bali because of its dramatic cliffs that plunge into the bluest waters found on the island. The area is well-known for its world-class surf breaks and white sand beaches, in which there are plenty to choose from. Travellers here most commonly stay at higher-end resorts or villas but it’s not hard to find cheaper accommodation and places to party with a high or low budget.

Nusa Dua is another resort area on Bali’s southern shores close to the Bukit Peninsula and opposite Uluwatu. It’s famed for its all-inclusive beach resorts which boast white sand and an 18-hole golf course. Shopping and relaxing are the main activities here but some cultural things can be done here too. It’s an excellent area for families.

Nusa Islands (Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan & Nusa Ceningan)

The Nusa Islands are not considered a part of Bali as they are actually three separate islands off of Bali’s southeast coast that make up the Nusa Penida District. They are extremely common to visit during a Bali trip because it takes only half an hour by speedboat to reach these stunning islands.

Nusa Penida is the largest with dramatic scenery and vibrant blue waters. Nusa Lembongan is the most popular and much smaller in size but is popular for diving and surfing. Nusa Ceningan is the smallest but is equally as beautiful.

Kuta was Bali’s first main tourist development and has since turned into a popular spot for partying and beach resorts. Travellers of all sorts come here to be entertained and catch the easy waves that are ideal for beginners. Located in central Bali, Kuta is often looked down upon from some travellers as being too touristy but it has all of the attractions that families, backpackers and luxury travellers could ever want.

Denpasar is the islands capital and often a place skipped by visitors. It’s a packed and chaotic area where over 1 million locals call home. On the east side you’ll find Sanur beach and in the centre you’ll find a hub of politics but also authentic restaurants, shopping and parks. Denpasar is also where the airport is located.

Munduk is a spot in central Bali that often goes unnoticed in travellers Bali itinerary. This mountain village is popular for its trekking through the hills and jungle surroundings. A trip to Munduk will ensure that you see waterfalls, visit lakes and escape from the sometimes overpowering heat.

Amed is made up of a long strip of local fishing villages along Bali’s less popular northern coast. If snorkelling and diving are you thing then make sure you check out the marine life off of Amed’s shores. Still relatively unknown, Amed is slowly making it’s spot on travellers radar, becoming more developed but still hanging onto its traditions. Stunningly clear waters, a beach, small town feels and the beginners of a yoga hub are all here.

Lovina is a very relaxed resort area in northern Bali that is too made up of a string of villages like Amed. It’s less touristy and quiet. A spot here is in order if you wish to get away from it all. Here you can spot dolphins, chill out and soak up the sun on the black sand beaches.

How Long to Spend in Bali?

On average, people who are vacationing in Bali spend 1 week and those who are travelling spend 2 weeks in Bali. I recommend this as the bare minimum. You will not be able to see all the places listed in this guide in 2 weeks, which is fine because some places are similar.

Have fun planning your Bali trip, I hope you fall in love with the island as much as I and so many others did!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links which I earn a small commission from and are at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure policy for details. Thank you for supporting my small business!

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California lottery player wins Monday's $44.3 million Powerball jackpot

A trip to the grocery store turned into a huge Powerball payday for one lottery player in California.

One ticket sold in the Golden State matched all six numbers to win Monday's $44.3 million Powerball jackpot, according to the Powerball website . The winner can also choose the $21.9 million cash option.

The jackpot winning ticket was sold at a Ralphs on Golden Lantern Street in Dana Point, California, according to the state's lottery website.

It is the 15th time the Powerball has been won in California.

The jackpot had last won on Aug. 12 when a Pennsylvania lottery player won a $213.8 million jackpot .

$1 million winner in Nebraska

In addition to the jackpot win, a ticket sold in Nebraska matched all five white balls to win $1 million.

Winner: Man battling cancer won $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot; splitting money with wife, friend

What are the 8/19/24 winning Powerball numbers?

Here are the Powerball winning numbers for Monday, Aug. 19, 2024:

1 - 2 - 15 - 23 - 28 and Powerball 10

Powerplay was 2x

Looking for an edge? These are the luckiest Powerball numbers

When is the next Powerball drawing?

Powerball drawings are held three times a week - Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. Monday drawings were added in 2021.

More: Here's a look back at all 15 Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots won in 2023

How late can I buy Powerball tickets?

The deadline for purchasing Powerball ticket varies by state so don't wait until the last minute. The deadline in New Jersey is 9:59 p.m. on the day of the drawing, while New York's deadline is 10 p.m.

Click here is a complete list of Powerball ticket deadline times by state or jurisdiction.

Location, location, location: These are the states with the most Powerball jackpot winners

How do I play Powerball?

The cost is $2 per ticket, but you can add the Power Play for $1, which will increase the amount of your potential prize up to five times the original prize (except for the jackpot and Match 5). There is also a 10x Power Play possibility when the jackpot is less than $150 million.

Each player selects five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball. However, you can also have the lottery machine generate a quick pick ticket with random numbers for you.

Prizes vary from $4 for the matching the Powerball to $1 million for matching all five white balls (except in California) to the jackpot for matching all six balls. You can  check all the prize payouts on the Powerball website here.

Beware: No, a lottery jackpot winner isn't giving you money. How to spot a scammer

Where is the Powerball available?

You can play the game in 45 states plus the Washington DC, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

More: What would you do if you won the Powerball lottery? Survey answers might surprise you

Where can you buy lottery tickets?  

Tickets can be purchased in-person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. 

You can also order tickets online through  Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network , in these U.S. states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.  

Winner: New Jersey grandmother of 10 planning Disney trip after winning $1 million in Powerball

How can I watch Powerball drawing?

The Powerball drawing is broadcast live on the lottery website at 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. You can watch the drawing by clicking here.

The drawing may be broadcast on a local television station in your market as well.

What are my odds of winning?

Playing the Powerball can be exciting, but just don't go spending those millions before you win.

The odds of winning the jackpot are 292,201,338-to-1.

The odds to match all five white balls are 11,688,053-to-1.

Unlucky?  Here are 13 crazy things more likely to happen than winning the lottery

Lump sum or annuity?

The major lotteries in the United States offer two jackpot payout options: annuity and cash.

The annuity option is paid out over time. There is an immediate payment and then 29 annual payments after that, increasing by 5% each year.

The cash option is significantly lower than the advertised jackpot, but it is paid in a lump sum. You don't have to wait decades for all the money.

Can I win jackpot and remain anonymous?

In some states, like New Jersey, you can win a lottery anonymously. That wasn't always the case, but now winners are able to stay anonymous under a law that was signed by Gov. Phil Murphy .  

In other states, a winner's name and hometown are a matter of public record. Check with your state lottery for more information.

Top 10 largest Powerball jackpots

Here are the Top 10 jackpots since  the Powerball lottery began in 1992:

• $2.04 billion,  Nov. 7, 2022: Won in California
• $1.765 billion,  Oct. 11, 2023: Won in California
• $1.586 billion, Jan. 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee
• $1.326 billion, April 6, 2024: Won in Oregon
• $1.08 billion,  July 19, 2023: Won in California
• $842.4 million,  Jan. 1, 2024: Won in Michigan
• $768.4 million,  March 27, 2019: Won in Wisconsin
• $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts
• $754.6 million,  Feb. 6, 2023: Won in Washington
• $731.1 million,  Jan. 20, 2021: Won in Maryland

What was largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever?

Here's a look at the top jackpots won in the United States, between the Powerball and the Mega Millions lotteries:

• $2.04 billion, Powerball , Nov. 7, 2022: Won in California
• $1.765 billion, Powerball,  Oct. 11, 2023: Won in California
• $1.602 billion,  Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023: Won in Florida
• $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee
• $1.537 billion, Mega Millions,  Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
• $1.348 billion,  Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2022: Won in Maine
• $1.337 billion, Mega Millions,  July 29, 2022: Won in Illinois
• $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 6, 2024: Won in Oregon
• $1.128 billion, Mega Millions , March 26, 2024: Won in New Jersey
• $1.08 billion, Powerball , July 19, 2023: Won in California
• $1.05 billion, Mega Millions,  Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
• $842.4 million, Powerball,  Jan. 1, 2024: Won in Michigan
• $768.4 million, Powerball,  March 27, 2019: Won in Wisconsin
• $758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts
• $754.6 million, Powerball:  Feb. 6, 2023: Won in Washington
• $731.1 million,, Powerball,  Jan. 20, 2021: Won in Maryland
• $699.8 million, Powerball,  Oct. 4, 2021: Won in California
• $687.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 27, 2018: Two winners in Iowa, New York
• $656 million, Mega Millions, March 30, 2012: Three winners in Illinois, Kansas, Maryland 
• $648 million, Mega Millions, Dec. 17, 2013: Two winners in California, Georgia

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit  jackpocket.com/tos  for full terms and conditions.

The Ultimate Bali Itinerary: How To Plan The Perfect Trip To Bali

Planning a trip to Indonesia and looking for the best Bali itinerary? Whether you’re only spending 5 days, one week, 10 days, or two full weeks, I guarantee this Bali trip travel guide will be extremely helpful!

Bali is truly one of my favorite destinations in the world and a place I’ve called home several times. But planning a trip to Bali can be a bit intimidating as there really are so many amazing places to explore!

There’s no need to wonder why Bali has become one of the world’s most visited and popular vacation hotspots. It has jaw-dropping landscapes, lush rice terraces, stunning beaches, serene temples, cute monkeys, scenic waterfalls, wild nightlife, and unforgettable sunsets.

Bali really does have a little something for everybody, and I guarantee that if you follow this Bali travel itinerary, you will fall in love with this island just as much as I have!

While tourism in Bali has exploded in recent years due to the popularity of Instagram, it definitely lives up to the hype because there is a LOT more to this island than what you see on social media. Don’t let the annoying Bali IG couples + IG influencers deter you from planning a trip here because it is a must-visit destination in Southeast Asia!

Tip: Add something unique to your Bali travel plan by choosing to go glamping in Bali  instead of staying at a hotel.

Check out my Instagram page  for more holiday inspiration!

Whether you’re only spending a few days, two weeks, or even an entire month, this Bali Itinerary guide will go into loads of detail about what to expect about visiting this island, the best things to do, what to pack for Bali, when to go, insider travel tips, and loads more.  

So without further ado, let’s get started!

WHAT ARE THE BEST MONTHS TO VISIT BALI?

Bali is an incredible destination to visit year-round, and if you’ve only got limited time off work, I would say book that ticket no matter what! Being located in Southeast Asia, the weather in Bali is exceptionally tropical, so you can expect hot and humid temperatures pretty much every day, but there are two main seasons – the wet and dry months.

The rainy season in Bali is from October to April, and the dry season is between May – September.

That said, traveling to Bali during the rainy season is NOT an issue. I LIVED in Bali in December & January (known as the wettest months of the year), and I barely even noticed the rain.

Yes, some days were worse than others, but more often than not – every day was beautifully sunny blue skies and perfect beach weather.

According to Bali.com, “ The best time to come to Bali is April, May, June and September, just before and just after high season. It’s still the dry season, it’s slightly less humid, and room prices and villa rentals can be 30-50% cheaper than during high season. Many shops offer sales and promotions, restaurants are less crowded in those mid-season months, and in general, Bali is a bit more relaxed. October is not too bad either, still much less rain than November (usually, check the rainfall chart).”

I agree with that statement for sure, but traveling to Bali during Christmas time & New Year’s Eve can be an incredible experience. I spent Christmas Day lounging at a day club and absolutely loved it!  

IS BALI A DANGEROUS PLACE TO VISIT?

Absolutely not! Bali is completely safe to visit, and I’ve honestly never felt like I was in any danger while there. While just like a vacation to anywhere in the world, you want to make sure you’re traveling wisely and acting responsibly.

The only dangerous or unsafe behavior I’ve heard of is from “motorcycle thieves or purse-snatchers.” These are people that will try and grab purses or backpacks from people while riding on the back of a motorcycle. But as long as you pay attention to your belongings, nothing bad will happen.  

What I will  say in this section, though, is that you NEED to be extremely careful if you decide to rent a scooter in Bali. I’d say that’s actually the most dangerous thing on the island! I drive very cautiously when riding my moto , and I’ve never been in an accident (knock on wood), but I’ve had several friends end up in the hospital with serious injuries.

Nevertheless, I wouldn’t let that stop you from enjoying the feeling of exploring the island on two wheels. The scooter rides through rice terraces are one of my favorite things about living in Bali, and it’s a great, cheap, and efficient way to experience Bali. Just make sure the person driving is confident and skilled. You should also avoid driving during peak traffic hours.

Best Bali Trip Travel Insurance

I never travel anywhere without booking a travel insurance policy . This is essential for all Bali visitors!

So I’ll repeat…

Please, do NOT visit Bali WITHOUT Travel Insurance!

It’s unfortunately all too common that people come to Bali, get into a scooter accident, and end up needing a lot of medical attention. This, as you can imagine, is not cheap, and while the Bintangs and good vibes are, don’t expect medical treatment as a foreigner to also be of great value! These bills will add up, and sometimes they won’t even operate before they know you’re covered.

I’ve had at least 4 friends now get in serious accidents, but only half of them had travel insurance to cover their needs. Trust me – especially if you plan on driving or getting on the back of a moto (which you most likely will), you’ll want peace of mind to make sure you’re covered.

You also need to consider other issues that could arise, such as theft, boat sinking or water damage, or catching dengue. Trust me when I say these warnings aren’t to scare you, but real-life examples I’ve seen during my time in Bali.

I highly recommend HeyMondo due to its extensive range of cover for all situations and trip lengths. Their fair pricing and handy app allow you to manage any claims within the app and access free assistance online. This means you don’t need to rack up an expensive phone bill in Indonesia, where the charges are steep!

Nowadays, I would never travel without insurance again, especially after hearing so many of those (expensive and dangerous) horror stories from other travelers I’ve met. So, whether you need a single trip cover for two weeks in Bali or an affordable annual cover for multiple trips worldwide, be sure to buy your travel insurance before you travel, knowing that HeyMondo has your back.

Still, planning your trip? You can always get a no-commitment travel insurance quote now, so you know how much extra to budget for your vacation!

WHAT SHOULD I PACK FOR A TRIP TO BALI? A BASIC PACKING LIST

One of the things I love about Bali is that you really don’t need to bring all that much — especially if you’re just on a quick 10-day or two-week holiday. Also, shopping in Bali is fantastic. You’ll want to bring back a separate suitcase filled with souvenirs and clothing.

Here are a few items I think are essential for your travels to Bali!  

• Clothing: You’ll want a couple of pairs of shorts, swim trunks, t-shirts, sandals, and comfortable adventure shoes. Add one or two fancier outfits for dinners or nightlife too. Everyone will have different styles or preferences, but my main clothing tip would be to keep it light. Quick-drying clothes will be helpful, mainly because you will sweat up a storm.  
• Portable charger: Anker PowerCore Portable Charger  is one of the smallest and lightest power banks available. I carry this with me everywhere I go because I’m using my iPhone a bit more than I care to admit! Well, when you’re exploring Bali, you’ll definitely want a portable charger.
• Microfiber towel: This Rainleaf MicroFiber Towel  is budget-friendly and stylish. Plus, a quick-drying towel is a must for visiting Bali. You’ll find yourself hiking, sweating, and swimming often – and you’re really going to want one of these. I just bought one of these myself, and it’s the #1 best seller on Amazon!
• Quality sunscreen: The sun is super intense in Bali, and you’ll be out in the sun often during this Bali itinerary. So, make sure you buy some decent sunscreen before you get to Bali because it costs SO much more out there for some reason. I personally use this Neutrogena Lightweight & Water Resistant SPF,  and I love it!
• Mosquito repellent: Unfortunately, mosquitos are flying all over the place in Bali. And you really want to protect yourself when you go on long adventures. I recommend this Mosquito Repellent Bracelet . If you’re just shopping around Seminyak or chilling in Canggu, I wouldn’t worry too much, but if you’re out in nature, definitely put some on!  
• Go Pro: The GoPro Hero 11 is my favorite adventure camera, and I’m truly blown away by the hyper-smooth stability that the GoPro Hero 11 offers. You can take some epic images with this, and it’ll also be perfect for all the underwater or snorkeling shots you’ll want. For the aspiring content creators out there, combine it with a TELESIN Dome Port  for some unique, fun, and creative shots!
• Waterproof phone case: No matter what kind of phone you have, you really want to protect it during your trip. This itinerary is pretty active, and if you don’t have a supportive phone case, like the JOTO Universal Waterproof Phone , I bet you’ll be paying for some phone repairs!  
• Power adapter: Last but certainly not least, this Universal Power Adapter  is just a basic travel essential that you’ll want to pick up one of these before your trip to Bali. I personally love this one and would definitely recommend it!  

THE ULTIMATE BALI TRIP ITINERARY | PLANNING A TRIP TO BALI

Alright, let’s dive into my guide for my extensive Bali holiday itinerary!

10 DAYS & TWO-WEEKS IN BALI ITINERARY

The way I’ve set up this 10-day itinerary is that it’s all focused on Bali. But if you have a full two weeks, I’ve included a trip to the Gili Islands too.

I think it’s best to do it this way because when you book round-trip boat transfers to Gili Trawangan, you can have them drop you off directly at the airport, depending on your schedule. You can book day trips or rent scooters to explore nearby attractions when you’re based in one place for a bit longer.

One thing I think is important about traveling around Bali is avoiding checking in and out of hotels and Airbnb’s every couple of days. That’s why I’ve put at least 3+ nights in each place, and you’ll get a better feeling for the area.  

The full itinerary is below, but here’s an overview of my recommended route so you can start planning:

• Uluwatu (3 Nights)
• Canggu (3 Nights)
• Ubud (4 Nights)
• Gili Islands (3-4 Nights for Two-Week Itinerary)

You might not have the time, energy, or money to do everything on this Bali itinerary, but I wanted to include as much information as possible. So without further ado, let’s get down to the day-to-day itinerary activities!!

BEST PLACES TO STAY ON THIS ITINERARY FOR BALI

Bali is home to some of the world’s most gorgeous luxury resorts and private villas but also has an extensive variety of mid-range hotels and backpacker hostels. It depends on your budget and how much you want to spend. I’ve compiled a fun selection of my top recommended accommodation for each destination on my Bali itinerary. I know you’ll enjoy your stay at any of the options below:

WHERE TO STAY IN ULUWATU

Radisson Blu Bali Uluwatu : Consistently reviewed as one of the best values in Bali, get treated like royalty here without breaking the bank. There’s a gorgeous sun terrace with a swimming pool, extremely clean and comfortable rooms, and impeccable service!  

Six Senses Uluwatu : This brand new 5-Star Luxury Resort in Uluwatu will certainly provide an unforgettable stay, but rooms here are costly. Its cliffside location, delicious cuisine, and immaculate attention would make for an exceptional first hotel on the island.    

Home-Bience  Hostel : If you’re a backpacker on a tight budget in Bali, look no further than staying here at Home-Bience Hostel. While it has a shared kitchen and barbeque facilities, you can also get a varied breakfast at an affordable rate too.

WHERE TO STAY IN CANGGU

Theanna Eco Villa and Spa : Top-notch luxury at bargain prices! Once you step foot inside this eco resort, you’ll fall into a state of complete tranquility. It’s consistently rated and reviewed as the best hotel and resort in Canggu, with excellent value for money and world-class service.

Kosone Hostel | Alternative Beach : I was living in Canggu when this opened (early 2019), and I’d say it’s the best hostel in Canggu! It’s got a fabulous pool with a swim-up bar, DJs spinning music all day, delicious food, comfortable beds, and rooftop jacuzzis. Do I need to say anymore? Trust me – if you’re a backpacker in Canggu, stay here!  

WHERE TO STAY IN UBUD

Hanging Gardens of Bali | Ubud’s Premiere Luxury Resort : This is the jungle resort of your dreams! “Located just 30-minute drive from the Ubud’s town center and nestled deep in the heart of Ubud’s rich rainforest preserve, this enchanting five-star luxury resort on 3.2 hectares has 44 private suites and individual villas.”  

Visesa Ubud Resort : This best-seller luxury resort has fantastic prices for the comfort you’ll receive. The villas are absolutely stunning, the staff goes above and beyond, and it has pretty much everything you look for in a resort in Ubud. Delicious food, gorgeous views, shuttle services to the center, and a full spa await you.

Wayan’s Family Hostel Ubud : If you’re looking for an excellent but cheap hostel in Ubud, look no money than this charming family-run guesthouse. It has a magnificent backpacker atmosphere, is a beautiful property, and you’ll fall in love with the staff!

WHERE TO STAY ON GILI TRAWANGAN

Pearl Of Trawangan Resort : There are tons of beautiful resorts on the Gili Islands, but this is easily my favorite! It has an unbeatable beachfront location near the main promenade. The stunning property would be an excellent pick for your time in paradise!!

Gili Castle (formerly known as Gili Backpackers) : This is where I worked when I lived on Gili T, and I’ve got nothing but fond memories of this backpacker hostel! They organize awesome parties and pub crawls, which make it easy to meet fellow travelers. There is a pool with a rock climbing wall, and all the facilities are comfortable. I’d highly recommend staying here for young travelers on a budget.

BALI ITINERARY DAY 1: INTRODUCTION TO BALI = ULUWATU BLISS (3+ NIGHTS)

Honestly, there is no better place to begin your Bali vacation than down in Uluwatu , which is at the southern tip of the island!

It’s my personal favorite area in Bali, world-famous for its surf competitions, has a really fun nightlife scene, and is undoubtedly the best part of the island for watching the sunset. Uluwatu is a place that will certainly leave an impression and will keep you coming back for more! Here you can spend your days relaxing on the beach, swimming in infinity pools, lounging at day clubs, surfing gnarly waves, or riding a scooter along epic coastlines.  

It also has a perfectly relaxed atmosphere that I absolutely love, and I could easily see myself living in Uluwatu for a couple of months sometime in the future. There really is no shortage of amazing things to do in Uluwatu , which I’ve discussed for day 2. Since it’s your first day on the island, take the evening to relax at your resort, enjoy a lovely evening meal, and hopefully conquer any jet lag you’re feeling.  

If you’re up for it, you could enjoy dinner and cocktails your first evening having dinner soaking up the vibe. I recommend one of Jimbaran Bay’s cliffside restaurants or candlelit dinners on Jimbaran Bay, about a 15-20 minute drive from Uluwatu.

“Perched atop distinctive rock formations along Jimbaran’s pristine sunset coast, Rock Bar Bali is widely respected as one of the globe’s most popular sunset, cocktail, and entertainment venues. Showcasing unparalleled views from 14 meters above the Indian Ocean, Rock Bar is accessible via AYANA’s dramatic cliffside inclinator. Featuring a glamorous sunset vibe, and a seductive after-dark ambiance, listen to premier international DJs as they heighten your experience from a custom DJ booth carved directly into the cliff face”.

BALI ITINERARY DAY 2: ULUWATU BEACH EXPLORATIONS & NIGHTLIFE

Everyone will be different, depending on how you want to spend your Bali vacation. Do you want to treat this as a relaxing holiday, or are you more adventurous? Do you want to be surrounded by people and experience luxurious beach clubs, or do you prefer solitude and exploring quieter areas?

No matter what kind of traveler you are, I’ve listed a few of my favorite activities in Uluwatu and the south coast of Bali, and I’m sure this will keep you super busy.

ULUWATU HIGHLIGHTS & THINGS TO DO

• Visit the Uluwatu Temple: “This one of six key temples believed to be Bali’s spiritual pillars, and is renowned for its magnificent location, perched on top of a steep cliff approximately 70 meters above sea level.”  After your tour of the Uluwatu Temple, I’d also suggest checking out the Kecak Fire Dance if you’re there simultaneously. It’s a unique cultural fire and traditional Balinese dance show that is definitely a superb experience.
• Watch the professional surfers at Uluwatu Beach: There are tons of different bars and restaurants to choose from, but sit back, grab a Bintang (local beer), and watch from above while these pros amaze you with their skills.  
• Explore all the beautiful beaches around Uluwatu: You’re spoiled for choice here with beaches like Suluban Beach, Padang Padang, Dreamland Beach, Bingin Beach, Melasti Beach, Green Bowl Beach, and Pandawa Beach.
• Never miss a sunset. Uluwatu is home to the most magical sunsets practically every evening, so make sure you plan accordingly! Find an infinity pool, rooftop bar, or restaurant terrace, and soak it up!
• Check out a day club: Sundays Beach Club, Finns Beach Club, OMNIA, Karma Beach Club, etc. Honestly, there are tons of epic places to spend a day, but they can be a bit pricey if you’re a backpacker on a budget!  
• Sunday nights at Single Fin: This is one of the most legendary parties on the island, but they only really happen on Sunday night. Don’t get me wrong, Single Fin is an awesome bar & restaurant every night of the week, but definitely, don’t miss the Sunday night party.  
• Spend Saturday nights at Padang Padang Beach: There’s a really cool beach party every Saturday night with reggae and electronic music, lively crowds, and a unique location!  
• Rent a moto to explore it all easily: Uluwatu is one of the best areas on the island to adventure around on a moto! You can rent one for as little as $4 per day, the roads never seem too busy, and it’s just a great feeling!  
• Enjoy a meal at Cashew Tree: This will always be one of my favorite restaurants in all of Bali! They’ve got deliciously healthy smoothies, a large menu, and affordable prices. It’s a backpacker favorite as well, located nearby Bingin’ Beach.  

Check out my article about the best things to do in Uluwatu for more information. All I know is that it’s simply a breathtaking area of Bali, and it might just be hard to leave.

BALI ITINERARY DAY 3: NUSA ISLANDS DAY-TRIPPING

Located just a short 20-30 minute speedboat ride off the coast of Bali are three idyllic islands: Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan, and Nusa Penida.

They are all absolutely gorgeous and have unbelievable beaches, landscapes, and some of the best snorkeling or scuba-diving in the country. I’ll talk about this at the bottom of this article, but a substitution would be spending several days on one of these islands if you care a lot about these water activities.

I think it’s a really fun and fantastic day trip since it’s just off the coast, and you can see a lot and still make it back to Uluwatu for sunset cocktails — that is if you have the energy!

There are tons of options, but here are a few of the best sellers. It really just depends if you’re more into beaches, viewpoints, swimming, or snorkeling.

BEST OF NUSA PENIDA PRIVATE FULL-DAY TOUR

Review: “Climb aboard a fast boat at Sanur Beach and cross the sea to Toyapakeh on the small island of Nusa Penida. Meet your local host on arrival and begin your private day tour. Visit the famous Kelingking Beach for the chance to take photos of the most beautiful spot on the island. Marvel at the cliffs overlooking the Indian Ocean, and then continue to Pasih Uug (Broken Beach) and the natural pool of Angel’s Billabong. Experience the peace and quiet of one of the less visited spots on Nusa Penida before going to the popular beach at Crystal Bay, known for its great diving and snorkeling opportunities.”  

Price:   $33

Read Reviews & Check the Availability

FROM BALI: SNORKELING DAY TRIP TO NUSA LEMBONGAN

Review: “Discover an island paradise off the south coast of Bali and snorkel at 3 different spots around the islands of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida in the Indian Ocean. Marvel at the wide variety of tropical fish and live coral flora and fauna.”

Price:   $68

FULL-DAY SNORKELING TRIP TO NUSA PENIDA & MANTA POINT

Review: “Nusa Penida is a perfect spot for snorkeling and exploring marine life as you’ll see on this full-day trip. Spot the ocean sunfish, or mola mola and the great manta rays on some of the most amazing drift dives in Indonesia. Board the boat at Sanur Beach for the ride to Nusa Penida and your first snorkeling session of the day at Manta Point. Marvel at the majestic manta rays, which grow up to 6 meters in length. Take some time to enjoy a swim or to relax on the boat, before your second snorkeling session. Afterwards, savor a delicious lunch on the boat.”   

Price:  $132

Check out this epic YouTube Video about Nusa Penida for some travel inspiration!

BALI ITINERARY DAY 4: CANGGU CHILLIN & BAR HOPPING

In only a few short years, Canggu has quickly become popular and overthrown Seminyak as “the place to be”  in Bali. It’s changed drastically since my first visit in 2015. Since then, it has   become a digital nomad hotspot loaded with trendy cafes, co-working spaces, yoga studios, beach clubs, funky bars, surf camps, and thousands of people enjoying the Canggu lifestyle!   

I was fortunate to live in Canggu for a couple of months this year, and it really is a must-visit in Bali. Here’s what you should add to your Bali itinerary for 4 days.

CANGGU HIGHLIGHTS & THINGS TO DO

• Eat at as many different cafes as possible: Canggu is easily one of the top “foodie hotspots” I’ve ever visited in my entire life. There are literally dozens of places you should try! A couple of my personal favorites are Milk & Madu, The Shady Shack, Motion Cafe, Peleton Supershop, Cinta Cafe, and Milu by Nook.
• Take a surfing lesson: If you’re new to the sport, Canggu can be an excellent place to learn the basics of surfing! While the waves can be a bit rough on some days, the surf camps are awesome in Canggu and will be a great way to spend a couple of hours. Take this tour  as an introduction to the sport.
• Watch the sunset every night on the beach: There are tons of different little local bars & restaurants along the beach, and they tend to put out bean bags and tables during the sunset. Grab a coconut and a beer, and watch the sky change colors to gorgeous orange and pink hues.
• Relax & swim at Alternative Beach Pool & Hostel: This venue is becoming super popular in Canggu. It’s got a perfect temperature pool, decent food options, and a nice sandy vibe hence the name.
• Spend a luxurious day at Finns Beach Club: If you’re not on the strictest budget, why not book a daybed at Finn’s for an easygoing day at a gorgeous venue?
• Stop by AMO Spa for one of their famous facials, relaxing massages, and an Epsom salt jacuzzi session: I’m sad I didn’t discover this place sooner because it ended up being one of my favorite spots in Canggu. The sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and cold plunge circuit are an outstanding endorphin rush!
• Go Canggu nightlife bar hopping: There are plenty of places to visit whether you go for drinks at Old Man’s, cocktails at La Brisa, or find your way to the hidden bar in the supermarket along the  “Canggu shortcut.”  Other really awesome bars I enjoy are The Lawn (awesome pool included), Pretty Poison, and Deus Ex Machina! You can check out this article about the best bars in Canggu for more information on the nightlife!

Check out this epic YouTube video for some more Canggu Travel Information & Inspiration!

BALI ITINERARY DAY 5: SURF, EAT, REPEAT & TANAH LOT TEMPLE SUNSET

Spend another day exploring everything (mainly the cafes) that Canggu has to offer. Do some yoga, surf, hit a co-working space, cross-fit, join a beach clean up, and more!

For sunset, I’d recommend renting a moto and driving down the road (only 20-25 minutes) to the Tanah Lot Temple . It’s one of Bali’s most important landmarks, famed for its unique offshore setting and sunset backdrops. It’s an ancient Hindu shrine perched on top of an outcrop amidst constantly crashing waves.

There’s a small entrance fee of 60,000 IDR ($4 USD), and you can easily spend an hour or two walking around the coastline and enjoying the scenic views.  

BALI ITINERARY DAY 6: SEMINYAK SHOPPING, DAY CLUBS & NIGHTLIFE

Continuing on with this Bali trip planning, I’d recommend making the short drive from Canggu down to Seminyak for a day of shopping and beach clubs. Seminyak is one of the fancier and more developed regions on the island and is full of awesome things to do, places to eat, and fantastic souvenir shopping!  

Now, on this itinerary, I’ve only listed one day in Seminyak because the last time I visited, I felt it was starting to get a bit too overcrowded. Still, you could easily stay here for several days and explore everything this place offers.

SEMINYAK HIGHLIGHTS & THINGS TO DO

• Souvenir shop til’ you drop: For me, I think the Seminyak, Legian, and Kuta area is the best for buying all your souvenirs in Bali. Just remember to haggle, or the locals will take you for a ride. Most prices in all the souvenir stalls are negotiable!
• Visit Potato Head Beach Club: I’ve visited the world-famous Potato Head several times, and it remains one of my favorite spots in Seminyak! It’s a gorgeous beachfront property, has tons of fancy daybeds and loungers, and the food is absolutely delicious! While Potato Head Beach Club is a bit costly (for Bali standards), it’s worth stopping by for a swim, a meal, and a beer. There’s a lively atmosphere, and it can be a great place to meet people – especially around the swim-up bar.
• Relax on bean bags and under umbrellas at La Plancha Seminyak: One of the most colorful bars & restaurants on the beach you’ll ever see. During sunset, they’ve got a fun DJ spinning, decent prices, and an overall fantastic vibe you’re guaranteed to love!
• Pool party at Mrs. Sippy: This is the largest saltwater pool and one of the best pool party hotspots in Bali! Sippy regularly has international DJs come to perform (I saw Pete Tong there earlier this year), and you’ll love watching people jump from the high platform all day long.
• Grab a cup of coffee at Revolver: If you’re a coffee snob, you have to try a cup from Revolver, known to be the best coffee in Seminyak!
• Party it up at the Legendary Nightlife: Kuta & Seminyak are two areas that are quite popular for their bar and nightclub scene. Here are a few of my favorite spots: Motel Mexicola, SkyGarden, Ku De Ta, Cocoon, Woobar, and JENJA.

SEMINYAK TOURS

Seminyak balinese cooking class & market tour.

Review:   “Learn how to cook authentic Balinese dishes with your friendly and experienced local chefs in Seminyak. Join this fun cooking course and bring back some Balinese recipes and newly acquired skills from this 4.5-hour cooking class.”   

Price:   $35.00

Read Reviews & Check the Availability  

BALI ITINERARY DAY 7: UBUD CAFES, MONKEYS, TEMPLES, AND YOGA

Now that you’ve gotten plenty of time to explore Bali’s popular beach areas, the time has come to make the hour’s drive up to the cultural and spiritual capital of Bali.

Many people plan a trip to Bali and immediately add Ubud to their itinerary. That’s because there is truly something magical in the air at Ubud. The minute you step foot in this town, you will slowly start to feel your stress & worries float away.

Ubud is also a fantastic jumping-off point for adventuring around the rest of the island.

UBUD HIGHLIGHTS & THINGS TO DO

For your first day in Ubud, though, here’s what I would suggest crossing off your bucket list!

• Try out trendy cafes, vegan eats & smoothie bowls: Ubud is another incredible destination for food, and you could easily spend 3 days here eating at as many places as possible and still only scratch the surface. A few of my favorites you MUST TRY are ZEST, Sayuri Healing Food, Alchemy, KAFE, and Clear Cafe.
• Get up close and personal with monkeys: Well, strolling through the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is the best place to do it. Just be careful. The monkeys at this magical sanctuary  aren’t always as friendly as you’d hope! It’s centrally located in town, super cheap, and a super fun way to spend an hour.
• Legends of the Hidden Temples: Rent a moto, and explore as many of the beautiful temples in the Ubud area as possible. There are literally dozens, and all of them are gorgeous. A few top picks are Pura Tirta Empul, Pura Taman Saraswati, and Goa Gajah!
• Do some Y-O-G-A: There are some fantastic yoga studios in Ubud, and even if it’s not your thing, I’d recommend trying it out. My first experience with Bikram yoga was in Ubud, and it was a sweaty experience I’ll never forget.  
• Ubud Art Market and beyond: Strolling around downtown Ubud has some really fantastic shopping opportunities. You can find some awesome stuff from the traditional art market, souvenir stalls, and trendy fashion stalls here.

 UBUD TOURS

Ubud balinese cooking class at an organic farm.

Review: “Discover the culinary secrets of Bali at an exclusive cooking class at an organic farm in the lush tropics surrounding Ubud. Visit a local market and experience everyday life, before preparing a regular or vegetarian meal with the help of a chef.”  

BALI ITINERARY DAY 8: TEGALALANG RICE TERRACES, BALI SWING & CAMPUHAN RIDGE WALK

Ubud still has so many places to teach you about Balinese culture and beauty, like the Tegalalang Rice Terraces and the famous swings that almost every influencer has taken pictures at while visiting Bali. These are all ideal for your second day here.

HIGHLIGHTS & THINGS TO DO

• Visit the rice terraces: Located just a quick twenty-minute scooter ride from downtown Ubud is the Instagram-famous and undeniably gorgeous Tegalalang Rice Terraces . It’s one of the most stunning tourist destinations in Bali and will certainly impress you with its sprawling views of lush green valleys, rice paddies, and towering palm trees! It’s completely free to walk through, but I would bring money for any Bali swings you want to do, coconuts, cold drinks, meals, etc.

• Catch the rice terrace sunrises: If you’re willing to wake up early, watching the sunrise & witnessing the light rays shine through the palm trees is a sight you must see to believe! It’ll be one of the most peaceful ways to start your day, and then you can spend the next 3-4 hours exploring the area. If you head there around mid-day, though, expect big crowds and intense humidity (which can make for some sweaty explorations)!

When you’re done hiking around the rice terraces, I’d recommend picking one of the restaurants up at the top for a bite to eat! It’s a pretty epic place to enjoy a refreshing smoothie bowl & fresh coconut water!

• Terrace River Pool Swing: A few minutes from the main rice terraces is this super fun zip-lining and Bali Swing mini-amusement park called Terrace River Pool Swing . It’s also free to walk through and take photos, but you’ll have to pay if you want to do any of the activities. My friend Vanessa and I spent a good hour here and loved it!  

• Campuhan Ridge Walk: The Campuhan Ridge Walk is the best-known Ubud hiking trail and is a fantastic place to stroll during the sunset (or any time of the day, really). The sparse crowds and the aesthetically rich vistas will remind you why people worldwide come to Bali. The trail starts at the historical origin of Ubud, the confluence (or Campuhan) of the Wos Rivers. You’ll get some epic hilltop views as you stroll along the nice paved trail and will be surrounded by Ubud rice fields and a deep gorge with a river rushing through it. It’s only about 1.5 kilometers long, so it is popular as a place to work up a sweat. If you’re not too exhausted after exploring the rice terraces, I would say this is an absolute must-do in Ubud!  

Check out this video for a bit of travel inspiration and what to expect!

BALI ITINERARY DAY 9: MT. BATUR SUNRISE HIKE & SPA RELAXATION RECOVERY

Admire the panoramic view of the three volcanoes of Mt. Agung, Mt. Abang, and Mt. Rinjani in Lombok in the majestic sunrise over the clouds from the crater of Mt. Batur!

For adventure travelers, I’d highly recommend waking up super early and beginning the trek to the top of Mt. Batur to witness one of the most magnificent sunrises you will ever see!  

Fair warning, though, this hike is known to be a bit intense and is not for the faint-hearted. Unfortunately, this is one of the few main activities I haven’t gotten the chance to do myself yet, but everyone speaks so highly of it!

There are a few different tours to choose from, and it just depends on what piques your interest the most! Read through some of their itineraries, and browse through all their company reviews.  

• Mount Batur Sunrise Trek with Breakfast
• Mount Batur Sunrise Trek with Hidden Waterfall
• Mount Batur Sunrise Trek & Hot Springs

“Head up the mountain along a less-crowded hiking trail that follows the volcano’s eastern slope. During the ascent, you’ll trek along a 3-kilometer-long trail. The trail is of moderate difficulty, and passes through lush tropical jungles. On reaching the top you’ll enjoy breakfast cooked by steam from the volcano. Sip hot tea or coffee at leisure while watching the magical sunrise. Afterwards, your trek continues to the main crater rim of the volcano, at 1,717 meters above sea level. Take a different route down the mountain, starting from the southwestern crater rim. The journey ends with a chance to soak in the crystal-clear waters of a hot spring to soothe away any aches and pains you may have.”  

UBUD SPA RECOVERY HIGHLIGHTS & THINGS TO DO

After an early morning wake-up and a long day of climbing up a volcano, you will be ready for a little bit of #self-care and pampering! Ubud was the first time I booked a full-day spa package, and the overall experience blew me away.

I only paid $120 USD, but I received a body scrub, 60-minute massage, herbal bath, healthy lunch, manicure, and pedicure!! It was called DIVINE PAMPERING!!

• Relax at Tasku Spa: Countless different spas in Ubud would be perfect, but I went to Taksu Spa | Ubud’s Premiere Wellness Center  for my spa treatment. They didn’t pay me to say this or anything. I just loved my experience and would highly recommend it to fellow travelers! If you’re looking for something a bit cheaper, though, you can visit any of the smaller massage parlors spread around the town!

BALI ITINERARY DAY 10: HANDARA GATE, LAKE BATAN & ULUN DANU BERATAN TEMPLE & SEKUMPUL WATERFALL

Next up on this ultimate Bali itinerary is to book a day trip, hire a private driver, or rent some scooters and explore north Bali! There’s quite a lot to see up there, and it will definitely be a pretty solid day of adventures.  

NORTH BALI HIGHLIGHTS & THINGS TO DO

• Handara Gate : Make a quick stop over at this iconic “Bali Gate,” which is actually the entrance to a golf course. It’s a perfect photo opportunity and is a breathtaking view of green scenery and the gigantic exotic traditional Balinese gate as your backdrop.

• Lake Beratan: This is where you’ll visit the majestic Ulun Danu Beratan Temple sitting on a small island on the lake, just as you’ve seen in the postcards and Instagram shots of Bali. This lakeside temple was constructed in honor of Dewi Danu, the lake goddess, formed by a volcanic eruption 30,000 years ago.

• Sekumpul Waterfall: Quite commonly called the best waterfall in Bali. It’s just a 40-minute drive from the lake and is the perfect place to spend a few hours! Just don’t forget your GoPro!  
• Banyumala Twin Waterfall: “This stunningly beautiful waterfall is perfect for a quiet and peaceful afternoon in the arms of Mother Nature. The natural pool is inviting with its translucent turquoise waters. Swim in tranquility, listen to the thunderous roar of cascading waters, and take in the sights of the vibrant greenery. Although no picture will ever do this natural wonder justice, that shouldn’t stop you from that perfect Instagram shot!”
• Rent a scooter: If you’re confident on a scooter, I would 100% recommend you explore by yourself. The roads are all really scenic, and I loved my experience just whippin’ around the North. It’s higher elevation, which means it’s less hot, and the way the clouds sit upon the hills is majestic!  

NORTH OF BALI TOURS

Northern charm: lake bratan, handara gate, waterfall & swing.

This tour company offers a trip that goes to most of these places and would be a great way to see everything with a professional guide. The price includes all entrance fees (which can actually add up) and has excellent reviews!  

HIRE A CAR WITH A PRIVATE DRIVER FOR 10 HOURS

I remember when I first visited Bali and discovered you could hire a car with a driver to take you anywhere you wanted to go for less than $50! It’s such a fantastic deal, especially if you’re traveling with a significant other or a group of friends!  

Price:   $45.00

BALI ITINERARY DAYS 11-14: EXPERIENCE PARADISE ON THE GILI ISLANDS

Now, if you’ve got more than 10 days in Bali, this is where I’d suggest sailing over to the Gili Islands — one of my favorite destinations in Indonesia! I actually spent a few months living on Gili Trawangan working at a party hostel back in 2015, and it was one of the highlights of my time backpacking through Southeast Asia.

A trip to the Gili Islands is a trip to paradise! The color of the water here will honestly leave you speechless, and I’m just obsessed with the fact that pretty much anytime you go snorkeling/ scuba-diving out there, you’ll be swimming with turtles. There is top-notch nightlife, incredible restaurants, a relaxed atmosphere, gorgeous villas, and the most jaw-dropping sunsets every night!!

Here is a quick breakdown of every island:

• Gili Trawangan = Party Island
• Gili Meno = Honeymoon Island
• Gili Air = Best of Both Worlds / Family Friendly

To get to the Gili Islands, you’ll need to talk to any travel agent in Ubud to organize the hotel pick-up and transfer schedule. You can pick various times, but I’d recommend doing the earliest one possible. It’s a couple hours’ drive to the port and then another couple of hours to the islands!

GILI ISLANDS HIGHLIGHTS & THINGS TO DO

• Go snorkeling or scuba-diving every day: The water is crystal clear here, and you can see some pretty awesome marine life just off the shores of each of the three islands! For scuba divers, make sure you chat with some of the dive centers to discuss the best dive sites!
• Watch the sunset every night: Grab a cocktail or a coconut at one of the many beach bars, and watch while the sky dips beneath the horizon in the future and lights up the sky in pretty much every color of the rainbow.
• Party it up: Gili Trawangan is easily one of the best party islands in Southeast Asia , and you can find yourself bar hopping every night if you want to.
• Bike ride around the island: There are no cars on the Gili’s, so I’d recommend renting a bike for at least one day and riding all the way around the island!  
• Enjoy a psychedelic experience: You may or may not be interested in this, but you can buy magic mushrooms in Indonesia quite easily! They’re readily available at many beach bars and shops, and they’re a super fun way to spend a few hours!    

ARRIVAL AT BALI DENPASAR AIRPORT

Once you’ve landed in Bali, successfully made it through immigration and customs, and collected your bags – you’ll need to get your transportation sorted to your first hotel. I must warn you that Bali’s worst part is the Ngurah Rai International Airport !  

You will be harassed by countless people asking you for a taxi, which can be overwhelming after a long-haul flight. That’s why I’d strongly suggest booking a Bali Airport Private Transfer beforehand!   

There are tons of different Bali transfer companies, and most hotels will offer this service (but charge way too much), but I really love this one through Get Your Guide – Bali Airport Private Transfer ! I’ve personally used this service before, and for only $18, it’s a pretty fantastic deal!

It’s really nice to have this all handled before arriving at the airport because it makes for a stress-free arrival! Most Bali car drivers are super friendly and are happy to chat about their favorite things on the island, food, etc.

BEST ITINERARY FOR BALI SUBSTITUTIONS

Alright, so I know I just went over so much information, but now I’m offering up a few other possible Bali itinerary ideas! The truth is that every traveler is a bit different, and there is no right way to spend 10 days or two weeks exploring Bali!  

• Spend more time on the Nusa Islands: With fantastic marine biodiversity, rugged landscapes, and pristine beaches – taking the ferry over to the Nusa Islands and spending 3-4 days over here would be a great option.
• Book a few nights at Mt. Kintamani instead of Ubud: This is a really gorgeous part of Bali, and you wouldn’t believe some of the gorgeous resorts up there. It’ll also make the sunrise hike a lot easier, and you could even attempt to do it on your own to save money!

• Relax & slow down in Sanur: This sleepy coastal town was one of the very first places I visited in Bali, and I honestly loved it. While it may not have the gorgeous coastlines like in Uluwatu or the trendy cafes in Canggu, it’s definitely a comfortable spot with some lively resorts, beautiful white sand beaches, and a nice relaxing vibe. There’s great souvenir shopping, an awesome night market, and overall a solid place to spend a few days!  

BALI ITINERARY TRAVEL TIPS

Bring an international driver’s license.

Fair warning – there’s a good chance that you will get pulled over while driving around Bali! The local cops in Bali are, well… they can be rather CORRUPT. Not all of them, but there’s a huge issue with cops extorting cash from tourists!  

I’ve been harassed almost every time I drive around Bali (for longer-distance trips), but if you have the proper paperwork and an International Driver’s License , you shouldn’t have any problems. Most of the time, they are just security checkpoints on major roads.

If you do get pulled over and they are giving you a difficult time… just try and BRIBE THEM. Hand them over a 50,000 IDR bill, and then show them an empty wall! Simply drive off, and see if that works.

BE CAREFUL WITH THE MONEY EXCHANGE PLACES

They are notorious on the island for scamming tourists, so my recommendation would be to just use the ATMs to get your money. Also, make sure you bring a credit card with no international withdrawal fees! Most tour agencies, restaurants, and bars accept credit cards these days!

DON’T TRUST THE MONKEYS

If this is your first time traveling through Southeast Asia, you might not understand how evil monkeys can actually be! Don’t have any loose jewelry around them, don’t smile at them, don’t look at them directly in the eyes, etc. Just be super cautious with them!  

Check out these YouTube videos below for First Time Travelers to Bali!

HOW TO GET AROUND IN BALI

Use a rideshare app.

There are three main Rideshare apps in Bali: UBER, GOJEK, and GRAB! Download all three of these before landing, and you’ll always be able to find a ride. I’ve never had any issues using any of these platforms, and it is definitely the easiest way to get around. You can even call a MOTO GoJek, and they’ll offer you a helmet, and you sit behind them!  

RENT A SCOOTER

Scooters are an extremely popular way for travelers in Bali to explore the island. Especially around Canggu, Uluwatu, and Ubud – it makes a huge difference if you have your own moto !  

HIRE A PRIVATE DRIVER

For $40-$60 per day, you can Hire a Private Driver (depending on how long you hire for)! For example, if you’re booking a taxi from Uluwatu to Canggu, why not just hire the driver for the entire day, and go explore as much as possible? It really just depends on how you want to spend your days!  

INTERESTED IN SCUBA DIVING?

If you’ve found yourself with some more time to gallivant around Indonesia, I’d highly recommend booking a flight from Bali to Labuan Bajo. So you can visit the wondrous Komodo National Park  and experience some of the world’s most unbelievable marine biodiversity and scuba-diving.  

I’ve now visited Komodo two different times, and it is a remarkable destination that deserves a place on every traveler’s bucket list! Komodo National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve!  

The color and clarity of the water are stunning, the landscape is completely gorgeous, and getting up close and personal with Komodo Dragons is an experience you’ll never forget. But the real magic begins when you strap on your fins and snorkel mask and start exploring the underwater scenery!

It really is the best snorkeling and scuba-diving I’ve witnessed in my life! It’s also one of the best places to do a liveaboard in Southeast Asia, as the prices are relatively affordable (compared to other popular scuba destinations).  

Check out these Komodo National Park liveaboards to view dates, prices, and availability to see if you can squeeze one into your Bali itinerary!

• Adelaar Liveaboard (Bali – Komodo)
• Moana Liveaboard
• Indo Aggressor (Komodo National Park)

PURCHASE THE BALI LONELY PLANET & POCKETBOOK

No matter how long your Bali vacation is, I’d also recommend picking up one of the Bali Lonely Planet Travel Guide Books ! They are honestly loaded with insider tips, restaurant recommendations, and fun day ideas! I know I’ve gone into a  lot of detail in this post (so maybe you should bookmark this for your trip), but these are always handy!  

PLANNING A TRIP TO BALI, INDONESIA & SOUTHEAST ASIA?

I’ve spent a lot of time backpacking around this marvelous region of the world, and I’ve written a rather large amount to help you figure out your ideal upcoming vacation! Look through some of my favorite articles below, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions about my Bali itinerary travel guide!

Further Reading:

• The Ultimate Ubud Itinerary | 3 Days In Bali’s Hidden Paradise
• Top 12 Music Festivals In Bali To Experience This Year
• The Ultimate Backpackers Guide to Gili Trawangan, Indonesia
• 17 Amazing Things To Do On Gili Trawangan
• The 7 Best Places to Eat on Gili Trawangan
• Komodo Island Trip Review | Sailing from Lombok to Flores
• The 5 Best Places to Trip on Magic Mushrooms in Southeast Asia
• The 15 Best Places to Party in Southeast Asia
• 20 Best Beaches In Malaysia | Beach Resorts & Islands
• The 20 Best Beaches In Vietnam | Epic Islands, Beach Resorts + Hotels
• The 20 Best Beaches in Sri Lanka
• Thailand Itinerary | 10 Days In The Land Of Smiles

THANKS FOR READING MY BALI ITINERARY TRAVEL GUIDE!!

Share this bali trip planner with your squad.

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Hi, I’m thinking of going this November, I know it’s “rainy season” but it’s not a terrible time to go is it?

Thanks, Lisa

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Hi! This guide has been really useful. But I would love some advice on how to book some of the hotels, trips etc, And can I do this with a flight included? I am a 53 year old female who will be travelling alone and as you may have guessed I have only ever been on package holidays before but would love to do Bali on a multi hotel basis to ensure I see as much as possible in either 2 or 3 weeks. Look forward to some replies – all advice welcomed xx

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When we, as Australians can travel again (once our international borders reopen), we are planning on heading direct to Bali on our way through Asia. We have been to Bali many times but amazingly have never been to Uluwatu or Gili T. You have definitely sold us on both!

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Katie Caf Travel

Bali Travel Tips: 40+ Essential Dos & Don’ts for Bali & Indonesia!

I live in Bali , and I’ve been traveling the country of Indonesia for over 5 years – I have traveled all over the country, to every top tourist spot and most of Bali’s outer islands. Here’s my local guide to the best Bali Travel Tips: dos and don’ts you have to know before traveling to Bali & Indonesia in 2024!

✔️ Quick Guide – My Top 6 Bali Travel Tips

• Know that you need an onward ticket booked to board your flight to Indonesia.
• Buy a Telkomsel SIM card to have cell service.
• Bali runs on cash – Take out Indonesian Rupiah at airport ATMs when you arrive.
• Use bug spray every day to prevent Dengue Fever.
• Download the Grab App , it’s Bali’s version of Uber and much cheaper than taxis off the street.
• Don’t forget to explore Bali’s outer islands!

Bali Travel Tips: Arrival & Visas

1. know about the 500,000 idr visa on arrival fee + new 150,000 idr bali tax.

Indonesia permits visa-free entry to ASEAN countries but everyone else needs to buy a Visa On Arrival (VOA) at the airport. Immigration doesn’t ask any questions to get a Visa on Arrival, you just need to pay a fee. They accept US dollars and Indonesian Rupiah, and you can pay by card. 

💰 Price of entry to Bali : Indonesia VOA is 500,000 IDR + 150,000 Bali Island Tax = 650,000 IDR ($40)

HOW TO EXTEND BALI VOA (30>60 Days)

You have the option to extend your 30-day VOA. To do this you need to hire a visa service in Bali to extend your 30-day visa to 60 days. You need to do this while you still have at least 10 days remaining on your 30-day visa.

When I extended my VOA to two months it took 20 days and cost around 800,000 Indonesian Rupiah ($55). You can find a visa agency through your hotel, hostel, or guest house.

VISA ON ARRIVAL EXTENSION HACK!

The cool thing is that you don’t actually have to be in one place for all 20 days to extend your visa. The second time I did a VOA extension I gave my passport to the visa company, got my fingerprints stamped at the immigration in Jimbaran on day 4, and then left for the outer islands!

I did a bunch of island hopping from Bali, the Gilis, Lombok, Flores, and the Komodo Islands without my passport – just my NY state ID, because I was traveling within Indonesia.

My hostel back in Canggu, Nyaman Hostel, received my passport with the visa extension stamp and held it for me until I was done with my travels.

Katie’s Tips ✶

Keep in mind that the Indonesian Visa on Arrival takes up a whole page on your passport! So make sure you have enough free space. 

2. Know That Bali’s Visa is for 30 Days, Not 1 Month! (+ The Cost of Overstaying is 1,000,000 IDR PER DAY!)

I’ve met so many travelers who overstay their visas in Bali because 30-days sounds like one month, but it’s not! You have 30 days from entering Indonesia to leaving, and for each day you overstay it’s a 1,000,000 IDR (around $70) fee.

3. Don’t Forget To Book Your Onward Ticket 

You’ll probably be asked for your onward ticket, which is your ticket out of Indonesia before you board your inbound plane. You need to have an outbound flight already booked, legally, to enter Indonesia. Don’t know when you’ll be leaving, or to where? No problem. 

You can use a service like Onward Ticket which books an outbound ticket for you and then cancels it within the next few days. This is completely legal and it’s just to meet entry requirements. I’ve used Onward Ticket more times than I can count, as a full-time traveler I’m not always sure where my next location will be! 

💰 Full Disclosure –  I’ve spent hundreds of dollars because I didn’t have onward tickets booked ahead of time. I advise you to book your onward ticket at least a few hours ahead of time before you’re at the airport because that’s where I always mess up when I leave it until the last minute!

Bali Travel Tips: Communication & Cell

4. link your number to a whatsapp account  before arriving in bali.

Everyone uses WhatsApp in Bali, from foreigners to locals. If you’re visiting Bali and don’t have WhatsApp yet, you should definitely download the app and link it to your phone number  before  getting to the island. If you link your phone number to your WhatsApp, it will work no matter which SIM you have put in! You can use WhatsApp in Bali to organize tours, book hotels, or talk to just about anyone.

5. Buy A SIM Card When You Arrive In Bali 

You should DEFINITELY buy an Indonesian SIM card when you arrive in Bali. You’ll need a local number for a lot of services, like ride-sharing apps, food delivery, etc. Local SIM cards and data plans are easy to get and affordable. You can purchase your SIM through most hotels or go to a “Telkomsel” store. Telkomsel is the most popular cell provider in Indonesia. You can top up your SIM card with more data whenever you need to in person at convenience stores like Indomaret, Circle K, and Alfamart. If you do not have an Indonesian bank account, you cannot top up your SIM with data online.

STAYING LONGER THAN 3 MONTHS? REGISTER YOUR PHONE

There’s a problem with people illegally importing smartphones to Indonesia. Because of this, Indonesia requires people to register all cell phones at the airport upon arrival if they’re staying longer than three months overall.

If you fail to do this, you need to pay a 40% tax on the value of your phone (for phones worth more than $450) or the government will shut your SIM card slot off after 3 months in the country. The 3 months leeway period is so the government doesn’t accidentally shut down tourists’ cell phones, but this allowance doesn’t reset when you exit and re-enter the country!

You need to have an unlocked phone to use a foreign SIM card.

6. D on’t Worry About the Language Barrier – There are Lots of English Speakers & Bahasa is Easy!

Almost everywhere you go in Bali you’ll be able to find someone who speaks a little bit of English or a foreigner who speaks a little Indonesian. Bahasa Indonesian is also an easy language for English speakers to pronounce. Everything is written phonetically, and it’s written in the Latin Alphabet, the same as English. So, if you use Google Translate, it will be very easy for you to read things in Bahasa and be understood if you need assistance.

7. Do Download Google Translate Offline  

Bahasa Indonesian is one of the languages available on Google Translate’s app for offline download. If you get a local SIM card you won’t have to worry about being offline very often, but it’s good to download the language offline just in case you wind up in a poor service area. 

Bali Travel Tips: Food 

8. don’t let fear of “bali belly” stop you from eating the local foods .

Bali Belly is the affectionate term foreigners have for travelers’ diarrhea in Indonesia. Foreign tourists are sometimes so afraid of Bali Belly that it keeps them from enjoying the island to the fullest! The local food is one of the best things in Bali! You’ll see local cafes, called “Warungs”, everywhere. The most popular local dishes are Nasi Goreng (fried rice), Mie Goreng (fried noodles), Nasi Campur (platter of different Balinese foods with rice), and Babi Guling (roasted suckling pig). 

9. Don’t Forget You Can Order Food & Other Items For Delivery 24/Hours

Did you know you can order food 24 hours a day in most areas of Bali? Through Grab or Gojek (two very similar apps in Bali) you can order all types of food at any time of day. These apps came massively in handy when I crashed my scooter and couldn’t get out of bed for a week since you can also get items from the pharmacy delivered!

10. Don’t Fall For Tourist Traps 

This is a hard-to-follow piece of advice because unless you eat at 100% local Indonesian Warungs , you’re gonna fall for some tourist traps! Just today I paid 70K IDR (around $5), for a terrible “fresh juice” which was like 90% water. Basically, any place in Bali that sells Western-style food might be a tourist trap, with poor quality and high prices.

My Favorite Places to Eat in Canggu

• Local Warung – Trendy & budget eatery for trying Balinese foods
• La Brisa – Spanish Tapas restaurant & beach club
• Milk & Madu – Western cafe good for laptop work

My Favorite Places to Eat in Ubud

• Mudra Cafe – Treehouse cafe with asian fusion & western food
• Keliki Coffee – Coffee-hut overhanging the jungle
• Sayuri Healing Food – Amazing vegan cafe with great vibe

Related Read: Local Advice for the Best Cafes in Ubud

Bali Travel Tips: Shopping & Money

11. don’t assume everything will be “cheap” .

It’s just as easy to spend $100 (1,500,000 Indonesian Rupiah) on something in Bali as it is to spend $10. This is because things are priced for foreign tourists, who earn in Dollars rather than Rupiah. Depending on where you buy something you could be paying a wildly different price for the same item! 

12. Do Order Anything You Need Online 

While there’s no Amazon Prime in Indonesia, ANYTHING you want in Bali can be delivered! I take a lot of specific supplements for my health, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that they were all easily available with express shipping off of Indonesia’s version of Amazon, Tokopedia.  

13. Do Shop Locally 

It feels so good to shop in Bali because so many of the stores are locally owned and sell genuine handmade goods! 

14. Don’t Overpay With “Foreigner’s Price”  

If you know the correct local price for things then you’ll know how much to pay. Obviously, a coconut off the side of the road will be cheaper than a fresh coconut from a 5-star resort, but it’s a good metric to know how fancy a place is by how far the prices deviate from the norm. Knowing the local price particularly comes in handy with taxis. There are a lot of places in Bali where you can’t use Uber or Gojek (Indonesian Uber) due to the  Bali Taxi Mafia . In these situations, you’ll have to negotiate a price with a taxi driver off the street. You can open your Gojek or Grab app and see what the local price for the ride you’re going to take  should be , and use that as a jumping-off point for negotiations. 

You’re probably never going to get a taxi off the street as cheap as an Grab or Gojek, and there’s no point in stressing yourself out too much over a few dollars! 

15. Do Carry LOTS Of Cash On You 

Indonesia is a cash-first country! Although a lot of restaurants, hotels, etc accept cards, a lot of them don’t. Expect tours, taxis, and meals to be paid for in cash. Sometimes cafes, hotels, and shops will accept foreign cards, but when that happens it’s more like a pleasant surprise!

16. Foreign Credit Cards Don’t Work for Everything – Use 3rd Party Sites that Accept Non-Indonesian Cards

While you shouldn’t have a problem at restaurants and hotels paying in person with foreign credit cards, most Indonesian websites only accept Indonesian credit cards. This is a recurring problem for foreigners who want to top off their Telkomsel SIM cards, pay their electricity bills, or book a train in Indonesia. The sites I use the most for booking things online in Indonesia are Booking.com, HostelWorld, and Agoda for housing, and for activities, I use Klook and Viator. For transportation like buses, speed boats, and ferries, 12GoAsia comes in handy all over SE Asia!

ONLINE PAYMENT TRICK – HOW TO PAY ONLINE BILLS AT CONVENIENCE STORES IN BALI

If you do not have an Indonesian Bank Account, you will likely have to pay for things at a convenience store like Alfamart, Circle K, or Indomaret that would usually be purchased online.

A good example of this is when I need to pay my electricity bill. Since I don’t have an Indonesian bank account, I cannot use their online portal. Instead, I take a picture of my router and bring it to the nearest Alfamart – There’s one on practically every street corner.

There I can give the cashier my serial code, and then pay my bill in cash. You can use this system to pay all types of bills, as well as shop for things online.

When I buy things on Tokopedia, which is Bali’s version of Amazon, it gives me a code to bring to the local convenience store. I have 24 hours to give the cashier this code and pay my bill in cash, or the sale doesn’t go through.

17. Do Hang On To Small Bills 

People really hang on to their small bills in Bali, and it’s hard to get change a lot of the time. A few times I’ve been at a restaurant that only accepts cash and they have looked at me like I was crazy for needing cash for a 100K Rupiah bill! ($7)When you do get small bills, hang onto them for situations where you need change. 

18. Do Know About The Mandatory 15-20% Service & VAT Charges

In most restaurants that cater to tourists, it will say “all prices subject to mandatory service and tax” at the bottom, so you don’t have to worry about tipping too much in Bali because it’s added for you. The tax is 10%, and the service charge is usually 5-10%. 

19. Don’t Be Afraid To Haggle

Bartering (respectfully) is a part of Balinese culture. If you’re buying a service, whether it’s a taxi ride or a tour, the price is usually up for negotiation. I wrote a whole article you can read here on how to haggle in Egypt and it holds up pretty well for Bali as well.

Bali Travel Tips: Transportation 

20. do download gojek or grab apps (bali’s versions of uber).

Grab is the premier ride-hailing app in Bali. It’s the easiest way to get around, and the app also includes other services like food and package delivery. I use Grab multiple times a day, I really couldn’t live without it in Bali! 

→ ABOUT TIPPING TAXI DRIVERS IN BALI

Tipping taxi drivers is not expected in Bali. That being said, Sometimes taxi and scooter rides are very inexpensive on Grab. Sometimes as low as 10K Indonesian Rupiah (around 50 cents) for a scooter taxi. I personally think, as someone who earns in dollars, that they should be getting compensated more for their effort, don’t you? If you get a very inexpensive Gojek please consider tipping a good amount, even 50-100%. The drivers will be very grateful!

21. Don’t Rely On Ride-Sharing Apps When Leaving City Centers 

It’s easy to hail a Gojek or Grab from the city center to a tourist destination a half hour away, but it’s not so easy to get one coming back! There usually aren’t any cars you can call off an app outside cities. If you want to visit a place more than 20 minutes from the city center of whatever town you’re in I recommend hiring a private driver instead of relying on Grab. 

22. Don’t Give In To The Bali Taxi Mafia 

The Taxi Mafia in Bali  is always a hot topic. Basically, a taxi mafia is when a bunch of taxi drivers get together, usually in popular tourist locations, and work together to push ride-sharing apps out so they can overcharge tourists. This is all fine, except for the fact that the Taxi Mafias usually resort to violence to meet their goals. I’m all for shopping local and supporting local economies but I don’t agree with giving in to taxi mafias. In Bali, you’ll see a lot of signs saying Gojek, Grab, and Bluebird, all popular taxi apps, are illegal. This isn’t true. Sometimes you’ll have to get picked up on a side street or outside of a tourist location if you’re using a ride-sharing app, otherwise, you risk getting harassed by the Taxi Mafia. 

Related Article: All About the Balinese Taxi Mafia

23. Don’t Get Stressed Out By Street Harassment 

Walking down any street in a town or city in Bali you’ll hear “taxi? taxi? taxi? come into my shop? just looking?” over and over. and over. and over again. It’s annoying! And honestly, tourist harassment is part of the reason I always use ride-sharing apps in Bali, because I don’t want to encourage it, but it’s just people trying to make a living. They don’t mean any harm and a quick “no thank you” usually does the trick.

24. Don’t Worry About The Honks – People Honk the Horn a Lot in Bali, But It’s Not Aggressive  

Honking a car or scooter horn means something different in Indonesia than it does in America. In New York, honking at someone can be considered a big “F-You!”, but in Bali, it just means ‘hey, watch out – I’m here”. A lot of the time drivers honk lightly when turning a corner so if anyone is driving in the opposite direction they will know another car is there. This is necessary because the streets are so narrow, so if you’re driving around tight corners remember to honk before turning!

Bali Travel Tips: Health & Safety

25. don’t drink the tap water.

You can’t drink the tap water in Bali – It’s not filtered. You can avoid Bali Belly by only drinking bottled water, or if you want to be more environmentally friendly you can invest in a  travel water purifier.  I have been using my GRAYL travel purifier for three years now, and it’s perfect for Bali. 

26. Don’t Forget Your Bug Spray – Mosquitos Carry Dengue Fever in Bali

There are mosquito-borne illnesses in Bali, particularly Dengue Fever makes its way through the tourist population a lot. To avoid Dengue, always keep your bug spray on you. You can buy a bug spray called “Soffel” in any convenience store in Bali for around $1 – It works great, just remember to wear it every day!

27. Do Know About the Recommended Travel Vaccines Before Travel to Bali

Even if you had all your routine vaccines as a child, you’ll likely need additional travel vaccines to go to Bali. On my first trip to Indonesia, I received a Typhoid vaccine, a Tdap booster, and a Hepatitis A vaccine. Recently I was playing with a puppy on the beach and wound up having to get a rabies vaccine in Bali as well! Check the CDC guidelines and at your local travel clinic if you need any additional travel vaccines! 

28. Don’t Approach Stray Animals Due to the Risk of Rabies in Bali

I know, they’re cute! But rabies is a very real problem in Indonesia and a lot of tourists have their trip cut short by being bitten by some animal or another. I recently had to seek rabies post-exposure treatment after playing with a puppy on a Bali beach, it’s not fun!

29. Don’t Be Afraid Of Dogs Barking & Following You On the Street

If you walk anywhere in Bali, especially at night, you’ll probably be charged by a dog (or 10). Every house has a dog and they’re just doing their job when they bark at passers-by. Once you leave their owner’s territory they’ll leave you alone, so it’s best to just ignore them. 

30. Don’t Mess With The Monkeys – They’re Known to Randomly Bite & Attack 

In Bali, there are these famous open-air animal sanctuaries called “Monkey Forests” where tourists can go and interact with the monkeys in their natural habitat. Monkeys have a tendency toward being capricious and aggressive, and there’s a specific way you’re supposed to act around them. Sometimes tourists come and they don’t know how to act around a monkey, and they wind up getting bit (which is where your travel insurance will come in handy!).

Related Article: How to Stay Safe at Bali’s Monkey Forests

31. Do Use Scooter Taxis Instead of Driving – Most of Bali Isn’t “Learner-Friendly”  

Most tourists come to Bali and think they need to rent and learn how to drive a scooter , but that’s not true! It’s much easier to just call a scooter taxi to get around. A scooter taxi is when a guy drives up on a scooter and you just hop on the back! It’s a lot safer than driving yourself because they’re professionals and know how to navigate the  crazy  Balinese traffic. You can call a scooter taxi from any major city in Bali through the Grab App.

Another bonus of taking a scooter taxi is that they’re incredibly cheap. If you only plan on going to one or two places per day, it’s probably more affordable to call a scooter taxi than to rent a scooter and drive yourself. 

32. Don’t Forget To Wear Your Helmet,  Always , When Riding A Scooter 

I see foreign tourists zipping around Bali on scooters in bikinis with no helmets and barely any clothes, it’s terrifying!!! These scooters aren’t toys, and you want to be as safe as possible especially if you’re a novice rider. It’s best to always wear a helmet, jacket, long pants, and close-toed shoes on a scooter. I don’t always wear full clothing while on a scooter, but I do always wear a helmet! 

If you call a scooter taxi from Grab or Gojek they’ll have a spare helmet for passengers, but sometimes you have to ask for it. 

33. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance! Healthcare in Bali is Expensive

Even if it’s not required for entry, I would always recommend signing up for travel insurance for a trip to Indonesia. So much can go wrong, and it’s important to be covered. Healthcare in Bali is also pretty expensive if you go to the foreigners clinics.

→ ABOUT THE TRAVEL INSURANCE I USE: SAFETY WING

I’ve been using Safety Wing Travel Health Insurance over the past three years of full-time traveling because it caters to full-time traveling digital nomads like myself, but you can also use it for vacations and short trips. 

It’s one of the cheapest travel health insurance out there. You can buy a 1-month package starting at $45 and it covers most countries, whereas other brands I looked at charged over $100 for a 1-week trip. It’s just good to have peace of mind while traveling without having to think too hard!

34. Don’t Drink Things With Ice If You’re Off-The-Beaten-Track 

The only time I’ve ever gotten sick while traveling was from ice in a drink, and since then I’ve been very cautious. Most places know to serve tourists only filtered water, but there’s less vigilant about ice for some reason. If you’re off the beaten track at a local warung it’s best to skip the ice. Indonesians can handle the water better than foreigners can because they’re used to it. 

35. Do Be Aware Of Earthquakes! 

I was sitting at a cafe in Ubud  while I wrote this post  and all of a sudden the ground started shaking. Since the cafe shares a building with a yoga studio, at first, I thought maybe there was an intense exercise class going on but then everyone started running outside. It was an earthquake! It only lasted 15-20 seconds and then everyone went back inside after a few minutes. Later we learned it was a magnitude 5.8 earthquake! The earthquake magnitude scale goes out of 10, so it was quite high – but not high enough to cause damage. Bali is a high-risk area for earthquakes, so just be aware while you’re visiting.

Bali Travel Tips: Housing

36. do stay in a traditional guest house at least once.

After staying in a variety of hotels, Airbnb, and homestays in Bali I was pleasantly surprised that my favorite place to stay in all of Indonesia was the traditional homestays. Usually family-run, Balinese traditional houses are located in compounds, which are homes to small communities or extended families. 

→ Benefits of Staying in a Traditional Guest House in Bali

💸 They’re cheaper 

🙋 The hosts (In my experience) are more attentive

🍳 Free homemade breakfast

👪 Supporting small businesses directly

🏠 Traditional Balinese architecture is  beautiful  

🐱 There are usually a ton of animals around 

For solo female travelers : I felt more safe located in a compound than in a stand-alone villa or apartment complex.

37. Don’t Stay In The Same Place For Your Whole Trip! 

Bali is a pretty tiny Island, you can drive the whole length of it in less than 5 hours, but all the different cities within it have a totally different vibe. 

✔️ What Different Areas of Bali are Known for

Related Article: 12 Best Areas of Bali & What They’re Known For

38. Don’t Be Afraid to Stay In Hostels If You’re Solo Traveling

Hostels are the best for making friends while solo traveling! If it’s your first time staying in a hostel, don’t be worried – the ones in Bali are world-class. Some hostels in Bali are even as nice (or nicer) than hotels. 

My favorite Hostels in Bali

• WW Backpackers in Ubud – Budget hostel with jungle views
• Kos One Hostel in Canggu – Luxury pool-club “Poshtel”
• Tribal Coworking in Canggu – Luxury CoWorkers Hostel

39. Do Treat Yourself To A Luxury Experience (Because It’s Cheaper to Do in Bali Than Anywhere Else)

Bali is world-renowned for its spas and luxury services. Even if you’re a budget traveler, having a luxury experience in Bali is something you shouldn’t miss out on! 

Some of the Best Luxury Experiences I’ve Had in Bali

• Michelin-starred meal at Mozaic in Ubud
• Luxury 3-day cruise of the Komodo Islands
• Luxury sauna at PARQ SPACE in Ubud
• Balinese massage at Putri Bali Spa in Ubud

Bali Travel Tips: Tourism 

40. do be a respectful visitor .

While it’s okay to be a tourist, it’s not okay to disrespect the local culture. The Balinese people welcome foreigners into their temples and ceremonies from the goodness of their hearts. Since I started staying in Indonesia, I’ve been invited to two weddings, a cremation, and even a circumcision ceremony!

→ TIPS FOR RESPECTING THE CULTURE IN BALI

• Cover up in temples:  For men AND women. That’s one thing I love about Balinese culture is that it’s not just the women who are expected to be modest and respectful in houses of worship. You’ll also see men be asked to tie sarongs around their waists if they show up in shorts. 
• Don’t make fun of the culture:  You’d think that goes without saying, but all the time you hear about tourists getting in trouble, and even  banned  from Indonesia, for mocking Balinese culture. 
• Don’t step on the offerings:  You’ll see these sacred offerings all over, usually on the floor. Just because they’re on the floor doesn’t mean you should step on them! It’s considered to be extremely disrespectful to step on the offerings. 

41. Don’t Get Too Disappointed By “Instagram vs Reality”

A lot of “Influencers” in Bali make their living by selling the dream. While Bali  is  an amazing place, there have been a handful of times when I arrived at a popular location just to be let down! The photos online of a location completely didn’t match the reality. While that can be disappointing, don’t let it get you down! For every overhyped spot in Bali, there are three more hidden gems. 

42. Do Show Up Early & Beat The Crowds 

Planning on going to some amazing place you saw on Instagram? Well, so is everyone else! If you want to visit a popular tourist spot in Bali make sure to go first thing in the morning – Otherwise, your time at the attraction might be ruined by crowds. 

43. Don’t Go During The Rainy Season (If You Can Help It)  

Bali doesn’t have Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall as North America does. Bali only has two seasons: the rainy season, and the dry season. The rainy season is between November and March, with the best (and dryest) time to visit Bali between May and September. The Rainy Season is the worst in January and February.

44. Do Venture Outside Of Bali To Other Indonesian Islands! Java, the Gilis, & the Komodo Islands +

Craving adventure? You can climb Kawah Ijen acid volcano  and visit giant waterfalls like Tumpak Sewu on Bali’s neighboring island of Java. Or, if you’re more into relaxing you can swim on the white sand beaches at the  Gili Islands  east of Bali. There’s so much to do in Indonesia! If you have a week or more I recommend exploring other islands as well as Bali. 

45. Don’t Forget – It’s Bagus!

Bagus (pronounced bag-goose) means “good” in Indonesian but it’s used in a much wider context – Bagus is cool, Bagus is peace, Bagus is fun.

How’s Bali lately? It’s Bagus 🤙.

Katie Caf, founder of Katie Caf Travel, is a seasoned travel expert who has explored over 30 countries and lived abroad in places like Egypt, Morocco, Mexico, India, Indonesia Thailand, Europe, and the USA. Her goal is to help other traveler see the world by providing first-hand accounts of what to expect on the road.

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• Travel Updates

Tragic update after Aussie tradie Shane Ramsey’s Bali crash

An Aussie family have shared a devastating update after a tradie was involved in a serious accident while in Seminyak for a wedding.

Sister of doomed teen speaks for first time

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A family is preparing to say goodbye to a man who suffered severe brain damage in a Balinese scooter crash after receiving news he will not wake up.

Shane Ramsey, from Perth, had been in Seminyak to be a groomsmen at a wedding when he crashed last Sunday.

The tradie underwent surgery locally after suffering injuries including fractured skull, bleeding on the brain, blood in his lungs, and severe brain damage.

Friends and family donated more than $125,000 to have Mr Ramsey, 30, flown back home on Thursday.

But doctors have since told his family he will not regain brain function, according to 7News .

Mother Catherine Ramsey told 7 she was “numb” at the prospect of turning off Mr Ramsey’s life support but took solace in knowing that he is an organ donor.

Family friend Amyleigh Mitchell, who started a GoFundMe to get Shane home , thanked those who helped get him home to loved ones.

“There are honestly no words to describe what a genuine, beautiful man Shane was and how loved he is by so many of his friends and family,” she said.

“We are grateful to Royal Perth Hospital for giving all his friends and family the chance to see our beloved friend.”

Mr Ramsey and friends were in Bali last weekend for the wedding when he crashed on the way to watch a mixed martial arts event.

The tradie had finished his apprenticeship only a few weeks ago and was excited about his fresh start, according to loved ones.

He did not have travel insurance, and the medical bills racked up in Bali have set the family back $53,000 for surgery alone.

“Every night in the hospital is an additional $9,000. The flight to bring him home is going to cost a minimum of $150 000,” Ms Mitchell wrote on the GoFundMe page.

Donations to the fundraiser so far have only covered some of the costs.

Last week, his mum Ms Ramsey told news.com.au her son has 24-hour care , costing about $9000 a day plus any extras like blood tests or scans.

“They removed part of his fractured skull to allow his brain to expand,” she told news.com.au.

More Coverage

Ms Ramsey broke down in tears when she revealed her son has severe brain trauma.

“They don’t know how bad it is at this stage – we have to wait for the swelling to go down, but the neurosurgeon said because of the amount of damage he’s done, he won’t make a 100 per cent recovery.

“The worst case scenario is he remains how he is, with the machines doing everything for him, or he wakes up but has no memory of anyone around him, with minimal mobility — we just don’t know what he’s going to wake up to.”

The sister of Hannah Lynch who died on a superyacht after it was struck by a mini-tornado has spoken out for the first time.

Horrific details have emerged about the final moments of those onboard a sinking superyacht in Italy.

A Indonesian adventure of a lifetime had turned into a nightmare for this teenage Aussie surfer.

Best & Worst Times to Visit Bali 2024 (First-Timer Guide)

The best times to visit Bali are May, June, September, and October during its dry season. During these months, there are fewer tourists, allowing you to relish the sunny beaches, clear skies, and pristine islands to the fullest.

With a tropical climate, Bali experiences a consistently warm climate throughout the year. Its daytime temperatures are around 30°C (86°F). There are mainly two seasons there: the dry season ((April to October) and the rainy season (November to March). see below some key facts on Bali weather/climate:

• Dry season : April to October
• Rainy season : November to March
• Hottest month : May
• High season : May to September

When Are the Best Months to Go to Bali?

Undoubtedly, the best time to visit Bali is April to October for a sun-soaked vacation. During this period, we've thoughtfully singled out the best months for popular activities and travel themes.

• For a romantic getaway in Bali : the best times to visit Bali are late April to mid-June and late August to early October for fewer peak season crowds.
• For family trips: the island's best weather time (April to October) lines up perfectly with kids' spring break and summer vacations. To avoid local holidaymakers, you're suggested to take your family trip in April, June, or August.
• For water fun : If you seek minimal rainfall and calm seas for water fun, you're suggested to travel to Bali between June and September.

Insider tips: As Bali experiences its peak season during these times, you're suggested to make your bookings at least 3 months in advance, particularly for hotels with great views or family rooms.

Feeling overwhelmed by planning logistics? Just share your interests and we'll customize a hassle-free Bali trip for you in 24 hours!

Check our itineraries of Bali for 10 days .

The Worst Time to Visit Bali

The rainy season (November to March) seems to be the worst time to visit , particularly the rainiest month, January. So for sun seekers with flexible schedules, avoid this period or go to sunbathing island destinations, like Thailand , Vietnam , and the Philippines.

Rainfalls are occurring every 2 or 3 days during these months. The sky may be overcast. It is very humid on the beaches.

However, if your travel date is fixed, traveling in the rainy season still brings benefits: the lowest costs along with the smallest crowds .

Tips to Make "Worst Time" a Better Experience

• Consider late March and early November : They are perfect for enjoying a balance of good weather, fewer crowds, and lower costs.
• Staying on the east coast : consider places like Nusa Dua and Uluwatu, is helpful to get drier experiences too.
• Indulge in indoor activities : such as yoga classes, cooking classes, and hands-on experiences in local workshops.
• Travel with a flexible private Bali tou r ( which we provide ): You can maximize the sunny intervals and easily adapt to short-lived afternoon downpours with minimal hassle.

Temperature and Rainfall in Bali

Click the sign of each month to check the travel guide information.

Bali in January: Wettest Month, The Most Affordable Month

• Average temperature range : 24°C to 33°C (75°F to 91°F)
• Weather : warm/hot, humid, stormy, averaging 27 rainy days, very high rainfall
• Recommended 2024 festival : Gulungan, Bali's most important Hindu festival celebrates ancestral spirits visiting in a great cultural event every 210 days.

January weather conditions may be the worst of the year, but Bali is still warm/hot, and the rain can even offer respite from the heat when it comes as afternoon downpours.

This is the month for finding the best deals on hotels and flights . You'll find uncrowded temples and plenty of space on the beaches. The exception is January 1st to 6th when there are New Year vacationers.

It is not the time for diving, snorkeling, etc. or island hopping, but if you are content to grab some rays when you can on the beach and bring waterproofs/umbrellas for any time in the jungle or on the rice terraces, you could make Bali in January an enjoyable and economical trip.

Bali in February: Wet, Low Prices

• Weather : some downpours, humid, averaging 22 rainy days, high rainfall

Though better than January, February is still an off-season month, featuring regular heavy rain, but low prices and low visitor numbers at top sights...

You could enjoy a peaceful holiday in this month , with some dry hours on the beach on most days , if you're prepared to take it easy, dodge the rain, and spend more time indoors.

Avoid diving and other ocean activities due to poor visibility underwater and strong currents . Rough seas mean ferry crossings aren't recommended. Visibility on Mount Batur is often poor and long hikes are not recommended.

Read more about How to Plan a Trip to Bali >>>

Bali in March: Great Deals and Feww Crowds

• Average temperature range : 24°C to 34°C (75°F to 93°F)
• Weather : some downpours, humid, averaging 20 rainy days, high rainfall

March is still a wet month in Bali, especially in the first half of the month. It starts to get a little warmer and the showers start to peter out at the end of March.

Enjoy low prices and longer gaps between rain . Diving's still out, and hiking's still not recommended. Taking (morning) opportunities to see the scenery and enjoy the beaches, reserving temple visits and other indoor activities for when the rain comes is advised.

Bali in April: Outdoor Adventures Firmly Back

• Average temperature range : 25°C to 34°C (77°F to 93°F)
• Weather : hottest month, but less humid, 9 rainy days, low rainfall

April is the hottest month in Bali . It is not unusual for temperatures to exceed 30°C (95°F) all day, and nights often stay in the high 20s Celsius (the 80s Fahrenheit)!

For beach lovers, hikers, divers… you are almost guaranteed some blue sky days and clear seas , but there will still be some rain on about 1 day in 3.

Bali is busy around Easter , but the rest of the month is a shoulder season time. Staying in a lovely beach resort with air-con in the April shoulder season offers a compromise between economy and the absolute best weather.

Get inspired in Private Bali Tours and make your booking at least three months in advance for affordable price.

Bali in May: Good for Island Hopping

• Weather : hot/warm, pleasant, averaging 8 rainy days, low rainfall

May offers good conditions for Bali's activities, from island hopping to jungle swinging, with minimal chance of disruption.

In May, the shoulder season continues. It's a little cooler and drier than April, so better weather with similar prices.

Bali in June: Fine Weather

• Average temperature range : 24°C to 31°C (75°F to 88°F)
• Weather : warm, clear skies/ocean, averaging 6 rainy days, low rainfall
• Recommended yearly festival : Bali Arts Festival (always mid-June–mid-July) in Denpasar offers a colorful journey into the world of Bali art.

June has lots of sunshine and balmy temperatures. It does not feel humid. This is an ideal month for all the island's outdoor activities .

June is the end of the shoulder season and the peak tourism season will arrive at the end of June. Be prepared for full hotels and full prices. Booking early is recommended.

Bali in July: Great Island Conditions

• Average temperature range : 23°C to 31°C (73°F to 88°F)
• Weather : warm, clear skies/waters, just 4 rainy days, low rainfall
• Recommended yearly festivals : Bali Arts Festival (always mid-June–mid-July) in Denpasar is a great opportunity to see local costumes, dances, and displays. Bali Kite Festival is also held through July at Sanur Beach, south Bali.

Enjoy great conditions for tropical relaxation and adventure. You could even plan to climb Mount Batur , Bali's iconic volcano with a lake, with only a slim chance of any significant rain. Sunrise treks with high visibility are a highlight of Bali's dry season .

Tourism comes to a peak in July and prices for accommodation reach their highest. It is best to book accommodation early (at least three months in advance) to avoid extra cost or hotels being fully booked.

Check how to plan a trip to Singapore and Bali >>>

Bali in August: Best Month Weatherwise

• Average temperature range : 23°C to 30°C (73°F to 86°F)
• Weather : warm, clear skies/waters, just 4 rainy days, very low rainfall
• Recommended festival : Indonesian Independence Day on August 17 has parades and other outdoor festivities.

August is the peak month for traveling to Bali. Virtually no rain means travel plans can be made with certainty and the best of snorkeling etc. conditions can be enjoyed.

Get your rooms and tours booked early, whether you're looking for a romantic getaway, a tropical family vacation, or a well-earned treat to boost your wellness for the rest of the year.

Read more about Bali Honeymoon Trip Plan: Sample Itinerary, Romantic Experiences >>>

Bali in September: More Balmy Weather

• Weather : warm, clear skies/waters, 8 rainy days, low rainfall

Tourism starts to drop off a bit after August, and September is considered a shoulder month (mainly as it's the back-to-school month for many nations).

Though there is a little more rain, it's still not significant. If you can visit in September, it should be good conditions for less money.

Bali in October: End of the Dry Season

• Weather : heat/humidity builds, showers more often, ~12 rainy days, low rainfall

Bali experiences increasing rainfall towards the end of October, making it another month where deals can be had, as hotels try to fill rooms as demand drops.

In general, October is good value for money. It is your last chance to enjoy diving in Bali before the rainy season sets in and the ocean clouds up.

Bali in November: Off Season Starts

• Weather : hot/humid, a few downpours, averaging 16 rainy days, moderate rainfall

The sea in Bali is noticeably rougher during November, which is not good for water activities , though rainfall doesn't reach high amounts yet, so you might still get a day's hiking in carrying waterproofs.

November is definitely in the off season, but there are still plenty of things that you can do.

Bali in December: Rainy Season in Full Swing

• Weather : hot/warm, some downpours, averaging 22 rainy days, high rainfall

Although the wet season means some things like diving and mountain hikes are off the cards, you could still dodge the rain for sunny spells on the beach and yoga in the jungle. Enjoy delicious Balinese food indoors and its cultural attractions while you wait for the rain to stop.

Further north in SE Asia, the weather is much better. See The Best Times to Visit Southeast Asia .

Though low season, some tourists still come to Bali, particularly in late December as there are Christmas and southern hemisphere summer holidays, bringing up prices a little.

Plan Your Bali Vacation with Us

Discover Bali through our unique tours, with award-winning guides and with 1:1 help from a dedicated Bali expert every step of the way.

Tell us your interests and needs , and we will create a wonderful trip for you. We are ready to show you the authentic and blissful highlights of Bali, whatever time you visit.

Here are some itineraries you might like to start from:

• 7-Day Private Bali Natural & Cultural Immersion
• 12-Day Romantic Bali & Java Honeymoon
• 13-Day Private Singapore and Bali Journey of Discovery

Get Inspired with Some Popular Itineraries

At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey — your dates, your destinations, at your pace. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel.

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Ultimate 10 Day Bali Itinerary With Kids: The Best Family Trip To Bali

When it comes to bucket list vacations, a family trip to Bali in Indonesia ranks high on that list. The island’s culture and landscapes continually capture the imaginations of travelers. It’s not uncommon for a 10 day Bali itinerary with family to include a mix of beach play, temple visits, cultural activities and relaxation time. There are just so many things to do in Bali!

I’ve been visiting Bali ever since I was a young girl. And the island’s culture and the beauty has always fascinated me. In 2019, we spent two fulfilling months living in Bali, and the experience really allowed me to dive deeper into the culture of Bali.

I know not everyone is able to spend an extended amount of time in Bali, like we did. But it’s still possible to have similar cultural experiences as ours. For those of you who can only spare 10 days in Bali, rather than two and a half months like me, I’ve put together a family-friendly itinerary for Bali that’s packed with beaches, nature, and culture for your next family trip to Bali.

This post was originally published on January 22, 2020.

This post may contain affiliate links. That means I may receive a small commission if you click on the link and purchase something. But don't worry, this will not result in any extra costs to you.

Table of Contents

Family trip to Bali highlights

If your time in Bali is limited, and you just want to quick list of things to do in Bali, here are my top five recommended activities for a family trip to Bali.

• Take a Tanah Lot tour near Kuta
• Learn how to make offerings in Ubud
• Take a guided tour of Ubud and its surroundings
• Go snorkeling in Amed
• Snorkel at the Blue Lagoon in Padang Bai

Where to stay during a family trip to Bali

When it comes to lodging, the options for families range from simple homestays to fancy extravagant villas. We’ve stayed in a $35 a night modest home in Ubud. And we've also pampered ourselves at a $600 a night gorgeous villa in southern Bali, complete with an infinity pool, private chef, and private tennis court.

Popular places in Bali for tourists include Kuta (tourists especially love the Hard Rock Hotel Bali), Canggu, Sanur, Seminyak, and Nusa Dua. Inland, travelers like to stay in Ubud. However, if you want to go off the beaten path, consider Padang Bai and Amed, on the eastern side of the island, as well as Gianyar and Tabanan.

If you’re looking for family friendly lodging options for your 10 days in Bali, booking platforms like Agoda and Booking are helpful. You’ll be able to find some nice family resorts with kids club options, if that’s the type of accommodation you prefer. Airbnb is also a great resource, particularly for families, as you’ll likely get more space for your dollars. 

Lonely Planet’s Bali, Lombok, and West Nusatenggara travel guide can also be a helpful resource to give you ideas of where to stay in Bali.

If you still can’t find a place to stay for your 10 day Bali itinerary, take a look at these family hotels to book for your family trip to Bali. They’re all places we’ve stayed at and would personally recommend.

Ready for a change? Take the first step to living a life of full time travel.

Legian Beach Hotel (Kuta)

If you’re in the mood to pamper yourself during your family trip to Bali, book a night at Legian Beach Hotel in Kuta. I’ve been visiting this hotel since I was a kid, and it truly feels like a piece of paradise. Our most recent stay was in 2015, and it was so fun to see my kids play in the same pool I used to swim in when I was a kid!

Located on the beach, Legian Beach Hotel has beautifully decorated bungalows in a garden setting. The hotel has an outdoor pool, and also offers a breakfast buffet. Rooms come with air conditioning, safe, WiFi, TV, and mini fridge. There is also a spa and three restaurants onsite. 

Legian Beach Hotel is about a 20 minute walk from the main area of Kuta. But if you’re coming to Bali for a retreat rather than being in the middle of the action, this is the place to book.

Masainn Hotel (Kuta)

For a more central option in Kuta (and more affordable too!) book a night at Masainn Kuta Hotel. We stayed at this hotel in the heart of Kuta for the first time during our family trip to Bali in 2012. It was the first time my kids visited Southeast Asia!

Masainn Hotel offers rooms that can accommodate families of 4. Rooms come with air conditioning, WiFi, TV, and mini bar. There are 2 outdoor swimming pools onsite, and breakfast is included with the room rate. 

What we loved about Masainn Hotel is that it’s so close to so many things in Kuta, including one of my favorite restaurants, Poppies Restaurant .

Sarin Ubud Suites (Ubud)

If you’re planning to stay in Ubud during your family trip to Bali and want to be close to the Monkey Forest, book a night at Sarin Ubud Suites by Pramana Villas. We stayed there in 2019 and loved how close it was to restaurants and attractions in Ubud. Plus, there were monkeys that would come visit!

Sarin Ubud Suites offers rooms with WiFi, air conditioning, and electric kettles for tea. There is an outdoor pool and massage services are available if you’re in the mood for relaxing. You can also rent bikes. Breakfast is available for a fee.

Suparsa’s Homestay (Ubud)

In 2019, we also stayed at another place in Ubud called Suparsa’s Homestay. We loved this family owned homestay, located just north of Jalan Ubud Raya. Since it’s outside of the main part of Ubud, the streets felt a little calmer. It was the perfect spot to relax and recharge after a long day of sightseeing during our family trip to Bali.

Suparsa’s Homestay offers rooms with air conditioning and WiFi. All the rooms face in towards the central pool. Breakfast is available for a fee, but they will serve it to you right at your room. Suparsa’s Homestay can help arrange tours of Ubud for you, as well as airport transfer. Because the homestay is part of a Balinese family compound, it feels almost like you’re staying in someone’s home. We loved that personal touch!

Villa Adi (Amed)

In the village of Amed, Villa Adi is a perfect oasis for spending a family trip to Bali. We visited Villa Adi when we came to Amed for a month-long worldschooling meet up in 2019. While we didn’t stay at Villa Adi (although some of our friends did!), we spent time at Villa Adi every day to take part in the meet up activities, and we loved how serene the grounds felt. 

Villa Adi has villas that can accommodate families of 4-6 people. Some of them have their own private pool. They all come with a kitchen and dining area, as well as air conditioning and WiFi. There is an outdoor pool and restaurant onsite (with free parking), as well as a convenience store. Villa Adi also has massage services, babysitting services, and airport transfer services available for guests.

Bloo Lagoon Village (Padang Bai)

A unique and relaxing place to stay in Padang Bai is Bloo Lagoon Eco Village . This family-friendly Bali eco stay offers families a tranquil setting amidst gorgeous views of the surrounding ocean and lagoon. We stayed at Bloo Lagoon in 2019 and loved the peaceful atmosphere of the place.

Villas at Bloo Lagoon Village can accommodate families of up to 6 people. Being an eco resort, there is no air conditioning in the villas. However, the villas are designed open air style to take advantage of the ocean breezes for cooling. The villas are equipped with a full kitchen and dining, WiFi, and mosquito nets (you’ll need them since it’s an open air design). 

Free amenities at Bloo Lagoon include an outdoor pool with a slide, daily yoga, art gallery, garden, and shuttle to and from central Padang Bai. There’s also a restaurant and spa on site.

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Booking activities for your 10 day Bali itinerary

Planning all your activities for exploring Bali in 10 days may seem overwhelming. For general Indonesia and Bali travel, I recommend finding tour companies that focus on immersive experiences.

Take a look at these Bali tours offered through Viator:

Full-Day in Bali: Private Design-Your-Own Tour

Bali Full-Day Water Temples and UNESCO Rice Terraces Tour

Bali Full-Day Traditional Village Sightseeing Trip All Inclusive

For Ubud, specifically, I recommend Bali Adventours , a locally owned travel company that offers a variety of tours around Bali, including a tour through a Bali night market and a visit to Tukad Cepung waterfall.

You can also wait until you arrive in Bali before booking your activities. We found our cooking class, painting class, dance class, and Balinese gamelan music class just from walking along the street and keeping our eyes open for signs advertising activities.

Check out the other posts I have on my blog about Bali .

The ultimate family-friendly 10 day Bali itinerary

It’s impossible to really immerse yourself in Balinese culture when you only have a short time. But you can definitely get a good introduction! When I was putting together this 10 day Bali itinerary, I really wanted to showcase the parts of Bali that we fell in love with while we were there.

This itinerary in Bali is ideal for families with kids ranging from 4-12 years old. But families with older kids or younger kids can adjust this itinerary of Bali to their preferences as well. 

Even if you don’t have kids, this itinerary can still be useful. If you’re a couple, incorporate some of these ideas into your 10 day Bali itinerary for couples. Or if you’re a solo traveler, book these activities as a chance to meet other travelers.

Get ready for your trip to Indonesia with my FREE 25 Essential Indonesian Words and Phrases !

Day 1: Kick off your 10 day Bali itinerary at the beach in Kuta

Start your Bali visit with a stay in Kuta. It’s arguably one of the most touristy destinations of Bali. But it’s also one of the closest destinations to Ngurah Rai International Airport. Depending on what time you arrive, you can spend your time at the beach.

Kuta Beach is often frequented by hawkers selling trinkets or massages. You don’t have to feel obligated to buy. Just a simple, “tidak, terima kasih” will be sufficient. The beach is generally safe, but avoid bringing valuables in case they get stolen.

While in Kuta, you can visit nearby Tanah Lot to the north. It’s a Hindu temple on the western coast of Bali in the middle of the sea. The temple is accessible at low tide.

Alternatively, you can end the first day of your 10 day Bali itinerary with an evening at Uluwatu Temple in southern Bali. Each night, the temple has a performance of the famous kecak fire dance. This is a dance where men dance and chant in a percussive and rhythmic style.

Day 2: Spend a day at Waterbom

The next day, treat your kids to a visit to a water park! Waterbom is Bali’s most famous water park, and is a perfect way to kick off your 10 day Bali itinerary with some fun. There are over 12 slides, and they are all clean and well-maintained.

Admission to Waterbom is quite pricey, at Rp. 580,000 (roughly $36.50 USD) for adults, and Rp. 430,000 (roughly $27 USD) for kids. So you’ll want to allot a full day to make the most of your ticket. Local residents receive a discounted rate if they show their KTP (Indonesian ID card).

You will need to pay extra for food and drinks. The money is loaded on a wristband that you use to pay throughout the park, and can be topped up at any time. The park is open from 9 am to 6 pm.

Day 3: Drive to Ubud

After starting your 10 days in Bali on the coast, head inland by spending a few days in Ubud. The drive from Kuta to Ubud only takes about an hour and a half. So you can drive into the city in the morning and spend the rest of the day doing activities in Ubud with kids .

One activity I recommend during your 10 day Bali itinerary is to visit the Saraswati Temple. This temple is located on Jalan Ubud Raya near Ubud Palace. My family and I call it the “Starbucks temple” because there’s a Starbucks located right next to it! Saraswati Temple is framed by two ponds with lotus plants, and is a beautiful spot for a picture.

Afterward, walk along Jalan Kajeng, right in front of the Starbucks, and head to the Juwuk Manis rice fields. There is a loop trail that leads to traditional rice fields, as well as a cafe called Sweet Orange Cafe. This is a great spot to enjoy dinner, among the rice paddies! The Juwuk Manis trail loops back towards Jalan Ubud Raya and drops you off a couple hundred meters west of Saraswati Temple.

Day 4: Have a village experience during your family trip to Bali

No visit to Bali would be complete without a village tour! As I mentioned before, it’s impossible to fully experience the culture of Bali in 10 days. But you can certainly get a glimpse by doing a village tour.

During our time in Bali, we visited a place called Taman Anyar , run by a Balinese family who opens their home to travelers. We learned about life in a traditional Balinese home, complete with making offerings, plowing a rice field, and cooking traditional Balinese food. We really enjoyed our immersive Bali cultural experience , and we think other travelers will enjoy it too.

Besides Taman Anyar, there are other similar cultural experiences you can do during a family trip to Bali. Take some time during your 10 day Bali itinerary to learn about spiritual ceremonies, family temples, farm life, and local native wildlife.

Learn how to incorporate worldschooling into your travels here.

Day 5: Explore Ubud

On day five of your 10 day Bali itinerary, spend time exploring the city of Ubud. In the early morning, take a stroll through Ubud market to see the local produce vendors. Around 8 am, they're replaced by artisan vendors.

Alternatively, go for an early morning hike along the Campuhan Ridge Walk. This is a paved walkway that goes along hills and fields. Then take a visit to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary , where you’ll see Balinese long-tailed macaques. Tickets for the Ubud monkey forest are Rp. 80,000 (roughly $5 USD) for adults and Rp. 60,000 (roughly $4 USD) for kids. Weekend tickets cost Rp. 100,000 (roughly $7) for adults and Rp. 80,000 for kids.

In the afternoon, take a class at Pondok Pekak library and learning center. This community center offers classes in Balinese painting, gamelan music, wood carving, offering making, and cooking costing around Rp. 300,000 (roughly $21 USD) per person.

End your day with a traditional Balinese dance and gamelan music performance at Ubud Royal Palace. Tickets are Rp. 100,000 (roughly $7 USD) per person, starting at 7:30 pm. This is a must for your Bali itinerary 10 days experience! 

Make the most of your time in Ubud with one of these Ubud tours:

• Nature, Temple, Rice Terrace, Waterfall and Coffee Tour
• Private Sight-seeing Tour and Waterfall
• Nature, Culture, Heritage and Temples

Day 6: Drive to Amed

After spending a few days in Ubud, continue your 10 days in Bali northeast. In the early morning, stop at the Tegalalang Rice Terraces. These famous rice fields are about 30 minutes north of Ubud. The beautiful Tegalalang Rice Terraces are a UNESCO World Heritage site. And they are a must-see for your ultimate Bali bucket list. Bring about Rp. 20,000-50,000 ($1.40-3.50 USD) for donation to the rice farmers.

Afterward, continue your 10 day Bali itinerary north to Danau Batur, a lake at the base of Mount Batur. There are nice Bali hot springs in the area. We like Toya Devasya , which offers 7 hot springs pools, restaurants, and a gorgeous lake view.

Alternatively, visit Ulun Danu Beratan temple , a picturesque Hindu temple located in the middle of a lake. Entrance costs Rp. 75,000 (roughly $4.50 USD) for adults and Rp. 50,000 (roughly $3 USD) for children.

In the late afternoon, continue on to the beach town of Amed. This small village has a much more relaxed pace than the western beach towns of Kuta, Canggu, and even Seminyak. From Toya Devasya, the drive is about an hour and a half.

Day 7: Experience Amed snorkeling

A stay in Amed is a great way to incorporate some snorkeling in Bali into your 10 day Bali itinerary. There are several places to snorkel around the coasts of Amed. The spots we visited were the Japanese shipwreck and Lipah Beach.

The Japanese shipwreck is on the eastern side of the village. You can access the shipwreck from the shore through the Kawi Karma Beach Cottages and Restaurants. However, you will need to pay a small fee. The fee includes one drink and use of the bathrooms.

Lipah Beach, located on the western side of the village, has free access to the beach in front of Di Lipah Warung. After a day of snorkeling, you can have dinner at any of the beachside restaurants.

If you are interested in a guided snorkeling tour, Wandernesia offers a tour through the waters around Amed.

Day 8: Drive to Padang Bai

The next day, continue your journey south east. Start your morning with a visit to Pura Lempuyang (also known as Lempuyang Temple). This is a Balinese Hindu temple with the famous Gates of Heaven, located about an hour’s drive from Amed.

Entrance is a simple donation of Rp. 50,000 for a family of four. If you don't want to wait hours to take a picture with the iconic temple gates, arrive at 6 am, right at sunrise.

After visiting Lempuyang Temple, head to nearby Taman Tirta Gangga, a water palace with beautiful fountains and pools for swimming. Entrance to Tirta Gangga costs Rp. 30,000 (roughly $2.10 USD) per person. The swimming pool costs an additional Rp. 10,000 (roughly $.70 USD) per person.

In the afternoon, drive to Padang Bai, about an hour and a half away from Tirta Gangga. Padang Bai is a port town on the eastern coast of Bali. It’s often used as a gateway to neighboring Lombok island, or the nearby Gili Islands (Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air).

A unique and relaxing place to stay in Padang Bai is Bloo Lagoon Eco Village. This family-friendly Bali eco stay offers families a tranquil setting amidst gorgeous views of the surrounding ocean and lagoon.

Learn more about how to travel sustainably with your kids.

Day 9: Snorkel at Blue Lagoon

Building in snorkeling time into your 10 day Bali itinerary is an absolute must. One of Padang Bali’s main attractions is the Blue Lagoon, a popular snorkeling spot in the area.

You can snorkel from the shore at Blue Lagoon, but the waves can be quite rough. It may not be ideal if you have young kids.

Alternatively, you can visit Blue Lagoon as part of a boat tour, which are offered by Rukmana Bali Tour. The tour will drop you off further into the water, beyond the breaks. You’ll have a better chance of seeing coral than if you were coming in from the shore.

Day 10: End your 10 day Bali itinerary back in Denpasar

Depending on your return flight’s departure time, you can either stay at Padang Bai in the morning or head immediately back to Denpasar. Padang Bai is about an hour and a half’s drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport.

On the way into Denpasar from Padang Bai, you’ll pass by Pura Goa Lawah (the Bat Cave Temple) and Candidasa (a beach resort town). You can make a quick stop in either of these places during your 10 day Bali itinerary if you have some time to spare.

Learn more about the amazing family travel resources we use for worldschooling!

Alternative options for your 10 day Bali itinerary

The 10 day Bali itinerary above isn’t the only itinerary you can do for your visit to Bali. Besides Kuta, there are other beach destinations to visit during your 10 days itinerary Bali experience. Travelers like Potato Head Beach Club in Seminyak or Padang Padang Beach south of Kuta.

Or you can include a hike in your Bali itineraries (such as a Mount Batur sunrise hike, a hike along Karang Boma Cliffs, or a hike through Jatiluwih rice terraces) before ending with your sunset Kecak Fire Dance performance at Uluwatu Temple.

If you aren’t in the mood to brave the rowdy tourist crowds during your multi-day Bali holiday with family, you can skip Kuta altogether and drive directly to Ubud. You can use the extra time in north Bali in Amed or in east Bali at Padang Bai.

Alternatively, you can use the extra day to take a trip out to the Nusa Islands (such as Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan), the Gili Islands, and Lombok. We spent three weeks in Lombok. And we had fun checking out all the fun things to do in Lombok with kids .

Supplementing your 10 day Bali itinerary

If you have a little more time to spend in Indonesia, consider visiting another island such as Flores, Java, or Sumatra as a supplement to your 10 day itinerary Bali trip. 

The island of Flores is a jumping off point for exploring Komodo National Park. Families can take either a one day or multi day Komodo tour . The island of Java is home to the historic city of Yogyakarta , a great place to learn about the non-Balinese side of Indonesian culture.

And for nature lovers, the island of Sumatra offers wonderful national parks where you can take an orangutan tour and see these impressive creatures in the wild.

Book one of these tours to explore the other islands of Indonesia

• Lombok: Sasak Cultural Tour
• Komodo: 1 Day Komodo Trip by Fast Boat
• Java: Small-Group Walking and Food Tour in Yogyakarta
• Sumatra: Half-Day Orangutan Trek from Bukit Lawang

Take a look at all the other destinations to explore in Indonesia here.

Logistics for visiting Bali in 10 days

Before diving into my 10 day Bali itinerary, there are a few logistics to sort out. In particular, consider lodging, transport, and activities. When you’re building your 10 days in Bali budget, make sure to take all of these logistics into account.

Take a look at how much it cost us to spend a month in Indonesia to get ideas for how much a Bali itinerary for 10 days will cost your family. Also consider where you will need travel insurance during your multi-day Bali trip.

Although Bali is a small island, it’s not always easy to get around. And the many options for a hotel, villa, or resort in Bali can get overwhelming for someone who’s never visited the island. Take a read through my tips before starting to plan your 10 days Bali itinerary.

Get prepared for any emergency with the insurance made for digital nomads!

Chartering transport around Bali

When it comes to transport, there are several options for families to get around Bali. Companies like Perama offer shuttle buses between cities and villages. But the majority of travelers to Bali still use private drivers.

Most accommodations will offer airport transfer from Ngurah Rai International Airport in the city of Denpasar. If your hotel, resort, or accommodation doesn’t offer transport, you can book an official airport taxi.

Once you get to your first destination, ask around for driver contacts to take you elsewhere around the island. The cost of a car and driver ranges from Rp. 350,000-550,000 (roughly $25-$40 USD), depending on the distance and the driver. So make sure to take that into account as part of your 10 days in Bali cost. Sometimes drivers can also double as your Bali travel guide.

Driving yourself during your 10 day Bali itinerary

Alternatively, you can choose to rent a car while you’re in Bali. While we have not personally done this, several friends of ours have rented cars during their stay in Bali. This option is particularly helpful for larger families, or for those planning to stay longer than 10 days in Bali.

Car rentals range from Rp. 350,000-500,000 (roughly $25-35 USD) per day. Besides being able to maneuver a car through the narrow streets of Bali, the biggest concern for car rental is finding parking. This is particularly true in cities like Ubud. 

Within the cities, you can also try doing a scooter rental in Bali . This is a great way to have a more local experience during your 10 days in Bali itinerary. But you'll need to be comfortable with driving a scooter.

Making your 10 day Bali itinerary memorable for your family

However you choose to spend your 10 days in Bali, take advantage of all that Bali and Indonesia has to offer. Indonesia is a fascinating country. And the island of Bali offers travelers a great mix of culture and nature to enjoy.

Have you visited Bali before? Share your suggestions for what to include in a 10 day Bali itinerary in the comments below!

Prep for your trip to Bali and Indonesia with these posts:

11 Essential Bali Facts You Didn’t Know

6 Useful Things To Know About Traveling With Kids In Indonesia

And if you’re planning to visit Bali as part of an around the world family adventure, use my ebook, Hey Kids, Let’s Go Travel! as your guide for planning your family gap year.

Need help thinking through how to budget for a family trip? My  Travel Budget Worksheet  is just the tool you need! Click  here  to receive your free copy by signing up for my newsletter.

Want to connect with me on social media? Find me on Facebook , Instagram , Pinterest , and Twitter. And for those of you who are dedicated to traveling more responsibly, sustainably, and ethically, join over 450 like-minded families on my Facebook group, Responsible Family Travel .

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Mass. Lottery’s fourth round of Martha’s Vineyard trip winners revealed

• Published: Aug. 22, 2024, 1:42 p.m.

Mass. State Lottery's "Jaws" scratch ticket, launched on March 26. Photo by Irene Rotondo Irene Rotondo

• Irene Rotondo | [email protected]

Six more people won all-inclusive Martha’s Vineyard trips for next summer from “Jaws” lottery tickets, the Massachusetts State Lottery announced Wednesday.

The “Jaws” scratch ticket game, which costs $10 per ticket to play, was released on March 26. It has bth regular instant prizes and prizes that can be won from Second Chance drawings. There are two $1 million prizes remaining to be claimed as of Aug. 22.

The Martha’s Vineyard winners were randomly picked from a pool of non-winning “Jaws” scratch tickets , which had been entered into the fourth round of the five total Second Chance drawings .

The names of the lottery players who won Martha’s Vineyard trips during the fourth Second Chance drawing are as follows:

• Kelsy Behrendt of Bellingham
• Jonathan Brunson of Springfield
• Stanton Collier of Holyoke
• Francesco Larosa of Salem,
• Patrick Morrison of Ludlow
• Frank Nunes of Randolph

In addition, 170 people won $500 prizes during the drawing, and 500 people won $100 prizes. Their names and hometowns are listed on the Massachusetts Lottery “Jaws” drawings page .

There is just one more Second Chance drawing left to pick the final six of the 30 total trip winners. The drawing date will be determined as tickets are sold.

The full Martha’s Vineyard trip package includes a 3-night stay for two on the island at the  Harbor View Hotel  in Edgartown, $1,000 in spending cash and a private “Jaws” movie screening.

Winners also receive a “Jaws”-branded welcome gift and themed island tour, complete with a custom-guided bus across the island. Daily breakfast, a welcome toast and dinner, hotel entertainment and black car service for island transportation and to and from the port and ferry are all included.

Finally, all winners will participate in a “Jaws” game show for the chance to win up to $1 million. All players will win one of the 30 prizes, which includes the $1 million grand prize, one $10,000 prize, four $5,000 prizes, two $2,000, 10 $1,000 and 12 $500.

There were over just eight million “Jaws” scratch tickets released. Each has the chance to win up to $1 million — and if players scratch off to reveal a “shark fin,” they win $100 instantly.

Six of the tickets have $1 million prizes, 112 will have $10,000 prizes and 3,360 will have $1,000 prizes to claim. There are also boat, scuba mask and life-saving buoy symbols in the game; the ticket has a shiny, water-like finish with red text.

Massachusetts State Lottery

• Jackpot winner: Mass. State Lottery player buys $2.64 million Megabucks ticket
• Mass. State Lottery winner: $650,000 prize won off $5 scratch ticket
• Mass. State Lottery winner: $100,000 prize won at coffee shop
• Mass. State Lottery winner: $100,000 ticket sold at Cape Cod shop

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Bali gives a snapshot of what ‘overtourism’ looks like in the developing world

PhD Candidate in Sustainable Travel, Bournemouth University

Disclosure statement

Rama Permana receives funding from the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education Agency (LPDP). He is a chartered member and coordinator of the Tourism and Hospitality Cluster at Doctoral Epistemic of Indonesian in the United Kingdom (Doctrine UK).

Bournemouth University provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

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Barcelona residents marched against tourists in July after similar protests in Venice earlier in 2024. Recently, residents of Santorini in Greece were in uproar after a Facebook post reportedly asked them to stay home and make room for the thousands of tourists expected to arrive during the peak holiday season.

These are symptoms of overtourism : a situation where visits exceed a destination’s capacity, making residents angry and tourists miserable. Local governments have proposed tourism levies or entry fees to make visits more expensive and thereby limit how many people show up. Some tourism researchers have encouraged people to holiday in rural areas or poorer countries instead, to give a boost to their economies.

However, overtourism exists in the developing world too. Here’s what it looks like.

Travel on a tourist-swamped island

Bali is a major tourist destination in the Indonesian archipelago that accounts for nearly half of international arrivals in the country . Air travel is the most reliable way to get there, although a big source of carbon emissions , which inflame a climate crisis that is expected to disproportionately harm poorer countries like Indonesia . Roughly 15 million visitors arrived in 2023 – close to their level in 2019, before the pandemic.

Bali’s tourism-dependent economy ( providing 61% of regional GDP in 2019 ) was more or less frozen by COVID-19. Yet, for tourists who spent lockdown in cities, the pandemic also left Bali, and particularly the island’s rural parts , with a renewed lustre. Penglipuran, a traditional Balinese village in the central highlands, was attracting thousands of visitors every day in July .

Encouraging people to visit poorer areas can disadvantage residents, but in a different way to how people in Venice or Barcelona experience it. After all, roads and public transport in richer European cities are better maintained.

The steady rise in tourists mean the roads in Bali get busier every year . There is a roughly one-to-one ratio of vehicles to people on the island , while public transport use remains low . Congestion prevented travellers entering and leaving Bali’s airport for six hours ahead of New Year’s Eve 2023.

In rural Bali, the hilly terrain, tropical weather and poorer public transport mean residents must rely on cars and motorbikes. The resulting noise and pollution degrades the rural experience. Converting these vehicles to run on electricity would not solve the problem entirely if most power in Bali remains fossil-sourced . Nor would it cut road congestion.

Tourists want to visit lots of places in rural Bali with a reliable source of transport. The limited options have prompted many to rent cars or motorbikes, but weak traffic enforcement has allowed misbehaviour : tourists driving without shirts or helmets – or even licenses. The regional government temporarily banned motorbike rentals for foreigners in March 2023.

Despite chaotic traffic on the island, residents have found work transporting tourists informally for decades . That’s why efforts to ease congestion and travel chaos, by designing public transport for tour groups or free shuttle bus services, have met with local protests and the ire of vehicle rental businesses.

To travel or not to travel

Unbridled development squanders the mutual benefits that tourism can have for residents and visitors. Likewise, neither residents nor tourists should be prohibited from travelling, but should instead travel responsibly.

A railway transport plan that promises to connect Bali’s airport with Seminyak and Nusa Dua, the most popular areas in urban Bali, could help ease road traffic around the city centre. Local vehicle rental businesses could continue to operate in rural areas, but restrict their riders to less busy roads.

Poor destinations should be cautious about depending on tourism in the long term. The Balinese government is exploring its options in other sectors at least, such as agriculture and the digital economy .

Poorer destinations such as Bali are less well equipped than richer countries to manage the socioeconomic and environmental costs of overtourism. And ultimately, a swollen tourism sector contains the seeds of its own demise: declining environmental quality, unhappy residents and eventually, fewer tourists.

Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like? Get our award-winning weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 35,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

• Overtourism
• Give me perspective

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Casual Facilitator: GERRIC Student Programs - Arts, Design and Architecture

Batik Air reduces Canberra-to-Bali flights due to slow demand, leaving travel plans derailed

By Lily Nothling

By Charlotte Gore

Topic: Air Transport Industry

The first Batik Air flight departed Canberra for Bali on June 14. ( ABC News: Monte Bovill )

Just two months after its inaugural flight landed, Batik Air has reduced the number of direct flights from Canberra to Denpasar in Bali to two a week.

The airline has walked back on its commitment to provide three services a week between the cities, citing slower-than-hoped demand.

What's next?

The Batik Air website shows no flights available between Canberra and Bali between August 25 and September 13.

Travellers have been left scrambling after a decision by Batik Air to reduce the number of direct flights from Bali to Canberra, just two months after its inaugural service.

The first flight from the Indonesian province landed at Canberra Airport in June at an event attended by dignitaries, including the Indonesian Ambassador.

But the airline has already walked back on its commitment to provide three services a week between the cities.

The Canberra Airport said slower-than-hoped demand meant the carrier would now provide two flights a week.

'We thought it was a scam'

Canberra nurses Jo Tren-Platt (left) and Ellie Honeybone had their flight to Bali with Batik Air, which was six months in the making, cancelled. ( ABC News: Lily Nothling )

The cancellations have been a major source of frustration for Canberra nurse Jo Tren-Platt, whose Bali trip with three friends has been a year in the making.

The group was due to depart Canberra on September 1, but Batik Air recently advised the service had been suspended and the women were shifted onto a flight leaving seven days earlier.

"Initially we thought it was a scam, because it came through WhatsApp, but then when we went investigating, it was true," Ms Tren-Platt said.

"Everyone in our travel party is a nurse, so you just can't change your leave with a week's notice."

Ms Tren-Platt said the group was given the option to fly out of Sydney but would have to cover the extra transport and accommodation costs.

Canberra nurses Jo Tren-Platt (left) and Ellie Honeybone opted to re-book their flight to Bali with another airline. ( ABC News: Lily Nothling )

Instead, the women chose to re-book with another airline, flying via Sydney, at three times the price of their original flight.

"We just felt it was just too big of a risk to trust [Batik Air] again," Ms Tren-Platt said.

"[The experience] added stress to a holiday that was already all planned and set in stone.

"We've had to pay for extra flights at a significantly higher price, which is disappointing when you've been saving for a holiday."

Route slow to take off

The Batik Air website shows no flights available between Canberra and Bali between August 25 and September 13. ( ABC News: Lily Nothling )

Canberra Airport's head of aviation Michael Thomson said it was disappointing people's travel plans had been disrupted.

He said demand from passengers had not come on as quickly as Batik Air had hoped.

"When you start a new route, it usually takes between six and nine months to get established," he said.

Mr Thomson said the airline had not flagged any further service reductions.

Canberra Airport head of aviation Michael Thomson says its analysis suggests the Batik Air route is "very sustainable". ( ABC News: Nick Haggarty )

"We would imagine that as the route gets established, as we move into the holiday period, numbers on those flights will continue to increase," Mr Thomson said.

"When that happens, they may actually start thinking about putting the additional service back on.

"Our analysis suggests that the route is very sustainable, and it's really a question of Canberrans getting behind it, supporting it, and becoming more and more aware that this service exists, and starting to book their holidays."

Batik Air's inaugural flight into Canberra also saw teething problems, with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigating after it came in "below minimum altitude".

How viable are international flights to Australia's capital?

CQUniversity aviation expert Doug Drury says running international flights out of Canberra is challenging because it's a relatively small market. ( ABC News: Monte Bovill )

Batik Air is only the second international carrier currently servicing the ACT, after Fiji Airways began operating flights between Canberra and Nadi last year.

CQUniversity aviation expert Professor Doug Drury said running international flights out of Canberra was always going to be a challenge.

"It's economies of scale – it's a relatively smaller market," he said.

"Airlines don't like to fly half-full flights or have empty seats, because an empty seat represents no money being made.

"[Canberra] is a tough market because it's more of a government centre than it is a tourist destination."

Mr Thomson disputed that.

"You take Canberra's population and include surrounds, we're at about a million people," he said.

"It's a wealthy population base, and it's a population that likes to travel overseas.

"We believe that Canberra has a great appetite for international travel, and we've certainly seen that as the Fiji services continue to grow from reasonably slow beginnings to a very, very strong service now."

Mr Thomson said the airport was "constantly in discussions with airlines" to secure routes to other international destinations, including Singapore and New Zealand.

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August 20, 2024

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Bali gives a snapshot of what 'overtourism' looks like in the developing world

by Rama Permana, The Conversation

Barcelona residents marched against tourists in July after similar protests in Venice earlier in 2024. Recently, residents of Santorini in Greece were in uproar after a Facebook post reportedly asked them to stay home and make room for the thousands of tourists expected to arrive during the peak holiday season.

These are symptoms of overtourism : a situation where visits exceed a destination's capacity, making residents angry and tourists miserable. Local governments have proposed tourism levies or entry fees to make visits more expensive and thereby limit how many people show up. Some tourism researchers have encouraged people to holiday in rural areas or poorer countries instead, to give a boost to their economies.

However, overtourism exists in the developing world too. Here's what it looks like.

Travel on a tourist-swamped island

Bali is a major tourist destination in the Indonesian archipelago that accounts for nearly half of international arrivals in the country . Air travel is the most reliable way to get there, although a big source of carbon emissions , which inflame a climate crisis that is expected to disproportionately harm poorer countries like Indonesia . Roughly 15 million visitors arrived in 2023 — close to their level in 2019, before the pandemic.

Bali's tourism-dependent economy ( providing 61% of regional GDP in 2019 ) was more or less frozen by COVID-19. Yet, for tourists who spent lockdown in cities, the pandemic also left Bali, and particularly the island's rural parts , with a renewed luster. Penglipuran, a traditional Balinese village in the central highlands, was attracting thousands of visitors every day in July .

Encouraging people to visit poorer areas can disadvantage residents, but in a different way to how people in Venice or Barcelona experience it. After all, roads and public transport in richer European cities are better maintained.

The steady rise in tourists mean the roads in Bali get busier every year . There is a roughly one-to-one ratio of vehicles to people on the island , while public transport use remains low . Congestion prevented travelers entering and leaving Bali's airport for six hours ahead of New Year's Eve 2023.

In rural Bali, the hilly terrain, tropical weather and poorer public transport mean residents must rely on cars and motorbikes. The resulting noise and pollution degrades the rural experience. Converting these vehicles to run on electricity would not solve the problem entirely if most power in Bali remains fossil-sourced . Nor would it cut road congestion.

Tourists want to visit lots of places in rural Bali with a reliable source of transport. The limited options have prompted many to rent cars or motorbikes, but weak traffic enforcement has allowed misbehavior : tourists driving without shirts or helmets —or even licenses. The regional government temporarily banned motorbike rentals for foreigners in March 2023.

Despite chaotic traffic on the island, residents have found work transporting tourists informally for decades . That's why efforts to ease congestion and travel chaos, by designing public transport for tour groups or free shuttle bus services, have met with local protests and the ire of vehicle rental businesses.

To travel or not to travel

Unbridled development squanders the mutual benefits that tourism can have for residents and visitors. Likewise, neither residents nor tourists should be prohibited from traveling, but should instead travel responsibly.

A railway transport plan that promises to connect Bali's airport with Seminyak and Nusa Dua, the most popular areas in urban Bali, could help ease road traffic around the city center. Local vehicle rental businesses could continue to operate in rural areas, but restrict their riders to less busy roads.

Poor destinations should be cautious about depending on tourism in the long term. The Balinese government is exploring its options in other sectors at least, such as agriculture and the digital economy .

Poorer destinations such as Bali are less well equipped than richer countries to manage the socioeconomic and environmental costs of overtourism. And ultimately, a swollen tourism sector contains the seeds of its own demise: declining environmental quality, unhappy residents and eventually, fewer tourists .

Provided by The Conversation

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