Sowhen is the ideal time to visit or backpack Bali? Bali is really close to the equator, which means temperatures are fairly consistent throughout the year and it's pretty much always warm. The heat in Bali is rarely unbearable, though - the average temperature is between 26°C (79°F) and 28°C (82°F) year-round.
With books like Eat, Pray, Love’ , which talk about the spirituality and beauty of this Indonesian province, Bali is becoming more and more known as a tourist destination. Explore Bali in one day, or spend weeks on motorbikes driving through the mountains and off to the neighboring islands. With beautiful forests, tiered rice fields, picturesque beaches and wonderfully happy people, Bali should definitely be on your must-see list. GUEST POST BY OLIVIA BOURKEBLOG Great Lost What’s the best time to visit Bali? The best time to visit is between April and June because room prices will be cut by up to 50%, and the climate is dry and less humid. The worst time to visit is during July, August and any holiday period. Avoid the holiday season as the weather is monsoonal. November has also recently become a high season, with Australian teenagers spending their schoolies here. If you are looking to party, this time is great, though if you want a more relaxing holiday avoid November. Rice terraces, Bali, Author xiquinhosilva, Source Flickr a Few facts about Bali The Balinese are primarily Hindu, but are a part of a nation which is mainly Muslim. The most expensive coffee in the world, Kopi Luwak comes from Bali. Children have very similar names, as Wayan, Made, Nyoman and Ketut all translate to first born, second born and so on. Hindu temple in Ubud, Bali, Author xiquinhosilva, Source Flickr One Day in Bali itinerary Kuta + Surrounds Follow this guide and make the most of your trip even if you’re short on time. These are the top sights and things to do during your one day in Bali. Breakfast Breakfast is a feast at the Shelter, in the backstreets of Seminyak. Gorge on acai bowls, poached eggs and the best coffee in Indonesia. Although this little place definitely caters to the health conscious traveller, there are a few menu options if you are looking for something little more naughty. Grab any one of their delicious burgers, or amp up your breakfast with crispy bacon and hashbrowns. Seminyak Staying in Seminyak means being awoken by crashing waves, idyllic beaches and delicious food. Seminyak is awfully close to Kuta without being in it – this means you can enjoy the benefits of tourism in the area but avoid the overcrowding. Seminyak is a great place for families and travellers. Stay at a cheap but beautiful villa, or camp on the beach – this little town is for everyone. If you have time in the evening. pop into one of the many clubs and sip on all of the fruity cocktails Bali has to offer. Seminyak, Bali, Author Remon Rijper Ubud Ubud is a great mid day activity, hidden among the mountains. This little treasure is home to numerous Hindu temples, monkey temples, cheap massages and beautiful markets. Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Bali, Author McKay Savage, Source Flickr Head to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, a natural habitat of Balinese long tailed monkeys. Bring some bananas and make sure to keep them close to you – the monkeys know how to steal things! Feed a few monkeys and explore this deep green temple in all its glory. The monkeys do fight over food and could be carrying diseases, so be careful when feeding them! Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Bali, Author Source Flickr If you’re into buying some souvenirs, venture out into the Ubud Traditional Art Market and check out some local pieces produced in the neighboring villages. Ubud is known for its ceramics, wooden sculptures and colourful materials. When bartering, generally cut any number in half. But remember that you could be arguing over a dollar. Traditional wooden sculptures, Bali, Author Walter Lim, Source Flickr Woman selling flower petals at Ubud Market, Bali, Author David Stanley, Source Flickr Wander around the local spas and drop in for a quick massage. It shouldn’t ever cost more than ten dollars. If you’re looking for another cheap and tasty place to eat, either head to one of the local cafes folk, or ask a local to direct you to their restaurant. Try to eat local food in the mountains, as you have a lower chance of getting sick. Uluwatu If you arrive at Uluwatu well before sunset, head down to the beach for a swim and relax in the white sand under the sun. Only experienced surfers should attempt paddling out into Uluwatu’s waves. This is due to the fact that waves on this beach crash into jagged rocks, as well the best waves barrel above a reef. If you are looking to learn to surf, try Seminyak which doesn’t have this problem. Uluwatu, Bali, Author Jumilla, Source Flickr Uluwatu surfing, Bali, Author Source Flickr Head up to Single Fin for sunset. This is a great spot, but be aware that it fills up very quickly, so arrive early if you want a seat. Grab a marg, listen to some cruisy coastal tunes and watch the sky melt into a yellow mess. This is a great way to finish your day, and the pizzas are to die for! Sunset in Uluwatu, Bali, Author Marmontel, Source Flickr WHERE TO STAY IN BALI The Stones – Legian Bali, Marriott’s Autograph Collection Hotel Jl. Raya Pantai Kuta, Banjar Legian Kelod, Legian Bali To add a splash of luxury and opulence to your Bali trip, book a room at The Stones – Legian Bali, Marriott’s Autograph Collection Hotel. This hotel is located on Legian Beach and has a huge pool, so you can choose where you want to take a dip. It also features a gym, a spa and its own Kids Club. Beautiful bathrooms in each room come with toiletries you needn’t pay for, and huge windows provide a great view, no matter where you are. BOOK A ROOM HERE Yan’s House Hotel Jalan Kartika Plaza, 80361 Kuta If you want some great value for your money, choose Yan’s House Hotel! This very neat little hotel is located almost right next to the main square in Kuta, has an outdoor pool and can even arrange a shuttle for you to pick you up at the airport. The rooms are nice and cozy, plus you’ll be very close to Kuta Art Market. BOOK A ROOM HERE Lokal Bali Hostel Jalan Kediri, No. 93, Tuban, Tuban, 80361 Kuta Staying in a hostel on Bali doesn’t mean you have to give up on experiencing the atmosphere of this magical place. Lokal Bali Hostel is the best example of that! It has an outdoor pool and all rooms come with a TV and air conditioning. Furthermore, the whole place is beautifully designed, so staying here will indeed be a treat. BOOK A ROOM HERE Sulis Beach Hotel & Spa Jalan Wana Segara, 80361 Kuta Sulis Beach Hotel & Spa is located right next to the beach and has a rooftop pool, so you can enjoy a beautiful view when chilling out there. The area is very popular among surfers, so if you want to give that activity a go, this is where you need to book. Apart from the spa centre, babysitting and hairdressing services are also available. BOOK A ROOM HERE Extra Tips for Visiting Bali – Choose to either hire scooters and explore Bali at your own pace, or source other transport. You can hire a driver for about $30US a day, or you can catch taxis in between locations. Make sure to only get in metered taxis -at night time and in peak areas, taxis may charge extra fees. Just like purchasing goods, you can barter with taxi drivers, but agree on a price before you hop in the car, otherwise you forfeit bargaining rights. – With the abundance of tourists flocking to Bali every year. it can be hard to find a quiet spot to catch up on some reading. If you’re looking for this kind of break, jump on the first boat to the Gilli Islands and soak up some sun on one of the more peaceful islands in Indonesia. 7 Best Value Hotels to Relax in Bali Pin for later! If you have any other propositions for this One Day in Bali Itinerary feel free to share it in the comments below! What to pack for your next trip? Make your next trip as simple and as enjoyable as possible by packing smart. It’s amazing how much stress top travel items can save you, so choose like lightweight travel backpacks, for example, are ideal for short trips and allow you to move around with ease, and a passport holder will make sure you keep your documents safe at all our travel checklist guide for 2021 to make sure you haven’t missed anything, and travel to your next destination in style and with maximum posts Olivia Bourke Olivia is a young adventurer. Having been to Indonesia twice in the last five years she is well versed in the madness of Bali. Olivia is currently planning her next overseas adventure to Hawaii, as she is in need of some sunshine and R & R.
Themost popular way to get to Uluwatu is to rent a scooter for the day from your accommodation in South Bali. This would cost around 30K - 40K IDR per day. It is also possible to order a scooter taxi through the go-jek app all the way to Uluwatu for around 70K IDR. However, this is not ideal if you want to see several places as they often
Yana visited Bali in 2008 and her experience was far from amazing. She spent most of her time in Kuta and Uluwatu and didn’t love the beaches or the drunken party scene. Fast forward 10 years later, and our experience was completely different. We absolutely loved Bali and found that it had far more to offer than a lively party scene on Kuta Beach. The longer we stayed in Bali, the more we loved it. But if you’re just visiting, one week in Bali is enough time to explore stunning temples, waterfalls, picture-perfect rice fields, and white sand beaches. Bali has been a popular tourist destination for decades and it has only become more popular. There is a perfect mix for both budget travelers as well as high-end luxury tourism. The culture is wonderful with beautiful sites, the people are friendly, and the food is really good and inexpensive. We think you can stay in Bali forever, but one week is enough time to see the main highlights. Check out our recommended itinerary to help you plan your trip! Content and photographs provided by Yana Kogan and Timon. Disclaimer This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you. When to Visit Bali The best time to visit is during the dry season between April to October. The wet season in Bali is between November and March, but the rain usually only lasts for a couple of hours. Sadly during that time, the beaches see a huge influx of trash due to currents. Crowds are much lower during the rainy season except during the Christmas and New Year celebrations. How to Get Around Bali Kelingking Beach at Nusa Penida, a short ferry from Bali Hiring a driver or renting a scooter are the two main sources of transportation in Bali. We recommend hiring a driver for the longer journeys between destinations and for sightseeing. It is a good idea to download the Grab app for direct journeys and to and from the airport. If you have experience riding a scooter or motorcycle, you can rent one to get around locally. Traffic conditions in Bali are a challenge for novice riders, so keep that in mind as you venture out in Bali. Map of Bali with stopping points and places to sleep Day 1 Visit Monkey Forest Sanctuary and Explore Ubud Market Monkey Forest, Ubud Explore Arrive in Bali and hire a taxi or Grab a car to Ubud. The drive is about one and a half hours from the airport. First head to the Monkey Forest Sanctuary. The entry cost is 80,000 IDR $ USD. You can spend an hour walking around the jungle sanctuary with hundreds of monkeys hanging about. Bananas are for sale for 20,000 IDR $ USD, and the cheeky monkeys will jump on your shoulder or head to get the treat. Thousands of monkeys call the Monkey Temple home While it gets crowded, the complex is huge, allowing for great pictures! Head over to downtown Ubud and check out the shops and the Ubud Traditional Art Market. If you’re interested in yoga, many of the yoga studios offer free community classes. Paid classes cost between 100,000 – 130,000 IDR $ – $9 USD. For sunset, enjoy a stroll on the scenic Campuhan Ridge Walk. Eat If looking for some healthy comfort food, then you need to check out Kafe Bali! For local food check out Warung Pondok Madu. Budget Stay Desak Putu Putra Hidden is an adorable little hotel with a lush garden and an amazing pool. You can enjoy breakfast in the garden every morning. Rooms are super affordable and have everything you need for a great stay! Mid-Range Stay Blue Karma Dijiwa Ubud is a lovely resort that is pretty reasonably priced considering how lavish it is! It’s also the perfect place to capture Instagram photos of your Bali vacation. Day 2 Visit Rice Fields and Temples in North Bali Jutiluwih Rice Terraces Explore Today is about exploring central and north Bali. If you don’t want to be on a scooter all day, hire a driver. There are four stops Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, the Handara Gates, and the Nungnung Waterfall. The first stop is the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces. The entry cost is 40,000 IDR $3 USD to this UNESCO World Heritage site. The rice fields are incredibly scenic with beautiful volcanoes in the backdrop. An hour north is Lake Beratan and the Ulun Danu Beratan Temple. This picturesque temple seemingly floats on the lake and can get very crowded. The entry cost is 50,000 IDR per person $ USD. Pura Ulun Danu Beratan on Lake Beratan The Handara Gates Just a few minutes past the temple is the Handara Golf & Resort. At the entrance of the resort is the famous Handara Gates, a popular Instagram location. Snap a few photos you may have to queue up as it’s quite popular and then continue on back to Ubud. On the way back take a short detour to the Nungnung Waterfall. The entrance fee is 3,000 IDR $ USD. It’s a short hike with 500 steps to the waterfall, but entirely worth it! Enjoy a quick swim then head back to Ubud. Eat Eat some beef rendang or stewed jackfruit at Waroeng Bernadette. So yummy!!! Budget Stay Desak Putu Putra Hidden is an adorable little hotel with a lush garden and an amazing pool. You can enjoy breakfast in the garden every morning. Rooms are super affordable and have everything you need for a great stay! Mid-Range Stay Blue Karma Dijiwa Ubud is a lovely resort that is pretty reasonably priced considering how lavish it is! It’s also the perfect place to capture Instagram photos of your Bali vacation. Day 3 Waterfall Adventures Tukad Cepung Waterfall Explore Hire a driver to the coastal city of Sanur with a few stops at waterfalls along the way. First head over to Tibumana Waterfall, roughly 30 minutes east of Ubud. Entry is 10,000 IDR $ USD. After a swim, drive 10 minutes down the river to Kanto Lampo waterfall, our favorite in Bali. It requires you to wade through the river waist-deep, but it is an awesome adventure! The popular Tegenungan waterfall Kanto Lampo waterfall Another 30 minutes away is the virgin cave waterfall Tukad Cepung. It is a 15-minute walk through the caves to this stunning waterfall. Entry is 10,000 IDR $ USD. And if you have time, squeeze in Tegenungan Falls, even though this is the busiest waterfall. The entry cost is 15,000 IDR $ USD. From there, drive to Sanur and walk around the main street of Danau Tamblingan. Enjoy a cheap massage from one of the many spas in town and watch the sunset from Sanur Beach with Mount Agung in the distance. To get to this side or standing on the waterfall at Kanto Lampo, wade through waist-deep water. Tibumana waterfall, 10 minutes from Kanto Lampo Eat The classic Mie Goreng at Warung Little Bird. Budget Stay Keke Homestay has simple double rooms for around $25 USD per night. Mid-Range Stay The Puri Hiromi Boutique Residence is a great value for the price and is just minutes from the beach! Day 4 Day Tour and Visit the Temple of Lempuyang Luhur The temple of Lempuyang Luhur in Bali, Indonesia Explore Start the day early and hire a driver as it’s a 2-hour drive to the Temple of Lempuyang Luhur. The entry cost to the temple is donation-based, but 10,000 IDR $ USD is reasonable. The famous Instagram temple gates are just a 5-minute walk from the entrance and the views of Mount Agung in the backdrop are stunning. There are seven temples on this massive complex. The first three temples can easily be explored. The remaining temples require hiking up a mountain which includes 1,720 steps. Hiking to the top will take – 2 hours. Lempuyang Luhur temple 1 with Mount Agung in the background Tirta Gangga water temple Following the temple, have a quick stop at the nearby Tirta Gangga Water Palace and take the scenic route back to Sanur. Eat If you want to test your stomach, check out the Sanur Night Market for some street food vendors. If not, just around the corner is one of our favorite restaurants in Bali and super cheap!. It is called Bali Jepun Warung at 14 Pungutan road – their noodles are amazing! Budget Stay Keke Homestay has simple double rooms for around $25 USD per night. Mid-Range Stay The Puri Hiromi Boutique Residence is a great value for the price and is just minutes from the beach! Day 5 Nusa Penida Day Trip Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida Explore Today will be another long day to Nusa Penida island. Boats depart from Sanur Beach and it’s possible to go independently or with a tour. Going independently is easy, but it will require a test of your motorbike skills. The roads on Penida are pretty treacherous. If you’re confident in driving a scooter, it will be a fun adventure. For those not so confident, it is better to join a day tour that includes a driver. With time on your side, spending a couple of nights in Nusa Penida is a great option. It is possible to also go to Nusa Lembongan, which will allow for more time to explore the island and stay at these beautiful places for sunset! Going Independently You can book a ferry directly to Nusa Penida from Sanur Beach. Upon arrival, rent a scooter and consider going in the reverse direction of the day tours to see fewer crowds. First head to Kelingking Beach – the roads are pretty good and it should take one and a half hours. Instead of adding a third stop at Crystal Bay, hike down to the beach for a couple of hours. Although the path looks gnarley, is fairly safe and the beach at the bottom is definitely worth it. View from the edge of the Broken Beach Waves crashing into the side of Angel’s Billabong After Kelingking, head to Broken Beach. This is one of the worst roads on the island, so be ready for an adventure. Explore Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong in the afternoon when all the tours have left usually by 2 pm. After soaking in the views and going for a swim, head back to the wharf 1 hour 15-minute drive for the return ferry. top down view of Angel’s BillabongAerial view of Angel’s Billabong Angel’s Billabong Joining a Tour Tours leave Sanur around 9 am. They come fully inclusive of boat transfers, a car, a driver in Penida, entrance fees, and lunch. This is the best option if you have reduced mobility or are worried about driving a scooter on horrible roads. While the distances are not far, it takes over an hour between each stop on the tour. Tours typically go to Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong for the first stop. After enjoying a swim in the natural pool and incredible views, the tour continues to Kelingking Beach. The last stop is snorkeling at Crystal Bay. Book in advance Prices for tours and direct ferries tend to rise closer to departure times. Day 6 Explore the Uluwatu Cliffs and Temple Uluwatu Temple Explore Today is about relaxing. After a few days of some serious sightseeing, it is time to head to the beach. It is a one-hour drive to the beach town of Padang Padang, one of the best beaches in Uluwatu. It’s possible to visit one of Bali’s abandoned airplanes on the way down. After checking in to a hotel, head to the beach to chill for the day. Entry to the beach is 10,000 IDR per person $ USD. If you really want to relax, stay for the day and watch the sunset from the beach. And if you want to venture off and see something, the Uluwatu Temple is a 10-minute drive. It is a beautiful temple perched on the side of a cliff. The entry cost to the temple is 30,000 IDR $ USD. Uluwatu Cliffs Eat Just next to the homestay is Bukit Cafe or check out some other incredible restaurants in the area. Budget Stay Devata Giri Homestay is located near several restaurants and just a couple of minutes from Padang Padang Beach. Double rooms are a great value! Mid-Range Stay The Room Padang-Padang has a super friendly staff and a pristine pool. You’ll love the comfy beds, modern bathrooms, and reasonable price. Day 7 Find the Best Beach in Uluwatu Aerial view of Dreamland Beach Explore Today is another beach day! Motorbike over to Dreamland Beach and parking costs 5,000 IDR. The beach has a warung on-site as well as beach umbrellas to rent 100,000 IDR for the day, $ USD. A few minutes past the umbrellas you can have the beach almost entirely to yourself. After getting your tan on, the only other activity for the day is to watch the sunset. Head to the Uluwatu Cliffs, known in Balinese as Tebing Karang Boma. The impressive cliff has unobstructed views of the sunset and the Uluwatu Temple can be seen in the distance. Eat If you are enjoying the local Indonesian food, then check out Warung Heboh Padang Padang. It is one of our favorite Indonesian restaurants in Bali. It can be a little confusing on the pricing because it is self-serve. Each dish has a cost per scoop. Budget Stay Devata Giri Homestay is located near several restaurants and just a couple of minutes from Padang Padang Beach. Double rooms are a great value! Mid-Range Stay The Room Padang-Padang has a super friendly staff and a pristine pool. You’ll love the comfy beds, modern bathrooms, and reasonable price. The less crowded side of Dreamland Beach Sunset at Padang Padang Beach Day 8 Hire a taxi or take Grab back to the airport for around 150K IDR $11 USD. Broken Beach, Nusa Penida That’s it! Hope you enjoy our Perfect Bali Itinerary! Let us know in the comments! Planning a trip to Indonesia? Check out our favorite books and travel guides! SHARE THIS ON PINTEREST
Answer1 of 7: Hello, at the end of July I planned a full one-day (from 1am to 2am next day) stopover in Denpasar airport and I would like to see the most I can of Bali. Is it possible to move around easily with public transportation? In the negative case, do
Bali, the island of the Gods, is one of my favorite places in the world for so many different reasons. The perfect combination of incredible scenery, vibrant culture, beautiful rice terraces, and delicious cuisine makes it hold a special place in my heart. I’ve visited Bali three times now and have even lived in Bali for a few months during COVID times read about why I love living in Bali. Bali has quickly become one of the top digital nomad hotspots with areas like Canggu and Berawa offering the perfect blend of island beauty and working is in my opinion the ultimate Instagram island. I don’t just say that because of its natural beauty, but because of how beautiful the Balinese people have made some places. If you want to take nice pictures of nature or of yourself, Bali is the one stop shop for you. Just look at this photo in Nusa Penida for example!Bali is an enormous island to the point that I wouldn’t even consider it an island anymore. There is an insane amount of things to do and see that I can’t begin to summarize everything in one post. Whether you’re visiting Bali for a honeymoon, a standard two week vacation, or planning to stay for longer, this post will help you plan your perfect long to spend in Bali?There is no perfect amount of time to spend in Bali because I literally have lived here for a half year. Bali kind of sucks you in with its low cost of living, high quality of services and goods, natural beauty, and just the perfect you’re planning to stay for a long time and work as a digital nomad, this post will be great for inspiration but you probably don’t need to meticulously plan a if you’re planning a vacation to the island of the Gods, then you should plan to stay at least one week. Two weeks would of course be the optimal amount of time to spend in Bali and with three weeks, you can really relax and see more of the nearby islands. I know most people take one to three week vacations around the world so I will help you plan accordingly with this itinerary!Staying in beautiful hotels in UbudBali is a huge island first and foremost. It is almost 6,000 square km being 160km wide and 120km long. It is double the size of Luxembourg and larger than the US state of Delaware. Not only is it large, but there are so many different highlights and amazing things to see in this island that you can’t hope to see it all with such short time. There are some things more worth seeing than others in my opinion and hopefully this guide will help you choose those Time of year to visit BaliBali is located just south of the equator and enjoys warm tropical weather year round. There are only two seasons Dry season between April and November, and rainy season between December and rainy seasons in Bali are not as bad or as extreme as other parts of Indonesia. I think the island being sandwiched between Java and Lombok provide some sort of shelter from the storms. Bali is also not as humid as other tropical destinations I’ve been which makes it much more enjoyable. Rainy season normally means isolated storms throughout the day with hot temperatures. It rarely just rains for days on end but it can visited during rainy and dry seasons and there are advantages to both. Dry season sees much less rain, beautiful sunsets but with bigger crowds. June to September, and December for the holidays are very busy months for the island. During the rainy season months of January to March, the crowds are less meaning you can enjoy some of Bali’s most popular sights with more I went in BaliI lived in Bali for a few months so I was able to explore most of the touristy areas of the island as well as nearby islands. If you only have a few weeks to visit Bali, I’d recommend focusing on a few different areas that I will go over later in this think if I were to plan a 2-3 week itinerary, it would look something like the followingHow to get around in Bali?Bali is an island for scooters. There is no public transportation to speak of and everyone uses scooters. Renting a car in Bali is of course possible but a traffic nightmare especially during touristy roads in Bali are very small and is certainly not big enough for how busy Bali has become. You’ll want the ability to park and maneuver freely around traffic which only comes with having a scooter. If you have never driven a scooter before, I’d recommend practicing beforehand as it can get a bit you are not keen to rent a scooter, then you can simply use Gojek which is the Uber of Indonesia to get from place to place. The prices are very cheap. For example, a Gojek from the airport to Canggu is about 100k IDR $ if you want to spend a little more, then you should definitely consider a private driver in Bali for the day. A private driver will be able to take you to all the sights you want and stay in the car while you go explore. When you return, you know you’ll be comfortable in an AC’d car while it drives you to the next place!Is it safe to drive a scooter in Bali?As I’ve mentioned before, Bali runs on scooters. Everyone uses them, locals and foreigners alike. It’s by far the best way to get around the island. Bali traffic is known to be horrendous which I can attest to. People can be slightly aggressive while driving so you really need to be comfortable with your own a scooter itself is not difficult in my opinion but you must be okay dealing with the traffic and the driving style of Bali. I don’t think it is overly crazy but it just depends on yourself. I actually drove a scooter for the first time in Bali. I didn’t find it to be too overwhelming and survived to tell the 1-4 CangguUpon landing in Bali, the first stop to visit is Canggu. Canggu is the bustling expat and digital nomad area that is vibrant and full of life. This isn’t the place for your typical Bali experience aka rice fields and beaches. However, Canggu is the perfect place to situate yourself for a few days while getting used to the Bali is the ultimate place for restaurants, cafes, and beach bars. Canggu has an insane amount of amazing cafes serving delicious coffees and brunch style foods with an unmatched ambiance. If you are into taking photos of restaurants and your food, there is no place that will match the opportunities you get in fact, I would say that Canggu has more beautiful and Instagram ready cafes per square kilometer than anywhere else in the world. Popular places like Suka, Milk and Madu, Crate, Copenhagen, Nook, Avocado Factory and literally countless more will keep you occupied for months. Canggu’s cafes are also entirely remote work / digital nomad friendly which I write about in my best cafes to work from in Canggu might read this and scoff a bit. I did the same thing. But after spending a few months hanging out in Canggu, I didn’t want to leave. For the quality and for the price of what you get, you can’t find this in many other parts of the is home to some of the best restaurants in Bali so make sure to read through my list to plan your trip!Have a drink on Echo BeachEcho Beach is where all the people hang out for a drink while watching the sunset. This long strip of black sand beach is filled with chilled beach bars and restaurants alike where you can enjoy the you want something with a bit more atmosphere, visit the famous La Brisa beach club for the full experience. Otherwise, simply walk next door to La Brisa and grab a bean bag at any of the surfer bars where beers are a casual 30k IDR and coconuts are 20k a half day trip to Tanah LotIf you’re staying in the Canggu/Pererenan area, a visit to the famous Tanah Lot temple is a must. The Tanah Lot is one of the most visited temples in Bali. It’s located right on the water situated perfectly up rocky steps overlooking the ocean. Tanah Lot means land on the sea which perfectly sums up this not as impressive as other temples in Bali like the Lempuyang temple in the far east but it is easily accessible and its location on the water is unique. Tanah Lot is a 20 minute scooter ride from Canggu and is open 7 days a week. I recommend coming here for the sunset as the views of the sun setting over the temple from one of the many littel restaurants is 4-8 Ubud and the rice terracesAfter you’ve had your cafe and beach life in Canggu, it’s time to make a move to Ubud. Ubud is world famous for its incredible rice fields, yoga retreats, and spiritual environment. Although it’s long been popular, it was probably made even more popular by the movie Eat, Pray Love. Ubud is one of the highlights for most travelers to Ubud and it’s not something you should Rice FieldsYou’ve surely seen plenty of photos throughout the years with Bali’s famous rice terraces. There are so many in Bali but the most popular and most easily accessible is Tegalalang rice terrace outside of can reach these iconic multi level rice terraces by Gojek or scooter from Ubud. There are many restaurants and cafes overlooking the terraces as it has become quite commercialized in recent years. It is free to walk inside the rice terraces and take photos to your desire. There are also a bunch of Bali swings famous for their photogenic rice terraces are not just for show however. They are actually there to produce rice and you’ll find many farmers working the fields. Don’t be disrespectful and get in their way just to take a bunch of on the time of year you visit, the rice terraces will be more green. At the beginning of the season, you’ll mostly just find soil and water in the terraces which don’t photograph as Rice FieldsIf you think Tegalalang rice fields are nice, you’ve seen nothing yet. If you want the most beautiful rice fields in all of Bali, you’ll need to go to Jatiluwih. The rice fields here are expansive and vast, with sweeping views throughout the valley. Mount Batur and Agung can also be seen from the rice realy not a close comparison between the rice fields around Ubud and Jatiluwih; Jatiluwih is just vastly more beautiful. From Ubud, you’ll need to take a scooter roughly 1 hour which is about the same time as it takes from Canggu. You can do this as a day trip from Canggu or from Ubud, it is up to you!Just look at the beautiful photos!Karsa Spa for the ultimate massageBali and Thailand alike is famous for its spas and massages. I actually prefer the traditional Balinese massage to the Thai style messages. There is no better place in Bali to get a quintessential massage than at Karsa just north of Ubud, this spa is located on the rice fields and has some of the most beautiful grounds for a spa I’ve seen. As soon as you enter, you feel relaxed and at ease with the surroundings. The massage rooms are all outdoor with very inviting baths, showers, and massage beds. The massages themselves are among the best I’ve had in COVID, I tried coming here and was told there was a 1 month waiting list for a massage. Yes, one month for a massage! Absolutely crazy but that’s how popular the place COVID, business here plummeted so I was able to make a reservation on the same Temple in UbudSaraswati temple Kingdom of Ubud is dedicated to honor the Hindu Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of learning, literature and art. This temple is very beautiful and artistic, so many tourists who come to see its charm, but for purposes of worship. Pura Taman Saraswati has a water garden and lotus pond at the center of its attraction as a tourist temple is decorated with so many fine carvings and inside there Padmasana shrine located in the northeast, but it also contained bale barong, giant masks, statues of Goddess Saraswati and the statue of the devil Jero Gede Mecaling as high as 3 meters in front of the Ridge WalkThe Campuhan Ridge Walk is arguably the best known Ubud trek and with good reason. The sparse crowds and the aesthetically rich vistas remind one of why people from around the world come to Bali. The trail starts at the historical origin of Ubud, the confluence or Campuhan of the Wos in all, the hike can be done in a few hours and offers you splendid views of the rice terracesUbud Monkey ForestOne of the most popular and well known activities in Bali is the Ubud Monkey Forest. The Monkey Forest is a natural sanctuary for the Balinese long tailed macaque. Despite the many tourists, visiting the Monkey Forest Ubud is a truly wonderful experience. There are over 600 macaques living in the forest, mostly frolicking in groups, lounging, or annoying or stubbornly ignoring monkeys in the forest are used to visitors and are not afraid of contact . Which basically means they want to steal something from you. All kinds of bottles, food, hats and sunglasses are very popular, as well as the expensive is therefore required, because if the monkeys smell prey, they can become rabid . It has also happened that a tourist has been bitten in a duel for the you enter the park, simply hand in any superfluous things at the entrance, make sure to stow your sunglasses, hat and anything else that is dangling on the outside of the backpack inside the backpack. You should be aware that the monkeys aren’t avoided visiting the monkey forest during COVID times because the lack of tourists has resulted in lack of food sad for the monkeys. I’ve heard they’ve become more aggressive and with so few tourists, it was just asking for Trip to the Lempuyang TempleOne of the most popular things to do in Bali is a day trip to the ultra famous Lempuyang temple is located on the far east side of Bali and is a 1h drive from Ubud. You’ve probably seen many photos of this temple. You can organize this trip with a group tour, or you can simply drive here with a pictures look absolutely insane and a bit unreal. This perfect reflection is it really water between these towering pillars with Mount Agung in the background looks like something straight out of fee for Lempuyang TempleTo enter Lempuyang temple, you’ll have to pay for a bus transportation at the entrance of the temple. This bus travels 2km up a very steep hill to the famous gates. You cannot do this drive on your own and you must pay for the bus. In pre-covid times, big busses would funnel hundreds of tourists to the attraction. The cost was 50k IDR per person for this bus you arrive at the gates, you’ll need to pay another 100k IDR to enter the temple and take the famous photos!Taking your famous Lempoyang Temple PhotoOnce you enter the temple, you’ll see that there is of course no perfectly flooded reflection pool next to the gates. It’s just a bunch of people lined up waiting to get their photos taken. There is a photographer in the middle that is taking all of the photos with everyone’s is really how he takes the photosHe takes a piece of glass and very strategically holds it above your phone’s camera lens which creates the illusion that there is a perfect reflection. It’s absolutely genius because the photos do turn out ridiculously cool. Whomever thought to do this is a total genius. On par with the treehouse builder in Nusa Penida if I am to compare normal pre-COVID times, you can expect to wait 2-3 hours for your photo to be Gangga TempleShortly before the Lempoyang Temple is the famous Tirta Gangga Temple. It was a former palace used by royals in the past. Nowadays, it is famous for its ultra picturesque pond with a seemingly endless amount of koi fish to are small platforms where you can walk out into the pond. The fish here are used to people feeding them so they will know to follow you in return for food. Makes for really nice 8-10 Sideman & Selat AreaUbud is the most popular nature area of Bali. It’s famous for its ricefields, yoga studios, and tranquility but unfortunately it is also a huge tourist you truly want to get away from it all and be one with nature, then I’d recommend traveling further east from Ubud into the SIdeman area. A few days here and you’ll totally forget that Bali is busy and crowded. Most of the island is quite remote and the natural beauty of the island can’t e at the Camaya Bamboo HouseI spent two nights in the Sideman area staying at the ultra famous Camaya Bamboo House. These houses are famous and have been on numerous travel magazines as some of the most beautiful Airbnbs in the also made the netbeds famous all over Bali and the photos you can take from this beautiful property are Cafe For a view of Mount BaturOn the way to Sideman from Ubud, you’ll pass through the north of Bali which affords you absolutely amazing views of Mount Batur. The best place to view this mountain is from Montana Cafe. They serve amazing breakfasts and coffee with a dead on view of the even have a net bed where you can surely take some very Instagrammable photos overlooking Mount 10-13 UluwatuUluwatu is located in the southern tip of Bali and is one of the most beautiful parts of the island. It offers a totally different vibe compared to areas like Canggu/Seminyak and a completely different vibe to the jungles around is known for its beautiful long sandy beaches, cliffs, surfing, and upscale resorts. Uluwatu is definitely the spot to be if you’re looking for the big resorts and upscale the Edge Day SpaUluwatu TemplePura Luhur Uluwatu is considered one of the six most important and most beautiful temples in Bali. Built in the 11th century, the temple is dedicated to the sea goddess Dewi and is said to protect the southern peninsula of Bali from demons. Like Tanah Lot , it is one of the seven sea temples that line the southwest coast of say it straight away I wasn’t blown away by the temple. However, the location on the gigantic cliffs overlooking the sea is fantastic. So fantastic that wedding couples like to be photographed here in front of the sunset. The bad thing is that you can’t even visit the actual temple. So it’s more the environment that makes the dinner at Jimbaran beachJimbaran Beach is famous for its plethora of outdoor seafood restaurants on the beach. They cook seafood in open air grill areas where you can choose your seafood before it is cooked. Before COVID, Jimbaran beach was always packed with locals and tourists food is actually quite good depending on which restaurant you visit. I went to The Cuisine Cafe which was 13-16 Nusa PenidaBali actually is host to a few smaller islands nearby. To Bali’s southeast are the Nusa islands comprising Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan. I’ll summarize the itinerary here but make sure to read my full post on the Nusa islands if you are planning to come the next part of the itinerary, it is time to take a ferry over to the absolutely breathtaking island of Nusa Penida. I call Nusa Penida the ultimate Instagram island because you’ll find beautiful viewpoints everywhere you Penida is also famous for its scuba diving which attracts Mola Mola and manta rays at different parts of the year. It’s not as good as the diving in Komodo National Park in my opinion but it is certainly one of the better places to dive in the to Nusa Penida Ferry scheduleThere are multiple ferry companies that run this route. The times are constantly changing so there are not many totally reliable time schedules online. When you arrive at Sanur port, you’ll see a bunch of different booths selling ferry tickets. Just ask around to get the ferry leaving the I went to Nusa Penida in Jan 2022, the ferries left multiple times a day in the morning and afternoons. I took the afternoon ferry around 1400. I know for sure there are ferry departures in the mornings around 7am and 8am. These are perfect for day trippers to Nusa Penida more info on this later.You’ll also find multiple departures coming back to Bali from Nusa of the Nusa Penida ferry ticketThe ferry tickets vary depending on the company you choose. I paid 240k IDR for round trip ferry tickets which was cheaper than buying two one way return ticket was flexible as I didn’t know how long I wanted to spend on the would recommend reserving tickets beforehand during high season months. As I was traveling around COVID, there was no problem getting tickets upon Beach and thousand island viewpointWithout a doubt, the most famous attraction of Nusa Penida is Diamond Beach. Located on the southeast of the island, you’ll need to drive about 40 minutes from the port town to reach this beautiful Beach is absolutely stunning. The white sand beach is surrounded by towering limestone cliffs. There are also small rock cliffs all around the beach adding to its stunning are stairs built into the cliffside allowing you to walk down to the beach. These stairs are also where you can take some of the most stunning photos in Bali. You’ll also find a Bali swing as you descend the stairs where you can take beautiful photos as you look out into the you get down to the beach, you’ll be greeted with crystal clear blue waters and incredible beaches. The waves can be strong at times so make sure to watch beach can get very busy during normal times with international and domestic tourists alike. The best time to visit this beach is in the late morning before the huge swaths of day trippers make their way Penida Instagram Tree HouseLocated a few minutes from the Diamond beach is perhaps the most photogenic spot in all of Nusa Penida and perhaps even all of Rumah Pohon treehouse is one of the most well known sights in all of Nusa Penida and it was seeing the photos and videos of this tree house that really blew my mind originally when planning my trip to Nusa Penida. I really needed to see what all the fuss was about with this house!This treehouse is located on the cliffs with one of the most perfect views of the ocean. The Rumah Pohon treehouse is located in the same area as the “thousand island viewpoint” which is just one of the many stunning viewpoints in Nusa Penida. I actually found the views of Diamond beach to be more stunning but you’re coming here for the treehouse so that’s what you need to focus get here, you’ll need to park at the thousand island viewpoint entrance. You’ll pay the 10k IDR to enter the area and walk down about 200 stairs to where you’ll finally be greeted with this tree this picture might look like you’re in the middle of nowhere at the most picturesque treehouse of all time, that is sadly not the case. What you don’t see from these incredible photos are the people behind it collecting money in order to sit on its steps to take your photo. Yes, you’ll need to pay 50k IDR in order to take these photos! This is quite a lot but it doesn’t matter because people line up to get their photos I visited during COVID, there was no one else here but the two guys told me that in normal times, people would line up for hours in the unforgiving heat to get their photos taken. There would be hundreds of people here waiting to get their photos taken!The best time of day to visit the Rumah Pohon treehouse is definitely in the morning. The sunrise here is absolutely beautiful and you’ll want the rays of the sun to really light up your photo in the morning. They open at 6am and I would highly recommend coming here before 7am to get the best photos!Kelingking BeachKelingking beach is yet another incredible viewpoint that is not to be missed. This actually might be my favorite view of the island and it’s not hard to see why this is the ultimate Instagram see absolutely incredible views here of the rocky cliffs extending out into the sea surrounded by beautiful beaches and incredible water color. This place really reminded me a lot of the Ionian islands in Greece but maybe just a little more stunning!From the top of the viewpoint, you are hundreds of meters above sea level. There are very narrow and steep stairs that lead you down to a beach that is as secluded as it is the Gili IslandsThe Gili islands are a collection of three small islands in the Lombok province just east of Bali. These three islands Gili Trawangan Gili T, Gili Meno, and Gili Air are a very popular group of islands that are perfect for getting away from the huge island of felt that Bali at times was just too big and getting from one area to another took forever. I suppose I had prepared myself for an “island” getaway but in reality, it’s anything but that. The Gili islands are just what you’re looking for in this three Gili islands are tiny. So tiny that scooters are forbidden on the islands and the only way to get around are by bicycle or horse carriages. Yes, I’m not Gili islands are totally different from Bali! In normal times, Gili T is known as the party island with plenty of backpackers, scuba divers, and everything in between. There is a huge selection of bars and clubs on the island that will keep the party going until the early Meno has become the couples honeymooner island with a more laid back pace of life with the famous underwater statues. Finally, Gili Air is something in between the two of the islands have beautiful beaches and is more reminiscent of a traditional beach vacation. Normally, I would never go to Gili T as I’m too old to be partying with college kids until the early morning. However, I did come to Gili T during the COVID pandemic and it was completely dead which made it much more relaxing than in normal times. It was a bit too dead though to the point that there was literally nothing going on. A zombie village to get from Bali to Gili IslandsIn normal times, there are regular ferries running from Bali to Gili at numerous times of the day. There are departures from Sanur and Pedang Bai with the ferries taking about 2 hours one can buy your tickets at just about any tourism agent stores or websties. Most tickets will include the cost of the ferry ticket as well as a shuttle transfer to the ferry station. You can expect to pay about 750k IDR per person round trip which includes the ferry ticket and the shuttle Extend your trip to Komodo National ParkIf you have even more time to dedicate to Indonesia and are a big fan of scuba diving, then you must visit Komodo National Park. Komodo is world famous for its scuba diving and it is in my opinion one of the best in the world. The amount of marine life, beautiful corals, and manta rays will really blow you addition, Komodo is as beautiful underwater as it is above water. The mountain and desert landscape juxtaposed with the turquoise water is something special manta rays in KomodoI spent a lot of time in Komodo doing my divemaster certification so make sure to read my Komodo Scuba Diving guide if you’re 2 Extend your trip to Raja Ampat National ParkKomodo and Raja Ampat are easily up there as two of the best places to dive in the world. You won’t find much better than this in the world. If you’ve only dived in the Caribbean or Hawaii for example, it literally does not compare whatsoever to diving in Indonesia. Rajat Ampat is one of the most beautiful places in the world and if you get a chance, a visit will surely be interval on the beautyAmazing natural beauty in Raja AmpatThe best way to see Raja Ampat is by a liveaboard that sails through the archipelago visiting numerous dive sites and above ground activities. You actually don’t even need to dive to go on these liveaboards but rather just opt to snorkel and participate in hikes you could easily book a few nights at one of the numerous homestays or eco lodges in the area. From these lodging options, you can book a day trip to the numerous beautiful sights the park has to two week Itinerary Day by Day SummaryHere I will summarize my Bali itinerary on a day by day basis. Again, this itinerary is just one of countless options you have at structuring your 1 Arrive in Bali, transfer to CangguDay 2 Full day CangguDay 3 Full day CangguDay 4 Canggu to UbudDay 5 Stay in Ubud, visit the rice terraces, swing, and town of UbudDay 6 Stay in Ubud, visit the rice terraces, swing, and town of UbudDay 7 Ubud to Lempoyang Temple Day TripDay 8 SidemanDay 9 SidemanDay 10 Uluwatu/Nusa DuaDay 11 Uluwatu/Nusa DuaDay 12 Uluwatu/Nusa DuaDay 13 Nusa PenidaDay 14 Nusa PenidaDay 15 Nusa PenidaDay 16 Back to Bali and fly homeBali 10 day ItineraryIf you’re visiting for a week and a half, this is still a decent amount of time to see the main highlights of Bali. I would structure my trip a bit differently. Remember, driving a scooter will make everything move much quicker and you’ll see much more!Day 1 Arrive in Bali, transfer to CangguDay 2 Full day CangguDay 3 Full day CangguDay 4 Canggu to UbudDay 5 Stay in Ubud, visit the rice terraces, swing, and town of UbudDay 6 Stay in Ubud, visit the rice terraces, swing, and town of UbudDay 7 Ubud to Lempoyang Temple Day TripDay 8 SidemanDay 9 SidemanDay 10 Uluwatu/Nusa DuaBali Resort and Instagram ItineraryIf you’re visiting Bali but want more of a traditional resort vacation type of experience, then I would recommend skipping places like Canggu. While Canggu is my favorite to stay for an extended period of time, it doesn’t offer the typical vacation vibes that you can get from staying in most beautiful and luxurious hotels in Bali are in Uluwatu and Nusa Dua. You’ll find large resorts like the Istana, The Edge, Bvlgari, Six Senses 1 Arrive in Bali, transfer to UluwatuDay 2 Uluwatu ResortDay 3 Uluwatu ResortDay 4 Uluwatu ResortDay 5 Transfer to UbudDay 6 Full day in UbudDay 7 Full day in UbudDay 8 Day trip to Lempoyang TempleDay 9 Day trip to Nusa PenidaDay 10 Transfer homeContinue Reading.