Overview
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Day 1-2: Uluwatu
Upon arrival in the airport of Denpasar, you can take a taxi to Uluwatu, in the south of Bali. Uluwatu is known to be home to the best beaches in Bali, and offers clear blue waters, trendy areas, white sand beaches and so much more. With its legendary surfing waves, it is also known as a real surfer’s mecca. Even if you are not a surfer, there are so many other fun things to do in this area. It is the ideal place to start your trip and recover from the long journey.
Where to stay in Uluwatu
There are plenty of options to stay in Uluwatu for every budget. You can choose to sleep in the bustling center, or you can stay a little bit out of the center where you can enjoy the peace and quiet. Nothing is really very far in Uluwatu. If you prefer to stay a little further away from the hustle and bustle, we can highly recommend White Tortoise Eco Villas. It’s a beautiful secluded stay with 5 hilltop villas, offering the most beautiful views of Uluwatu and still close to all the sights.
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Day 3-6: Ubud
From Uluwatu to Ubud, it is approximately a 2,5 hour drive. You can arrange a transfer in Uluwatu, or you can book one online.
Ubud is located almost in the heart of the island. Here, you can find peace and tranquility, as well as the greatest adventures. The town is surrounded by beautiful green landscapes and there is endless things to do for literally every kind of traveler. Some of the most popular sights are the Tegalalang Rice Terraces and Ubud Monkey Forest, but there are plenty of other places to visit in Ubud. You can, for example, take a day trip to the spectacular Leke Leke and Nungnung waterfalls, join a sunrise hike trip to Mount Batur or stroll over the Campuhan Ridge Walk. Due to its central location, Ubud is the perfect base to explore many sights of Bali. That is why we have provided 4 days in this Bali itinerary.
Where to stay in Ubud
From budget hostels to unique resorts, you will find a huge variety of accommodations in Ubud for everyone. You can choose to sleep in the bustling center close to all the shops and restaurants, or you can stay a little bit out of the center, in the middle of the lush green jungle environment and rice terraces.
If you are looking for more tranquility and prefer to stay a little further away from the hustle and bustle, we can highly recommend Stone House. It’s a beautiful secluded and quiet stay but perfectly located to explore Ubud and all its interesting sights.
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Day 7-9: Munduk & Lovina
Hidden gem alert! It’s time to leave popular Ubud and head to the less visited north of Bali. There is a shuttle bus between Ubud and Munduk. You can either arrange your transfer in Ubud or you can book it online.
Munduk is home to some of the most tranquil nature and landscapes of the island. With many stunning waterfalls nearby, it is the place to be for waterfall lovers. Another must visit place in the north of Bali is Lovina. This lovely beach town is known for its beautiful black beaches, so be sure to spend at least a day here when you are in the north of Bali.
Where to stay in Munduk
The best bases to discover the north of Bali are Munduk and Lovina. This is where you will find most accommodations. We first stayed in Munduk and then stayed a few nights in Lovina. If you like glamping, we can highly recommend staying at Desa Eko in Munduk. They offer different glamping tents and their restaurant the Botanist has the most delicious food! On top of that, it is also the place where you can start one of the top things to do in the North of Bali, listed in this blog post.
Day 10-11: Amed
Unfortunately, there is no shuttle between Munduk or Lovina and your next destination, Amed. So, you will have to arrange a taxi or driver yourself on site, or you can request one online.
Amed is another hidden gem of Bali and a must visit if you love diving. Located on the east side of the island, this fishing town is home to a stunning coastline with both white and black sand beaches. With its colorful reefs, corals, shipwrecks, like the USAT Liberty, and a wide variety of marine life, it is a real paradise for underwater enthusiasts. However, there are also plenty of fun things to do in Amed for non-divers, such as finding incredible viewpoints and exploring fascinating water palaces.
Where to stay in Amed
From budget hostels to unique resorts, there are plenty of options to stay in Amed. If you’re a diver, you can also stay in one of the many dive resorts and take a complete package.
Day 12-13: Sidemen
Sidemen is, without a doubt, one of the most untouched and laid-back places in Bali. This tranquil village is filled with beautiful rice fields and spectacular views of Mount Agung. It is an off the main tourist destination, where you can experience an authentic part of Bali and slow down at the same time. You can enjoy a trekking through the rice fields, participate in a silver workshop or visit some other beautiful places in and around Sidemen.
Where to stay in Sidemen
There is literally something for everyone to stay in Sidemen: From budget homestays and guesthouses to unique resorts and villas. You will even find several options in Sidemen where you can wake up with a beautiful view in the middle of the rice fields or stay in unique bamboo houses.
Day 14-15: Gili Islands
From Sidemen, it is a 45 minute drive to the harbour of Padang Bai, where you can take the speedboat to the Gili Islands.
On the Gili Islands, you can completely relax after all the exploring of the past few days. You can spend time on the beach, go island hopping and cycle around the islands, as there are no motorized vehicles. One of the best things to do on the Gili Islands is explore the beautiful underwater world while snorkeling.
Where to stay on the Gili Islands
Gili Trawangan, also known as Gili T, is the largest and probably the most popular island. Here, you will find the most accommodations, bars and restaurants. This also means it is the most busy and crowded. It is increasingly gaining the reputation of a party destination.
Gili Meno is the smallest islands and quietest island. It has the fewest number of accommodations, which are also slightly more expensive compared to the other two islands. This is therefore more of a destination for people who are looking for a more luxurious and secluded island time.
Gili Air is the golden mean between Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno. It has a quiet, relaxed atmosphere with some nightlife options, but not the hustle of Gili T.
Day 16-17: Nusa Penida
It’s time to leave the islands to explore another island: Nusa Penida. By speedboat, it takes around 2 hours to reach Nusa Penida from the Gilis.
Nusa Penida is a small island located southeast of Bali. It is known for its stunning landscapes, rugged cliffs, crystal-clear waters and most of all: its magical beaches. Kelingking Beach and Diamond beach are two of the most famous places to visit on Nusa Penida and definitely must visits on the island. Two days gives you enough time to see all the highlights, both in the north and south of Nusa Penida.
Where to stay on Nusa Penida
Most accommodations, bars and restaurants are located in the northwest of the island. This is therefore more of the ‘bustling center’ of the island, where most things happen when you’re not exploring.
Day 18-19: Nusa Lembongan & Ceningan
You can sail from Nusa Penida to Nusa Lembongan in just 15 minutes. Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan are connected by the iconic yellow bridge. So you can easily discover these two islands together.
While Nusa Penida is known for its dramatic cliffs, these smaller islands are renowned for their pristine beaches, a vibrant underwater world and laid-back atmosphere. Ideal for taking it easy and enjoying a day at the beach, for example.
Where to stay on Nusa Lembongan or Ceningan
The islands are so small that you can actually stay anywhere and be close to everything at the same time. You will find different accommodations for every budget all over the islands. Note that Nusa Lembongan is slightly more vibrant than Ceningan.
Day 20-21: Optional (spare or Canggu)
Because the pace of this Bali itinerary is quite high, you can take days 20 and 21 as spare days, in case you want to stay an extra day somewhere. Another option is to spend your last days in Canggu. This surf-vibe village is located on the west coast of Bali. It is home to many trendy restaurants, bars and beach clubs, a relaxed atmosphere and an endless coastline with perfect waves for surfing. From Canggu to the airport, it is only a one hour’s drive and therefore the perfect place to end your trip.
Practical Information
Best time to visit Bali
Bali experiences only two seasons: wet season and dry season. Due to its location, Bali experiences high temperatures all year round.
The best time to for this Bali itinerary is generally between April and October, during dry season. Know that the months of July and August are high season and that is when you can expect the biggest crowds. You can, of course, expect dry weather during dry season and also the beaches are cleaner in this period.
Yet, the rainy season also has its advantages: Nature is much greener, the waterfalls even more impressive, less crowds and lower prices. Temperatures remain high, at an average of 28°C, but the days will feel more humid. So, the best time to travel to Bali depends entirely on what you prefer and what you plan to do in Bali.
How to get to Bali
Bali has its own international airport in Denpasar, with flights arriving from other major cities in Southeast Asia, such as Bangkok or Singapore.
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If you come from East Java, it is also possible to get to Bali by ferry and bus. You can easily book your tickets online in advance.
How to get around
The most popular means of transport in Bali is without a doubt the scooter. The roads are generally in good condition and you can easily discover the highlights in the area from the various village centers by scooter. Prices vary from 60.000 to 120.000 IDR per 24hours. Please note that traffic, especially in the centers of the more popular places like Ubud and Canggu, can be very busy.
If you are not sure about driving a scooter, you can always hire a private driver or join an organized tour.
To move between different cities and regions with your luggage, you often have the option to take a bus. If there is no bus available between two regions, it is best to travel with a driver or taxi.
Where to Stay in Bali
In Bali, you will find some very unique places to stay, from the most luxurious resorts to spectacular bamboo houses. The best bases to explore the most beautiful places on this Bali itinerary are Ubud, Canggu, Uluwatu, Munduk and Amed. In all these areas, you will find a wide range of accommodations for every budget.
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Win-Win for everyone
Did you know that, if you buy or book something through our links, we receive a small commission?
However, you still pay the same and therefore have no extra costs! So a win-win for everyone. This way, we can continue to add even more travel inspiration and tips to this blog for your next adventure. Thanks a lot!
