A trip to Bali actually feels like a vacation. It’s not as hectic as the streets of Europe in the summer, and you won’t feel pressured to visit a famous museum to feel accomplished. The cultural sites are inherently calm because temples are designed to be peaceful. In Bali, you can take a deep breath, unplug, and truly relax.
But if the sound of relaxing makes your eye twitch, don’t worry. There are plenty of things to do, so you’re never bored on the island. Whether you like to lie on the sand or hike up a volcano, there’s something for every kind of traveler in Bali.
Read “The Bali Bucket List: 18 Things to Do on the Island” and you’ll see what I mean.
Bali has the perfect combination of beaches, adventures, and cultural sites to experience on your trip. 10 days is just the right amount of time to spend in Bali to feel like you’ve seen it all (although you likely won’t and that’s ok!).
This 10-day itinerary does a loop around the island to see the sights, hike the hikes, and beach on beaches.
Where to go
The main villages to visit in Bali are Canggu, Seminyak, Ubud, and Uluwatu.
In this itinerary, you’ll stay in Canggu, Ubud, and Uluwatu with day trips to other locations on the island, spending the most time in Ubud.
This itinerary doesn’t feature Seminyak because it’s very similar to Canggu. In fact, they’re technically only 20 minutes apart, but traffic makes it a challenge to go between villages. Canggu is known to have a more down-to-earth vibe than the more luxury-leaning Seminyak, but other than that, they’re very similar.
For a full guide on where to stay on the island, read “Where to Stay in Bali.”
Hiring a driver
A private driver is the best way to get around Bali. I recommend Kardika Nengah, an Ubud native, to drive you from village to village and take you on tours of the lesser-known areas of Bali. He’s very knowledgeable and passionate about showing tourists around the place he calls home.
You can book a transfer or tour with Kardika by texting him on WhatsApp at +62 811-397-749. Pricing will depend on the number of hours, but you can expect to pay 60-80 USD per day.
Booking via WhatsApp is totally normal in Bali, so download the app if you don’t have it already.
For more tips on getting around Bali, read “The Non-Influencer Guide to Bali.”
10-Day Bali Itinerary
This 10-day itinerary splits up your time between beach towns and the jungle for a well-rounded tour of the island. It purposely doesn’t visit beach towns back to back, so you never get bored.
Day 1: Arrival in Canggu
You made it to Bali! After a long international flight, you’ll want to take it slow and relax. A beach town like Canggu or Seminyak is the perfect place to do that.
International flights from North America typically arrive in Bali in the late afternoon or evening. The ride to Canggu is about 30 minutes, but traffic can make it upwards of an hour. Catch the sunset on Echo Beach if you arrive earlier, or hit the pillow as soon as you arrive for a good night’s rest.
Day 2: Canggu
Canggu paints the picture of the stereotypical Bali you’ve seen on Instagram with expansive beaches and cute cafes. Its black sand beaches are dotted with beach clubs. These beach clubs are the best place to spend the day in Canggu.
Your Canggu itinerary
Yoga
Breakfast at Copenhagen
Shop at Love Anchor Bazaar
Relax at a beach club
Sunset at Tanah Lot Temple
Dinner at Hippie Fish
Find a full, detailed itinerary for how to spend the best 24 hours in Canggu in this guide.
Day 3 + 4: Ubud City Center
Ubud is called the cultural heart of Bali for a reason. In Ubud, you’ll visit temples, explore art markets, and dine at Bali’s best restaurants. While you could squeeze Ubud into one day, two days gives you time to explore the village with ease.
To find the best things to do in Ubud, read “The Best of Ubud, Bali” guide.
It’s about a one- to two-hour drive from Canggu to Ubud, depending on the traffic. You’ll want to hire a driver for your transfer and for excursions outside of Ubud. I recommend Kardika Nengah, whom I spoke about at the beginning of this post. You can book him by texting him on WhatsApp at +62 811-397-749.
Day 5: Hike Mount Batur
Mount Batur is an active volcano in Northern Bali. Most people hike it at sunrise, but I recommend hiking it at sunset, so you can sleep in.
To hike Mount Batur, you’ll need to coordinate a tour with a guide. We booked through Mount Batur Sunrise Trekking (I know their name has sunset in it, but you can ask them for a sunset hike).
On this tour, you’ll visit a coffee farm, enjoy lunch with a view, take a dip in hot springs, and hike Mount Batur at sunset. For a full guide to Mount Batur, read this blog post.
Day 6: Ubud Outskirts
Venture outside of Ubud to explore the temples and rice terraces on the outskirts of town.
Kardika Nengah can take you on a temple hopping tour where you’ll visit the most significant temples: Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu, Pura Tirta Empul, and Goa Gajah.
On the outskirts, you can also stop at Tegalalang Rice Terraces. While they’re not the biggest rice terraces in Bali, they’ve been popularized by social media for their proximity to Ubud.
You can find details on planning day trips from Ubud in “The Ultimate Ubud Itinerary” guide.
Day 7: Northern Bali
The most beautiful parts of Bali are up north in places still undiscovered by most tourists.
On a tour of Northern Bali, you’ll visit a waterfall, Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, and the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces.
For a full, detailed guide on each of these destinations in the north, read “Where to Go in Northern Bali.”
Day 8: Ubud to Uluwatu
Uluwatu is a laid-back surf town on the southern coast of Bali. Unlike Canggu, you can swim in Uluwatu’s beaches and meet monkeys. And, while the two beach towns aren’t far from each other, they’re vastly different.
The journey from Ubud to Uluwatu is about two hours long. Kardika Nengah or another driver can take you there.
After checking into your villa or hotel, go to the Uluwatu Temple in the early evening. The temple hosts a traditional Kecak fire dance show every night at sunset. Book tickets in advance to secure a spot, and make sure you arrive well before sunset so you have plenty of time to explore the temple grounds. Along with its fire dance, the Uluwatu Temple is famous for its monkeys.
Day 9: Uluwatu Beach Day
The best part about Ubud is the white sand beaches. The waves draw surfers to the village, but it’s also a great spot for sunbathers and swimmers. Spend the day hopping from beach to beach.
Uluwatu Beach Day Itinerary
Brunch at Banana Lounge
Bingin Beach
Padang Padang Beach
Dinner at Yuki
Find the full, detailed itinerary in this “Perfect Day in Uluwatu” guide.
Day 10: Uluwatu + Departure
Say your goodbyes to Bali with a final morning in Uluwatu. Uluwatu is home to many cute and tasty cafes for you to enjoy breakfast at before heading to the airport. I recommend Banana Lounge or Salty Coffee.
We strategically ended this itinerary in Uluwatu because out of all the destinations you’ll stay in, it’s the closest to the airport.
One more thing: extra excursion
This itinerary featured destinations on the main island of Bali. You could also squeeze a day trip to Nusa Penida, an island off the coast of Bali, in lieu of an extra day in Ubud.
For a detailed guide on visiting Nusa Penida, read “Bali Day Trip: What It’s Really Like to Visit Nusa Penida.”
More Bali guides
There were a lot of links to more detailed guides featured in this itinerary. You can find them all here:
Reply