With so much to do and so little time, first comers to Bali can feel overwhelmed by the excitement of it all.
I understand, I to have been there surrounded by guide books and forums and blogs trying to figure out what I wanted to see, where I wanted to go and I threw my hands in the air. At the end of the day I just threw caution to the wind and went exploring. I’ve spent so much time in Bali now that I know what is worth a look and what could be skipped, but then again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder after all.
So, to help guide you in the right direction, I’ve compiled a 10 day Bali itinerary of action, culture, art and relaxation to give you some great ideas of what Bali really has to offer you. Pick and choose what tickles your fancy and tailor the itinerary to your holiday time limit and your every desire.
Day One:
Take it easy, you’re on holiday! The first day of any holiday is about settling in and letting all the worries of the real world disappear. What better way to do this than to spend some time at the beach?
After a relaxing morning reading, sleeping or wandering the streets near you rented private Bali villa get ready for an afternoon in the sun. Take a car down to Balangan Beach, a beautiful and relatively quiet beach on Bali’s south coast.
Relax on the sand, have a surf or a swim and when your feeling refreshed head down to Pura Luhur Uluwatu, a spectacular temple standing grandly on a black rock cliff, watch the sunset here and catch one of the amazing kecak, monkey dance performances, before you leave. Go and have a seafood dinner at Jimbaran Bay to really top off the perfect day!
Day Two:
Take a trip out of the hustle and bustle of touristy Bali and immerse yourself in culture, art and all that is Ubud.
Learn the art to shopping in the enchanting Ubud market, taste the local food whilst overlooking a rice field terrace and after lunch visit one of the areas amazing spas you can really get into the holiday spirit with a full body Bali massage and herbal flower bath.
In the afternoon delight in the cheeky monkeys and the spectacular forest surrounding the Monkey Temple (hold on tight to your belongings)!
Day Three:
Take the whole day to get a bit of adventure running through your blood.
White water rafting in the morning through the beautiful jungles and then in the afternoon head to the Elephant Safari Park in Desa Taro where you can get up close and personal with these amazing gentle giants.
Take a sightseeing tour from the back of one of the world’s most impressive animals.
Day Four:
You have had a big three days, so now a day just for you to unwind.
Start off slowly and then wander around the streets of Seminyak and find some amazing bargains, Jalan Raya is the perfect place to shop for souvenirs, clothing and handicrafts stopping to sip coffee and sample some of the local delicacies along the way.
Make sure you take your swimming gear and a good book and when tired of all the shopping pleasures retire quietly to the beach and swim, tan and get some real R and R.
In the evening head to Ku De Ta to watch the sunset and enjoy an amazing cocktail in one of the world’s most beautiful beach bars.
Day Five:
Head to Geger Beach in Nusa Dua where you can watch the farmers collecting seaweed early in the morning.
Find a little romance in your life and take a hot air balloon ride in the Bali Eye where you can see the beautiful Bali coastline from the sky.
Head the the beautiful Desa Seni Village in Canggu, an incredible property where you can have lunch, wander the beautiful gardens and find your inner strength in an amazing yoga class.
Day Six:
Take a sunrise tour to Mount Batur where you can trek up the mountain to watch the sunrise over the amazing island of Bali.
This trek is spectacular and will really get your blood pumping, make sure you wear good strong shoes and take your camera with you. It’s an early start to get there for sunrise so in the afternoon when you arrive back at your villa you might want a nice cool shower and a lie down.
In the evening head down to Kuta in the evening to check out the exciting night life and pumping clubs fully refreshed.
Day Seven:
Fun for the whole family is a trip to the Bali Safari and Marine Park.
Popular with kids and parents alike this park is complete with sixty beautiful animal species all roaming free in their natural habitat.
Ride on the tram to visit the animals and watch amazing animal shows and get cuddly with the baby orang-utans.
It’s fun, family friendly and a wonderful up-close experience for kids big and small.
Day Eight:
For the last couple of days I would suggest heading to the north of Bali and see something truly different.
Drive up to the North coast via Tanah Lot, Temples of Tamaran Ayu and the Gigit Waterfalls to Lovina.
Lovina is a beautiful black sand beach and is famous for dolphins! Spend the afternoon on the beach relaxing and watching the fishing boats coming in and out of the local harbour.
Eat on the beach with your toes in the sand.
Day Nine:
Early in the morning head out for a dolphin tour and check out some of the most impressive animals in the great ocean surrounding this beautiful island.
After an impressive morning head south stopping off in Ubud on the way back to take a class and learn the basics of Balinese dance with professional teachers and artists. Head to the night markets at night to do some final shopping and taste some more local street food.
Day Ten:
How can it be over already?
A trip to a spa, a swim and a day at the beach is the only way to finish off a perfect island holiday before heading to the airport.
If you have more time, add in some diving, a trip to Gili Islands or a Bali west coast tour… For more island fun!
Very interesting points. Thanks!
There is perceptibly a bunch to realize about this. I think you made various good points in features also.
I have been checking out a few of your posts and i can claim pretty good stuff. I will make sure to bookmark your website.
Thank you Jamilia
We”re heading to Bali in a month and trying to plan it out. This is a great breakdown of what Bali has to offer! We”re trying to include Lombok there too. We have about 3 weeks
Hi, vino here. I’m MAS airlines crew, so airfare ticket , I will handle. Im goin bring my mom n husband to 10 days trip! ( total 3pax). Pls include attract place , temple etc., beach ( I really not intrest). How much the cost pls update me!tq
Hi Vino
The above is just meant as a suggestion and inspiration. It is not a trip we arrange, but maybe you you can talk to the people at Nick Tours: http://www.nicktours.com/. They might be able to arrange something similar for you.
If you are looking for a villa we can help though – you can see our villas here: http://www.vilondo.com/
Stefan
I’ve been doing a lot of research on Bali and yours is the most comprehensive site. Thank you! I’m traveling solo to Bali in a couple months for 8 days. Any recommendations on areas to stay to hit the majority of places on your itinerary? I was thinking 4 days in Mount Batukaru and 4 days in Lovina. Thoughts or suggestions?
Hi Margarat
I am sure 4 days in Mount Batukaru and 4 days in Lovina will make a great trip. I don’t have any personal experience with Mt. Batukaru though, but for exploring Bali it might be a little isolated and you’ll end up spending most of your time on transport. For the itinerary I would probably choose to stay in – or a little outside – Ubud. That makes a lot of the places much more accessible and Ubud is one of my favorite places in Bali.
That said, it really depends on what you are after. If trekking and tranquility is what you are after Mt. Batukaru is the better option.
No matter what you decide I am sure you’ll enjoy Bali. Thank you for the kind words about our site and please leave another comment if more questions comes up.
Stefan
I am visiting Bali in APR 2013 and want to combine about 10 days in Bali with a few days somewhere else nearby. Where do you recommend? I’ve read negative reviews about the Gili islands, saying they are dirty and run down and full of partying youngsters. That is not what we are looking for. We want something laid back, but not deserted either.
Hi Becky
I would definitely suggest Nusa Lembongan. It is pretty much what the Gilis used to be.
The island is located about half an hour by boat from Sanur and it is definitely laid back. Though tourism has found the islands it still has a local fell. Diving and snorkelling is superb around Lembongan. The beaches aren’t quite as spectacular as the best beaches on the Gilis, but in return you can easily find your own private beach on Lembongan.
Although it is laid back, you have plenty of dinning options – seafood is obviously big, but there are other good options too.
Stefan
Hi,
we are planning to visit Bali from 4th to 11th Feb 2013. Is it a good time to visit Bali, as we have heard that its a rainy season and we dont get to sit on beaches due to high tides. Is it so?
Hi Charu
February is the end of the rainy season and there is no problem in visiting Bali at that time. You can visit Bali all year round.
In the rainy season – as indicate by the name 🙂 – Bali get more rain compared to the dry season, but the rain is usually just a short shower in the afternoon.
The rest of the time it is usually dry. The good thing about going to Bali in February is that there won’t as many tourists as in the peak season, which is nice when visiting sites – although there are tourists in the main tourist hubs all year round. Another bonus of going in February is that accommodation prices are lower than in the high season.
When it comes to the tides, no need to worry, you’ll be able to sit on the beach. The tide changes within a day, so you will experience both high tide and low tide, but on most beaches in Bali you’ll be able to lay on the beach even at high tides.
I am sure you’ll have a great holiday in Bali.
Stefan
Do the Hot air Balloon ride in Bali still operates?
Hi Charles
It seems like Bali Eye has closed down. I haven’t been able confirm it with certainty, but I can’t find them on the Internet and I have been trying to contact them by phone without any result.
If you want to experience Bali a bit from above in the Nusa Dua area paragliding off the cliffs of Bukits Southern coast is another option.
You can see more her: http://www.paragliding-bali.com/
Stefan