Where to go in Bali? That is a legitimate question since there are so many famous destinations on this island. Bali is most known for its natural beauty, rich culture and spiritual atmosphere. Hopefully I can sort your questions out and answer what places you should visit to make the most out of your trip. Below I am presenting a one week itinerary for your Bali trip, where to go an what you can do at each destination. Do note that this itinerary is quite high paced, so if you want to slow down your travels a bit I would suggest that you add 1 day per destination, making it a 10-day itinerary. These three destinations are completely different from each other and by combining them you will get a diverse and fun experience of what Bali has got to offer.
Stop 1: Lovina, the dolphin playground of Bali
Your first stop on this Bali itinerary will be Lovina. Lovina is located in the northern parts of Bali, known for being Bali´s dolphin playground. I would not be surprised if this is the first time you are reading about this destination, because it is not at all as explored by tourists compared to many other destinations in Bali. I loved this about Lovina, because it really made the place feel authentic. The vibe is very chill and the looks of Lovina kind of reminds me of Central America. It takes around 3 to 3.5 hours to get to Lovina from Denpasar airport depending on the traffic.
To do in Lovina
Swimming with dolphins in Lovina
As mentioned, Lovina is famous for being home to hundreds and hundreds of dolphins. One of the most popular activities to do here is going out by boat in the hopes of seeing some and even swim with them. Something really really important however is to do research on which company to go with. Many operators go out together to cooperate, chasing after the dolphins. This is eco-tourism in reverse and is really stressful to the dolphins. I do not recommend going out with the first tours of the day (these usually depart from Lovina around 5.30AM – 6AM). I went with a company that departed later in the morning and headed in a different direction. If you want to swim with dolphins, this is the tour I recommend. You can read more about the dolphin tour I did here.
A short summary: At 7AM we met by the beach and took the boat out at sea as the sun was rising. It took almost 1.5 hours to get to the place where we hoped to see dolphins. We stopped at the spot and kept our fingers crossed, and just a few minutes later we were greeted by two dolphins jumping and spinning in the air. We hopped into the water with our snorkeling gear and during this morning I managed to see probably a hundred dolphins during my morning. Such an amazing experience!
Enjoy the sunset from Lovina Beach
Lovina has some of the most beautiful sunsets in Bali, so a main activity for all of the people in Lovina is to gather at the beach in the evening to watch. There are three options on how to experience it. Either you just take your spot in the sand at the beach or head to the little dock in the middle of the beach where you can sit as well. The third option is to head to one of the beach bars and relax in a bean bag with a Bintang beer. This is what I did at a place called Le Minerale.
How many days in Lovina
For your stay in Lovina I recommend 2 days for the week schedule or 3 days for the 10-day Bali itinerary.
Stop 2: Ubud, the spiritual heart of Bali
Your second stop on my Bali itinerary will be Ubud. Ubud is usually referred to the spiritual heart of Bali, famous for its terraced rice paddies. The town has also become a center for wellness and spiritual growth. This attracts travelers seeking relaxation combined with scenic, lush landscapes.
To do in Ubud
Hiking in Ubud
I think we can all agree that Ubud are famous for its picturesque rice fields. One of the top activities in Ubud is therefore to walk the trails and paths that lead you through these fields. I have found two trails that are not as crowded as for example Tegalalang, which is the most visited one in Ubud. These two hidden gems are Campuhan Ridge Walk and Sweet Orange Walk Trail/Kajeng Rice Field.
Shop at Ubud Art Market
Ubud Art Market is the most famous market in Ubud and where you can find everything from jewelry to clothes, bags, statues and a lot of other hand-crafted goods. The market is open from 10AM to 5PM daily, but make sure to be there at opening hour to get the best bargains.
A visit to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
One of the most popular things to do in Ubud is visiting the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. This is a nature reserve and temple complex in Ubud, home to over 1 200 monkeys. The sanctuary accepts visitors between 9AM and 6PM every day, and the entrance ticket costs 80 000 IDR ($5) on weekdays and 100 000 IDR ($6.5) on weekends for adults. There are however some things you should know before visiting. The monkeys can be somewhat aggressive if you’re not careful, so these are my top tips to be well prepared when entering the Sacred Monkey Forest:
- Do not feed the monkeys
- Do not look the monkeys in the eyes, they can see this as a threat
- Do not touch or disturb the monkeys
- Keep an eye on small items and lose things like bags and cameras
How many days in Ubud
For your stay in Ubud I recommend 3 days for the week schedule or 4 days for the 10-day Bali itinerary.
Stop 3: Uluwatu, the trendy surf town of Bali
The third and last stop on my Bali itinerary is Uluwatu. Uluwatu is a trendy surf town in southwestern Bali. The place is a premier destination for surfers, particularly for those seeking big waves. Uluwatu is also home to some of Bali’s most beautiful beaches, often tucked between cliffs and offering clear turquoise waters, soft sand, and dramatic rock formations.
To do in Uluwatu
(Learn to) Surf in Uluwatu
Surfing is definitely one of the top things to do in Uluwatu and one of the main reasons people come here, especially the more advanced surfers. There are however good surf spots for both beginners and intermediates, and also several companies organizing surf lessons. I took a private lesson at Padang Padang Beach (I’m intermediate) and it was one of the most successful surf sessions I had. I can therefore really recommend them: Uluwatu Surf Coaching Bali. A private surf lesson costs 750 000 IDR ($49) and group lessons costs 500 000 IDR ($33) per person.
Visit the hidden beaches of Uluwatu
Uluwatu has a ton of beaches, but most of them are quite small, meaning they tend to feel very crowded. Lucky that I have found to hidden gems for you, that you can visit and get all to yourself. These are Nunggalan Beach and Nyang Nyang Beach. These beaches also happen to have the most stunning paths leading down to the beaches, where you’ll get an amazing ocean view.
Watch the famous Kecak Fire Dance
Uluwatu Temple is known for the nightly Kecak Fire Dance performances, also known as the Ramayana monkey chant. The Kecak Dance is a traditional Balinese dance and drama that tells a story based on the Sanskrit epic, the Ramayana. The performance takes place at the amphitheatre at Uluwatu Temple with the backdrop of the sunset. For a cultural Uluwatu experience, this is a must do, but it is also one of the activities that attracts the most tourists and the shows usually sell out. Make sure to book your ticket in advance, which you can do here.
Eat at trendy restaurants and picturesque coffee shops
Uluwatu is home to a lot of trendy and picturesque restaurants, so I will mention that as an activity. Below are some of my favorite spots in Uluwatu:
Suka Espresso – This spot is perfect for breakfast or brunch, serving really nice coffee and amazing smoothie bowls. I had the mango smoothie bowl to fuel up before my surf lesson and it was the perfect start of the day.
Ulu Garden – A mix of food and live music. This place has an outdoor garden with a stage where they bring bands to play live music to the guests.
Lolas Cantina Mexicana – For tacos, margaritas and amazing vibes. If you are visiting Uluwatu on a Friday, this is the place to go. Fridays are usually the ”party” day at Lolas and it is a vibe, I can guarantee.
Land’s End – Serving vegan food and one of the cheaper places in Uluwatu.
La Baracca – Italian restaurant that has lunch deals where they discount certain dishes. I had the morgana panini for lunch as one of these deals and it was so good.
How many days in Uluwatu
For your stay in Uluwatu I recommend 2 days for the week schedule or 3 days for the 10-day Bali itinerary.
How to get around in Bali: Bus, shuttle or taxi
Now when we have decided our Bali itinerary and where to go, the question remains: how do we get there? These are the options you have getting around in Bali.
Grab or Gojek
The most convenient way to get around in Bali is definitely to download the Grab or Gojek app. These two operators are Southeast Asia’s answer to Uber. Something that surprised me was that they didn’t only operate within a specific destination, they also took you anywhere you wanted to go in Bali. I used Grab for getting from Ubud to Uluwatu (2.5 hours) and Uluwatu to Sanur Port (1.5 hours). These rides cost around 350 000 IDR ($23).
Pre-booked taxi
In some more secluded destinations it can be a bit trickier to get a hold of a Grab or Gojek. Booking a private taxi is therefore recommended. The price is roughly the same. I did this when going from Lovina to Ubud. It was actually such a good experience because the service a little bit more luxurious compared to Grab or Gojek. I got free bottles of water plus snacks during my ride, and the driver also stopped for me to take picture at the best spots we passed. He also knew a place with a lot of monkeys where we got off to feed them. He had prepared with snacks they liked and gave me some. The monkeys were absolutely adorable and came and grabbed the snacks from my hand.
Public transport
Public transport is an option to get around if you’re on a budget. There are several public bus companies operating in Bali, for example Kura Kura, Trans Sarbagita and Perama. Your hotel can help you with where to book your bus ticket if you decide to travel by bus, or you can search by yourself at 12GoAsia.
Shuttles
You can book shared shuttles to get around, and the best way to do this is search for different options at 12GoAsia. This will be a little bit more expensive compared to public transport, but around half the price of what booking a taxi or Grab would cost. This is therefore the perfect option if you want to get around fast but are still on a budget.
