Perfect 10 Day Bali Itinerary for First Timers
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Bali is the tropical travel destination popping up on everyone’s bucket list. As someone who doesn’t love the heat and wants more than a beach vacation, I was skeptical that Bali would live up to the hype. Boy, was I wrong! Quickly I fell in love with its friendly locals, fresh food, and adventurous activities. Here is the perfect 10 day itinerary for exploring much of what Bali has to offer for your first visit to this Indonesian travel hotspot.
What to know before you go to Bali
Transportation
Make sure to download and setup the Grab app before you arrive. Grab works similar to Uber and enables you to quickly and easily order a ride share or order food delivery. You’ll even see the option to hop on the back of someone’s motorbike, which will be the budget friendly option for getting around if you are on your own.
Renting your own motor bike is also possible, but be sure to get your international driving permit before leaving the United States. It is an affordable and easy process administered by the AAA. Motorbike daily rentals start at around $7 a day and is the easiest way to get around.
If the no rules traffic scenario scares you, or you are traveling in a group, then a private driver is the perfect way to get around. Anyone who has been to Bali before will tell you their favorite driver and give you their WhatsApp contact. I found mine through a recommendation on Instagram and had a backup contact from a friend as well. I highly recommend my driver Made Dana (WhatsApp +62 813 3824 8445). Be sure to schedule with your driver beforehand to make sure they are available and agree on a rate.
Accommodation
Bali is a backpacker’s paradise with basic rooms under $20 a night. However, you can also find fantastic 4 and 5 star resorts for around $200 a night. Of course, there’s a whole range in between and I found the sweet spot to be spending at least $70 a night for accommodations to be in central locations with breakfast included or other amenities like a pool. I’ve included links to the various places I stayed on my trip, but You can always reach out to me for help in booking accommodations.
Cell Phone Data
You’ll find that most accommodations offer free wifi, but when you are out exploring you’ll need cell phone data. I have T-mobile which offers free data at lower speeds. This is enough to get you going, but I recommend buying a local SIM card once you arrive. Make sure your phone is unlocked and compatible with eSIM to ensure the easiest installation. There are pricier airport options, but I went to a local convenience store where they sell plans with varying amounts of data that are valid for at least a month and they helped me to install and activate it on the spot as well.
Packing
Most places in Bali are fairly casual, the weather is warm, and this itinerary involves various active days, so keep packing fairly basic. Lots of swimwear, shorts, and dresses. Getting your laundry done is super affordable (less than $1 per piece), so take advantage of that every few days. It’s easiest to just ask your hotel to do it, but you could also take it locally where they may do it by weight instead of by piece.
I found packing cubes to be ideal for separating each category of clothing, which makes it easy to find what you are looking for, even a few days into the trip. A baggage scale will help you to keep your luggage at the appropriate weight. This is especially important if Bali is part of a larger trip and you plan on using budget airlines to get around Asia. An adventure camera is perfect to bring along on this trip since you’ll be in and out of the water and dirt.
Arriving in Bali
The main airport in Bali is called Ngurah Rai International Airport, but it is just referred to as Denpasar Airport, and its airport code is DPS. The airport is clean and modern, and you’ll be able to purchase your tourist visa upon arrival. A large variety of airlines service this Denpasar, so I flew in on a short flight from Singapore. On departure, I was able to fly all the way to Sydney to continue my trip.
@wheresnatalienoww Bali itinerary Part 1/4 - Full itinerary on my blog! #travelbali #baliindonesia #seminyak #baliitinerary ♬ original sound - Natalie
Day 1-3 Southern Bali
There are several tourist areas where you can start in Bali. I chose to be based in Seminyak since there are lots of options for accommodations and it is central for shopping, dining, nightlife, and the beach. You may instead choose to stay in Canggu for more of the expat community, Sanur for larger resorts, or Nusa Dua for family friendly relaxation.
Day 1: Explore Seminyak
Spend your first day in Bali getting acquainted with your area by walking around, shopping, and visiting one of the many cafes. Never book an excursion for the first day as you will likely be tired from traveling or may have a flight delay.
I stayed at Amadea Resort for three nights, which included breakfast and the airport transfer. The surrounding area was filled with restaurants and shops which made it easy to get out and explore right away.
My parents stayed at Hotel Indigo Seminyak, which is a stunning hotel located right on the beach. You could definitely stay here longer to fully enjoy the amenities like the pool and spa.
Lunch/Dinner: Atlas Kitchen
Day 2: Surf Lesson and Canggu
Start off your morning by getting into the cool waters of Seminyak Beach and getting taught by one of the locals how to best tackle the waves. There are surf schools lining the beach, but I chose to go with Da Waves Surf School because of its fantastic reviews and included photography. I really enjoyed this lesson, and having surfed various times all over the world, these were my favorite waves and I made the most progress here!
Grab lunch nearby or head back to the Hotel Indigo like we did for a dip in the pool and a pina colada. At this point we felt we still had a lot to explore in Seminyak since my parents had a late arrival the previous day so we did not go to Canggu. It is easy to get a Grab to head over there if you want to avoid driving.
Here are some spots to check out is you head that way:
Beach Clubs: La Brisa Bali, FINNS beach club, Luna Beach Club
Traditional Food: Warung Sika,Warung Bu Mi
International Food: Penny Lane, Luigi's Hot Pizza Canggu, Black Sand Brewery, BAKED.
Attractions: Tanah Lot Temple
Here are the places we went to and highly recommend in Seminyak:
Lunch/Dinner: Ithaca Greek Restaurant
Nightlife: La Favela
Day 3: Day Trip to Uluwatu
Journey south with your driver or on a motorbike to discover the stunning landscapes of the south part of the island. Learn more about Indonesian culture and view an enormous sculpture at the GWK Cultural Park.
A must see is Uluwatu Temple. There you can view the stunning cliffs, monkeys, and temple. There is a nominal entrance fee, and you’ll be given a sarong to use during your visit to cover your knees (both men and women).
Then head to one of the famous beach clubs. We decided on Sundays Beach Club. There is a funicular that takes you down the cliff to the beach club. We had no problem using up the food and drink credit that is included in the cover charge. Everything was delicious, but did take a while to come out. We ate at a table while we waited for beach chairs to become available. We switched to the beach chairs when we finished eating. The beach is shallow but beautiful to explore, especially when you get up close to the cliffs and caves on the one side.
Other popular beach clubs: Locca Sea House, oneeighty Dayclub, Savaya Bali, Palmilla Bali Beach Club, Canna Bali
For Sunset: Rock Bar Bali
Beaches: Dreamland Beach, Bingin Beach, Balangan Beach
Spa: Senses Spa
@wheresnatalienoww Bali itinerary Part 2/4, get all the details on my blog! #baliitinerary #ubudbali #balitravel ♬ original sound - Natalie
Day 4-7 Central and Northern Bali
Day 4: Waterfalls and Ubud
Get an early start to get to Ubud before traffic builds up, but be sure to make a few pitstops along the way. We stopped at UC silver Gold which is a jewelry center, that while being very geared towards tourists, was an interesting visit nonetheless. It is a huge showroom and we ended up buying a few unique pieces.
Next stop is Celuk Swink & Luwak Coffee. There they do a nice job of showing you their coffee process and you’ll have a chance to try the famous Luwak poop coffee, see the little animal that makes it possible, and get an incredible swing picture in the jungle.
It is refreshing not to have to compete with the crowds or go to out of your way here. There are packages that include a cape like vest that give the look of a dress with a long train, if you really want to go for the shot! Don’t do what I did and think that the skirt of your actual dress is enough to flap in the wind for effect, you’ll end up looking like you are flashing everyone, even if you have a swimsuit on, anyway you get the idea. You are strapped in securely and it is pretty incredible to see how far out they are able to launch you on the swing.
Yana Art Gallery was another impressive stop. At nana Art Gallery you’ll be able to see the balinese wood carvers making everything by hand and you’ll have the opportunity to buy some incredible pieces. For lunch we ate at Bebek Tebasari Resto.
Then we finally got some iconic waterfall shots. We stopped at Tegenungan waterfall which has a major drop with a lagoon for swimming and a good viewing platform above it. We were running short on time so we did not do the walk down and swim at the bottom. This was a pretty crowded spot with lots of vendors. Quick tip: Always go for a cold coconut!
Kanto Lampo waterfall only required a short hike down and cascades beautifully down a wall of stones. In the water are a few guides that are happy to take your picture, and trust me they will do a much better job than your spouse or friend. They tell you just how to pose and do videos as well. They do not ask for tips, as it seems to be a service that is included with your nominal entrance fee.
If you make all these stops you’ll arrive in Ubud towards the evening. Freshen up at your hotel to go out to dinner or one of the several popular spots that are in the center of Ubud.
Hotel choice will matter in Ubud, because traffic makes it very difficult to get to the center. So if you choose one of the beautiful resorts that are more isolated, plan on staying there most of the time. My parents stayed at Adiwana Suweta, which was very nice but a little far from the center.
I stayed at Padma Retreat Ubud which was right in the center so I could walk directly into a pedestrian shopping street from the entrance (which made drop offs and pick up by car a little tricky).
In the time it took them to get back to town from their hotel, I watched a dance show at the Ubud Palace. This is a great way to see Bali’s cultural heritage.
Dinner: Divya Bar Ubud
Live Music & Dancing: L.O.L. Bar & Restaurant
Sweet Treat: Sinamon
Day 5: Go Diving in Tulamben
Scuba diving was a definite highlight of our trip. There is incredible shore diving in Tulamben. I went with Dive Concepts Tulamben divers since it included the round trip transfer from Ubud, which is quite a distance away.
Snorkelers are also welcome, but diving is definitely the best way to see the coral reefs. I observed that many divers were staying right in Tulamben, and if time allowed I would have gladly stayed longer in what I consider some of the most amazing reefs I have ever seen. Ahmed was also highly recommended to us as another diving destination in Bali.
For those who do not enjoying diving and snorkeling, there are plenty of things to do right in Ubud. There is the Ubud Monkey Forest, Tegalalang Rice Terraces, and lots of galleries and shops.
Dinner: Ibu Rai
Live Music & Dancing: CP Lounge
Then head to Sidemen. Samanvaya and Wapa di Ume are both incredible hotels to stay at for a luxury feel. Sidemen is a small town, so hotels can easily get completely booked. Look into your accommodations well ahead of time to avoid disappointment. Likewise for dinner reservations.
I stayed at Sawah Indah Villa which had beautiful rooms, a lovely pool with a view, and included breakfast. All of the accommodations I mentioned were fully booked when my parents joined the trip, so they were at Cepik Villa Sidemen which had a nice suite available.
Other hands-on local activities are available in the area such as exploring the rice terraces on a trek, taking a cooking class, visiting a textile workshop, and making silver jewelry.
Dinner: Asri Dining by Samanvaya
Day 6: Local Class & Sidemen
I have always been interested in textiles so I jumped at the opportunity to create my own batik print. Batik is a resistance dying technique that uses hot wax to create the desired pattern. I found this activity through Airbnb Experiences.
One thing to note about Ubud is that Grab is not allowed so you’ll have to negotiate with a local for a ride. I got a ride on a motorbike to the activity location and then he agreed to pick me up at the activity end time, so it worked out perfectly. Otherwise, plan on renting a motorbike for the days you’ll want to go outside the center.
Day 7 Sunrise Volcano Hike & River Rafting
Hiking Mt Batur at sunrise is a quintessential Bali experience. You’ll realize that when you see the crowds of other tourists making their way up with you. This tour can be booked from Ubud with a variety of operators or arranged directly with your driver like I did since we were departing from Sideman.
Hiking Mt Batur requires an early wake up call, likely around 2 am, since you’ll want to have reached the summit by the time the sun is rising.
The path starts out rather mellow to reach the base and then becomes very vertical along a loose gravel path. Wear appropriate footwear like sneakers to ensure a safe ascent.
We had a hired guide to take us up the mountain which was helpful so we didn’t miss any spots like where you can see the smoke from the volcano. She also prepared a simple breakfast for us at the summit.
Along the way will be other locals that will offer their services, from being your helping hand/human walking stick, to giving you a ride on a motorbike as far as possible. Negotiate a price for the services or tip them at the conclusion of the hike.
If you have limited mobility then this may not be the right activity for you. My dad started the journey but realized it was not for him. Instead our guide drove him up another mountain to a village with a fantastic view of the sunrise. We think he may have gotten the better end of the deal on this one, because while the trek is for most ability levels, it is not easy!
We made it back to our hotel in Sideman for breakfast and took some time in the pool to unwind. Upon my request, our guide was able to arrange river rafting along the Telaga Waja River with a local company. This was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done.
The Telaga Waja river is beautiful, with waterfalls, Jurassic park style views, villages, and the general feeling of stepping back in time. We had two guides on our raft which meant we could just enjoy the ride while they did the navigating.
When we met up with other rafts along the river, it was so fun to try to overtake them or splash them. We almost didn’t do this activity because we were so tired from the hike, but I am so glad we did anyway!
You’ll store any loose articles in a dry bag before boarding the raft, sign a release, and get a quick orientation before getting started. I brought my GoPro along, which was perfect to capture all the fun.
Do bring a change of clothes and wear sports or swim clothes for the river rafting because you will get wet! Our driver met us at the end with the rest of out items, so we were able to grab our change of clothes and use the facilities there to get out of our very wet outfits.
There is a different river you can raft near Ubud, but I chose this one since the access was better and the river seemed more interesting as detailed in this article.
Dinner: Lihat Sawah Restaurant
@wheresnatalienoww Sidemen was such a special place outside of all the crazy things we did from there, definitely spend more time here! Full itinerary on my blog! #baliitinerary #sidemenbali #mtbatur #telagawajarafting ♬ original sound - Natalie
Day 8-10 Island Time
Time to head to the islands! Both Nusa Penida and the Gilli islands are popular choices to visit when in Bali. The Gili Islands are more appropriate if you prefer snorkeling or partying.
I chose to visit Nusa Penida, because I really wanted to snorkel with the Manta Rays. I loved staying right in Nusa Lembongan at Bamboo Bungalows. It is the perfect little beach town with lots of good restaurants and surf shops. My parents stayed at Maua on Nusa Penida which is a stunning resort with exceptional service, but it is isolated.
Day 8- Transfer to Islands
Our driver arranged with a partner company to get all our ferry tickets and on island transportation. You can reach out to them directly on WhatsApp +62 812-3662-523 for a package quote.
This was ideal so we didn’t have to worry about the timing of transfers or the costs of each leg. They were incredible at getting everything coordinated even though we were staying on different islands and were able to customize the itinerary to our needs.
The day worked out this way: first take the speed boat from Kusamba to Nusa Penida. A vehicle met my parents there to take them to their hotel. Then I took a small boat (beware you’ll need to get in the water and lift your luggage into the boat) to Nusa Lembongan.
Then a vehicle met me at the dock to take me to my accommodations. We spent the rest of the day unwinding after the long journey and adventurous previous days.
Late lunch and beach time: The Beach Shack
Dinner: Curry Traders Restaurant & Bar (reservation recommended)
Day 9- Nusa Penida Tour & Manta Ray Snorkel
Breakfast: Fin Island Bar & Restaurant
My day started with my driver picking me up to take me to the docks, to catch the boat back to Nusa Penida. There the family was back together to explore the island by van. The first stop was Kelinking Beach which has an incredible view! The water was even clear enough to see the manta rays swimming far below.
Then was Angel’s Billabong and Broken Beach for more incredible views. Finally, it was time to swim with the manta rays. A private boat took us over to the spot where the manta rays feed and you jump in to snorkel right when they spot them. After this location, you are then taken to snorkel at another nice reef.
Happy hour & Sunset on the beach: Ginger & Jamu
Dinner: Lemongrass Bar & Restaurant
Day 10 Return to Bali, Departure
My luggage had broken so I had to get creative with packing it all back up to continue my trip to Australia. My parents met me over in Nusa Lembongan where we had lunch and hung out at the beach at the Beach Cafe until it was time to go catch our ferry back to Bali. I had my flight later that evening while my parents stayed the night in Sanur and flew out the next day.
@wheresnatalienoww Take me back 🫶 #balitravel #nusapenida ♬ original sound - Natalie
Trip Overview
Over ten days you can experience a variety of different activities that will give you an idea of what Bali has to offer. There's time for relaxing at the beach clubs, surfing the waves, hiking volcanos, snorkeling amongst manta rays, appreciating local crafts, and so much amazing food of course! If you love these kind of activities but also want some more time to just relax or shop, then I would recommend adding one more day in each location.
Ten days is the perfect introduction to Bali, because you will surely want to come back. It's also the perfect stopover on the way to Australia and New Zealand too if you don't want to stop your travels just yet.
What's even better is you can arrange all the flights on one award ticket as I detail in another article. Feel free to comment on what else you'll be including on your trip to Bali or reach out to me to help you plan it!
