If you’re heading to South East Asia, chances are Bali is pretty high on your bucket list. From snorkelling with turtles to stunning temple sunsets, there is so much you can do in Indonesia. Bali does get a pretty bad rep. However, often it’s from people who spend most of their time in areas polluted by Australian tourists just interested in day-drinking and cheap shopping. While that can be fun for a few days, there is much more to experience in Bali and the surrounding islands.
I spent 60 days travelling around Bali and Lombok in 2022, and the below itinerary is what I consider the perfect mix of everything and includes travel days and chill days. If you are an avid surfer, adventure sports junkie, hiker or yoga lover, you may want to allow extra days for surf camps, multi-day volcano hikes, yoga retreats and activities. Are you spending less than thirty days in Bali? Check out my 7-day itinerary, 14-day itinerary, and 21-day itinerary.
Day 1- Canggu
After arriving at Denpasar International Airport in Bali, Canggu is generally the first stop of most backpackers’ itineraries due to its proximity to the airport.
If you arrive during the day and want to get out and explore, head to Love Machine in the heart of Canggu. Here you can do some shopping and exercise your haggling skills. Walk around the nearby streets, a mix of brunch spots, cute boutiques and local shops filled with cheap sarongs, sun dresses and sunglasses.
In the evening, head to Lola’s for Mexican and Marg’s and the immaculate pre-drink vibes. Fancy a night out? Make your way to La Favela, a popular club with multiple levels catering to different music tastes. Want drunk food? Head to pitstop burgers on your way back from La Favela for a great drunken feed.
Day 2- Canggu
Wake up early in the morning (or maybe you never even made it to sleep) for a surf lesson on Canggu beach. After your morning surf, head to one of Canggu’s top-tier brunch spots, such as Crate Cafe or Avocado Factory. Canggu has such a cafe and brunch culture that I wrote a whole post on my favourite cafes, which you can read here.
Enjoy a chill afternoon by the hostel pool, or treat yourself to a spa afternoon at one of Canggu’s affordable day spas.
At around 4 pm, visit Tanah Lot Temple to explore this stunning Balinese temple. Before sunset, head to the beach next to Tanah Lot for one of the most phenomenal sunset views. Be prepared for crowds, so make sure you get there early!
In the evening, head to Black Sand Brewery for dinner and pre-drinks before heading out to dance barefoot on the sand at Sandbar- an infamous beach-front club.
Day 3- Canggu
You’ll probably wake up feeling a little dusty after a late night in Canggu. But that’s nothing a morning swim in the hostel pool and some smashed avo on toast at a cute cafe can’t fix.
After you’re feeling moderately better, it’s time for more drinks. Head to one of Bali’s infamous day clubs for an afternoon of lounging in a cabana, swimming, drinking and maybe even having a cheeky dance. There are many day clubs, such as Finns, La Brisa and Potato Head, to suit different budgets and vibes.
For dinner, head to Luigi’s- an institution in Canggu known for being a great pizza place. Luigi’s also doubles as a hectic club on Mondays and Wednesdays. If you end up at Luigi’s on a night that isn’t their club night, head to Havana Bar for cheap drinks and fun dance vibes.
Day 4- Canggu to Ubud
Enjoy one last hungover Canggu brunch before heading to a place to rest your liver and add a bit more Balinese culture to your itinerary. That’s right; we’re heading to Ubud. For the full travel guide to Ubud, click here. To avoid peak traffic, try to leave Canggu no earlier than 10 am and no later than 2 pm. Otherwise, the journey can take 2-3 hours instead of 1 hour.
Spend the afternoon exploring Ubud city centre, visiting cultural sites such as the Grand Palace and Saraswati Temple, and shopping in Ubud Central Market. Grab an early 5 pm dinner at Sun Sun Warung to avoid the dinner crowds. Sun Sun Warung is some of the best food you will eat in Bali; make sure you try the Nasi Campur.
After dinner, head back to the Grand Palace and buy your tickets to see a traditional dance performance. While the performance doesn’t start until 7:30, if you get there at 7 pm, you can nab a front-row seat with unobstructed views (trust me, it’s worth it).
Day 5- Ubud
Wake up early and feel refreshed to kick off a full day of sightseeing. Grab breakfast at one of Ubud’s popular cafes, Clear Cafe or Zest. Either hire a driver for the day or head out on a scooter to the Tegalalang Rice Terraces. Walk the breathtaking rice fields, take plenty of photos or even have a go at one of the infamous Bali Swings overlooking the terraces.
Next, head to Tenungan Waterfall to swim in one of Bali’s most famous waterfalls (and for a good reason!). After an afternoon dip, make it back to Ubud city centre to tick off another Bali bucket-list item- the monkey forest. Spend as little or as much time watching the Macau monkeys eating, playing and stealing unsuspecting tourists’ belongings from their pockets.
After you’ve had your monkey adventure fill, treat yourself to some banging Italian food at L’osteria. Then get an early night in preparation for another big day tomorrow.
Day 6- Ubud
Wake up early (like 2 am early) to tick off one of the best experiences in Bali, a Mount Batur Sunrise Hike. After getting in a fair few steps and hopefully witnessing a clear insta-worthy sunrise, grab a hearty brunch in town at one of Ubud’s cafes.
Head to Cretya Day Club in the afternoon to relax in their infinity pools overlooking the rice terraces. Treat yourself to cocktails, delicious food and a sneaky nap on a poolside cabana after a long morning of hiking.
If you’re not tired from such a long day, head to CP Lounge in Ubud city centre for more drinks and dancing.
Day 7- Ubud
Enjoy a much-needed relaxed morning enjoying another great Ubud brunch and maybe a yoga or meditation class at Yoga Barn. In the afternoon, book a traditional Balinese jewellery-making class in the silversmith village of Delodsema.
Head back into Ubud city centre with your new custom-made silver jewellery. Grab some dinner at drinks at Simply Social and enjoy people-watching on the main street of Ubud.
Day 8- Ubud
Another early wakeup, this time to take a morning tour of a traditional market as a part of a Balinese cooking class.
After a morning spent cooking and eating up a storm, grab your swimming suits and jump in a car or scooter to visit Tirta Empul. Here you can participate in a traditional Balinese ceremony and be blessed by the holy waters of this temple.
Head back into town in time for a sunset stroll along the Campuhan Ridge. This is the best time to complete the walk both humidity-wise and lighting-wise for photos. After the ridge walk, head to Sun Sun Warung (yes, it’s that good you’ll want to go twice!). Enjoy your last night in Ubud with casual drinks and live music at Hideout Bar.
Day 9- Ubud to Sidemen
Enjoy a leisurely morning filled with brunch, one last stroll through the city and maybe even another yoga class (when in Rome, hey). Head to Oka for lunch to try the Babi Guling, a famous Balinese dish, before making your way to the cutesy town of Sidemen. To make the most of your travel afternoon, consider stopping at Tukad Ceping Waterfall for a short hike and some swimming. Want more Sidemen recommendations? Head to my full travel guide here.
Wander around the small traditional village of Sidemen for golden hour. Then head to Asri Dining for happy hour cocktails and dinner. Get an early night’s sleep in your private villa, ready to explore Sidemen more tomorrow.
Day 10- Sidemen
After breakfast at the hotel, go for a walk or scooter ride through the rice terraces to the west of Sidemen. Stop at Warung Makan for great food and stunning vistas of the rice fields.
In the afternoon, head east to the traditional village of Iseh to enjoy more phenomenal views. Warung Organic has excellent food and panoramic countryside views if you need a snack or drink. Make one last stop at a traditional weaving shop for a demonstration before heading back to your villa for a sunset dip in the pool.
Grab an early dinner at a local restaurant such as Warung Ady or Warung Tirta Unda before heading for an early night.
Day 11- Sidemen to Amed
Today, you’ll wake up before daylight, but I promise it will be all worth it. En route to Amed, head to Pura Lempuyang Temple, better known as the Gates of Heaven, for sunrise to beat the crowds. After spending the morning at the Gates of Heaven, explore the nearby Tirta Gangga Water Temple.
Grab some lunch at a local warung on the way to arrive in Amed early afternoon. Spend a relaxed afternoon on Amed Beach or by the pool at your accommodation. Looking for more activities in Amed? I have a full travel guide on the destination here.
Before sunset, go to Blue Earth Restaurant to watch one of the best sunsets in Bali while eating delicious food and drinks.
Day 12- Amed
If you feel like another early morning, head to Bukit Cinta to watch the sunrise. Otherwise, enjoy a much-needed sleep-in. Either way, go to the best cafe in Amed called Rimba Cafe.
After a great brunch, either book a half-day dive to the Japanese Shipwreck or go snorkelling just off the beach to see the underwater temple.
Head to Blue Earth again (it is that good) for sunset, dinner and drinks. After dinner, if you feel like experiencing the chill nightlife of this small beach town, head to La Pacha Reggae Bar.
Day 13- Amed to Gili T
Grab breakfast at Rimba Cafe or try their competitor Small Point Cafe before heading to the port to depart Bali for Gili T.
Spend the afternoon chilling out by the hostel pool or even rent a snorkel and go for a swim to the east of the island anywhere where you see “turtle point” signs to hopefully spot some turtles.
Head to Jali for dinner and treat yourself to a delicious cocktail and even better burgers (the peanut butter burger is fantastic!).
After dinner, head back to your hostel for pre-drinks, then head out to whichever venue is hosting the party that night. On Gili T, every night of the week, the party alternates between one of the many popular venues. So it is entirely dependent on the night of the week for where you will end up. For more information on the Gili T party scene and other recommendations, read my full travel guide here.
Day 14- Gili T
If you’re not too hungover, head to Banyan Cafe for a sensational smoothie bowl and coffee on the beach.
In the afternoon, if it’s a Thursday or Saturday, sign up for the My Mates Place Boat Party. After an afternoon of drinking, dancing and swimming off the boat, head back to whichever club is hosting the party for that night of the week.
Day 15- Gili T
Depending on how hard you partied last night and how much of a sleep-in you needed, either sign up for the three-island turtle snorkel trip or the sunset turtle snorkel. The three-island turtle snorkel lasts from 10 am- 3 pm and includes lunch. But if you need the sleep, jump on the shorter sunset turtle snorkel tour, which lasts from 3 pm- 6 pm and does not include any meals.
After enjoying a hopefully turtle-filled day, head to Regina’s for delicious, cheesy Italian food. After filling yourself up on carbs and cheese, have an early night to prepare for tomorrow.
Day 16- Gili T
Wake up just before sunrise to join sunrise stand-up paddle board (SUP) yoga. This is one of the best activities I did in Bali! Finishing up around 9 am, enjoy an early morning breakfast at Ayu Cafe overlooking the beach.
After breakfast, rent a bicycle to explore the island. Jump off the bike anytime you fancy a drink at one of the beach bars or just a swim in the bluest waters you’ll ever see. Some other key stops are Pinkcoco (an all-pink restaurant that features in many Insta grid posts), Kelapa Villa Road (a cute laneway filled with bright flowers) and Casa Vintage Beach (a beach with rope swings, also very instagrammable). End your bike ride outside Mad Monkey Hostel. Here you can watch the sunset and swing on the famous swings in the water.
Grab dinner at Mad Monkey Hostel after sunset. If you’re not keen on another night out, head to the Aston Resort at either 7 pm or 9 pm to grab a beanbag and enjoy their free beach cinema.
Day 17- Gili T to Lombok
After grabbing breakfast at one of the beach-front cafes, make your way to the port to head to Lombok. The boat for Lombok is a local boat and runs on a different schedule; it departs whenever they get enough people, so you may have to wait a while. Once you disembark on the island of Lombok, you have to make your way overland to the south of the island. So with all the above factors in mind, this could be a long travel day for you. For more information on the best way to get around Lombok, as well as other recommendations, read my full guide here.
If you arrive in time for sunset, head to Bang Kang Bat Cave. Here you can learn about the native bats, explore the caves and watch the mass exodus of bats at dusk. After sunset, head to a restaurant called That Mexican in Town for authentic, delicious Mexican food. They have heaps of food specials for Mexican Monday if it’s a Monday night.
Day 18- Lombok
Grab a delicious brunch at El Bazar in the centre of town before a day of sightseeing. You’ll want to leave early to head to Geopark Rinjani for a day of chasing waterfalls. In Geopark Rinjani, there are several waterfalls you can visit, depending on how far you want to hike. Benang Stokel Waterfall and Benang Kelambu Waterfall are two of the most popular.
After your hike and waterfall swim, visit a traditional Sasak village, such as Sukarara or Beleq. Here you can learn about traditional weaving and the history of Lombok.
On your return, enjoy food and drinks at Treehouse in the city centre. If it’s a Friday night, head to surfers bar for music and dancing. On a Saturday night, Rasta Bar is where everyone heads for live music, fire shows, cheap rum and cokes and dancing. The nightlife is pretty quiet every other night, so Mad Monkey Hostel or Treehouse are the best places to go for drinks.
Day 19- Lombok
After what may or may not have been a big night out, treat yourself to a vegan smoothie bowl or avocado on toast at Terra Cafe.
Following that, either take a surfing lesson or spend the day chilling at Tanjung Aan beach. If you’re lucky, you’ll see what the beach is famous for the buffalo pack crossing the white sands.
For sunset, head to Bukit Merese to watch one of the most beautiful sunsets on Lombok. For dinner, head to either Sapori for Italian, El Bazar for Middle Eastern food or Boom Burger for cheap but tasty burgers.
Day 20- Lombok to Nusa Penida
Make sure you grab an early breakfast at my favourite cafe in Lombok- Kenza Cafe. Leave early in the morning to allow for delays for another big travel day to get to Nusa Penida. Before hopping on a boat to Nusa Penida, you’ll need to make your way overland to the port in the north of Lombok.
If you arrive in Nusa Penida in time for sunset, head to Penida Colada restaurant and bar. You can enjoy sunset views, great food, live music and plenty of cocktail happy hour options. Want more recommendations and tips for Nusa Penida? Head to my full travel guide here.
Day 21- Nusa Penida
Enjoy complimentary breakfast at your accommodation before heading out for a day jam-packed with sightseeing on the island’s East Coast. The sights on the East Coast include Teletubbies Hill (called Bukit Teletubbies), Goa Giri Putri (Temple inside a cave), Treehouse (also called Molenteng Hill or Thousand Island Viewpoint) and Atuh Beach/ Diamond Beach.
While you can spend any amount of time enjoying the above locations, if you start early enough, you should be able to finish in time to enjoy the sunset and happy hour at one of the many sunset bars. Tonight, head to Secret Penida to try local and Western dishes, drink great cocktails and watch the sun go down. Head to bed early before another big day of sightseeing!
Day 22- Nusa Penida
After a complimentary breakfast at your accommodation, head off early to experience the beauty of the West Coast of Nusa Penida. The West Coast sights include Kelingking Beach (T-Rex Rock formation viewpoint), Broken Beach, Angel Billabong, and Crystal Bay Beach for snorkelling.
Again, I recommend finishing in time to make it back to the beach bars for sunset. Another excellent sunset bar with good vibes, food and drinks is Chill Penida.
Day 23- Nusa Penida to Nusa Lembongan
Start the morning early with a Mantaray Snorkel or Dive. At your own risk, read my full experience with the manta snorkel here.
Afterwards, grab a traditional Indonesian dish at Green Kubu restaurant. Then head to the beach to jump on a small local boat to Nusa Lembongan.
Once you arrive in Nusa Lembongan and have settled in at your hostel, head to the Devil’s Tears to watch the sunset over the rock formation and ocean. For dinner, head to the best local Indonesian restaurant called Cookie Warung.
Day 24- Nusa Lembongan
Get up early to explore the neighbouring island of Nusa Ceningan. Once you cross the famous yellow bridge, head to Sea Breeze restaurant for brunch and a swim. Sea Breeze is cute with rope swings, great music and comfy loungers.
After a leisurely morning at Sea Breeze, head to Mahana Point to watch the crazy high waves hitting the cliff face. Then head down the pathway to Secret Beach for a quick swim.
The next stop is Klyff Beach Club to see the Blue Lagoon. Buy some food or drinks, and then you can use their infinity pools overlooking the lagoon for free. If you’re brave, try cliff-jumping into the lagoon (read my guide on this activity and safety risks here).
As it gets dark, make your way back over the yellow bridge and stop at Alponte Italian Restaurant for dinner and wine. This was some of the best Italian food I’ve had outside of Italy!
Day 25- Nusa Lembongan
Enjoy a leisurely brunch at Bali Eco Deli (best smoothie bowls!) and prepare for a day of beach hopping. Start the day swimming and relaxing at Dream Beach. You can use their infinity pool and loungers for free if you buy a drink or food at Cafe Pangan.
After Dream Beach, head to Sandy Bay Beach for more swimming and to take in the gorgeous scenery. If you’re not tired of beaches yet, head to Mushroom Beach. Afterwards, make your way back to the main beach of Jungitbatu to watch the sunset.
For dinner, head back to Cookie Warung for more delicious Indonesian food.
Day 26-Nusa Lembongan to Uluwatu
Grab another delicious smoothie bowl from Bali Eco Deli before jumping on the ferry headed for Sanur Port. From Sanur, it’s on to the last destination, the chilled-out surfer town of Uluwatu. For the full guide on tips and recommendations in Uluwatu, click here.
Grab lunch at the cult classic Yeye’s Warung for one of the best Nasi Campur’s Bali has to offer. Spend the rest of the afternoon swimming and chilling on the infamous Padang-Padang Beach, where some of the iconic scenes of Eat, Pray, Love were filmed. Make sure you check the tide times before you go. Padang-Padang Beach is best at low tide, as there is little beach to sit on, and it tends to get crowded.
For dinner, go to The Rolling Fork for authentic and delicious Italian food. If it’s a Tuesday night, make sure you stay for their Salsa Night in the back garden (one of the most random yet best nights out in Bali!).
Day 27- Uluwatu
Start the day with a stunning smoothie bowl from Nourish Cafe before heading to Bingin Beach to watch the pro-surfers take on massive waves at high tide. Afterwards, go to the nearby Dreamland beach to swim in the crystal blue waters.
Head to Mazu Beach Club on Balangan Beach for a late lunch. The food is delicious, and there’s no minimum spend to use the infinity pool or spend the afternoon lounging on their beach-side cabanas.
For dinner, head to Ulu Cliffhouse for great burgers and cocktails. Ulu Cliffhouse becomes a club with great DJs if it’s a Friday or Saturday night. Want to keep partying after Ulu Cliffhouse winds down? Head to AngelMartz just near Singlefin for kick-ons. Yes, it is technically a convenience store, but after hours it becomes the only place open for a sesh.
Day 28- Uluwatu
Grab breakfast at one of the hottest cafes in Uluwatu- Suka Espresso. Be warned; you may have to wait for a seat. After you’ve enjoyed great food and coffee, head to Thomas Beach across the road and spend the morning relaxing on a lounger.
At midday, make your way to One-Eighty Day Club. Make sure you book a time slot at least 24 hours in advance as they fill up. Treat yourself to fancy (and delicious) foods and cocktails to reach the minimum spend for a day bed. Make sure you make the most of the glass-bottom, cliffside infinity pool, which is every Tik Tok Creator’s wet dream.
At around 4 pm, head to Uluwatu Temple to explore the sight and also for the famous Fire Dance. Make sure you get there early to queue for your ticket. Also allow time to explore the temple in daylight before heading to the arena for the show.
After you’ve worked up an appetite at Uluwatu Temple, head to District 6 for Italian. If it’s a Monday or Wednesday night, they have all-you-can-eat pizza and pasta for affordable prices.
Day 29- Uluwatu
Start the day with a leisurely brunch at Ours Cafe. If you can, try and get a table in the cutesy back garden area. After brunch, head to the famous Nyang Nyang Beach at low tide. Enjoy the scenic beach and take photos on top of the beached shipwrecks.
For lunch, head back to Yeye’s Warung for one last Nasi Campur (worth it for the double visit!). In the afternoon, head to Sulaban Beach for a swim, relax and watch the surfers.
Just before sunset, make your way to SingleFin Day Club to enjoy the sunset. Grab food and a few drinks at singlefin (if you can get a table). If not, walk just 5 minutes to the main road where there are many good restaurants such as Ulu Garden. If it’s a Sunday night, head back to SingleFin for their iconic Sunday evening party. When SingleFin closes, either head to Angelmartz or TwinFin (underneath SingleFin) for late-night drinks.
Day 30- Uluwatu
Depending on what time you leave Bali, grab one last smoothie bowl at either Nourish, Ours or Suka Espresso Cafes. Spend the day revisiting one of the iconic Uluwatu beaches or chill in the hostel pool.
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