Bali 3-day itinerary

Start early at Tegallalang Rice Terraces (Rp20,000) north of Ubud — iconic stepped terraces using the ancient subak irrigation system. Walk the trails through the paddies before tour buses arrive. The morning mist rising from the terraces creates an ethereal atmosphere. Stop at one of the cliffside cafes for a Bali coffee overlooking the green valley — views that justify every "Eat Pray Love" cliché.

Walk through the Sacred Monkey Forest (Rp80,000) — a jungle temple complex with 700+ macaques and moss-covered stone carvings. The three Hindu temples inside are still active and the ancient banyan trees create a cathedral-like canopy. Then walk to Ubud Royal Palace (free) and the adjacent Ubud Art Market — handmade crafts, paintings, and batik. Haggle hard — start at 30% of asking.

Attend the Kecak Fire Dance at Ubud Royal Palace (Rp100,000, 7:30pm) — a mesmerizing Balinese performance where 50+ men chant "cak-cak-cak" in rhythmic circles while enacting scenes from the Hindu Ramayana epic with fire. It is one of the most powerful cultural performances in Southeast Asia. Dinner at Warung Biah Biah for traditional Balinese food — nasi campur (Rp35,000) on a banana leaf.

Drive to Tirta Empul (Rp50,000) — a sacred water temple where Balinese Hindus perform purification rituals in the holy spring pools. Visitors can participate — wear a sarong (provided), enter the pools, and move through the 13 fountains as worshippers do, praying under each spout. The experience is spiritual regardless of your beliefs. The temple dates to 962 AD and the ornate carvings are extraordinary.

Drive to Tegenungan Waterfall (Rp20,000) — a powerful cascade into a jungle swimming hole accessible by a short staircase. Swim in the pool below the falls for a refreshing break. Then visit a Bali coffee plantation (most are free with a tasting) to try luwak coffee — the famous civet cat coffee (Rp50,000 per cup). The plantations also show how vanilla, cacao, and cinnamon are grown.

Drive to Tanah Lot Temple (Rp60,000) — Bali's most iconic sea temple perched on a rocky outcrop surrounded by waves. The silhouette against the sunset sky is unmissable. The temple complex has food stalls (nasi goreng Rp25,000). On the way back, stop at a warung (family restaurant) for babi guling (suckling pig, Rp50,000) — Bali's most famous non-halal dish, crispy and aromatic.

Drive to Uluwatu Temple (Rp50,000) — a dramatic clifftop temple 70 metres above the Indian Ocean on Bali's southern tip. The carved coral walls date to the 11th century. The resident monkeys are notorious thieves — remove glasses and secure everything. The views from the cliff edge are staggering. Walk the cliff trail for 30 minutes of the most dramatic coastal scenery in Bali.

Walk down the stone staircase through a cave to Padang Padang Beach — a tiny crescent of white sand between dramatic cliffs, famous from the "Eat Pray Love" movie. The water is crystal clear and the reef break is popular with intermediate surfers. Rent a board (Rp100,000/2 hours) or just swim. For a quieter experience, continue to Bingin Beach — a surfer village accessed by steep stairs with cliffside warungs.

Return to Uluwatu for the sunset Kecak Fire Dance (Rp150,000, 6pm) — performed on the cliff edge with the Indian Ocean as backdrop, it is the most dramatic setting for the performance in all of Bali. Then drive to Jimbaran Bay for the farewell dinner — the beachfront seafood restaurants set up tables and candles on the sand. Choose your fish by weight (Rp100,000–200,000) and eat with your feet in the sand.