Bali 7-day itinerary

Start 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. Stop at a cliffside cafe for Bali coffee overlooking the green valley. The morning mist rising from the terraces is ethereal and justifies every early alarm.

Sacred Monkey Forest (Rp80,000) — a jungle temple complex with 700+ macaques and ancient banyan trees. Then Ubud Royal Palace (free) and Art Market — handmade crafts and batik. Lunch at Warung Biah Biah for nasi campur (Rp35,000) on a banana leaf. Explore Ubud's cafe scene — Seniman Coffee Studio for single-origin Bali coffee (Rp45,000).

Attend the Kecak Fire Dance at Ubud Royal Palace (Rp100,000, 7:30pm) — 50+ men chant in rhythmic circles enacting the Ramayana with fire. One of Southeast Asia's most powerful cultural performances. Dinner at Locavore To Go for modern Balinese cuisine at accessible prices (Rp45,000–90,000). The original Locavore is one of Asia's best restaurants but the casual sibling delivers similar quality.

Drive to Tirta Empul (Rp50,000) — a sacred spring temple where Balinese Hindus perform purification rituals. Visitors can participate — wear a sarong (provided) and move through the 13 fountains, praying under each spout. The experience is spiritual regardless of beliefs. The temple dates to 962 AD. Nearby, Gunung Kawi (Rp50,000) has spectacular rock-cut shrines from the 11th century.

Visit Tegenungan Waterfall (Rp20,000) — a powerful cascade into a jungle swimming hole. Swim in the pool below the falls. For a quieter waterfall, continue to Tibumana Waterfall (Rp15,000) — a twin cascade in a bamboo gorge with far fewer tourists. The walk through the rice paddies to reach it is beautiful in itself. Stop at a coffee plantation for free tasting including luwak coffee.

Drive to Tanah Lot (Rp60,000) for Bali's most iconic sunset — the sea temple silhouetted against the sky. Food stalls sell nasi goreng (Rp25,000) and fresh coconut water. On the return, dinner at Warung Mak Beng in Sanur (Rp55,000) — a legendary fish restaurant serving only one dish: deep-fried fish with sambal, rice, and soup. No menu, no choices, just perfection.

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

Walk through a cave entrance to Padang Padang Beach — white sand between dramatic cliffs, famous from "Eat Pray Love." The water is crystal clear. Rent a surfboard (Rp100,000/2 hours) or swim. Then walk to Bingin Beach — a surfer village accessed by steep stairs with cliffside warungs serving cold Bintang beer (Rp30,000) and grilled fish (Rp60,000) overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Jimbaran Bay's beachfront restaurants set up tables and candles on the sand at sunset. Choose your seafood by weight — grilled fish (Rp80,000), prawns (Rp120,000), and squid (Rp60,000) — and eat with your toes in the sand as the sun drops into the Indian Ocean. Cold Bintang: Rp30,000. This is Bali dining at its most romantic and it does not need to be expensive.

Take a fast boat from Sanur Harbour to Nusa Penida (Rp150,000–200,000, 30 minutes). This rugged island southeast of Bali has some of the most dramatic landscapes in Indonesia. Rent a scooter (Rp75,000/day) or hire a driver (Rp400,000/day). Head to Kelingking Beach — the famous T-Rex cliff viewpoint with a hidden beach 400 steps below. The turquoise water against the white limestone is extraordinary.

Continue to Angel's Billabong — a natural infinity pool on the cliff edge where turquoise water pools between the rocks (safe to swim at low tide). Adjacent is Broken Beach (Pasih Uug) — a circular arch formation with a natural bridge over the sea that looks like a scene from Jurassic Park. The cliffs and rock formations here are genuinely otherworldly. Pack lunch or eat at a simple warung nearby.

Head to Crystal Bay for snorkelling — the coral reefs here are Bali's best, with manta rays a regular sighting (Rp150,000 for a snorkel trip). The bay faces west so the sunset is spectacular. Catch the 4pm or 5pm fast boat back to Sanur. Dinner in Sanur's beachfront restaurants — a quieter, more laid-back alternative to Kuta with excellent Indonesian food and craft cocktails.

Head to Canggu — Bali's surf and digital nomad capital. Batu Bolong Beach is perfect for beginners — rent a board (Rp100,000/2 hours) or book a lesson (Rp350,000 for 2 hours with an instructor). The waves are gentle and the sand bottom is forgiving. After surfing, breakfast at Crate Cafe (Rp65,000 for smoothie bowl and coffee) or the more local Warung Dandelion (Rp30,000 for nasi campur).

After lunch, drive to nearby Tanah Lot if you missed it earlier, or head to Echo Beach — Canggu's more local surf beach with a dramatic rocky coastline and excellent beachfront warungs. The Lawn is a popular sunset bar with pool access (Rp100,000 minimum spend) and DJ sets. For something more authentic, the local warungs at the southern end of Echo Beach serve nasi goreng (Rp25,000) with ocean views.

Canggu has Bali's best nightlife for young travelers. Old Man's is the legendary surf bar with live music and cheap drinks (Bintang Rp30,000). La Brisa is a stunning driftwood beach club with cocktails (Rp120,000). Deus Ex Machina is a motorcycle-themed temple of cool with a restaurant, gallery, and live events. The scene is international, creative, and runs late every night of the week.

Wake at 2am for the Mount Batur sunrise trek (Rp400,000–600,000 with guide, mandatory). The 2-hour hike in the dark leads to the summit of an active volcano for a sunrise above the clouds with Lake Batur and Mount Agung visible in the distance. Breakfast of eggs cooked by volcanic steam is included. The sunrise at 1,700 metres above sea level is one of Bali's most unforgettable experiences.

Descend and recover at the Toya Devasya Hot Springs (Rp180,000) on the shores of Lake Batur — natural volcanic hot pools with views of the volcano you just climbed. The warm water soothes every muscle. Then drive to Kintamani for lunch at a restaurant overlooking the caldera — the views of the lake and volcano are stunning. The drive back through the rice terraces is beautiful.

Head to Seminyak for a more upscale evening. Dinner at Mama San — Asian fusion in a colonial warehouse (mains Rp150,000–250,000). Or keep it real at Warung Made for Balinese classics (Rp50,000–90,000). For cocktails, Potato Head Beach Club is an institution — the sunset views from the art-deco building with infinity pool and cocktails from Rp130,000 are quintessential Bali.

Book a cooking class in Ubud — Paon Bali (Rp350,000) or Casa Luna (Rp450,000) start with a market tour then teach 5–7 Balinese dishes including sate lilit (lemongrass-wrapped minced fish), lawar (spiced coconut salad), and nasi goreng. Balinese cooking uses fresh spice pastes ground by hand — the aromatic base paste (bumbu) lesson alone is worth the class. You eat everything you cook.

Bali is famous for affordable spa treatments. A 90-minute Balinese massage costs Rp150,000–300,000 at any of the hundreds of spas in Ubud, Seminyak, or Canggu. For a splurge, Fivelements in Ubud offers riverside bamboo treatment rooms. Then one last beach — return to your favourite from the week or discover Nyang Nyang Beach (Uluwatu) — a hidden stretch accessed by 500 steps, virtually empty.

For a final splurge, Rock Bar at Ayana Resort in Jimbaran — cocktails on a platform carved into the cliffside 14 metres above the ocean (Rp200,000+ per cocktail, reservation required). Budget farewell: one last Jimbaran Bay seafood dinner on the sand with your feet in the Indian Ocean. A final Bintang, a final sunset, and the promise that you will return — because everyone returns to Bali.