The most common Bali mistake is booking one hotel for the whole week. Ubud and the southern beaches are about ninety minutes apart, and if you base yourself in one you will spend a large part of your holiday in a car getting to the other.
Split the stay. Here is the week we recommend.
Days 1 to 3: Ubud
Start inland while you are still adjusting. Ubud is green, cooler and slower, and the sights around it are close together.
Day one is arrival and nothing else — the Campuhan ridge walk at dusk is enough. Day two covers the Tegallalang rice terraces early, then the Bali swing, Tegenungan waterfall and Tirta Empul temple, finishing at the Monkey Forest and art market. Day three is your Nusa Penida boat day, which starts early from Sanur.
- Tegallalang before 8am, before the tour buses
- Nusa Penida is a long day — Kelingking, Broken Beach, Crystal Bay
- Book a jungle or valley-facing villa; the view is the point
Day 4: move south via Tanah Lot
Check out of Ubud and drive south, timing it so you reach the Tanah Lot sea temple for sunset before continuing to your beach hotel. It turns a transfer day into a sightseeing day, which is the only reason to schedule it this way.
Days 5 to 7: the south coast
Where you stay depends on what you want. Seminyak for beach clubs, restaurants and shopping. Nusa Dua for calm water and family resorts. Uluwatu for cliffs and surf.
Day five is the Uluwatu run — Padang Padang beach, the cliff temple and the Kecak fire dance at sunset, then seafood on the sand at Jimbaran. Day six should be free: a spa, a beach club, water sports at Benoa, or nothing at all. Day seven is departure.
What to leave out
A week is not enough for everything, and trying makes it worse. The Mount Batur sunrise trek means a 2am start and a lost day afterwards — skip it unless it is specifically why you came. North Bali and Lovina are beautiful but too far for a seven-day trip. The Gili Islands need their own three nights.
Better to do six things properly than twelve badly.
Practical notes
Hire a car with a driver for sightseeing days rather than a scooter — traffic around Kuta and Canggu is heavy, and drivers cost less than most people expect. Indian passport holders get a visa on arrival, and there is a tourist levy payable on entry.
April to October is the dry season. January and February see the most rain, usually in short afternoon bursts rather than all day.
Published 30 Jan 2025
