A week in Bali will provide you with all of the things most of us look for in a vacation. Bali offers a rich and vibrant culture. There are also many opportunities to relax and recharge. Perhaps best of all, you can impress your friends on social media with brilliant selfies in front of incredible sites. Here’s how you can spend one week in Bali and gain a lifetime’s worth of memories!
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One Week Itinerary
We’ll start with the bad news. It takes FOREVER to fly to Bali! I flew from Austin to San Francisco. After a four hour layover, I flew 17 hours to Singapore. After spending 8 hours in Singapore, I finally boarded my flight to Denpasar, Bali. With the 14 hour time change, I landed in Bali roughly 48 hours after I departed. It takes commitment to get to Bali!
But it’s worth it! There’s no place on earth quite like it. Bali not only boasts beautiful scenery but also a vastly different culture. The arts and crafts scene is phenomenal. And the people are delightful and welcoming.
So here’s an idea of how you can spend a week in Bali:
Arrival
Most flights from the U.S. to Bali land late at night. You will fly into Denpasar, Bali. I recommend that you begin your week in Bali in Ubud which is about 1.5 hours from the airport. Book a private transfer to make things easy. The great thing about Bali is that other than your flights, everything is pretty cheap. So you can afford to pay for luxuries like this! After such a long flight, it’s nice to just walk outside security and see someone holding up a sign with your name on it. You don’t have to worry about finding a taxi, negotiating a fare, and wondering if the driver is taking you where you want to go.
Once you arrive at your hotel you will be so happy to see a bed that sleep won’t be elusive. I promise! I recommend staying at the Alaya Resort Ubud. This incredibly affordable 5 star hotel features beautiful rooms, terrific amenities, and delicious food.
Day 1
Campuhan Ridge Walk
If you are up early due to jetlag, watch the sunrise and spend a few hours on the Campuhan Ridge Walk. This paved walkway takes you through lush green hills and trees. It’s a great way to spend a few hours to kickstart your week in Bali.
The easiest way to get there from your hotel is take a taxi or rent a motor scooter. Unless you are accustomed to driving a motor scooter, I suggest sticking to taxis! The most convenient way to get a taxi is by downloading the Grab app. It works just like Uber/Lyft. (Don’t miss my post How to Stay Connected While Abroad for more information on using your phone while traveling.)
After your sunrise jaunt, return to your hotel for breakfast and to clean up. Then you can enjoy the hotel’s fabulous breakfast. Don’t miss the French toast – it’s topped with a scoop of ice cream!
Sacred Monkey Forest
Our next stop is the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. This is super close to the hotel, so you can just walk. The sanctuary is home to more than 1,200 long-tailed macaque monkeys. There are three Balinese temples on site, but you won’t really notice them as monkeys perch on every inch!
The monkeys aren’t still and they aren’t quiet. It’s a cacophony of sound and monkeys are scurrying everywhere. In fact, if monkeys terrify you, you might consider skipping this visit. But if you are just mildly afraid, you will enjoy the interactions. Just don’t bring bring snacks or drinks unless you want to have even more interaction with the monkeys as they snatch the treat from your hands! And don’t grin at them – monkeys interpret bared teeth as a sign of aggression!
You can have a delicious lunch nearby at Café Wayan. Here you can enjoy local cuisine that is artfully arranged. The best thing is that it tastes as good as it looks! On your way to the restaurant, make sure to browse in some of the shops and stalls near the monkey forest. This is one of the best places to shop in Ubud. You can get your souvenir shopping done early in the trip!
Tirta Empul Water Temple
After lunch, have the restaurant call you a taxi or use the Grab app to go to Tirta Empul Water Temple. Here you can observe and even participate in a Balinese Hindu cultural ceremony of blessing and purification. The temple is known for the natural spring water that is considered holy to the Hindus. Those who bathe here are blessed.
After walking through the complex, you have the opportunity to change into swimwear and a green sarong and participate in the water ceremony. Walking from spout to spout, you should splash the holy water over your face and hair. The locals also drink it, but that’s a bad idea if you aren’t a local (see my related post 5 Things to Do When You Get Sick Abroad)!
After this refreshing dip, make your way back to the hotel. You can pre-arrange a ride with the taxi driver who brought you to Tirta Empul or just use the handy Grab app again. You will likely be exhausted at this point, so grab a quick dinner near the hotel or at one of the hotel’s restaurants and call it a night!
Day 2
Today you will book a tour for a day trip to the most scenic sites in central/northern Bali. There are any number of tours you can choose from, but I’m going to recommend one that takes you to the most photographed spots in Bali. After all, you want to see with your own eyes what you always see in the pictures! This private tour takes you to Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, Handara Gate, Jatiluwih rice terrace, and Tanah Lot Temple. Prepare for a long day!
Ulun Danu Bratan Temple
Known as the “floating temple” due to its location on Lake Beratan, Ulun Danu Bratan has three tiered shrines and beautiful gardens. Two of the shrines are floating in the water, at least during Bali’s wet season! At the end of a dry season, the temple might be surrounded by grass instead of water. If you do visit during the wet season, make sure to rent a boat and paddle around the temples for different viewpoints.
Handara Gate
The iconic Handara Gate graces many travelers’ Instagram pages. In fact, it’s really only a entrance to a resort and golf course! So tourists are just going for the photo. The line to get your special shot could be up to two hours long, so this might not be worth it for some people. If the line is short or you are willing to wait for your turn, social rules dictate that you only get five minutes to take your photos.
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
No trip to Bali is complete without a stroll through stunningly green rice terraces. The Jatiluwih Rice Terraces are a perfect choice for this. A UNESCO World Heritage site, these rice fields span over 1,500 acres. These rice terraces are unusual in that they are harvested three times per year – the only place in the world with this many harvests! You can take several treks through the fields. Those of you on Instagram will have seen photos of tourists on huge swings in Bali. If you’ve been waiting for one, you are in luck! There’s a swing here to check that off your bucket list!
Tanah Lot Temple
Our last stop will be Tanah Lot to see an absolutely gorgeous sunset. Tanah Lot Temple dates back to the 15th century when a Hindu priest successfully protected the rock on which it is perched from the local village chief. The temple itself was built in the 16th century.
Aside from the temple itself, the complex includes beautiful gardens, elaborate gates, interesting statues, and souvenir stalls. It’s easy to spend a few hours wandering around. For sunset itself, I recommend going to the very back of the complex and taking the stairs uphill until you reach a series of outdoor cafes. Here you can avoid the crowds as you sit and watch the sunset with a cold beverage and a snack!
Day 3
Yesterday was exhausting, but we saw so many terrific sites! Today we will spend in more relaxing and creative pursuits. Consult my post 5 Brilliant Things to Do in Beautiful Bali for suggestions on how you can spend your day.
Opportunities for yoga classes, massages, and flower baths are abundant. You also should not miss doing at least one arts and crafts class while you are in Bali. You can pre-book an experience on Viator or Get Your Guide. Or you can inquire at your hotel for suggestions, or just wander around to discover walk-in opportunities.
You will want to wrap up your souvenir shopping while in the Ubud area. Ubud Traditional Art Market is a good place to check out. It’s not far from your hotel.
If you want to see how a Balinese family lives, then you might consider visiting the Bali Budaya Cultural Village and Spiritual Journey. There are a number of programs offered, but I suggest spending the evening taking a cooking class. You can learn how to make the local cuisine, have an introduction to how a typical Balinese family lives, and learn more about your delightful hosts! Your hotel can help arrange transportation to and from Kemenuh where the house is located.
Day 4
If you are the hearty type, consider getting up early to hike up Mount Batur for sunrise! This tour takes about eight hours, but it starts early – 2:30 a.m.! You have to drive from Ubud to the volcano and then hike all the way up before the sun starts to rise. The hike uphill takes about two hours. This is considered a moderate hike – it’s pretty steep, but there’s a good trail. At the top of the volcano, you will enjoy a beautiful sunrise and breakfast cooked by your guide using the volcano’s steam. It’s definitely a once in a lifetime experience!
If the hike isn’t for you, you can sleep in. Or you could be adventurous and visit the morning market. Here you will likely be the only tourist in sight. This is where the locals go to buy fresh ingredients for their meals that day. Make sure you visit early, though. If you wait until after the sun is fully risen, a lot of the vendors will have moved on with their day.
After your early morning excursions, it’s time to pack up your things. Today we transition to Seminyak for a few days of frolicking on the beach. It’s less than 20 miles between Ubud and Seminyak, but that will take at least an hour due to traffic. That’s OK – we don’t have an busy agenda today!
In Seminyak, I suggest staying at Potato Head Suites & Studios. This five star hotel is focused on sustainability. Here you can spend time on the beach, lounge by the pool, take advantage of the spa, participate in exercise classes, and much more. I highly recommend the Behind the Waste tour. Here you can see the impressive lengths the hotel staff goes to in order to reuse and recycle all waste produced at the hotel (or that washes up on their shores). There are also seven restaurants on site where you can enjoy fabulous food and drinks.
After you check in, spend some time wandering the grounds and getting a lay of the land. You’ll want make a plan for how you spend tomorrow!
Day 5
Today is your day to relax and rejuvenate at Seminyak Beach. Take advantage of all that your resort offers. You can even wander into town. There’s a vast array of storefronts offering massages and spa treatments which will definitely be cheaper than at the hotel. There’s also a small flea market within walking distance. There are better markets in Ubud, but it’s a good option if you still need to buy a few souvenirs.
This is also a great day for water sports. You can also take a surfing lesson, go snorkeling at Bali’s Blue Lagoon beach or scuba dive to see the USS Liberty shipwreck.
But if you are like me, water sports or a full day of relaxing by the pool or beach isn’t appealing. I like to go go go on vacation. Obviously I need to take some tip’s from Amanda’s post on how to relax on vacation! So I might consider this full day trip to Nusa Penida.
Nusa Penida is a small island about 15 miles from Bali. It’s filled with amazing beaches and beautiful sites. This tour will pick you up at the hotel and take you to Sanur Beach where you will take a speedboat to Nusa Penida. Then a driver will take you around the most Insta-worthy spots on the island.
First you visit Broken Beach featuring a cliff with an arch created by erosion. Then you will visit Angel’s Billabong where you can enjoy a swim in the amazingly clear water. The next stop is Kelingking Beach for an amazing view of the beach from a cliff. If you are adventurous, you can hike down the cliff and enjoy an almost empty beach. The last stop is Crystal Bay where you can enjoy the white sand beach and snorkel.
Day 6
Today we’ll spend most of the day relaxing and participating in activities at Potato Head. Make sure to check out Potato Head’s event calendar and register for the events you want to do!
Then at 3 p.m., you will depart on on a tour to Uluwatu to have a final “wow” experience for your trip. First you visit Uluwatu Temple. Dating from the 11th century, this is a sea temple perched on a cliff and famous for picturesque sunsets. This temple has resident Macaque monkeys who will often steal your stuff, so be aware.
After touring the temple, you will experience the Kecak and Fire Dance performed at sunset. The performance features approximately 50 men telling the story of Ramayana. Trance rituals are part of the performance preceding the fire dance. Supposedly the dancer is in a trance state so he does not feel pain if he is burned by the fire he is handling. It’s quite a spectacle and a great way to end your Bali vacation.
Departure
Sadly, it’s time to head to the airport to start your long journey home. Just have the hotel call you a taxi to get to the airport. You can do some final shopping there. It’s a good place to buy some Balinese chocolate to take home as souvenirs (or simply to fortify yourself during the long plane rides!).
What’s on your must-do list for your week in Bali?
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