Bali
5
Day Itinerary •
Indonesia
Five days in Bali takes you through the full extraordinary range of the Island of the Gods, from the sacred water temples and volcanic highlands of the interior to the extraordinary surf beaches of the Bukit Peninsula, the finest rice terrace landscapes on earth at Tegallalang and Jatiluwih, and the ancient Hindu heartland of Ubud with its extraordinary dance, craft and spiritual traditions. This route covers the complete Bali experience. The great temples of Tanah Lot, Uluwatu and Pura Luhur Batukaru, the extraordinary subak irrigation system of the UNESCO rice terraces, the volcanic caldera of Mount Batur, the finest Balinese cooking, the hidden waterfalls of the north, and the extraordinary Hindu ceremonies that fill every village every week of the year.
Best Time To Visit
April to October, dry season
Getting There
Fly into Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), Denpasar
Getting Around
Driver hire or scooter essential throughout
Budget Per Day
Approx 80 to 180 USD per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate, walking and riding
DAY 1
UBUD
MORNING
SACRED MONKEY FOREST SANCTUARY, UBUD
The Mandala Suci Wenara Wana, home to over 700 long-tailed macaques within an ancient forest of towering fig trees and three extraordinary Hindu temples. The moss-covered stone carvings and the forest's sacred atmosphere are unlike anywhere else on earth. Entry approx 80,000 IDR. Arrive before 9am for the extraordinary dawn light. Transfer: 15 min walk through Ubud centre
MIDDAY
UBUD ROYAL PALACE AND UBUD MARKET
The Puri Saren Agung royal palace at the heart of Ubud, still home to the royal family of Ubud, with extraordinary carved stone gates and traditional Balinese pavilions. The adjoining Ubud Art Market sells the finest Balinese textiles, carvings, silver and batik. Free entry to palace grounds. Transfer: 20 min drive north
AFTERNOON
TEGALLALANG RICE TERRACES
The most photographed rice terraces on earth, carved into the hillside above the Pakerisan river valley in extraordinary sweeping tiers maintained by the ancient subak cooperative irrigation system. The light in late afternoon turns the terraces extraordinary shades of green and gold. Entry approx 15,000 IDR.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Campuhan Ridge Walk from Ubud begins at the Gunung Lebah temple and follows an extraordinary narrow ridge through coconut palms and river valleys for 9km to Kedewatan village. Best at dawn before the heat. Free. One of the most beautiful walks in all of Indonesia.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Seniman Coffee Studio Extraordinary single-origin Balinese coffee and avocado toast in the heart of Ubud. | Lunch: Locavore NXT, Ubud Outstanding modern Balinese tasting menu using only local ingredients. Book ahead. | Dinner: Mozaic Restaurant Gastronomique The finest restaurant in Bali, in a tropical garden. Seven-course menu extraordinary.
DAY 2
VOLCANIC HIGHLANDS
MORNING
MOUNT BATUR SUNRISE TREK
The extraordinary active volcano rising 1,717 metres above sea level, with a 2-hour predawn ascent by torchlight to reach the summit for one of the most extraordinary sunrises in Southeast Asia. The crater rim views over Lake Batur and the outer caldera are breathtaking. Guided trek from approx 300,000 IDR including breakfast cooked on volcanic vents at the summit. Transfer: 45 min drive to Kintamani
MIDDAY
KINTAMANI CALDERA AND PURA ULUN DANU BATUR
The extraordinary panoramic viewpoint over the vast Batur caldera, one of the finest volcanic landscapes in the world. The Pura Ulun Danu Batur, the second most important temple in Bali, sits on the caldera rim and governs the sacred water flowing to all Balinese rice fields. Entry approx 30,000 IDR. Transfer: 1 hour drive south through the highlands
AFTERNOON
TIRTA EMPUL HOLY SPRING TEMPLE
The most sacred spring temple in Bali, where worshippers purify themselves in the extraordinary series of stone-spouted pools fed by a natural spring that has never dried in recorded history. Balinese Hindus come from across the island for the purification ritual. Entry approx 50,000 IDR. Sarong and sash required.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, 40km west of Ubud, are the finest UNESCO rice terrace landscape in Bali, far less visited than Tegallalang and covering an extraordinary 600 hectares of the Batukaru mountain slopes. The views across the ancient subak terraces to the Indian Ocean are extraordinary. Entry approx 40,000 IDR.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Summit breakfast, Mount Batur Eggs and bananas cooked over volcanic steam vents at 1,717m. Extraordinary. | Lunch: Lakeview Restaurant, Kintamani Buffet lunch with the finest caldera views in Bali. Local lawar and babi guling. | Dinner: Swept Away, COMO Shambhala Outstanding restaurant beside the Ayung river gorge. Local river fish and organic Balinese produce.
DAY 3
EAST BALI
MORNING
PURA BESAKIH, THE MOTHER TEMPLE OF BALI
The most sacred and extraordinary temple complex on the island, comprising 23 separate temples on the southwest slopes of the sacred Mount Agung volcano at 1,000 metres elevation. The Great Temple of Besakih has been a place of Hindu worship for over 1,000 years. The extraordinary views up towards Agung's summit from the terraced shrines are sublime. Entry approx 60,000 IDR. Transfer: 1 hour drive east to Tirta Gangga
MIDDAY
TIRTA GANGGA ROYAL WATER PALACE
The extraordinary water palace of the last Raja of Karangasem, built in 1946 with a complex of moats, fountains, stepping-stone pools and ponds filled with enormous koi. The 11-tiered fountain is extraordinary. The rice field walk from the palace through the paddy valleys of east Bali is the finest short walk on the island. Entry approx 50,000 IDR. Transfer: 30 min drive to Sidemen
AFTERNOON
SIDEMEN VALLEY, THE HIDDEN BALI
The most beautiful valley in Bali, utterly untouristy, where extraordinary rice terraces fall away towards the sea framed by Mount Agung and Mount Lempuyang. Local weavers produce extraordinary double ikat songket cloth in the village. Walk the extraordinary ridge path from Sidemen village through the terraces at dusk.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
Pura Lempuyang, the Temple of the Dragon, sits at 1,175 metres on the slopes of Mount Lempuyang in east Bali. The extraordinary Gates of Heaven framing Mount Agung are among the most photographed images in all of Indonesia. Arrive before 6am for the extraordinary dawn light with no crowds. Entry approx 50,000 IDR.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Warung in Sidemen village Simple nasi goreng and Balinese coffee before Besakih opens. | Lunch: Cafe Sidemen Outstanding rice terrace views, local black rice pudding and Balinese duck. | Dinner: Dewa Warung, Sidemen Extraordinary home cooking by a local family. Slow-cooked bebek betutu duck. Book ahead.
DAY 4
SEMINYAK
MORNING
TANAH LOT SEA TEMPLE
The most extraordinary temple in Bali, perched on a dramatic rocky outcrop surrounded by the crashing Indian Ocean surf, accessible only at low tide. The Pura Tanah Lot is one of Bali's most sacred sea temples and the finest sunset viewpoint on the island. Entry approx 60,000 IDR. Visit in the morning for extraordinary light and smaller crowds. Transfer: 30 min drive south to Seminyak
MIDDAY
SEMINYAK BEACH AND PETITENGET TEMPLE
The finest beach in the Seminyak-Kerobokan area, a wide sweep of volcanic black sand surf beach where the extraordinary Pura Petitenget sea temple sits directly on the sand. One of a chain of six sea temples said to protect Bali from evil spirits. The beach at noon is extraordinary for swimming. Entry to temple approx 10,000 IDR. Transfer: 10 min walk
AFTERNOON
SEMINYAK VILLAGE AND SUNSET STRIP
The finest collection of boutique shopping, galleries and design stores in Bali, concentrated in the extraordinary Seminyak Village and Oberoi Street area. The Balinese artisan textiles, organic beauty products and handcrafted furniture are outstanding. The sunset from any beach club on the Seminyak strip is extraordinary.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Pura Taman Ayun royal temple in Mengwi, built in 1634 as the state temple of the Mengwi kingdom, is the most beautiful moated temple in Bali. The extraordinary tiered meru towers reflected in the surrounding moat are among the finest examples of Balinese temple architecture. Entry approx 20,000 IDR. Almost never crowded.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: La Favela, Seminyak Outstanding garden cafe in a restored villa. Acai bowls and fresh tropical juices. | Lunch: Merah Putih, Seminyak The finest modern Indonesian restaurant in Bali. Extraordinary volcanic clay-pot dishes. | Dinner: Sarong Restaurant, Seminyak Outstanding pan-Asian fine dining in an extraordinary carved Balinese dining room.
DAY 5
ULUWATU
MORNING
PURA ULUWATU, THE CLIFFTOP TEMPLE
The most dramatic temple location in Bali, perched on a sheer 70-metre limestone cliff above the Indian Ocean on the tip of the Bukit Peninsula. One of the six sea temples protecting Bali, with extraordinary views along the coastline in both directions. The resident population of grey macaques are extraordinary. Entry approx 50,000 IDR. Arrive early for the best light. Transfer: 20 min walk to Uluwatu beach
MIDDAY
ULUWATU SURF BEACHES: PADANG PADANG AND BINGIN
The finest surf beaches in Bali, hidden at the base of extraordinary limestone cliffs reached by steep stone stairways. Padang Padang is a perfect barrel wave in a narrow cave mouth. Bingin is an extraordinary left-hand reef break with a collection of extraordinary clifftop warungs above the break. Entry approx 10,000 IDR each. Transfer: 30 min drive east
AFTERNOON
KECAK FIRE DANCE AT ULUWATU
The most extraordinary performance in all of Indonesia, held every evening at the clifftop amphitheatre of Pura Uluwatu with the Indian Ocean as backdrop. A chorus of 50 men chanting kecak as the Ramayana is enacted against an extraordinary sunset. The fire dancing at the climax is extraordinary. Tickets approx 150,000 IDR. Book on the day.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Nusa Penida island, 45 minutes by fast boat from Sanur, contains Kelingking Beach, one of the most dramatic coastal formations on earth, a T-rex shaped limestone headland above an extraordinary turquoise cove. The Broken Beach natural arch and Angel's Billabong tidal pool are equally extraordinary. A full day trip from Bali. Hire a scooter on arrival for approx 80,000 IDR per day.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Single Fin, Uluwatu Outstanding clifftop cafe above the surf break. Acai, fresh juice and Sunday Sessions. | Lunch: Warung Sunset, Bingin Local nasi campur and grilled fish on an extraordinary clifftop terrace above the reef. | Dinner: Cuca Restaurant, Jimbaran Outstanding farm-to-table Balinese cuisine. Extraordinary tapas menu and local arak cocktails.
Where To Stay
Ubud, Nights 1 to 2 Komaneka at Bisma or Alaya Resort. Rice terrace views. Approx 80 to 200 USD per night. Sidemen or Amed, Night 3 Sawah Indah Villa or Sidemen Valley guesthouse. Approx 40 to 100 USD per night. Seminyak or Uluwatu, Nights 4 to 5 The Layar or Alila Villas Uluwatu. Approx 120 to 300 USD per night.
Top Tips
1. Arrive at Tegallalang rice terraces before 8am for extraordinary light and no crowds.
2. Mount Batur sunrise trek departs at 3am. Book a guide the day before in Kintamani.
3. Wear a sarong at every temple. Hire one at the gate for approx 10,000 IDR.
4. Ubud evening Kecak dance at Uluwatu is extraordinary. Book on the day, arrive 30 min early.
5. Exchange currency at licensed money changers in Ubud. Never use street changers.
6. Balinese cremation ceremonies are public. Ask your driver, they happen year-round.
Total Budget
70 to 330 USD/day