Are you looking to book your first ever trip to Bali? Or maybe you are looking to uncover a side of Bali you haven’t seen before. Bali has so many different pockets to explore so it’s handy to have a pre-planned itinerary so you have done the research before you leave home and you can make the most of your time.
Firstly it’s a good idea to get a feel for what each part of Bali has to offer. You will find a detailed overview of Bali’s popular and lesser known destinations right here. Now that you have a rough idea of what you get in different areas of Bali, you can start planning what you want your Bali trip to look like and construct a detailed itinerary. For a 7-day trip, you can explore 2-3 destinations, although, at times, traffic affects transfer times between areas.
Below is an itinerary for a 7-day, well-rounded trip where you can enjoy shopping, dining, and nightlife in Canggu, some nature and spirituality in Ubud, and some downtime by the beach and Balinese culture in Uluwatu.
Day 1
There are a lot of things to do in Canggu so Day 1 and 2 will be dedicated to exploring the area.
7am
Wake up in Canggu. Head down to the nearest beach for a walk and to get your bearings.
9.00am
Head out to one of Canggu’s many amazing cafes for breakfast and a smoothie. You will find coffee as good as any café in Australia!
12pm
Spend the day at one of the awesome beach clubs in Bali located in Canggu. The black sand beaches in Canggu are picturesque for a walk or to catch a sunset, but are usually not so friendly for swimming. So if swimming and enjoying sea breeze is something you are hoping to do, it’s a good idea to head to a beach club. We recommend Finns for a luxury vibe or The Lawn for something more casual and down to earth. Have cocktails, food and swim in the pool. Stay until sunset, usually around 6.30. Often there is a DJ or live music that starts at sunset and continues into the night.
Day 2
9.00am
Wake up and head to another one of Canggu’s fabulous cafes to fuel up for a day of shopping and exploring.
10.00am
Spend a few hours ducking in and out of shops on Batu Bolong or Berawa. There are plenty of fashion stores from upmarket boutiques to shops selling locally made fashions, homewares and crafts. For markets, try Love Anchor on Batu Bolong where you will find deals on jewelry, clothes and crafts- if you negotiate!
1pm
Locate a lunch spot you would like to try. Canggu is known for some of the best cafes and restaurants on the island so you will be spoiled for choice.
3pm
Time to put your feet up and have a spa treatment or massage at one of the many spas. We love Gold Dust and Spring Spa for high end beauty treatments but you will find a great Balinese massage almost anywhere off the street!
5.30pm
Head down to the local beach for sunset at a warung. A warung is a local style place to eat or drink. You will find coconuts, ice cold bintangs and local favourites like Nasi Goreng and sate on the menu.
7.30pm
You might like to try one of Canggu’s amazing restaurants or bars for your last night in Canggu! Mason, Shelter, Ji or One Eyed Jack! The options are endless. There are also a number of speakeasy bars for those who want to try something a little off the beaten track! For the party goers you can are going to want to head to Old Mans for some beer pong and dancing.
Day 3
7.30am
The early bird gets the worm! Book an early transfer to Ubud. Depending on where in Canggu you are and what the traffic is like you can get to Ubud in 1-2 hours. Don’t leave it too late, traffic gets bad around midday. There is also motorbike commuter traffic around 8 or 9am. We recommend using the Grab app.
11.00am
Visit the Ubud Palace, the Monkey Forest and Ubud Art Market. They are all within central Ubud. You could probably walk between each but you may want to get a bike or car taxi. You can grab lunch along the way. Ubud has a great food scene with lots of healthy cafés serving both Indonesian and Western food.
3.00pm
Book a cooking class and get up close and personal with Balinese cuisine. You will learn about the typical ingredients, flavours and traditional dishes, and you will get to try it all at the end!
Day 4
8.00am
If you want to get the blood pumping while you immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Ubud, why not try rafting. Although it will take an adventurous spirit, the rapids are suitable for almost anyone.
Another option for nature junkies is the sunrise Mount Batur Trek. But be warned! You will begin trekking at 3.30am to hike for around 2 hrs to get to the top which is at 1717m for sunrise. This means pick up from your accommodation can be as early as 2.30am.
3.00pm
Have some down time around the pool either at your accommodation or at one of Ubud’s pool clubs. You can try Folk Pool and Gardens in town or Cretya. Some of the resorts offer day passes also. There are also the many Bali swings in this area of Bali if you wish to get that insta perfect snap. Many of them even hire the long flowing dresses for you to wear while you swing.
7.00pm
Choose from one of Ubud’s many dining outlets. Locavore is a favourite for those seeking gastronomy, the Sayan House has stunning jungle and valley views, Dumbo is a great choice for Vegans and Donna has tapas and sexy vibes. If you want to get your party on head to Blue Door, there is always something happening in the evenings there.
Travel Tip! If you have more time, try hiking Kawah Ijen Crater from Bali. It’s a bucketlist worthy destination!
Day 5
7.30am
Bali offers one of the best yoga retreats in the world. Make sure you add this to your itinerary. Wake up and head for yoga or meditation at one of Ubud’s famous yoga centres.
If this isn’t for you, you can take a walk along the Campuhan Ridge. It’s a short walk along a ridge in between two valleys. The views are truly jaw dropping.
10.30am
Get a transfer to Uluwatu. This could take anywhere from 2-3hrs. Once again we recommend using the Grab app, you can even rent the car for up to 12 hours on the app so that you can go exploring once you get there.
2.00pm
Freshen up in your lovely Uluwatu hotel and and head down to one of the incredible beaches.. Dreamland, Bingin, Melasti, Padang Padang, Balangan or Suluban beaches are just as picturesque as each other. Dreamland and Melasti are the most accessible by car if you want to avoid lots of steps down.
5.30pm
Head to Uluwatu temple for the nightly Kecak dance performance. This is a cultural experience you don’t want to miss! The choir, the fire twirling and traditional costumes as the sunsets in the background are sure to be the highlight of your trip to Bali.
Day 6
8.00am
Arrive at the beach early along with the surfers. Grab banana pancakes for breakfast at one of the warungs and spend the morning relaxing on the beach and watching surfers ride perfect waves.
12.00pm
Grab lunch at one of Uluwatu’s trendy eateries. Suka Espresso and Ulu Gardens have great coffee and brunch options.
1.30pm
Explore the beautiful botanic gardens at the Garuda Wisnu Cencana Cultural Park and marvel at the Garuda eagle statue, the third tallest statue in the world! There are plenty of cultural learnings to be had.
5.30pm
Head to Single Fin for a sunset cocktail and take in the panoramic views of the Indian Ocean from Bali’s southernmost tip. Stay after dark if you’re in the mood for some DJ beats or live music.
Day 7
10.00am
There’s no better place to spend your last day in Bali than Sundays Beach Club. The gondola ride down the steep cliffs will set the scene for a memorable day relaxing on a private beach.
The food and drinks menu is the perfect accompaniment to a day spent stretched out on the white sand beach and playing in the water with the kayaks and paddle boards. You might as well stay till sunset and roast marshmallows when they get the bonfires started.
And if you decide to extend your stay, make sure you add some scuba diving adventures to your list. Discover the underwater beauty of Komodo National Park to Raja Ampat.
Would you like help from Bali experts customizing an itinerary just for you? Bali Buddies is happy to help! You can download their detailed itinerary planner right here. Their guide to Bali comes with a rundown on all the different areas and everything you are going to want to see and do in each area. There is something for everyone! It also includes suggestions for activities and accommodation in each neighborhood, a booking checklist and packing checklist including a checklist especially for families with kids!
