Bali in 7 Days — Add Gili Islands + Sidemen East Bali

Activities

1. 08:00 Tegalalang Rice Terraces sunrise walk 1.5-2 hours

   Bali's most-photographed rice paddies — green stepped terraces on a hillside 30 min north of Ubud Centre. Early morning beats tour buses + heat. Free entry but expect 'donation' checkpoints (Rp 50,000 / $3 each, 2-3 along the path).

   Cost: Free; donations $3 × 2-3 = $6-9 TIP: Arrive 7:30-8:00 AM before tour buses (which start arriving 9:30 AM). Wear closed-toe shoes — paths are muddy after rain. The Bali Swing $30-50 nearby is the Instagram photo spot but heavily commercial.
2. 10:30 Tirta Empul Water Temple 1.5 hours

   10th-century Hindu temple with sacred-spring purification pools. Locals + tourists wade through pools and head-rinse under spouts for ritual blessing. Bring a change of clothes — you'll get wet.

   Cost: $5 entry; sarong rental free at entry TIP: Best 9-11 AM before midday crowd. Bring a sarong (rented free) and waterproof bag for valuables. Skip the heated-spring upgrade — the cold spring is the actual ritual. Photographers should wait at pool exit for the head-rinsing moment.
3. 12:30 Lunch at Locavore To Go or Hujan Locale 1.5 hours

   Locavore (Ubud Centre) is the Michelin-starred farm-to-table lab; To Go is the casual takeaway counter. Hujan Locale serves modern Indonesian. Both are in walking distance of Ubud Centre.

   Cost: $10-25 / Rp 160K-400K per person TIP: Locavore To Go is the no-reservation option — sandwiches + healthy bowls $8-15. Hujan Locale needs 1-2 day reservation. Both are 10-min walk from the Sacred Monkey Forest entrance.
4. 14:30 Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary 1.5 hours

   10-hectare forest with 700+ Balinese long-tailed macaques + 3 ancient temples + a canopy walk through the jungle. The walking paths and stone bridges are atmospheric; monkeys are wild but habituated.

   Cost: $5 entry TIP: Don't carry anything visible — hats, sunglasses, water bottles all get stolen. Don't make eye contact with adult males. Don't separate from the path. Mothers will defend babies aggressively. Late afternoon (3-4 PM) is calmer than midday.
5. 16:30 Ubud Centre + Ubud Art Market 1.5 hours

   Ubud Royal Palace, the morning Ubud Market (relocates afternoon to art-focused stalls), Antonio Blanco Museum, and the Saraswati Temple. Walkable.

   Cost: Free wandering; Ubud Palace $1; Blanco Museum $5 TIP: Haggle at the Art Market — start at 30-40% of asking price. Saraswati Temple's lotus pond is the canonical free photo spot. Antonio Blanco Museum is the Spanish-Filipino artist's surrealist works — worth $5 if rainy.
6. 18:00 Dinner at Sari Organik or Cafe Lotus 1.5 hours

   Sari Organik in the rice fields north of Ubud Centre (15-min walk through paddies) — organic farm-to-table Balinese. Cafe Lotus next to the Royal Palace overlooks the lotus pond — touristy but the setting is iconic.

   Cost: $12-25 / Rp 190K-400K per person TIP: Sari Organik for the walk-through-paddies experience (best before sunset). Cafe Lotus for the iconic Ubud temple-and-pond view. Both have legong (traditional Balinese dance) shows some evenings — Cafe Lotus has Thursday/Saturday at 19:00.
7. 20:00 Optional: Ubud night yoga or jazz at Laughing Buddha 1.5 hours

   Ubud has a nightly yoga scene — The Yoga Barn does sunset and 19:30 candlelight sessions. Laughing Buddha and No Mas Bar have live jazz/acoustic music.

   Cost: Yoga $12-18; bar drink $5-12 TIP: Yoga Barn sessions book 1-2 hours ahead — drop in OK with availability. Laughing Buddha live music starts 21:00 most nights. Both are 10-min walk from Ubud Centre.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 10:00 Drive to Seminyak/Canggu 1.5 hours

   90-min drive south from Ubud. Hotel check-in at Seminyak (Hotel Indigo, W Bali, The Anvaya) or Canggu (COMO Uma, Tugu, The Slow).

   Cost: Private transfer $25-40 / Grab $20-30 TIP: Grab works for Ubud → Seminyak but local taxi cartels make Grab pickup difficult at some pickup zones. Pre-arranging a private transfer through your Ubud hotel is the easiest play ($30-40).
2. 12:00 Lunch at La Lucciola or The Lawn 1.5 hours

   La Lucciola (Seminyak) is the iconic beach-facing trattoria since 1992 — wood-fired pizza + Italian seafood + Indian Ocean horizon view. The Lawn at Seminyak has the same view at lower prices.

   Cost: $25-50 / Rp 400K-800K per person TIP: La Lucciola needs 1-day reservation specifying 'beach-side'. The Lawn is walk-in friendly. Both are 5-min walk from Seminyak Beach. Lunch (12:30-15:00) is more reliable than dinner for table availability.
3. 14:00 Seminyak Beach + Petitenget walk 2.5 hours

   5km of straight sand from Petitenget to Kuta. Free public access. Sun loungers + umbrellas at beachfront warungs ($2-5). Surf lessons $25-40/hour. The mid-afternoon vibe is the canonical Bali beach day.

   Cost: Free; loungers $2-5; surf lesson $25-40 TIP: Petitenget Temple at the north end is the cultural landmark stop. Local massage on the beach $10-15/hour is the Bali ritual. Bring USD/IDR cash for warung snacks.
4. 16:30 Beach club sunset — Potato Head or La Brisa 3 hours

   Potato Head Beach Club (Seminyak) is Bali's flagship — colonial-shutter facade + infinity pool + DJ + sunset programming. La Brisa (Canggu, Echo Beach) is the driftwood + recycled-material masterpiece by the Pott group. Both are the canonical Bali sunset experience.

   Cost: Day bed minimum $35 weekday / $70 weekend; entry free TIP: Reserve a day bed 1-2 weeks ahead for Friday/Saturday/Sunday sunset hour. Walk-in for the standing/bar area is OK. Smart-resort dress code post-18:00. Sunday DJs at Potato Head are the iconic 'Sunday Sessions'.
5. 20:00 Dinner at Mama San or Sangsaka 2 hours

   Mama San (Seminyak) is the legendary Asian-fusion supper club — chinoiserie interior + Cantonese duck + Thai curries + Indian dosas. Sangsaka serves modern Indonesian by chef Eelke Plasmeijer.

   Cost: $30-60 / Rp 480K-960K per person TIP: Mama San needs 3-5 day reservation. Sangsaka offers an 8-course tasting menu at $75 — the right call for modern-Indonesian deep dive. Both have wine + cocktail programs.
6. 22:00 Optional: Beach Street Seminyak nightlife 2 hours

   La Plancha (rainbow beach bean bags + sunset bar) extends late into the night. Ku De Ta hosts DJs into the early hours. Eat Street (Jalan Kayu Aya) has bars from craft cocktail to dive.

   Cost: Drinks $8-15 TIP: La Plancha (rainbow bean bags) is the late-night Bali Instagram cliché. Ku De Ta DJ nights run Thu-Sun. Eat Street is walkable from most Seminyak hotels.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 09:00 Drive to Uluwatu (50 min from Seminyak) 1 hour

   50-60 min drive south to the Bukit Peninsula. The Uluwatu day works as a Seminyak-base day trip (hotel checkout day) or a hotel transfer to Uluwatu cliff resorts.

   Cost: Private transfer $20-30 TIP: Pre-arrange the transfer the night before through your Seminyak hotel. If you're moving to an Uluwatu hotel, do the transfer with luggage and check-in at lunch.
2. 10:30 Padang Padang Beach 2 hours

   The Eat Pray Love-famous beach — climb down narrow stairs through a natural limestone cave entrance to white sand + world-class surf break. Smaller than expected; the cave entrance is the iconic photo.

   Cost: $1 entry + $1 parking TIP: Best at low tide for the cave entry photo. Surf lessons available on the beach $25/hour. Pair with neighboring Padang Padang Right (a 5-min walk south) for more sand + fewer crowds.
3. 13:00 Lunch at Single Fin or Cashew Tree (Uluwatu) 1.5 hours

   Single Fin is the cliff-edge surf-culture institution with Indian Ocean view. Cashew Tree (Bingin) is the casual healthy lunch alternative — bowls + salads + smoothies. Both walking from Padang Padang.

   Cost: $12-25 / Rp 190K-400K per person TIP: Single Fin Sundays (Sunday afternoons + evenings) are the iconic surf-DJ session. Other days easier walk-in. Cashew Tree is the wellness-traveler choice.
4. 15:00 Bingin Beach swim + cliff cafés 2 hours

   Bingin is the white-sand cove below Bingin cliff with cliff-side warungs + cafés serving fresh seafood and cold beer. Climb down 90 stairs from the cliff. Calmer water than Padang Padang.

   Cost: Free entry; warung lunch $5-15 TIP: Climb down via the Bingin cliff stairs (90 steps). Coconut + grilled fish + cold beer at a cliff warung is the canonical Bingin experience. Sunset from the cliff is dramatic.
5. 17:00 Uluwatu Temple sunset visit 1.5 hours

   11th-century Hindu temple 70m above the Indian Ocean on the southwestern cliff. Free Kecak fire dance at 18:30. The sunset cliff walk before the dance is the spiritual climax of Bali.

   Cost: $5 temple entry + $10 Kecak dance ticket TIP: Arrive 17:00 for the sunset walk along the cliff path before the 18:30 Kecak dance. Beware long-tailed monkeys at the temple entry — they steal sunglasses, hats, phones. Wear a sarong (rented $1 at entry).
6. 18:30 Kecak Fire Dance at Uluwatu 1 hour

   70 male performers in concentric circles + chanting + fire stomping. The 1930s-era ritual dance retelling the Ramayana. The most-recommended Bali cultural experience for a reason.

   Cost: Included in $10 ticket TIP: Arrive 17:45 for good seats (open-air amphitheater). The performance is 60 min sharp — sunset framing is the photo angle. The fire-stomping climax is silent-cinema dramatic; phones banned during fire moments.
7. 20:00 Dinner at Jimbaran Bay seafood (or Single Fin) 2 hours

   Jimbaran Bay (10 min from Uluwatu) is famous for beachfront grilled-seafood warungs — fresh fish, prawns, lobster cooked on coconut-shell BBQ on the sand. The most touristy but iconic dinner. Single Fin is the alternative cliff dinner.

   Cost: Jimbaran: $30-60 / Rp 480K-960K; Single Fin: $20-40 TIP: At Jimbaran, walk past the first 5-6 warungs (where buses drop tourists) to the southern end for better prices + quality. Menu shopping is OK — every warung shows fresh fish + you choose by weight. Lobster $25-40/kg.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 06:00 Sanur Harbor pickup + fast boat to Nusa Penida 2 hours total

   Pre-arranged hotel pickup at 06:00 → Sanur Harbor by 07:00 → 30-min fast boat to Nusa Penida (Toyapakeh or Banjar Nyuh port). Boat ride is choppy in shoulder months; calm in dry season.

   Cost: $80-100 day tour (boat + private driver + lunch) TIP: Pre-book through Klook or Viator 3-5 days ahead. Bring motion-sickness medication if you're sensitive. The fast boat is open-sided; expect sea spray. The day tour is the only sane option — Nusa Penida is too big and road-poor for solo exploration on a day.
2. 08:30 Kelingking Beach (T-Rex Cliff) viewpoint 1.5 hours

   Bali's most-photographed angle — a cliff shaped like a Tyrannosaurus rex head with a white-sand cove 200m below. The viewpoint at the top is free; the descent to the beach is dangerous (700 vertical meters of steep stairs/rope, 2+ hours each way).

   Cost: Free; donation $1-3 TIP: Most travelers stop at the top viewpoint — the descent is genuinely dangerous (multiple injuries per month). The photo is the same from the top as the bottom. Best 8-10 AM before midday haze. The boardwalk railing is the safest photo position.
3. 10:30 Angel's Billabong + Broken Beach 1.5 hours

   Angel's Billabong is a natural infinity pool inside an exposed rock platform — wave-formed limestone basin filled with seawater. Broken Beach is a circular cliff-walled cove with a natural arch tunnel to the ocean. 10 min between them.

   Cost: Free entry; $1-3 parking TIP: Don't swim in Angel's Billabong during high waves — multiple drownings per year. Visit at low tide for safe-pool conditions (check tide chart). Broken Beach is the easier-to-photograph of the two. Wear water shoes — rocks are sharp.
4. 12:30 Lunch at Penida Colada or local warung 1 hour

   Penida Colada (Crystal Bay) is the legendary cliffside lunch spot with views of Crystal Bay. Local warungs around Crystal Bay serve $5-10 Indonesian meals.

   Cost: $8-20 / Rp 130K-320K per person TIP: Penida Colada has limited seating — arrive 12:00 or 13:30 to avoid the noon rush. The smoothie bowls + fish tacos are the orders. Local warungs are 30% cheaper but with simpler menus.
5. 14:00 Crystal Bay snorkeling + beach time 2 hours

   White-sand cove with crystal-clear water + manta ray and turtle sightings. Snorkel rentals on the beach ($5-10). Best snorkeling spot accessible by Penida day tour.

   Cost: Snorkel rental $5-10 TIP: Manta rays appear May-October (dry season) more reliably. The cove is family-friendly with calm water + shallow entry. Bring fresh-water bottle to rinse snorkel + skin after.
6. 16:30 Boat back + Sanur dinner 2 hours total

   Return fast boat 16:30-17:30. Sanur Harbor → Seminyak/Canggu/Uluwatu hotel 30-90 min depending on traffic.

   Cost: Included in day tour TIP: Dinner in Sanur (Massimo Italian, Genius Café) before heading back to your base is the practical play — Sanur has its own restaurant scene. Or order back at your hotel.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 02:30 Hotel pickup + drive to Mt. Batur 1.5 hours

   Pre-arranged pickup at 02:30 from your hotel → 90-min drive to Mt. Batur base. Guide assigns headlamps + light snacks. The pickup time depends on your base — Ubud is closer (60 min drive), south Bali is the full 90 min.

   Cost: $40-60 tour all-inclusive TIP: Book through Klook or your hotel concierge 2-3 days ahead. Bring layers — Mt. Batur summit (1,717m) is 8-12°C in the dark. Headlamp included. Wear closed-toe running shoes or light hiking shoes — Crocs/sandals dangerous.
2. 04:00 Mt. Batur sunrise hike 2.5 hours up

   1,717m active volcano. 2-3 hour hike up volcanic gravel in darkness. The path is moderately steep but not technical climbing. Guides lead groups of 6-10 with steady pace. Summit at 06:00, sunrise 06:30.

   Cost: Included in tour TIP: Moderate fitness level required — sustained 2-3 hour uphill at altitude. Take breaks at the recommended rest points. Drink water continuously (1-2L per person). The crater rim has loose rocks — stay on the marked path.
3. 06:30 Sunrise on the crater rim + egg breakfast 1 hour

   Sunrise breaks over Lake Batur + Mt. Agung in the distance. The local touch: guides cook eggs in the volcanic steam vents — a hot breakfast warmed by the volcano itself. 30-min sunrise window.

   Cost: Included TIP: Multiple sunrise viewpoints along the rim — guides position groups for the best Mt. Agung framing. The egg-from-steam-vent is the canonical photo. Hot tea + banana sandwich + boiled egg breakfast included.
4. 08:00 Descend + hot springs 2.5 hours

   1-hour descent (faster than ascent). The Toya Bungkah hot springs (volcanic-water heated to 38°C) on the lake shore are the standard post-hike stop — most tours include access.

   Cost: Hot springs $10 included in tour TIP: Bring a towel + change of clothes. The hot springs have 3 pool zones (cool to hot) on Lake Batur shore. Strong volcanic-sulfur smell. 30-45 min soak is ideal before the drive back.
5. 11:30 Drive back + lunch at Locavore or hotel 2 hours

   90-min drive back. Most tours drop at hotel by 13:00. Lunch is open — Locavore To Go in Ubud is the canonical 'I just hiked Mt. Batur' meal.

   Cost: Lunch $10-25 / Rp 160K-400K TIP: Some tours offer Tegenungan Waterfall stop on the way back ($5 add-on) — worth it. Otherwise plan Tegenungan separately later.
6. 15:00 Tegenungan Waterfall (Ubud) 1.5 hours

   25m waterfall 15 min from Ubud Centre with a swimming pool below. Most accessible waterfall in Bali — no hike. Best 15:30-17:00 when tour buses leave.

   Cost: $3 entry TIP: Bring swimwear + water shoes — the rocks are slippery. The viewing platform is free; the swimming area below requires a 5-min descent down stairs. Combine with Kanto Lampo Waterfall 10 min away.
7. 17:30 Sunset drink at La Plancha or beach club 2 hours

   Final sunset of the trip. La Plancha (Seminyak rainbow bean bags) is the casual lit-after-dark spot. Or upgrade to Atlas Beach Fest, Single Fin (Uluwatu), or whichever beach club you didn't hit Day 2-3.

   Cost: Drinks $8-15 TIP: After Mt. Batur, sit-down rest is mandatory. La Plancha rainbow bean bags are the lit Bali NYE-vibe Instagram angle. Or do Sundays Beach Club Uluwatu for the cable-car private cove ($50 day pass).
8. 20:00 Farewell dinner at Locavore or Cuca 2 hours

   Locavore (Michelin, Ubud) is the iconic Bali farm-to-table tasting menu. Cuca (Jimbaran) is the cocktail + small-plates experimental kitchen. Both rank in Asia's 50 Best.

   Cost: $80-150 / Rp 1.3M-2.4M per person TIP: Locavore needs 2-3 week reservation — book before your trip. Cuca 1-2 week reservation. Both are the canonical 'best of Bali' farewell. Cuca is closer to south Bali bases.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 07:00 Padangbai Harbor pickup + fast boat to Gili Trawangan 3.5 hours total

   Pre-arranged hotel pickup at 07:00 → 90-min drive to Padangbai Harbor → 90-min fast boat to Gili Trawangan. The Gili Trawangan dock is on the east side.

   Cost: $45-65 one-way fast boat including Padangbai transfer TIP: Book via Bluewater Express, Gili Cat, or Gili Getaway. Round-trip discounted slightly. Bring motion-sickness medication. The fast boat is closed-cabin but still bumpy in shoulder months.
2. 11:30 Check in at Gili Trawangan + lunch 1.5 hours

   Hotel check-in (no motorized vehicles on Gili — hotel staff use bicycle carts for luggage). Lunch at Pearl Beach Lounge or Trawangan Dive Resort.

   Cost: $10-25 / Rp 160K-400K per person TIP: Most Gili Trawangan hotels are 5-15 min walk from the harbor — no cars, just walk. Restaurant prices are 20-30% higher than Bali mainland due to import costs. Cash-preferred at most spots.
3. 13:00 Snorkeling tour around Gili Trio (Trawangan + Meno + Air) 3 hours

   Standard half-day glass-bottom-boat tour visits 3-4 snorkel sites: turtle point off Gili Meno, sunken statue garden off Gili Meno, manta point off Gili Air, and reef snorkeling. Snorkel + mask + fins included.

   Cost: $15-25 group tour TIP: Book at any beachfront tour kiosk on Gili T — prices are standardized. Bring underwater camera or GoPro — turtle sightings are nearly guaranteed at Meno. Reef-safe sunscreen mandatory.
4. 16:30 Sunset at Sunset Point (west side of Gili Trawangan) 2 hours

   The west end of Gili Trawangan has bean bag bars + swings + the famous swing-in-the-sea Instagram angle facing the Lombok Strait sunset. Pink Coco Beach Club + Exile Bar are the canonical sunset spots.

   Cost: Drinks $5-12 TIP: Walk or bicycle (rental $5/day) from your hotel to the west end — 20-30 min walk. Sunset 18:00-18:30. The swing-in-sea is from Pink Coco — line up for sunset 5-min photo turn.
5. 19:30 Dinner at Pearl Beach Lounge or Pesona Resort 1.5 hours

   Pearl Beach Lounge is the upscale Gili Trawangan dinner — Mediterranean + seafood. Pesona Resort has a more local Indonesian menu. Casual evening market on the main strip has $5 grilled fish.

   Cost: $20-50 / Rp 320K-800K per person TIP: Pearl Beach Lounge reservations needed 1-2 days ahead in dry season. Casual night market 19:00-22:00 has $5-10 fresh-grilled fish + corn + satay — the value Gili dinner option.
6. 21:30 Optional: Gili Trawangan nightlife 2 hours

   Gili T has a party-island reputation — Sama Sama Reggae Bar, Tir Na Nog (Irish pub), Surf Bar all run late. Mushroom + magic-mushroom 'shake' sales are technically illegal but openly tolerated at certain bars — DO NOT engage (police occasional raids + heavy penalties).

   Cost: Drinks $5-12 TIP: Sama Sama is the legendary Gili reggae bar — live music 22:00 onwards. Skip the 'shake' sellers entirely; severe legal risk. Walk back to your hotel — bicycle rental closes at 23:00.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 07:00 Gili Trawangan → return to Bali 2 hours

   Morning fast boat 08:30 from Gili Trawangan → Padangbai 10:00 → drive to east Bali. Skip the south-Bali return — east Bali is closer to Padangbai.

   Cost: Fast boat $45-65 one-way TIP: Confirm return boat booking 1 day ahead. Bluewater Express, Gili Cat, Gili Getaway all run reliable 08:30 departures. Bring luggage to breakfast for early checkout.
2. 10:30 Sidemen Rice Terraces walk 1.5 hours

   Eastern Bali rice terraces — the original quiet Ubud before mass tourism. Hike through actual working farms with farmers + ducks. The view of Mt. Agung in the distance is the canonical photo.

   Cost: Free (small donation $1-3 at trail entry) TIP: Subak Sembung is the canonical 5km hike loop (1-2 hours). Hike guides at the trail entry $10-15 are worth it for navigation + farmer interactions. Wear long pants — rice paddy leaves cut.
3. 12:30 Lunch at Joglo Sidemen or Wapa di Ume 1.5 hours

   Joglo Sidemen is the traditional joglo (Javanese open-air pavilion) restaurant with rice-terrace view. Wapa di Ume is the boutique resort restaurant. Both serve modern Balinese.

   Cost: $15-30 / Rp 240K-480K per person TIP: Both have rice-terrace view tables — reserve 1 day ahead in dry season. The grilled fish with sambal matah is the canonical east Bali order.
4. 14:30 Tirta Gangga Water Palace 1.5 hours

   1948 royal water palace with stepping-stone pond + fountains + tropical gardens. Walk across the stepping stones (carp pond) to the central fountain. The most photogenic non-temple landmark in east Bali.

   Cost: $2 entry TIP: Best 14:00-16:00 when light angles into the fountain pools. Take off shoes at the pond entry — bare feet on the stepping stones is the photo. Carp are tame — bring stale bread for $1 the gatekeeper sells.
5. 16:30 Lempuyang Temple 'Gates of Heaven' 2 hours

   Sacred Hindu temple complex at 1,175m elevation. The most-photographed angle in Bali — the gateway with Mt. Agung framed between the gates. The 'reflection' you see in photos is from a piece of glass under the camera (real pool absent).

   Cost: $5 entry; sarong rental free TIP: Arrive 16:30 — the gates close at 17:00, photo queue is 1-2 hours. The 'reflection' photo requires the local photographer ($5 tip) who has the glass setup. The real view (no reflection) is also stunning. Climb stairs to the upper temples — quieter.
6. 18:30 Drive to south Bali (90-120 min) 2 hours

   East Bali → south Bali (Seminyak/Canggu) is the longest single drive of the trip — 2 hours in evening traffic. Through Klungkung + Gianyar + Denpasar.

   Cost: Private driver $35-50 included for the day TIP: Pre-arrange the driver for the full day — east Bali + south return is a 12-hour driver day. Tip 20-25% for full-day service ($10-15).
7. 21:00 Final farewell dinner at Mejekawi or Bambu 2 hours

   Mejekawi (Mama San group, Seminyak) is the canonical farewell Indonesian fine dining. Bambu (Seminyak) does refined traditional Balinese in a thatched-pavilion setting.

   Cost: $50-100 / Rp 800K-1.6M per person TIP: Both need reservations 3-5 days ahead. Mejekawi tasting menu ($85) is the canonical Indonesian deep dive. Bambu for the more traditional-presentation experience.

Meal Recommendations