We’ve spent over 6 months in Bali in the past 3 years or so. Over the time we’ve grown to love the island to bits. The daily rhythm of life in Bali is seductive but if you want to head out for a few day trips and excursions around the island, here are a few of our favourites.
Getting Around in Bali and planning your day trips
Renting a car and driving it yourself isn’t ideal in Bali as rental cars are expensive, roads can frequently be narrow, and the traffic manic. However if you’re confident driving a scooter, we’d definitely recommend getting one in Bali. A rental scooter costs anything between $3 – $5 per day, so it’s extremely cost effective. If you’re quoted a higher price, just bargain. Scooters are ideal for outings in your immediate vicinity or slightly further afield.
However if you are planning to visit a place which is over 30 minutes away from your hotel, we’d suggest booking either a guided tour or renting a car with a driver. We have booked a few of our excursions and day trips in Bali with Bali Bliss Tours – We first booked a sunrise trek with them in 2015 after reading glowing reviews online. Truth be told, we were apprehensive about a cab picking us up at in the dead of the night (at 2 am). But everything went seamlessly and we’ve just stuck to booking all our tours or renting a car with a driver with them ever since.
Now that the logistics are out of the way, let us tell you about some of our favourite day trips and excursions in Bali
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I) Tegalalang rice terraces
A number of panoramic balconies and cafés close to Tegalalang village offer panoramic views of Ubud’s iconic rice terraces. You could stare at the terraces and marvel at the unique irrigation system as you sip on a coffee or you could get down and dirty and go for a walk on the terraces and prance amidst paddies. You know which one we opted for don’t you? 😉 The walk is free but locals request a donation. The drive to Tegalalang village is dotted with numerous shops full of tie & dye goodies, tribal jewellery, and ethereal dreamcatchers (of course I bought a few, you know my love for dreamcatchers!).
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II) Mount Batur
Let’s be honest – how many times do you get to hike an active volcano in the dead of the night, reach the summit and stare at one of the prettiest sunrises in the world, examine black lava rocks lining the slopes after the last eruption, and boil an egg using the steam from the volcano? Those are just a couple of reasons why you might want to head to Mt. Batur when you’re in Bali.
We booked our excursion with Bali Bliss Tours as I said above. We were picked up at our villa at 2:30 a.m. and driven to the starting point of the hike. We started the hike at 4 am. A 2 hour hike through rock and rubble led us to the summit just in time for sunrise. Mt. Batur is said to be one of the best sunrise spots in the world and it’s true – we couldn’t get enough of the clouds suspended over the lake. We coupled this with a visit to a coffee plantation where we sampled 9 types of Indonesia tea and coffee, including the (in)famous Civet Coffee. The entire excursion (cab, hike, guide, and breakfast) cost USD55/£37 per person. Of course you need to be fit to tackle the hike because it gets quite steep and rough in parts. Other than that, it’s highly recommended!
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III) Danu Bratan and North Bali
Bali has temples by the dozen. But few are more scenic than Danu Bratan, situated in the middle of a lake. It is even possible to take a boat ride in the lake surrounding the temple. Danu Bratan is gorgeous to catch sunrise but do keep in mind that it’s covered with clouds more often than not. Go early and you’ll be the only one – it gets SUPER crowded after 8 am.
Combine a trip to Danu Bratan with a quick stop at one of the famous gates in Bali – the entrance gate of Handara Golf Club and Resort. It’s so popular now that you’ll have to pay a fees of IDR 30,000 per person to take a photograph. Well, all thanks to social media 😉
You should also drive further up to Lake Tamblingan and check out the floating temple there. It’s really gorgeous and in all probability you’ll have the place to yourself. There is an entrance fees but there was a lot of confusion regarding how much it was – they asked for IDR per person 100,000 but Gede (our driver) told them we didn’t want to go for a hike and they then asked for IDR 50,000 for both of us.
And to end this trip, we suggest visiting a playground for adults – when you drive back from Tamblingan, you’ll see many hoardings with swings, nests, and what not in an area called Wanagiri Hill – all claiming to have that perfect selfie spot. Just enter whichever looks good to you, pay the entrance fees (IDR 50,000 per person) and shoot away. They even provide reflectors to make sure that the lighting for the photographs is ideal – talk about providing a good service 🙂
We booked this day trip with Nyoman from Bali Bliss Tours and were picked up from our guest house in Ubud at 4:30 a.m. and dropped off at noon. Gede, our driver, spoke good english and was knowledgeable about the area 🙂
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IV) Lempuyang Temple
The sacred Lempuyang temple is one of the most spiritual sites for Balinese locals. But the gates of the temple also make for a gorgeous photograph with the Mt Agung standing tall in the backdrop. We suggest combining this outing with a stop at the surrounding villages when you can see Mt Agung stretching out beyond the paddies in all it’s glory. You could also visit the Jemaluk Viewpoint, a scenic point overlooking Jemeluk Bay, on that day itself. This is a gorgeous spot for sunset. Do consult the weather forecast before planning this trip as it makes sense to plan this road trip only on a clear day when Mt Agung is not covered with clouds and the sea at Jemeluk is sparkling blue.
It will take you a good couple of hours to get to this area from Ubud. We suggest starting from your hotel at around 4 a.m. to reach the temple at the crack of dawn. We went with Bali Bliss Tours as always and Nyoman was accommodating to send a driver at that odd time to pick us up.
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V) Taman Ayun
The temple of Taman Ayun is a pleasant 30 minute drive away from Ubud. It’s a small temple, worth visiting if you’re there for a longer time in Bali. Let me warn you. You’ll spot this sign outside Taman Ayun and many other temples in Bali. We’re all for respecting cultural idiosyncrasies and despite being atheists, we love visiting religious sites when we travel (purely out of anthropological curiosity!). But this kind of stigmatisation of bodily fluids in the name of religion really annoys us. It reinforces sexist mores and gender inequality, something both of us oppose strongly. If you look past that, Taman Ayun offers a pleasant enough walk around the temple complex. Entry is USD 1/£0.70 per person. Expect to spend 30-40 minutes looking around the temple – it’s a pleasant enough walk but not unmissable
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VI) Tanah Lot
Tanah Lot is an hour’s drive away from Ubud. It’s famous for the gorgeous sunsets. The temple, perched atop a cliff makes for a pretty sight. But it can get very crowded. We didn’t enjoy it as much as we thought we would but we’d recommend giving it a go if you are in Bali for a week or more. Entry is USD 3/£2 per person.
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VII) Tegenungan waterfall
A 30 minute drive from Ubud will bring you to one of the area’s beautiful waterfalls: The Tegenungan waterfall is a bit of a local secret and locals love dropping by for a relaxing swim. Try going early in the morning – it’s absolutely spectacular in the magic morning sun. Entry is 1.5 USD/£1 and there is ample parking available on site.
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VIII) Small waterfalls surrounding Ubud
Ubud is home to lots of other cascading waterfalls as well. If you are staying in Bali for longer, try visiting the little known Pengempul Waterfall, Nung nung waterfall, Tibumana Waterfall, Kanto Lampo Waterfall, or Tukad Cepung Waterfall. They’re all little gems in their own right. But do beware – they’re at their best during monsoon months and thin down considerably during summer months. Also, always try to visit these waterfalls first thing in the morning as they tend to get crowded after 9 a.m.
Watch out for more updates from us in the coming weeks and months – we are always on a mission to find the best excursions in Bali 🙂
Hi there,
Would you make a 10ish day trip to Bali these day trips? Or do you have recommendations for something like that?
Hey yes 10 days would be ideal to cover all these excursions to Bali – check out other articles on Bali 🙂
You guys always drv me crazy by sharing yr beautiful experiences in the mindblowing places…
I’m really fond of places like bali..
I am really happy to have these kind of persnl experiences… Which are so true nd real life..
I feel so excited to visit Bali… Aftr seeing ur blissful experiences nd Romantic hangouts..
Thanks a ton Harshita 🙂
My dream cum true couple ..live to explore the world beautiful nature ? so much love for u both seeing you makes me cherish ?Im college going grl and expecting my life with my boyfrnd to be like this in the future ?thank you for sharing al ur drms
Thank you Deepika – and hope you get to live out all your dreams 🙂
Planning a two week long holiday this summer, can you recommend an area that is central in Ubud- close to a yoga centre and or close to a place of kids interest. I have a 5 year old son and need to keep him and myself busy. Air BNB has many options and your help will help me narrow down my search.
Hey Anoobha – you can check out this video. It’ll help you choose an apartment that’s right for you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Nc7oOqVNDc
your website is very informative and impressive. keep it guys. i want to be part of your group. want to share and receive information . planning a road trip from delhi – srinagar-leh-manali-delhi. have already gone through your full trip . very nicely explained. thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it Amit 🙂
best places to stay in bali without budget constraint.
Hey Aviral – thanks for writing in – check out all our articles on Bali here: https://www.bruisedpassports.com/?s=bali
Hi Savi n Vid, Great platform for trip planning from two extraordinary n amazingly talented people. I’m planning Bali n Patya trip in July 16th to 21′ 2018. Its my 2nd wedding anniversary. Could you advice me some tips. 🙂
Hey Manisha – check out all our articles on Bali (they include itinerary for Bali, hotels in Bali, things to do in Bali etc) here https://www.bruisedpassports.com/?s=bali
Hey can u pls let me know ow where u guys stayed in seminyak and Gili..
Hey Hetal – we’d suggest renting an Air BnB. Check out our suggestions for renting the right one here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Nc7oOqVNDc
Guys, Can I know the place you stayed in Bali? Would you recommend any resort in particular?
Hey we usually rent a villa on Air BnB. You can find a lot of our suggestions here https://www.bruisedpassports.com/wheres/guide-to-ubud-bali-things-to-do-long-term 🙂
Hey guys! So I’m planning a trip for my parents for their anniversary for the first week of Dec. I want to know which could be the best place. I’m looking for London, Paris or Bali. If you could suggest someplace else, that would also be great!
Hey London will be grey and wet at the time. Bali is a good option and so is Paris (it’ll be cold, so tell them to pack lots of woollens for it). You can see lots of suggestions for both London and Paris on our website 🙂
Hey Savi and Vid!
I absolutely adore your posts and love how beautifully poetic the descriptions are!
Your words and pictures truly send me into a dreamland 🙂 Thank you 🙂
How long are you guys in Bali this time? I am visiting with my husband in a month and would love to bring you goodies from Japan if you want any 🙂
Keep exploring and spreading joy!
Loads of love,
Dipti
P.S: When is your next trip to Japan?
Hey Dipti – that’s so sweet ? We’re leaving in 2 weeks or so, but hope our paths cross sometime in Japan. Have the best time here
I love reading all your posts – here or on Insta! Your pics are so stunning!
I am planning to visit Bali in September. Do you recommend any home stays?
Don’t have a particular one as there are literally hundreds of great villas and homestays in Bali on Air BnB – just pick one that tickles your fancy 🙂 Read this article on Bali first for an idea of which kind of villa to pick 🙂 https://www.bruisedpassports.com/wheres/guide-to-ubud-bali-things-to-do-long-term
Hello Savi and Vid,
I absolutely love your travel blog and love following you on Instagram and you two are are such inspiration for myself and my family who loves travel to atleast 1 new country every year.
Next week, my husband and I are travelling to Bali for our 10 years anniversary and vow renewal ceremony that will take place at Nung Nung Waterfall. We always travel with our two daughters (7 and 2) and we are very excited to show them the place we had come for our honeymoon.
I was wondering if you would like share some of your favorite place to eat or get fresh smoothies from. It’s been 10 years since we visited Bali so a lot has changed.
Hope you and Vid are having an awesome time! Such a lovely couple!
Hey Lia we have several of our favorite smoothie places in our article on Ubud here. Our current favourites are Seeds of Life and Clear Cafe but you’ll find lots of other options here : https://www.bruisedpassports.com/wheres/guide-to-ubud-bali-things-to-do-long-term
Hello Savi and Vid 🙂
I absolutely love your Instagram page <3 Your pictures are so good. Your recent Bali pictures are just gorgeous.
Need a small favor, I am planning to visit Bali in October for 8 days, but not able to decide what all places to cover 🙁 I would like to explore Ubud for sure 🙂 Confused if we should stay somewhere in Seminyak or Gili Islands. Could you pls suggest?
Thanks much,
Ritika
Hey Ritika – would suggest Ubud, Uluwatu, and Gili Islands 🙂
Hi Savi and Vid,
It’s evident you get this a lot, but I’ll go ahead and say it nevertheless.. Love your travel blog..every bit of it. An absolute visual treat and super helpful for planning vacations.
My husband and I are planning a 5-day trip to Bali in August with both of our parents.. a total of 6 of us. I guess it makes sense to book a villa on AirBnB, but worried that it might not feel as ‘holiday-ee’ as a resort probably would. Also, looking to stay somewhere closer to the airport. Would really appreciate your suggestions for AirBnB stays/ resorts/ hotels.
Thanks! Best wishes 🙂
Hey Sanyukta – just a warning, there isn’t much to explore in the area around the airport. That’s a valid worry you have there – you should just book a hotel in that case 🙂 You’ll find plenty of nice ones, whichever area you choose
Great photos! You two look fabulous together. And good selection of places to visit in Bali!!
Hi Savi and Vid,
I absolutely love your posts and they are super helpful.
I have a question for you guys. I will be visiting Bali in November for 15 days and I am super confused on which places to visit. Currently, I have shortlisted Ubud, Seminyak and Nusa Lembongan. It would really be great if you could let me know which places to visit since you guys know a lottt about Bali.
Hoping to hear from you.
Thanks and Lots of Love..!!
Hey Sharanya – we’d suggest replacing Seminyak with Uluwatu as it’s much prettier 🙂 Rest sounds great
Hello Savi, Vid,
Thank you for all the information. Your pics are amazing too!
I was searching your website for a guide on Uluwatu. Would you have any suggestions for this place? I’m planning to do a solo trip either by end of November or early December. I’ll be meeting my friends in Nusa Dua but before that, I would love to do some solo traveling.
Yes Uluwatu is a beautiful area of Bali 🙂 you should spend a couple of days there!
Hi Folks !!
Me and two of my girlfriends are planning to visit Bali in late Dec for 5 days !! Please suggest what all places would be must visit and would staying in Ubud cover everything ??
Hey Shipra – you can check out our detailed guide to Ubud here for suggestions https://www.bruisedpassports.com/wheres/guide-to-ubud-bali-things-to-do-long-term 🙂
Hi,
I am planning to travel to Bali this December. I heard that this is a wet season. Is it worth going during that time or we should go some place else. Please suggest.
Thanks
Hey Prakriti – yes it does rain a fair bit in Bali in December but you can still visit at the time as it’s lush and green
Hello Savi and Vid ?
I just love your Instagram page. Am crazy about your posts. Every morning I eagerly wait for your posts.
Need a small favor, I am getting married in January 2019 and we are planning to visit Bali in Last week of January for 8 days. I wanted to know about the temperature and whether during the same time. Is it good to travel for honeymoon during this period. As this is going to be out first outside India trip. Could you please suggest?
Thanks in advance.
Looking forward for your reply
Thanks much,
Camy
Hey there – thanks for the love. Yes January is a good time to visit Bali. Hope you have an amazing time. You can check out all our articles on Bali here https://www.bruisedpassports.com/wheres/guide-to-ubud-bali-things-to-do-long-term 🙂
Hi savi ,
We r flying to Bali 26 October to 30 October with our 1.5 yrs Daughter can you please recommend us some good place which we can cover in 3-4 days.. Near by hotel Marriott Nusa Dua resorts…
Hey Kanika – you can book any of these Bali excursions while staying at Nusa Dua. You can pick and choose the ones that excite you 🙂
Hey savi,
We are planning to visit Bali in Mid December 2018. Is it a good time? Also we would like to know is Gilli Trawangan worth visiting for a day or two or should we go some place else in Bali? Thanks in advance 🙂
Hey savi,
We are planning to visit Bali in Mid December 2018. Is it a good time? Also we would like to know is Gilli Trawangan worth visiting for a day or two or should we go some place else in Bali? Thanks in advance 🙂
HEy Aanchal – December is a good time though it can get a bit wet due to the monsoon. Gili Trawangan is definitely worth a visit 🙂
Hello Savi and Vid,
We are planning a 14 days trip to Bali in mid January. Will it be a good time to visit Bali? We want to cover Uluwatu, Canggu, Ubud, Sidemen, Gili Islands. Are these places accessible during that period? Also, how do you guys travel from one location to another( like, how to travel from Uluwatu to Canggu and ahead)?
Yes January will be a good time to visit Bali. We usually use our rented scooter but if the distances are long then we avail services of a driver for a day – all details can be found in our articles 🙂
hey to start with a big fan of u guys… in love with all your posts on instagram..would you suggest staying in Sideman area to explore places like Tukud Cepung, Mt Agung etc or visitng it from Ubud?
Hey Mansi – it is easy to visit these areas from both Sidemen and Ubud but you can check out our guide here to see which area suits you best: https://www.bruisedpassports.com/wheres/bali-two-week-itinerary-planning
Hi!
We are leaving for Bali tonight. Have planned to stay 2 days in Seminyak and 3 days in Ubud. Since it’s a small vacation and how can I make most out of it? Please suggest the places not to be missed?
Ps: I love all your posts and this is the one web page I love to explore to make most out of my travel plans or even otherwise.
Hey that’s awesome Akanksha. All our favourites are above – just choose based on the ones that suit your preferences 🙂
Hey Savi & Vid,
Me and my wife are planning a 4N5D trip to Bali in July end to Aug 1st week. Would you suggest we stay in Ubud and go for the trips or from Bali?
Hey check out our detailed guide to Bali here so you can choose to stay in an area that suits your preferences the best: https://www.bruisedpassports.com/wheres/bali-two-week-itinerary-planning
Hey, your articles are great and I will probably use all of them to plan my trip to Bali in December. I am going to be there for New Years. Any suggestions what area is better to be in to have a New Year’s bash.
Totally depends on your choice, Parul 🙂 If you are looking for heavy partying, then well, Kuta is your best bet 🙂
Hi..do u recommend going for water sports and rafting in bali?
Hi Savi & Vid,
Love following you on instagram and all of your exciting adventures over the years. 🙂
I am planning a trip to Bali mid march. I have researched regarding the rainy season and have read mixed reviews. In terms of being able to explore and see all of the sights. It would be great to get your feedback if you have visited in March?
We have planned to stay in Seminyak/Kuta, Ubud & Nusa Dua.
Thank you in advance 🙂
Hey rainy season is mixed indeed – it rains during the day so you can plan indoor activities like massages etc at that time and explore when it’s not raining 🙂
what are the must visit places for 2 day visit to bali?
Hey we’d suggest Ubud and surroundings if you are there for 2 days 🙂
Hey Guys,
Me and my friends are planning a trip to Bali for a week. We are planning to stay in ubud at first for couple of days max. Do you suggest extending duration in Ubud?
Second we wanted to stay in either Seminyak, Kuta or Canggu (we all are beach bums :p) so that we can cover other places as we have 3 days time. Which place do you suggest for stay? Looking for some place from where travelling by road to the other destinations wouldn’t be too much time taking. For ex: we wanted to visit Nusa Penida, Potato head and some other places as per your itenary on Bali. We like partying and drinking but we can do that in India as well 🙂 so we want to rather explore beautiful places than partying all night.
Really looking forward for your suggestions.
Hi Deepanwita,
We’d suggest extending your stay in Ubud to 3 days and spending the remaining 3-4 days in Seminyak or Uluwatu
Hi Savi & Vid,
Thank you for this wonderful website. I need a bit help of yours.
Could you please give me an itinerary for 6 days trip to Bali where romantic sites, waterfall, and scuba diving included. I am not at all able to figure it out what to do, how to do, where to do where to live etc . I am blank please help me out!!
I am planning for July and August.
Hi Kapil,
You can spend 3 days in a beachside place like Seminyak/Nusa Dua and 3 days in Ubud
You guys are so perfect !! And all your blogs are so helpful , it makes this tedious process of planning and plotting so much easier ! I do have a question though . If I plan a 10 day trip , should i mix Singaopore and Bali ? Or maybe i can see only one of these places ?
Hi Rajmi,
Thank you! Yes, you can spend 3 days in Singapore and a week in Bali 🙂
Hello ! Thank you for this detailed blog ! it’s really helpful. Just want to know your thoughts about a day trip to Nusa Penida..is it worth a day’s trip? I’m visit Bali in the first week of September..Thanks in advance 🙂
Yes, you must visit Nusa Penida – but would suggest visiting only if you have 2-3 days to spare 🙂
Hi Savi & Vid,
We are planning a 6 nights trip to Bali in Dec 2022. It’s our Anniversary trip, so we are thinking of 3 nights in Ubud, 2 nights in Seminyak, and 1 night in Uluwatu.
Can you suggest? Can we cover max and the most interesting places in Bali?
As we want to visit Nusa Penida, Mt Batur, Abandoned Aircraft Bali, Monkey forest, etc. So we want to stay in those areas from where we can cover all these beautiful locations.
Looking forward to your suggestions!
Thanks,
Shivam
Hey your breakdown of days is ideal. Have the best time 🙂