9 Best Day Trips From Canggu [+ Itineraries]

Canggu has been our main base here in Bali for the last several years. With its great expat community, fantastic foodie scene, and some of the island's top beach clubs, there are plenty of reasons to fall in love.

But let's be honest, there's so much more to Bali than Canggu. We're always out exploring the rest of the island. If you're also staying for a while, we highly recommend taking some day trips from Canggu, so you can discover everything else Bali has to offer.

In this guide, we'll share our favourite Canggu day trips to give you a real taste of what's on offer. From the traditional palaces and temples of Ubud to the beautiful sandy beaches of Uluwatu, there's a day trip to suit everyone.

1. Explore the cultural highlights of Ubud

What Canggu lacks in cultural and natural attractions, Ubud more than makes up for. That's why it's our favourite day trip to recommend to first-time visitors.

Ubud is Bali's spiritual, artistic, and cultural hub, packed with busy craft markets, historic palaces, yoga shalas, and art studios. Located right in the heart of the island, the popular town is surrounded by lush rice terraces, dense jungles, and traditional temples.

There are so many great things to do in Ubud that we think it deserves a longer stay. But if you're limited on time, you can still see some of the main highlights in a day. Our first-ever visit to Ubud was actually on a day trip from Canggu several years ago, and we've returned countless times since.

Suggested itinerary

With just one day to see the best of Ubud, we'd recommend something like this:

• Take part in a traditional purification ceremony at Pura Tirta Empul

• Snap some photos at the Tegallalang Rice Terraces

• See wild monkeys at Ubud Monkey Forest

• Explore central Ubud for art markets and palaces

• Take a sunset stroll along the Campuhan Ridge or Sweet Orange Trail

• Watch a traditional dance show at Ubud Palace (book here)

How to get from Canggu to Ubud

Ubud sits roughly 30km from Canggu and takes around 1-1hr30 to drive, depending on traffic. If you're starting with the rural attractions of North Ubud (temples and rice terraces), you'll need to add an extra 15-20 minutes.

If you're following the itinerary we've suggested above, you can drive yourself by scooter or hire a private driver. If you only want to visit Ubud Town (markets, palaces, monkey forest), you can book a Grab or Gojek (online taxi) from Canggu. Once in the town centre, everything is pretty walkable.

2. Go beach hopping on the Bukit Peninsula

We love the lively atmosphere of Canggu's beaches, especially around sunset. But they're definitely not the prettiest on the island. For a relaxing day of sea, sand, and sun on a beautiful white sand beach, we prefer to head down to Uluwatu and the Bukit Peninsula.

There are so many stunning beaches to choose from on the Bukit, from long, accessible stretches of coastline to peaceful, hidden bays away from the crowds. The south coast is also home to some of the most luxurious beach clubs in Bali.

To break up a beach day, you can also visit the GWK Culture Park, home to Indonesia's tallest statue, or watch the famous Kecak fire dance at Uluwatu Temple, which takes place each day at sunset.

These are some of our favourite beaches on the Bukit Peninsula:

How to get from Canggu to the Bukit Peninsula

The drive from Canggu to Uluwatu and the Bukit Peninsula's south coast takes around 1hr30, depending on traffic and the destination.

We like hiring a scooter and driving ourselves around the peninsula, so that we can visit a few different beaches and attractions in a day. You can also book a private driver to take you around.

If you only want to visit one beach or beach club for the day, you can also book a Grab/Gojek (online taxi) instead. However, in our experience, some beaches on the peninsula (such as Pandawa and Melasti) don't allow online taxis to pick up, so do some research in advance.

3. Cool down at Bali's biggest water park

For a day of fun in the sun, head down to Waterbom, Bali’s biggest water park. Often voted one of the best in the world, the massive park is packed with loads of adrenaline-pumping thrill rides and twisting water slides.

Our favourite is Boomerang, a two-person tube slide that propels you down a steep drop, then launches you up an almost vertical wall and back. The most thrilling ride is the Climax, an extreme drop slide where the floor disappears beneath you, but we’ve always been too scared to try it!

There are several large relaxation pools, a lazy river, and water playgrounds for kids, as well as restaurants and swim-up bars, making it the perfect place for a fun day out from Canggu.

How to get from Canggu To Waterbom

Waterbom is around a 45-minute drive from Canggu, depending on traffic. If you don't have your own scooter, we recommend taking a taxi or Grab/Gojek to get there.

Waterbom closes at 6pm, so we always try to arrive early and make the most of our tickets. There's more than enough to do to spend a full day at the huge water park.

4. Trek though the famous Jatiluwih Rice Terraces

The Jatiluwih Rice Terraces are a must-visit in Bali, even when staying in the south. Part of the UNESCO-listed "subak" irrigation system, the terraces cover over 600 hectares (1,500 acres) of Bali's central highlands, cascading over hills and valleys, making up one of the island's most iconic landscapes.

A large area of the working rice terraces is open to the public, with several walking trails through the fields. We took the shorter 45-minute route, but some treks last up to 3-4 hours. You can also join a guided cycling or e-bike tour of the terraces, which we hope to try ourselves on our next visit.

There are also many cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy stunning views over the rolling hills. Our favourite place to stop for a coffee is Batu Karu Kopi.

How to get from Canggu To Jatiluwih

Jatiluwih Rice Terraces are 45km north of Canggu and take around 1hr30 to reach by car or scooter. It's best to hire a private driver for the day to take you to the terraces and back.

With a private driver, it's easy to incorporate a couple of other stops into a day trip from Canggu. Attractions like Sangeh Monkey Forest, Beji Griya Park Waterfall, and Junglegold Chocolate Factory are all located on the route between Canggu and Jatiluwih.

5. Climb Mount Batur and enjoy volcano views in Kintamani

Kintamani is one of the most popular day trips from Canggu for one main reason - Mount Batur, aka Bali's second-tallest volcano.

Summiting Mount Batur for sunrise is one of the top things to do in Bali, either on a 2-hour hike or a 4WD jeep tour. We've done it both ways and loved each experience. The hike felt more rewarding, but the jeep tour was a more relaxed and accessible way to enjoy similar sunrise views.

While many people visit early for the sunrise trip and then head straight back to Canggu, we think it's worth sticking around in Kintamani for the day (or at least a few hours). We love this area - there's so much more to see and do than just Batur.

Some of our other favourite thing to do in Kintamani include hopping between the many gorgeous cafes along the volcanic crater edge and relaxing in the area's natural hot springs heated deep below the surface.

Suggested Itinerary

Here’s how we would spend one day in Kintamani:

• Watch the sunrise from Mount Batur (hiking or jeep tour)

• Soak in therapeutic waters at Toya Bungkah or Cinze Hot Springs

• Visit the area's floating temple, Pura Segara Ulun Danu Batur

• Enjoy lunch with a view at one of Kintamani's pretty cafes

• Learn about Bali's volcanic landscapes at the Batur Geopark Museum

How to get from Canggu To Kintamani

Kintamani is around 60km from Canggu and usually takes between 1hr30 and 2 hours to drive. We'd strongly recommend going with a private driver, especially if you want to do the early morning Mount Batur hike.

The Batur sunrise hike needs to be done with a local guide. A private driver can help arrange this for you, or you can book online. The hike took us around 2 hours, so you need to leave Canggu around 1-1:30am to start the hike around 3-3:30am.

Even if you skip the sunrise on Mount Batur, we still think Kintamani is still worth visiting on a day trip from Canggu.

6. Visit Bedugul's scenic lakes and floating temple

Also in Bali’s central highlands, Bedugul is another of our favourite day trips from Canggu. The mountainous region is a drastic contrast to the beaches of the south, with its stunning natural landscapes, including three of Bali’s major lakes.

Bedugul’s most iconic attraction is Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, also known as Bali's famous floating temple, due to its traditional pagodas that appear to magically float on the surface of a large lake at high tide.

The temple complex itself is a bit too touristy for us, so we recommend enjoying it from the lake instead. We hired a Jukung (a traditional Indonesian rowing boat) to explore the lake and temple, which was a much more peaceful and unique experience.

Other than the iconic temple, there's plenty to do in Bedugul to fill a day out, from strawberry picking at local farms and exploring the beautiful Botanic Gardens to enjoying picturesque restaurants overlooking the lakes.

Suggested Itinerary

• Take a boat ride on Lake Beratan to see Bedugul's famous floating temple

• Snap a photo at Handara Gate (a good alternative to the Gates of Heaven)

• Have a picnic lunch in a giant greenhouse at Rumah Gemuk

• Go strawberry picking at a local farm in Bedugul Village

• Meet friendly goats, donkeys, and llamas at Bali Farm House

• OR explore Bali Botanic Garden, the largest in Indonesia

How to get from Canggu to Bedugul

The journey from Canggu to Bedugul takes around 1hr30, depending on traffic. For a day trip from Canggu to Bedegul with multiple stops, we recommend either hiring a scooter or booking a private driver for the day.

7. Spend the day in Nusa Dua

Nusa Dua is one of Bali’s most luxurious resort areas, filled with amazing 5-star beachfront hotels. Most accommodation here is a little out of our budget, but we still enjoy visiting on a day trip from Canggu.

It's easy to see the highlights of Nusa Dua in a day. The dedicated resort area has stunning white sand beaches with gentle waves for swimming, a lovely promenade to walk or cycle along, and two small “islands” (peninsulas) with lush gardens and parkland.

Our favourite things to do in Nusa Dua is watch the Devdan Show. This impressive cultural performance takes you on a journey through the diverse islands of Indonesia, with dance, acrobatics, and special effects. The show runs three days per week, so organise your day trip accordingly.

Suggest Itinerary

Our perfect day trip to Nusa Dua would look something like this:

• See beautiful artworks from Asia Pacific at the Museum Pacifika

• Wander through the parkland on Peninsula Island and see the famous Nusa Dua water blow

• Spend the afternoon relaxing on Nusa Dua Beach

• Enjoy shopping and dinner at The Bali Collection

• Watch the mesmerising Devdan Show at Nusa Dua Theatre

The Tanjung Benoa peninsula, just north of Nusa Dua, is also known for its many watersports, with everything from parasailing to jet skis and banana boats. Check here for booking information.

How to get from Canggu to Nusa Dua

Nusa Dua is around 25km or a 1hr15 drive from Canggu. It's a little quicker by taking the Mandara Toll Road, but you have to pay a small extra fee.

All attractions we've suggested above (except the watersports) are located in the central tourist district of Nusa Dua, which is fairly walkable, so you don’t need a private driver for the day. Instead, take a taxi/Grab from Canggu to Nusa Dua.

8. See the iconic sights of Nusa Penida

Just a short ferry ride from the mainland, Nusa Penida is one of Bali’s most famous and most photographed tourist destinations. The island is known for its pristine white sand beaches and dramatic, rugged coastline.

Penida is one of the most popular Bali day trips. But what most people don't realise is quite how big the island is. It's the biggest of the Nusa Islands and is almost twice the size of the Bukit Peninsula. It took us multiple days to visit all of the main attractions.

On a day trip from Canggu to Nusa Penida, it’s best to choose either the east or the west side of the island to focus on. If you try to see the highlights of both, you’ll spend the entire day driving around on bumpy, uneven roads.

Suggested Itinerary

Here's what you can see and do each side of the island:

• East Penida – This is our favourite side as it’s a little quieter. It’s home to Goa Giri Putri (a huge underground temple) and several beautiful beaches such as Diamond Beach and Atuh Beach. You can also stop by the new Cactus Beach Club which we really enjoyed.
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• West Penida – The west side of the island is where most of the island's most iconic sites are found, including Kelingking Beach (the one that looks like a T-rex) and Angel's Billabong. You can find some hidden gems over here, but most day-trippers stick with the highlights.

Our favourite thing to do on Nusa Penida is a snorkelling trip. The Nusa Islands are home to some of the most incredible snorkelling spots we’ve seen, with huge schools of colourful fish and giant Manta Rays. But you will have to sacrifice some of the land attractions to make time for a boat trip.

How to get from Canggu to Nusa Penida

To get from Canggu to Penida, you first need to drive to Sanur Harbour, which takes around an hour. While you can take a Grab/Gojek there, the harbour doesn't allow online taxis to pick up, so you need to arrange a driver for the return, or risk negotiating with pushy local drivers.

Ferries run regularly throughout the day and can be booked online. For day trips, we recommend catching a 7:30am ferry to get there and a 5pm return.

To get around the island, most people tend to organise a private driver who meets you when you arrive. But we prefer to hire a scooter from Doel Rental near the harbour and drive ourselves. Some organised day trips to Penida also include the option to add transfers on the mainland and ferry tickets.

9. Relax on the laid-back beaches of Nusa Lembongan

Next to Nusa Penida is the much smaller island of Nusa Lembongan. While it doesn't have as many iconic sights as Penida, this island is our favourite spot for a peaceful getaway from mainland Bali.

Lembongan has a more relaxed, easygoing vibe than Penida, with several accessible white sand beaches and many oceanfront cafes. The island is small enough to see the highlights in a day. Or you can enjoy a chilled beach day - swimming, snorkelling, surfing, or taking a boat trip along the coast.

Nusa Lembongan is also connected to the tiny Nusa Ceningan via its iconic yellow bridge. You can cross the bridge on foot or by scooter to enjoy the Blue Lagoon, cliff jumping spots, and several luxurious clifftop beach clubs.

Suggested Itinerary

To see the highlights of Lembongan, we'd suggest an itinerary like this:

• Take a boat ride through the island's mangrove forest

• Enjoy a laid-back brunch and sunbathing time on Jungutbatu Beach

• See huge waves crash at Devil's Tear coastal formation

• Visit the picturesque Dream Beach

• Cross the iconic Yellow Bridge and see the local seaweed farms

• Snap a photo of the turquoise waters of the Blue Lagoon

• Grab a drink at ARNA Ocean Lounge

Alternatively, you can spend the day just hanging out on the beach, enjoying a drink on the floating pontoon bar, or relaxing at one of Lembongan's beautiful beach clubs.

How to get from Canggu to Nusa Lembongan

Similar to Penida, you need to catch a ferry from Sanur Harbour. You can pre-book ferry tickets here. On Lembongan, the ferries drop off/pick up at Jungutbatu Beach, the island’s longest and most popular beach.

Hiring drivers in Nusa Lembongan is less common than elsewhere in Bali, as many roads aren’t made for cars. The best way to get around Lembongan is to rent a scooter or a buggy and drive yourself. The island is small and easy to navigate.

If you don’t want to drive yourself around, it may be better to book a full-day guided tour, which includes transfers from Canggu, ferry, and transport on Lembongan.