10 Days in Bali: Our Itinerary For First-Timers

With 10 days in Bali, you'll have enough time to explore the island's stunning coastlines, charming villages, and hidden gems. But with so many things to see and do, crafting the perfect itinerary can be overwhelming.

To make things easier, we've drawn on more than two years experience exploring Bali to compile this ultimate 10 day guide. We've shared our recommended itinerary for first-timers (with day-by-day details), a cost breakdown, and tips on how to get around.

Is 10 Days Long Enough in Bali?

For your first trip to Bali, 10 days is a good introduction to what the island has to offer. You’ll have time to see the highlights and explore several different areas, but it'll still leave you dreaming of coming back for more!

With 10 days in Bali, we recommend splitting your stay between three main destinations. This way, you can experience the different sides of Bali – its picturesque coastlines, amazing cultural attractions, and stunning landscapes – without the hassle of changing accommodation too often.

Of course, in a perfect world, a full two weeks would be better. This would give you even more time to explore Bali, including the beautiful islands just off its coast, which we couldn't fit into this 10-day itinerary.

Where To Base Yourself

For this itinerary, we recommend basing yourself in Ubud, Sidemen, and Uluwatu. Each destination offers something a little different, so you'll get to experience a mix of beaches, jungles, rice terraces, temples, and more.

How To Get Around

Bali doesn't have great public transport options for tourists, so we'd recommend either renting a scooter or making use of private drivers and online taxis.

Renting a Scooter

While renting a car in Bali is a bad idea due to the small roads and chaotic traffic, renting a scooter is manageable and gives you the freedom to explore the island by yourself.

But only choose this option if you’re an experienced driver and have an International Drivers Permit. We recommend renting from Bikago who have branches across Bali or can drop-off / pick-up the scooter at your accommodation.

You can typically travel with backpacks on a scooter, but if you have suitcases or larger luggage, consider how you'll transport these on longer journeys.

Private Driver

This option is best for day trips where you visit multiple destinations in one day. Private drivers are affordable and very knowledgeable about the island. Give them a list of places you want to visit and they’ll help plan your day.

It’s better value (and less hassle) than getting taxis around all day, especially for larger groups. Use this booking form to arrange a driver.

Online Taxis (Grab or Gojek)

For simple A-to-B journeys, such as moving accommodation or travelling to one specific attraction, we prefer using online taxis such as Grab or Gojek.

Download the app, create an account, and order a car taxi or scooter taxi from most places on the island. Just be aware of any Gojek-free zones (where online taxis are not allowed) and make sure you have mobile data.

Itinerary Outline

Here's a quick summary of our 10 day itinerary. Continue reading below for the detailed day-by-day breakdown.

How Much To Budget For 10 Days?

In general, we recommend budgeting between 500,000 to 1,500,000 IDR ⓘ per person per day for spending money. For a typical 10-day itinerary, expect to spend between 5,000,000 to 15,000,000 IDR ⓘ per person on food, transportation, and activities.

The itinerary we've shared in this guide falls towards the top end of this estimate, costing around 14,000,000 IDR ⓘ per person in total. This is split as follows:

• 6,500,000 IDR ⓘ on activities

• 1,500,000 to 3,500,000 IDR ⓘ on transportation (depending on how you get around and the number of people to share costs with)

• 4,000,000 IDR ⓘ on food and drink

These costs are vague estimates that do not include flights, accommodation or pre-trip expenses such as visas and insurance. See our full guide on how much does it cost to visit Bali for an up-to-date list of prices.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Explore Central Ubud

Morning

Ubud Story Walks

Start your visit to Ubud by getting to know the area’s history on the Past to Present walking tour with Ubud Story Walks.

This fantastic company offers unique small-group cultural tours led by passionate local guides. On a tour, you’ll get to learn about Balinese history and culture as you explore some of Ubud’s main landmarks.

The 3 hour morning tour even includes a visit to the Puri Lukistan Museum, Ubud’s oldest art gallery filled with historic Balinese paintings and woodcarvings from across the centuries, and a short break to try some Balinese coffee and snacks. The tour starts at 8.30am and booking is essential.

Lunch at This is Bali

Not far from where the walking tour ends, you’ll find a lovely restaurant for lunch called This is Bali which serves unique, modern twists on classic Indonesian dishes. The small restaurant is bright, modern, and super Instagrammable - there's even a "floating" table!

Afternoon

Ubud Arts Market

Walk off your lunch with a stroll through central Ubud. The compact town centre is easy to explore on foot, with many markets, historic palaces, and museums to visit.

Wander around the colourful craft markets, which sell everything from local handicrafts and artwork to t-shirts, sarongs, bags, and jewellery. The markets are a great place to pick up souvenirs for a bargain price – just remember to haggle!

The main sections of Ubud Art Market can be found along Jalan Arjuna and in a large new venue on the corner opposite Ubud Palace. But there are stalls all over the town centre – they’re not difficult to find.

Ubud Palace

While exploring the town center, pop into Ubud Palace. This grand palace was once the official residence of the royal family of Ubud. Today it's a free historical landmark and a fantastic example of traditional Balinese architecture.

Ubud Water Palace

Ubud Palace may be the town's best known historic attraction, but don't forget to also visit the nearby Ubud Water Palace (Pura Taman Kemuda Saraswati) which we love even more. This picturesque temple surrounds a large lotus pond dedicated to the Hindu goddess of learning.

You can pay a small fee to enter, which includes traditional Balinese robes, or admire the historic landmark over a drink from Cafe Lotus next door.

Visit the Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest

Complete your afternoon in Ubud with a visit to the Ubud Monkey Forest, which sits to the south of the town centre and is open until 6pm each day.

This beautiful nature reserve is filled with ancient temples, peaceful rivers, and over a thousand free-roaming long-tailed macaques. Here you can watch these cheeky monkeys play and interact in their natural habitat.

Ultimately, it’s up to you whether to include this spot on your Bali itinerary. But if the thought of a monkey jumping on your shoulders makes you uneasy, it might be best to give it a miss.

Tickets to visit the Monkey Forest cost 80,000 IDR ⓘ on weekdays and 100,000 IDR ⓘ on weekends. You can book tickets in advance.

Evening

Dinner at Zest

Ubud is famous for its incredible veggie and vegan scene, with Zest easily among our top picks. The cool bohemian restaurant focuses on locally grown whole food and plant-based cuisine. We’re usually meat-eaters, but we love the food here.

You won’t find any animal products, refined sugar, or harmful oils in the dishes at Zest. Yet every single item is still delicious, from the all-day breakfast to plant pizzas and colourful medicine bowls. It's also a super cosy restaurant, with sofas, board games, and a laid-back vibe.

Lelong Dance Show at Ubud Palace

End your day exploring Ubud with a traditional Legong dance performance at Ubud Palace, which takes place every evening at 7:30pm.

Legong is a traditional form of Balinese dance, characterised by intricate finger movements, complicated footwork, and intense facial expressions. Many of the dances act out traditional Balinese stories and legends.

It’s best to arrive by at least 7pm to get a good seat for the show. The performance lasts around 1 - 1hr30. You can buy tickets at the door for 100,000 IDR ⓘ.

Day 2: Kintamani Day Trip

Morning/Afternoon

Sunrise on Mount Batur

On day two, take a day trip from Ubud to the breathtaking Kintamani region. Kick off your adventure with an early morning hike to the summit of Mount Batur, Bali's second-highest volcano, for an unforgettable sunrise experience.

As dawn breaks, you'll witness a stunning palette of oranges and reds lighting up the sky, gradually revealing panoramic views of Lake Batur and the island below.

There are two ways of reaching the top of Mount Batur; by foot or by 4WD jeep:

By foot:

We chose to do the sunrise hike to Mount Batur and didn’t find it too challenging. It took around 2 hours to reach the summit, getting to the top just in time to enjoy the sunrise with a banana sandwich (a Batur staple for some reason) and a hot chocolate.

It's best to do the trek with a local guide which can be arranged through your private driver. If you’re making your own way there, you can book a trekking guide here and head to the meeting point.

The hike begins around 4am, but you'll usually be asked to meet your guide and others in your group around 3:30am when you’ll have the chance for a pre-hike coffee and snack. This means leaving your Ubud accommodation around 2:15am.

By 4WD Jeep:

If hiking isn’t for you, there is also an option to reach the summit by 4WD Jeep where you'll drive across the black lava fields and ascent to a viewpoint for sunrise. You don't go right to the summit with the jeep, but it's still an incredible view.

Toya Bungkah Hot Springs

Kintamani is home to a series of manmade hot springs, filled with spring water heated naturally by underground magma. A soak in the warm, mineral-rich waters is perfect to relax your muscles after hiking Batur.

We went to Toya Bungkah which is the largest and most well-known hot springs resort in the area.

Entry was 200,000 IDR ⓘ on the door, but you can get a discount if you book in advance here. Your ticket includes entry to the pools, a towel, a locker, and a welcome drink. We recommend allowing just over an hour here.

Pura Segara Ulun Danu Batur (Floating Temple)

After the springs, make a quick stop at Pura Segara Ulun Danu Batur, a peaceful floating temple sitting on the edge of Lake Batur. It’s accessed by a small bridge over the water.

The temple is far less touristy than many others around the island. You’ll often see local ceremonies taking place, making it a great place to experience authentic Balinese Hindu culture.

It’s completely free to visit this temple, however, you’ll need to rent a sarong to enter, for which there’s a suggested 20,000 IDR ⓘ donation. Being quite a small temple, you’ll only need around 20 minutes or so here.

Café-hopping in Kintamani

Kintamani is full of stunning cafes that overlook the volcano crater where you can enjoy brunch/lunch before heading back to Ubud.

Batur Geopark Museum

Before leaving Kintamani, make a final stop at the Batur Geopark Museum, which is completely free to visit. This large, modern museum showcases the geological, biological, and cultural diversity of Mount Batur and the surrounding area.

It’s a fascinating place to learn more about the Batur region, which in 2012 was named Indonesia’s very first UNESCO Global Geopark.

The museum tells the story of the volcanic processes that have shaped the landscape of Bali over millions of years, with an impressive collection of volcanic rocks and fossils. Visiting takes around 45 minutes to an hour. You might want to adjust this itinerary slightly on weekends as the museum closes earlier.

Evening

Dinner at Taman Dedari

After enjoying some down time and a well deserved nap back at your hotel, it's time for dinner. Head 10-15 mins north of Ubud to Taman Dedari, a traditional restaurant where four towering angel statues sit against a beautiful backdrop. We recommend heading here before sunset to properly enjoy the views.

Although the restaurant has some Western dishes on the menu, we recommend sticking to the local options. There's plenty of choice and it's a great opportunity to try cuisine from across Indonesia that's both authentic and delicious.

Day 3: Temples, Terraces, and Tarot

Morning

Pura Tirta Empul

Start your third day in Bali bright and early at Pura Tirta Empul, a magnificent Hindu water temple around 15km north of the main town centre.

This famous temple holds great historical and spiritual significance. Its natural spring waters have long been used for a purification ritual called “Melukat”, which aims to cleanse your mind, body, and soul.

Pura Tirta Empul is the most popular place on the island for tourists to take part in this well-known water ceremony, which involves praying and bathing under a series of fountains.

The temple’s popularity means it can get extremely busy. We’d recommend arriving as early as possible for a more peaceful experience. We visited around 8am and had the springs entirely to ourselves.

To take part, you’ll need to bring your swimwear and hire a special Melukat sarong. There are changing rooms and lockers available. It’s also possible to hire a guide to walk you through the ceremony which we’d recommend doing. Allow around 90 minutes to explore the temple and take part in Melukat.

Pura Gunung Kawi

When you’re finished at Pura Tirta Empul, head just across the road to Pura Gunung Kawi, one of Bali’s most ancient archaeological sites. This hidden gem offers a fascinating glimpse into ancient Balinese civilization.

The temple complex is home to a series of 11th-century royal tombs carved into the steep cliff face that surrounds it. The ten huge shrines sit over 7 meters (23 ft) high and are surrounded by dense jungle, giving the site a real tomb-raider feel.

The tombs are thought to have been built by King Anak Wungsu as a tribute to his father, the great Balinese ruler Udayana, and the Warmadewa Dynasty.

Afternoon

Tegallalang Rice Terraces

Next, head to the famous Tegallalang Rice Terraces, around a 20 minute drive from the previous stop.

Recognised by UNESCO as part of Bali’s culturally important subak irrigation system, the lush green rice terraces cascade down the rolling hills, embraced by dense jungle on all sides. The terraces have become somewhat of a symbol of the island and are a must-see while in Bali.

Take a peaceful walk among rice paddies from one of the several entrances (quieter spots here and here). You’ll need to pay a small fee of around 25,000 – 50,000 IDR ⓘ in cash to enter.

Jungle Club

Spend the rest of your afternoon grabbing a bite to eat and relaxing at one of Tegallalang’s luxury jungle clubs overlooking the rice terraces. Here are a few you can choose from:

Evening

Dinner at Merlin’s Magic

After the rice terraces, you might want some downtime at your hotel before heading back into Central Ubud for dinner at one of Bali’s most unique dining experiences.

Merlins in Ubud is an unusual magic-themed restaurant and the first in the world where “the food chooses you”. This means that you each receive a tarot reading as you first sit at your table. The three cards you pick not only represent your past, present, and future, but they also reveal your starter, main, and dessert.

You can either stick with the dishes chosen for you, or you can opt to swap any of them out for something else on the menu. There are plenty of delicious choices to pick from, but the steak was particularly good!

No matter what you order, Merlin’s is a fantastic magical experience from start to finish, with its mystical candle-lit tables, robed waiters, delicious and innovative dishes, and elaborate presentation (plenty of dry ice!).

Day 4: Adventure and Artisans

Morning

ATV and Rafting

Spend today exploring Ubud’s stunning natural scenery on an exciting ATV adventure. On an ATV tour, you’ll race through the region’s dense jungles, discovering secret caves, valleys, and waterfalls.

Numerous companies offer ATV experiences around Ubud, with most taking similar routes. We went with Beji River Adventure which was reasonably priced and included one of the famous Gorilla Face caves.

If you're into adventure activities, we recommend combining an ATV tour with white water rafting on the Ayung River. The river has many class II and III rapids which meander through the stunning Ubud countryside, with plenty of exciting drops and turns along the way.

You can get a great deal by purchasing a package. You'll get lunch in between, but the two activities will take up most of your day, so don’t plan anything else until late afternoon.

Afternoon

Jewellery making class

Ubud is famous for its numerous artisan craft workshops, with everything from silversmiths to woodworkers, many of which offer classes for visitors.

One of our favourite experiences in Ubud is a silver jewellery-making workshop with an experienced Balinese silversmith. It’s a fun way to spend a couple of hours and come away with an amazing souvenir to take home with you.

In a session, you’ll learn how to melt, mould, and shape silver to produce your very own ring, bracelet, or earrings. Just be prepared to sweat – it was a real workout!

Evening

Sunset ridge walk

Finish your day with a peaceful walk along one of Ubud’s popular walking trails.

Campuhan Ridge Walk is a paved hiking trail starting from Campuhan Bridge in central Ubud. The walking route leads you through the surrounding rice paddies and forests.

The Sweet Orange Trail is another looping walk starting and ending at Ubud Main Road, passing by old abandoned houses covered in colourful graffiti, before winding through scenic rice terraces.

Both walks take under an hour in total and are best done late afternoon just before sunset when the heat isn’t too intense.

Dinner at Warung Pondok Madu

Warung Pondok Madu is our top pick for delicious BBQ ribs in Ubud. This relaxed local spot is renowned for its signature ribs, which you can enjoy as a full rack with sides or as part of a full meal such as Nasi Goreng or Mie Goreng.

Although famous for their ribs, there are plenty of other options on the menu such as mozzarella stuffed chicken or beef burritos. Unsurprisingly, there aren't too many veggie options here.

Day 5: Cooking Class and Travel Day

Morning

Morning cooking class

Prepare for another early start as you'll need to check out early and leave your luggage in the store room before heading out to the half-day cooking class with Bali Farm Cooking School.

Head to the meeting point in central Ubud and your guide will take you to an authentic morning market to pick up your ingredients for the day.

They'll then drive you to their farm north of Ubud where you'll spend the morning learning how to cook six authentic Balinese dishes. During our class, we cooked satay, chicken curry, sweet and sour tempeh, and more. You then get to enjoy your homemade dishes for lunch before heading back to your accommodation.

Afternoon

Transfer to Sidemen

After collecting your luggage, transfer to Sidemen ready to check in to your next accommodation. We tend to use Grab or Gojek for transfers, but you can also ask your hotel to organise this.

Following a busy few days, you'll probably want to take the afternoon for some downtime at your new hotel. If you've picked Wapa Di Ume Sidemen as we recommended earlier, you can take advantage of their infinity pool,

Evening

Dinner at Sleeping Gajah

Also onsite at Wapa Di Ume is a great open-air restaurant called Sleeping Gajah Kitchen & Lounge which serves an excellent selection of Western and Indonesian dishes. Upstairs from the restaurant is a nice bar serving beers and cocktails if you'd like a nightcap.

Day 6: Explore Sidemen

Morning

Rice Fields Trekking

Sidemen has long been an agricultural region, famous for its picturesque rice terraces that continue for miles. While there are some great viewpoints where you can admire the rice terraces from afar, we recommend getting out and exploring them for yourself on a Sidemen trekking tour.

We’d strongly advise heading out with a guide because it’s easy to get lost. Instead, we recruited local guide Komang Adi from Sidemen Trekking who grew up in the area and knew it well.

Before heading out on the 2 hour trek, we met Adi at the local market where he showed us some of the produce grown in the region.

During the trek, we chatted with Adi about all aspects of Balinese life from families, religion, and traditions, to marriage, schools, and agriculture. He showed us local plants and farming techniques used in Sidemen along the way. He even stopped to make Emily a necklace out of Casova leaves (a childhood pastime).

Being a local, he knew a great route so that we could admire the paddies with Mount Agung in the background. He was also friendly with the local farmers which made us feel at ease walking through their fields and taking photos while they worked.

Gembleng Waterfall

After a morning trekking under the sun, you'll be grateful for a cool down in Gembleng Waterfall.

While the waterfall itself is not particularly powerful, its charm comes from the unique splash pools that form at different levels. You can sit in these pools to enjoy an unobstructed view across the surrounding jungle – like your own natural infinity pool.

While Gembleng isn't yet overrun with tourists, it's certainly getting more popular each year. We had to wait in a small line to use the pool at the top, which has become somewhat of an iconic Bali photo spot.

The main parking area is found near the base of the waterfall, but it looks most impressive from the top. The path takes around 4-5 minutes to climb with 140 steps. Entrance is donation-based, with most people giving around 30,000 - 50,000 IDR ⓘ per group.

Afternoon

Pura Besakih

Pura Besakih, also known as ‘The Mother Temple of Bali’, is the largest and most important temple on the island. It’s just 30 minutes from Sidemen.

This is one of our favourite cultural things to do in Bali. Not just because of its extraordinary size and commanding position with Mount Agung in the background, but because it’s a place of cultural significance and a great opportunity to learn about Balinese Hinduism.

Besakih is not just one temple, but a giant complex of temples. It would take ages to see the whole thing, so your visit will concentrate on the main area where you’ll find the most important temples and shrines.

The entrance fee to visit Besakih Temple is 90,000 IDR ⓘ per person, which includes entrance, use of a sarong, a shuttle bus up from the entrance, and a local guide. The tour takes around 1 hour in total.

The guide was excellent and really made the experience for us. He had a wealth of knowledge about the temple and was able to share some interesting facts about the temple’s history and why it’s culturally significant. Although it's a tourist attraction, you’ll still see many locals praying inside, so make sure to be respectful.

Evening

Dinner at D’padi Restaurant

D'padi is our favourite dinner spot in Sidemen and is less than a 5 minute walk from Wapa Di Ume so there's no need to arrange transport.

With upmarket decor and candlelit tables, the restaurant gives romantic date night vibes. The menu has a good variety of Western and Indonesian dishes, all of which tasted great and came well presented. It was reasonably priced too.

They have live acoustic music some evenings, although we’ve never managed to catch this ourselves.

Day 7: East Bali Day Trip

Morning

Taman Ujung

For your seventh day in Bali, take a full-day trip to East Bali. Either hire a private driver or rent a scooter for the day. You don't need a super early start, but try to leave around 9am.

Your first stop will be Taman Ujung, a water palace built in the early 20th century by the King of Karangasem at the time. The palace includes beautifully manicured gardens, three large ponds, and floating pavilion-like buildings connected by bridges.

One of the architects hired to build the palace was a Dutchman (Bali was a Dutch colony at the time), which is why you can see a unique mix of Balinese and European architecture throughout.

Inside the main building are relics and photos that remain of King Karangasem and his family… he had A LOT of children!

You can climb a long staircase to reach a viewpoint overlooking the entire complex, which covers approx. 10 hectares of land, making it one of the island’s largest historical landmarks.

By visiting first thing in the morning, you’ll pretty much have this place to yourself. We’d recommend allowing around an hour here to fully enjoy it. Entrance costs 100,000 IDR ⓘ per person and you can pay with cash or card.

Lontar Museum

Next, it’s time for one of our favourite hidden gems in Bali, Museum Pustaka Lontar (also known as the Lontar Museum). This is about a 20 minute drive from Taman Ujung.

Run by locals from Penaban Karangasem village, the museum aims to educate tourists about the Balinese language and how lontars (a type of manuscript) are created and used for written records.

Our workshop was led by Kadek, who first explained a little about the Balinese language and how it’s different from Bahasa, the main language used in Indonesia. Then we learned about the Balinese alphabet and lontars which are traditional types of paper used to keep written records throughout Balinese history.

As part of the workshop, we were taught how to write our names in the aksara alphabet and wrote them onto two lontars – one which we left behind at the museum in a special display area and another that we could take home with us as a souvenier.

The museum is free to visit but you must make a small donation of around 50,000 IDR ⓘ per person for the lontar writing. You don’t need to book. In total, the experience took us around 1hr15.

Lunch at Bali Asli Restaurant

Just around the corner from the museum is Bali Asli Restaurant, which is a great spot to grab lunch. After learning about lontars at the museum, you’ll appreciate the restaurant’s unique menu which is written on one.

The restaurant is a great place to experience some traditional Balinese food. Many of the ingredients are grown onsite or in their neighbour’s garden and they cook using traditional methods on mud brick stoves.

It’s not just the food here that’s amazing, the restaurant has an open layout with views towards Mount Agung while you dine.

Afternoon

Tirta Gangga

After lunch, visit Tirta Gangga, another water palace built by the same ruler who built Taman Ujung. He commissioned a second palace after an inspirational visit to the Palace of Versailles in France.

The buildings that once existed here were mostly destroyed when Mount Agung erupted in 1963. However, you can still enjoy the beautifully manicured gardens, ponds, and intricately carved statues and fountains that depict characters from Hindu mythology.

The most famous activity here is crossing the trail of stepping stones over the main pond and feeding the koi fish that swim beneath. This is also one of the island’s most iconic photo spots. We’d recommend allowing around an hour here.

Lahangan Sweet

Finish your East Bali day trip at Lahangan Sweet, a series of viewpoints overlooking Mount Agung from the top of a neighbouring mountain. The entrance fee is 50,000 IDR ⓘ which includes all photo spots except the new swing.

The ticket point is around 25 minutes drive from Tirta Gangga. However, cars can’t reach the top of the mountain, so those travelling with a private driver will need to stop part-way and take a return shuttle for an extra 50,000 IDR ⓘ.

If you have a scooter, you can continue a little further to the midway parking point and walk. But the track is muddy and quite difficult so we’d recommend taking the shuttle if you're not comfortable with this.

There’s also a lovely little warung at the viewpoint with amazing views over the surrounding valley and coastline. Stop here after getting your photos for a fresh coconut or cold beer before making your way back to Sidemen.

Day 8: Travel Day and Spa Afternoon

Morning

Transfer to Uluwatu

After you've checked out of your hotel in Sidemen in the morning, take a transfer down to Uluwatu. We tend to use Grab or Gojek for simple transfers like this, or you can arrange a private transfer with your accommodation. This journey takes around 2.5-3 hours, depending on traffic.

Afternoon

Uluwatu/Suluban Beach

Start your afternoon in Uluwatu at the famous Uluwatu Beach, a small sandy bay sheltered by towering limestone rocks. You’ll need to climb down a short but steep staircase into the bay to reach the beach.

At low tide, another secret beach can be accessed by wading through a sea cave, also known as Suluban Beach. You'll need to duck through caves to reach the secret beach which is all part of the fun.

While certainly picturesque, the tiny beach has become increasingly popular in recent years so it's no longer the hidden gem it once was, but it's still worth a visit.

The Istana

Spend the rest of your afternoon relaxing at one of Bali’s top day spas. The Istana was designed as the ultimate detox spot, with mobile phones banned and no alcoholic drinks allowed.

The Istana has all the typical spa facilities, such as pools, saunas, and ice baths, but they also have more unusual additions including hyperbaric chambers, sound domes, and sensory deprivation tanks.

The Istana have morning, afternoon, and evening spa sessions. The afternoon session is from 3 - 5:30pm, so time your visit accordingly. You’ll need to book this ahead of time.

Evening

Dinner at Mana

Right next door to The Istana is Mana, a beautiful restaurant perched on the clifftop with panoramic ocean views that are perfect at sunset.

The restaurant serves a broad menu of Western and Indonesian dishes, with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Day 9: Go Beach-Hopping

Morning/Afternoon

Balangan Beach

On the penultimate day of your 10 days in Bali, enjoy some the island's most beautiful beaches with a day of beach-hopping around the Bukit Peninsula.

Start with the picturesque and underrated Balangan Beach. This soft white-sand beach is yet to see the same rise in development as much of the Uluwatu region, with only a few small rustic cafes and surf schools lining the back of the beach.

Balangan is easy to access, with two parking areas just a short distance from the sand. At the far end is a large cliff that offers a perfect vantage point for photos.

Dreamland Beach

Dreamland is one of the beaches in Bali we visit most often. It’s easily accessible, with scooter parking just a few metres from the sand and car parking a short walk away.

The sandy beach is well-equipped for tourists, with toilets, showers, shops, sunbeds, and a large local eatery with beach seating. We recommend grabbing some lunch here if you're feeling hungry.

Much busier than Balangan, Dreamland has a lively atmosphere throughout the day. Most visitors tend to congregate near the entrance where the beach is wider and most facilities are. But if you walk further along the beach, there's space for a more peaceful experience.

Bingin Beach

For your third and final beach of the day, head to Bingin, a laid-back sandy beach sitting below a towering cliff, just a short drive from Dreamland. To access the beach, you’ll need to walk down almost 200 steep and uneven concrete steps, meaning it’s unsuitable for those with mobility issues.

At low tide, there’s a lovely stretch of soft white sand to enjoy. There are no sun loungers on the beach, so most people just lay down a towel on the sand. A few local women rent out parasols for protection from the intense midday sun.

Evening

Kecak Show at Uluwatu Temple

While staying in Uluwatu, you can't miss the famous Kecak and Fire Dance at Uluwatu Temple.

Kecak is a traditional Balinese dance known for its dramatic choreography and use of fire. It's performed by a huge chorus of 50-60 men who chant “cak-cak-cak” throughout. Starting at dusk, the performance tells stories from the Hindu epic, Ramayana, focusing on Prince Rama’s quest to rescue Sita.

Once the sun sets, the dance culminates in a fiery climax where bamboo torches are lit, illuminating the temple in an enchanting orange glow.

The show lasts for one hour, but arrive a little early so you can enjoy Uluwatu Temple (Pura Luhur Uluwatu), one of Bali’s nine directional temples. It’s not huge so 30 minutes is plenty to explore.

Dinner at Ours Home

Most people know Ours Home as a brunch or lunch spot, but we went for dinner after the kecak show and it didn’t disappoint. In the evenings, there’s a laid-back intimate vibe with softly lit tables and excellent service.

The menu takes inspiration from Mediterranean cuisine but has a wide selection of pastas, burgers, salads, and seafood. The creamy truffle risotto was our favourite dish (pictured above), but the butter chicken curry was also good with great spices and a lovely flatbread.

Day 10: Day at a Beach Club

For your final day in Bali, enjoy a relaxing day at one of Uluwatu’s top beach clubs. Below are a few options to choose from, depending on the vibe you prefer.

Sundays

Sundays is one of our favourite beach clubs in Bali. This chilled venue sits on its very own stretch of private beachfront, with soft white sand lined with bean bags and sunbeds where you can spend the day relaxing, eating, swimming, and sunbathing.

Their famous cable car will take you most of the way down the steep cliff to the beachfront, with amazing views over the coastline along the way.

The sea next to Sundays is surprisingly calm and great for swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding (equipment free to use). Stay until after sunset when a DJ hits the decks and you can roast marshmallows on a beach bonfire.

Savaya

Savaya scoops the prize when it comes to the most impressive venue in Uluwatu. Located on a 100m high clifftop on the southern coast, this upmarket beach club has two large infinity pools with swim-up bars, overlooked by its iconic cube bar which is seemingly suspended over the cliff edge.

Savaya is a popular hangout spot among Bali’s chic and affluent crowd, so make sure you dress to impress and be prepared to splash out. We'd recommend getting a day bed if you're planning to spend the whole day here.

If you like to party, stay until after dark when things get really lively. Occasionally, the club hosts huge international DJs (you'll need a separate ticket for these events). But on regular days, local DJs still provide a fun atmosphere.

OneEighty

OneEighty is a clifftop day club that’s part of The Edge, a 5-star resort in Uluwatu with luxury villas that overlook the ocean. The day club is open to everyone, not just resort guests. They have four different pools including a natural pool known as the lagoon.

The club's most iconic feature is an infinity pool which extends 6m over the edge of the cliff. It has a glass bottom so you can see the waves crashing against the cliff below as you swim. Keep in mind that this is a popular spot so you certainly won’t have the pool to yourself.

If you do spend the day at OneEighty, consider ending your trip with a luxurious dinner at The Cave, a unique restaurant close to the beach club where you literally dine in a large cave. The food here is fine-dining level, and so are the prices.