Bali
If you are into traveling then you have definitely heard of Bali. This small island that is part of Indonesia is a huge tourist destination and for good reason with all the beautiful beaches, incredible rice terraces, wildlife, yoga, temples and activities it has to offer. It is definitely a tourist destination and it will not disappoint on all it has to offer.
Bali one week itinerary
Most advice given about visits to Bali especially for the first time talk about splitting some time between the beach and the central part or Ubud. I think this is a great way to do it. You can divide your time equally or pick which interests you more and split time accordingly.
Beaches
There are so many different beach areas to choose from. Seminyak Beach is one of the top beaches listed on every list. Other options in South Bali include Sanur Beach, Nusa Dua Beach, Balangan Beach and Legian Beach. There are also awesome beaches in other parts of Bali including West Bali and Uluwatu region. Whichever beach you pick you’ll love. If you are looking for partying Kuta, Canggu and Seminyak are great choices. If you are traveling with family or want a more relaxed vibe Nusa Dua and Sanur may be better fits.
Central Bali
Ubud is the main tourist hub in the central part of Bali and for good reason. It is a great branch point to many tourist attractions and is a yoga hub. I would recommend at least 2-3 days in Ubud to really get a good experience.
where we stayed
We decided to check out one beach area and then spend more time in the Ubud region. We were lucky to be joined by a friend who was traveling and also to meet up with a couple we had met in Africa who were traveling through Indonesia.
sanur beach
There are so many different beach areas to choose from. We decided to check out Sanur Beach after reading a bunch of people’s blogs that mentioned how some of the other beaches were very party and some filled with garbage due to all the littering from partying. Sanur was a very nice beach and had some fun restaurants and bars but was very quiet and tame. We definitely felt like it was geared for an older crowd or families. The beach itself was very pretty. If we had more time I would have liked to check out another beach area. We stayed at the Kamboja Homestay. It was beautiful with a pool and nicely done rooms.
Ubud
Ubud has a lot to offer. Depending on what you are interested in you could spend a bunch more time here if desired. If you are interested in yoga there are passes for multiple classes and retreats. There are tons of restaurants and bars to check out. Here we did day tours, yoga, massage and explored on our own. In Ubud, we stayed at the Muka House. It had private bathroom for each room with a continental breakfast included with a nice garden and free wifi. It was very affordable and a great place to stay.
day by day
day 1- arrive flight and head to sanur beach
Head from airport to our hotel at Sanur Beach, dinner in the town
day 2-sanur beach day
Explored the beach and sunbathed. Thomas got his billion dollar haircut. Lounged at pool at hotel.
DAY 3-SANUR BEACH DAY to ubud
Some more time on the beach and then caught ride up to Ubud via Uber which took around 45 minutes to 1 hour for us to arrive. Checked into hotel in Ubud and dinner around town.
DAY 4- UBUD-SACRED MONKEY SANCTUARY
This was one of my favorite things to do here. There are monkeys everywhere. You can pay a fee to feed monkeys or just enjoy from afar. I was lucky enough to sit down and just have one who already had food come take a break in my lap. This sanctuary is home to over 700 monkeys. It is open between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM daily
DAY 5- UBUD-CAMPUHAN RIDGE WALK, YOGA CLASS
The Campuhan Ridge Walk can be reached from town and has beautiful views. It can get hot and crowded so going earlier in morning is better. Wear sunscreen and bring water. You simply cannot come to Ubud and not at least take a beginner yoga class. Ubud is a yoga haven with so many options from beginners to more experienced yogis. Some of the top studios to check out include the Yoga Barn, Intuitive Flow, Chakra Yoga Shala, Radiantly Alive, Ubud Yoga House and so many more.
DAY 6- THE INFAMOUS TOUR
We booked a driver for a tour of some of the best attractions around Ubud. It was not what we all expected at all. Tips: bring a lunch or ask when you are hungry to stop for lunch, do not expect English guide, wear or bring a sarong, bring cash for fees to each location. This day we saw the Tagallanlang Rice Terrace, Goa Gajah, Titra Empul Temple, Mount Batur, and Pura Ulun Danu Batur.
DAY 7- UBUD-MASSAGE AND RELAX
Today we took advantage of the affordable massages you can get. I got a deep tissue while others tried various other types including hot stone. Since today was the last day we explored the Ubud markets. We also wrote our postcards and sent them off at the post office!
DAY 8- UBUD TO AIRPORT
Today we arranged an uber to the airport. The drive takes about 1 hour so make sure to arrange for that if leaving from Ubud.
