Spend seven days moving from Ubud’s rice terraces and temple courtyards to Sanur’s easy waterfront, with a day trip to Nusa Penida’s sheer coastal cliffs. Finish in Uluwatu, where beach afternoons lead into temple sunsets.
Bali & Nusa Penida · Indonesia
Uluwatu Illustrative image
Duration
7 days
Attractions
16 stops
Travel style
Self-guided
Pace
Flexible
About this itinerary
Spend three nights in Ubud, one in Sanur and two in Uluwatu. Set aside a full day for Nusa Penida and plan your last day around your flight. For a slower trip, replace the Mount Batur hike with a cooking class or skip Nusa Penida for more beach time.
Day by day itinerary
A day-by-day route with room to explore at your own pace.
Overnight · Ubud
Arrive in Ubud & meet Bali
Arrive at Ngurah Rai International Airport and head inland to Ubud. Make this a settling-in day: the palace, market and Monkey Forest are choices, not a checklist to race through after a flight. If you land late, have dinner and save the sights for another time.
Land in Bali and transfer to Ubud
Arrival
Allow time for airport formalities, traffic and hotel check-in before making plans in town.
Wander around Ubud Palace and the Art Market
Afternoon
A gentle first walk through the centre is enough after the journey.
Visit the Monkey Forest
If time allows
Go in daylight and follow the sanctuary’s guidance around the macaques.
Take your time over dinner
Evening
Choose a Balinese meal near your accommodation. Overnight in Ubud.
Overnight · Ubud
Rice terraces & the springs of Tampaksiring
The day pairs two different sides of Bali: the working landscape at Tegallalang and the living temple traditions at Tirta Empul. Start early enough to enjoy both without rushing. Add a waterfall only if you still have time and energy; it is easy to spend longer than expected at the first two stops.
Walk Tegallalang’s rice terraces
Morning
Give yourself time to see the fields without treating them as a quick photo stop.
Visit Tirta Empul
Late morning
Learn about the holy springs while respecting temple customs and people at prayer.
Choose a nearby waterfall
Optional
Tegenungan works only if time, weather and access make it comfortable.
Return to Ubud
Evening
Leave the evening open for dinner and a slower pace. Overnight in Ubud.
Overnight · Ubud
Mount Batur & an unhurried Ubud afternoon
A guided sunrise hike makes this an early and active day, so protect the afternoon for rest. The mountain is optional. If a pre-dawn climb is not your idea of a holiday, take a Balinese cooking class instead and enjoy Ubud without the alarm clock.
Optional guided Mount Batur hike
Before dawn
Go only with suitable arrangements and conditions. A cooking class is a gentler alternative.
Breakfast with a Kintamani view
Late morning
Take a break before the drive back to Ubud.
Rest in Ubud
Afternoon
A quiet café, spa or time at your hotel is plenty after an early start.
Choose a cultural performance
Evening
Check the programme locally if you feel like going out. Overnight in Ubud.
Overnight · Sanur
Move to Sanur & take the coast slowly
Check out of Ubud and move to Sanur, where the coast changes the pace of the trip. Keep the afternoon light. A waterfront walk, a café and an early night make tomorrow’s boat departure much easier than squeezing in another sightseeing circuit.
Travel from Ubud to Sanur
Morning
Check out, allow for road traffic and settle into your coastal base.
Walk the Sanur waterfront
Afternoon
Choose a café or a short beach stroll rather than a packed programme.
Prepare for the island crossing
Evening
Confirm your boat’s departure point and return arrangements. Overnight in Sanur.
Overnight · Uluwatu
Nusa Penida’s cliffs & the move south
This is the busiest day of the week. Take an early boat from Sanur, choose a realistic west-island route, and keep your return crossing in mind. Kelingking, Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong are viewpoints and coastal stops, not a promise of safe access to the water. Return to Bali before transferring to Uluwatu.
Fast boat from Sanur to Nusa Penida
Early morning
Check in as instructed by your operator and keep the return ticket handy.
See Kelingking and Broken Beach
Midday
Allow for winding island roads and enjoy the views from safe vantage points.
Angel’s Billabong, then perhaps Crystal Bay
Afternoon
Keep Crystal Bay optional; sea and road conditions decide what fits.
Return to Sanur and transfer to Uluwatu
Evening
Leave a generous buffer between the boat and your road transfer. Overnight in Uluwatu.
Overnight · Uluwatu
Uluwatu’s beaches, temple & sunset
After yesterday’s travel, begin with a beach and keep the afternoon flexible. Later, head to Uluwatu Temple for the clifftop setting. If a sunset Kecak performance appeals to you, check its schedule and book ahead during busy periods; temple admission and performance tickets may be separate.
Take it easy at Padang Padang
Morning
Swim only where conditions and local advice permit.
Choose a coastal café or viewpoint
Afternoon
Keep this part of the day flexible after the Nusa Penida outing.
Visit Uluwatu Temple
Late afternoon
Arrive with time to explore the cliffside grounds respectfully.
Optional Kecak performance
Sunset
Check tickets separately, then enjoy your final night in Uluwatu.
Trip ends
Jimbaran & the journey home
Let your flight set the pace. Enjoy breakfast or a final beach walk if there is time, and consider Jimbaran for lunch only with a comfortable airport buffer. Bali traffic can make short distances slow; skip the detour if your departure is early.
Have one last slow breakfast
Morning
A beach walk or spa visit is optional, depending on check-out and your flight.
Stop by Jimbaran Beach
If time allows
Pause for lunch only if it leaves a comfortable airport buffer.
Transfer to Ngurah Rai Airport
Departure
Allow for traffic and your airline’s check-in requirements. The trip ends here.
Good to know
A little preparation helps this route run smoothly, especially on the Nusa Penida boat day and around Bali’s temples and cliffs.
Check your Nusa Penida boat the night before
Confirm which Sanur pier your boat leaves from, when you need to check in and where the return boat departs. Book both crossings in advance and leave room for weather changes. Day five also includes a transfer to Uluwatu, so avoid a tight connection after the boat.
Do not try to see every corner of the island
Road travel on Nusa Penida takes longer than the map may suggest. Give Kelingking, Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong enough time; add Crystal Bay only if your return boat leaves a comfortable margin. Arrange your transport on the island before you go.
Enjoy the cliffs from a safe distance
Kelingking’s path to the beach is steep and exposed. The viewpoint is a memorable stop on its own. At Angel’s Billabong, stay out of the water when the surf is rough and follow local warnings around the rocks and cliff edges.
Keep Mount Batur optional
A sunrise hike means a very early start and a proper climb. Check the forecast and access, and go with a suitable local guide if you choose to hike. A Balinese cooking class or a slow morning in Ubud works just as well if you would rather rest.
Plan ahead for temples and the Kecak dance
Follow the dress and visitor rules at Tirta Empul and Uluwatu Temple, and give worshippers space. If you want to see the sunset Kecak performance, check its current schedule and reserve a place during busy periods. Temple entry and show tickets may be sold separately.
Know what you need to arrange
This is a route to follow, not a booked tour. You will need to arrange your own stays, road transfers, boats, guides and tickets. Check prices and opening arrangements with each provider before you commit.
