The Ultimate Bali Guide. Photo: Sebastian Pena Lambarri | Unsplash
Located in Indonesia, Bali is an island that has to be on everyone’s bucket list.
From temples to waterfalls, beaches and rice fields, there is so much to see and do on the Island of the Gods.
This two-week Bali itinerary is perfect for first-time visitors who want to see the best of Bali within 13 days, or 2 weeks. This itinerary includes the most popular places and a few hidden gems. Throughout your time in Bali following this itinerary, you will get around by private driver, rental scooter and ferries.
Located in South Bali, Seminyak is the tourist hotspot of the island. Seminyak is where you’ll find popular beaches, beach clubs and many restaurants and bars.
The Denpasar International Airport is also located in South Bali, and it only takes around 30-minutes to get to Seminyak by taxi.
As mentioned earlier, Seminyak is the tourist hotspot in Bali, so there are plenty of fantastic things to see and do.
Since you will be spending your first four days in Seminyak, you’ll want to walk around and get your bearings on the first day you arrive.
On your first day, you can visit the beach, wander through Seminyak Square and head to La Plancha for sunset.
There are so many fantastic places to eat in Seminyak, including
Related: These are the best places to watch the sunset in Bali.
On your second day in Bali, you will spend the day in Canggu; a bustling neighbourhood only 20-minutes from Seminyak. You can hire a private driver to take you there, or if you’re comfortable, you can rent a scooter.
Canggu is an up-and-coming neighbourhood, so there are fewer people in the area, but there are still so many amazing things to see and do.
However, for your day in Canggu, you will spend it at the amazing beach club, The Lawn.
There are so many fantastic things to see and do in Canggu. However, for your day there, you can spend it at The Lawn.
The Lawn is a beach club located on the beach and provides spectacular ocean views from the infinity pool. You can spend your day lying on the day beds, swimming in the pool and drinking cocktails and eating food brought to your beds.
However, if laying around all day isn’t your thing, there are a couple of other things you can do during your day in Canggu, such as
Canggu is a foodie paradise, with new restaurants and cafes constantly popping up. Here are some of the best places to eat in Canggu
After you’ve watched the sunset and had dinner in Canggu, it’s time to head back to Seminyak for the night.
On your third day in Bali, you will take another day trip, this time to the very south of Bali to the beach town of Uluwatu.
It takes around 45-minutes to get to Uluwatu from Seminyak, so it’s best to get up early so you can make the most of your day there.
Since there is so much to see and do in Uluwatu, your day will be spent visiting the different beaches, temples and restaurants.
Since there are so many things to see in Uluwatu, here is a list of must-visit places, and you can choose which ones to see for the day. However, we recommend visiting at least three of these places
After your fun-filled day in Uluwatu, head back to Seminyak in the evening.
On your last day in Seminyak, you can spend time at a beach club or shopping at boutique stores and markets.
If you wish to spend your last day in Seminyak relaxing, there are two popular places you can do so: Potato Head Beach Club or the W Hotel.
Potato Head Beach Club is a fantastic place to spend the day relaxing, with stunning views of the beach, a great pool and fantastic service. On the other hand, you can spend the day at the W Hotel (you don’t have to be a guest), where you can relax on the day beds, order great food and drinks and swim in the many pools at the resort.
If you don’t want to lay around all day, you can wander through the many streets of Seminyak and shop at the gorgeous boutique stores and local markets.
There are so many fantastic places to eat in Seminyak, including
As if there wasn’t enough to see on the island of Bali, a trip to Nusa Lembongan is a must if you’re staying there for two weeks.
While Nusa Penida may be the largest and most popular of the three Nusa Islands (Penida, Lembongan and Ceningan), Nusa Lembongan boasts some of the most beautiful beaches.
To get to Nusa Lembongan from Bali, you must catch a ferry that takes 90-minutes.
Nusa Lembongan is home to beautiful beaches and stunning marine life, so one of the best things you have to do on your first day on the island is to snorkel with manta rays.
Plenty of tours take you offshore to snorkel with these majestic creatures. This will be one of your most memorable activities during your two weeks in Bali!
Snorkelling at Crystal Bay and Gamat Bay will most likely be on your tour when you snorkel with the manta rays. However, in case it isn’t, you should definitely arrange to do it in the afternoon you arrive! These two bays have a wide variety of tropical fish and amazing coral, so it’s definitely worth doing.
After all the snorkelling, you’ll want to refuel with some delicious food! Some of the best places to eat on Nusa Lembongan include
Your second day on Nusa Lembongan is all about exploring the island’s beautiful beaches and hidden gems.
Some of the best places to check out include
On your third day on Nusa Lembongan, take a day trip to Nusa Ceningan.
Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan are connected by a bridge (Yellow Bridge), so you can walk or scooter.
Nusa Ceningan is the smallest of the Nusa Islands, and what it lacks in size, it makes up for with stunning beaches. Since the island is so tiny, you can definitely explore it within a day.
Some of the best things to see and do on Nusa Ceningan include
Today you will head back to Bali on the 90-minute ferry and drive an hour up to Ubud in Central Bali.
Surrounded by jungles, valleys and rice fields, Ubud is considered the spiritual and cultural core of the island.
Ubud and its surroundings are where you’ll stay for the next three days exploring the temples, waterfalls and rice paddies.
Your first day in Ubud will consist of getting to your accommodation and finding your bearings around the town.
Some of the best things to do in Ubud on your first day include
There are so many fantastic cafes and restaurants in Ubud, including
Related: Here are the best places to stay in Bali.
Your second day in Ubud will involve exploring the rice terraces and waterfalls.
In the morning, hire a private driver to take you to some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the area, including Tegununan, Kanto Lampo and Tukad Cepung.
Head to the world-famous Tegallalang Rice Terraces in the afternoon for the ultimate Central Bali experience.
On your third and final day in Ubud, you will relax at Cretya Ubud.
Cretya Ubud is a new restaurant and day club where you will spend your last day in Central Bali.
Spend your day soaking in the views of the rice terraces, swimming in the three-layered pools and dining at the restaurant.
Since you will be at Creya Ubud for the day, you can eat at their restaurant, which serves various meals at affordable prices.
Today you will drive 30-minutes to Sidemen in East Bali, where you will spend the next two days.
East Bali is known for its volcanoes, specifically Agung and Batur.
There are many things you can do on your first day in Sidemen, such as
On your second and final day in Sidemen, you will do the activity that the region is most known for.
Today, you will hike to Mount Batur for sunrise, one of the best hikes in Asia.
You can book a Mount Batur sunrise hike, which includes a dip in a natural hot spring. The 1 am wake-up call to start your hike to the summit is definitely worth it, so don’t let it put you off!
Once you reach the summit, you will be blown away by the stunning views of the region.
After your sunrise hike, head back to your accommodation for a nap before heading out again in the afternoon.
In the afternoon, head to Pura Besakih, a complex with 23 temples dotted across the slopes of Mount Agung. This complex is home to the largest temple on the island and is one of the holiest sanctuaries in Bali.
On your final day in Bali, drive 50-minutes back to Seminyak from Sidemen.
Depending on your flight, you can spend time relaxing in Sidemen and head straight to the airport or to Seminyak and chill out at a beach bar before heading to the airport.
The best time to visit Bali is between April and October, the island’s dry season. You will experience warm days with little to no rain during this time.
The currency in Bali is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR).
No, tap water isn’t safe to drink in Bali. Avoid it and stick to sealed bottled water. This includes avoiding ice in drinks, brushing your teeth with tap water and ingesting water in the shower. If you do consume any water, it can lead to Bali Belly (vomiting and diarrhea).
Bali is a stunning Indonesian island boasting beautiful beaches, waterfalls, temples and friendly locals.
If it’s your first time visiting Bali, this is the only two-week itinerary you need, as it will take you to the best parts of the island.
This post was last modified on November 9, 2022 7:05 pm
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