For all of its tradition, magnificence, and historical past, most guests to Bali don’t enterprise additional than the island’s southwest coast. As the site visitors grows and the Bintang flows, it may be simple to get sucked in…
However, for each Balinese spotlight, view, and beachfront, there’s a quieter equal. One that exists with out the eye of those that ‘Gram. All it takes is following a special street!
With this tongue-in-cheek “non-influencer’s guide,” I hope to encourage a special strategy to discover the island. I observed that Bali itineraries concentrate on a sure aesthetic, normally that includes images of the well-known “Bali swing” by the terraced rice fields and loads of close-ups of colourful açaí bowls. While the Bali vibe is a big a part of its enchantment, there may be one other aspect to the island too.
While few locations in Bali are really off the overwhelmed monitor, you possibly can beat the crowds and catch some unbelievable highlights by planning your very personal street journey.
Plan your journey to Bali, Indonesia
How to Get Around Bali
The finest strategy to discover Bali is to have your personal technique of transportation, similar to renting a scooter/moped or utilizing ride-hailing apps. This will allow you to journey at your personal tempo and in a method that’s totally different from the native excursions.
Note: This itinerary relies on having private transport, similar to a scooter.
GoJek and Grab, the “Ubers” of South East Asia, have actually modified the sport. They’ve made it effortlessly simple to order a automotive or — higher but — a scooter on the faucet of a button.
Bluebird (the respectable taxi) nonetheless operates, and each second shopfront presents personal or shared transport to your subsequent vacation spot. However, if doable, you’ll all the time save time on a scooter.
If you’re keen on your autonomy and the fun of the open street, buying your personal set of wheels will show you how to get round Bali. Scooter/bike rent sits within the basic gray space of the regulation in Indonesia. Yes, it’s unlawful to experience round Bali and not using a license. But does that matter? Not actually. Just put on your helmet and nobody will blink a watch.
The price of motorbike rent varies by vacation spot and sort of motorbike. The cute and noble Honda Scoopy is nice for getting from the resort to the seashore. But if you wish to see the most effective of Bali, you would possibly want extra energy and extra cupboard space. Honda Vario or Yamaha Nmax will show you how to keep protected on sooner roads with a bigger storage compartment beneath the seat.
Day 1: Canggu
Canggu is among the trendiest spots in Bali, having gone from being virtually unknown a decade in the past to being a family title amongst surfers and digital nomads the world over in the present day. (See our Canggu vs. Ubud article.)
Yes, that is the non-influencers’ information to Bali, so it could appear odd to begin right here. While you’ll definitely see large muscle tissue and tight clothes stream out of Canggu’s Wrong Gym at 8 am, there’s a way to the insanity. It’s a straightforward place to kick off your Bali journey if you’re nonetheless contemporary off the aircraft — plus it’s only a quick drive from a number of key sights deliberate for Day 2.
For the night, base your self on Pantai Pererenan and even barely additional alongside the coast. This will put you on the fringe of the rising neighborhood the place the rice fields are nonetheless successful the battle from the brand new tourism improvement.
As you compromise in, you can also make use of the Canggu shortcut to dip throughout in direction of the center of city. Here you possibly can choose up any wanted provides similar to a poncho (you’ll want one!) or head to Frestive for street snacks and drinks.
Come the night marks the official starting of your 10-day journey round Bali on the sands of Echo Beach. After paying a small charge for parking, seize a beanbag on the sand and a chilly Bintang beer, and watch the surfers experience the waves till the solar goes down.
If you occur to reach early within the day, you possibly can spend time in Canggu by taking a 2-hour browsing lesson or becoming a member of a jewelry-making class.
Day 2: Tanah Lot & Lovina
Yes, you haven’t gotten off the overwhelmed path but. But by stationing your self on the far aspect of Canggu, you can also make a swift and straightforward exit. First cease, Tanah Lot.
With an early rise, you possibly can beat a number of the crowds that swarm to this well-known temple. Set on a rocky outcrop and unreachable at excessive tides, Tanah Lot is a romantic, breathtaking sight. Although you possibly can’t enter the temple, relying on the water and crashing waves, you possibly can all however attain the entrance door.
From there, bounce again in your set of two wheels and head again inland. The roads dance between pristine and pothole-ridden as you rise into the hills. The temperature begins to drop barely and the Belimbing Rice Terraces become visible.
Tegalalang often is the most well-known. But so few footsteps wander these terraces that it transforms them into one thing extra spectacular. Grab a fresh-cut coconut and admire the vistas.
As you make your method additional into the mountains, the beautiful street twists and winds by way of small cities. School children wave and smile, and the markets bristle with exercise. Up and down you go previous rice fields and Blamantung Waterfall. From Tanah Lot to the North Coast, this can be the most effective street in Bali.
With your luggage now dropped in your Lovina lodging, lay down on the beanbags at Funky Place. Looking out to the Bali Sea, you’ll catch a glimpse of the sundown as the bar’s personal quirky, hilarious hearth show begins.
Day 3: Kintamani
Rise early as soon as extra for a morning amongst Lovina’s dolphins. You can simply guide it forward at GetYourGuide. As you bounce on board, simply in time to see the dawn, your boat ventures additional out to sea. Guests will be capable of swim within the water. With arms gripped to a floating swing, you’ll Superman throughout the water because the boat goes in quest of pods.
Return for breakfast earlier than setting out for the mountaintops within the coronary heart of Bali. Your day’s journey begins sizzling as you experience by way of the coastal cities of Singaraja and Boengkoelan. But with one swift proper flip, you achieve fast elevation and the cool breeze brings a second wind.
The greater you go the grander the experience turns into. Roadside shacks promote 50-cent ice teas subsequent to million-dollar views and a fast detour to Air Terjun Carat supplies a refreshing dip.
Continue to Three Mountain View for a touch of tomorrow’s journey earlier than stopping at Mahen Sunrise Camp. Here you possibly can soak within the magic of Danau Batur earlier than checking in to your night time’s lodging and dinner at Renjeng Bali.
Day 4: Kintamani
While you possibly can definitely keep within the coronary heart of Kintamani, I like to recommend the charming quietness of the Batur Valley. Not solely that, however you received’t should experience for 45 minutes at 2:30 am as you’ll be simply minutes from the assembly level.
Day 4 is all about climbing Mt. Batur, simply in time for dawn. This mountaineering tour takes you up above 5,600 toes (1,717 m) the place you possibly can watch the solar bounce above the jap horizon, shrouding the distant Rinjani in rays of sunshine as Batur Lake glistens beneath. It’s a outstanding sight. Yet even when the clouds come within the views stay worthy of the roughly 2-hour climb.
Once full, what’s subsequent? Well, that half is as much as you.
Tired from the stroll, take a nap earlier than trying out the valley’s Toya Devasya Hot Springs.
Still up for extra adventures? Kick up the bike stand and experience alongside the attractive lake earlier than turning into the burnt lava subject for epic images and an otherworldly expertise. Top it off by driving into Kintamani for dinner.
Day 5: Ubud
The first half of your 10 days in Bali have been hectic. Early mornings, dolphin swims, and dawn hikes. Let’s change it up a bit. It’s time for Ubud.
Just over an hour’s experience south, the journey from the heights of Kintamani to the luxurious fields and forests that envelope Ubud, can be the most effective 60 minutes on wheels this journey.
There are a number of routes you possibly can take. Choose the one which takes you by the Tegalalang Rice Terraces. The most well-known in Bali, the extra you stroll, the extra you’ll discover room for your self.
This respiration house supplies every part it’s good to admire the terraces’ aesthetics and the unbelievable, timeless engineering that connects them.
Continue to Ubud. Thanks to its booming recognition, the site visitors is paying homage to touring by way of Kuta and Seminyak. However, the cultural appeal nonetheless finds a strategy to you.
Just just a few steps off of the primary street of Jalan Raya, return to the misty highlands you left behind. There are a number of nice walks, together with the Campuhan Ridge Walk. But the Sari Organic stroll by way of the fields, the place chickens run amok and geese float among the many rice is Ubud at its best.
Day 6: Ubud
Although Ubud is noticeably cooler than southern Bali, you’ll nonetheless need to benefit from the hours earlier than noon. On day 6, take a experience to the close by city of Gianyar.
The bustling street rapidly filters out these visiting Bali and places you squarely amongst native, rush-hour site visitors. You’ll see speedy modifications and no extra Western affect. Instead, thriving cities that stand on their very own two toes.
Standing on the finish of the experience is a trio of fabulous waterfalls which are simply minutes aside. First up, Taman Sari. An area hangout, you possibly can enter for 20k per individual. After a brief stroll downhill, the multi-level falls become visible. We love these falls as a result of they’re tucked just a little additional off the primary street. There’s a small shack promoting drinks and snacks, however for essentially the most half, it’s quiet and completely refreshing.
The second is the extra fashionable Tibumana. This requires an extended stroll, however the bridal veil falls are spectacular. On the best way again up, cease midway for contemporary coconut water. The third and last fall is Goa Rang Reng. Set amongst a towering canyon, the falls aren’t as well-known, however the images ship the products.
Return to Ubud for a calming afternoon, seize a $6 USD therapeutic massage and watch the afternoon flip to night. When it does, take a stroll alongside Hamoman and Goutama streets to search out your dinner spot. Check out the soccer fields to see locals play throughout golden hour earlier than having fun with dwell music on the Laughing Buddha.
Day 7: Amed
Today, we head again to the North Coast. After a day of waterfalls and rest, you’ll be itching to get again on the street. Roughly 2.5 hours stand between Ubud and Amed. A memorable 150 minutes.
Traffic comes and goes as you make your method into the foothills of Mount Agung. If your schedule permits it, you possibly can be a part of this hike. Rice fields bloom to both aspect and the waters of Tirta Ganga temple make for an ideal relaxation cease.
Like a lot of Bali, the pandemic introduced loads of exterior cash to Amed. But in contrast to the south, which is bursting on the seams, Amed’s glow-up was tastefully finished.
Famous for snorkelling, dump your luggage and head out to the reefs. Or experience in both path to search out US and Japanese shipwrecks.
If you will have one week in Bali, you possibly can finish your itinerary right here by driving again to Kuta. But you probably have just a little extra time, it’s price taking your time driving just a little extra alongside the southern coast.
Day 8: Padangbai
If I needed to rank the most effective sections of this itinerary, the coastal experience from Amed to Padangbai sits solely behind that stretch to Lovina. With wonderful views all through, you’ll need to cease typically to take all of it in.
But our time in Bali is rapidly coming to an finish. My voice rings in your head, telling you to get to Bias Tugal (White Sand Beach), Bali’s finest. It’s a hill I’m prepared to die on.
The loopy waves, beautiful ivory sand, turquoise water and charming seashore shacks mix for the proper Indo seashore day.
You can take this Padangbai Blue Lagoon snorkeling day journey, however if you wish to do a dive, you possibly can be a part of this dive expertise.
Day 9: Sanur
Having visited Bali’s finest seashore that afternoon prior, you’ll have time for an additional go to. But from there, the street returns to the coast.
Just over an hour of coastal driving lies between you and Sanur. The dual-lane street can get busy with vans and dirt, so be certain to guard your eyes.
There’s an abundance of seashores and warungs alongside the best way, so you possibly can definitely make a day of it. Upon arrival, head to Sanur Beach and boardwalk and reminisce on the day’s previous. After sundown, try the Sindhu Night Market.
Day 10: Bye, Bye, Bali
Depending in your flight, you’ll have time to get pleasure from Sanur’s fabulous dawn. From there, set off to return your bike and get on that GoJek scooter again to Ngurah Rai.
Got More Time?
It’s simple to show your 10-day journey into two weeks. All you want is a ship experience!
From Sanur, you’re half-hour from the lovely Nusa Lembongan. A one-road island, it boasts a few of Indonesia’s finest browsing, has epic sunsets and nice scuba diving.
Thinking about including the Gili Islands to your journey? Depart from Padangbai to shorten the journey. Gili T is essentially the most taking place of the three isles, whereas Gili Air guarantees a quiet, romantic escape.
Some hyperlinks could also be affiliate hyperlinks, that means I could earn fee from services or products I like to recommend. For extra, see web site insurance policies.
Posted APR 29, 2024