"Bali is one of a kind. And if someone does not acknowledge that, than he must have visited heaven itself."
Bali, the famed Island of the Gods, is heaven on earth - is a destination that captivates travelers with its stunning landscapes, rich culture, and warm hospitality. Embarking on a 10-days journey to Bali promises an unforgettable adventure filled with sun-kissed beaches, lush rice terraces, vibrant temples, and mouthwatering cuisine. Join me as I recount my immersive experience in this tropical paradise, where every moment felt like a dream come true. Our 10 days Itinerary in Bali will definitely help you create unforgettable experiences also!
Before, jumping into our amazing itinerary, I want to mention that during our holiday there, we stayed in 2 different hotels - and I would really want to recommend one them (no paid partnerships here). In order to be able to taste some of the cultural diveristy the island is offering, we decided to have our first accommodation in Ubud. Anumana Ubud Bali - was our home for 6 full days and I could not thank than more for the amazing experience. We choose a room with direct access to the pool area and this totally made our stay feel like a dream. In addition, the hotel restaurant made me literally fall in love with the balinese dishes and the care, kidness and respect of their stuff is by far the best we EVER experienced. We booked them directly from their website, as the prices offered were by far the best we got, compared to booking or other platforms.
Immersing in Culture and Tranquility - Our Bali adventure began in the cultural heart of the island, Ubud. Surrounded by verdant rice paddies and jungle-clad ravines, Ubud offers a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Day 1
After having a delicious breakfast at the hotel, we started the day by visiting the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, which was minutes away from our hotel and allowed us to encounter with playful monkeys amidst ancient temples and towering banyan trees.
In the afternoon, after exploring the town's bustling markets, where colorful sarongs, handcrafted souvenirs and aromatic spices tantalized our senses, we headed over to Campuhan Ridge Walk - which is an absolute MUST SEE attraction when visiting the town of Ubud. The rather short, but very rewarding, walkway will take you up and down a ridge along rice fields and palm trees, a perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle from Ubud.
We spend the evening indulging in traditional Balinese dance performances and savoring delectable meals at local warungs - the so called traditional balinese restaurants.
TIP! Monkeys hate being looked at in the eyes, so avoid any eye contact with them, otherwise they will attack you. Moreover, do not carry anything made out of plastic when visiting the Sanctuary as they will want to steal from you! But if you respect this two rules, then monkeys are the most loveable creates.
Before telling you more about how we spend the next day, I have to tell you that one of the most common and easiest way to explore Bali is by hiring a private driver! YES our OWN Private Driver!
TIP! Private drivers are a very common job for most of the balinese, because due to the fact that public transport is almost inexistent in Bali, and because driving alone as a foreigners can be very challenging in Bali, given that a great part of the island is a jungle, hiring a driver is your best decision. In our 12 -days trip we hired a private experienced driver for 8 days - Agung - which I would like to kindly recommend here, as he was a real professional - speaking very good English, having always the cleanest car and daily preparing us the best itinerary for the day! I will leave here his phone number, so in case you visit Bali you can reach out to him! Just write him in WHATS APP some weeks before your trip and i am sure he will make your trip unforgettable --> AGUNG's Phone No: +62.812-3614-1009
Day 2
Agung picked us up early in the morning, and we spend the day by visiting the following:
Batubulan Temple - where we watched a traditional balinese show and received an insight about the balinese culture
Tegalalang Rice Terrace - A MUST SEE
ALOHA UBUD SWING - which is a park with many Instagramable Swings where you can swing in beautiful dresses - which you can rent from there in case you did not bring your own, across a rice field! I loved this experience although it was a bit expensive - €25/pers , but i would do it again if i were to go back there
Pura Tirta Empul - a Hindu Balinese water temple located near the town of Tampaksiring, Bali, Indonesia. The temple compound consists of a petirtaan or bathing structure, famous for its holy spring water, where Balinese Hindus go to for a ritual purification called Melukat. All tourists can try the purification ritual and we wanted to try it also, but sadly on the day we were there a balinese celebration was held and we were not able to do it.
Day 3
After breakfast, Agung picked us up again and we continued out visiting adventure:
Tegenungan Waterfall - which was pretty amazing
Penglipuran Village - A MUST SEE in Bali! Penglipuran is one of the traditional villages of Bangli Regency, Bali Province. This village is famous as one of the tourist destinations in Bali because of its people who still carry out and preserve traditional Balinese culture in their daily lives. The architecture of the building and land management still follows the concept of Tri Hita Karana, the Balinese philosophy of the balance of the relationship between God, humans, and the environment. Penglipuran Bali Village is one of 3 villages that has been named the cleanest village in the world. Thanks to its cleanliness and neatness, this tourism village has also won several awards including Kalpataru, ISTA (Indonesia Sustainable Tourism Award) in 2017, and most recently, this destination was included in the Sustainable Destinations Top 100 version of the Green Destinations Foundation.
Agro Santi Coffee Plantation - which offers an incredible scenery and gives you the impression that you are in the middle of the jungle! The plantation offers coffee which is locally made - including the MOST expensive coffee in the world - the LUWAC coffee - which is a coffee that consists of partially digested coffee cherries, which have been eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet. The cherries are fermented as they pass through a civet's intestines, and after being defecated with other fecal matter, they are collected. I know - sounds disgusting, BUT the coffee tastes really good and it has far less acid than your normal coffee cup.
Day 4
On our forth day, Agung prepared us again a full day of amazing expriences:
Banyumala Waterfall - which is nice, but we do not necessarily recommend it
Pula Ulun Danu Beratan - which is an impressive Hindu Shaivite temple in Bali, Indonesia. The temple complex is on the shores of Lake Bratan in the mountains near Bedugul.
Day 5
The Jatiluwih Rice Terrace - is the best example of Bali's outstanding picturesque rice fields. You cannot but be amazed by the beauty of the thousands of hectares of lush green paddy fields that cascade in terraces from the upper reaches of volcanoes down to the deep valleys below as if sculpted from the mountain side.
Day 6 - was all about relaxation and taking advantage of the hotels amenities and services.
We started the day with a balinese floating breakfast on water, which for me personally was a highlight of this holidays, carefully organized by the Anumana stuff. It costed us €15 - given that we already had a breakfast included stay plan. Even though my husband did not enjoy it that much, as he found it a bit unconfortable to eat from the water, i loved it, as it was something special and uncommon.
In the afternoon we relaxed at the pool and in the evening we had a very private couple massage which we both loved.
Day 7
On our seventh day, it was time for us to change the accommodation and so Agung brought us to Nusa Dua - where we stayd at Courtyard by Marriot - Nusa Dua Resort
Nestled on the southern coast of Bali lies Nusa Dua, a luxurious enclave renowned for its pristine beaches, upscale resorts, and world-class amenities. Nusa Dua promises an indulgent escape filled with relaxation, adventure, and cultural exploration.
As it was a very sunny day, we left our luggages at the hotel and we went to the beach, to explore Nusa Dua's pristine shores, where we embarked on a series of aquatic adventures to explore the island's vibrant marine life. Snorkeling excursions to nearby coral reefs revealed a kaleidoscope of colors beneath the crystal-clear waters, where tropical fish danced among swaying corals. Jet skiing, parasailing, and banana boat rides - are just some of the water sports one can experience there.
Day 8
This was my husband's favourite day! On our 8th day, Agung, our driver, booked as a day trip to Nusa Penida - an island off the southeastern coast of Bali, renowned for its rugged landscapes and stunning natural wonders and beautiful beaches. The most famous attraction on the island is the T-Rex rock formation, named for its resemblance to the head of a Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur.
In order to see the whole Nusa Penida, you would basically need 2 days, so if you will choose , as we have, only a 1-day trip, then you will have to choose between visiting the eastern or the western part of the island. Because we wanted to the see famous T-Rex beach, we therefore choose the eastern part. Agung, organized our whole trip, so after picking us up from our hotel, he brought us to the port from were we took a ferry to Nusa Penida and there, at the port, another driver which organized our itinerary there was waiting for us there. There is not much you could do on the island beside beaches, views or water sport, but we definitely recommend visiting Nusa Penida. We got to visit the following 3 beaches
Kelingking Beach - also know as the T-Rex beach
Broken Beach - worth seeing
Crystal Bay - we do not recommend this beach as it has nothing special
TIP! The T-Rex beach is the most beautiful beach we have ever visited and it is a mesmerizing destination, but it's important to note that it may not be suitable for everyone. Why? Well, everyone can see the beach from the cliff, but few can climb down to the beach. The rugged terrain and steep cliffs surrounding the beach can make access challenging as you really need to climb down the rocks in order to get to the beach. To get down to the beach took us approximatelly 40 min, but we were pretty fast, compared to others who needed aprox 1 hour. Another important aspect, is that this is a virgin beach and it has NO lifeguards or any other amenities. Another important thing, everyone should no is that it is stricly forbidden to enter the water as the water currents of the Indian Ocean are extremely aggresive, and they can pull you into the water in seconds.
Nevetheless, the views are breathtaking and the natural beauty of T-Rex Beach is undoubtedly worth the journey, but travelers should carefully consider their fitness level and comfort with remote environment before embarking on the adventure! But if you are the adventurous type of person, then you cannot miss this amazing experience.
Day 9
On the 9th day of our trip we embarked on a new adventure to the western part of Bali - where we visited 2 temples:
Uluwatu Temple - is situated atop a steep cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean, offering panoramic views of the coastline and mesmerizing sunsets. The dramatic setting makes it one of the most picturesque temples in Bali - A MUST SEE in Bali
The Tanah Lot Temple - a Balinese temple perched on the open sea
Day 10
On our 10th day in Bali we decided to relax at the Courtyard Marriot Hotel and explore Nusa Dua, as we wanted to be able to reflect about the unforgettable experience we just lived. We were so thankful to have been so blessed with the opportunity of travelling to such a place and we can only encourge any human being to set Bali on their list of must see places. As for us, we will return to this place for sure!
Conclusion: Bali, with its diverse landscapes and rich cultural tapestry, offers a truly unforgettable holiday experience. From the tranquil rice terraces of Ubud to the adrenaline-fueled surf breaks of Uluwatu and the pristine beaches of Nusa Lembongan, each day in Bali unfolds with new adventures and discoveries. Whether you seek relaxation, adventure, or cultural immersion, Bali's boundless beauty and warm hospitality promise a holiday to remember for a lifetime.
So, our advice is to not think twice and high-rank Bali at the top of your list with your next destinations.
Safe travels, dear traveler!