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Visiting Bali in 10 days is the best plan for discovering the Island of the Gods. If you want to relax on idyllic beaches, visit gorgeous temples, and return home in love with Balinese culture, keep reading.
In this article, you won’t just find the best 10-day Bali trip itinerary. I’ll also give you a lot of tips to travel to Bali, and I’ll tell you some anecdotes about renting a scooter in Bali.
If you aren’t renting a motorcycle, don’t worry. Ascen, on her 7-day Bali itinerary, was able to visit the main Bali attractions without a motorcycle. Of course, if that’s the case for you, I’ll suggest some tours in Bali that will take you to the places you can’t miss.
Although ten days in Bali may seem like a short time, I assure you that, with proper planning, you can do more things than you imagine. It’s also essential to know where to stay in Bali so you don’t waste time on the road and can make the most of your vacation.
I made some mistakes when planning my route through Bali. Furthermore, upon our arrival in Indonesia, the Rinjani volcano, in Lombok, erupted, causing some earthquakes that prevented us from continuing with the itinerary we had. Therefore, the route you’ll find in this article is not exactly the route I took, although it’s undoubtedly the perfect Bali itinerary for 10 days.
Before we begin, remember that although earthquakes are unusual, Bali is in a seismic area, so there may be some during your trip. Therefore, I recommend you hire travel insurance for Indonesia that covers evacuation in case of a natural disaster.
BEST BALI 10-DAY ITINERARY
This is the best itinerary to visit Bali in 10 days:
- Day 1: Ubud. Beginning of your trip to Bali in 10 days.
- Day 2: Mt. Batur sunrise tour. Essential if you visit Bali for 10 days.
- Day 3: Besakih, Tirta Gangga, Lempuyang and Amed.
- Day 4: Tegalalang and surroundings of Ubud.
- Day 5: Pura Ulun Danu Bratan and Bedugul waterfalls. Top of the Bali 10-day itinerary.
- Day 6: Jatiluwih, Pasut beach, Tanah Lot and Seminyak.
- Day 7: Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. Visit the Nusa Islands if you travel to Bali for 10 days.
- Day 8: Nusa Penida.
- Day 9: Uluwatu. A place you can’t miss on your Bali itinerary for 10 days.
- Day 10: Jimbaran Bay.
Next, we tell you everything you need to know to have a perfect 10-day trip to Bali. Also, I recommend having this map of Bali on hand, so you know where each of the attractions we mention is.
Day 1: Ubud. Beginning of your trip to Bali in 10 days.
Even if you plan to rent a scooter in Bali, I recommend you book transfer to Ubud from the airport, to get used to the peculiar way the Balinese drive.
The first essential visit to do in Ubud is the Traditional Art Market, which is at Jl. Raya Ubud Street. Here, you can find crafts and pieces of traditional art, as well as a multitude of souvenirs and local food.
Just opposite, you’ll find the Puri Saren Agung, better known as Ubud Palace. The royal family still lives in this palace, so only part of it can be visited, specifically, a central courtyard with beautiful Balinese decoration where traditional dances are held at night.
Going down the street, you’ll find a temple in honor of the goddess of knowledge and wisdom, the Pure Taman Saraswati. There is no entrance fee so you should visit it! It stands out for its two ponds full of lotus flowers.
Another of the temples that we found on the same street is the Pura Dalem Ubud, where I attended a Kecak Fire and Trance show on the first night of my trip.
At the corner of the Art Market is Jl. Monkey Forest Street, which leads to the Monkey Forest. This is, without a doubt, a place you won’t want to miss during your 10-day Bali itinerary.
In this forest are many macaques that make all kinds of mischief to get you to feed them. Be careful! Although I had no problem with them, they often steal what they can from tourists to return it in exchange for food.
Ascen had bad luck, since two monkeys bit her, so she had to use her travel insurance to Bali.
Recommended tours
Even if you plan to rent a motorcycle, don’t use it for your first trip to Ubud. You should book the transfer to Ubud from the airport (45min approx) and give yourself some time to get familiarized with the quieter traffic of this village.
Recommended accommodations
There are lots of great hotels in Ubud, including some of the best villas in Bali. Here is a selection of the best hotels in Ubud:
Day 2: Mt. Batur sunrise tour. Essential if you visit Bali for 10 days.
The second day,I recommend you get up early to live out one of the best experiences you can have on your 10-day trip to Bali: watching the sunrise over Mt. Batur.
The views from the top of the volcano are wonderful, and the best thing is that your guide will cook you some eggs and banana pancakes for breakfast with the volcano steam.
Mt. Batur is sacred to the Balinese, so it’s essential to book a tour with a local guide. Also, if you want to arrive at dawn, you’ll have to leave Ubud at 2:30 in the morning, so I don’t recommend riding a scooter.
Depending on the tour you choose, after the hike, you can go bathe in some hot springs, visit a waterfall, or even go rafting.
When we headed back to Ubud, we stopped to visit Penglipuran, a small traditional village with a beautiful bamboo forest. We also visited the Pura Kehen temple and cooled off under the Tukad Cepung waterfall.
If you arrive in Ubud with enough energy, you can walk to Campuhan Ridge Walk. Here, you’ll find beautiful rice fields and gigantic palm trees, making it one of the best things to do in Bali at sunset.
Recommended tours
It’s essential to book a guide to climb the Batur Volcano. We did this tour and paid an extra tip to our guide to stop in Penglipuran on the way to Ubud.
Other tours you can take are:
Recommended accommodations
On your second night, you can stay in the same hotel as the night before or treat yourself to one of the hotels in the middle of the jungle that you will find in Bali. My favorite one is the Hanging Garden of Bali, although if it’s out of your budget, I recommend you take a look at Pertiwi Bisma 1, located next to the Monkey Forest.
Day 3: Besakih, Tirta Gangga, Lempuyang and Amed.
Our true motorcycle adventure began at this part of the 10-day Bali itinerary. We left all our luggage in our hotel and took only backpacks.
First, I recommend you visit the temple of Pura Besakih, which is 40 km from Ubud. This temple is known as the Mother Temple, since it’s composed of 22 independent temples. It would take you all day to visit it, so I recommend you go directly to Gunung Agung, where there is a 7-level temple that represents the Hindu universe.
Then, I recommend visiting Tirta Gangga, a royal palace that stands out for its tropical gardens, its fountains, and ponds. Specifically, there is a pond full of carp in which, thanks to small platforms, you can walk on water.
Continue to the Pura Lempuyang temple, where you can visit one of the most popular postcard-worthy photos of recent days, the Gates of Heaven. If you travel in the high season of Bali, it’s very likely that you’ll have to queue for hours to take the typical photo where you can see Mt. Agung, the highest volcano on the island, in the middle of the door. In my opinion, I don’t think it’s worth waiting for hours for that photo.
To end the day, I recommend visiting Amed beach and watching the sunset with Mt. Agung in the background.
Recommended tours
If you haven’t rented a motorcycle, I recommend this tour and that you return to Ubud that same night.
However, if you did that, you wouldn’t visit Amed beach and some other things that we recommend visiting the next day in the morning. If you don’t want to miss them, you can hire a car with driver (10 hours) to make this personalized route.
Recommended accommodations
The best hotels in Northwest Bali are found in Tulamben. These are the four that I recommend, depending on your budget:
Day 4: Tegalalang and surroundings of Ubud. Visits to do in Bali in 10 days.
I recommend you get up early to head back to Ubud and stop at one of the most beautiful places to visit in Bali, the Bukit Cinta. From here, you’ll have amazing views of Mt. Agung over extensive rice fields.
You can also make a stop at the Pura Goa Lawah temple, where you’ll see thousand of bats sleeping on the ceiling.
On the way back to Ubud, you can stop in an area where there are several waterfalls. The most popular are Wisata Air Terjun Kanto Lampo and Tibumana. Although they are not something essential to visit in Bali in 10 days, I really recommend them.
Then, continue north to visit two temples of Bali that you cannot miss: Tirta Empul, popular among the Balinese for its sacred waters, and Pura Gunung Kawi, where the souls of the kings are buried symbolically.
Nearby, you can find the rice fields of Tegalalang, the most popular rice paddies in Bali.
Finally, and only 10 minutes from the center of Ubud, the Elephant Cave, Goa Gajah, is another essential point to visit on your 10-day route through Bali.
Recommended tours
If you leave from Ubud, you can book this private tour, and tell the driver to skip the Monkey Forest visit and add the Pura Gunung Kawi temple.
On that private tour, you’ll visit a large part of the aforementioned attractions, but it doesn’t include the area where you can visit the waterfalls. Therefore, if you also want to visit them, you’ll need to book a customized tour.
Recommended accommodations
This is the last night I recommend you spend in Ubud, so, if you can, stay in one of the amazing villas you’ll find here. Additionally, there are many that are located northwest of Ubud, where you’ll head the next morning. My favorites are:
- Senetan Villas & Spa Resort
- Hanging Gardens Of Bali
- Samsara Ubud
- Ayuterra Resort
- Four Seasons Resort Bali At Sayan
Day 5: Pura Ulun Danu Bratan and Bedugul waterfalls. Top of the Bali 10-day itinerary.
Bedugul is an area that you have to visit in Bali in 10 days. I am convinced that it will surprise you. In this mountainous area, which stands out for its volcanoes and craters that have turned into lakes, there’s a totally different culture. You just breathe peace and nature in its purest form.
On the way, you can’t miss the Nungnung waterfalls, although I warn you that they won’t be the most beautiful you’ll see on this day. The Sekumpul, the Gitgit, and, especially, the Banyumala Twin are my favorite ones.
Then, be amazed by the three main lakes in this area (Tamblingan, Buyan, and Bratan). I suggest you start with Buyan, where you can visit the Hidden Hills Wanagiri, a place straight out of a fairy tale.
Then, if you’re traveling during the monsoon in Bali, it’s recommended that you go see Lake Tamblingan and, particularly, the Tamblingan temple. During the rainy season, the lake’s water level rises and the only way to get there is by boat.
To end the day, you can’t miss the jewel of Bedugul, the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan temple, on Lake Bratan. On the way, you can also see the Handara Gate, the door of a golf course that has become very popular. It’s beautiful, but if you don’t have too much time, don’t worry. It’s not a must.
Recommended tours
If you don’t want to risk taking a motorcycle through this mountainous area, I advise you to book a customized tour. Most tours simply visit Ulun Danu Bratan, but they don’t go to the northern part of Bedugul.
Recommended accommodations
Regarding areas to stay, if you go without a scooter, it’s best to return to Ubud, although if you have the opportunity to stay in Bedugul, do it! There is no place like this on the whole island. These are the best accommodations we found in this area:
Day 6: Jatiluwih, Pasut beach, Tanah Lot, and Seminyak.
The rice fields of Jatiluwih are another essential place to visit in Bali in 10 days, as they are considered a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Its terraces are really unique.
After visiting, on your way south, stop at the Taman Ayun Temple, which can only be enjoyed through a wall that surrounds it. Moreover, the temple is surrounded by a moat and lush vegetation, which is why it is known as the Temple of the Beautiful Garden.
In the afternoon, you can visit Pasut Beach, a black sand beach surrounded by palm trees. Here, you can find an inclined palm tree of which you’ll have seen thousands of photographs.
This beach is one of the best to watch the sunset, although if you’re only spending 10 days in Bali, I recommend going to Tanah Lot, the most popular place to watch the sunset on the whole island. In this temple, located on an islet only accessible by low tide, I saw one of the best sunsets of my life.
To end the day, I recommend you enjoy the nightlife of Canggu or Seminyak. In Canggu, the atmosphere is more surfer and hipster, while in Seminyak, you can find nice bars with good music. In addition, it’s the best place to stay if you want to catch the ferry, which I recommend you take the next day.
Recommended tours
If you don’t have a scooter, I recommend combining part of the previous day and this day with this tour, where you’ll visit the main attractions (Ulun Danu Bratan, Jatiluwih and Tanah Lot).
If you want to dedicate a full day to Bedugul and another full day to the coast area, then the best option is to booka customized tour.
Recommended accommodations
Depending on where you decide to end the day, you can stay in Canggu or Seminyak. In Seminyak, you’ll also be in one of the best places to be picked up the next day, since I recommend you visit the Nusa Islands to continue with your 10-day Bali trip.
If you’ve decided to sleep in Canggu, these would be the best accommodations according to your budget.
In case you decide to stay in Seminyak, I recommend these hotels:
Day 7: Nusa Lembongan. Diving among stingrays
Visiting one of the nearby islands is an essential thing to do in Bali in 10 days. The Nusa Islands are very close, and there, you can find heavenly beaches and dreamy seabeds.
This archipelago consists of three islands (Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan, and Nusa Penida). If you want to go on your own, it’s best to take this ferry to Lembongan. In my case, I took this tour to the Nusa Islands because it included all the activities I wanted to do in the shortest possible time.
First, we went by boat to dive to different areas of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida, where we were lucky enough to see manta rays and sea turtles. In the afternoon, we toured the Mangroves north of Lembongan and visited Panorama Point, the Devil’s Tear cliff and the Dream Beach.
Recommended tours
You can book the ferry to Lembongan to go on your own, or book this tour with all activities included.
If you’re doing a 10-day itinerary to Bali and you’re not spending more than one night in the Nusa Islands, booking the tour is the best option. The only downside of the tour is that lunch was quite simple. However, I think the price of the tour is quite good for all the activities it includes.
Recommended accommodations
If you want to stay in the Nusa Islands, I recommend one of these accommodations:
- The Akah Cottage (we stayed here and it was great)
- Royal Retreat Villa’s Lembongan
- Harta Lembongan Villas
- Song Lambung Beach Huts
Day 8: Nusa Penida. The most beautiful beaches in Bali
The next day, they took us by ferry to Nusa Penida. There, we visited the jewel of the island, Kelingking Beach, possibly one of the best beaches to visit in Bali in 10 days. In addition, we saw other beaches, such as Pasih Uug and the natural pool of Angel’s Billabong.
In my case, this day seemed somewhat short, since I left without seeing the Thousand Islands Viewpoint and Atuh Beach area, of which I had seen amazing photographs. However, I know that on a 10-day trip through Bali, I didn’t have time for much more.
We were more or less back on the main island of Bali at 7 p.m. That night we stayed in Sanur.
Recommended tours
If you simply want to visit Nusa Penida from Bali on your own, you can take this ferry.
However, the tour to the Nusa Islands that I booked during my trip was well worth it.
Recommended accommodations
Once back in Bali, the tour guide can leave you at different places on the south part of the island. We asked them to leave us at Sudamala Suites & Villas, our hotel in Sanur. Depending on your budget, I recommend the following accommodation:
Day 9: Uluwatu. A place you cannot miss on your Bali itinerary for 10 days.
Visiting Uluwatu is an essential thing to do in Bali in 10 days. This area is located on the Bukit Badung peninsula, the piece that protrudes from Bali in the south.
There, you’ll fine incredible cliffs overlooking the Indian Ocean that have space for small hidden coves. My favorites are the beaches of Green Bowl and Melasti.
Within the peninsula, you can visit the curiously abandoned plane, Boeing 737-200 PK RII that not even the locals know how it appeared there. In addition, not far away is the Garuda Wisnu Kencana, a park designed in honor of the Hindu god Vishnu that has impressive statues that are up to 120 meters tall.
Late in the day, you can visit the Karang Boma Cliff and very close to it, the Uluwatu Temple, one of the best places to watch the sunset on the island. Morevoer, at the Uluwatu Temple, Kecak Fire and Trance dance exhibitions are held at night, an experience that I recommend doing at least once.
Recommended tours
The best way to do this route is by having your own scooter or at least booking a customized tour.
Another option is to enjoy some beaches in the morning and in the afternoon book this tour to visit the Uluwatu temple and go to the Kecak dance exhibition. They will also take you to Jimbaran for dinner.
Recommended accommodations
For this night, I recommend staying in the Jimbaran area. The next day, you can visit some of the most spectacular beaches in this bay, ending the 10-day trip through Bali. These are the best accommodations:
Day 10: Jimbaran Bay. End of the 10-day trip through Bali.
Last day in Bali before heading back. I recommend you take the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful beaches you’ll find in Jimbaran Bay.
You can start with Jimbaran Beach, although for me, it’s not the most spectacular in the area. If you go south, you’ll pass by Pantai Tegal Wangi, which has a hidden cave.
Continue driving along the coastline, and you’ll arrive at Tebing Pantai Balangan, where there aresome amazing blue water beaches under a cliff.
Padang Padang Beach is another essential beach in the area, as it was popularized by the movie “Eat Pray Love”.
And finally, you can visit Suluban Beach, a small hidden beach with deep blue waters.
To end the day, go have fresh seafood at any of the warungs found in Jimbaran. Can you think of a better way to end your trip to Bali in 10 days?
Recommended tours
As on the previous day, the best way to do this route is to have your own scooter or at least a private driver.
Recommended accommodations
On your last night in Bali, I recommend staying in Kuta or Legian to be near the airport. These are the accommodations that we recommend:
Another 10-day trip to Bali idea
Hey traveler, what do you think of my 10-day trip to Bali? Pretty thorough, right?
If you want to visit the Gili Islands, don’t worry. Here’s a 10-day itinerary to Bali + Gili Islands.
Instead of taking the ferry to Lembongan or Penida, simply take a ferry to Gili Trawangan or Gili Air.
In our Gili Islands guide, I tell you which is the best island according to what you’re looking for.
If you want to book a tour to visit the Gili Islands instead of going on your own, I recommend this tour. In it, you’ll visit both Gili Trawangan and Gili Air, staying one night on each island. It also includes diving sessions to explore its seabed full of turtles.
Keep in mind that the tour I recommend is two nights and three days, so you would have to cut your day in Uluwatu down a bit. However, you’ll be back before noon, so you can take advantage of the afternoon to visit the Uluwatu temple and its cliffs without a problem.
Before you go, here are the essentials for your trip to Bali:
Hi,
Thank you for sharing your itinerary. I have one question, though, to go through this itinerary do we need to keep changing hotels/accommodations? or can we just book a place in say Ubud and do the visits around Bali?
it’s my first time to Bali and I am a bit overwhelmed with planning the trip.
Thanks for your time.
Hi Sara,
Ubud is a great place to stay in Bali. You’ll be close to lots of main attractions and conveniences, and many day trips in Bali depart from Ubud, so you can venture to other places. 🙂
Hi. Is there a travel agent or agency that would help us coordinate a 8-9 day trip to Bali? There are 4 of us and the dates are around October 17-26. Would like to stay in 3 different places including one in rice fields like Camaya Butterfly Lodge. We are in our 60’s but active.
Hi Sheela,
I suggest looking for a travel agent in your area. You can also check out our article on where to stay in Bali for some ideas on where to stay during your trip!
Hello,
I must say, your travelogue is truly wonderful. I am currently in the process of planning a 10-day trip to Bali, and I will be accompanied by my toddler. I was wondering if there are any specific aspects of your itinerary that I should steer clear of. Additionally, I am interested in allocating an extra day for Nusa Penida. Could you kindly suggest a day from your itinerary that I should avoid in order to make room for this extension?
Thank you in advance.
Hi Vinod,
Thanks so much for reading! If you want to spend more time in Nusa Penida, consider shortening your day at Bedugul or Tegalalang (there terrain here is a bit unstable and there aren’t any handrails.) Also, Canggu and Seminyak are most popular for partying, so if you don’t mind, you can skip these nightlife venues.
Hello
I cant thank you enough. This is such a well written travelogue.
I just want to know.. Is it ok to follow this trip with a child.. 4 years.
What can or should i avoid.
Thanks a ton
Hi Avijit,
Thanks so much! You can do this Bali itinerary with a child. It’s up to you if you want to omit any attractions, or add different ones.
Hi,
Just loved the way you detailed the itinerary.
We are travelling with family – 8+1 kid. Want to cover historic places, beaches and shopping in a 8N9D trip.
Please recommend a good itinerary and if you know someone through whom we can book.
Thanks in advance
Hi Sunil,
Many thanks! This itinerary is for 10 days, so you can use it as a guide and remove any attractions that don’t interest you.
Hi Ascen!
This is AMAZING as it highlights all the places I want to check out, and some I didn’t even know about. I have a question for you, you mentioned on the third day that you left your luggage at the hotel in Ubud and just took backpacks. Did you intermittently go back to swap out clothes or anything? Or at what point did you go back to get your belongings before flying home? Did you have to keep a room in Ubud or did the hotel let you store your luggage while you were away? We’re interested in doing the motorcycle journey! Do you think one piece of luggage plus a backpack could work on a scooter? Thanks I’m advance!!
Hi JJ,
I also stayed in Ubud on day 4, so I carried with me only one clothing change. I didn’t keep a room in Ubud on day 3, I just asked the hotel to store the rest of my luggage. I think one backpack for the scooter is ok, but not sure about the piece of luggage. I recommend reading our guide on Bali by scooter.
I recommend you arrange a transfer to Ubud and rent there the scooter.
Let me know if you have any other questions,
Ascen
Hi Dan!
My name is Jennifer and I am wanderlust. I Just want you to know how much I appreciate you laying out your itinerary like this. I was trying to plan my own trip to Bali but it never quite worked out because I was trying to go everywhere with no real plan to make sure to hit up multiple places in one area (if that makes sense). Your 10 day map made this possible for me. I made an entire PowerPoint on it (minus just making a change on day 10 to visit the Omnia Dayclub because we’re already so south). I wish I could go now but with what’s going on right now… it’s not going to happen. Keep up the amazing photography skills. After Bali (or maybe before) I plan to go to Iceland to see the Northern Lights.
Thank you so much again!
Jennifer
Thanks so much for your nice words Jennifer!
Hope this situation is over and you can take your trip to Bali!
Iceland is a magical place to see the Northern Lights, I highly recommend to do it as well!
Best,
Dan