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Bali Travel Guide

Our Bali travel guide outlines your favourite places in Bali and the ones off the beaten track that might pleasantly surprise you. Use this Bali travel guide to look up places of interest or unknown places to get some background knoweledge of what the area is like and what it has to offer.

Popular Bali Destinations

There are a few places that most people gravitate towards when they are planning a trip to Bali. And they are the most popular places for their own individual reasons. A holiday to Bali (particularly if it’s your first trip) wouldn’t be the same without seeing at least a couple of the Bali destinations mentioned below.

Kuta

Kuta is probably one of Bali’s most well known destinations and attracts many tourists each year.

Click here for Kuta Travel Guide.

Legian

Legian is right next door to Kuta, and they share many similarities. On the beach, busy and not short of a tourist.

Click here for Legian Travel Guide.

Seminyak

Seminyak is north of Kuta and Legian. It’s by the beach and offers a bit more sophistication then it’s neighbouring counterparts.

Click here for Seminyak Travel Guide.

Tuban 

Tuban is basically south Kuta. Stay here if you want to stay in Kuta but have a little peace too.

Click here for Tuban Travel Guide.

Jimbaran

Jimbaran is south of Kuta, by a beautiful beach. You will find luxury resorts nestled within a local community.

Click here for Jimbaran Travel Guide.

Ubud

Ubud is in central Bali, with a thriving local villiage and surrounding rice fields. Beauty. Bliss.

Click here for Ubud Travel Guide.

Sanur

Sanur is on the east coast of Bali, with lots of water sports available.

Click here for Sanur Travel Guide.

Nusa Dua

Nusa Dua is located on the south eastern side of Bali. Essentially, it’s 5 star resorts in a bubble.

Click here for Nusa Dua Travel Guide.

Tanjung Benoa

Tanjung Benoa is near Nusa Dua, and popular for water activities.

Click here for Tanjung Benoa Travel Guide.

Denpasar

Denpasar is Bali’s Capital, although it is not a main attraction.

Click here for Denpasar Travel Guide.

Uluwatu

Uluwatu is in Bali’s South and is renowned for surfing, beautiful beaches and cliff top hotels.

Click here for Uluwatu Travel Guide.

Off The Beaten Track

Every corner of Bali has something to see.These destinations are great to add to your bali holiday plan if your hoping to see something a little quieter with less tourists.

Candidasa

Candidasa is located on the east coast of Bali, and is a laid back beach town. Come here if you want to escape the crowds.

Padang Bai

Padang Bai is near Candidasa, and serves as a port for boat travel to Lombok and the Gili Islands. Beautiful beaches great for diving and snorkelling.

Amed

Amed is in north eastern Bali. It is a quiet, peaceful fishing village, where people go to relax, swim and dive.

Singaraja

Singaraja is on the north coast of Bali, and Bali’s second largest city. Come here to see the old town and surrounding sights.

Lovina

Lovina is in Bali’s north coast, just west of Singaraja. Known for it’s black sand beaches and dolphin watching.

Nusa Lembongan

A small island south west of Bali. Come here to relax in the slow pace, with the main activities surfing, diving and snorkelling.

Bali’s Neighbour: Lombok and the Gili Islands

Lombok is becoming more popular over the recent years. Lombok is another Indonesian island east of Bali, that you can reach by boat or plane. It is far less touristy then Bali but has some beautiful landscapes and beaches.

Senggigi

Senggigi is the main tourist area of Lombok, with a small town and hotels lining the beach.

Click here for Senggigi Travel Guide.

Gili Islands

Gili Islands are made up of 3 Islands with stunning beaches, with Gili Trawangan being the most touristy and populated.

Click here for Gili Trawangan Travel Guide.

Need More Information?

Use our Bali travel guide to find out that little bit more about places in Bali, to help plan your Bali Holiday. Our Bali travel guide should be used to get a little ‘taste’ of the locations. See the following for more information:

Things to do In Bali

Bali Itineraries

45 Comments

  1. Hi! I’m currently in Canggu and looking for something else. I’m a 34 y/o single Medicine Woman and this is Recon mission trip to find a 2nd home. I own a hostel in Breckenridge, Colorado and lead plant medicine retreats to Peru. I don’t party anymore but rather still passionately cultivate connection and aspire to meditate, yoga, learn, and play music every day. Im looking for a place that nourishes this. Ubud is close but not on the beach. Ive gotta be ON the beach :)

    Heading to uluwatu and Bingin beach next but open to go anywhere after. I’m here for a bit. Also open to other countries, def not attached to anything other than The above.

    In gratitude <3 Megs

    1. Hi Megs

      If Canggu doesn’t fit and Ubud not being on the beach is out, I would say that Uluwatu and Bingin would be worth considering. Some of our favourite beaches in Bali are in here. What did you think of that area? Nusa Lembongan might be another option. Where else have you considered?
      Chris + Mandy :)

  2. Hey guys
    Love this blog. Have been referring to it a lot to help plan my trip to Bali. I was wondering if you have information on Canggu. I didn’t see it listed and was wondering if I may over looked it. Thanks

  3. Hi there,

    Just found your blog and love it! Super helpful. I’m planning a honeymoon for my fiance and I for this summer from August 22-September 5. We leave from Toronto August 21 and land August 22, and we leave Bali on September 4.

    We know we want to do Ubud for sure (at least 4 days). And then visit at least one or two other places in Bali (Seminyak, Canggu, Nusa Dua, Gili, Uluwatu) to experience more of the culture, beaches (do water sports like surfing, snorkeling etc.) and nightlife. Which other areas would you recommend? We don’t want the honeymoon to be too hectic either cause we are already travelling so much just to get there so we want to be more relaxed and do minimum cities but also get a good feel of Bali and the best parts of what it has to offer.

    If you can help me out, that would be great. Thank you!!

    1. Hi Naz! Thanks for your comment :) Sorry it took so long to get back to you, if you are still deciding where to choose, depending on your level of surfing, Uluwatu is a great pick for more experienced surfers. Even if just for the beaches, as some of our favourites are here. Nusa Lembonan/Nusa Penida are two Bali Islands that you can get to in about 30 minutes boat ride, both are fabulous, can snorkel here and see some stunning landscapes. If you’re after lots of restaurants in one place, then Seminyak and Canggu have plenty of options, and nightlife too. And Ubud is a great choice, one of our favourite places in Bali! Hope this helps, have an incredible honeymoon! And let us know if you have any other questions…

  4. Hi Mandy and Chris,

    Your page is wonderful, so informative and helpful but I think I am even more confused now of where I want to go…I want to see so many beautiful places.
    My boyfriend and I will be in Bali for 16 nights in July and neither of us have been before. We wanted to explore the Gili Islands and Lombok as well as Bali and would like a mixture of exploring the local culture and landscape as well as some chill time on the beaches with good food, drinks and a good dance.

    I was thinking the below but would love your thoughts:

    Seminyak (4nights)
    Ubud (4 nights)
    Gili Islands (3 nights) – What Island would you recommend?
    Nusa P/L (1 night)
    Sanur (2 nights)
    Uluwatu (1 night)

    Thank you :)

    1. Hi Hannah
      Thanks for your comment :) It’s so easy to get confused but that’s good too because whatever you decide it will be beautiful! Overall you have a great mix of places. With the Gili islands, I would pick either Gili Trawangan or Gili Air. There is more of a party scene on Gili T but it still has parts that are secluded and quiet if you wanted that too. The other thing is depending on what you plan on doing I would try to spend minimum 2 days anywhere as it can get a bit too fast-paced, but that is up to you and will be fine too. Have a great trip!

  5. Hi There! We are planning our 2 week honeymoon for mid September (flying into DPS) and have found the information on your blog very helpful!
    We tend to enjoy a mix of culture, relaxation and exploration. We are considering the following itinerary:
    2-3 nights South Bali to recover from flight/jet lag- can’t decide which area though!
    5-6 nights Ubud
    3 nights East Bali/ Northern Bali– would Lovina be too far out of the way?
    2 nights South Bali or Sanur

    We are really trying to avoid the very touristy/nightclub/party parts of Bali and would love a more authentic experience with views of the ocean and/or landscape, as well as some yoga. We also will probably avoid any boat rides (I’m prone to sea sickness…) Any advice? Thank you!

    1. Hi Jessie hope your honeymoon planning is going well :) Your itinerary looks great. For the first couple of nights perhaps consider Jimbaran, its close to the airport and overall a relaxed vibe (can be busy at sunset at the seafood restaurants).
      https://almostlanding-bali.com/jimbaran/
      That said there are many great places to choose between in South Bali. Another great place is Uluwatu. It is a really spread out place so your experience will also be impacted by where you stay. For stunning hotel views of the ocean from the clifftops then Uluwatu might be for you, either at the start or end of your trip.
      You can see our top picks here: https://almostlanding-bali.com/where-to-stay-in-uluwatu/
      Lovina may be too far out of the way, but don’t let that stop you if you have your heart on it :) It is about 2.5 hours from Ubud, and about 3.5 hours from the Airport, heavily dependent on traffic. If you decide on East Bali, you can also consider Sidemen, a fairly remote village with lots of rice terraces. And with Sanur, it will also be a nice more relaxed area of Bali to finish your trip.
      You will find some beautiful landscapes and yoga in Ubud which I’m sure you will love! Wishing you both an incredible honeymoon in Bali :)

  6. hey guys, love the page. It’s been really useful in the planning of my trip with my fiancee. I was wondering if you could give us some advice.
    We have 2.5weeks in Bali and currently have the following plan….
    Seminyak 5 nights
    Spare 4 nights – Canguu or Lombok???
    Gili T & Air 4 night
    Ubud 4 nights

    Where would you recommend for our second stop? Is Canggu too similar to Seminyak?

    We dont want to do too many places so that we can feel chilled in each place. Is

    1. Hi Adam and Hannah
      Happy to hear its been useful :)
      Canggu does have many similarities to Seminyak but it is still quite different too. Lombok is a good pairing with the Gili’s and you could make that work well with the boats to Gili. Both are great decisions but both different. You will get that remote island feeling quicker by including Lombok. By choosing Canggu you will have more amazing cafes and beach clubs and a little bit of rice field if you look for it.

      The itinerary looks great whichever you choose out of Canggu or Lombok. Think what you want out of those 4 nights and you will love whichever you decide on. The fact that you are really spending 4nights minimum in each place, even with the travel days in between you should still be chilled in each place. Wishing you and your fiancé an incredible trip!

  7. Hi Mandy and Chris!

    Love your blog. Makes planning soooo much easier! My girlfriend and I are in Bali for 16 days in May. So far we have (in order) Seminyak (3 nights), Ubud (5 nights), Padang Bai (1 night to be able to go to Gili T the next morning), Gili T (2 nights) and finishing with Uluwatu (4 nights). How does that sound?

    Also, where and when is it possible to plan a day trip to Nusa Penida? Would we have to add a couple nights in Sanur to be able to depart from there and go for a day trip to the island or can we add a night in Padang Bai if there are boats departing from there?

    Thank you!

    1. Hi Danick, Its sounds like a great trip :) You could always head straight from Ubud to Gili (and add that extra night to Gili). If you haven’t booked your boat yet, you could look for one that includes free pick-up from Ubud. If you have your heart on Nusa Penida then Sanur would be the best place to do a day trip from. If you wanted to stay on Nusa Penida (or Lembongan) another option would be to head from Gili T to Nusa Penida, which will be via Nusa Lembongan. There is a public vehicle and passenger ferry from Padang Bai to Nusa Penida as well however we have never done this ourselves and can’t seem to find a definitive timetable or review. Hope this helps! Have an amazing time!

  8. Hi Mandy and Chris ,
    Love your blog !!! Its super informative and so well written !

    I am planning my trip to bali in April for 9 days . Mainly i want to go to nice beautiful peaceful beaches ( not crowded ) and maybe explore a bit of the night life and culture . Post reading your blog , i feel Sanur ( with a day trip to kata ) and Nusa Dua with a day trip to Nusa Lembongan .

    Candidasa and Padang Bai also look lovely !! but it all might get too much ?

    Please recommend what you feel would be the best places to visit on such a short trip

    Thanks so much !!

    1. Hi Amrita,
      Thanks for the comment, so happy you found it informative :) Sounds like a nice trip too. If you add in Candidasa and Padang Bai, you can visit both from each other if you decide on adding them. It will depend on what pace you want this trip to be. It could be perfect, but perhaps a little too much when you consider the other day trips too. Nusa Lembongan is beautiful and you should be able to find some peace there :) Some of our favourite beaches are in the Bukit Peninsular/Uluwatu area but have potential to be busy. Sanur and Nusa Dua are definitely quieter and nicer beaches than some others in Bali. From Nusa Dua, Pandawa beach is quite nice too and close. when you arrive it is quite touristy/busy around the carpark but if you walk along the beach you generally can find a quiet area. Hope this helps have a fun trip!

  9. Brilliant Blog – Thanks so much for being so detailed and telling it like it is! I’m doing most of my research right here!

    We go to Bali towards the end of April and can’t wait!
    We are a middle-aged couple from the UK, still up for a yoga class or trying out SUPPING etc and love our food, hiking, markets, photography and chilling. We’re not really beach bums but we really love to be close to a beach or a large body of water for at least some of our holiday – even if we don’t actually lay on it – we like to admire the view!!

    Would we be mad with this itinerary?
    5 days in Sanur
    3 nights on Gili Air
    5 days in Ubud
    1 night in Seminyak before flying home very early the next day

    Would we better off missing Gili Air this time and just doing
    6 days in Sanur area
    6 days in Ubud
    2 days in Seminyak

    This is always the problem – too many places and not enough time!
    The good thing about these places in Bali is that it seems the travel isn’t too intensive so a couple of hours boat trip gets you to the islands and an hour’s drive takes you inland to Ubud!
    We don’t want to rush around – we need some R&R but we also need things to do and places to see……

    Your advice would be greatly appreciated!

    1. Hi Louise, Thank you so much, so happy you have found our blog useful :) haha, not mad at all! I think the first itinerary you mention with Gili Air sounds great. You have enough time to fit it in without being too rushed :) Hope you have a wonderful trip :)

  10. Hello,
    Congrats for the blog, it is very helpfull. Could you please help us with an advice? We are travelling to Bali in april, we stay for 10 days. I have 2 options in mind:
    Option 1:
    we are thinking in staying for 4 nights in Ubud and then we are trying to find a nice hotel on a beautiful beach, with tourquise water, not very crowded but not very very quiet either.
    Could you recomand us a beach and some hotels on the beach?
    Option 2:
    Arriving in Denpasar ar 11 in the night, staying in a resort for 3 days – but where?
    Going for 4 days to Ubud
    Returning to a resort in another beach – but where?
    Thank you

    1. Hello Yvonne,
      Thank you so much for your kind comment :).
      For option1-In terms of some beach areas that sound like what you are after, Uluwatu and Nusa Dua may be areas that may interest you. Here are links to our favourite hotels in those areas:
      https://almostlanding-bali.com/where-to-stay-in-uluwatu/
      https://almostlanding-bali.com/where-to-stay-in-nusa-dua/
      There are many really nice options, but many in Uluwatu do not have ‘beach access’. The Ungasan is connected to Sundays Beach Club, and that beach is really nice and normally busy but not overly so. https://almostlanding-bali.com/ungasan

      For Option 2- As you arrive at night, places close like Jimbaran or Nusa Dua may be best. At the end of your stay in Bali, perhaps try to stay close again, other options are Uluwatu or Seminyak.
      https://almostlanding-bali.com/where-to-stay-in-jimbaran/
      https://almostlanding-bali.com/seminyak-accommodation-guide-stay-seminyak/

      Wishing you a great trip!

  11. Hey, we are planning to go to Bali for our honeymoon in the month of February. We both are nature and adventure lovers. We are planning a 8-10 days trip ( Ubud- Lombok- Sanur) We are looking for some cycling tours, treks, waterfall etc. Please help us plan.

    1. Hi Jeet,

      We hope your honeymoon planning is going well :)
      In Ubud you will be close to Tegenungan Waterfall
      https://almostlanding-bali.com/tegenungan-waterfall-bali/
      which is easily accessible and only 30mins away. If you are after more of an adventure, there are more secluded waterfalls a bit further away that would be best with a private driver that knows how to get to them. We have had good experiences with Bali Made.
      https://almostlanding-bali.com/discover-a-different-side-to-bali-with-your-bali-private-driver/
      We like Bali Eco Cycle too, a nice bike tour to do from Ubud. https://baliecocycling.com/
      There are some great walks to do when in Ubud too https://almostlanding-bali.com/walks-in-ubud/
      Hope this helps :)

  12. Dear Mandy and Chris,
    Thank you so much for your help!!
    As much as I hear, read and look for more pictures, I get more and more interested but also confused!
    We really want to avoid places like Kuta, as we feel it’s too touristic and also too busy.
    We live in Portugal, which also has nice beaches, however, we don’t have hot water and mostly we don’t have cristal clear waters which is what we are looking for. Also we are traveling a bit on a budget, so I think Karma Kendara sounds great but it’s too expensive for us.
    As I told before, we think maybe three stops in 12 days should be OK for us, so now our plan should be something like :
    1 – Ubud
    2 – Ubud (day trip to Pura Ulun Danu)
    3 – Ubud
    4 – Ubud (day trip to Tanah Lot – What do you think about this with a baby?)
    5 – Ubud – travel to ??
    6 – ?
    7 – ?
    8 – ?
    9 – ? – Sanur
    10 – Sanur
    11 – Sanur
    12 – Sanur
    13 – Sanur – Flight to Singapore

    The question is… where should we go between Ubud and Sanur to have a different experience from all the other options??…
    And what do you think about Sanur? Are we doing the best option? Is Sanur beach a really stunning one?
    Nusa Dua sounds great but I heard it can be a place where you can’t feel the real Bali… what do you think about this?
    Sorry for asking your help again… and thank you so much for your precious advices!

  13. Hi!
    Very nice blog with lots of great information!
    Its hard to plan an itinerary to Bali because everything sounds just great! Me and my husband, we are used to travel quite a bit and we are always interested to see and to experience as much as we can. However, at this time, we will have our one year old baby with us, and we want something a bit more relaxed. By the way, what do you think about traveling to Bali with a one year old baby??
    About itinerary, we have 12 days (end of August) and I absolutely have no ideia where to go. The only thing it’s mandatory is Ubud (maybe 4 nights and we would like to do a one day travel to Pura Ulun Danu Temple, does it worth it?). We are not too much into snorkeling or surfing. We would love to have stunning beaches, but not too overcrowded. As much calm and relaxed as possible. And because of the baby, we think total 3 stops it’s ok. We would love to go to Gili, but because we are flying from Kuala Lumpur and at the end we will finish our trip in Singapura, I think going to Gili will add a lot of travels and I wonder if it’s worth it…?
    Can we ask for your help with the itinerary? Thank you so much! Diana.

    1. Hi Diana,
      Thanks :)
      I Know! It is so hard to plan where to stay, there is too many beautiful places, and different places too. Traveling with a baby should be fine. I will say however that a pram may prove challenging in a lot of areas. If you need to heat up baby food etc, cafes and accommodation staff, and Balinese people in general are extremely friendly and helpful so you should be able to find a solution to any problem. English is very widely understood and spoken. Ubud is great and glad to hear you will spend 4 nights here. With Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, it is from memory around 1.5 hours from Ubud, so not super close but not too far either. It would be a good temple choice with your baby, flat, no stairs from memory and nice but not massive grounds. We enjoyed our visit, we had a rainy foggy day, but was still worth it. In terms of stunning beaches, a few of the quieter ones would require more physical effort to reach with stairs etc.for example Bingin, and Padang Padang which can also get busy easily as it is quite small. A good option for your family may be a beach club option like Sundays or Karma Kendara, to get some stunning beach time with all the amenities (not a free beach, private beach). Not sure where you had in mind other than Ubud, but Nusa Dua is quite a nice beach area that tends to not be as busy in parts. This is a very ‘hotel lined beach’ but there is pretty public beach areas too. Jimbaran is also a quieter beach, not always great for swimming though but great walking beach. Gili’s are great, but the boats to/from are extremely weather/ocean dependent, which may go against the ‘as calm and relaxed as possible’ if you arrive seasick. It would add more travels which is ok but if your questioning it now, I would probably not include the Gili’s. But yes they are beautiful.

      As for the Itinerary:
      Pherhaps think about
      Nusa Dua, relaxed and pretty, lots of nice hotel options. (Also close to Pandawa beach, which is pretty :)) Although lacking a little cutlure, it meets your other needs.
      Jimbaran, nice walking beach with a little bit more of a local area (when you take out the hotels ;) as well as seafood on the beach.
      Seminyak, whilst not ‘real Bali’ is filled with so many great food options, nice beach (also not always swimmable) access to anything you would need.
      Sanur, a quieter area with a nice swimmable beach, which has culture, a small night market and restaurants.

      Hiring a private driver a couple of times may help make traveling with a baby as easy as possible, so they can drop you off anywhere and wait, rather than trying to find taxis if you plan to see a few places in the same day.

      Let us know if you have any more questions
      Happy travels :)
      Chris and Mandy

  14. Hi! We are going to bali for 14 nights in June and are keen to go to ubub, seminyak and lembongan. Could you please suggest how many nights in each place?? And would you suggest any alternatives to seminyak and lembogan or stick with those? Love your page super helpful :)

    1. Hi Michelle!
      So excited for your trip, sounds great you have chosen well I think. In terms of things to do and see, Ubud and Seminyak will keep you busier than Lembongan so I would say more time in those two. Unless of course you plan to spend a lot of time diving for example, in which case spend longer on Lembongan.
      I would say Seminyak(5-7nights) Ubud (5-7nights) Lembongan (2-3nights). When you do Lembongan, look into exploring Nusa Penida and Ceningan. Thanks for your kind words about the page :) Have the best trip! If you have any other questions let us know…
      Happy Travels
      Chris and Mandy

  15. Hi! you have a great blog; most helpful. Im planning a trip in late December and new years. Only 7 days though. What can you suggest? Also what is the travelling time from Jakarata to Ubud?

    Thanks

    1. Hi Rabia, thanks so much :) With 7 days I would base myself in 1 or 2 places to make the most of it, unless you’re not interested in relaxing then you could stay in 3 different areas. I would probably say 2 areas is nice. Ubud is a great place to see, with lots of surrounding natural beauty, Balinese culture and plenty of things to do and see. We loved Tegenungan waterfall (about 20 minutes from Ubud Village) and the surrounding rice fields around Ubud. If you are staying in Ubud village, then the Campuhan Ridge walk is beautiful (https://almostlanding-bali.com/how-to-get-to-the-campuhan-ridge-walk-ubud/). The other spot really depends on what you like and want to see/do. Have a look at Seminyak, Canggu, Jimbaran and Uluwatu.
      Are you flying from Jakarata to Denpasar? If so, it takes about 2 hours from the airport to get to Ubud.
      Let us know if you have any other questions and have a great time in Bali :)

  16. Hi!
    Love your blog! I am planning my trip I have 17 days in Feb for Bali! This the itinerary I have come up with ( dates may change);

    Feb 14-18 (4nights) Ubud (thought wonderful place to spend Valentines and soak in Bali)
    Feb18-20 Legion (2 night) (Get a little party and up beat feel) Open to other recommendations
    Feb 20-24 (4 night) Nusa Dua (Beach, relax, eat good food) 4 nights too much?
    Feb 24-28 Seminyak (4 nights)
    Feb 28-2 (2 nights) Jimbaran ( I heard you see the most amazing sunsets, awesome seafood) ) close to airport

    I am open to any insight in tweaking my trip or any areas that suggest adding or “Must do” in these areas.

    Look forward from hearing from you!

    1. Hi Bali, thanks so much :)

      4 nights in Ubud sounds great. Try the Campuhan Ridge walk (https://almostlanding-bali.com/how-to-get-to-the-campuhan-ridge-walk-ubud/), Tegenungan waterfall, a rice terrace walk and Locavore for lunch or dinner (bookings required).

      As for Legian/Seminyak, they are pretty close to each other, so you could pick just one of them and visit the other during the day to save moving accommodation. You had 2 + 4 nights so perhaps spend 5 nights in one of them?

      4 nights in Nusa Dua would be great, defintiely relaxing, but as for food options, there are definitely some great ones, but there are much more food options in Seminyak. I would defintiely recommend trying traditional Balinese food at Bumbu Bali and an amazing weekend brunch at Sofitel (magnifique brunch). Also going to Pandawa beach from here.

      Jimbaran for 2 nights – I would put the extra night from combining Legian/Seminyak here and perhaps even one of the nights from Nusa Dua, making it 4 nights total. I say this as the seafood dinners are delicious and laid back, sunsets are great, and it’s a great base to explore Uluwatu and the beaches of Bukit peninsula.

      Have a great time in Bali, let us know if you have any other questions :)

  17. Hi – where would you recommend going to find good snorkeling in Bali/Lombok/Gili? We will be going in late September for 10 days and plan to visit ubud and one beach town, but not sure which beach town is best for snorkeling (we won’t be going to kuta though!) thanks!!

    1. Hi Anu, Gili Trawangan has some great snorkelling and snorkelling trips. As for snorkelling in Bali, Blue Lagoon near Padang Bai is good, Amed area, Menjangan Island and Nusa Lembongan/Penida are also good. If you don’t want to base yourself in these places you can always do an organised snorkelling trip too.
      Have a great trip :)

  18. Hi Chris & Mandy,

    your blogs and website is amazing to understand Bali completely. thank you so much.

    I have planned my Bali Honeymoon trip for a week from 30th November 2016 till 06 December 2016.

    we start our tour from Seminyak for 2 nights and then move to Nusa Lembongan for 2 nights and end our tour at Ubud with 2 nights.

    Do you think this is a good itenary?

    I have added Scuba in my Intenary. Do you suggest i should book it when I reach there?

    Please help me in the Intenary as I am not sure if the above made plan is good or not

    1. Hi Shirish, thanks so much :) In terms of places in Bali you have chosen three great places and they are all completely different which is great. My only concern is 2 days in each place with transport in between is pretty quick, and you may not be able to fully enjoy each place and Bali as a whole if you go too quick. Scuba diving is great in Nusa Lembongan, so you could do that in that part of your itinerary. I haven’t personally done scuba diving so can’t recommend a company but if you have a look at tripadvisor for some suggestions it might be worth booking in advance especially since you only have a short time in Nusa Lembongan. If you have another 2 days to spare 3 days in Seminyak, 2 days in Nusa Lembongan and 3 days in Ubud would probably allow you to relax and explore more. Otherwise, I think you can make it work, even if it’s a bit rushed you will see some beautiful parts of Bali and you can always come back ;)
      Let us know if you have any other questions and have a great trip :)

  19. Hey guys! Thanks for this blog. It has been so insightful already! I’m heading to Bali with 2 friends next month and am looking into booking accommodations now. We definitely want to go to Ubud and Kuta/Seminyak. Is there a third place we should definitely spend a night or two?! We will be there for 8 nights. Thanks?

    1. Hi Heather,
      Thanks so much :) Considering you only have 8 nights I think 2 places is plenty unless you had your heart set on somewhere. Ubud and Seminyak will give you a nice mix. You could always do a day trip to Uluwatu for some other beaches.
      Have a great time in Bali :)

  20. Hello,

    Could you please suggest 2 weeks itinerary that includes Gili Trawangan and Semiyank? Unsure how to get to Gili T.

    Thanks,
    Jell

    1. Hi Jell, it’s hard to say without knowing what your interests are, but a simple and varied itinerary could be Seminyak (4 days), Ubud (4 days) & Gili Trawangan (4 days). You could also include some of mainland Lombok too (2 days). Obviously the length of time in each place can vary depending what your priorities are.
      You can get to Gili T two main ways, by speed boat from Serangan harbour or Padang Bai or by flying to Lombok, then getting a taxi to the harbour and a 10-minute speed boat to Gili T. Either way, it will take you about half a day to get there and half a day to get back.
      Let us know if you have any other questions and have a great time :)

  21. Hi Mandy and Chris

    Where would you recommend staying? Kuta or Nusa Dua? My travel agent suggests either of the two

    1. Hi Abhijit,
      It really depends what you want out of your holiday. Kuta is very touristy but right in the middle of everything. There is a beach, markets, lots of restaurants and bars/clubs. Seminyak, near Kuta, would probably be my pick for this area as it has some amazing restaurants and I find it’s a little nicer.
      Nusa Dua is a nice area with a beach, nice hotels, it’s much quieter than Kuta, but doesn’t have as much within walking distance.
      There are lots of other areas to consider as well, including Jimbaran and Ubud to name a few. If you let me know some more information I’d be happy to help :)
      Have a great time in Bali!

  22. Is it safe to travel to bali (weatherwise) mid october.if there’s a shower or two that lasts for a few minutes here and there that’s okay. Just wondering what what the weather is usually like then. Planning a trip mid october first time to bali .

    1. Hi Jacinta! October is technically the start of the wet season, but due to it’s tropical weather, when it rains its usually over fairly quickly. You should still get beautiful warm days, with occasional rain. We just got back from Bali (In the dry season), and it surprisingly rained every day for a week (we were there for 4 weeks). So you have to expect some rain, but it’s also a great time to get a massage :) We have been in November and February in the wet season, and loved it both times.
      Let us know if you have any more questions…

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