The Ideal Bali Itinerary 7 Days | A First Timer’s Guide to Bali

A visit to Bali is on many people’s bucket lists when it comes to choosing where to go in Indonesia. From its beaches and blue waters to its jungles and waterfalls, Bali has so much diversity to offer its visitors. Spending a week on Bali is a great amount of time to get a feel for a few different areas of the island.

This 7 day Bali itinerary will go over a trip to the jungles of Munduk, the culture center of Ubud, and the beaches of Seminyak. Read on for everything you need to know for a visit.

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1) One Week in Bali Overview

Before jumping into the itinerary, I wanted to list out a few things to note for this itinerary in particular:

7 Full Days: assume these are 7 full days on Bali. That would mean arriving early on day 1 or sometime on the previous day, and leaving later on day 7 or sometime on day 8.

Route: The itinerary begins up north in Munduk before heading to Ubud and ending in Seminyak. You can choose to go through it this way or the opposite if that works better for you.

Bali Mainland: I focused this 7 day itinerary on just the Bali mainland. I would also highly recommend a visit to one or more of the Nusa islands located southeast of Bali. More on that later!

Getting Around: The easiest way to get around Bali is to have a private driver. The public transportation bus system isn’t great there and it can take hours out of your day getting from point to point. Splitting $50 USD or so for a driver among your group for the days you travel would be my recommendation.

Renting a Scooter: You can also rent a scooter for your time on Bali. I will only recommend you doing so if you 100% confident with your abilities to drive the roads. Many accidents do happen for those that do not have the experience.

Below you can find the day by Bali itinerary, which goes over 2 days in Munduk, 3 days in Ubud, and 2 days in Seminyak:

2) Bali Itinerary Map

Below is a map of Bali that pin points each of the attractions mentioned during this 7 day Bali itinerary. If you click the icon on the top left corner of the map, you can see the day by day view.

3) How to Get to Bali

When visiting Bali, you are either coming in internationally or arriving from another part of Indonesia. Below I will go into more detail on how to get to Bali depending on where you are traveling from:

Domestically to Bali (Plane & Ferry)

If you are already in Indonesia and looking to head to Bali for your next stop, there are two main ways to get yourself onto the island – by plane and by boat.

If you are coming from places like Jakarta, Flores, or Sumatra, which are all a bit far from Bali, then you can easily take some domestic flights to get into the Denpasar Airport.

Some of the main airlines that fly domestically within Indonesia include Lion Air, Garuda Indonesia, Wings Air, Citilink, AirAsia, Batik Air among a few others.

On the other hand, if you are coming from places like East Java or Lombok, you can easily take a boat to Bali. These boats however can get you into different ports on Bali depending on where you are coming from.

From East Java there are consistent passenger/car ferries that make the 30 minute journey between Ketapang and Gilimanuk. Simply show up at the ferry terminal, pay the small fee and you will reach Gilimanuk located on the very western end of Bali.

From Lombok or any nearby islands like Gili Trawangan, you will want to purchase tickets through a ferry operator. There will be plenty to choose from and all these boats will get you to Sanur, Serangan, or Padang Bai. Feel free to take a look at the different schedules and prices for all routes to Bali from the surrounding islands.

4) Getting Around the Island

For the days that you are either going from one city to the next or spending much of the day outside of the city centers, you will need some sort of transportation.

As mentioned, the two main ways to go about this would be by private driver or by scooter rental.

Scooter Hire

Hiring a scooter is another option when visiting Bali. But only do so if you are 100% confident with your driving abilities.

You should see many options to rent a scooter for around $5 – $10 USD per day. It is also possible that your guesthouse can help organize something for you as well.

Join A Tour

If you are a solo traveler, want to save some money, and are not comfortable on a scooter, I would recommend joining in on some group tour options. These tours will pick and choose several sites and activities around the area and give you time to enjoy each one.

It is also a great way to meet other travelers along the way. I will recommend some options further along in the guide when going over some of the day-by-day attractions.

5) Where to Stay in Munduk, Ubud, & Seminyak

One of the main things you will need to think about when visiting Bali is where to stay in each of the three cities of Munduk, Ubud and Seminyak. Below are some of my recommendations for each:

Munduk (2 nights)

Since northern Bali is a bit less frequented by tourists, you won’t find those big city centers like Ubud or Seminyak. But you will find some beautiful properties overlooking the surrounding peaceful jungle.

• Luxury: Munduk Moding Plantation
• All Around: Villa Dua Bintang
• Budget: Bali Bening

Ubud (3 nights)

As Ubud is one of the more popular destinations to visit in Bali, there are a ton of different options to choose from.

You can decide to stay within the city center itself and be in close proximity to all the restaurants and shops or you can decide to stay a bit further out of town in the serenity of the rice paddies and surrounding nature.

Below are some highly rated recommendations by price point for both options:

City Center | Outside City Center

• Luxury: Adiwana Resort Jembawan | Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan
• Mid Range: Alas Petulu Villa Resort and Spa | The Artini Resort
• Budget: Gatra Ubud Inn | Puri Asri Villa

Seminyak

Seminyak is packed with all sorts of accommodation options to choose from. Below are some recommended options close to town and/or the beach:

• Luxury: The Seminyak Beach Resort & Spa
• Mid Range: Montigo Resorts Seminyak
• Budget: Ramada Encore by Wyndham

6) When to Visit Bali

Bali is pretty much split up between two main seasons – the dry season that runs from April to October and the rainy season that runs from November to March.

In general, the best time to visit Bali will be during the dry season. However, just because you visit in the rainy season, doesn’t mean every day will be full of rain and just because you visit in the dry season, doesn’t mean every day will be perfectly clear.

On average though, you will see more rain and clouds during the rainy season and that can certainly impact your visit to Bali and some of the attractions that you will want to visit.

You may also want to think about when most tourists visit Bali, and that is usually in the summer months of July and August. While great for the weather, you will find it to be the most crowded time of year. I visited in June and thought it was a great time to visit to balance the weather and the crowds.

7) Bali Itinerary: 7 Days

Now that you have some solid background on Bali, I will now go into more detail about the day-by-day one-week Bali itinerary.

Once you land at DPS Airport, get in by boat from Java on the west side, or arrive by boat from the Penidas/Gilis/Lombok on the east side, hop in a taxi / private car, and make the drive up north to Munduk.

In my opinion, northern Bali is a great place to visit and one of the more underrated regions to base yourself in. Here you will get to visit some of the best Bali waterfalls and some more beautiful highlights.

Day 1 – Munduk Waterfall Trek

For your first day in Bali, you can head on a beautiful waterfall trek through the jungle surrounding Munduk.

The trail starts right in town at the Melanting Cottages and visits 4 different waterfalls throughout the valley floor.

Beyond visiting the four waterfalls, you will also get to enjoy some great views of the surrounding jungle as you trek your way through. You are also sure to pass by small warung restaurants where you can have some lunch and you can end the day at the Eco Café overlooking the final waterfall of Golden Valley.

• Starting Point: Melanting Cottages
• Waterfall #1: Labuhan Kebo Waterfall
• Waterfall #2: Melanting Waterfall
• Waterfall #3: Munduk Waterfall / Red Coral
• Waterfall #4: Golden Valley Waterfall
• Ending Point: Road Above Golden Valley

At day’s end, you can either have a pre-arranged driver pick you up from the ending point or you can walk back to your hotel if you are not too far away.

Learn more about the day in the Munduk Waterfall Hiking Guide up on the site

Day 2 – Northern Bali Waterfalls

For your second day in Munduk, you can head on a day trip and visit some more scenic waterfalls and viewpoints in northern Bali.

The easiest option here is to hire your own driver for the day, so all logistics will be taken care of for you.

Danau Buyan Viewpoint

On your way to the waterfalls, you can stop by any one of the numerous viewpoints that overlook the Danau Buyan lake.

Some of these viewpoints are free to enjoy while others such as Wanagiri Hidden Hills, you may need to pay a few dollars to take a photo in some of their props (classic Bali swings, nests, etc.) overlooking the lake.

Day 3 – Northern Bali / Drive to Ubud

Now that you have seen the jungles and waterfalls of northern Bali, it is time to start making your way down to the center of the island to Ubud.

Similar to the previous day, it would make most sense here to get a driver to pick you up in Munduk, take you to a few attractions along the way, and drop you off in Ubud at day’s end.

Ulun Danu Beratan Temple

The first stop of the two stops will be at the Ulan Danu Beratan Temple, which is built right on the Beratan lake. This Hindu temple was built in 1633 and is used for ceremonies of the Balinese water goddess Dewi Danu.

Not only can you enjoy the over-water temple, but you can also spend some time walking around the rest of the temple site which is full of other structures to visit.

Jatiluwih Rice Terraces

Continue the drive south and make your way to the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces. The rice fields are one of my favorite spots in Bali, where you can get some beautiful views of the surrounding landscape.

You enjoy the views from the top of the rice fields and then decide to take one of the many hiking trails within them too. There are trail options ranging from 30 minutes to 4 hours so feel free to pick one that suits you best.

Once all done at the rice fields, you can enjoy a nice lunch at one of the restaurants overlooking the area before heading on the 75 minute drive to Ubud.

Read up on the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces guide for more details about the experience.

Goa Gajah

Start off the day by heading to Goa Gajah, also known as the Elephant Cave. Here you find a Hindu archeological site with its main attraction being a unique cave temple.

You will also find some other sections of the site including a pond, waterfall, and garden.

Pura Gunung Kawi

One of my favorite stops on my Bali itinerary was the Pura Gunung Kawi temple. Unlike some of the other stops around the area, Pura Gunung Kawi was mostly empty of tourists and it offered a beautiful temple ground.

The highlights are the various massive structures that were built into the wall itself. It was incredible seeing the detail and hard work put into building such a place.

Pura Tirta Empul Temple

Your last temple stop of the day can be at the well-known Pura Tirta Empul water temple. This temple will be unlike any others you have come across, probably anywhere.

At Pura Tirta Empul you will see many people in the main water section of the temple, as they cleanse themselves with the water coming out of the various spouts.

Tegalalang Rice Terraces

End your day at the Tegalalang Rice Terrace, the most famous in all of Bali. Rather than a large open area of terraces, Tegalalang features more dramatic terraces within a narrow valley.

In order to visit them, you will need to head down from the main road into the terraces, where you can then walk all around, enjoying different angles and viewpoints.

You are also sure to come by all sorts of different swings and picture opportunities as you make your way around. Usually, to go on these swings, baskets, etc. you will need to pay a few dollars.

Once you are back from the rice terraces, have dinner, and get to bed since wakeup will be at 2:00AM!

Day 5 – Mount Batur / Ubud Attractions

In the early morning hours of day 5 you will make the climb up Bali’s most famous volcano – Mount Batur.

The volcano is located further towards the north side of the island, around an hour or so drive from Ubud to the base of the volcano.

In order to take part of the hike, you absolutely must have a guide. Not because it is difficult or hard to figure out, but because the mountain is basically controlled by the locals.

They simply don’t let anyone near the entrances without a local guide. Here are a couple highly recommended tours to join when climbing Batur:

• Sunrise Mount Batur Hike with Breakfast
• Mount Batur Sunrise Hike and Natural Hot Spring

Once you reach the starting point you will start the 2 hour climb up to the top. The climb itself is not too difficult as the path is pretty maintained and not too steep. Once up top, find a nice spot to sit and wait for the sun to rise over Bali.

After sunrise is complete, I would recommend walking the ridge and making the full loop back to the main path.

Sacred Monkey Forest

The Sacred Monkey Forest is one of the most well-known and visited sites in Ubud. Here you will find a huge complex with monkeys hanging out in every direction. Now this is not a zoo whatsoever, the monkeys are not caged.

They are free to roam around as they please into and out of the complex. Walking around the area and enjoying being surrounded by all these monkeys is sure to be an incredible experience to take part of.

Saraswati Temple

After enjoying a couple of hours with the monkeys, you can make the walk to the Saraswati Temple, which is also located near town. From the monkey forest, it is about a 20-minute walk.

Here you will find a beautiful temple area with lily pad-filled ponds leading up to the main structure. Another option here is to have drinks or food at one of the restaurants that overlook the temple and ponds, making for a very scenic lunch spot.

Day 6 & 7 – Drive to Seminyak / Seminyak

After 5 days of touring all around Bali and enjoying all sorts of highlights, it is time to just enjoy some relaxation on the southern beaches of Bali.

On the morning of day 6, you can make the hour drive to Seminyak, check into your hotel, and relax on the beach.

The rest of day 6 and all of day 7 can just be spent enjoying the town of Seminyak and finding a lounge spot at one of the many beach clubs that line the sand.

While Seminyak is one option, you can also consider some other nearby beach towns in southern Bali. These include Sanur, Uluwatu, Canggu, Nusa Dua, and Kuta. Each one will offer a different type of vibe or experience.

In addition to enjoying some beach time, there are plenty of nearby highlights to visit too if you are up for it.

Tanah Lot Temple

About 30 minutes north of Seminyak is the famous Tanah Lot Temple. You will find the temple on a small rock formation in the sea. Since it is not connected to the mainland, you will need to either walk through low tide or take a boat during high tide to visit the temple.

It is one of the more popular sunset spots on the island too. So, if you want to enjoy a relaxing view to end the day, feel free to add Tanah Lot to the itinerary.

Uluwatu Temple

Heading 40 minutes south from Seminyak you will reach the Uluwatu Temple. Its dramatic location on the edge of the cliffside, makes this another unique Balie temple to visit.

The main highlight of the temple is its nightly fire dance that is held nearby. If you want to take in a sunset and then enjoy the performance, the Uluwatu Temple can be a great addition to your time in Bali.

8) Is 7 Days Enough or Too Long for Bali?

So, you may now be asking yourself if one week is enough time or too long for Bali. In my opinion, 7 days is the perfect amount of time to explore a little bit of everything that Bali has to offer.

With a week on the island, you will get to see waterfalls, go on hikes, explore temples, wander through rice paddies, and spend time on the beach. It is also just the right amount of time to split the trip into three different spots on the island.

This way you will get to experience some different aspects of Bali without rushing through. Parts of the trip will feel more nature-focused, while other parts will be more culturally focused. All in all, it will be a perfect combination of what the island has to offer.

If you have less than a week in Bali, I would recommend just visiting two places on the island. If you have more than a week, why not also check out some more islands nearby (check out the next sections!)?

9) The Nusa Islands

Do you have some more time to spare and want to visit some smaller islands off of Bali? Well, the three Nusa Islands are filled with beautiful scenery & natural attractions to enjoy.

Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan are just a quick ferry ride away.

Depending on your interest level, you can either take a day trip from Bali or spend some nights out on the islands themselves.

During my time in Indonesia, I ended up spending some additional days in Nusa Penida. Here are just a handful of the top attractions I got to see during a visit:

• Angels Billabong
• Broken Beach
• Kelingking Beach
• Crystal Bay
• Atuh Beach
• Diamond Beach
• Thousands Island Viewpoint
• Tembeling Beach
• And much more!

Learn More: Check out this Nusa Penida Itinerary if you plan on heading there next!

10) Gili Islands

If Bali and its surrounding islands are not enough, why not head further out east to the Gili Islands – Gili Trawangan, Meno, and Air.

These three islands are much smaller ones to visit and will be a whole different type of experience. You can easily take a boat from Bali to the Gilis and spend a few more days just exploring the ins and outs of the island chain.

I ended up visiting Gili Trawangan for several days. It was a great atmosphere just relaxing and taking things slow. Some of the highlights on Gili T include:

• Scuba Diving
• Snorkeling with Turtles
• Sunsets!
• Bicycling the Island
• Relaxing at the Beach
• Nightlife

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