One week in Bali: 7-day itinerary
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 3 of 25 free; 22 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 7 days, 9:30 to 17:51 each day
- Start and finish
- Campuhan Ridge Walk → Crystal Bay
- On foot
- ≈ 44 min in total
- Transport
- 13 rides, ≈ 7 h 41 min
- Lunch
- around 12:01
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- April to October: dry, with calmer seas for the Nusa Penida crossing.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Bali09:30–15:38 · 5 places · 6 h 10 min
Campuhan Ridge Walk
· 1 h 15 min · Free
- 13 min on foot
Saraswati Temple
· 30 min · Free; dance ≈ IDR 100,000
- 3 min on foot
Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung)
· 30 min · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 3 min on foot
Ubud Art Market
· 1 h · Free
- 19 min · transport or taxi
Ubud Monkey Forest
· 1 h 15 min · IDR 130,000
Day 2 · Bali09:30–17:51 · 5 places · 8 h 20 min
Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave)
· 1 h · ≈ IDR 50,000
- 45 min · transport or taxi
Tegallalang Rice Terraces
· 1 h 30 min · ≈ IDR 15,000–50,000
- Lunch · 1 h
- 11 min on foot
Luwak coffee plantations
· 45 min · Free; luwak ≈ IDR 50,000–100,000
- 26 min · transport or taxi
Gunung Kawi
· 1 h 15 min · ≈ IDR 50,000
- 14 min on foot
Tirta Empul Temple
· 1 h 15 min · ≈ IDR 50,000–75,000
Day 3 · Bali09:30–17:15 · 3 places · 7 h 50 min
Tanah Lot Temple
· 1 h 30 min · IDR 75,000
- 54 min · transport or taxi
Taman Ayun Temple
· 1 h · ≈ IDR 30,000–50,000
- Lunch · 1 h
- 81 min · transport or taxi
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
· 2 h · ≈ IDR 50,000–75,000
Day 4 · Bali09:30–15:47 · 3 places · 6 h 20 min
Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
· 1 h 15 min · IDR 100,000
- 21 min · transport or taxi
Handara Gate
· 30 min · ≈ IDR 50,000 photo fee
- Lunch · 1 h
- 41 min · transport or taxi
Sekumpul Waterfall
· 2 h 30 min · ≈ IDR 20,000–250,000
Day 5 · Bali09:30–17:30 · 3 places · 8 h
Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park
· 2 h 30 min · ≈ IDR 125,000–150,000
- Lunch · 1 h
- 37 min · transport or taxi
Padang Padang Beach
· 2 h · ≈ IDR 15,000
- 23 min · transport or taxi
Uluwatu Temple
· 1 h 30 min · ≈ IDR 50,000–60,000
Day 6 · Bali09:30–16:23 · 3 places · 6 h 50 min
Taman Ujung Water Palace
· 1 h 15 min · ≈ IDR 50,000
- 37 min · transport or taxi
Tirta Gangga Water Palace
· 1 h · ≈ IDR 50,000
- Lunch · 1 h
- 31 min · transport or taxi
Lempuyang Temple (Gates of Heaven)
· 2 h 30 min · ≈ IDR 100,000 + shuttle
Day 7 · Bali09:30–15:46 · 3 places · 6 h 20 min
Kelingking Beach
· 1 h 30 min · Small fee
- 25 min · transport or taxi
Broken Beach and Angel's Billabong
· 1 h · Small fee
- Lunch · 1 h
- 21 min · transport or taxi
Crystal Bay
· 2 h · Small fee
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
3 of 25 are free; 22 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 2 | Saraswati Temple | 45 | 30 min | free; dance ≈ IDR 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Ubud Monkey Forest | 36 | 1 h 15 min | IDR 130,000 |
| 6 | Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) | 35 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 50,000 |
| 7 | Tegallalang Rice Terraces | 27 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ IDR 15,000–50,000 |
| 8 | Luwak coffee plantations | 34 | 45 min | Free; luwak ≈ IDR 50,000–100,000 |
| 9 | Gunung Kawi | 25 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ IDR 50,000 |
| 10 | Tirta Empul Temple | 24 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ IDR 50,000–75,000 |
| 11 | Tanah Lot Temple | 26 | 1 h 30 min | IDR 75,000 |
| 12 | Taman Ayun Temple | 26 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 30,000–50,000 |
| 13 | Jatiluwih Rice Terraces | 21 | 2 h | ≈ IDR 50,000–75,000 |
| 14 | Ulun Danu Beratan Temple | 23 | 1 h 15 min | IDR 100,000 |
| 15 | Handara Gate | 25 | 30 min | ≈ IDR 50,000 photo fee |
| 16 | Sekumpul Waterfall | 20 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ IDR 20,000–250,000 |
| 17 | Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park | 32 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ IDR 125,000–150,000 |
| 18 | Padang Padang Beach | 21 | 2 h | ≈ IDR 15,000 |
| 19 | Uluwatu Temple | 23 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ IDR 50,000–60,000 |
| 20 | Taman Ujung Water Palace | 23 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ IDR 50,000 |
| 21 | Tirta Gangga Water Palace | 24 | 1 h | ≈ IDR 50,000 |
| 22 | Lempuyang Temple (Gates of Heaven) | 20 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ IDR 100,000 + shuttle |
| 23 | Kelingking Beach | 22 | 1 h 30 min | Small fee |
| 24 | Broken Beach and Angel's Billabong | 24 | 1 h | Small fee |
| 25 | Crystal Bay | 21 | 2 h | Small fee |
| Other 3 places | 3 h | Free | ||
| Total | 34 h 20 min | 3 of 25 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Campuhan Ridge Walk. Ridge path through tall grass above the jungle. Free; 1–1.5 hours there and back — best early morning.
- 2
Saraswati Temple. Saraswati Temple with its lotus pond in central Ubud. The pond courtyard is free; half an hour is enough.
- 3
Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung). Puri Saren royal palace with gates carved by Lempad. Free by day; evening dance ≈ IDR 100,000.
- 4
Ubud Art Market. Central market opposite the palace: sarongs, rattan bags, carvings. Start haggling at half the price.
- 5
Ubud Monkey Forest. Sacred forest with temples and about 1,260 macaques. IDR 130,000; put away food, glasses and anything dangling.
Day 2
- 6
Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave). Elephant Cave with a demon-mouth entrance and an 11th-century bathing pool. ≈ IDR 50,000 incl. sarong; steep steps.
- 7
Tegallalang Rice Terraces. Bali's most famous rice terraces. Entry ≈ IDR 15,000–50,000 plus trail donations; swings cost extra.
- 8
Luwak coffee plantations. Coffee plantation with a free tea-and-coffee tasting; a cup of luwak ≈ IDR 50,000–100,000.
- 9
Gunung Kawi. Ten 11th-century shrines carved into the cliff by a river. ≈ IDR 50,000; about 300 steps down and back.
- 10
Tirta Empul Temple. Holy spring temple where you can join the purification bath. IDR 50,000–75,000; bring a sarong for the water.
Day 3
- 11
Tanah Lot Temple. Temple on a rock in the surf. IDR 75,000; reach the base at low tide, best just before sunset.
- 12
Taman Ayun Temple. Royal garden temple from 1634 with a moat and pagodas. ≈ IDR 30,000–50,000; an hour is enough.
- 13
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces. Bali's largest terraces, a UNESCO site. ≈ IDR 50,000–75,000; trails from 30 minutes to 3 hours.
Day 4
- 14
Ulun Danu Beratan Temple. Lake temple with an 11-tiered shrine. IDR 100,000; cool at ≈ 1,200 m.
- 15
Handara Gate. Split gate against the mountains at a golf club entrance. ≈ IDR 50,000 per photo.
- 16
Sekumpul Waterfall. Bali's most spectacular falls. Viewpoint ≈ IDR 20,000; guided hike down ≈ 125,000–250,000.
Day 5
- 17
Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park. Park with the 120.9 m Vishnu-on-Garuda statue and dance shows. ≈ IDR 125,000–150,000, cheaper online.
- 18
Padang Padang Beach. Small white-sand cove below cliffs, 120 steps down. ≈ IDR 15,000; guard your things from monkeys.
- 19
Uluwatu Temple. Clifftop temple 70 m above the ocean. ≈ IDR 50,000–60,000; the sunset Kecak is a separate ≈ IDR 150,000 ticket.
Day 6
- 20
Taman Ujung Water Palace. The Karangasem raja's water palace: ponds, a white pavilion, hilltop views. ≈ IDR 50,000.
- 21
Tirta Gangga Water Palace. Royal water garden with stepping stones over koi and a spring-fed pool. ≈ IDR 50,000.
- 22
Lempuyang Temple (Gates of Heaven). The 'Gates of Heaven' framing Mount Agung. ≈ IDR 100,000 + shuttle ≈ 50,000; photo queues can be 2–4 hours.
Day 7
- 23
Kelingking Beach. The T-Rex headland above a turquoise cove. Small fee; 30–60 minutes down, no swimming at the bottom.
- 24
Broken Beach and Angel's Billabong. Round cove under a rock arch, with Angel's Billabong next door — only at low tide.
- 25
Crystal Bay. Palm-lined beach with a reef for snorkelling. Small parking fee; currents — stay close to shore.
Who this route is for
- A first week in Bali
- Temples, mountains, ocean and Nusa Penida
- Hiring a driver day by day
- A beach holiday with no driving
- Small children — see Bali with kids
April to October: dry, with calmer seas for the Nusa Penida crossing.
How to plan one week in Bali
In a week it makes sense to move twice: four nights in Ubud for Ubud, the terraces, the west and the highlands; two nights in the south for the Bukit and the east; one night in Sanur before the boat to Nusa Penida (or stay on the island itself). That keeps each day's drive to two hours or less each way.
The highland day is the coolest: Lake Bratan sits at about 1,200 m and fog and afternoon rain are common, so go early. Village rules require a local guide to hike down to Sekumpul waterfall.
Remove any place with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another nearby — the times recalculate.
Day 7: Nusa Penida day trip
Fast boats to Nusa Penida leave Sanur from about 6:00–6:30 and take 30–60 minutes. On the island, hire a driver: roads are narrow, and Kelingking is about an hour from the harbour. This day covers the west side: the Kelingking viewpoint, Broken Beach with the Angel's Billabong pool, and Crystal Bay for snorkelling.
The path down to Kelingking beach is steep and takes 30–60 minutes, and swimming at the bottom is banned — for most people the viewpoint is enough. Only get into Angel's Billabong at low tide in calm seas. The last boats back to Bali leave around 17:00.
Adding a Mount Batur sunrise
If you can face a 2–3 am start, add an eighth day or swap out the highlands: the Mount Batur sunrise hike takes about two hours up, and tours pick you up in Ubud at night. Afterwards, visit Lake Batur and Ulun Danu Batur Temple.
More to see
For shore snorkelling, head northeast to Amed and the Tulamben wreck. Swim with mantas at Manta Point. For a quiet beach, try Nusa Dua or Melasti.
How to do it right
- Four nights in Ubud, two in the south, one in Sanur or on Nusa Penida.
- Book the Nusa Penida fast boat ahead — in high season it sells out.
- Head to the highlands early: fog and rain often roll in after lunch.
- In temples wear a sarong and sash with shoulders covered; sarongs are lent at almost every entrance, usually included in the ticket.
- Pay in Indonesian rupiah (IDR). Cards work in hotels and bigger restaurants, but temple tickets, parking, donations and warungs are cash. Grab and Gojek are the easiest way to call a car.
Questions
Is one week in Bali enough?
Yes for a first trip: Ubud, the terraces, the west, the highlands, the Bukit, the east and a day on Nusa Penida.
How should I plan a 7-day Bali itinerary?
By area: Ubud — around Ubud — west — highlands — Bukit — east — Nusa Penida, moving hotels two or three times.
Where should I stay for a week in Bali?
Four nights in Ubud, two in the south and one in Sanur before the Nusa Penida boat.
How do I get to Nusa Penida?
By fast boat from Sanur — 30–60 minutes, about IDR 150,000–250,000 one way.
Do I need a guide for Sekumpul waterfall?
To hike down to the falls, yes — it's a village rule; the viewpoint above doesn't need one.
Can I add Mount Batur?
Yes, as a separate night-time tour with a sunrise climb of about two hours.
How much does a week cost?
Entry tickets run roughly IDR 1.7–2.2 million per person, plus the driver, boat and food.
How do I pay in Bali?
Pay in Indonesian rupiah (IDR). Cards work in hotels and bigger restaurants, but temple tickets, parking, donations and warungs are cash. Grab and Gojek are the easiest way to call a car.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- UNESCO: Cultural Landscape of Bali Province, the Subak System (no. 1194)
