Eat, Pray, Love: 6 Days Itinerary in Bali
Bali is one of my absolute favorite destinations in Southeast Asia. I went here with my boyfriend Hali and after our trip, I understood how it helped Elizabeth Gilbert find herself in her memoir Eat, Pray, Love, and why it’s one of the most visited places in Indonesia.
Here’s our 6 days itinerary in Bali which you can use as a guide when you visit here.
For the essential info such as How to Get Around, Places to Explore, Things to Do, you can read our Essential Guide to Bali.
Contents
An overview of Bali
Bali is also called the “Island of the Gods”. As said above, it’s one of the most visited places in Indonesia. Some say that Bali is too touristy, but most would agree that it’s worth visiting.
The majority of the population in Bali follow Balinese Hinduism. In Bali, you can find culture everywhere: in temples, markets, even residential areas. It has amazing sights including rice paddies, jungles, and beaches. The food is delicious and you can find amazing massages especially in Ubud.
The main regions of Bali are Ubud, Kuta, Seminyak, Legian, Nusa Dua and Sanur. Aside from these, there are other islands you can visit such as Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan and Nusa Penida islands.
How to get here
Currently, Bali only has one international airport: Ngurah Rai International Airport, which is located in Denpasar.
Visa
- Most tourists don’t need a visa when traveling to Bali if the stay is 30 days or less. This is also true for Philippine passport holders.
- If you’re staying longer than 30 days, you can pay for an extendable visa on arrival ($35) or get a 60-day visa.
Upon arrival
- Buy a local sim card to avoid roaming charges. Telkomsel is a good brand with reliable signal throughout the island.
- From the airport, it’s easy to get to your destination in Bali. If you have arranged accommodation or guide, you can ask them for pickup. One of the cheapest pickup services you can book is via Klook.
6 Days Itinerary in Bali
So without further ado, here’s our 6 days itinerary in Bali, Indonesia. Consider this a rough guide only.
Day 0 | – Arrival in Ngurah Rai Airport (Denpasar) – Check in at accommodation in Ubud |
Day 1 | – Lempuyang Tour / Bedugul Tour |
Day 2 | – Ubud Tour |
Day 3 | – Free time / Walking tour of Ubud |
Day 4 | – Check out at accommodation in Ubud, commute to Sanur Port – Ferry ride from Sanur Port to Nusa Penida – Nusa Penida Tour (day 1) – Check in at accommodation in Nusa Penida |
Day 5 | – Check out of accommodation in Nusa Penida – Nusa Penida Tour (day 2) – Ferry ride back to Nusa Penida – Check in at accommodation in Seminyak |
Day 6 | – Walking tour in Seminyak – Back at Ngurah Rai Airport |
Here are some things I’d like to note:
- We booked for 6 days, which I initially thought was long. As you know, us Filipinos are known for taking short trips abroad. It turned out that 6 days is just enough to visit the basic must-see spots in Bali. If I’ll go back here again, I will probably schedule for 1-2 weeks.
- You can explore Bali by renting a scooter or booking a tour service. We booked tours, since we find the rate reasonable: 550,000 – 700,000 IDR / P2000-2500 / $40-50 for a day trip to a specific location, good up to 4 people. Booking a tour is easy and comfortable, especially since some destinations are 2-3 hours apart.
- Ubud is one of the top places to visit in Bali. As such, we stayed here for 3-4 nights and then toured for 2 days. Believe me, it still isn’t enough.
Day Tours in Bali
These are the day tours available in Bali. There are no standard rates for tours, so you can look around for the best price.
These tours include private car transport (good up to 4 people). Your tour guide/driver usually has a list of places to see in one area, so if you want to include other attractions just let them know in advance.
Ubud Tour
As the heart of Bali, exploring Ubud is a must-do. Here you can explore Tegallalang Rice Terraces, one of the most beautiful nature attractions in the island. Just walking distance from the rice terraces is the Uma Pakel Swing, where you can ride a huge swing facing the mountain and enjoy local coffee/tea tasting, including luwak coffee (the “cat poop coffee”).
You can also drop by the Batik Making area, to witness the actual process of making batik (both handmade and pressed) and shop for batik products.
Places to see:
- Batik Making tour/workshop (optional)
- Legong and Barong Waksirsa cultural dance (optional)
- Uma Pakel Swing
- Tegallalang rice terraces
- Kintamani Volcano
- Tegenungan Waterfall
- Batuan Temple
Lempuyang Tour
This is a laid-back tour exploring some of the temples in Bali. Here you can visit Lempuyang Temple, which is one of the most photographed spots in Bali. It’s one of the oldest temples and believed to predate other Hindu temples in the island. By that way, if you’re wondering how to get the famous shots in Lempuyang Temple, you’ll be amazed to know that it involves a simple trick: you need to place a small mirror at the bottom of your camera to create a reflection! We didn’t know about that before we visited.
Places to see:
- Lempuyang Temple (Heaven’s Gate)
- Abang Rice Terraces
- Tirta Gangga
- Tenganan Village
- Goa Lawah Temple
Bedugul Tour
Bedugul Tour takes you to some of the iconic spots in Bali, such as Tanah Lot. Tanah Lot is a rock formation home to an ancient pilgrimage temple called Pura Tanah Lot.
Places to see:
- Ulun Danu Temple
- Taman Ayun Temple
- Bali Handara Gulf
- Wanagiri Hidden Hill
- Tanah Lot Temple
Uluwatu Tour
Uluwatu Tour takes you to some of the best beaches in Bali.
Places to see:
- Nusa Dua beach watersport (optional)
- Pandawa Beach
- Dreamland Beach
- Padang Padang Beach
- Uluwatu Temple and Kecak and Fire Dance
Ubud Tour (self-tour / walking tour)
If you’re staying in Ubud, you can explore the town attractions which are mostly walking distance from each other.
In particular, I recommend visiting the Ubud Art Market, which is open from early morning up to 6PM only. Shopping for local goods and souvenirs is one of the highlights in our trip. We loved looking at flowy dresses, pants, wooden crafts and paintings, statues, Boho print bags and more.
TIP: Haggle down when shopping because vendors expect it and will quote high prices at first.
Places to see:
- Sacred Monkey Forest
- Ubud Royal Palace
- Suraswati Temple
- Ubud Art Market
Seminyak Tour (self-tour / walking tour)
Seminyak can be explored by foot. Here you can find lots of great cafes and restaurants, shop for souvenirs or luxury items at boutique shops or bum at the beach.
Here are some of the must-see attractions in Seminyak:
Places to see:
- Kynd Community / Nalu Bowls
- Motel Mexicola
- La Plancha Beach
Nusa Penida Tour
Nusa Penida is a breath-taking side trip if you’re visiting Bali. Here you can find the often-photographed Kelingking Beach and other beaches where you can swim and snorkel.
A lot of people I know come to Nusa Penida for a day only, but I highly recommend spending at least 2 days so you can also see Atuh Beach and Thounsand Beach. There are very few tourists here. In fact, we were alone in our visit to Atuh Beach. If you’re into out-of-this-world cliff views, make sure to include Nusa Penida in your itinerary.
Here’s our Travel Guide to Nusa Penida.
Take note that a day trip to Nusa Penida does not include a snorkeling tour.
Places to see:
Day 1
- Snorkeling (Manta Bay, Gamat Point, Buddha’s Underwater Temple, GT Point)
- Kelingking Beach
- Angel Billabong
- Broken Beach
- Crystal Beach
Day 2
- Atuh Beach and Cliff
- Thousand Beach/Tree House
- Teletubbies Hill
- Goa Giri Putri Temple
Reminders on tours
Here are some reminders for exploring Bali:
- Make sure to bring pocket money for lunch and entrance fees. Entrance fees are usually around 10,000 IDR (P40 / $1). Temples will usually require you to wear sarong, which you can rent at around 5000 IDR (P20 / $0.5). If you don’t want to pay extra every time, you can bring your own sarong as long as it reaches past the knee. I bought my own and most of the time this was accepted in temples.
- The cheapest way to explore Bali is by renting a scooter. Just take note that the main areas in Bali are usually 2-3 hours apart, not counting the traffic. Consider the duration of travel if you decide to get a scooter. Also, we don’t recommend renting a scooter in Nusa Penida as there’s a lot of rough roads and some of them are very steep.
Our recommended tour guides
Here are our tour guides during our stay in Bali. Please say Hello from us (Katherine & Hali)!
- For tours in Bali, our tour guide is Ngakan. Contact: Facebook.
- For Nusa Penida, our tour guide is Lindra Nyoman. He offers very reasonable rates. We customized the package so we can include a snorkeling tour (to see the manta rays and the Underwater Buddha Temple), as this isn’t always included in the tours. Contact: email lindranyoman42643@gmail.com.
Where to stay in Bali
There are tons of accommodations in Bali, for all budgets.
- There are cheap homestays starting at 160,000 IDR (P600 / $10) or luxury villas starting at 800,000 IDR (P3000 / $50-60). You can get a room in the middle of rice paddies, jungle or beachside (if you’re anywhere in Seminyak or Kuta).
- You can find private villas with pool for as low as $150 per night. This is a great option for couples or groups who want to enjoy relaxing indoors.
- You can stay anywhere in Bali even if you’re exploring various locations such as Lempuyang.
As for us, we opted to stay in Ubud for 3-4 nights before we spent the rest of our trip in Nusa Penida. Our accommodation in Ubud is Liyer House, which is the house of Ketut in Eat, Pray, Love. (Excuse me, while I scream in my fan girl persona.) Ketut has already passed away, but his son has taken over fortune telling. Unfortunately, I have read that his practice isn’t as legit, so we skipped it.
For discounted rates of accommodation in Bali, you can book using our referral link in Agoda.
Where to eat
We love the food in Bali! I’m not going to list every restaurant one by one because there’s a lot and it’s not enough to put in one article. However, we compiled this Guide on the Best Restaurants in Bali, as suggested by bloggers who’d been here as well.
- If you’re on a budget or you want to taste what the locals eat, you can easily find warungs (local eateries) offering Indonesian dishes.
- Aside from local restaurants, there are restaurants offering different cuisines from all over the world. For instance, you can find pizzerias in Seminyak that are said to rival those in Naples.
- Bali is also a haven for vegetarians and vegans. Even at local eateries, cooks will be happy to whip you something meat free. One of our favorite restaurants in Ubud called Bali Buda has an extensive vegetarian menu.
Our personal tips for your trip to Bali
Here are some of our personal tips.
- The best tip I can give you is don’t scrimp yourself. I know that for some people, budgeting is a lifestyle but I can tell you that every penny spent in Bali is worth it. Book a nice resort in a beach or mountainside, indulge in local dishes, and shop in art markets and boutique stores.
- Spend at least 6-7 days in Bali or longer if you can. Again, Bali is absolutely gorgeous and there are lots of activities to fill your time. You can also spend your days on a personal retreat.
- Enjoy a heavenly massage. Ubud has several spas offering full-body massage and flower bath. Again, this is one of our splurges in Bali. Not only is it relaxing, it’s also perfect for your feed. A 1-hour massage and flower bath typically costs about 250,000-300,000 IDR (P900-1100 / $20) per person. Some popular ones include Karsa Spa and Ubud Botanical Spa. Resorts oftentimes also offer their own spa services, which can be cheaper than the ones outside. TIP: If booking in a popular spa, make sure to reserve weeks or days in advance. We were lucky to get a spot on the same day in 2 different spa locations, but we looked everywhere else and the ones with flower baths were all fully booked.
We have also written a separate article on Useful Tips When Visiting Bali.
Budget and expenses
Your budget depends largely on your accommodation, tours, and other expenses such as food.
Here are the current rates (Updated as of 2020):
Ubud tour | 550,000 IDR (P2000 / $40) |
Lempuyang tour | 700,000 IDR (2500 / $50) |
Bedugul tour | 600,000 IDR (P2200 / $45) |
Uluwatu tour | 550,000 IDR (P2000 / $40) |
Nusa Penida tour | 1-day trip: 850,000 IDR (P3100) per person, including RT ferry tickets Sanur Port-Nusa Penida and lunch (min 2 people) 2-day trip: 1.2M IDR for 2-day tour via private car (car good for 4 people). We also asked to include RT ferry tickets Sanur Port-Nusa Penida and lunches (500,000 + 200,000 IDR for 2 people) and snorkeling trip (200,000 IDR per person). Total is 2.3M IDR (P4400) for 2 people. |
Hali and I took this trip in 2018 and we spent about 4.7M IDR (P18,000 / $350) per person, excluding flight fares. We weren’t doing a budget trip: we booked mid-range accommodation, splurged on food (about 200,000 IDR / P700 / $13-15 per meal for 2 people), went to spa at least twice and shopped for personal items. So our budget went a long way.
In general, for 6 days trip for 2 people, a safe budget would be P20,000 ($400) per person, excluding airfare.
Has this 6 days itinerary in Bali been helpful to you? If yes, share this post and don’t forget to like us in Facebook!
What to read next:
Going to Bali soon? Here are other articles you might be interested in!
- Travel Guide to Bali: What You Need to Know
- 6 Days Itinerary in Bali
- Useful Travel Tips to Bali
- Bali Food Guide: Best Restaurants in Bali
Other destinations near Bali:
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Katherine Cortes is a long-time backpacker and a freelance writer/editor. She likes beaches, snorkeling trips, and relaxing staycations (preferably with bath tubs!).
8 Comments
Rajeev
If there is ever a peaceful island on the planet, it’s Bali for sure. The sweet blows of wind put a rush in your mind and your day becomes fuller. In case you are planning a trip with your soulmate, Bali has to be on your list.
Shei
Very helpful blog!! Thank you so much!!!!!!
Katherine Cortes
Aba. Salamat Shei!!!
Nash Dominique
Hi! Helpful blog post! I will be going to Bali next month and your itinerary seemed to be the closest one to check all the things i wanted to do in Nusa Penida. May i ask which tour provider you hired?
Mo
Living in Bali, I feel like no time is ever enough to explore all the stunning scenery of this island – but looks like you hit up the highlights 😉 thanks for sharing your post and amazing photos! The spa treatment looks divine!
Katherine
You live there? Omg that’s my dream.
Jackie
Thanks for sharing the great tips of Bali! Appreciate the details in what you did. We’re heading there at the end of the month and can’t wait to visit. Nusa Penida has beautiful views.
Aysa
Nice…iniisip ko nga din magBali hahaha dami mong tips