Indonesia itinerary, day by day

From Ubud to the Gili islands by way of south Bali and Nusa Penida: the map, what is worth booking, everything that costs nothing, and where to sleep at three budgets.

🗓️ 7, 10 or 14 days📍 4 stops☀️ Best time: May to September

Ubud · Photo Balazs Simon / Pexels

Route map (numbers = order of the stops).

Indonesia in 7 days

2 stops · 12 things to do · scooter + ferry

1Ubud

Days 1-3

The cultural centre of Bali, set between terraced rice fields and temples. Carvers, dancers and the monkey forest are all within a few streets.

🎟️ Worth booking

Rice terraces and temples, guidedFull day · from €40
A day through the Tegalalang terraces and the water temples, with someone who can explain the subak irrigation that feeds them.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Balinese cooking classHalf day · from €25
Half a day that starts at the market and ends at the table, grinding the spice paste by hand.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The Tegalalang rice terraces · The monkey forest · Tirta Empul, from outside · Ubud market

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Pondok Bambu (€15 a night) · Mid-range: Bisma Eight (€120 a night) · Luxury: Four Seasons Sayan (€650 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

This Is Bali - Balinese Food & Desserts ↗ ★ 4.9 · 16807 reviews · €€
Nusa By/Suka - Ubud ↗ ★ 4.9 · 3786 reviews
Ely's Kitchen Ubud ↗ ★ 4.9 · 3348 reviews
Habitat Bistro Restaurant Ubud by Wonderspace ↗ ★ 4.9 · 2685 reviews
Arcadia ↗ ★ 4.9 · 1575 reviews

Photo Balazs Simon / Pexels

🛵 Road · 1h30 · 40 km

2South Bali (Uluwatu)

Days 4-7

The southern tip of the island: the Uluwatu temple on a cliff seventy metres above the sea, surf beaches below, and long evenings facing west.

🎟️ Worth booking

Surf lesson at CangguHalf day · from €30
A morning on a soft board in beach break waves, which is where everyone on this coast starts.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Uluwatu temple and the kecak danceHalf day · from €25
The clifftop temple in the late afternoon, then the kecak, chanted by a circle of men with no instruments at all.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Seminyak and Canggu beaches · Uluwatu temple · The sunsets · The cafe scene

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: PinkCoco Uluwatu (€50 a night) · Mid-range: Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa (€110 a night) · Luxury: Alila Villas Uluwatu (€600 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Suka Espresso [Uluwatu] ↗ ★ 4.8 · 9921 reviews · €€
Gooseberry French Restaurant | Uluwatu ↗ ★ 4.8 · 9229 reviews · €€
Ohana Bali Restaurant & Bar ↗ ★ 4.8 · 4303 reviews · €€
ULU Garden ↗ ★ 4.8 · 3450 reviews · €€
Artisan - Uluwatu ↗ ★ 4.8 · 3125 reviews

Photo Tom Fisk / Pexels

Indonesia in 10 days

4 stops · 24 things to do · scooter + ferry

1Ubud

Days 1-3

The cultural centre of Bali, set between terraced rice fields and temples. Carvers, dancers and the monkey forest are all within a few streets.

🎟️ Worth booking

Rice terraces and temples, guidedFull day · from €40
A day through the Tegalalang terraces and the water temples, with someone who can explain the subak irrigation that feeds them.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Balinese cooking classHalf day · from €25
Half a day that starts at the market and ends at the table, grinding the spice paste by hand.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The Tegalalang rice terraces · The monkey forest · Tirta Empul, from outside · Ubud market

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Pondok Bambu (€15 a night) · Mid-range: Bisma Eight (€120 a night) · Luxury: Four Seasons Sayan (€650 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Balazs Simon / Pexels

🛵 Road · 1h30 · 40 km

2South Bali (Uluwatu)

Days 4-5

The southern tip of the island: the Uluwatu temple on a cliff seventy metres above the sea, surf beaches below, and long evenings facing west.

🎟️ Worth booking

Surf lesson at CangguHalf day · from €30
A morning on a soft board in beach break waves, which is where everyone on this coast starts.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Uluwatu temple and the kecak danceHalf day · from €25
The clifftop temple in the late afternoon, then the kecak, chanted by a circle of men with no instruments at all.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Seminyak and Canggu beaches · Uluwatu temple · The sunsets · The cafe scene

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Tom Fisk / Pexels

⛴️ Speedboat · 45 min · from Sanur

3Nusa Penida

Days 6-7

A rough island of cliffs and manta rays, forty minutes away by speedboat. Kelingking beach is the shape everyone recognises before they arrive.

🎟️ Worth booking

Island tour, Kelingking includedFull day · from €35
A day by car and rough track around Nusa Penida, taking in Kelingking, Broken Beach and the west coast viewpoints.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Snorkelling with manta raysHalf day · from €40
Half a day at Manta Point, where rays of three or four metres across come in to be cleaned.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Kelingking beach · Broken Beach · Angel's Billabong · The clifftop viewpoints

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: The Penida Project (€15 a night) · Mid-range: Coco Resort Penida (€45 a night) · Luxury: Bay Shore Huts (€250 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Eastside Penida Kitchen & Bar ↗ ★ 5 · 1972 reviews
Padi Restaurant at The Sebali Penida ↗ ★ 5 · 150 reviews
Mambo Beach Restaurant | Beach Bar & Cafe Nusa Penida ↗ ★ 4.9 · 8283 reviews
The Rich Penida Restaurant & Bar ↗ ★ 4.9 · 1650 reviews
La Rossa Penida ↗ ★ 4.9 · 991 reviews

Photo alleksana / Pexels

⛴️ Fast ferry · 2h · via Padangbai

4The Gili Islands

Days 8-10

Three small islands off Lombok with no cars on them at all. Turtles feed in the shallows, and everything moves at the speed of a bicycle.

🎟️ Worth booking

Three-island snorkelling trip, with turtlesFull day · from €30
A boat day around Trawangan, Meno and Air, stopping where the green turtles graze.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Two dives off Gili Trawangan2 dives · from €60
Two tanks on the reefs and the underwater statues, in water that sits around 28 degrees.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The beaches of Gili Trawangan · No cars, only bicycles · The sunsets · The swings out over the water

🛏️ Where to sleep · Mid-range: Pearl of Trawangan (€120 a night) · Luxury: Ombak Sunset (€200 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

The Shack Restaurant and Bar - Gili Trawangan ↗ ★ 4.9 · 1809 reviews
Pituq - Resto, Café & Shop ↗ ★ 4.9 · 1696 reviews · €
BAHIA Restaurant & Beachbar - Gili Air ↗ ★ 4.9 · 1434 reviews
Gili Resto ↗ ★ 4.9 · 936 reviews
GILITIK! Street Food & More ↗ ★ 4.9 · 842 reviews

Photo timv924 / Pexels

Indonesia in 14 days

4 stops · 24 things to do · scooter + ferry

1Ubud

Days 1-4

The cultural centre of Bali, set between terraced rice fields and temples. Carvers, dancers and the monkey forest are all within a few streets.

🎟️ Worth booking

Rice terraces and temples, guidedFull day · from €40
A day through the Tegalalang terraces and the water temples, with someone who can explain the subak irrigation that feeds them.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Balinese cooking classHalf day · from €25
Half a day that starts at the market and ends at the table, grinding the spice paste by hand.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The Tegalalang rice terraces · The monkey forest · Tirta Empul, from outside · Ubud market

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Pondok Bambu (€15 a night) · Mid-range: Bisma Eight (€120 a night) · Luxury: Four Seasons Sayan (€650 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Balazs Simon / Pexels

🛵 Road · 1h30 · 40 km

2South Bali (Uluwatu)

Days 5-7

The southern tip of the island: the Uluwatu temple on a cliff seventy metres above the sea, surf beaches below, and long evenings facing west.

🎟️ Worth booking

Surf lesson at CangguHalf day · from €30
A morning on a soft board in beach break waves, which is where everyone on this coast starts.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Uluwatu temple and the kecak danceHalf day · from €25
The clifftop temple in the late afternoon, then the kecak, chanted by a circle of men with no instruments at all.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Seminyak and Canggu beaches · Uluwatu temple · The sunsets · The cafe scene

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Tom Fisk / Pexels

⛴️ Speedboat · 45 min · from Sanur

3Nusa Penida

Days 8-9

A rough island of cliffs and manta rays, forty minutes away by speedboat. Kelingking beach is the shape everyone recognises before they arrive.

🎟️ Worth booking

Island tour, Kelingking includedFull day · from €35
A day by car and rough track around Nusa Penida, taking in Kelingking, Broken Beach and the west coast viewpoints.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Snorkelling with manta raysHalf day · from €40
Half a day at Manta Point, where rays of three or four metres across come in to be cleaned.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Kelingking beach · Broken Beach · Angel's Billabong · The clifftop viewpoints

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: The Penida Project (€15 a night) · Mid-range: Coco Resort Penida (€45 a night) · Luxury: Bay Shore Huts (€250 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo alleksana / Pexels

⛴️ Fast ferry · 2h · via Padangbai

4The Gili Islands

Days 10-14

Three small islands off Lombok with no cars on them at all. Turtles feed in the shallows, and everything moves at the speed of a bicycle.

🎟️ Worth booking

Three-island snorkelling trip, with turtlesFull day · from €30
A boat day around Trawangan, Meno and Air, stopping where the green turtles graze.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Two dives off Gili Trawangan2 dives · from €60
Two tanks on the reefs and the underwater statues, in water that sits around 28 degrees.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The beaches of Gili Trawangan · No cars, only bicycles · The sunsets · The swings out over the water

🛏️ Where to sleep · Mid-range: Pearl of Trawangan (€120 a night) · Luxury: Ombak Sunset (€200 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo timv924 / Pexels

Hotel prices are per room per night, activity prices per person, checked when written. Some links are affiliate links (Booking, GetYourGuide): we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

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Good to know before you go

🍽️ What to eat

Nasi goreng: fried rice, the national dish, eaten at any hour.
Satay: grilled skewers under a peanut sauce.
Rendang: beef cooked down for hours with coconut and spice.
Gado-gado: blanched vegetables and egg, dressed with peanut again.
Coffee, and tropical fruit worth the detour: mangosteen, and durian if you dare.

⚠️ What to avoid

Check the scooter and the helmet before you rent, and carry the right licence.
Cover shoulders and knees in temples: a sarong is usually lent at the gate.
Bottled water, and change money in a bank rather than at a street booth.
Walk around the canang offerings on the pavement, never over them.

Plan this trip

📒 The free printable Indonesia guide→ 🗓️ Best time to visit Indonesia, month by month→ 🎟️ What to book before you go→

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