One Week in Indonesia: Bali and Beyond

One week in Indonesia is enough to move beyond Bali and experience the different character of its neighbouring islands. This itinerary starts with Bali’s cultural and coastal highlights, adds a day trip to Nusa Penida’s dramatic cliffs, then crosses the Lombok Strait to the car-free Gili Islands before finishing on Lombok’s quieter south coast.

Route overview: Bali (4 nights) → Nusa Penida day trip → fast boat to Gili Islands (2 nights) → boat to Lombok (1 night) → fly back to Bali or onward.

Getting around: Private driver in Bali (IDR 400,000–600,000 per day), fast boats between islands (IDR 350,000–500,000 per crossing), cidomo horse carts and walking on Gili T, and Grab or private driver in Lombok.

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Days 1–2: Southern Bali — Seminyak, Uluwatu and Beaches

Day 1: Arrive and Settle into Seminyak

Most international flights arrive at Ngurah Rai Airport in the afternoon. Transfer to Seminyak (approximately 30 minutes, IDR 150,000–200,000 by Grab or airport taxi as of 2026). Use the rest of the day to recover from travel — walk the beach, explore Jalan Kayu Aya for shopping, and catch sunset.

Dinner: Sarong on Jalan Petitenget serves refined Southeast Asian cuisine — tasting menus from IDR 550,000 per person. For something casual, Warung Made on Jalan Raya Seminyak does reliable Balinese classics (nasi goreng, satay, grilled fish) for IDR 40,000–80,000 per plate.

Day 2: Uluwatu and the Bukit Peninsula

Hire a private driver for the day (IDR 400,000–500,000) to explore the south. Start at Uluwatu Temple (entry IDR 50,000 / approximately USD 3 as of 2026) for the clifftop walk, then head to Padang Padang Beach for a swim.

Lunch at Single Fin — cliff-edge bar above Suluban surf break, wood-fired pizzas and Indo dishes from IDR 75,000–150,000.

Return to Uluwatu for the 6pm Kecak fire dance (IDR 150,000 / approximately USD 9 as of 2026). End the evening at the Jimbaran Bay seafood grills — choose a beachfront stall and order grilled fish, prawns, and sambal by weight (approximately IDR 150,000–250,000 per person for a full spread).

Where to Stay: Seminyak (Nights 1–2)

• Budget: Cara Cara Inn — central, pool, from IDR 400,000 (approximately USD 25) per night
• Mid-range: Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach — beachfront, from IDR 1,500,000 (approximately USD 94) per night
• Luxury: W Bali Seminyak — direct beach access, from IDR 4,000,000 (approximately USD 250) per night

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Days 3–4: Ubud and Nusa Penida Day Trip

Day 3: Ubud Cultural Day

Transfer to Ubud (approximately 90 minutes from Seminyak). Visit Tegallalang Rice Terraces (entry IDR 15,000), Tirta Empul Temple purification pools (entry IDR 50,000), and the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (entry IDR 80,000).

Lunch: Locavore To Go on Jalan Dewisita — locally sourced Indonesian plates, IDR 45,000–85,000. Dinner: Mozaic in Ubud offers a French-Indonesian tasting menu (from IDR 850,000 per person) — one of Bali’s most acclaimed restaurants. For a more casual option, Warung Biah Biah serves authentic Balinese dishes from IDR 25,000–40,000.

Day 4: Nusa Penida Day Trip

Take a Grab from Ubud to Sanur harbour (approximately 45 minutes, IDR 100,000–150,000), then a fast boat to Nusa Penida (IDR 200,000 one-way, 45 minutes). Operators include Rocky Fast Cruise and Maruti Fast Boat — departures from approximately 7am.

On Nusa Penida, hire a local driver for the day (IDR 300,000–450,000 / approximately USD 19–28). The essential stops: Kelingking Beach (the T-Rex cliff — the descent to the beach takes 30–40 minutes and is steep), Angel’s Billabong (natural infinity pool, best at low tide), and Crystal Bay for snorkelling with manta rays (season: September–March).

Lunch: Penida Colada near Kelingking viewpoint — basic Indonesian food with a view, IDR 30,000–50,000. Return boat to Sanur departs by 4pm.

Where to Stay: Ubud (Nights 3–4)

• Budget: Pondok Pundi Village Inn — rice field views, from IDR 350,000 (approximately USD 22) per night
• Mid-range: Bisma Eight — infinity pool over the valley, from IDR 1,200,000 (approximately USD 75) per night
• Luxury: Four Seasons Sayan — riverside, from IDR 8,000,000 (approximately USD 500) per night

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Days 5–6: Gili Islands

Getting There

From Padang Bai harbour (1 hour east of Ubud), take a fast boat to Gili Trawangan (approximately 90 minutes, IDR 350,000–500,000 one-way with operators like BlueWater Express or Eka Jaya). Book at least one day ahead during July–August.

Day 5: Gili Trawangan

Gili T is the largest and liveliest of the three Gili Islands — no motorised vehicles, just bicycles and horse-drawn cidomo carts. Circle the island by bicycle (rental IDR 50,000 per day) in about 90 minutes. The west coast has the best sunset views. Snorkelling directly off the northeast beach reveals turtles feeding on seagrass — no boat trip needed.

For a guided snorkelling trip visiting all three Gili Islands, operators like Blue Marlin Dive run half-day trips (from IDR 250,000 / approximately USD 16 as of 2026) covering turtle points and coral gardens.

Lunch: Kayu Cafe — wood-fired pizza and Indonesian salads, IDR 60,000–110,000. Dinner: Pearl Beach Lounge — beachfront seafood grill, mains IDR 80,000–180,000.

Day 6: Gili Air or Diving

Option A: Take a public boat to Gili Air (IDR 35,000, 10 minutes) — quieter, more local character, excellent snorkelling off the south beach. Lunch at Mowie’s Bar on the east coast (Indonesian and Western, IDR 50,000–90,000).

Option B: Dive. Gili T has some of Lombok Strait’s best diving — PADI Open Water courses run approximately IDR 5,500,000 (approximately USD 345) with shops like Manta Dive or Trawangan Dive. Certified divers pay from IDR 600,000 per fun dive (2 dives approximately IDR 1,000,000).

Where to Stay: Gili Trawangan (Nights 5–6)

• Budget: Gili Castle Hostel — social hostel, dorm beds from IDR 150,000 (approximately USD 9) per night
• Mid-range: Aston Sunset Beach Resort — beachfront bungalows, from IDR 900,000 (approximately USD 56) per night
• Luxury: Pondok Santi Estate — private pool villas, from IDR 3,500,000 (approximately USD 219) per night

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Day 7: Lombok

Getting There

Public boat from Gili T to Bangsal harbour, Lombok (IDR 15,000, 30 minutes — departures every 30 minutes) or fast boat direct to Senggigi or Teluk Nare.

Exploring South Lombok

Hire a driver for the day (IDR 400,000–500,000) to explore south Lombok’s beaches — far quieter than Bali. Kuta Lombok (not to be confused with Bali’s Kuta) has turquoise water and near-empty white-sand beaches. Tanjung Aan is a crescent bay with fine white sand. Mawun Beach sits in a sheltered cove between two headlands.

Lunch: Ashtari above Kuta Lombok — healthy bowls and Indonesian plates with panoramic hill views, IDR 50,000–90,000. Dinner: El Bazar Cafe in Kuta Lombok — Mediterranean-Indonesian fusion, mains IDR 65,000–120,000.

Where to Stay: Kuta Lombok (Night 7)

• Budget: Pipes Hostel — surf hostel, dorm beds from IDR 120,000 (approximately USD 8) per night
• Mid-range: Novotel Lombok Resort — beachfront, large pool, from IDR 1,000,000 (approximately USD 63) per night
• Luxury: The Lombok Lodge — eco-luxury, from IDR 2,800,000 (approximately USD 175) per night

Departure

Lombok International Airport (Praya) is 20 minutes from Kuta Lombok. Direct flights to Bali take 30 minutes (from IDR 400,000 / approximately USD 25). Flights also connect to Jakarta, Surabaya, and Labuan Bajo if continuing east.

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Budget Summary

Category	Budget	Mid-Range	Luxury
Accommodation (7 nights)	IDR 2,100,000 (USD 131)	IDR 8,400,000 (USD 525)	IDR 32,000,000+ (USD 2,000+)
Food (7 days)	IDR 700,000 (USD 44)	IDR 2,100,000 (USD 131)	IDR 5,600,000+ (USD 350+)
Inter-island transport	IDR 1,200,000 (USD 75)	IDR 1,500,000 (USD 94)	IDR 2,500,000 (USD 156)
Local transport	IDR 800,000 (USD 50)	IDR 2,800,000 (USD 175)	IDR 4,000,000+ (USD 250+)
Activities	IDR 800,000 (USD 50)	IDR 1,500,000 (USD 94)	IDR 3,000,000+ (USD 188+)
Total (7 days)	USD 350–400	USD 1,000–1,100	USD 2,900+

All prices are approximate and reflect rates as of 2026.

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Practical Tips

• Fast boat safety: Check that your boat has life jackets and is not overloaded. The Lombok Strait crossing can be rough in wet season (November–March) — take motion sickness tablets if prone. Operators with good safety records include BlueWater Express, Eka Jaya, and Rocky Fast Cruise.
• Cash on the Gilis: ATMs exist on Gili T but charge high fees and sometimes run empty. Withdraw enough rupiah on Bali before crossing.
• Scooter vs driver: Scooters work well on the Gili Islands (no cars anyway) and in Canggu/Seminyak. For Ubud day trips and south Lombok, a private driver is more practical given the distances and road conditions.
• Travel insurance: Strongly recommended — medical evacuation from smaller islands to Bali or Singapore can cost USD 10,000–30,000 without coverage.