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Ten days is the length where Bali stops feeling like a checklist. This route uses three bases and avoids repeat packing: the south coast around Uluwatu for beaches and surf, Ubud for rice terraces and temples, then east Bali and Nusa Penida for the quieter side of the island. Day 10 is deliberately empty, because Penida’s fast boats get cancelled and a missed flight home costs far more than a lazy last morning.
The pace: two long drives, one early sunrise start, one boat crossing. Budget guide (as of 2026): approximately USD 450-700 per person for 10 days excluding flights.
The route at a glance
| Days | Base | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Uluwatu | Beaches, clifftop temple, surf or a beach club |
| 4-6 | Ubud | Terraces, temples, Batur sunrise, waterfalls |
| 7 | Sidemen (east Bali) | Water palaces, Gunung Agung views |
| 8-9 | Nusa Penida | West and east coast sights |
| 10 | Sanur / airport | Buffer day |
Days 1-3: Uluwatu and the Bukit Peninsula
Day 1: arrive and slow down. The airport sits about 30-45 minutes from Uluwatu without traffic, so pre-book a transfer (see our Bali airport transfer guide) and skip the taxi touts. Spend the afternoon at a cliff-edge warung or on the sand at Padang Padang. For where to sleep, see where to stay in Uluwatu and our Uluwatu guide.
Day 2: beaches. Start at Bingin or Dreamland while the tide is right, then Suluban’s cave entrance and a late lunch above the surf. Uluwatu Temple opens to visitors from morning; arrive about 5pm for sunset and the Kecak fire dance (tickets approximately IDR 150,000 as of 2026). Keep your sunglasses in a bag, because the temple monkeys take them.
Day 3: your choice. Beginners can take a surf lesson at Padang Padang or Balangan, while others book a Bali day tour or recover at a beach club. If you want guided options for the whole island, browse tours in Bali.
Days 4-6: Ubud
Day 4: transfer and the terraces. Drive to Ubud (about 1.5-2 hours; private car roughly IDR 450,000-600,000 as of 2026). Go straight to the Tegallalang area before the tour buses; see our Tegalalang rice terraces guide. In the evening walk Ubud’s main street and settle in. More in our Ubud guide.
Day 5: Mount Batur sunrise. Pickup is about 2am for a roughly two-hour climb, and the summit sunrise is the best reward in central Bali. Guided groups cost approximately IDR 500,000-700,000 per person as of 2026; read the Mount Batur sunrise trek guide for what to carry, then book a Batur sunrise trek. Nap in the afternoon, then do the Sacred Monkey Forest at 4pm when it is cooler.
Day 6: temples and water. Visit Tirta Empul’s purification pools in the morning (dress modestly, sarong provided), and finish at a waterfall. Our Bali waterfalls guide compares the options by crowd level. A cooking class suits the evening; see Ubud hotels if you need to rebook.
Day 7: east Bali and Sidemen
Check out and head east with a private driver (day rate approximately IDR 600,000-900,000 as of 2026). Stop at Tirta Gangga’s water palace and, if the weather is clear, Lempuyang’s Gates of Heaven for the Agung view; queues there can run over an hour, so go early or skip it. Sleep in Sidemen, a quiet valley of rice paddies and weavers. See our Sidemen guide and where to stay in Sidemen. Prefer diving? Swap Sidemen for Amed.
Days 8-9: Nusa Penida
Day 8: crossing. Drive to Sanur (about 1.5 hours from Sidemen) and take the earliest fast boat; crossing takes 30-45 minutes and one-way tickets cost approximately IDR 150,000-250,000 as of 2026. Compare operators in our fast boats from Bali guide. Check in, then do the west coast: Kelingking Beach viewpoint, Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong. Hire a local driver on the island instead of renting a scooter.
Day 9: east coast and the sea. Diamond Beach and Atuh Beach in the morning, then a snorkelling trip for manta rays (season and sightings vary). See the Nusa Penida day trip guide for logistics, the Nusa Penida island guide for the full picture, and where to stay in Nusa Penida. Short on time or unsure about a night on the island? Book a Nusa Penida tour from the mainland instead.
Day 10: buffer and departure
Take the first boat back to Sanur and treat the rest as a buffer. This is the cancellation insurance: if the boat was cancelled on day 8, you cross on day 9 and return on day 10 with a shorter stay, and nothing else shifts. A seaside lunch in Sanur and a last massage cost little, and the airport is about 25 minutes away. Book flights leaving in the evening, never before noon.
What to book ahead and what to leave open
Book your first and last nights, the Batur sunrise (guides fill up in July and August) and Nusa Penida accommodation four to six weeks out in peak season. Leave everything else flexible. Fast boat tickets are easy to buy a day or two ahead through your hotel, which also makes it simpler to move if the sea turns rough. Kecak tickets are sold at the temple on the day.
Where to sleep on each base
In Uluwatu, the cliff-top stretch near Pecatu has the views and the quieter evenings, while Bingin and Padang Padang put you within walking distance of the beaches and surf. In Ubud, stay close to the centre or on the Penestanan and Nyuh Kuning side if you want paddies within a short walk and quieter nights. Sidemen is all homestays and small guesthouses; expect simple rooms with a rice field view rather than resort facilities. On Nusa Penida, Toyapakeh and the west coast suit a short stay because the main sights are nearby, while the east is calmer but needs more driving. Prices vary a lot by season, so check live rates on Booking.com for Bali before fixing dates.
If you are travelling in the wet season
From November to March, expect afternoon showers and swell. Move Nusa Penida earlier in the trip (days 4-5 as a day trip from Sanur is the easiest adjustment) so you still have spare days if the boat is cancelled, and put Batur on a clear morning by checking the forecast the evening before. Mornings are usually the driest part of the day, so schedule the big outdoor sights then and keep afternoons for cafes, spas and cooking classes. The rice terraces are at their greenest, which many travellers find a fair trade.
Practical notes
- Money: carry cash in IDR for warungs, drivers and temple fees; ATMs inside banks are safest.
- Tourist levy: foreign visitors pay a one-off levy on arrival, see our Bali tourist levy guide.
- Getting around: see getting around Bali before deciding between driver and scooter.
- Insurance: Penida roads and treks make travel insurance worth having.
- Official info: for entry rules, check the Indonesian Immigration site and the official Wonderful Indonesia tourism board before you fly.
Want a shorter version? See our 1 week Bali itinerary, or add Lombok with 2 weeks in Bali and Lombok.