The Best 10-day Bali itinerary – Visiting the main attractions

Visiting Bali in 10 days is the best plan for discovering the Island of the Gods. If you want to relax on idyllic beaches, visit gorgeous temples, and return home in love with Balinese culture, keep reading.

In this article, you won’t just find the best 10-day Bali trip itinerary. I’ll also give you a lot of tips to travel to Bali, and I’ll tell you some anecdotes about renting a scooter in Bali.

If you aren’t renting a motorcycle, don’t worry. Ascen, on her 7-day Bali itinerary, was able to visit the main Bali attractions without a motorcycle. Of course, if that’s the case for you, I’ll suggest some tours in Bali that will take you to the places you can’t miss.

Although ten days in Bali may seem like a short time, I assure you that, with proper planning, you can do more things than you imagine. It’s also essential to know where to stay in Bali so you don’t waste time on the road and can make the most of your vacation.

I made some mistakes when planning my route through Bali. Furthermore, upon our arrival in Indonesia, the Rinjani volcano, in Lombok, erupted, causing some earthquakes that prevented us from continuing with the itinerary we had. Therefore, the route you’ll find in this article is not exactly the route I took, although it’s undoubtedly the perfect Bali itinerary for 10 days.

Before we begin, remember that although earthquakes are unusual, Bali is in a seismic area, so there may be some during your trip. Therefore, I recommend you hire travel insurance for Indonesia that covers evacuation in case of a natural disaster.

BEST BALI 10-DAY ITINERARY

This is the best itinerary to visit Bali in 10 days:

• Day 1:Ubud. Beginning of your trip to Bali in 10 days.
• Day 2: Mt. Batur sunrise tour. Essential if you visit Bali for 10 days.
• Day3:Besakih, Tirta Gangga, Lempuyang and Amed.
• Day 4: Tegalalang and surroundings of Ubud.
• Day 5: Pura Ulun Danu Bratan and Bedugul waterfalls. Top of the Bali 10-day itinerary.
• Day 6: Jatiluwih, Pasut beach, Tanah Lot and Seminyak.
• Day 7: Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. Visit the Nusa Islands if you travel to Bali for 10 days.
• Day 8: Nusa Penida.
• Day 9: Uluwatu. A place you can’t miss on your Bali itinerary for 10 days.
• Day 10: Jimbaran Bay.

Next, we tell you everything you need to know to have a perfect 10-day trip to Bali. Also, I recommend having this map of Bali on hand, so you know where each of the attractions we mention isrent a scooter in Bali, I recommend you book transfer to Ubud from the airport, to get used to the peculiar way the Balinese drive.

The first essential visit to do in Ubud is the Traditional Art Market, which is at Jl. Raya Ubud Street. Here, you can find crafts and pieces of traditional art, as well as a multitude of souvenirs and local food.

Just opposite, you’ll find the Puri Saren Agung, better known as Ubud Palace. The royal family still lives in this palace, so only part of it can be visited, specifically, a central courtyard with beautiful Balinese decoration where traditional dances are held at night.

Going down the street, you’ll find a temple in honor of the goddess of knowledge and wisdom, the Pure Taman Saraswati. There is no entrance fee so you should visit it! It stands out for its two ponds full of lotus flowers.

Another of the temples that we found on the same street is the Pura Dalem Ubud, where I attended a Kecak Fire and Trance show on the first night of my trip.

At the corner of the Art Market is Jl. Monkey Forest Street, which leads to the Monkey Forest. This is, without a doubt, a place you won’t want to miss during your 10-day Bali itinerary.

In this forest are many macaques that make all kinds of mischief to get you to feed them. Be careful! Although I had no problem with them, they often steal what they can from tourists to return it in exchange for food.

Ascen had bad luck, since two monkeys bit her, so she had to use her travel insurance to Bali.

Recommended tours

Even if you plan to rent a motorcycle, don’t use it for your first trip to Ubud. You should book the transfer to Ubud from the airport (45min approx) and give yourself some time to get familiarized with the quieter traffic of this village.

Recommended accommodations

There are lots of great hotels in Ubud, including some of the best villas in Bali. Here is a selection of the best hotels in Ubud:

 

Day 2: Mt. Batur sunrise tour. Essential if you visit Bali for 10 days.

The second day,I recommend you get up early to live out one of the best experiences you can have on your 10-day trip to Bali: watching the sunrise over Mt. Batur.

The views from the top of the volcano are wonderful, and the best thing is that your guide will cook you some eggs and banana pancakes for breakfast with the volcano steam.

Mt. Batur is sacred to the Balinese, so it’s essential to book a tour with a local guide. Also, if you want to arrive at dawn, you’ll have to leave Ubud at 2:30 in the morning, so I don’t recommend riding a scooter.

Depending on the tour you choose, after the hike, you can go bathe in some hot springs, visit a waterfall, or even go rafting.

When we headed back to Ubud, we stopped to visit Penglipuran, a small traditional village with a beautiful bamboo forest. We also visited the Pura Kehen temple and cooled off under the Tukad Cepung waterfall.

If you arrive in Ubud with enough energy, you can walk to Campuhan Ridge Walk. Here, you’ll find beautiful rice fields and gigantic palm trees, making it one of the best things to do in Bali at sunset.

Recommended tours

It’s essential to book a guide to climb the Batur Volcano. We did this tour and paid an extra tip to our guide to stop in Penglipuran on the way to Ubud.

Other tours you can take are:

Recommended accommodations

On your second night, you can stay in the same hotel as the night before or treat yourself to one of the hotels in the middle of the jungle that you will find in Bali. My favorite one is the Hanging Garden of Bali, although if it’s out of your budget, I recommend you take a look at Pertiwi Bisma 1, located next to the Monkey Foresthigh season of Bali, it’s very likely that you’ll have to queue for hours to take the typical photo where you can see Mt. Agung, the highest volcano on the island, in the middle of the door. In my opinion, I don’t think it’s worth waiting for hours for that photo.

To end the day, I recommend visiting Amed beach and watching the sunset with Mt. Agung in the background.

Recommended tours

If you haven’t rented a motorcycle, I recommend this tour and that you return to Ubud that same night.

However, if you did that, you wouldn’t visit Amed beach and some other things that we recommend visiting the next day in the morning. If you don’t want to miss them, you can hire a car with driver (10 hours) to make this personalized route.

Recommended accommodations

The best hotels in Northwest Bali are found in Tulamben. These are the four that I recommend, depending on your budget:

places to visit in Bali, the Bukit Cinta. From here, you’ll have amazing views of Mt. Agung over extensive rice fields.

You can also make a stop at the Pura Goa Lawah temple, where you’ll see thousand of bats sleeping on the ceiling.

On the way back to Ubud, you can stop in an area where there are several waterfalls. The most popular are Wisata Air Terjun Kanto Lampo and Tibumana. Although they are not something essential to visit in Bali in 10 days, I really recommend them.

Then, continue north to visit two temples of Bali that you cannot miss: Tirta Empul, popular among the Balinese for its sacred waters, and Pura Gunung Kawi, where the souls of the kings are buried symbolically.

Nearby, you can find the rice fields of Tegalalang, the most popular rice paddies in Bali.

Finally, and only 10 minutes from the center of Ubud, the Elephant Cave, Goa Gajah, is another essential point to visit on your 10-day route through Bali.

Recommended tours

If you leave from Ubud, you can book this private tour, and tell the driver to skip the Monkey Forest visit and add the Pura Gunung Kawi temple.

On that private tour, you’ll visit a large part of the aforementioned attractions, but it doesn’t include the area where you can visit the waterfalls. Therefore, if you also want to visit them, you’ll need to book a customized tour.

Recommended accommodations

This is the last night I recommend you spend in Ubud, so, if you can, stay in one of the amazing villas you’ll find here. Additionally, there are many that are located northwest of Ubud, where you’ll head the next morning. My favorites are:

Day 5: Pura Ulun Danu Bratan and Bedugul waterfalls. Top of the Bali 10-day itinerary.

Bedugul is an area that you have to visit in Bali in 10 days. I am convinced that it will surprise you. In this mountainous area, which stands out for its volcanoes and craters that have turned into lakes, there’s a totally different culture. You just breathe peace and nature in its purest form.

On the way, you can’t miss the Nungnung waterfalls, although I warn you that they won’t be the most beautiful you’ll see on this day. The Sekumpul, the Gitgit, and, especially, the Banyumala Twin are my favorite ones.

Then, be amazed by the three main lakes in this area (Tamblingan, Buyan, and Bratan). I suggest you start with Buyan, where you can visit the Hidden Hills Wanagiri, a place straight out of a fairy tale.

Then, if you’re traveling during the monsoon in Bali, it’s recommended that you go see Lake Tamblingan and, particularly, the Tamblingan temple. During the rainy season, the lake’s water level rises and the only way to get there is by boat.

To end the day, you can’t miss the jewel of Bedugul, the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan temple, on Lake Bratan. On the way, you can also see the Handara Gate, the door of a golf course that has become very popular. It’s beautiful, but if you don’t have too much time, don’t worry. It’s not a must.

Recommended tours

If you don’t want to risk taking a motorcycle through this mountainous area, I advise you to book a customized tour. Most tours simply visit Ulun Danu Bratan, but they don’t go to the northern part of Bedugul.

Recommended accommodations

Regarding areas to stay, if you go without a scooter, it’s best to return to Ubud, although if you have the opportunity to stay in Bedugul, do it! There is no place like this on the whole island. These are the best accommodations we found in this area:

UNESCO. Its terraces are really unique.

After visiting, on your way south, stop at the Taman Ayun Temple, which can only be enjoyed through a wall that surrounds it. Moreover, the temple is surrounded by a moat and lush vegetation, which is why it is known as the Temple of the Beautiful Garden.

In the afternoon, you can visit Pasut Beach, a black sand beach surrounded by palm trees. Here, you can find an inclined palm tree of which you’ll have seen thousands of photographs.

This beach is one of the best to watch the sunset, although if you’re only spending 10 days in Bali, I recommend going to Tanah Lot, the most popular place to watch the sunset on the whole island. In this temple, located on an islet only accessible by low tide, I saw one of the best sunsets of my life.

To end the day, I recommend you enjoy the nightlife of Canggu or Seminyak. In Canggu, the atmosphere is more surfer and hipster, while in Seminyak, you can find nice bars with good music. In addition, it’s the best place to stay if you want to catch the ferry, which I recommend you take the next day.

Recommended tours

If you don’t have a scooter, I recommend combining part of the previous day and this day with this tour, where you’ll visit the main attractions (Ulun Danu Bratan, Jatiluwih and Tanah Lot).

If you want to dedicate a full day to Bedugul and another full day to the coast area, then the best option is to booka customized tour.

Recommended accommodations

Depending on where you decide to end the day, you can stay in Canggu or Seminyak. In Seminyak, you’ll also be in one of the best places to be picked up the next day, since I recommend you visit the Nusa Islands to continue with your 10-day Bali trip.

If you’ve decided to sleep in Canggu, these would be the best accommodations according to your budget.

 

In case you decide to stay in Seminyak, I recommend these hotels:

ferry to Lembongan. In my case, I took this tour to the Nusa Islands because it included all the activities I wanted to do in the shortest possible time.

First, we went by boat to dive to different areas of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida, where we were lucky enough to see manta rays and sea turtles. In the afternoon, we toured the Mangroves north of Lembongan and visited Panorama Point, the Devil’s Tear cliff and the Dream Beach.

Recommended tours

You can book the ferry to Lembongan to go on your own, or book this tour with all activities included.

If you’re doing a 10-day itinerary to Bali and you’re not spending more than one night in the Nusa Islands, booking the tour is the best option. The only downside of the tour is that lunch was quite simple. However, I think the price of the tour is quite good for all the activities it includes.

Recommended accommodations

If you want to stay in the Nusa Islands, I recommend one of these accommodations:

Day 8: Nusa Penida. The most beautiful beaches in Bali

The next day, they took us by ferry to Nusa Penida. There, we visited the jewel of the island, Kelingking Beach, possibly one of the best beaches to visit in Bali in 10 days. In addition, we saw other beaches, such as Pasih Uug and the natural pool of Angel’s Billabong.

In my case, this day seemed somewhat short, since I left without seeing the Thousand Islands Viewpoint and Atuh Beach area, of which I had seen amazing photographs. However, I know that on a 10-day trip through Bali, I didn’t have time for much more.

We were more or less back on the main island of Bali at 7 p.m. That night we stayed in Sanur.

Recommended tours

If you simply want to visit Nusa Penida from Bali on your own, you can take this ferry.

However,  the tour to the Nusa Islands that I booked during my trip was well worth it.

Recommended accommodations

Once back in Bali, the tour guide can leave you at different places on the south part of the island. We asked them to leave us at Sudamala Suites & Villas, our hotel in Sanur. Depending on your budget, I recommend the following accommodation:

customized tour.

Another option is to enjoy some beaches in the morning and in the afternoon book this tour to visit the Uluwatu temple and go to the Kecak dance exhibition. They will also take you to Jimbaran for dinner.

Recommended accommodations

For this night, I recommend staying in the Jimbaran area. The next day, you can visit some of the most spectacular beaches in this bay, ending the 10-day trip through Bali. These are the best accommodations:

private driver.

Recommended accommodations

On your last night in Bali, I recommend staying in Kuta or Legian to be near the airport. These are the accommodations that we recommend:

 

Another 10-day trip to Bali idea

Hey traveler, what do you think of my 10-day trip to Bali? Pretty thorough, right?

If you want to visit the Gili Islands, don’t worry. Here’s a 10-day itinerary to Bali + Gili Islands.

Instead of taking the ferry to Lembongan or Penida, simply take a ferry to Gili Trawangan or Gili Air.

In our Gili Islands guide, I tell you which is the best island according to what you’re looking for.

If you want to book a tour to visit the Gili Islands instead of going on your own, I recommend this tour. In it, you’ll visit both Gili Trawangan and Gili Air, staying one night on each island. It also includes diving sessions to explore its seabed full of turtles.

Keep in mind that the tour I recommend is two nights and three days, so you would have to cut your day in Uluwatu down a bit. However, you’ll be back before noon, so you can take advantage of the afternoon to visit the Uluwatu temple and its cliffs without a problem.

Before you go, here are the essentials for your trip to Bali: