Ten days in Bali and the Gili Islands gives you enough time to see Bali properly and still add a real island escape — three nights in Ubud, two in Canggu, three on Gili Trawangan and a final night in Uluwatu before flying home.
Ten days gives you enough time to see Bali properly and still add a real island escape. Bali gives you temples, rice terraces, waterfalls, restaurants and sunset spots, while Gili Trawangan adds turquoise water, snorkeling, bicycles and a slower rhythm without cars or motorbikes. The plan: three nights in Ubud, two nights in Canggu, three nights in Gili Trawangan and one final night in Uluwatu before flying out.
Trip overview
Length: 10 days
Route: Ubud → Canggu → Gili Trawangan → Uluwatu
Best for: first-time visitors, couples, friends and beach lovers
Pace: balanced
Best time to go: April to October
Start and end point: Denpasar / Ngurah Rai International Airport
Before you fly: sort your Indonesia data
Get your Indonesia eSIM with Airalo before you board. Activate it on the plane so you have data, maps and messaging the moment you land.
Day 1: Arrive in Bali and go to Ubud
After landing at Ngurah Rai International Airport, head directly to Ubud with a private airport transfer. The drive takes around 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on traffic — keep the first day simple.
Check in, rest and spend the evening around central Ubud. Starting in Ubud gives the trip a softer beginning away from the busiest coastal areas.
WHERE TO STAY IN UBUD (3 nights): Browse Ubud accommodation on Booking.com. Rice-field guesthouses from $30/night, boutique hotels $60–90/night, pool villas from $120/night. Stay near Ubud Palace or Jalan Bisma for easy access to everything.
Day 2: Ubud rice terraces, temples and waterfalls
Use your first full day for the classic Ubud highlights: Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Tirta Empul Temple and one of the waterfalls near Ubud.
The smoothest way to connect these stops is with an Ubud tour covering Monkey Forest, rice terraces and a waterfall. It avoids arranging separate transport between locations spread across narrow mountain roads, and includes hotel pickup from across south Bali. Over 7,600 reviews.
In the evening, stay in Ubud for dinner. Try nasi campur, bebek betutu or sate lilit for something local.
Day 3: Mount Batur sunrise or a slower Ubud day
For a more adventurous morning, leave before sunrise for a Mount Batur sunrise jeep experience. You reach the volcano's crater rim by 4WD jeep and watch the sunrise over the caldera — one of the most striking mornings available in Bali without a full trek.
If you prefer a slower day, stay in Ubud and join a Balinese cooking class that starts with a local market visit. You cook nine traditional dishes and eat what you made.
Spend the afternoon with a massage, café stop or rice field walk through Campuhan Ridge.
Day 4: Move from Ubud to Canggu
After breakfast, leave Ubud and move to Canggu with a private car charter. Around one hour in normal traffic.
Canggu is a good second base: cafés, surf beaches, boutiques, casual nightlife and sunset spots — a completely different energy from Ubud. Spend the afternoon around Batu Bolong or Echo Beach.
WHERE TO STAY IN CANGGU (2 nights): Browse Canggu accommodation on Booking.com. Batu Bolong and Berawa are the most convenient areas. Guesthouses $40–80/night, pool villas from $100/night.
Day 5: Canggu and Tanah Lot sunset
Keep the morning slow: breakfast, beach time or a café stop around Batu Bolong or Berawa.
In the afternoon, head to Tanah Lot — one of Bali's most famous sea temples, especially atmospheric at sunset. Book a Tanah Lot sunset tour from Canggu which handles the transfer.
Return to Canggu for dinner.
Day 6: Fast boat to Gili Trawangan
Leave Canggu early and travel to Gili Trawangan. Book your Bali to Gili Trawangan fast boat via 12Go. Multiple daily departures, journey around 1.5–2 hours depending on the port. Book in advance during high season.
Gili Trawangan has no cars or motorbikes — on arrival, continue by bicycle, walking or horse cart. Check in, settle in and spend the afternoon by the beach. For sunset, go to the west side of the island.
WHERE TO STAY IN GILI TRAWANGAN (3 nights): Browse Gili Trawangan accommodation on Booking.com. Guesthouses and bungalows from $30/night, beachfront villas from $100/night.
Day 7: Snorkeling around the Gili Islands
Spend your first full day in the water. A Gili Islands snorkeling trip usually visits all three Gilis with stops to see turtles, coral, reef fish and the underwater statue garden near Gili Meno.
Keep the afternoon free. Cycle around the island, relax at the beach or stay by the pool.
Day 8: Slow island day
No plan. Have breakfast by the beach, cycle the island perimeter, stop at quiet stretches of sand and eat at a beachfront warung. If you want more structure, consider a half-day introduction to scuba diving — arrange directly with one of the dive centres on the island.
Day 9: Return to Bali and move to Uluwatu
Take the return fast boat from Gili Trawangan to Bali via 12Go, then transfer south to Uluwatu.
Arrive in Uluwatu, check in and spend the afternoon at Padang Padang, Bingin or Melasti Beach.
WHERE TO STAY IN ULUWATU (1 night): Browse Uluwatu cliff villas and guesthouses on Booking.com. Around 30–45 minutes from the airport in normal traffic.
Day 10: Uluwatu beaches, Kecak fire dance and departure
Morning at the beach. In the late afternoon, visit Uluwatu Temple and stay for the Kecak fire dance. Skip-the-line tickets mean a good seat without queuing. The performance is timed to sunset over the Indian Ocean. Dinner in Uluwatu or Jimbaran.
Where to stay — full summary
Ubud — 3 nights. Temples, rice terraces, waterfalls, spas. Search Ubud on Booking.com
Canggu — 2 nights. Cafés, surf beaches, sunset energy. Search Canggu on Booking.com
Gili Trawangan — 3 nights. Snorkeling, cycling, car-free island rhythm. Search Gili Trawangan on Booking.com
Uluwatu — 1 night. Cliffs, beaches, Kecak fire dance, airport access. Search Uluwatu on Booking.com
Practical info
- Best time to visit
- April to October (dry season). Avoid peak July–August if you want lower prices and fewer crowds.
- Getting there
- The easiest way to reach Bali is to fly into Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in Denpasar and continue by private driver and fast boat. Compare the best flight, stay, and transfer options before you go.
- Getting around
- Private driver or car charter is the most practical option for day trips and inter-area transfers. Gojek and Grab work well for short hops in Ubud and Canggu.
- Currency & money tips
- Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). ATMs widely available in Ubud, Canggu and Uluwatu. Avoid airport exchange — rates are poor. Most restaurants and hotels accept card; markets and warungs are cash only.
- SIM card / connectivity
- Sort your Indonesia eSIM with Airalo before you board. Activate it on the plane so you have data, maps and messaging the moment you land. A local SIM (Telkomsel or XL Axiata) is also available at airport arrivals for around $5–8.
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