Ten days across Bali, Lombok and the Gili Islands gives you the best of both worlds — rice terraces and waterfalls around Ubud, snorkeling and beach time on Gili Trawangan, a slower stretch in Kuta Lombok, and a final golden-hour finish on Uluwatu's cliffs.
Bali, Lombok and the Gili Islands create one of the easiest island-hopping routes in Indonesia. Bali gives you temples, rice terraces and a soft cultural start. Lombok feels wilder and more open, with beautiful beaches and a slower rhythm. Gili Trawangan adds clear water, snorkeling, bicycles and a true island escape. The plan: two nights in Ubud, three nights in Kuta Lombok, three nights in Gili Trawangan and one final night in Uluwatu.
Trip overview
Length: 10 days
Route: Ubud → Kuta Lombok → Gili Trawangan → Uluwatu
Best for: beach lovers, couples, friends and first-time Indonesia travellers
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 in Bali, go directly to Ubud with a private airport transfer. Keep the first evening light.
Check in, rest and walk around central Ubud if you have energy.
WHERE TO STAY IN UBUD (2 nights): Search Booking.com. Stay near Ubud Palace or Jalan Bisma.
Day 2: Ubud rice terraces, temples and waterfalls
Use your first full day for Ubud's classic highlights: Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Tirta Empul Temple and a waterfall near Ubud.
An Ubud tour covering Monkey Forest, rice terraces and a waterfall keeps the day easy to manage. Over 7,600 reviews, hotel pickup included from across south Bali.
Spend the evening in Ubud with a local dinner and an early night before moving to Lombok.
Day 3: Fly to Lombok and settle in Kuta
After breakfast, fly from Bali to Lombok — around 25 minutes on Garuda, Citilink or Wings Air. Arrange independently via Traveloka or Google Flights. Once you land, continue to Kuta Lombok with an airport transfer.
Kuta Lombok is very different from Bali's beach towns — more open, less dense and more connected to nature. Spend the afternoon settling in, walking around town and heading to a nearby beach for sunset.
WHERE TO STAY IN KUTA LOMBOK (3 nights): Search Booking.com. Guesthouses and boutique hotels in the Kuta area from $25/night. Tanjung Aan and Selong Belanak beaches are close by.
Day 4: South Lombok beaches
Spend Day 4 exploring South Lombok's beaches. Start with Tanjung Aan — one of the most beautiful and accessible beaches in the area. Continue to Selong Belanak, especially good for beginner surfing and long beach walks.
A South Lombok beach tour works well because the beaches are spread out and having a driver makes the day smoother. If you want a more active version, choose a beginner surf lesson in Lombok.
Return to Kuta for dinner.
Day 5: Lombok waterfalls or slow south coast day
Use Day 5 to decide how active you want the Lombok section to be. For nature, head north to the Senaru area for Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls — jungle paths and mountain air in a completely different landscape from the south coast. A Lombok waterfalls day trip handles the logistics.
If you prefer a slower pace, stay in the south — more beaches, more scooter riding, more Kuta restaurants.
Day 6: Travel to Gili Trawangan
Leave Lombok and travel to Gili Trawangan. A transfer from Lombok to Gili Trawangan handles the harbour connection and boat crossing. No cars or motorbikes on the island — bicycle, walking or horse cart only.
Check in, rent a bicycle 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): Search Booking.com. South and west sides are most convenient for restaurants and beach access.
Day 7: Snorkeling around the Gili Islands
Spend your first full day in the water. A Gili Islands snorkeling trip visits Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air with stops for turtles, coral, reef fish and the Gili Meno underwater statues. Keep the afternoon free — cycle the island or relax at the beach.
Day 8: Slow island day
No plan. Have breakfast by the beach, cycle the island perimeter, stop at quiet stretches of sand. If you want more structure, ask a local dive centre about an introductory scuba session — the Gilis have excellent visibility.
Day 9: Return to Bali and move to Uluwatu
Take the return boat from Gili Trawangan to Bali via 12Go, then transfer south to Uluwatu. Spend the afternoon at Padang Padang, Bingin or Melasti Beach.
WHERE TO STAY IN ULUWATU (1 night): Search Booking.com. Around 30–45 minutes from the airport.
Day 10: Uluwatu beaches, Kecak fire dance and departure
Morning at the beach. Late afternoon: visit Uluwatu Temple and stay for the Kecak fire dance. Skip-the-line tickets. Dinner in Uluwatu or Jimbaran.
Where to stay — full summary
Ubud — 2 nights (Search Booking.com)
Kuta Lombok — 3 nights (Search Booking.com)
Gili Trawangan — 3 nights (Search Booking.com)
Uluwatu — 1 night (Search 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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