10 Days in Bali - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Relaxation & Outdoor Adventure in Bali & the Gili Islands

This Bali and Gili Islands adventure provides an excellent introduction to the region's outdoor activities. You'll hike to the Angels Billabong Lagoon, snorkel near the sunken ship at Wreck Point, trek to Tegenungan Waterfall for a swim, and tackle the trail up Mount Batur at sunrise. Balinese spa treatments, yoga classes, and sunset at Tanah Lot add a nice balance of rejuvenating experiences to this active itinerary. 

After the flight to Bali, reset with a spa treatment in Seminyak and sunset at Tanah Lot, a sea temple located on a rocky outcrop. The following morning, catch a ferry to Nusa Penida for a full day of beach hopping around the island, starting with a hike to the Angels Billabong Lagoon and ending at the Diamond Bay cliff viewpoint. Next, your driver will take you to Serangan Harbor to board a ferry to the Gili Islands, where you'll join a snorkeling excursion that includes the famous sunken ship at Wreck Point. You'll also be able to add an optional cooking or crafting class at the Gili Trawangan Cultural Center.

Return to Bali on Day 6 and meet your driver, who will bring you to Ubud. Here, you'll choose how to spend your day, perhaps taking in the rice paddy views along the Campuhan Ridge Walk, joining a yoga class, or visiting art galleries before making a short hike to Tegenungan Waterfall for a swim. Learn about conservation efforts at a local elephant sanctuary, then meet the mischievous residents of the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. Cap off your trip with a sunrise hike up Mount Batur, an active volcano, and a whitewater rafting tour before your departure flight from Denpasar International Airport. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Embracing Bali: Exploring Local Life & Natural Wonders

Covering more of the island, travelers seeking a rejuvenating and engaging experience will appreciate this journey through Balinese culture and nature. You'll prepare Balinese cuisine in a cooking workshop in Ubud, paint using traditional techniques in Penestanan, observe daily life on a trek through villages and coffee plantations to Umejero Waterfall, snorkel around Menjangen Island, go bird-watching in West Bali National Park, and kayak Banyuwadeng Bay at sunset. 

Meet your driver on arrival in Bali, and head to Ubud, where you'll learn to make nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice) and other dishes in a cooking workshop. Then, try your hand at Balinese painting techniques in an art class at a Penestanan gallery. The next morning, your driver will take you to Munduk to learn about traditional agricultural methods and eat sate ayam (chicken skewers with peanut sauce) and other local specialties. You'll also have time to hike through coffee plantations to Umejero Waterfall and check out Jatiluwih Rice Terraces' subak irrigation system and verdant landscapes.

On Day 5, pay a visit to the reclining Buddha at the Brahma Vihara Giri monastery, then stop for a swim at Aling Aling Waterfalls on the way to Pemuteran. Spend a morning snorkeling around Menjangen Island before using the afternoon to volunteer at the Turtle Hatchery Project or refresh with a massage. Keep your eyes peeled for the Bali starling and other birds on a West Bali National Park hike, then embark on a sunset kayak trip at Banyuwadeng Bay. Finally, witness Balinese Hindu rituals at the Tirta Empul Water Temple and fit in one last snorkeling excursion at Tulamben Bay. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Bali Nature Tour & Komodo Sailing Cruise

Experience Indonesia by land and sea on this Bali and Komodo Islands tour. Perfect for travelers interested in pairing the arts and culture of Ubud with a sailing trip in the Komodo archipelago, highlights include the temples of Besakih and Ulun Danu Beratan, street eats at the Ubud Night Market, dolphin watching in Lovina, snorkeling at Manjarite Island, a manta ray encounter off Taka Makassar, and a chance to spot Komodo dragons on Komodo Island. Given that you'll spend three days on board a boat in addition to an outrigger boat excursion, it's best suited to those who are comfortable at sea. 

Get acquainted with Balinese culture as you walk amid dozens of temples and shrines at the Temple of Besakih, observe purification rituals at the Tirta Empul Water Temple, and stroll the stone pathways between traditional houses in Penglipuran village. Then, head to Lake Beratan to check out the multi-tiered shrines set against misty mountains at Ulun Danu Beratan temple complex before departing for an outrigger boat tour and dolphin watching in Lovina on Day 4. Next, admire artisan wood carving on a tour at Dewa Malen Art Gallery and sample bebek gorung (fried duck) and other street food at the Ubud Night Market.

Day 6 sees you flying to Flores Island to marvel at the glittering stalactites and stalagmites in Batu Cermin (Mirror Cave), then hike to Amelia Sea View at sunset. Your Indonesian adventure continues with a multiday sailing trip through Komodo National Park that includes snorkeling at Manjarite Island, a hike to Pink Beach, a manta ray encounter off Taka Makassar, and a chance to spot Komodo dragons on Komodo Island. Your final stop is Kanawa Island, where you'll snorkel among sea turtles and other marine life before returning to Labuan Bajo for your transfer to Komodo Airport for departure. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Active Adventure in Bali: Munduk, Ubud, Sideman & Uluwatu

Ideal for those who love outdoor activities, this active Bali adventure includes a hike to Munduk Waterfalls, biking through Kintamani and the UNESCO-listed Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, whitewater rafting on the Telaga Waja River, and a surf lesson near Uluwatu. You'll also get an introduction to Balinese culture by traveling to local villages, visiting temples, spending time at a Balinese textiles workshop, and attending a kecak performance. 

Upon arrival, your driver will whisk you to Munduk in the northern highlands. Here, you'll hike to Munduk Waterfalls and soak in the hot springs before traversing the Pekutatan district's mountainous terrain on a 4WD tour. Take a walk on the shores of Tamblingan Lake, stopping to see the temple of Ulun Danu Tamblingan. Then your driver will take you to the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, where you can get the heart pumping as you bike the countryside paths. Rise early the on Day 4 to trek Mount Batur at sunrise, then opt to relax in the nearby hot springs.

Get another early start (and hearty breakfast!) the following day for a bike ride along forest trails, through local communities, and past historic Hindu temples in Kintamani. Afterward, you'll move on to the Sidemen Valley, where you'll join a rafting activity on the Telaga Waja River and visit a textile workshop to learn traditional Indonesian weaving techniques. On your final full day, you'll go beach hopping along the Bukit Peninsula, take a surf lesson, and attend an entertaining kecak dance performance at the Temple of Uluwatu. Learn more

More Great 10-Day Indonesia Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Indonesia? Check out these other 10-day Indonesia itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.