The Ultimate Bali Travel Guide (3 Weeks) The Ultimate Bali Travel Guide (3 Weeks)

The Ultimate Bali Travel Guide (3 Weeks)

Bali is popular and for good reason. The island is beautiful, the beaches are perfect for a sun and surf holiday, there are fantastic walks such as through the rice fields or to the top of a volcano, the locals are very welcoming and Bali is also very affordable. This 3-week Bali itinerary includes the most beautiful sights on the island, such as the waterfalls around Ubud, the impressive cliffs of Nusa Penida, and the paradise beaches of Gili Air.

Bali travel guide, a 3-week itinerary

This 3-week Bali travel guide includes all kinds of sceneries like paradise-looking beaches, incredible cliff drops, waterfalls, and the northern mountain views.

Bali route map 3 weeks

Bali is relatively small, distances are short but it can take some time to just drive a distance of 15 km. You can either get around by driver in Bali or by renting a motorbike.

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Some of the days below contain links to much more information about that specific location.

bali route guide 3 weeks

Day 1 – 2: Arrival and staying in Seminyak or Canggu

Flying into Denpasar Airport doesn’t mean you have to stay in Denpasar after your flight. From the airport, take a taxi to Seminyak or Canggu. Canggu is a laid-back, trendy surf-vibe town, and Seminyak is more about beautiful beaches and beach clubs. Before arriving, be sure to know which visa for Bali, Indonesia suits your visit.

Where to stay in Seminyak or Canggu

With great beaches and surfing, great local boutiques and markets, and a fantastic food scene, Seminyak and Canggu have much to offer. Seminyak is more luxurious, whereas Canggu feels more bohemian.

things to do seminyak day trip canggu

Day 3 – 4: Staying with a local family

Bali is known for its luxury and perfect island life. Have a unique experience while staying with a local family in Bali. You will learn so much about life, food, and culture in Bali.

The best part is that you will make a lot of new life-lasting friendships. We stayed in Gadugan, which is a 1-hour drive from Canggu.

bali guide stay with local family

Day 5 – 6: Staying in the Munduk area

Many people do a day trip to the Munduk area for the temple at Tamblingan Lake. Actually staying in Munduk will give you the time to see even more beautiful places. The area is a little cooler and can feel really comfortable. Waterfalls, swings, coffee, trekking, Munduk has it all. From Gadugan to Munduk is a solid 2.5-hour drive. These are the best things to do in Munduk.

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Where to stay in Munduk

Munduk offers a good selection of guesthouses and hotels for every kind of price category. Plan to spend one or two nights in this area if you want to do all the things to do in Munduk.

bali route guide 3 weeks

Day 7 – 10: Ubud and Waterfalls

From Munduk, organize a trip to do the Bali waterfall route and end your trip in Ubud. Do a one or two-day trip and be amazed by Bali’s beauty. It’s best to hire a driver in Bali these days. Discover the full Bali waterfall route here.

bali route guide waterfalls

Ubud is a great village in the center of Bali. There is so much going on here like the Tegalalang Rice Terraces, countless waterfalls, yoga retreats, and many more things to do in Ubud.

Where to stay in Ubud

There are some beautiful hotels in the town and the surrounding villages and a great choice of hostels in Ubud.

bali route guide rice terraces

Day 11 – 13: Gili Air

After the great life in Ubud, head over to one of the smallest islands you will ever be. There are no cars or asphalt roads on Gili Air. Get around by bike, relax at one of the many beaches, go on a search for turtles and enjoy the most incredible sunsets.

Where to stay in Gili Air

The island offers a wide range of hotels and guesthouses for every kind of budget.

gili air bali guide

Day 14 – 16: Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida

From Gili Air, hop on the boat and go to Nusa Lembongan. It takes about 3.5-hours to get from Gili to Nusa. The Nusa Islands are less tropical but the vibes and views here are just right.

bali guide nusa penida

Nusa Penida can be seen on a Nusa Penida day tour. However, if you have the time, we recommend you to do a 3-day Nusa Penida trip.

Where to stay in Nusa Penida

There are many different accommodation options, from budget-friendly guesthouses on Atuh Beach to bungalows overlooking the ocean in Crystal Bay.

Day 17 – 18: Nusa Ceningan

Nusa Ceningan and Lembongan are connected via a yellow suspension bridge which is just wide enough to cross it with a motorbike. The life on the Nusa Islands is good and we would recommend staying on Ceningan for one or two nights. Nusa Ceningan is just a 20-min trip from Nusa Lembongan town.

Where to stay on the Nusa Islands

There is a wide selection of hotels, resorts, and hostels on the Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan islands. Pick something that suits your budget, and keep in mind that Lembongan is a bit more lively.

bali beach club lembongan

Day 19 – 21: Uluwatu or Canggu

The last days of your trip you can either spend in Uluwatu or again Canggu. Both places are close to the airport, laid back and you can surf as well. We loved Canggu’s vibe and stayed there. 

Where to stay in Uluwatu

We’d recommend choosing accommodation on the clifftop for breathtaking ocean views. There is a mixture of luxury villas and hotels, and budget hostels to pick from.

bali route uluwatu cave

Best time to visit Bali

Bali’s absolutely best time to visit runs from May until July. However, if you are a surfer you might want to pick another season. May to October is known as the best season to surf around Bali.

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor
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29°C
Jan
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29°C
Feb
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30°C
Mar
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30°C
Apr
29°C
May
28°C
Jun
28°C
Jul
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28°C
Aug
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28°C
Sep
29°C
Oct
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30°C
Nov
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30°C
Dec
Also see: Best Time to visit Bali

Costs of food in Bali

The price of food in Bali is different per city and kind of meal. Eat very local food in a not-too-fancy-looking place, and you will pay $1.50 for a full plate of delicious food. When eating across the road at this great-looking and tasting vegan place, you probably will pay somewhere from $5 – $8 per meal.

bali guide best cafe

Flight tickets Bali

The price of a flight ticket to Bali can be cut in half when going off-season. We found our ticket deal via Skyscanner. We paid €700 for a 1-stop return flight from Amsterdam, which is not the cheapest, but the flight was only 15 hours. With a 1-hour layover in Singapore.

Find flights to Bali ✈️
14/08/2023 https://www.saltinourhair.com/bali/bali-travel-guide/
Blog comments (116)

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  • Colyne

    Hello, thank you for all the information, it help me so much to plan my trip to Bali in may!
    I will be visiting the island for 17 days, I would really appreciate if you provide any feedback on the itinerary
    D1 : Uluwatu
    D2-5 : Ubud and the area
    D6: Mount Batur
    D7-8: Munduk
    D9: Amed
    D10-11: Sidemen
    D12-14 Gili or Nusa penida?
    D15-17 Canggu/Seminyak (2 nights)
    Would you recommend Nusa Penida or Gili Air (as we don’t have a driving license)?

    Thanks a lot !

    • Salt in our Hair

      Hi Colyne, looks like you are planning on seeing some of Bali’s best! Depending on where you’re flying from, you might want to have a few days to unwind from the journey. Amed is worth exploring for a few days, hopping around the different fishing villages and beaches (+ the journey from Munduk to Amed is not short). From Amed, it’s also really easy to get to the Gili Islands by fast boat! Gili Air is really small and doesn’t have any cars, so this is a great option to explore cycling around. From there, you can return to Amed and explore Sidemen after on your way to Canggu/Seminyak. Hope that helps a bit!

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