🌏 Indonesia · Island of the Gods
Seminyak → Ubud · Nusa Penida · Munduk
BaliIndonesia
Terraced rice fields glowing gold at dawn. Temples wreathed in incense smoke. Surf breaking over coral reefs at sunset. Bali is one of those rare places that genuinely lives up to its reputation — and then surpasses it.
🌾 Tegallalang Rice Terraces
🏄 Uluwatu Surf Breaks
🌺 Tirta Empul Temple
🌊 Nusa Penida Cliffs
🌿 Ubud Jungle Retreats
563
km² of magic
Scroll to explore
Best Time
Apr – Oct
Ideal Stay
10 – 21 Days
Fly Into
Ngurah Rai (DPS)
Currency
Indonesian Rupiah
Temperature
26–32°C
Style
Scooter / Driver
🌏 Indonesia · Island of the Gods
The Island That Never Lets You Go
Bali has been casting its spell on travellers for decades — and yet somehow, it still surprises. This small volcanic island in the Indonesian archipelago manages to contain more beauty per square kilometre than almost anywhere else on Earth. Ancient Hindu temples. Emerald rice terraces carved into hillsides over centuries. World-class surf. One of the most distinctive living cultures you'll encounter anywhere in Southeast Asia.
We spent three weeks exploring every corner — from the hipster cafes and beach clubs of Seminyak, to the cool mountain air of Munduk's coffee plantations, to the vertiginous sea cliffs of Nusa Penida. We got lost down jungle tracks on scooters, sat in silence at sunrise ceremonies, ate spectacularly well every single day, and woke up in villas where the bathtub overlooked a rice field. It was, in a word, absurd.
This guide is our honest account of what Bali is actually like right now — the unmissable highlights, the overrated traps to skip, and everything the Instagram algorithm never shows you. Bali rewards slow travel and genuine curiosity. Give it time, and it will give you everything.
"Every morning in Bali feels like the opening scene of a film you never want to end."— Davana World Tour, Day 11 · Ubud Rice Terraces
Top Experiences
What To Do
From sunrise rice terrace walks to cliff-top temple ceremonies, these are the experiences that made us fall hard for Bali — and keep thinking about it long after we left.
🌾 Culture & Landscape
Tegallalang Rice Terraces
The most iconic image in Bali — and genuinely jaw-dropping in person. Get there before 8am to beat the crowds and catch the light cascading through the emerald terraces. The subak irrigation system here is UNESCO-listed. Walk down into the valley rather than just photographing from above.
🌊 Nature
Nusa Penida — Kelingking & Angel's Billabong
The T-Rex shaped cliff at Kelingking is one of the most dramatic coastlines in Asia. Take the terrifying descent to the hidden beach at the bottom, then continue to Angel's Billabong — a natural infinity pool carved into volcanic rock right at the ocean's edge. Do this as a full-day trip by fast boat from Sanur.
🌺 Spiritual
Tirta Empul Holy Spring Temple
One of Bali's most sacred water temples, where Balinese Hindus come to purify themselves in the holy spring pools. Arriving early means witnessing genuine ceremony rather than a tourist spectacle. Bring a sarong, be respectful, and allow yourself to be moved by the quiet devotion of the people around you.
🏔 Trekking · East Bali
Sideman Valley — Rice Fields & Village Walks
Sideman is Bali as it was before the tourists arrived — a deep river valley in East Bali where terraced rice fields drop in dramatic steps to the Unda River, framed by the cone of Mount Agung. Walking tracks pass through working farms, weaving villages, and family compounds draped in frangipani. No itinerary needed: just walk in any direction and something extraordinary reveals itself. The sunrise from the valley floor is the best in Bali.
🛕 Temple · Mount Agung
Besakih — Mother Temple of Bali
Perched on the slopes of active volcano Mount Agung at 1,000 metres, Besakih is the largest and most sacred Hindu temple complex in Bali — 23 separate temples ascending the mountainside, in continuous worship for over 1,000 years. On ceremony days the entire hillside blazes with offerings, incense, and white-clad devotees. The approach through cloud forest with Agung looming above is as dramatic as the temples themselves.
🌿 Wellness
Ubud Yoga & Traditional Healing
Ubud is the spiritual heart of Bali and has a world-class wellness scene that goes far beyond tourist massage. Seek out a traditional Balian healer for a genuine healing session, take an early morning yoga class at Yoga Barn overlooking the jungle, or undergo a multi-day Ayurvedic programme. This is the real reason people keep coming back.
Suggested 14-Day Itinerary
The Route
We recommend moving roughly south to north then east — starting with Seminyak's beaches and beach clubs, pushing through Ubud's culture and rice terraces, up into the cool mountain north, then finishing in the dive sites and black sands of East Bali.
Days 1 – 3 · Seminyak & Canggu
South Bali — Beach Clubs & Sunsets
Land, acclimatise, and ease in with the best of South Bali. Seminyak has the island's most sophisticated beach clubs, restaurants and boutiques. A short ride north, Canggu is the surf-and-café hub beloved by digital nomads — stroll Echo Beach, hire a surfboard, eat your bodyweight in acai bowls.
Stay: 3 nights Seminyak or Canggu
Days 4 – 5 · Uluwatu Peninsula
Clifftop Temples & World-Class Surf
Hire a scooter and head south to the Bukit Peninsula. Morning surf at Padang Padang, lunch at a warung on the cliff above Uluwatu, then watch the Kecak fire dance at the clifftop temple as the sun sets. The cliffside villa scene here is spectacular — treat yourself to at least one night at a property with an ocean view.
Stay: 2 nights Uluwatu cliff villas
Days 6 – 7 · Nusa Penida Day Trip
Sea Cliffs & Natural Infinity Pools
Take the fast boat from Sanur (35 mins) to Nusa Penida for one of the most dramatic day trips in all of Bali. Kelingking Beach, Angel's Billabong, Broken Beach, and Crystal Bay for snorkelling with manta rays in season. The roads are rough — hire a driver on the island, don't attempt it on a scooter.
Day trip from Sanur — boat each way
Days 8 – 11 · Ubud
The Cultural Heart of Bali
The best four days of the trip. Ubud is Bali's cultural and artistic soul — and has some of the island's finest food, yoga, and jungle accommodation. Rise before dawn for Tegallalang. Visit the Monkey Forest. Walk the Campuhan Ridge at golden hour. Eat at Locavore. Take a cooking class. Get a traditional healing session. Don't rush this.
Stay: 4 nights Ubud jungle villas
Days 12 – 13 · Munduk & Bedugul
Mountains, Waterfalls & Coffee Plantations
Drive north into the cool highlands — most tourists never get here. Munduk is a tiny village surrounded by spice and coffee plantations, with jungle waterfalls a short walk away. The lakes at Bedugul — Bratan, Buyan, Tamblingan — are hauntingly beautiful in the morning mist. This is Bali without the crowds.
Stay: 2 nights Munduk village guesthouses
Days 14 – 16 · Amed & East Bali
Black Sand Beaches & World-Class Diving
The drive east along the coast to Amed takes you through some of the most beautiful rural scenery in Bali — past Mount Agung, through fishing villages, and along black sand beaches with views of Lombok. Amed has superb snorkelling and diving, including the Liberty shipwreck at Tulamben — one of the most accessible wreck dives in the world.
Stay: 2 nights Amed beachfront
10,000+
Hindu temples on the island
2
Active volcanoes — Agung & Batur
30+
World-class surf breaks
1
WWII shipwreck dive site at Tulamben
📺 Davana World Tour on YouTube
Watch the Bali Videos
18 episodes covering every corner of the island. Click any card to watch directly from this page.
Bali · Indonesia
Bali · Indonesia
Ubud — Art & Culture
Goa Gajah temple where they first met years ago, the romantic Antonio Blanco Museum gifted by the King of Ubud
Sidemen & Ubud
Sidemen & Ubud
New Year's Eve in Bali
A traditional babi guling feast, Balinese dancing, and the lotus-fringed Pura Taman Saraswati temple in Ubud t
Nusa Penida · Bali
Nusa Penida · Bali
Goa Giri Putri Cave Temple
Five purification stations inside a vast illuminated cave accessed through a tiny crawl entrance — the sacred
Bali · Indonesia
Bali · Indonesia
Diamond Beach, Nusa Penida
166 steps down to gem-shaped cliffs, the Thousand Islands viewpoint, Rumah Pohon Tree House, and Coco Cliff —
Bali · Indonesia
Bali · Indonesia
Manta Point, Nusa Penida
12 manta rays with 5-metre wingspans gliding just beneath the surface, each marked with unique fingerprint pat
Nusa Penida · Bali
Nusa Penida · Bali
Kelingking Beach & Broken Beach
The T-Rex rock formation at Kelingking, Angel's Billabong volcanic infinity pool, and the dramatic arched cove
Nusa Dua & Blue Lagoon
Nusa Dua & Blue Lagoon
Live Music in Bali
From Nusa Dua's stunning views to a Singapore visa dash and back — ending with incredible live music at a Bali
Pura Besakih · Gunung Agung
Pura Besakih · Gunung Agung
Mother Temple of Bali
The largest and holiest temple in Bali — 23 interconnected shrines on the slopes of Gunung Agung, miraculously
Bali · Indonesia
Bali · Indonesia
Tukad Cepung Waterfall
Sunlight shafts piercing a cave to illuminate a 15-metre waterfall — then a hilltop lunch at Mahagiri Rendang
Bali · Indonesia
Bali · Indonesia
Sidemen Rice Fields
A trek through lush Sidemen rice terraces past farmers and irrigation channels, with Mount Agung looming over
Bali · Indonesia
Bali · Indonesia
Sidemen Village
Arriving in Sidemen's rice valley and visiting the Pasraman Vidya Giri foundation — children learning Gamelan,
Holy Spring Water · Bali
Holy Spring Water · Bali
Tirta Empul Temple
The sacred Tirta Empul holy spring — Balinese Hindus immerse in 13 stone spouts for the Melukat purification r
Penglipuran Village · Bali
Penglipuran Village · Bali
Spa Day in Ubud
A two-hour Balinese massage, homemade local lunch, and the ancient Penglipuran village where Tri Hita Karana p
Goa Gajah Temple · Bali
Goa Gajah Temple · Bali
Ayung River Rafting
White-water rafting the Ayung River at dawn, then returning to Goa Gajah — the temple where they first met 7 y
Bali · Indonesia
Bali · Indonesia
Nungnung Waterfall
600 steps down to one of Bali's tallest waterfalls at 50 metres, then a 700-year-old Banyan tree in Gesing Vil
Ubud · UNESCO Rice Terraces
Ubud · UNESCO Rice Terraces
Campuhan Ridge & Jatiluwih
The Campuhan Ridge Walk above two merging rivers, then UNESCO-listed Jatiluwih Rice Terraces stretching from M
Canggu Beach Bars
Canggu Beach Bars
Bali Live Music
Beach bar vibes at O3, then the best live band of the whole trip at Faraway Sports Bar in Canggu — a tribute t
Canggu · First Steps
Canggu · First Steps
Arriving in Bali
Landing in Bali — the island where they first met seven years ago — and arriving in Canggu to begin one of the
Where We Stayed
12 properties
🌿 Ubud
3 properties
🏖️ Seminyak
2 properties
✈️ Kuta
1 property
🌴 Nusa Dua
1 property
🌊 Nusa Penida
2 properties
🏄 Canggu
1 property
Planning Your Trip
The Essentials
Everything practical you need to know before you go — visas, money, transport, health, and what to pack.
Visa
Visa on Arrival
Most nationalities get 30 days on arrival (~$35 USD), extendable to 60 days. The new Indonesia Visa on Arrival can be pre-applied online at molina.imigrasi.go.id to skip the queue at DPS airport. Always confirm your specific passport before travel.
Money
Cash is king
Rupiah cash is essential for warungs, markets, temples, and most local transport. Use airport moneychangers (check rates) or ATMs in tourist areas. Beware dodgy roadside moneychangers — always use authorised exchange counters or bank ATMs. Daily budget: $50–100 mid-range, $200+ for luxury.
Getting Around
Scooter or Driver
Scooters cost $5–8/day to rent and are the best way to explore. Wear a helmet, take it slow on mountain roads, and be aware that international driving licences are technically required. For longer distances, hire a private driver for ~$50/day — they're worth every rupiah and know roads that no GPS does.
Climate
Tropical
Dry season (April–October) is the best time to visit — sunny days, low humidity, ideal for beaches and trekking. Wet season (November–March) brings heavy afternoon downpours but fewer tourists. The mountains (Ubud, Munduk) are noticeably cooler — pack a light layer even in peak season.
Health
Vaccinations advised
Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Tetanus are standard recommendations. Consider Rabies vaccine if planning jungle or animal-heavy activities. Drink only bottled or filtered water. Bali belly is real — wash hands frequently, be careful with street ice, and carry rehydration salts.
Etiquette
Cover up at temples
Bali is a deeply religious Hindu island. Always cover shoulders and knees when entering temples — a sarong (usually provided at the entrance for a small donation) is required. Never step over temple offerings on the ground. Handshake with the right hand. Pointing with a single finger is considered rude.
Connectivity
SIM card at airport
Pick up a local Telkomsel or XL SIM at the airport (around $5 with data). Coverage is excellent in tourist areas, patchier in the mountains. Grab is the ride-hailing app to use for cars and scooter taxis — it's safe, priced, and much better than flagging down a random ojek.
What to Pack
Pack light
Light, breathable clothing for the heat. A thin layer for mountain evenings. Reef-safe sunscreen (mandatory at many dive sites). Good sandals you can walk in. A dry bag for boat trips. One nice outfit for restaurants like Locavore. A portable umbrella for wet-season afternoons. And a stomach for adventure.
Hard-earned Advice
Insider Tips
21 days on the island taught us things no guidebook will tell you. Here are the ones that matter most.
01
Arrive at rice terraces before 8am — or don't bother
Tegallalang and most famous viewpoints are genuinely magical at dawn and genuinely awful by 10am. The tour buses arrive mid-morning and the illusion shatters. Set your alarm, drag yourself out, and you'll have the whole terrace essentially to yourself in golden light. Worth every lost minute of sleep.
02
Hire a private driver for inland exploration
For $40–60 USD per day, a good Balinese driver will take you to places no tourist finds, negotiate at temples, explain the ceremonies you'd otherwise walk past blankly, and get you home safely from mountain roads after dark. Ask your guesthouse for a recommendation rather than using a random app booking.
03
Nusa Penida needs a full day — not a half-day
Every tour operator sells a "half-day Nusa Penida". It's always a mistake. The boat ride alone is 35 minutes each way, and the roads are rough. Book a full day, start at Kelingking, work east to Angel's Billabong and Broken Beach, and finish at Crystal Bay for a swim. Don't rush it.
04
Book Locavore months ahead — not weeks
Locavore is one of Asia's best restaurants and it sells out constantly. Weeks ahead isn't enough in peak season (July–August, Christmas, New Year). Book via their website as soon as your dates are confirmed. If you can't get dinner, lunch service is easier to book and the menu is equally brilliant.
05
Slow down in Ubud — four nights minimum
The biggest mistake first-timers make is spending only two nights in Ubud. The first day you're still decompressing from the south. By day two you've found your rhythm. Day three is when Ubud starts working its magic — the walks, the healing sessions, the meals. Four nights is the minimum to actually feel it.
06
Go to Munduk — most tourists never make it
Less than 5% of Bali tourists make it to the mountain north. The roads are winding and the journey takes effort — which is exactly why it's so extraordinary when you arrive. Munduk is Bali as it was thirty years ago: misty mornings, coffee farmers, waterfalls with nobody in them, and genuine quiet. It's worth the drive.