Question:
How long do I need to travel to Bali?
Answer:
The answer to this question is dependable on which type of traveler you are.
If you just want to get a vacation tan, lay on the beach, catch up from a café-to-café, making the most fun of the night at hype beach clubs, then 5 days probably is a great option for you. Especially if you’re coming from Australia or Southeast Asia, where you don’t need long hours of flights to reach the island.
But, if you’re coming from the other side of the globe, like Europe or America, and you are keen to explore the island without jumping too rushed from one destination to another, we suggest you stay for more than 10 days. But, you probably only can explore some parts of the island, not the whole of it.
Based on our research, most people who come from the western part of the globe choose to spend their vacation in Bali for 3 weeks. Considering the flight will take long hours, this amount of time is so much worth it, right? With those amount of time, you’ll get a chance to explore the whole island, the south, north, west, and east areas. You also get a chance to discover hidden gems far off the tourist track. It’s the perfect amount of time if you’re looking forward to interacting with the new culture, and exploring the off-beaten path of a new destination without jumping too rushed.
Now, let’s take a look at what you can do for the 3 week itinerary holiday in Bali!
Day 1-4: Seminyak or Canggu
Seminyak or Canggu is the best area to start your Bali holiday. This area is packed with nightclubs, restaurants, cafes, hotels, villas, and other destinations. It takes approximately 30 minutes to reach Seminyak from the airport and approximately one hour to Canggu. Seminyak and Canggu are also not really far from each other. You only need 30 minutes to reach one area from the other. These areas also have the best sunset view. You can also learn to surf here. So, we suggest picking one of the areas to stay for 3 nights.
Day 4-8: Ubud
At this point, we believe you’ve had the most memorable party and beach days around Seminyak or Canggu. Now let’s go to the north for the sake of tranquility. You can join some meditation or yoga retreats while you’re in Ubud. The lush green scenery, the local wisdom, and the beauty of the calmness this area has to offer are something magical. After that, you can explore more instagenic areas, such as taking a morning stroll at Campuhan Ridge Walk, hiking Mount Batur (about 40 km from Ubud), visiting Tegallalang Rice Terraces, and also chasing waterfalls. If you’re into a semi-extreme activity, you can join white water rafting in Ayung River or ride around Ubud using ATV. You’ll find yourself in a calm environment with so many cool activities to do!
Day 8-11: Gili Islands
Gili islands are made of 3 small islands, Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno, off the coast of Lombok. We know these islands are not a part of Bali. But traveling to Bali is not complete if you don’t visit these 3 islands. Gili Trawangan is the largest island among the others. It’s well-known for its wild party scene among tourists. It’s crowded with backpackers from all over the world, so be ready to meet a lot of people from different backgrounds and cultures here. On the other hand, Gili Meno is the smallest island offering you calm and peace away from the party crowd. And if you’re looking for a mixture of a calm and lay-low type of party scene, Gili Air is the place for you!
The Gili Islands are not only known for their party atmosphere. The beaches, the landscapes, and the underwater are stunning and worth checking. It’s the place where you can swim side to side with the turtle. So we suggest you stay here for at least 3 nights and pick which island that suits you best among those three.
Day 11-13: Munduk
For some people specifically, if they’re into upbeat backpacking scenes, they tend to skip Munduk from the itinerary. Because in this area you can find nothing but calmness and peacefulness. Munduk is located in the northern part of Bali. It’s the area where you can enjoy mountain morning mist and explore off-beaten-track. We add this area to the list so that you can recharge yourself after a rocking party at the Gili Trawangan.
Even though Munduk seems quite a secluded area, you can easily find accommodation and tourist attractions here. You can visit the Ulun Danu Temple, take countless pictures of Handara Golf Gates (or maybe stay at the hotel for a magical morning mist), visit the Twin Lakes, and visit waterfalls that spread all over the place. It’s a fun way to rejuvenate your body, mind, and soul.
Day 13-17: Nusa Islands
Now, let’s light up the day by jumping to the Nusa Islands. These three sister islands of Bali are Nusa Penida, Nusa Ceningan, and Nusa Lembongan. We suggest you start your trip to Nusa Penida first. Here you can visit so many adventurous attractions, like Kelingking Beach, with the T-Rex-shaped rock, visiting Angel’s Billabong, Broken Beach, diving (advanced certification is required), or simply snorkeling along the coast. We say, 2 days is the perfect amount of time to explore Nusa Penida.
After that continue your trip to Nusa Ceningan or Nusa Lembongan. These two islands are connected by the iconic Yellow Bridge. So you can easily stay on one of the islands and explore the other island with a scooter. Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan are the best places to rejuvenate yourself. You can easily do nothing but enjoy yourself at the beaches here.
Day 17-21: Uluwatu
Uluwatu or also known among travelers as The Bukit is probably the best place to end your 3 weeks vacation in Bali. This area has it all. You can find gorgeous beaches, such as Bingin Beach or Green Bowl Beach, do surfing (advanced surfing is mostly required), and also attend a world-class party scene in Savaya or White Rock Beach Club. This area is also packed with cool café, restaurants, and bars for laidback hang-out scenes.
The other plus side is this area is located less than 40 minutes from the airport. So, you don’t have to worry when the holiday is about to end and you need to catch up on your return flights.
Now it’s your turn to arrange your three weeks’ vacation days. We also suggest you hire a trusted driver on your vacation since the destination is quite spread all over the island. Check our recommended trusted driver here and contact Gede Nengah or Sahadi for your upcoming trip. Find the most suitable area for you and we hope you have an amazing holiday in Bali.