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Bali 10-Day Itinerary
The Perfect First Trip

Vegard ThoUpdated October 21, 2026
Bali 10-Day Itinerary – The Perfect First Trip

The perfect 10-day Bali itinerary: Seminyak, Ubud and Uluwatu with Nusa Penida and Mount Batur. Drive times, where to stay and costs.

Ten days is the ideal length for a first trip to Bali. You have time for the beaches and cafés of Seminyak and Canggu, the culture and rice terraces of Ubud, the clifftops and sunsets of Uluwatu, and a day trip to Nusa Penida, without rushing. Here’s the route day by day, with drive times, where to stay and what to swap. It’s the same route we use in our Bali Highlights package.

The short version: three nights in Seminyak or Canggu, three nights in Ubud and three nights in Uluwatu. Do Nusa Penida from the south, Mount Batur and the Ubud highlights from Ubud, and finish with beaches and sunsets in Uluwatu, close to the airport.
Bali from the air – jungle, rice terraces and beaches on a 10-day itinerary

Your 10-day Bali itinerary at a glance

Day Where you stay Plan
Day 1Seminyak / CangguLand, 30–45 minutes from the airport, beach and sunset
Day 2Seminyak / CangguCafés, beach, spa and a beach club
Day 3Seminyak / CangguDay trip to Nusa Penida
Day 4UbudDrive to Ubud (1–1.5 hours), rice terraces, monkey forest and temples
Day 5UbudMount Batur sunrise, slow afternoon
Day 6UbudSekumpul Waterfall, or a spa, cooking class and yoga day
Day 7UluwatuDrive south, Uluwatu Temple and kecak dance at sunset
Day 8UluwatuSurf lesson and beaches: Padang Padang, Bingin and Melasti
Day 9UluwatuFree day or a beach club
Day 10–Breakfast and the airport (45–60 minutes)

Three bases and two hotel changes give you variety without spending your holiday packing.

Days 1–3: Seminyak and Canggu

Canggu in Bali – beach life, cafés and beach clubs

Start close to the airport, so there’s no long drive after a long flight. Seminyak has great restaurants and shops, while Canggu is more laid-back with cafés, surfers and beach clubs like Finns, Atlas and Alternative Beach. Watch the sunset at Echo Beach or Batu Bolong on your first evening.

Take day two slowly: breakfast at a café, the beach and a Balinese massage. On day three, take our Nusa Penida day trip to Kelingking Beach, Broken Beach, Angel’s Billabong and Crystal Bay. The fast boat leaves Sanur at 7 am, and pickup, a private driver on the island and lunch are included for $99 per person.

Days 4–6: Ubud

The Tegalalang rice terraces in Ubud, Bali

Drive to Ubud in the morning (1–1.5 hours) and see the best of it on the way: Sangeh Monkey Forest, Tegenungan Waterfall, the Tegalalang rice terraces and the Tirta Empul water temple. Our Ubud day trip covers all four with a private driver and tickets included.

On day five, hike Mount Batur for sunrise. You’re picked up in the middle of the night, climb with a guide and have breakfast at the top as the sun rises over Lake Batur. You’re back before lunch.

Sekumpul Waterfall in North Bali

Day six can go two very different ways. Sekumpul is Bali’s most beautiful waterfall, around two hours from Ubud, with a guided trek to several falls, including Kanto Lampo, and swimming in natural pools. Bring good shoes. Or take a slow day with a spa and flower bath, a Balinese cooking class or yoga.

Days 7–9: Uluwatu

Uluwatu Temple on the clifftop at sunset

Drive south to Uluwatu (1.5–2 hours) and pick a hotel with a view from the cliffs. On your first evening, watch the sunset and the kecak dance at Uluwatu Temple.

Surfing in Uluwatu, Bali

Day eight is for the beaches. Take a surf lesson, swim at Padang Padang, Bingin and Melasti, and have dinner with an ocean view. Day nine is free: a beach club like Sundays, some shopping, or nothing at all by the pool. Uluwatu is 45–60 minutes from the airport, so getting home is easy.

Where to stay for 10 days in Bali

Area Nights Best for
Seminyak / Canggu3Beaches, cafés, restaurants and close to the airport
Ubud3Culture, rice terraces, temples, yoga and Mount Batur
Uluwatu3Clifftops, surf, beaches and sunsets
Sanur or Nusa DuaInstead of SeminyakFamilies and calm beaches

More on each area in where to stay in Bali.

This route is available as a holiday package. Bali Highlights includes three nights in Seminyak or Canggu, three in Ubud and three in Uluwatu, with 3–4★ hotels and breakfast, airport pickup, transfers between hotels and guided tours in Ubud and Uluwatu.
See Bali Highlights from $2,299 → Get this route tailored →

Change the route to suit you

Want the Gili Islands? Swap the Seminyak days for three nights on Gili Trawangan or Gili Air. That’s the route in our Bali and island hopping package.

Want to see North Bali? Swap day six for two days in Lovina with sunrise dolphins, Ulun Danu Temple and Aling Aling waterfall.

With kids? Stay in Sanur instead of Seminyak, swap Mount Batur for Bali Zoo and keep the days short. See our Bali family holiday.

On honeymoon? Choose a villa with a private pool in Ubud and add a flower bath, a couples massage and dinner on the beach in Jimbaran. See our Bali honeymoon.

Shorter trip? See our 7-day and 5-day itineraries. Two weeks? See 14 days in Bali.

Want to build your own? In our itinerary planner you choose the number of nights, your pace and what you’re into, and get a route with places, drive times and a price.

How much do 10 days in Bali cost?

Level Per person, 10 days What you get
Budget$650–900Guesthouses, local warungs, Grab and two tours
Mid-range$1,300–1,900Boutique hotels with a pool, a private driver and four day trips
ComfortFrom $2,600Villas or 5★ resorts, a driver whenever you need one, spa days

A rough guide per person sharing a room, without international flights. Our Bali Highlights package starts at $2,299 per person with hotels, breakfast, transfers and two guided tours. Flights cost around $300–600 return from Australia and Southeast Asia, and $700–1,600 from the Middle East, Europe and North America. See how much a trip to Bali costs, or price your own trip in our holiday cost calculator.

Practical tips

  • Getting around: A private driver is the easiest way between areas. A car with a driver for the day costs $99. In town, use Grab or Gojek.
  • Visa and arrival: Apply for the e-VOA, pay the tourist levy and fill in the arrival card before you fly. See our Bali visa guide.
  • Money: Always carry some cash in rupiah, and use ATMs from major banks.
  • Water: Drink bottled water only, never from the tap.
  • Packing: Light clothes, swimwear, good shoes for the waterfalls, mosquito repellent and sunscreen, which is expensive in Bali.

The best time for 10 days in Bali

The dry season from April to October brings the most sun, the calmest seas for Nusa Penida and the clearest sunrises on Mount Batur. May, June and September are often the best balance of weather, price and crowds; July, August, the Australian school holidays and Christmas are the busiest. See the best time to visit Bali.

10 days in Bali: FAQs

Is 10 days enough for Bali?
Yes. Ten days is enough for the beaches, Ubud, Uluwatu and Nusa Penida at a relaxed pace. With two weeks, add the Gili Islands or North Bali.

How many places should I stay in over 10 days?
Two or three. Three nights in each gives you variety without too much packing.

What order should I visit the areas in?
Start near the airport in Seminyak or Canggu, put Ubud in the middle and finish in Uluwatu, which is also close to the airport.

Can I book this itinerary as a package?
Yes. Our Bali Highlights package follows the same route with hotels, transfers and guided tours, and can be tailored with different hotels, extra nights or another island.

"Great service from A to Z! Really easy to communicate with and get information about when and what! Makes the trip easy so we can just enjoy Bali to the fullest."

Sandra EekGoogle review · ★★★★★