A week in Bali works best as three stops, not four. Book a shared sunrise tour for the volcano and a direct fast boat to the island, and you lose almost no daylight to getting between them across the whole week. For how this length compares with 10 days or 2 weeks, see the Bali itinerary guide.
The recommended route: Canggu, Ubud and Nusa Penida
| Day | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canggu | Arrive at Bali's airport (Denpasar, DPS), settle in near Batu Bolong beach, sunset walk | Nasi campur at a nearby warung |
| 2 | Canggu to Ubud | Group surf lesson at Batu Bolong, then a car or Grab to Ubud; Campuhan Ridge walk at sunset | Sate lilit |
| 3 | Ubud | Tegallalang rice terraces, Tirta Empul water temple, a Balinese cooking class | Babi guling |
| 4 | Ubud | Mount Batur sunrise trek with a registered guide, rest of the day free | Breakfast cooked on the volcano's steam vents |
| 5 | Ubud to Nusa Penida | Drive to Sanur, fast boat over, Kelingking, Broken Beach and Angel's Billabong on the west side | Grilled fish at a beachside warung |
| 6 | Nusa Penida | Manta snorkel at Manta Point or Manta Bay, free afternoon at Crystal Bay | Fresh seafood |
| 7 | Nusa Penida to Sanur | Fast boat back, transfer to the airport | Last coffee before the flight |
Book the surf lesson for the calmer early wind window and the Batur tour as a shared sunrise trip: the local trekking associations require a registered guide, and shared tours include the guide, transport and breakfast for roughly IDR 500,000 to 800,000 per person. Hire a car with a driver on Nusa Penida rather than a scooter; the roads are steep and broken, and a driver costs about IDR 650,000 to 800,000 a day, though quotes vary. For more time in Ubud's temples and highlands than this route allows, see our central Bali route guide.
Other ways to spend 1 week
Two alternatives swap out an island stop for more time in one region instead.
Central Bali in full: Ubud, Sidemen and the Batur sunrise
Skip the coast entirely and spend the week between Ubud's rice terraces and temples, a quieter night in Sidemen's valley, and the Mount Batur sunrise trek.
Best for Culture, temples, rice terraces
South Bali surf week: Canggu and Uluwatu
Stay on the coast the whole week: daily surf lessons in Canggu, then Uluwatu's reef breaks, clifftop bars and the Kecak fire dance at sunset.
Best for Surf, beach clubs, nightlife
Central Bali in full
| Days | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Ubud | Rice terraces, water temples, the Ubud market | Babi guling |
| 3 | Sidemen | A quieter rice-terrace valley with Mount Agung behind | Home-style Balinese spread |
| 4 | Ubud | Mount Batur sunrise trek | Volcano-top breakfast |
| 5 to 6 | Munduk or Amed | Waterfalls and highland coffee, or snorkelling off the black-sand coast | Highland coffee, or grilled fish |
| 7 | Denpasar | Depart | Last coffee |
South Bali surf week
| Days | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | Canggu | Daily surf lessons, cafes, a sunset stop at Tanah Lot | Sate lilit |
| 5 to 6 | Uluwatu | Reef break, the Kecak fire dance, Bingin and Padang Padang beaches | Grilled seafood |
| 7 | Denpasar | Depart | Last coffee |
Choosing between them
| Choose | If |
|---|---|
| The recommended route | You want a taste of the coast, Ubud's culture and an island in one week |
| Central Bali in full | Temples, rice terraces and a slower pace matter more than the coast |
| South Bali surf week | Surfing is the main reason you're coming to Bali |
Costs, best time and getting around
Outside flights into and out of Indonesia, budget travellers spend about IDR 280,000 to 450,000 a day (roughly US$16 to $25) on food, drinks and local transport, plus beds, the surf lesson, the Batur trek and the driver and boats around Nusa Penida. Since 1 September 2026 Nusa Penida also charges IDR 25,000 per adult at each main sight, including Kelingking, Broken Beach, Angel's Billabong and Crystal Bay, on top of the island's arrival fee. See our Bali trip cost guide for the full breakdown.
May, June and September usually give the calmest seas around Nusa Penida, the best odds of a clear Batur sunrise and fewer crowds than July and August. Check our best time to visit Bali guide before you book, and check Nyepi's date too: Bali's Day of Silence shuts the whole island down for 24 hours, including the airport. See our Nyepi guide.
There are no trains on Bali, so plan on cars, vans or a Grab between towns, and fast boats to reach Nusa Penida. Our Bali visa guide covers entry rules by nationality.
