Ten extra days on top of a week gives you real choices, not just a longer version of the same plan. The route below keeps the shape most first-timers want and slows it down; the alternatives suit anyone who'd rather spend the days learning to dive, going deeper into central Bali, or flying out to see the Komodo dragons. For how this length compares with a week or 2 weeks, see the Bali itinerary guide.
The recommended route: Canggu, Uluwatu, Ubud and Nusa Penida
| Day | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canggu | Arrive at Bali's airport (Denpasar, DPS), settle in near Batu Bolong beach | Nasi campur |
| 2 | Canggu | Group surf lesson at Batu Bolong, free afternoon | Sate lilit |
| 3 | Canggu to Uluwatu (day trip) | Reef breaks from the clifftop, Uluwatu Temple, the Kecak fire dance at sunset | Grilled seafood |
| 4 | Canggu to Ubud | Car or Grab to Ubud, Campuhan Ridge walk at sunset | Lawar |
| 5 | Ubud | Tegallalang rice terraces, Tirta Empul, a Balinese cooking class | Babi guling |
| 6 | Ubud | Mount Batur sunrise trek with a registered guide | Breakfast cooked on the volcano's steam vents |
| 7 | Ubud to Nusa Penida | Fast boat from Sanur, west-side sights: Kelingking, Broken Beach, Angel's Billabong | Grilled fish |
| 8 | Nusa Penida | East side: Diamond Beach, Atuh Beach, the Thousand Islands viewpoint | Fresh seafood |
| 9 | Nusa Penida | Manta snorkel at Manta Point or Manta Bay, free afternoon at Crystal Bay | Fresh seafood |
| 10 | Nusa Penida to Sanur | Fast boat back, transfer to the airport | Last coffee |
The extra three days over the week-long route go on a Uluwatu day trip and a full two-sided stay on Nusa Penida rather than a rushed single afternoon. Hire a car with a driver on Nusa Penida (about IDR 650,000 to 800,000 a day for the whole car); the roads are steep and rough, so skip the scooter unless you're a confident rider on long downhills. Our seven-day Bali Express trip runs the Canggu, Ubud and Nusa Penida core of this same route, done for you.
Other ways to spend 10 days
Three alternatives trade a fourth sightseeing stop for a dive course, more time in one region, or a flight further east.
Diving detour: Gili Trawangan and Amed
Swap the sightseeing for a PADI Open Water course on car-free Gili Trawangan, then dives at Nusa Penida and the USAT Liberty wreck at Tulamben. For the fuller Gili Islands and Lombok route with the Rinjani trek, see our Gili and Lombok route guide.
Best for Diving, PADI certification
Central Bali in full: Ubud, Sidemen, Munduk and Amed
Skip the coast and spend the 10 days looping between Ubud, the quieter Sidemen valley, Munduk's waterfalls and Amed's black-sand coast.
Best for Culture, temples, highlands
Bali and Komodo: dragons and a boat trip
Spend the first days in Canggu and Ubud, then fly to Labuan Bajo for a multi-day boat trip through Komodo National Park.
Best for Wildlife, diving, adventure
Diving detour: Gili Trawangan and Amed
| Days | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Canggu | Surf lesson, rest | Sate lilit |
| 3 to 5 | Gili Trawangan | PADI Open Water course: a confined-water day, then two open-water dive days | Ayam taliwang |
| 6 | Gili Trawangan | A fun dive or a turtle snorkel, now certified | Fresh seafood |
| 7 | Nusa Penida | Boat via Nusa Penida, a dive or snorkel at Manta Point | Fresh seafood |
| 8 to 9 | Amed | Snorkel off the black-sand coast, two dives on the USAT Liberty wreck at Tulamben | Grilled fish |
| 10 | Depart | Flight from the evening onwards | Last coffee |
Central Bali in full
| Days | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | Ubud | Rice terraces, water temples, the Ubud market, a cooking class | Babi guling |
| 4 | Ubud | Mount Batur sunrise trek | Volcano-top breakfast |
| 5 to 6 | Sidemen | A quieter rice-terrace valley with Mount Agung behind | Home-style Balinese spread |
| 7 to 8 | Munduk | Waterfalls and highland coffee | Highland coffee |
| 9 to 10 | Amed | Snorkelling off the black-sand coast, depart | Grilled fish |
Bali and Komodo
| Days | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Canggu | Surf lesson, rest | Sate lilit |
| 3 to 5 | Ubud | Rice terraces, cooking class, Mount Batur sunrise | Babi guling |
| 6 | Fly to Labuan Bajo | Board a liveaboard boat | Boat-cooked Indonesian spread |
| 7 to 8 | Komodo National Park | Padar Island viewpoint, a ranger-guided dragon walk, Pink Beach, Manta Point | Kolo, if the crew is Manggarai |
| 9 to 10 | Labuan Bajo | Disembark, depart or fly back via Bali | Last coffee |
Since 1 April 2026 Komodo National Park has admitted at most 1,000 visitors a day, so book the boat trip through a licensed operator before you fly. A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Flores on 15 August 2026, and reports from 18 to 21 August said Komodo National Park and its Padar and Komodo Island sites were operating again; see our Flores itinerary for the overland picture.
Choosing between them
| Choose | If |
|---|---|
| The recommended route | You want the classic Bali stops at a slower pace, with stronger surf at Uluwatu added |
| Diving detour | You'd rather leave with a PADI certification than add a fourth sightseeing stop |
| Central Bali in full | Culture, temples and highlands matter more than the coast or an island |
| Bali and Komodo | The Komodo dragons and a boat trip are worth a short flight partway through the trip |
Costs, best time and getting around
Outside flights into and out of Indonesia, budget travellers spend about IDR 280,000 to 450,000 (US$16 to $25) a day on food, drinks and local transport, plus accommodation, the surf lesson, the Batur trek, and the driver and boats around Nusa Penida. A PADI Open Water course on Gili Trawangan, or a Komodo boat trip, is a separate, larger cost on top of daily spending. See our Bali trip cost guide for the full breakdown.
May, June and September usually give the calmest seas around Nusa Penida and Komodo and the best odds of a clear Batur sunrise. 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, fast boats to reach Nusa Penida or the Gilis, and a short flight for the Komodo route. Our Bali visa guide covers entry rules by nationality.
