Two weeks is where Bali stops feeling like a list of stops squeezed together and starts feeling like an actual trip. The route below gives every stop at least two nights, uses a direct fast boat rather than backtracking through Bali to reach the Gilis, and ends with a deliberate buffer night in case a boat gets delayed. For how this length compares with a week or 10 days, see the Bali itinerary guide.
The recommended route: Canggu, Ubud, Nusa Penida and Gili Trawangan
| Days | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Canggu | Surf lesson at Batu Bolong, Tanah Lot at sunset | Sate lilit |
| 3 to 5 | Ubud | Tegallalang rice terraces, Tirta Empul, a cooking class, the Mount Batur sunrise trek | Babi guling |
| 6 to 8 | Nusa Penida | West-side cliffs, the quieter east coast, a manta snorkel | Fresh seafood |
| 9 to 12 | Gili Trawangan | Car-free island, a snorkelling boat trip, bike hire, sunset bars | Ayam taliwang |
| 13 | Sanur | A buffer night before you fly | Nasi campur |
| 14 | Depart | Fly out from Bali | Last coffee |
A direct fast boat from Nusa Penida to Gili Trawangan takes about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes depending on the boat, so there's no need to backtrack through Bali. Only a handful of direct sailings run each day, mostly from mid-morning to early afternoon, so book ahead. Spend the last night in Sanur rather than flying straight from the Gilis: crossings get delayed or cancelled in big swell, especially in July and August and from December to March, and the buffer night means a bad sailing day doesn't cost you a flight home.
Other ways to spend 2 weeks
Three alternatives swap the Gili Islands for Lombok, for more of central Bali, or for staying on Bali's own coast.
Swap the Gilis for Lombok's surf beaches
Take the return boat to Sanur and a short flight to Lombok instead of Gili Trawangan, and base yourself at Kuta Lombok. For the full Gili Islands and Lombok route with the Rinjani trek, see our Gili and Lombok route guide.
Best for Surf, beaches, a future Rinjani trek
Central Bali in full instead of a third island
Spend the days you'd give the Gilis on Sidemen's rice-terrace valley and Munduk's waterfalls instead, staying on Bali the whole trip.
Best for Culture, temples, highlands
Stay on Bali's own coast: more Nusa Penida and Uluwatu
Skip the Gilis, give Nusa Penida a fuller stay, and add Uluwatu for stronger surf and the Kecak dance, avoiding an extra island crossing entirely.
Best for Surf, cliffs, no extra boat
Swap the Gilis for Lombok's surf beaches
| Days | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 8 | Canggu, Ubud, Nusa Penida | Same as the recommended route | Babi guling |
| 9 to 12 | Kuta Lombok | Selong Belanak, Tanjung Aan and Mawi beaches | Ayam taliwang |
| 13 to 14 | Return and depart | Boat and a short flight back via Lombok or Bali | Last coffee |
If the volcano tempts you, our Bali & Rinjani Trek trip covers Ubud, Gili Air and Kuta Lombok and includes a licensed 2-day, 1-night trek up Mount Rinjani. The park reopened to climbers on a limited basis on 1 September 2026, so check our Rinjani guide for the current rules before you plan around it.
Central Bali in full instead of a third island
| Days | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Canggu | Surf lesson, Tanah Lot sunset | Sate lilit |
| 3 to 5 | Ubud | Rice terraces, cooking class, Batur sunrise trek | Babi guling |
| 6 to 8 | Nusa Penida | Both sides of the island, manta snorkel | Fresh seafood |
| 9 to 10 | Sidemen | A quieter rice-terrace valley | Home-style Balinese spread |
| 11 to 12 | Munduk or Amed | Waterfalls and highland coffee, or snorkelling off the black-sand coast | Highland coffee, or grilled fish |
| 13 to 14 | Denpasar | Buffer night, depart | Last coffee |
Stay on Bali's own coast: more Nusa Penida and Uluwatu
| Days | Where | What | Eat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Canggu | Surf lesson, Tanah Lot sunset | Sate lilit |
| 3 to 5 | Ubud | Rice terraces, cooking class, Batur sunrise trek | Babi guling |
| 6 to 9 | Nusa Penida | Both sides of the island at an easy pace, manta snorkel | Fresh seafood |
| 10 to 13 | Uluwatu | Stronger surf, the Kecak fire dance, Bingin and Padang Padang beaches | Grilled seafood |
| 14 | Denpasar | Depart | Last coffee |
Choosing between them
| Choose | If |
|---|---|
| The recommended route | You want a car-free island with easy snorkelling on top of the classic Bali stops |
| Swap for Lombok | Surfing matters more than an island stop, or Mount Rinjani tempts you for a future trip |
| Central Bali in full | Culture, temples and highlands matter more than a third island |
| Stay on Bali's coast | You'd rather avoid an extra boat crossing altogether |
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, drivers and boats around Nusa Penida, the manta snorkel, and bike hire and boat trips on the Gilis or Lombok. See our Bali trip cost guide for the full breakdown.
May, June and September usually give the calmest seas for both the Nusa Penida and Gili crossings 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, and fast boats or a short flight to reach the Gilis or Lombok. Our Bali visa guide covers entry rules by nationality.
