Bali Travel Guide
- Alexandra Barteneva
- Jun 12
- 11 min read
Bali has a special place in my heart after completing my 200hr yoga teacher training back in 2022. Being back for the second time, felt no less special.
With its rise in popularity as a destination and being located on the opposite side of the world (for some), planning a trip there can sometimes seem overwhelming. That's why I wanted to offer some tips and insights to hopefully simplify your planning process and provide additional ideas and inspiration.
Transport
Taxi – Grab and Gojek are preferred taxi booking apps. You can also order a rider with a scooter who can take you to places (and it’s super cheap)
Scooter- primary source of transport that helps to avoid traffic. Only rent one if you are comfortable riding it, as there will be a lot of riders on the road. It is cheap to call a local Gojek/Grabb instead, for your own safety.
Private – Lovina taxi Driver. And you can also tell him which places you would like to visit so they can organize all of it for you
Whenever it says its 10-15 mins ride, always add on traffic time if you are ordering a car, especially in Kuta or Uluwatu at high season ( June-August)
+6281337273250 Ronny - taxi driver. You can WhatsApp him for airport/port pickup or drop off or any other trips.
Holafly - e-sim - although most places have wifi, it will certainly help to be connected every time you order a gojek or need to communicate with any excursion organizers.
What to bring
Anti-mosquito spray - especially in areas like Ubud, it will be necessary in the evenings.
Earplugs (they have roosters everywhere! But also, some areas can be quite loud for sleeping)
Melatonin for jetlag if you need it. Try to go to sleep earlier each night before you travel to help and shift the time if you are coming from Europe.
Cash: it was easier to pay with local currency, and you feel like a king because of the inflation! A lot of places take cash only, too i.e pre pre-booked taxis, excursions, and markets.
Bali Belly
A lot of people who travel to Bali for the first time are prone to getting food poisoning, but don’t worry about it as local pharmacies will quickly give you all the necessities if the worst comes to worst.
In order to avoid it, make sure you do not drink tap water. We even brushed our teeth with bottled water. Stay conscious of places where you eat - seafood by the beach, unfortunately, tends to get a bad rep, as well as iced drinks and food markets. We managed to avoid catching it during the trip.
Probiotics - start taking some at least a week before you travel to help and strengthen your gut, and throughout the trip. A lot of people get Bali Belly during their trip, so this can help with prevention and recovery. We used Symprove and their travel shots. You can get 50% off with your first order via this link
Charcoal - in case you do end up getting Bali Belly, this can help with recovery.
Uluwatu
Close enough to the airport, a really cool place for the sunsets. I recommend staying at the bottom of Uluwatu or close to Bingin beach, as you can explore the area and there are many beaches, bars, and cool/surfing/sunset spots. A lot of hotels are located on the cliff, but are very old and have a million steps to get down to, so be conscious when you do your research. You don’t have to be on the cliff itself to have amazing views!
We stayed at Kumbang Kuning Bungalows which had amazing views and an infinity pool, and convenient location, but very simple rooms and limited service.
Number of days recommended: 2-3 days
Beach
Padang Padang cute small beach with monkeys; it tends to be very packed, so I would advise going early morning. 15k entry fee paid in cash at the entrance.
Bingin Beach - a larger beach if you want to stay and chill. Free, but if you want an umbrella, you can bargain with a local and pay cash. Can have lunch at Kelly’s Warung , which is delicious and has great views!
Activity
Kecak Fire Dance & Uluwatu Temple – Book 5 pm show to catch the sunset. Would highly advise booking a tour so you don’t have to queue, get insights from the locals and get protected from the monkeys who are super cheeky there! We did ours with Putu via Airbnb experiences, who was great.
He will ask for an additional 200k per person for the entry to the temple and fire dance, so don’t get surprised, as this is normal to charged separately in most tours.
Nusa Penida island for a day if you are staying close to Uluwatu - incredible views and snorkelling. Some people recommend staying overnight, but make sure you do the trip on a good day to avoid any issues with the boat. I would advise against it during peak season as it gets very crowded and would take longer to travel there and back than for you to enjoy the surroundings.
Alchemy Yoga & Meditation Centre - yoga, sound healing, meditation, and anything holistic. Really cool space. They have one in Ubud too.
The Soul Space - another yoga spot with nice breakfast nearby.
Bambu Fitness - a cult for all the fitness influencers. Cool to attend one of their classes, use the gym floor, or simply have breakfast there.
Restaurants
Alma - tapas bar - great vibes and drinks
Chela - breakfast and amazing coffee
Suka Espresso - our favourite breakfast spot - try their truffle sloppy eggs!
Dang! - cookies if you have a sweet tooth
Laggas - Asian fusion restaurant, more laid back, and delicious food
Yuki Restaurant – Japanese, really nice atmosphere & great sushi
Rock Bar – fancy bar with nice views next to the beach, we grabbed drinks there but you can also have a lovely dinner
Savaya – the best (beach) club in Asia, highly recommended, cool during the day but definitely stay for the sunset and DJ.
Single Fin – another cool surf bar/club with commercial music but really fun atmosphere. You can watch pro surfing during the day. They have parties on Wednesdays and Sundays and are worth booking in advance.
Ubud
A jungle place with a lot of Balinese culture, activities and nature. My personal favourite.
Number of days recommended: 3-4 days
Accommodation:
You can find great private villas for a cheap price, just make sure you check the reviews, as some might have construction going around.
We stayed at Nang Locong - Villa Tania, and it was a perfect location in terms of accessibility if it’s your first time in Bali. Very authentic place owned by Balinese people with breakfast included at the villa.
If you have a bit more time, I would recommend staying in the rice fields, for example, the Rice Joglo as you get an even more authentic experience. Stay away from central streets as they are super busy and miss the essence of the location.
Activity
Monkey Forest - this is a beautiful forest to visit. Try not to take unnecessary bags or glasses, as monkeys can attempt to steal them. You can also pay 50k and have a monkey selfie which is fun.
Water purification ceremony & seeing the Shaman - a unique and spiritual experience. I highly recommend reaching out to Luh Manis from Pranasanti Yoga. I have done it twice, and it is the highlight of the trip.
Message Luh and tell her you received her details from Alexandra - +62 878 6247 3476
The experience is also on Airbnb to give you a better idea. You will have transport, water purification, local guide, breakfast, a visit to the shaman, and potential offering making if you need to wait, as well as a visit to the local coffee plantation.
Healing massage - if you experience any chronic pain or issues with your joints or muscles, visit the local healer who is also a chiropractor and a masseuse.
Ask him for an hour massage and healing session. He helped me with my joint pain in one session when I’ve been going to osteopaths and physio for months…
Message Nyoman and say from Alexandra on +62 822 3766 6243. Here is the location.
Would advise not to plan any activities afterwards and take the next morning more chill, as your body will appreciate the recovery.
In the same space as the healer, you can find Silver Making Jewellery Class. We did some personalized rings and it was a super fun activity.
Coffee plantation (try Luwak coffee and local teas) - will be included if you do the tour with Luh or hike to Mt.Batur.
Elephant Cave - an ancient temple. I have not been, but my friend said it had super strong energy there.
Art Market & Ubud Palace
Tegalalang Rice Terraces, you walk around and take a picture on the swing
Yoga places: the Yoga Barn - a super cool place where all the yogis hang out. Worth booking a class there. Or Alchemy. Also popular for its restaurant.
Mount Batur trekking: you wake up at 2am to start 4am trekking up the volcano and see the sunrise. Breathtaking views. It’s not an easy hike, but so worth it! Make sure you plan this on a dry day and have decent shoes with a grip (you can do it in sneakers, but would be better with more grip) Afterwards we went to the hot springs. We did our experience here
Sunrise at Mt.Batur See the waterfalls - We didn’t have time to do this, but really wish we did as the local nature is beautiful!
A bit left field activity, but if you want to have the best mani/pedi go to Studio Sama Nails it is the best one I’ve had, and the price is incomparable to Europe!
Alas Harum - an aesthetic location to take pictures with Bali swings, sculptures and hang out by infinity pools with rice field views. Nice option for a chill afternoon. You pay an entrance fee, and there is a minimum spend if you choose to sit by the pools. Try to go earlier as it an get crowded.
Restaurants
Pasir (Mediterranean)
Clear Café - very cool space just to sit and relax.
Jungle Fish (beach club)
Nusa by suka – restaurant
Sala Bistro – cute place opposite Nusa to grab food/bowl
No Mas Bar – crazy little bar with old school music, gets quite crowded but it’s fun
Lazy Cats Cafe - for breakfast
Zest - trendy vegan place that also hosts holistic events. Best for dinner and atmosphere.
Arcadia - excellent service. High-end restaurant with small portions and delicious food. Perfect date night spot.
Pukkako - for a drink or sandwich - walk through the rice fields to get there.
Gili Islands
Gili Trawagan is the party island but with most things to do, the other islands are Gili Meno and Gili Air. Gili Meno seems very quiet, and Gili Air is famous for more chill and romantic spots. We stayed at Gili T since it was bigger.
Number of days recommended: 2 days. If you are staying for longer, take the boat to Lombok and stay there for few nights (I haven’t been but heard it’s beautiful nature, beaches and much less developed)
Transport:
To get to the island, I would ensure that the weather conditions are good.
Take a motion sickness pill if you tend to struggle, as it can get bumpy.
Make sure to buy tickets in advance and arrive at least an hour before departure.
Have cash as you will need to pay port exit and island entry fee.
Darmajaya Fast boat - if you are travelling from/to Padangbai port (closest to Ubud). Larger boat that is faster and more stable. Only goes I think twice a day, so ensure you check your itinerary in advance. It takes about 1:30 from Ubud by car, but I would advise leaving at least 3 hr before departure to avoid any traffic issues.
I do not recommend booking the shuttle service with the boat, as the car and our driver were not great, so best to organize your own taxi ( avoid using Gojek to get to and from the port as there is a taxi monopoly there and you might not be able to have a close enough drop of.
Avoid accepting help from the locals, as they would expect tips from you and can trick you at this port. Take snacks and plenty of water, as the area for the wait is not ideal.
Blue Water Express -if you are heading to Uluwatu/ Nusa Dua direction - Serangan Port. It is pricier than others and only goes once a day, but the service is hassle-free and worth it. Also it is the speediest boat there with aircon, and they can help organize pickup at the port for you to head to your next destination. You can wait at Kayau cafe if you are leaving from Gili T, with air conditioning before departure.
Gili T has no cars, so you will either have to get to places/hotels by carriages (led by horses -100k cash for a ride + 50K if you have luggage), bicycles, or on foot.
Accommodation: we stayed at Jawa House and it was beautiful! It was in the middle of the island, so a perfect location to get around. The walls are quite thin, however, but you are on a quiet street. The service is also amazing. The staff are super helpful with any tips and recommendations, and the morning breakfast is delicious.
Activity
Snorkelling/Diving: we snorkelled with the turtles and they take you to Gili Meno where they have underwater statues. We did this experience and loved it.
Sunset watching overlooking Bali island (we went every day at 5pm)
Horse riding on the beach: we didn’t do it, but seems popular
Massage Spa: Azure spa or YOU spa - very close to Jawa House mentioned.
Restaurants - Gili T
La Cala – BBQ place
Bale Sampan – great place for lunch
Jali Kitchen – great place for dinner
Kayu Café – great for breakfast and lunch, can also wait for your boat there.
Lumi – great spot for sunsets and live music
Mango Dive – great spot for sunrise but haven’t been
Mana Anu - delicious for lunch or snack
Street Food Market: do not recommend as its infamous for not so fresh produce.
Seminyak/Kuta/Canggu
A surfing place with a lot of young people coming to party.
Number of days recommended: 2 days if you are not surfing. Great location to learn surfing, as it is a lot smoother than other places.
I recommend staying in Canggu for all the parties if its your vibe; Seminyak has nicer, bigger hotels. Kuta has small beaches but more local vibes
Surf School
Galaxy Surf School Kuta Bali +62 853-3315-7305 - try to ask for Jojo or Dedi as your teachers.
Or
Kima Surf Bali - a great surf & yoga camp where you can stay and learn surfing. Also very social vibe in case you are travelling solo.
Bars/Restaurants/ Clubs
Finns Beach Club (Canggu)
La Brisa Bali beach club (Canggu)
Potato Head beach club (Seminyak) – an eco-friendly hotel which is worth staying at. You can also book a sunbed for a day or sunset. The vibes are very chilled. You can walk on the beach to see the sunset, really beautiful
Barbacoa – nice steak place but quite far from the beach. If you would like to go the Sundari Spa, the restaurant is right opposite. Sundari was one of the best massages.
Activity
The Spa – Sundari Wellness
Beach Clubs
Surf
Overall trip structure:
If you are not sure how to plan your trip, I would suggest to start with Canggu/Kuta or Seminyak, then move up to Ubud, going to the Gili Islands. You can make a stop at Lombok or Nusa Dua on your way back, and finish in Uluwatu. Like this, you start of close to the airport and finish close to the airport.
This time, we only had 10 days, so we decided to spend 4 nights in Ubud, 3 in Gili T, and 3 in Uluwatu. We also travelled at the end of May, which was the end of the rain season, but not quite the high season yet, which was perfect for dry weather and avoiding the crowds.
Of course, there is so much more to Bali than these locations, and I am sure I will be back with some more recommendations in the future! But for now, I hope you found this helpful and feel free to message me for any feedback, questions or your own recommendations!
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