Travel Guide to Bali, Indonesia

Region: Asia · Budget: Cheap · Flight from UK: 16 hours · Best months: April to October

Bali isn't really one destination — it's at least four. There's the surf-and-yoga village of Canggu, the cultural heart of Ubud surrounded by rice terraces, the cliff resorts of Uluwatu in the south, and the old colonial town of Sanur on the quieter east coast. Between them they cover almost any kind of trip you'd want: beach, jungle, adventure, retreat, party, food. From the UK you're looking at 17–20 hours via the Middle East or Singapore. The island is small enough that you can drive across it in three hours, but the south is so traffic-choked that Ubud-to-Canggu can still take 90 minutes — base yourself in two areas to avoid daily commutes. Bali rewards travellers who stay longer; a week feels rushed, two weeks lets you actually slow down. Indonesian rupiah is cash-friendly but card is now widely accepted at mid-range and up. The 'Bali Belly' stomach upset is real but mostly preventable — bottled water, no ice at warungs, peel your own fruit.

Budget breakdown (per day, GBP)

Stay £8–£19 · Food £4–£10 · Activities £3–£8 · Total £15–£37

Best time to visit

May–September is dry season and the best window — sunny days, lower humidity, ideal surf on the west coast. July and August are peak (and noticeably busier and pricier in Canggu and Uluwatu). April and October are excellent shoulder months. November–March is wet season — rain typically comes in afternoon downpours rather than all-day, but humidity is high and the sea is rougher.

Weather overview

Tropical climate, hot year-round (27–32°C), no real winter. Two seasons: dry (April–October) and wet (November–March). UV is strong even on overcast days — SPF 50 and a hat. Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk, especially inland in Ubud.

Suggested trip length

2 Weeks or 1 Week

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Bali, drop bags at your accommodation and take a slow orientation walk through the centre to get your bearings before the jet lag hits. Grab an early dinner near your hotel — somewhere you can walk back from in five minutes — and have an early night to reset your body clock. If you've still got energy in the evening: Ubud rice terraces.
Day 2: Uluwatu Temple in the morning while you're fresh and the light is good for photos, followed by a long local lunch somewhere off the main tourist drag. Afternoon: explore a neighbourhood you haven't seen yet on foot, stopping for a coffee or a drink whenever you find a spot that looks right.
Day 3: Surf in Canggu — book any tickets in advance online to skip the queues, which can easily eat 90 minutes in peak season. Afternoon: a slower café-and-shops loop in a different part of town, then dinner somewhere recommended by your accommodation hosts rather than a top-10 list.
Day 4: Nusa Penida day trip. Use the second half of the day for any souvenirs or gifts to take home, and try a restaurant outside the main tourist strip — typically 30–40% cheaper for noticeably better food. End the day somewhere with a view, sunset is usually the best free attraction in any city.
Day 5: Day trip out of Bali — a coastal town, mountain village, vineyard region or nearby city is usually under an hour by train, bus or ferry and gives you a completely different angle on Indonesia. Pack light, leave early, and aim to be back for a relaxed dinner.
Day 6–7: Revisit your favourite spot from earlier in the week now that you know your way around, slow down with a long lunch, and pick up anything you missed on the first pass. Use the final morning for a quiet breakfast and a final wander before heading to the airport — leave at least 3 hours' buffer for international flights.

Things to do in Bali

Sunrise hike up Mount Batur — 2-hour climb in the dark to watch the sun come up over the caldera, finished with breakfast cooked on volcanic steam.
Surf or learn at Batu Bolong (Canggu) for beginners or Uluwatu / Padang Padang for advanced — board hire from £4 a day, lessons around £20.
Spend a day in Ubud: the Sacred Monkey Forest, a Balinese cooking class, then sunset dinner overlooking the Tegalalang rice terraces.
Snorkel or dive at Nusa Penida — manta rays at Manta Point and the cliff view at Kelingking Beach are bucket-list level.
Watch a Kecak fire dance at Uluwatu Temple at sunset — more theatrical than touristy and one of the most atmospheric experiences on the island.
Spa half-day in Ubud — a 90-minute massage and flower bath at a quality spot like Sundari Day Spa is around £25.
Eat babi guling (suckling pig) at Ibu Oka in Ubud, then nasi campur at any warung where you see locals eating.
Slow morning at Tirta Empul water temple — go early (before 9am) to experience the purification ritual without crowds.

Best areas to stay in Bali

Canggu — surf, yoga, brilliant cafés and a young digital-nomad crowd; gets very busy and very loud at night around Echo Beach.
Ubud — jungle and rice terraces, art galleries, yoga and cultural shows; cooler air and a slower pace, ideal for the cultural half of any trip.
Uluwatu — clifftop villas and luxury resorts on the southern peninsula, world-class surf, beautiful beaches but transport-dependent.
Sanur — quieter old-town vibe on the east coast, calm shallow beach perfect for families, gateway to Nusa islands.
Avoid Kuta and Legian unless you specifically want late-night Aussie clubbing — they're tatty, congested and not what most travellers come to Bali for.

Transport tips

Pre-book an airport transfer from Denpasar (£8–15 depending on area) — the official taxi queue is fine but Grab pickup zones can be confusing at night.
Use the Grab and Gojek apps for rides — far cheaper than street taxis and pricing is transparent. A Canggu–Seminyak ride is around £3–4.
Renting a scooter (£3–4/day) is the local default but only do it if you're already confident — accidents are the #1 cause of tourist hospital visits.
For longer trips (Ubud–Uluwatu), hire a private driver for the day for around £30–40 — far less stressful than a scooter and a chance to make multiple stops.
Boats to Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida and the Gilis leave from Sanur or Padang Bai — book the day before in high season.

Safety tips

Bali Belly: drink bottled water, brush your teeth with bottled water, skip ice at street stalls, and carry oral rehydration sachets.
Scooter accidents are the biggest risk — wear a proper helmet, never drink and ride, and check your travel insurance covers scooter use (most don't unless you have a UK motorcycle licence).
Watch monkeys at Uluwatu and Ubud's Monkey Forest — they will steal sunglasses, phones and water bottles. Don't make eye contact and don't bring food.
Strong rip currents at Echo Beach, Dreamland and most south-coast beaches — swim between flags only and ask at your hotel about that day's conditions.
Petty theft (bag-snatching from scooters) does happen in Seminyak and Kuta — keep bags between your knees, not on your handlebars.

Visa & entry requirements (UK travellers)

Visa on arrival (~£25) or eVOA online — 30 days.