Bali itinerary · 5 days
5 Days in Bali: Ubud, Tanah Lot and the Uluwatu Beaches
Three nights in Ubud, two by the sea, one hotel change and two sunset temples.
By The Bali Guideline Editorial TeamUpdated 12 November 2026
At a glance
5 days, 2 bases
Five days in Bali gives you time for three nights in Ubud and two in Uluwatu, with one hotel move in the middle. From Ubud you cover the temples and rice terraces to the north and Tanah Lot on the west coast; from Uluwatu you get the Kecak, three beaches and an easy airport run.
The plan is built around the two sunsets most visitors want: Tanah Lot, the temple on a rock in the surf, on day three, and Uluwatu Temple on its cliff on day four. Tanah Lot is a 2- to 2.5-hour drive from Uluwatu, so they sit on different days and are reached from different bases.
Ubud comes first because it is the better place to arrive tired: the town center is walkable and the first evening needs no car. The middle three days use a hired car and driver, which is the simplest way to tour Bali: your bags stay in the car and the driver waits at each stop. The last day is spent at the beach, 35–90 minutes from the airport depending on which one you end at.
Nights: three in Ubud, two in Uluwatu, flying out on the morning of day six. Day three is the only one with more than three hours of driving, so if you have only four nights, drop it and save Tanah Lot for another trip.
First trip to Bali? Start with our first-timer tips. Planning a honeymoon? See the Bali honeymoon guide.
- Length
- 5 days, 5 nights
- Bases
- 2 (3 + 2 nights)
- Pace
- Steady
- Longest drive
- Day 3, about 2.5–3.5 hours in all
- Best for
- A first trip of under a week, split between hills and sea
- Airport to first base
- 75–120 min
Where you sleep
Day by day
The plan
Times are a guide: shift a stop if the tide, the weather or a temple ceremony asks for it. Each drive time comes from the visitor guide linked under it.
Day 1: Ubud’s forest, market and palace
An arrival afternoon spent on foot in the center of Ubud, finishing with a dance at the palace.
Sleep in UbudNight 1 of 3
3 PM
Ubud Art Market
Opposite the palace, two blocks of stalls sell sarongs, rattan bags and carvings until about 5 PM, so start here. Entry is free. Most stock repeats from stall to stall, so compare a few before you buy and agree on the full price first. Come back before 8 AM another day for the produce market.
Visitor guide : Ubud Art Market4 PM
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Paved paths run through a temple forest, home to about 1,000 long-tailed macaques, with a banyan-rooted ravine and three 14th-century temples. Hours are 9 AM–6 PM with last entry at 5 PM, and adults pay IDR 130,000 (checked Nov 2026). Zip your bag, leave food at your hotel (it is banned inside) and let the monkeys come to you, not the other way around.
Visitor guide : Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary7:30 PM
Ubud Palace
Puri Saren Agung, home of Ubud’s royal family, stages a Balinese dance in its outer court every night at about 7:30 PM, with tickets sold at the gate. Which dance plays depends on the night: Legong, Barong or a Ramayana episode. Arrive 20 minutes early for a seat with a view.
Visitor guide : Ubud Palace
Drive times
- Ubud Art Market to Sacred Monkey Forest
- 15–20 min on foot
- From our Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary guide
- Sleep
- Base yourself in Ubud. Ubud area guidePlaces to stay in Ubud
- Eat
- Have an early dinner in central Ubud before the show; most places are within a 10-minute walk of the palace. Where to eat in Ubud
Day 2: The temples and terraces north of Ubud
A morning loop by car to the Tegallalang terraces at 7 AM and two temples in the Pakerisan valley, back in Ubud by about noon.
Sleep in UbudNight 2 of 3
7 AM
Tegallalang Rice Terrace
Steep terraces carved into a valley 10 km north of central Ubud. Come at 7 AM, before the heat and the day tours. Walk down to the river and up the far side rather than photographing from the road. Farmers’ booths on the paths ask a small fee to cross their land; carry small bills.
Visitor guide : Tegallalang Rice Terrace8:20 AM
Tirta Empul
The holy spring at Tampaksiring feeds the bathing pools where Balinese come to purify themselves under carved spouts. Visitors can join in a rented bathing sarong, following the order local worshipers use. Get there soon after the 8 AM opening; by 10 AM the pools are crowded with tour groups.
Visitor guide : Tirta Empul9:30 AM
Gunung Kawi
Ten royal shrines cut into the rock faces of the Pakerisan gorge in the 11th century, reached down about 300 steps past rice paddies. The climb back up is the hard part. Give it an hour, and wear shoes with grip, as the lower steps stay damp.
Visitor guide : Gunung Kawi
Drive times
- Sleep
- Base yourself in Ubud. Ubud area guidePlaces to stay in Ubud
- Eat
- Lunch back in Ubud, then a slow afternoon and dinner in town. Where to eat in Ubud
Day 3: Ridge walk, royal temple and Tanah Lot
An early walk, a quiet late morning, then a drive west for a moated temple and sunset at Tanah Lot. You are back in Ubud late in the evening.
Sleep in UbudNight 3 of 3
6:30 AM
Campuhan Ridge Walk
A free paved path along a grassy ridge on the west edge of Ubud, about 2 km each way. Start early: the ridge has no shade and the sun is strong by mid-morning. Allow 1.5–2 hours there and back, and carry water.
Visitor guide : Campuhan Ridge Walk2 PM
Pura Taman Ayun
The royal temple of the old Mengwi kingdom, set inside a moat with tiered meru shrines behind its inner wall. It is one of the five sites in Bali’s UNESCO subak listing. Walk the full loop around the wall; 45 minutes is enough.
Visitor guide : Pura Taman Ayun4 PM
Tanah Lot
A Hindu sea temple on a rock in the surf. You cannot enter the shrine, but at low tide you can walk to the base of the rock for a holy-water blessing, so check the tide table the night before. Stay for sunset, then expect slow traffic out of the parking lot.
Visitor guide : Tanah Lot
Drive times
- Sleep
- Base yourself in Ubud. Ubud area guidePlaces to stay in Ubud
- Eat
- Eat at Tanah Lot’s food stalls before the drive back, or have a late dinner in Ubud. Where to eat in Ubud
Swap: Staying near Canggu instead of Ubud for this night cuts the drive back to 25–45 minutes.
Day 4: Elephant Cave, then south to the cliffs
One last Ubud temple on your way out, a long drive south, and the Kecak on the cliff at sunset.
Sleep in UluwatuNight 1 of 2
8 AM
Goa Gajah
Bali’s “Elephant Cave” dates from around the 11th century; you step into it through the open mouth of a carved demon. The cave itself is a quick look; give most of your time to the old bathing pools and the steep path down to the river. The sarong is included with the ticket.
Visitor guide : Goa Gajah4:30 PM
Uluwatu Temple
Check in first, then reach the temple by about 4:30 PM to walk the cliff paths before the 6 PM Kecak. Adult Kecak tickets cost IDR 150,000, on top of temple entry, and seats are first come, first served (checked Nov 2026). Keep glasses and phones zipped away from the monkeys.
Visitor guide : Uluwatu Temple
Drive times
- Sleep
- Base yourself in Uluwatu. Uluwatu area guidePlaces to stay in Uluwatu
- Eat
- Book dinner for about 7:30 PM, after the show ends; most places sit on the cliff roads near the beaches. Where to eat in Uluwatu
Swap: Want a waterfall? Tegenungan Waterfall is on your way out of Ubud: 20–30 minutes south of Goa Gajah, then 1.5–2 hours on to Uluwatu.
Day 5: Three beaches around Uluwatu
A beach day with short hops between coves. Check the tide table: the rock pools at Bingin need low water.
Sleep in UluwatuNight 2 of 2
8 AM
Padang Padang Beach
A sheltered cove reached through a narrow cleft in the rocks, and one of the better swimming beaches on Uluwatu’s west coast at low to mid tide. Swim near the middle of the cove and stay out on big-swell days. Small cash entry fee.
Visitor guide : Padang Padang Beach10:30 AM
Bingin Beach
A strip of sand and reef below the cliffs, 5–10 minutes north. Come for the surfers and, at low tide, the rock pools, not for a swim: the bottom is coral and there is no lifeguard. Wear reef shoes and bring water, as facilities are minimal.
Visitor guide : Bingin Beach2 PM
Melasti Beach
A long white beach under tall limestone cliffs on the south coast, reached by a road cut through the rock. A reef offshore calms the water; swim between the flags while lifeguards are on duty. Bring a hat and shade, as there are almost no trees.
Visitor guide : Melasti Beach
Drive times
- Sleep
- Base yourself in Uluwatu. Uluwatu area guidePlaces to stay in Uluwatu
- Eat
- Have lunch at a cafe between Bingin and Padang Padang, then a last dinner on the cliffs. Where to eat in Uluwatu
Swap: If low tide falls in the late afternoon, skip Bingin and end the day at Suluban Beach instead; its cove is reached through a sea cave, at low tide only, so check the tide table first.
When to go
Rain, month by month
This route works all year. In the wet months, plan the beach and boat days with a spare day nearby, and do the temples and terraces in the morning, before the afternoon downpours. Read our Bali rainy season guide.
Dry season: April to OctoberBetween seasonsWet season: November to March
Average rain per month in millimeters on the south coast, 2021–2025, from the model data behind our Bali weather guide. Tap a month for details.
Tickets & Tours
Rather not organize it yourself?
Every day above works on your own with a hired driver. For the stops where a ticket or a guide helps, these Klook listings cover them. Pick-up areas, inclusions and prices vary, so read the listing before you book.
Day tripTanah Lot Sunset TourSee it on Klook (opens in a new tab)
Show ticketKecak & Fire Dance Show Ticket at Uluwatu TempleSee it on Klook (opens in a new tab)
Day tripPurification Ritual in Tirta Empul Holy Water Temple and Ubud TourSee it on Klook (opens in a new tab)
Affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure
Know Before You Go
5-day trip tips that save time and trouble
- 01Book the car and driver for days two to four with your Ubud hotel the day before, and agree on the hours and the stops in writing.
- 02Pay Bali’s IDR 150,000 tourist levy online through the official Love Bali site before you fly (checked Nov 2026).
- 03Check the tide table for Tanah Lot and the Uluwatu beaches the night before; both days depend on low water.
- 04Pack a sarong, a sash and a top that covers your shoulders for six temples in five days. Most temples lend a sarong, but not all.
- 05Carry small bills for parking, terrace booths and beach fees. Cards are not taken at every gate.
- 06Avoid a same-day flight after the Tanah Lot sunset or the Kecak; both end at the busiest time on the roads.
FAQ
Bali itinerary questions, answered
How long is the drive from Ubud to Tanah Lot?
About 1–1.5 hours each way by car, depending on traffic. Going by way of Pura Taman Ayun adds little: Ubud to Taman Ayun takes 40–60 minutes and Taman Ayun to Tanah Lot 35–50 minutes. The drive back after sunset is usually the slowest leg.
How long is the drive from Ubud to Uluwatu?
About 2–3 hours by car, through Denpasar and past the airport. From Goa Gajah, on the south side of Ubud, allow 1.5–2.5 hours. Leave after the morning rush, about 9 AM, and avoid arriving in the 4–7 PM traffic that builds toward the Kecak.
How do Kecak tickets at Uluwatu Temple work?
You pay twice: once for temple entry at the main gate, and again for the Kecak, IDR 150,000 for adults and IDR 75,000 for children aged 2–9 (checked Nov 2026). Kecak tickets are sold at the official booth near the entrance. The show starts at 6 PM every day; its gate opens at 4 PM, and seating is not reserved.
Can you swim at Padang Padang Beach?
Yes, on most days. The cove is sheltered and has a sandy bottom, so it is one of the better swimming beaches on Uluwatu’s west coast at low to mid tide. Stay near the middle of the cove and out of the water on big-swell days, when the shore break gets rough.
How much is the Bali tourist levy?
IDR 150,000 per foreign visitor, paid once for each trip to the island, whatever its length (checked Nov 2026). The provincial government collects it through its Love Bali website and app. The same site has a form to apply for an exemption if you qualify for one.
More plans
More or fewer days?
3days
3 Days in Bali: Ubud, Then the Uluwatu Cliffs
A long weekend or a stopover
- Ubud · 2 nights
- Uluwatu · 1 night
8 stops · See the plan
7days
7 Days in Bali: Volcano, Island Cliffs and Uluwatu
A first week with a bit of adventure
- Ubud · 3 nights
- Sanur · 2 nights
- Uluwatu · 2 nights
20 stops · See the plan
10days
10 Days in Bali: A Loop Through the Center, East and South
A first long trip, or a return visit that goes beyond the south
- Ubud · 4 nights
- Amed · 2 nights
- Sanur · 2 nights
- Uluwatu · 2 nights
27 stops · See the plan
How we researched this
Sources and fact checks
Opening hours, ticket prices, show times and safety rules on this page were checked against official sites, government pages and recent reporting on 12 November 2026. Drive and boat times come from our own visitor guides, each linked under the leg it covers. See our editorial policy.
We re-check these plans at least every three months and whenever we hear about a change. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Show all 9 sources ↓Hide sources ↑
- monkeyforestubud.com/visit
- uluwatutemple.id/uluwatu-kecak-dance
- lovebali.baliprov.go.id
- thebaliguideline.com/destination/tabanan/taman-ayun-temple
- thebaliguideline.com/destination/tabanan/tanah-lot
- thebaliguideline.com/destination/ubud/goa-gajah
- thebaliguideline.com/destination/uluwatu/bingin-beach
- thebaliguideline.com/destination/uluwatu/melasti-beach
- thebaliguideline.com/destination/uluwatu/padang-padang-beach