Bali itinerary · 7 days

7 Days in Bali: Volcano, Island Cliffs and Uluwatu

Three bases, one sunrise climb, one boat day and the Kecak to finish.

By The Bali Guideline Editorial TeamUpdated 12 November 2026

At a glance

7 days, 3 bases

A week in Bali is enough for three bases: three nights in Ubud for the temples and a Mount Batur sunrise, two in Sanur for the fast boat to Nusa Penida, and two in Uluwatu for the cliffs and beaches. Each move between bases takes 1–2 hours. The longest day is the Nusa Penida trip: about 3–4.5 hours of boats and island roads.

The order follows the map. Ubud is in the middle of the island and closest to the volcano, Sanur is the departure point for the Nusa Penida boats, and Uluwatu is 40–90 minutes from the airport for the flight home. Doing it the other way around works too; just keep the boat day and the volcano day apart, as both start before dawn.

Two days carry real physical effort. The Batur trek gains about 650 m in 1.5–2 hours in the dark, and Nusa Penida means a sea crossing plus several hours of bumpy roads on the island. The afternoon after the climb is free; the boat day runs until the afternoon crossing, so plan an early night after it, and check the safety notes for both before you book.

Nights: three in Ubud, two in Sanur, two in Uluwatu, flying out on the morning of day eight. Nusa Penida is done as a day trip from Sanur, so you never carry your luggage onto a boat.

First trip to Bali? Start with our first-timer tips. Planning a honeymoon? See the Bali honeymoon guide.

Length: 7 days, 7 nights
Bases: 3 (3 + 2 + 2 nights)
Pace: Full
Longest drive: Day 5, about 3–4.5 hours of boats and island roads
Best for: A first week with a bit of adventure
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: Arrive and walk central Ubud

A short first day in the middle of town: monkeys, a lotus-pond temple and the palace, all on foot.

Sleep in UbudNight 1 of 3

3 PM
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
The forest at the south end of central Ubud holds three 14th-century temples and about 1,000 long-tailed macaques. Last entry is at 5 PM, and adults pay IDR 130,000 (checked Nov 2026). Allow an hour, and keep anything shiny in a zipped bag.
Visitor guide : Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
4:30 PM
Saraswati Temple
A temple to the goddess of learning behind a lotus pond, 150 m west of the palace. It takes 15–30 minutes by day. A sarong is lent with the small entry fee, and every evening except Friday the stage by the pond hosts a dance of its own.
Visitor guide : Saraswati Temple
7:30 PM
Ubud Palace
The courtyards are free by day. Every night at about 7:30 PM, a dance with a live gamelan orchestra is staged in the outer court; the program changes through the week. Buy tickets at the gate and come 20 minutes early for a good seat.
Visitor guide : Ubud Palace

Drive times

Bali airport to central Ubud: 75–120 min; From our Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary guide
Sacred Monkey Forest to Ubud Palace: 15–20 min on foot; From our Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary guide

Sleep: Base yourself in Ubud. Ubud area guide Places to stay in Ubud
Eat: Dinner in central Ubud, within walking distance of the palace, then an early night. Where to eat in Ubud

Day 2: Holy springs, cliff shrines and terraces

A half-day loop north of Ubud by car, starting at the terraces at 7 AM to beat the heat and the tour buses, with the afternoon free.

Sleep in UbudNight 2 of 3

7 AM
Tegallalang Rice Terrace
Ubud’s best-known terraces, 20–30 minutes north of town. Arrive by 7 AM, go down into the valley for the view across, and expect to pay small fees at farmers’ booths along the paths. An hour is plenty.
Visitor guide : Tegallalang Rice Terrace
8:20 AM
Tirta Empul
Balinese families come to bathe under the carved spouts of this spring temple, and visitors may join them in a bathing sarong rented at the temple. Watch the order first and skip the two spouts reserved for ceremonies for the dead; an attendant will show you which. Bring dry clothes and a small towel.
Visitor guide : Tirta Empul
9:30 AM
Gunung Kawi
Five minutes from Tirta Empul, a stairway of about 300 steps drops through rice paddies to ten 11th-century shrines carved into the gorge walls. Take it slowly on the way back up and carry water.
Visitor guide : Gunung Kawi

Drive times

Central Ubud to Tegallalang: 20–30 min; From our Tegallalang Rice Terrace guide
Tegallalang to Tirta Empul: 15–20 min; From our Tegallalang Rice Terrace guide
Tirta Empul to Gunung Kawi: About 5 min; From our Gunung Kawi Tampaksiring guide
Gunung Kawi to central Ubud: 30–40 min; From our Gunung Kawi Tampaksiring guide

Sleep: Base yourself in Ubud. Ubud area guide Places to stay in Ubud
Eat: Lunch back in Ubud; book an early dinner, as the volcano pickup comes at about 2 AM. Where to eat in Ubud

Day 3: Mount Batur at sunrise

A guided night climb to watch dawn from the rim of an active volcano, a soak in the hot springs below it, and a free afternoon back in Ubud.

Sleep in UbudNight 3 of 3

4 AM
Mount Batur Sunrise Trek
Pickups from Ubud come at about 2 AM, and the climb starts from the foot of the mountain at about 4 AM. Expect 1.5–2 hours uphill on loose grit to the 1,717 m summit, then sunrise over Lake Batur and Mount Agung. Tours include a local guide, which BKSDA Bali advises, and the entry fee.
Visitor guide : Mount Batur Sunrise Trek
9 AM
Lake Batur Hot Springs
Spring water at about 38–40°C fills pools on the lakeshore, about five minutes from the trailhead. A soak straight after the descent is the obvious finish. Ask whether your trek package includes entry, and drink water before you get in.
Visitor guide : Lake Batur Hot Springs

Drive times

Ubud to the Batur trailhead: 1–1.5 hours; From our Mount Batur Sunrise Trek guide
Trailhead to Lake Batur Hot Springs: About 5 min; From our Mount Batur Sunrise Trek guide
Hot springs to Ubud: 1–1.5 hours; From our Lake Batur Hot Springs guide

Sleep: Base yourself in Ubud. Ubud area guide Places to stay in Ubud
Eat: Most tours include breakfast at the top; have a long lunch and a quiet evening in Ubud. Where to eat in Ubud

Swap: Not a climber? Stay in bed, then walk the Campuhan Ridge from about 4:30 PM, as the air cools before sunset.

Before you go:Mount Batur sunrise trek

Day 4: Cave temple and waterfall on the way to Sanur

Check out of Ubud, stop at two sights south of town and reach the east coast by mid-afternoon.

Sleep in SanurNight 1 of 2

9 AM
Goa Gajah
The “Elephant Cave” is an 11th-century sanctuary behind a carved demon’s mouth, with old bathing pools in front and a steep path down to the river. The sarong comes with the ticket. An hour covers it.
Visitor guide : Goa Gajah
10:45 AM
Tegenungan Waterfall
A wide, powerful fall on the Petanu River, about 200 steps below the road. Swimming is stopped when the river runs high, which is common in the wet season. Wear sandals with grip, as the steps and stones are slippery.
Visitor guide : Tegenungan Waterfall
3 PM
Sanur Beach
Five kilometers of public sand on the east coast, joined by a car-free paved path. A reef keeps the water flat; swim within a couple of hours of high tide, as the lagoon drains at low tide. Walk or rent a bike along the path in the late afternoon.
Visitor guide : Sanur Beach

Drive times

Central Ubud to Goa Gajah: About 15 min; From our Goa Gajah guide
Goa Gajah to Tegenungan Waterfall: 20–30 min; From our Goa Gajah guide
Tegenungan Waterfall to Sanur: 30–45 min; From our Tegenungan Waterfall guide

Sleep: Base yourself in Sanur. Sanur area guide Places to stay in Sanur
Eat: Sanur’s restaurants run along the beach path and the main strip; most are a short walk from the sand. Where to eat in Sanur

Day 5: Day trip to Nusa Penida

A fast boat from Sanur and a driver on the island for the west-coast cliffs. Book both the day before and confirm the return boat time.

Sleep in SanurNight 2 of 2

9:30 AM
Kelingking Beach
The T-Rex-shaped headland is Nusa Penida’s most photographed view, a 45- to 60-minute drive from the harbor. The view from the top is the point; the path to the beach is steep and loose, and swimming is banned. Since 1 September 2026, each ticketed site on the island has charged about IDR 25,000 per adult, paid cashless (checked Nov 2026).
Visitor guide : Kelingking Beach
11:30 AM
Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong
A round cove where the sea has cut an arch through the cliff, and a rock pool five minutes’ walk away. Both are viewpoints only. Stay well back from the seaward edge of the pool, where waves break over without warning.
Visitor guide : Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong
1:30 PM
Crystal Bay
The island’s easiest snorkeling, off a palm-backed beach on the west coast. Stay inside the line of anchored boats and never swim out to the islet; the currents around it have drowned swimmers. Leave in time for your return boat.
Visitor guide : Crystal Bay

Drive times

Sanur to Nusa Penida: 30–45 min by fast boat; From our Sanur Beach guide
Banjar Nyuh harbor to Kelingking Beach: 45–60 min; From our Kelingking Beach guide
Kelingking Beach to Broken Beach: 20–30 min; From our Kelingking Beach guide
Broken Beach to Crystal Bay: About 40 min; From our Crystal Bay guide
Crystal Bay to Toyapakeh or Banjar Nyuh harbor: 15–25 min; From our Crystal Bay guide

Sleep: Base yourself in Sanur. Sanur area guide Places to stay in Sanur
Eat: Buy lunch near Crystal Bay and have dinner back in Sanur. Where to eat in Sanur

Swap: If the sea is rough, stay on Bali and spend the day on Sanur Beach and its paved path; this plan has no spare day for a second try.

Before you go:Fast boats to Nusa Penida Nusa Penida cliffs and sea pools

Day 6: Sanur sunrise, then the Uluwatu cliffs

Watch the sun come up over the sea from Sanur, drive to Uluwatu, swim in the afternoon and finish with the Kecak.

Sleep in UluwatuNight 1 of 2

Sunrise
Sanur Beach at sunrise
Sanur faces east, so this is the coast for sunrise rather than sunset. The paved beach path fills with walkers and runners at first light, and the water is usually flat. Be on the sand about 20 minutes before sunrise.
Visitor guide : Sanur Beach at sunrise
1 PM
Padang Padang Beach
A sheltered cove through a gap in the rocks, good for a swim at low to mid tide. Keep near the middle of the cove, and stay out of the water when a big swell is running. The beach charges a small cash fee.
Visitor guide : Padang Padang Beach
4:30 PM
Uluwatu Temple
A sea temple on a cliff about 70 m above the ocean. The Kecak runs daily at 6 PM (gate from 4 PM) and costs IDR 150,000 for adults, separate from temple entry (checked Nov 2026). Walk the cliff paths before you take your seat.
Visitor guide : Uluwatu Temple

Drive times

Sanur to Uluwatu: 60–90 min; From our Sanur Beach guide
Padang Padang Beach to Uluwatu Temple: 10–15 min; From our Padang Padang Beach guide

Sleep: Base yourself in Uluwatu. Uluwatu area guide Places to stay in Uluwatu
Eat: Dinner after the show, about 7:30 PM, on Uluwatu’s cliff roads. Where to eat in Uluwatu

Day 7: Bukit beaches and the big statue

A last full day at the beach, with a cultural park on the way back from the south coast.

Sleep in UluwatuNight 2 of 2

8 AM
Bingin Beach
Steps lead down the cliff to a strip of sand and reef. At low tide the rock pools fill with small fish; at mid tide the surfers take over. It is not a swimming beach: the bottom is coral and rock, and there is no lifeguard. Wear reef shoes for the pools.
Visitor guide : Bingin Beach
11 AM
Melasti Beach
A long white beach at the foot of high cliffs, reached by a road cut through the limestone. The reef offshore calms the water; swim between the flags while lifeguards are on duty, and bring your own shade.
Visitor guide : Melasti Beach
3 PM
Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park
A cultural park built around a 121 m statue of Vishnu riding the eagle Garuda, the tallest statue in Indonesia. Balinese dances are staged daily through the afternoon. Allow about two hours, more if you take the tour inside the statue.
Visitor guide : Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park

Drive times

Bingin Beach to Melasti Beach: 25–35 min; From our Bingin Beach guide
Melasti Beach to Garuda Wisnu Kencana: 15–30 min; From our Melasti Beach guide
Uluwatu to Bali airport (day 8): 40–90 min; From our Padang Padang Beach guide

Sleep: Base yourself in Uluwatu. Uluwatu area guide Places to stay in Uluwatu
Eat: Lunch near Melasti and a last dinner on the cliffs. Where to eat in Uluwatu

Safety

Read this before the early starts

Mount Batur sunrise trek

On 12 November 2026, Indonesia’s volcano agency listed Batur at Level I (Normal), its lowest alert level; check again the day before you climb. BKSDA Bali, which manages the mountain, rates the trail Grade 1–2: about 1.5–2 hours from the base to the 1,717 m summit on sand and loose volcanic gravel that is easy to slip on, especially on the way down. The summit is very cold before dawn. Climb with a licensed local guide, wear shoes with grip and bring a warm layer and a headlamp.

Checked 12 November 2026. Sources: MAGMA Indonesia (PVMBG) volcano alert levels; BKSDA Bali, Batur trail grading (30 September 2025).

Fast boats to Nusa Penida

The crossing from Sanur takes 30–45 minutes over open water, and the ride gets rough when the swell is up. Crossings are delayed or canceled in high seas. Check BMKG’s marine forecast and high-wave warnings for Bali’s waters the evening before, wear the life jacket you are given, and do not push an operator to sail when the harbor says no. If you get seasick, sit low down at the back. Do not book a flight on the day of the crossing.

Checked 12 November 2026. Sources: BMKG marine weather and high-wave warnings.

Nusa Penida cliffs and sea pools

Swimming is banned at Kelingking Beach, Angel’s Billabong and Diamond Beach under a January 2023 circular from the Klungkung regent, after visitors drowned there. Waves can break over the rocks at Angel’s Billabong without warning, so stay out of the pool and back from its seaward edge. The path down Kelingking is steep and loose, and in September 2026 an Australian visitor died after leaving the marked path and falling from the cliff edge. Stay on the marked path and behind the rails. Treat Angel’s Billabong as a viewpoint only, and go down to Kelingking Beach only if you are a confident, sure-footed hiker, and only in dry weather.

Checked 12 November 2026. Sources: Coconuts Bali, swimming ban at Diamond Beach, Kelingking and Angel’s Billabong (January 2023); detikBali, Klungkung swimming ban (SE Bupati 556/028/Dispar/2023); The Star, 15 September 2026.

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.

Affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure

Know Before You Go

7-day trip tips that save time and trouble

01Keep the Batur day and the Nusa Penida day at least one day apart; both start before dawn.
02Book the Nusa Penida driver and the boat together, and ask which harbor you land at; Kelingking is 45–60 minutes from Banjar Nyuh.
03Bring a debit or credit card to Nusa Penida: the island fee and the site tickets are cashless. Carry small cash for parking and drinks.
04Pay Bali’s IDR 150,000 tourist levy online through the official Love Bali site before you fly (checked Nov 2026).
05Pack a warm layer and a headlamp for Batur; the summit is cold before dawn even in the dry season.
06Nyepi, the Balinese day of silence, usually in March, closes the airport and the roads for 24 hours. Check its date before you book flights.

FAQ

Bali itinerary questions, answered

How long is the fast boat from Sanur to Nusa Penida?

About 30–45 minutes, depending on the boat and the sea. Day-trip boats usually go out in the morning and come back in the afternoon. Crossings are delayed or canceled when the swell is high, so check the marine forecast the evening before and have a Bali-side plan ready; this route has no spare day.

Can you swim at Kelingking Beach?

No. A January 2023 circular from the Klungkung regent banned swimming at Kelingking Beach, Angel’s Billabong and Diamond Beach after visitors drowned there. Treat all three as viewpoints. For a swim on Nusa Penida, Crystal Bay is the usual choice, staying inside the line of anchored boats.

Is Mount Batur safe to climb?

Usually, with a licensed local guide. On 12 November 2026 Indonesia’s volcano agency listed Batur at Level I (Normal), its lowest alert level. BKSDA Bali rates the trail Grade 1–2; the real risks are slips on loose volcanic grit in the dark and the cold at the summit.

How much are the Nusa Penida entry fees?

Since 1 September 2026, each ticketed site, including Kelingking, Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong, charges about IDR 25,000 per adult, paid cashless (checked Nov 2026). Foreign visitors also pay an island fee on arrival, on top of Bali’s IDR 150,000 tourist levy.

How far is Sanur from Uluwatu?

About 60–90 minutes by car, depending on traffic around the airport junction. Leave Sanur by late morning to reach the beaches by early afternoon and avoid the 4–7 PM traffic toward Uluwatu Temple.

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

5days

5 Days in Bali: Ubud, Tanah Lot and the Uluwatu Beaches

A first trip of under a week, split between hills and sea

Ubud · 3 nights
Uluwatu · 2 nights

14 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

First trip
Travel Tips for Visiting Bali for the First Time
Honeymoon
Bali Honeymoon Guide: Where to Stay, Costs and Plans
Seasons
Best Time to Visit Bali: Month-by-Month Guide
Rainy season
Bali Rainy Season: Wet Season Month by Month

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 14 sources ↓