

Bali

Best time to go
The best time to visit Bali is between April and October, the island's dry season.
Major Travel, JTA holidays, Instantholidays, Club Med, Newmarket, Oliver Travels
Canggu
Perfect place to head in Bali if you're looking for chilled out and relaxed atmosphere. Experience great restaurants and cafes, and great surf and beaches. Authentic local vibe. Great for vegans and veggie foodies too!
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Hotel Tugu Bali- £££private pool suites, private gardens, close to Batu Bulong beach.
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Theanna Eco Villa and Spa- £££private pool villas, can get butler servive here.
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Oshan Bali Boutique Hotel- £££large private pool villas-boutique style.
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Aston Canggu Beach Resort- ££ great sea view rooms- close to Batu Bolong Beach.
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The Farm Hostel- £- For the backpackers but pretty luxurious
Ubud
Here you can see some of the most amazing monasteries and temples dating 400 years back, including the Gunung Kawi and Goa Gajah, which are in east and northeast of Ubud.-fantastic rice paddies, waterfalls and the monkey forest!
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Mandapa, A Ritz – Carlton Reserve- £££
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Hanging Gardens Of Ubud- £££- Instagram famous
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Alila Ubud- £££- fantastic for honeymooners-insta famous jungle infinity pool here
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Bisma Eight- ££- Parallel to monkey forest. Can arrange yoga lessons, e-bike tours, and Jamu medicine workshops.
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Puri Garden Hotel & Hostel- £ boutique hostel almost feels like a luxury hotel. Sure it’s a bit pricier than your average Bali hostel, but the free breakfast, free yoga classes every morning, and beautiful swimming pool make it worth the price. They hold social and activities daily.
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Arya Wellness Retreat- £ Best hostel for couples- combination of free daily wellness and social activities: meditation, yoga, pilates, healing circles, fitness classes, workshops, day trips, movie nights, cooking class, family dinners and so much more.
Private Ubud Villas:
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Viceroy Bali- ££ luxurious villas with marble bathrooms, private plunge pools and all in all perfect for a honeymoon or couples stay.
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Permata Ayung Private Estate (Adults Only) - £££- Boutique balinese inspired villas (sometimes special offers such as Free champagne on arrival - Full gourmet breakfast for 2 persons - Free 2-hour Balinese traditional massage for 2 persons - Free Daily High tea for 2 persons - Espresso machine with Malongo coffee & tea making facilities - Fiber Optic High Speed WiFi - Free Shuttle Service to Ubud Market - Free Access to Fitness center - Free one-time lunch or dinner - Free return airport transfer)
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Como Shambhala Estate- ££Large villas available here too. Begawan Village, a 15-minute drive away from Ubud
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Komaneka tanggayuda-£££ Quieter location but absolutely stunning private pool villas and views.
Seminyak
Seminyak is full of luxury villas, hotels, shopping boutiques and great restaurants. Airport is roughly a 30-minute ride away.
The Oberoi Bali- £££-top rated -insta famous.
W Bali Seminyak- £££ Amazing, one for the younger crowds- right on the beach.
Anantara Seminyak- £££- Great rooftop bar
Alila Seminyak- ££- kids club and babysitting can be found here. Beachfront.
Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach- ££- suites and pool villas
Potato head studios- £££- Great for younger, music loving crowds. This beachfront resort is stunning with a boho vibe. Best beach club in Bali too.
Kuta
The city is packed with nice hotels for all sorts of budgets; an incredible array of spas – from the most luxurious ones to the most budget-friendly places, excellent restaurants, a thriving nightlife and incredible shopping opportunities. For younger crowds the beaches get very busy here and litter is a problem.
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Hard Rock Hotel Bali- £££- fab parties
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Bali Garden Beach Resort- ££
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Sheraton Bali Kuta- £££- Great infinity pools
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Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali- £- great rooftop pool and location
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Puri Rama Hostel- £- Very close to all the nightlife and is known for being the party hostel.
Nusa Dua
Place for that ultimate honeymoon retreat, where all the high-end luxury hotels of the island are based. Nusa Dua is also a popular spot for surfing and diving. 30 minutes from airport.
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The St. Regis Bali Resort- £££- Many of the huge villas come with private pools
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The Ritz-Carlton Bali- £££- beachfront hotel via a cliff-top lobby- kids clubs here is amazing
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The Westin Resort- £££ Bali- private section of Nusa Dua Beach, combines beachfront lawns, foliage-filled gardens and a network of freshwater and saltwater pools with areas for dining, relaxing and family activity.
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Conrad Bali- ££- Conrad suites come with their own infinity pools or Conrad Pool Villa with a private plunge pool, sun terrace, as well as an outdoor bathtub.
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Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa- £-Decorated with Balinese furnishings
Uluwatu
The seaside spot, perched on the tip of the Bukit Peninsula, is most famous for its nightly kecak fire dance performance, which adds another layer of atmosphere to sunset at Land's End.
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Bulgari Resort Bali- £££- Celebrities stay at this one- you can book a meal at the clifftop restaurant here if you fancied checking it out. This is for the high end clients. High security here for obvious reasons.
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Alila Villas Uluwatu- £££- The best sunsets- great for relaxing
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Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort- ££- large private pool villas here too.
Most popular supplier(s) to use
Recommended Resorts:
Hot Spots/Stays in Bali:

Must do activities/excursions
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Ubud Tour - Best of Ubud - All Inclusive- monkey forest, Tegalalang Rice Terrace, D Alas Warung Restaurant, Tirta Empul Temple, Bali Budaya Cultural Village, Tegenungan Waterfall
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Bali Instagram tour- Lempuyang Temple (heaven gate), Tirta Gangga (Water Palace), Tukad Cepung Waterfall, Tegalalang Rice Terrace), Agro Santi Coffee Plantation, Celuk Swing & Luwak Coffee
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True Bali Experience- Swing from the height of the ayung river
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Bali Trans- private drivers for as little as £4.06 per day for a group of £15
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Rafting
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River tubing
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ATV ride
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Cycling tour
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Blow Lagoon Bali Snorkelling and see Bali Bats Cave Temple
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Mount Batur Sunrise Trekk Exploration
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Ubud Hot Springs and Waterfall Private Guided Tour
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Nusa Penida Snorkeling Adventure
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Best of Bali Waterfalls: Tibumana, Tukad Cepung and Tegenungan
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Uluwatu Sunset, Kecak Dance, and Grilled Seafood Dinner Jimbaran
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1-Hour Seminyak Beach Horse Riding
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Motel Mexicola – It has everything it needs to offer you a complete Mexican culinary experience. Here you will find authentic Mexican dishes, made of the freshest ingredients. Just thinking of their quesadillas, tacos, or antojitos, makes my mouth water.
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La Lucciola – You can try the omelette with caponata and mushrooms and you will come back for more.
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Barbacoa Bali – This is the place where you can enjoy local Latin American dishes. The chefs here use various cooking methods for their food. Try the 8 hours wood fired asado pork and you will thank me later for this recommendation.
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Watercress Café – They take their business seriously using 100% Arabica from Colombia, Ethiopia, Brazil, and Uganda. Beware as the coffee here becomes addictive.
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Sea Circus – Cheap and tasty Mexican food. It won’t disappoint you if you go for drinks also. And when it comes to desserts, you need to try the snickers cheesecake.
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Sea Vu – From here, you will hear the tales of the sea while having one of the best dinners in town. Their signature dish, the Braised Lamb Shank.
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Sisterfields Café – Get ready to wait in line if you go for a coffee in Sisterfields Café. This is one of the prettiest places.
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Revolver Espresso – Even though it is not very easy to find, Revolver Espresso will make every minute worth. They offer great coffee, delicious sandwiches, and yummy salads.
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The Fat Turtle – If you are looking for one of the best breakfasts in town, then this is the place. The wifi is also good here. So, you don’t have any excuses but to try their Eggs Benedict while you surf on the internet looking for new adventures.
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Café Kim Soo – It is impossible to resist to the handmade cakes at Café Kim Soo. The Lemon Pound Cake or the Choc Coconut Slice will make you think that you stepped in heaven.
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Sangkar Restaurant at Bulgari Resort Bali- For special occasions- must reserve in advance!
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Woo Bar – If you like mojitos, then Woo Bar has exactly what you need. Every evening, at 4 pm, travellers from all around the world, gather on the poolside deck for party vibes and signature cocktails.
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Alila Seminyak – As I am talking about signature cocktails, Alila Hotel has everything you need for an unforgettable sunset. Alila is known to be one of those places where people come for a small drink and they end up partying until the morning.
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Ku De Ta – This stylish bar located right on the beach, is known for hosting incredible parties, day and night time!
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Potato Head – The infinity pool has witnessed many epic dance parties, with international DJs acting all night long. Great for the younger crowd or couples.
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Rock Bar if you’re in the area of Uluwatu. It's one of the most famous hotspots on Bali, especially during sunset. From the rooftop bar, you can soak in the view, drink a cocktail and enjoy the music. Places are limited and early reservation is recommended!
Mount Batur-
trek up the 1,700-meter summit of Mount Batur. Once at the top, they watch the sun rise above the lush mosaic of mist-shrouded mountains and the caldera far below.
Uluwatu Temple-
one of the Bali's most famous temples, thanks to its magnificent clifftop setting. It presides over plunging sea cliffs above one of Bali's best surf spots.
Ubud Monkey Forest-
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, is one of the top things to do in Ubud, Bali. It's also one of the best places to visit in Bali if you're an animal lover or photographer. You can walk here in about 10 minutes from the town centre in Ubud.
Tegallalang and Jatiluwih Rice Terraces in Bali-
About a 30-minute drive north of Ubud, Tegallalang Rice Terraces are one of the most famous areas to photograph these iconic landscapes and absorb their timeless beauty. Be aware that locals ask for donations along the most popular trail through the rice fields here, and many request fees for entrance and parking along the road.
Pura Ulun Danu Bratan-
Most picturesque temple complexes. It sits on a small island along the western shore of Lake Bratan, in the cool highlands of central Bali.
Seminyak Shopping-
The two main shopping malls are Seminyak Square and Seminyak Village, but you'll probably find better deals in the smaller shops lining the streets.
Nusa Dua Beach-
Popular things to do at Nusa Dua include strolling for miles along the shore, swimming, surfing, parasailing, and sunbathing, but you might need to pay a fee or eat at one of the resorts to use their sun loungers.
Lempuyang Temple Complex-
Famous Instagram photo of people at the Gates of Heaven- the water reflection is a mirror trick so don't be disappointed going there.
The Sidemen Valley-
Popular things to do here include rafting the rivers; yoga retreats; and taking part in cultural activities such as dancing, carving, or traditional weaving.
Sekumpul Waterfall-
About 66 kilometers north of Ubud, this tucked-away tourist attraction is actually a series of about seven falls, cascading like long misty veils over the lip of a lush, jungle-clad cliff.
Tirta Empul Temple-
National cultural heritage site, is divided into three courtyards. The focal point is the large, rectangular pool, fed by a holy mountain spring, where locals come to pray and soak in the healing waters that gush from a series of sculpted spouts.
Waterbom Bali-
Action-packed water park, in the heart of Kuta, has something for every member of the family. Kids can splash in the swimming pools; drift down the Lazy River; or zoom down one of the many twisting water slides and rides, with names like the Python, Green Viper, and Super Bowl. Opportunities for spa treatments here too.
For the foodies
Recommended places to visit
Evening sunset beach bars and restaurants

Insider tips
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Ask for the services of BlueBird taxi as they are honest and safe and you'll get anywhere you want at a fair price. On the other hand, you can ask your concierge at the hotel for a shuttle or private car. If you prefer a bit more adventure and feel confident, then renting a scooter for a small fee is the Bali way of life!
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Example Itinerary:
DAY 1 from Ubud:
Start at Jl. Raya Ubud, the main street, and go from east to west. Visit the Puri Saren Agung, better known as the Royal Palace of Ubud. The royal family still lives in this palace, so you can only visit part of it.
Right in front of it, you’ll find the Ubud Traditional Art Market, a place where you can lose yourself among handicrafts such as handbags, sculptures, paintings, and earrings, and where you can buy the best souvenirs.
Following Raya Ubud Street, you’ll find the Pura Taman Saraswati, a must-see in Ubud. This temple dedicated to the goddess of knowledge and wisdom stands out for its two ponds full of lotus flowers.
If you keep going, you’ll see the Pura Dalem Ubud temple, where some nights there are traditional dance performances.
Returning to Raya Ubud Street, at the corner of the Art Market, the Jl. Monkey Forest street leads to one of the essential places to visit in Bali, the Sacred Monkey Forest.
DAY 2: UBUD SURROUNDINGS AND TEGALALANG
Go to Tegalalang, the most popular rice fields on the island, in the morning. In addition to strolling through the rice paddies, you can enjoy their swings with spectacular views and photograph some of the main sites of the island.
You can also stop at Tirta Empul, one of the most important temples in Bali, since the Balinese go there to purify their souls using the sacred water that flows from 12 pipes. Nearby, you can also visit the Pura Gunung Kawi, a temple in which the souls of royalty are symbolically buried and where you can visit a small waterfall.
In the afternoon, we recommend you go to the Elephant Cave, Goa Gajah. There, you can enter a grotto through the jaws of an evil monster, and inside, you’ll find a statue of Ganesh (son of Shiva with an elephant’s head). Outside the cave, you can see some ponds that are supplied with purified water through stone statues.
DAY 3: BATUR VOLCANO.
I recommend climbing the Batur volcano and seeing the sunrise from its summit. our guide will pick you up very early (around 2:30 a.m.) but having eggs for breakfast that have been cooked with the volcano’s steam is priceless. In total, it takes an hour and a half to go up. Once you’re at the top, your guide will prepare banana pancakes and boiled eggs for you. After the hike, you can go for a swim in a hot spring, visit a waterfall, or even go rafting.
If you arrive back in Ubud early and you aren’t tired, I recommend you visit Campuhan Ridge Walk. There, you’ll find beautiful rice fields dotted with huge palm trees and idyllic scenery; it’s a magical place at sunset.
DAY 4: BESAKIH, LEMPUYANG AND TIRTA GANGGA
Get up early to head to Pura Besakih, also known as Mother Temple for being the largest temple in Bali. You would need all day to see it in its entirety, since it’s composed of 22 independent temples. The most popular area and the one I recommend you to visit is Gunung Agung, where there is a 7-level temple that represents the universe. Each of the 7 levels is connected by a stairway that only Hindus are allowed to climb.
On the way to the temple of Lempuyang, you can visit the Tirta Gangga. This royal palace stands out for its tropical gardens, fountains, and ponds. Its most notable feature is a pond full of carp where you can walk on water thanks to some small platforms.
Continue to the Pura Lempuyang temple, where the well-known Gates of Heaven are. To get to this temple, you’ll need to be in good shape since you need to climb many stairs. The temple is in a mountainous area, and from the Gates of Heaven, you get one of the best views of the Agung volcano.
DAY 5: ULUN DANU BERATAN
Although Bedugul is somewhat remote, it’s worth spending a day here.
In this mountainous area to the north of the island, there’s a trio of beautiful lakes (Tamblingan, Buyan and Bratan) that are completely different from the landscape you will have seen so far.
I recommend you visit one of its waterfalls (Banyumala Twin, Git Git, or Sekumpul), the temple of Ulun Danu Beratan , located on the waters of Lake Bratan, and the Handara gate.
On the way back to Ubud, you can visit the most impressive rice fields in Bali, which are considered a World Heritage site by UNESCO for their uniqueness: the rice fields of Jatiluwih.
DAY 6: NUSA ISLANDS DAY-TRIPPING
Located just a short 20-30 minute speed boat ride off the coast of Bali are three idyllic islands: Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan, and Nusa Penida! They are all absolutely gorgeous, have unbelievable beaches, landscapes, and some of the best snorkeling/ scuba-diving in the country!
DAY 7: ULUWATU
Explore the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park.
Enjoy a long walk on the Balangan Beach.Relax at the Padang Padang Beach.Enjoy swimming and exploring the beach cave at Suluban Uluwatu Beach.
Witness the sunset from Uluwatu Temple and enjoy the “Kecak and Fire Dance” show.