Bali & Gili Islands: 14-Day Self-Launched Island Hop
14 days · Bali & Gili Islands, Indonesia
Mulai Travel charges £1,150
No-markup version: ~£847 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Mulai Travel's fully guided "Bali & Gili" loop — same route (Canggu → Nusa Lembongan → Gili Trawangan → Candidasa → Ubud → Munduk), but booked independently using hostels, guesthouses and local boats/buses instead of 4* hotels and a tour leader. You'll surf at Canggu, snorkel with manta rays off Nusa Lembongan, cycle and snorkel the Gilis, hit the Monkey Forest and rice terraces around Ubud, then finish with waterfalls and cliff jumps in the Munduk highlands. Every activity is self-bookable via GetYourGuide, Klook or directly on the ground, and costs are backpacker-realistic estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Denpasar → Canggu
Canggu / Denpasar
Land at Ngurah Rai (DPS) and get to Canggu. Cheapest is a Grab/Gojek car or Bluebird taxi (~£8-11, 45-60 min) — avoid unmarked airport touts. Settle into a surf hostel in Canggu (The Farm Hostel, Lay Day or similar dorms ~£10-14/night), grab a welcome Bintang and nasi goreng at a warung (~£4) and watch sunset from Batu Bolong beach.
🚌Airport Grab/Gojek to Canggu ~£9
🛏Canggu surf hostel dorm (~£12)
- →Airport transfer to Canggu
- →Batu Bolong sunset
- →Warung dinner
Surf lesson & Tanah Lot sunset
Canggu
Book a beginner surf lesson on Batu Bolong Beach — group lessons run ~£22-28 for 2 hours with board and instructor (walk-in or via Klook). Afternoon: rent a scooter (~£5/day) or Grab to Tanah Lot Temple for sunset (~£3 entry); the clifftop temple silhouettes are the classic Bali shot. Eat dinner at a Canggu warung or the night market.
🚌Scooter rental ~£5
🛏Canggu surf hostel dorm (~£12)
- →Beginner surf lesson (~£25)
- →Tanah Lot Temple entry (~£3)
Canggu → Nusa Lembongan
Nusa Lembongan
Take a fast boat from Sanur to Nusa Lembongan (~30 min, £15-20 one way with Rock'n'Boat, D'Camel or similar — book online or at the Sanur beach kiosks). Check into a beach guesthouse on Jungutbatu or Mushroom Bay. Afternoon: walk or scooter to Dream Beach (small entry fee) and Devil's Tears for sunset — dramatic wave-blasted cliffs with spray and rainbows.
🚌Grab to Sanur + fast boat ~£20
🛏Nusa Lembongan guesthouse (~£16)
- →Fast boat to Nusa Lembongan
- →Dream Beach
- →Devil's Tears sunset
Manta ray snorkelling
Nusa Lembongan
Join a half-day manta ray snorkelling trip (~£25-32, book at any dive shop on the island or via GetYourGuide) to Manta Point plus Crystal Bay and Mangrove Point — strong chance of mantas plus turtles and coral. Afternoon is yours: relax on the beach or rent a SUP (~£5).
🚌Local boat included in tour
🛏Nusa Lembongan guesthouse (~£16)
- →Manta Point snorkelling trip (~£28)
- →Crystal Bay
- →SUP rental (~£5)
Mangrove forest & island slow day
Nusa Lembongan
Morning traditional jukung boat tour through the Lembongan mangrove forest (~£8-12, book directly at the mangrove jetty). Cross the yellow bridge by scooter to Nusa Ceningan and stop at Blue Lagoon viewpoint. Afternoon: beach time at Jungutbatu, cheap seafood BBQ in the evening (~£7).
🚌Scooter rental ~£5
🛏Nusa Lembongan guesthouse (~£16)
- →Jukung mangrove tour (~£10)
- →Nusa Ceningan yellow bridge & Blue Lagoon
- →Seafood BBQ
Nusa Lembongan → Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan
Fast boat from Lembongan to Gili Trawangan (~2-2.5 hrs, £25-30 with Eka Jaya or similar; some services route via Padang Bai). Check into a Gili T guesthouse or hostel away from the party strip. Hire a bicycle (~£3/day) and cruise the island's west coast for sunset over Lombok's Rinjani volcano — no motorised vehicles on the islands.
🚌Fast boat Lembongan–Gili T ~£28
🛏Gili Trawangan guesthouse (~£15)
- →Fast boat crossing
- →Bicycle hire (~£3)
- →Sunset cycle west coast
Three-spot snorkel & turtle sanctuary
Gili Islands
Join a 3-island snorkelling boat trip (Gili T, Meno, Air) — ~£18-22 including gear, with turtles almost guaranteed at Turtle Point and the famous underwater statues off Gili Meno (book via Klook or any dive shop). Visit the Gili Meno turtle sanctuary (small donation). Evening: night market at Gili T for grilled fish and satay (~£5).
🚌Local boat included in snorkel trip
🛏Gili Trawangan guesthouse (~£15)
- →3-island snorkel trip (~£20)
- →Turtle sanctuary visit
- →Gili T night market
Free day on Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan
Flex day — either a try-dive or fun dive with a PADI shop (~£40-55), more snorkelling, stand-up paddleboarding (~£8), or just beach-hopping on the quieter north end. Swing by the Gili T swings at sunset. Cheapest eating is the night market or warungs in the village.
🚌Bicycle hire ~£3
🛏Gili Trawangan guesthouse (~£15)
- →Optional try-dive (~£45)
- →Beach-hopping / SUP
- →Sunset swings
Gili Trawangan → Candidasa
Candidasa
Long travel day: fast boat from Gili T to Padang Bai (~£20-25, ~1.5 hrs), then a local bemo or Grab to Candidasa (~£6, 20 min). Afternoon: visit the Samsara Living Museum near Tenganan for a hands-on look at traditional Balinese palm-sugar and weaving culture (~£8 entry) — or book a shuttle to Tenganan village. Sleep to the sound of the sea in a Candidasa guesthouse.
🚌Fast boat + Grab ~£28
🛏Candidasa guesthouse (~£16)
- →Fast boat to Padang Bai
- →Samsara Living Museum (~£8)
- →Candidasa seafront stroll
Candidasa → Ubud & Monkey Forest
Ubud
Travel to Ubud by local Perama shuttle (~£7) or Grab (~£12, 1.5 hrs). Check into a central Ubud hostel (Puji Homestay, Pondok Massa or similar ~£10-14). Afternoon: Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (~£5 entry) and a wander down Jalan Hanoman and the Campuhan Ridge Walk at golden hour (free).
🚌Perama shuttle ~£7
🛏Ubud hostel dorm (~£12)
- →Monkey Forest Sanctuary (~£5)
- →Campuhan Ridge Walk
- →Ubud market browse
Rice terraces, coffee plantation & infinity pool
Ubud
Rent a scooter (~£5) or join a Grab-driven half-day loop: Tegalalang Rice Terraces (~£3), a coffee and tea plantation tasting (free entry, optional civet coffee), and the D'Tukad infinity pool/swing combo (~£6-8). Alternatively pre-book a Mt Batur sunrise hike (~£28-35 including transport and guide) if you'd rather swap the loop for a 2am start.
🚌Scooter rental ~£5
🛏Ubud hostel dorm (~£12)
- →Tegalalang Rice Terraces
- →Coffee plantation tasting
- →D'Tukad infinity pool
- →Optional Mt Batur sunrise hike
Balinese cooking class
Ubud
Morning market visit + cooking class (~£22-28, book via GetYourGuide or Klook) — learn to make sate lilit, lawar and base gede. Afternoon free for the optional extras: white-water rafting on the Ayung (~£30), ATV quad adventure (~£28) or a silver jewellery-making workshop (~£20). Recover with a £5 massage.
🚌Walking / short Grab ~£2
🛏Ubud hostel dorm (~£12)
- →Balinese cooking class (~£25)
- →Optional rafting/ATV/silver class
- →Traditional massage (~£5)
Ubud → Munduk via Ulun Danu Beratan
Munduk
Head north through the mountains. Local bus/bemo to Bedugul (~£4) or a shared shuttle/Grab (~£15-20, 2.5 hrs), stopping at Ulun Danu Beratan Temple on Lake Beratan (~£5 entry) — the floating temple on the water. Continue to Munduk and check into a valley bungalow (~£15) overlooking the rice terraces. Cooler, quieter highlands.
🚌Shared shuttle/Grab ~£18
🛏Munduk bungalow (~£15)
- →Road trip to Bedugul
- →Ulun Danu Beratan Temple (~£5)
- →Munduk valley sunset
Sekumpul Waterfall & back to Canggu
Munduk / Canggu
Early start for Sekumpul Waterfall — hire a local guide at the trailhead (~£10-12, essential and includes the river crossings) for the walk down to the falls and natural rock waterslides. Optional cliff jumps at Aling-Aling (~£4). Lunch at a warung, then return to Canggu by shared shuttle or Grab (~£20-25, 3 hrs) for the final night — or head straight to the airport if flying out.
🚌Shared shuttle Munduk–Canggu ~£22
🛏Canggu hostel dorm (~£12) or depart
- →Sekumpul Waterfall with local guide (~£11)
- →Natural water slides
- →Return transfer to Canggu
Self-launched vs. Mulai Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Mulai Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£847 | £1,150 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £303 per person (26%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Mulai Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£847
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Bali & Gili Islands: 14-Day Self-Launched Island Hop cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £847 per person for 14 days in Bali & Gili Islands, Indonesia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Mulai Travel?+
Yes — Mulai Travel charges around £1,150 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £847 — a saving of roughly £303 (26%) per person.
How long is the Bali & Gili Islands, Indonesia trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 day-by-day stops through Bali & Gili Islands, Indonesia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, beaches, backpacker trip through Bali & Gili Islands, Indonesia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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