Bali Classic: Self-Guided 12-Day Adventure

Arrive at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS). Take a pre-paid taxi (~£6) or Grab to your accommodation in Kuta or Seminyak. Spend the afternoon settling in, exploring the beach strip, and grabbing a cheap local meal at a warung. Watch the famous Kuta sunset from the beach — free and unmissable.

🚌Pre-paid airport taxi or Grab app (~£6) from Ngurah Rai Airport to Kuta/Seminyak

🛏Bounce Bali Hostel (Kuta) or Kuta Central Park Hotel — dorm from ~£8/night, private from ~£18/night

• →Kuta Beach sunset
• →Explore Seminyak's beach bars and streets
• →Eat at a local warung (Indonesian rice or noodle dish ~£1.50)

Spend the morning exploring Seminyak's beach and boutique shops. In the afternoon, hire a scooter (~£5/day) or take a Grab to the iconic sea temple of Tanah Lot — one of Bali's most photographed landmarks. Arrive for sunset for the most dramatic views. Entry to Tanah Lot is ~£3.

🚌Scooter rental (~£5/day) or Grab taxi to Tanah Lot (~£7 each way)

🛏Bounce Bali Hostel or Kuta Central Park Hotel

• →Seminyak Beach morning walk
• →Visit Tanah Lot sea temple at sunset (~£3 entry)
• →Scooter hire for the day (~£5)

Take a Grab or shared shuttle bus (~£5) from South Bali to Ubud — Bali's cultural heartland. Check in to your guesthouse and explore the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in the afternoon (~£4 entry). Browse the Ubud Art Market for handicrafts and souvenirs. In the evening, catch a traditional Kecak fire dance performance at Ubud Palace (~£8).

🚌Shared shuttle bus or Grab from Kuta/Seminyak to Ubud (~£5, ~1.5 hrs)

🛏Bisma Eight Hostel or Pondok Pundi Village Inn — dorm from ~£9/night, private from ~£20/night

• →Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (~£4 entry)
• →Ubud Art Market browse and bargain
• →Kecak fire dance at Ubud Palace (~£8)

Start the morning with a walk through the stunning Tegalalang Rice Terraces, just north of Ubud (~£1.50 donation). Hire a scooter or join a free walking group. In the afternoon, join a Balinese cooking class — book via GetYourGuide or directly with local schools like Paon Bali (~£25). You'll visit a local market, learn to cook 5–6 dishes, and eat your creations.

🚌Scooter rental (~£5/day) or walking/Grab for short distances

🛏Bisma Eight Hostel or Pondok Pundi Village Inn

• →Tegalalang Rice Terraces walk (~£1.50 donation)
• →Balinese cooking class via GetYourGuide or Paon Bali (~£25)
• →Explore central Ubud cafes and yoga studios

Wake at 2am for an early transfer to Mount Batur (arrange via your guesthouse or book on GetYourGuide, ~£30 including guide and transport). Hike to the summit (2,152m) for a breathtaking sunrise over the volcanic caldera and Lake Batur. Return to Ubud by midday for a well-earned rest and massage (~£8 for 1hr).

🚌Pre-arranged transport to Mount Batur via GetYourGuide or guesthouse (~included in tour price)

🛏Bisma Eight Hostel or Pondok Pundi Village Inn

• →Mount Batur sunrise hike with local guide (~£30 incl. transport via GetYourGuide)
• →Balinese massage in Ubud (~£8 for 1hr)
• →Relax at a rooftop cafe in Ubud

Hire a driver for the day (~£25 split between 2–4 travellers) to visit Pura Besakih — Bali's 'Mother Temple' on the slopes of Mount Agung (~£6 entry). Continue east to the coastal village of Amed, a laid-back diving and snorkelling hub. Check in and watch the colourful jukung fishing boats at sunset.

🚌Private driver hire for the day (~£25 split, arrange via guesthouse or Grab) from Ubud to Amed (~3 hrs)

🛏Amed Beach & Dive Resort or Santai Beach Inn — from ~£15/night

• →Pura Besakih Mother Temple (~£6 entry)
• →Scenic drive through East Bali villages
• →Sunset at Amed beach

Amed is famous for its coral reefs, colourful marine life, and the USAT Liberty shipwreck just offshore at Tulamben (~30 min away). Hire snorkel gear directly from the beach (~£4) or book a guided snorkel/dive trip to Tulamben wreck via local dive shops (snorkel trip ~£18, fun dive ~£35). Spend the afternoon relaxing on the black sand beach.

🚌Local ojek (motorbike taxi) or walk along Amed beach road

🛏Amed Beach & Dive Resort or Santai Beach Inn

• →Snorkelling at Amed House Reef (gear hire ~£4)
• →Guided snorkel or dive trip to USAT Liberty Wreck, Tulamben (~£18 snorkel / ~£35 dive)
• →Fresh seafood dinner on the beachfront (~£6)

Head west along the coast, stopping at the magnificent Tirta Gangga Water Palace — a royal garden of fountains, koi ponds, and stepping stones (~£2 entry). Continue to the quiet coastal resort of Candidasa for the night. Explore the lagoon, local warungs and clifftop views.

🚌Scooter (~£5/day) or shared bemo bus along the coastal road from Amed to Candidasa (~1 hr)

🛏Lotus Bungalows Candidasa or similar — from ~£16/night

• →Tirta Gangga Water Palace (~£2 entry)
• →Swimming in the royal pools at Tirta Gangga (~£1.50 extra)
• →Candidasa lagoon and cliffs exploration

Cross Bali's mountainous interior to reach Lovina on the north coast — a calm, black-sand beach town famous for dolphin watching. Stop at the twin waterfalls of Gitgit (~£1.50 entry) en route. Arrive in Lovina by afternoon and book a sunrise dolphin watching boat trip for the next morning (~£8, book locally).

🚌Shared shuttle bus from Candidasa to Lovina via Bedugul (~£8, ~3.5 hrs) or hire a driver (~£30 split)

🛏Harris Homestay Lovina or Rini Hotel — from ~£12/night

• →Gitgit Waterfall stop (~£1.50 entry)
• →Scenic mountain drive through Bedugul highlands
• →Book sunrise dolphin watching boat for Day 10 (~£8)

Rise at 5:30am for a sunrise dolphin watching boat trip in Lovina Bay (~£8) — spinner dolphins are frequently spotted. Spend the morning relaxing on the black sand beach. In the afternoon, head to Pura Ulun Danu Bratan — a stunning water temple floating on Lake Bratan in the Bedugul highlands (~£3 entry). Great photo opportunity.

🚌Local boat captain for dolphins (negotiate on beach, ~£8). Grab or local bemo to Bedugul (~£6)

🛏Move towards Seminyak/Canggu — or stay one more night in Lovina/Bedugul area

• →Sunrise dolphin watching boat trip (~£8)
• →Lovina black sand beach morning
• →Pura Ulun Danu Bratan water temple, Bedugul (~£3 entry)

Travel south to Canggu — Bali's coolest neighbourhood, beloved by digital nomads and surfers. Take a beginner or intermediate surf lesson at Echo Beach or Batu Bolong (~£18 via GetYourGuide or directly). Explore the cafes, beach clubs, and rice field walks in the afternoon. Watch the sunset from Tanah Lot or La Brisa beach club.

🚌Shared shuttle or Grab from Lovina/Bedugul to Canggu (~£8–12, ~2 hrs)

🛏Canggu Surf Hostel or Tribal Bali — dorm from ~£10/night, private from ~£22/night

• →Surf lesson at Echo Beach or Batu Bolong (~£18)
• →Rice field walk near Canggu
• →Sunset at La Brisa or Old Man's beach bar

Enjoy a final Balinese breakfast at a local warung. Pick up any last souvenirs from Seminyak or Kuta markets. Head to Ngurah Rai Airport via Grab (~£8 from Canggu). Allow plenty of time — Bali traffic can be unpredictable. Depart with a suitcase full of memories and a fraction less cash than the group tour version.

🚌Grab from Canggu to Ngurah Rai Airport (~£8, allow 45–90 mins depending on traffic)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final Balinese breakfast at a warung (~£2)
• →Last-minute souvenir shopping in Seminyak or Kuta
• →Departure from Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS)