Self-Launched Bali Instagram Spots: 3 Days of Temples, Rice Terraces & Waterfalls
3 days · Bali, Indonesia
ForeverVacation charges £460
No-markup version: ~£187 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of ForeverVacation's private 3-day "Bali Instagram" loop from Ubud — same headline spots (Gates of Heaven, Tirta Gangga, Tukad Cepung, Tegalalang, Ulun Danu Beratan, Handara Gate, Wanagiri, and a stack of waterfalls) but done independently using a scooter or a hired local driver, self-bookable day tours, and guesthouse stays in Ubud. Base yourself in Ubud for all three nights and day-trip out in three loops: east (Lempuyang/Tirta Gangga/Tukad Cepung), north-west (Jatiluwih/Bedugul/Wanagiri) and the Munduk waterfall belt. Costs are approximate and assume a solo traveller sharing a scooter or splitting a private driver with one other person — hiring a driver alone is the biggest cost swing.
Day-by-day
East Bali Loop: Gates of Heaven, Tirta Gangga & Tukad Cepung
Ubud / East Bali
Leave Ubud by 05:00 — the queue at Pura Lempuyang's Gates of Heaven is the single biggest time-sink in Bali and later arrivals face 2-3 hour waits. Either book a shared/small-group east Bali day tour via GetYourGuide or Klook (roughly £25-35pp, often including hotel pickup) or hire a private driver for the day (~£40-50 per car, split between travellers) — this is the one day where a driver genuinely makes sense, since the loop is 150+ km of mountain roads. Start at Pura Lempuyang for the Mount Agung framing shot, then drive down to Tirta Gangga water palace (~£3 entry) for the stepping stones and koi ponds. Lunch at a local warung near Tirta Gangga (~£3-4). Afternoon: Tukad Cepung waterfall (~£2 entry) for the light-beam cave shot — go after 13:00 when the sun is overhead. Finish with the Tegalalang rice terraces (~£3 entry) and a jungle swing at a coffee plantation on the way back into Ubud (swing packages £10-15; the plantation tour and tastings are free). Back in Ubud around 18:00-19:00 for dinner.
🚌Private driver for the day (~£40-50/car, split 2 ways) or a small-group east Bali day tour booked on GetYourGuide/Klook (~£25-35pp with pickup)
🛏Ubud guesthouse or hostel private room (e.g. family-run homestay around Jalan Hanoman or Jalan Bisma), ~£15-20/night
- →Pura Lempuyang 'Gates of Heaven' at sunrise
- →Tirta Gangga water palace
- →Mount Agung viewpoints
- →Tukad Cepung waterfall
- →Tegalalang rice terraces
- →Jungle swing & coffee plantation tasting
North-West Loop: Jatiluwih, Ulun Danu Beratan, Handara Gate & Wanagiri
Ubud / Bedugul / Munduk
Second early start (06:00-06:30) for the north-west circuit — cooler, higher-altitude country and the most photogenic rice terraces in Bali. Rent a scooter (~£5-7/day plus petrol ~£1.50) if you're confident on Balinese roads, or split a private driver (~£40-50/car). First stop Jatiluwih Rice Terrace (~£3 entry) — UNESCO-listed, far quieter than Tegalalang, with a 1-1.5 hour walking loop through the paddies. Then up to Ulun Danu Beratan Temple (~£3.50 entry) on the lake for the floating-temple shot (best light mid-morning). Lunch at a warung in Bedugul market (~£3-4, try the strawberry stalls). Afternoon: Handara Gate (~£2 photo fee) for the split-gate shot, then Wanagiri Hidden Hill (~£2-3) for the twin-lake swings and bird nests. Finish at Nungnung Waterfall (~£1.50 entry, ~500 steps down and back — the climb up is the real workout) before returning to Ubud around 18:30. Pack a light rain jacket; this is the wettest part of the island.
🚌Scooter rental (~£6/day + petrol) OR shared private driver (~£40-50/car split between travellers)
🛏Same Ubud guesthouse, ~£15-20/night
- →Jatiluwih Rice Terrace walk
- →Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
- →Handara Gate photo stop
- →Wanagiri Hidden Hill twin-lake viewpoint
- →Nungnung Waterfall
Secret Waterfall Day: Leke Leke, Banyumala, Munduk & Banyu Wana Amertha
Ubud / Munduk
Final day chasing the northern waterfall belt. A shared small-group 'secret waterfalls' day tour runs roughly £25-35pp via GetYourGuide or Klook and is the easiest option; alternatively hire a driver (~£45-55/car — this route is long) or self-drive by scooter if you're comfortable with steep, winding mountain roads. Start at Leke Leke Waterfall (~£2 entry, short jungle walk), then push north to Munduk for Banyumala Twin Waterfall (~£2 entry, steep but manageable trail) and Munduk Waterfall (~£1.50). Add Banyu Wana Amertha (~£2) if time and legs allow — it's a triple waterfall cluster and usually the quietest of the four. Lunch at a Munduk warung with rice-terrace views (~£3-4). Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a dry bag and cash for entry fees — most of these gates are cash-only. Return to Ubud by evening, or ask the driver to drop you at your onward accommodation. Perfect wind-down: a £6-8 Balinese massage in Ubud and a nasi campur dinner (~£4).
🚌Shared small-group waterfall tour (~£25-35pp) or private driver (~£45-55/car split) or scooter (~£6/day)
🛏Same Ubud guesthouse (or onward travel), ~£15-20/night
- →Leke Leke Waterfall
- →Banyumala Twin Waterfall
- →Munduk Waterfall
- →Banyu Wana Amertha Waterfall
- →Optional Ubud massage & night market dinner
Self-launched vs. ForeverVacation
| This itinerary (self-launched) | ForeverVacation | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£187 | £460 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £273 per person (59%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more ForeverVacation-style trips? Check them out here.~£187
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 Self-Launched Bali Instagram Spots: 3 Days of Temples, Rice Terraces & Waterfalls cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £187 per person for 3 days in Bali, 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 ForeverVacation?+
Yes — ForeverVacation charges around £460 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £187 — a saving of roughly £273 (59%) per person.
How long is the Bali, Indonesia trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Bali, 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, culture, hiking trip through Bali, 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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