Self-Launched Bali: Ubud, Bedugul Waterfalls & Nusa Penida in 8 Days

Land at Ngurah Rai International (DPS) and clear immigration — buy the e-VOA online in advance (£~30) or pay on arrival, plus the Bali tourist levy (IDR 150,000, ~£7). Skip the airport taxi touts and book a Grab/Gojek car or use the official airport taxi counter to Ubud (~IDR 350,000–450,000, ~£17–22, 60–90 min depending on traffic). Check into a hostel or guesthouse in central Ubud (Jalan Hanoman, Jalan Sugriwa or Penestanan side), then wander the Campuhan Ridge Walk at golden hour and eat at a warung (nasi campur ~£2.50).

🚌Grab/Gojek or official airport taxi DPS → Ubud, ~£19

🛏Hostel dorm or fan/AC guesthouse in central Ubud, £14

• →Campuhan Ridge Walk (free)
• →Wander Jalan Hanoman & Ubud Market
• →Sort out scooter rental or Gojek/Grab app setup

This is the long day of the original itinerary (Besakih + Tirta Gangga + Samsara in one loop) and is the most awkward to do independently — the sites are 1.5–2 hours east of Ubud and spread out. The budget-smart move is to rent a scooter (~IDR 70,000–90,000/day, ~£4) if you're confident riding, or book a small-group East Bali day tour via Klook/GetYourGuide (~£30–38) which covers the same stops. Route: Tirta Gangga Water Palace first (entry ~IDR 50,000, ~£2.50) for the koi ponds, then Samsara Living Museum (entry ~IDR 50,000) for a Balinese village-life demo, then Besakih Mother Temple (complex donation/ticket ~IDR 70,000 plus sarong rental — be wary of unofficial 'guides', use the official desk). Lunch at a local warung near Rendang or Sidemen (~£2.50). Return to Ubud before dark.

🚌Small-group tour or scooter rental + fuel, ~£34

🛏Hostel dorm or guesthouse in Ubud, £14

• →Tirta Gangga Water Palace
• →Samsara Living Museum
• →Besakih Mother Temple
• →Optional Sidemen valley detour

A relaxed loop around central Ubud. Morning in a silversmithing workshop in Celuk or central Ubud — most studios sell 2–3 hour 'make your own ring' sessions for ~IDR 400,000–600,000 (~£20–30) and they're easy to book direct or via Klook. Then browse a batik gallery/shop (free to enter, buy small pieces ~£5–15). Early afternoon at Tirta Empul holy spring temple (entry ~IDR 50,000, ~£2.50; bring a sarong and rent a locker to do the purification ritual). Late afternoon at the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (entry ~IDR 80,000, ~£4) — keep bags zipped and don't feed the macaques. Evening: free Balinese dance performance at Ubud Palace most nights (~IDR 100,000, ~£5), then dinner at a night market or warung (~£3).

🚌Gojek/Grab hops around Ubud & Celuk, ~£6

🛏Hostel dorm or guesthouse in Ubud, £14

• →Silver workshop session
• →Batik gallery visit
• →Tirta Empul Holy Water Temple
• →Sacred Monkey Forest
• →Optional Ubud Palace dance show

Check out of Ubud and head north via Jatiluwih first thing — entry ~IDR 50,000 (~£2.50) for the UNESCO rice terrace, with a 1–1.5 hour flat walking loop through the paddies (better and quieter than Tegallalang). Easiest independent transport is a hired car with driver for the day (~IDR 600,000–750,000, ~£30–38, split if you're with a friend) or a private/shared transfer booked on Klook. Lunch at a terrace-view buffet or warung near Jatiluwih (~£3). Continue to Ulun Danu Beratan Temple (entry ~IDR 75,000, ~£4 — the lakeside one on all the postcards), then Wanagiri Hidden Hills viewpoint (small fee ~IDR 20,000, ~£1) for the Instagram swings and Lake Tamblingan panorama. Bedugul sits at ~1,200 m so it's genuinely cool — bring a fleece.

🚌Hired car with driver Ubud → Bedugul with stops, ~£34

🛏Simple guesthouse/homestay near Bedugul or Pancasari, £13

• →Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
• →Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
• →Wanagiri Hidden Hills viewpoint
• →Lake Beratan & Lake Buyan

Full day chasing waterfalls on the Singaraja/Munduk road. Rent a scooter locally (~£4/day — the roads here are quiet but winding, take it slow) or agree a half-day car with your guesthouse (~IDR 450,000, ~£23). Start with Gitgit Waterfall (entry ~IDR 30,000, ~£1.50) — a short paved walk from the car park. Then Banyumala Twin Waterfalls (entry ~IDR 30,000 plus a steep 15–20 min descent and climb back up — decent shoes and a dry bag are essential). Finish at Banyuwana (Banyu Wana Amertha) Waterfalls (entry ~IDR 50,000, ~£2.50), a set of jungle falls with far fewer visitors. Lunch at a roadside warung in Munduk (~£2.50) and stop at Lake Buyan viewpoint on the way home. Carry cash — ATMs up here are unreliable.

🚌Scooter rental + fuel, ~£5

🛏Simple guesthouse/homestay near Bedugul or Pancasari, £13

• →Gitgit Waterfall
• →Banyumala Twin Waterfalls
• →Banyuwana (Banyu Wana Amertha) Waterfalls
• →Lake Buyan viewpoint

Check out and travel south, ticking off the temple and waterfall stops on the way. Batuan Temple in Gianyar first (small donation ~IDR 25,000, ~£1.25) — a classic 11th-century village temple with a guided walk-through. Tegenungan Waterfall in Sukawati next (entry ~IDR 30,000, ~£1.50; there's a viewpoint at the top if you don't fancy the steps). Lunch at a local restaurant in Gianyar or Kerobokan (~£3). Save Tanah Lot for sunset — entry ~IDR 75,000 (~£4) and it's genuinely busy, so arrive by 16:30 to lock a spot on the rocks. Then drop your bags in Legian or Kuta (guesthouses around Jalan Legian/Padma, £15). Cheapest way to do this is a day-hire car (~IDR 700,000, ~£35) or a per-segment Gojek ride combo (~£25 if you're solo).

🚌Day-hire car with driver or Gojek segments Bedugul → Legian, ~£30

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in Legian/Kuta, £15

• →Batuan Temple
• →Tegenungan Waterfall
• →Tanah Lot Temple at sunset

Fast boat from Sanur to Toya Pakeh or Banjar Nyuh (~IDR 200,000–250,000 each way, ~£20–25 return, 30–45 min). Sanur is 20–30 min from Legian by Gojek (~£3–4); take the first boat out around 07:00–07:30 and the ~16:30 boat back. On the island, the standard independent option is a join-in East or West coast tour with a driver (~IDR 400,000–500,000, ~£20–25 per person) — the roads are terrible for scooter novices, so book the car. Stops: Kelingking Beach viewpoint (entry included in the island retribution fee ~IDR 50,000), Broken Beach and Angel's Billabong (same ticket), then Crystal Bay Beach for a swim and muck-diving/snorkel spot. Lunch at a local warung (~£3). Back in Legian, finish with the Jimbaran-style beach dinner replacement — a grilled seafood spot on Legian or Double Six beach (~£10–12).

🚌Gojek Sanur return + fast boat + island car tour, ~£49

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in Legian/Kuta, £15

• →Fast boat to Nusa Penida
• →Kelingking Beach viewpoint
• →Broken Beach & Angel's Billabong
• →Crystal Bay Beach
• →Sunset beach seafood dinner

Morning free for a last swim, a beach walk, or souvenir shopping at Kuta/Beachwalk or a local market. Leave for Ngurah Rai International roughly 3 hours before your flight — Gojek/Grab to DPS costs ~£4–6 from Legian and takes 20–40 min depending on traffic. Double-check your e-VOA overstay status and carry any Bali levy receipt just in case. If you have a late flight, most guesthouses will store bags for free.

🚌Gojek/Grab Legian → DPS airport, ~£5

🛏None (departure day)

• →Last beach morning in Legian/Kuta
• →Souvenir shopping
• →Transfer to Ngurah Rai International Airport