Discover Bali: Ubud, Seminyak & Gili Air - 9 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Bali, Transfer to Ubud

Welcome to the Island of Gods! Your driver will pick you up from the airport and drive you through the beautiful Balinese countryside to your hotel in Ubud, where you will have the day to relax, settle in, and enjoy the tropical jungle views and famous Balinese hospitality.

With a history dating back to the eighth century, a historical reputation as a center for natural medicine and healing, and a plethora of interesting sights to visit, including historic temples, waterfalls, and terraced rice paddies, Ubud is one of the most fascinating and beautiful destinations in Bali. The drive from the airport to Ubud is stunning, but with notoriously bad traffic and the odd religious street parade, it can take a while.

Day 2: VW Safari Tour, Kintamani, Mt Batur, Tegallalang & Bali Swing

Today, you'll set out to explore the island in vintage VW convertibles as you go on a safari tour through the countryside around Ubud before making your way out to an active volcano and rounding off your adventure with a visit to the rice terraces. Your first stop is the terraced rice fields and lush green jungle just outside of Ubud. Dotted with small villages, waterfalls, and historic temples, the landscapes out here are stunning. You'll visit Tegallalang Rice Terrace first, where you can go for a walk, fly through the air on the famous Bali Swing, go shopping on Tegallalang Crafts Street, or just sit and enjoy the view.

After that, you'll make your way out to Kintamani and Mt Batur, where you can drive past an active volcano, watch people fish in the caldera lake, take a walk on the lava fields, and visit little villages and temples along the way. In the afternoon, return to Ubud.

Day 3: Monkey Forest & Ubud Temples

Start off today's Ubud adventures with a visit to the Sacred Monkey Forest to meet the long-tail macaques. Home to about 750 monkeys, there are also three Hindu Temples in the forest, which were built around 1350. One of the temples is known as Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal or "the Great Temple of Death," while another is a "Holy Spring" bathing temple, like Tirta Empul, which you will visit later.

After exploring Monkey Forest, make your way to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed temple of Goa Gajah. Literally translated to "Cave of the Elephant," this ninth-century sanctuary was only rediscovered by Dutch archaeologists in 1923. To enter the temple, you must walk down a long flight of steps and through the mouth of the "elephant" into the cave. Don't worry, though, this intimidating character, "Boma," is not at the entrance of the temple to scare the faithful and the visitors but to dissuade the evil spirits from entering the site.

Continue your day with the visit to Gunung Kawi. Famous for its ancient relics dating back to the 11th century. this complex is located next to a small river and is surrounded by lush rice paddies that are carved out of the hillsides surrounding the shrines, which were thought to be funeral monuments dedicated to King Anak Wungsu of the Udayana dynasty and his favorite queens. After, you'll make your way to Ubud's famous Water Temple, Tirta Empul. Built in 962 CE, this Hindu temple is dedicated to purification, and its name means "sacred source" in Balinese.

Dedicated to the gods Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, and Indra, Tirta Empul is considered one of Bali's most sacred temples. This is the perfect opportunity for you to learn more about the Hindu religion and Balinese culture and understand the importance of spirituality to the people on the island of the gods.

Day 4: Transfer to Gili Air via Padangbai

It's time to say goodbye to the golds and greens of Ubud and make your way to Padangbai so you can take the boat over to Gili Air. One of an archipelago of three small islands just off the northwest coast of Lombok, the Gili Islands are famous for their laidback vibes, beautiful sunsets, and lack of motorized vehicles. You can get around the islands by bicycle, foot, or by a horse-drawn carriage called a cidomo.

The boat trip over to the island should take around an hour and a half. This afternoon, you're free to relax and do as you please. You can go snorkeling, organize scuba diving, take a cooking class, or just relax on the beach before enjoying an epic sunset.

Day 5: Free Day on Gili Air

It's hard not to fall in love with Gili Air's white sandy beaches and turquoise seas. Today is yours to relax and enjoy the island. Opt to go snorkeling or diving to catch a glimpse of the rich sea life, organize a boat trip around the islands, ride a bike around the island or go for a wander through the jungle interior before relaxing in a hammock and taking in an amazing sunset.

Day 6: Free Day on Gili Air

Spend another day relaxing in the tropical paradise of the Gili Islands. One of the best things about the Gilis is its marine life, with amazing coral, a myriad of colorful fish, and sea turtles. The best way to see them is by going diving, snorkeling, or even taking a boat trip around the islands where, if you're lucky, you might find a turtle swimming alongside you and see fish moving through the crystal clear water.

Alternatively, you can just relax in a hammock with a cocktail or a coconut, or a cocktail in a coconut, and soak up the sun and the sand before you head back to the mainland in the morning.

Day 7: Transfer to Seminyak via Padangbai

This morning, wave goodbye to paradise as we climb aboard the fast boat back to Bali. When you arrive, your driver will take you to Seminyak, the island's trendiest area. Famed for its beaches, restaurants, and nightlife, this is your chance to experience a very different side of life on the island.

When you arrive, you're free to wander, go shopping, soak up the sun on the beach, surf, relax by the pool, or even organize an optional trip to Tanah Lot, the famous Water Temple.

Day 8: Explore Seminyak

Today is your last full day in Bali, and it's free to spend however you would like. You can organize trips with your private driver down to see the breathtaking cliffs of Uluwatu or the water temple, head up to Canggu or Kuta, or just spend the day relaxing, shopping, eating, drinking cocktails in hammocks, surfing in the ocean or swimming in the pool, before taking in one last epic sunset. The choice is yours.

Day 9: Depart Bali

It's time to say goodbye to Bali. Depending on what time your flight is, you can spend one last morning relaxing in Seminyak before making your way to the airport and heading home.

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