Best of Uluwatu, Bali

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Uluwatu, Bali
Set along the Bukit Peninsula in southern Bali, Uluwatu lies near rugged, picturesque beaches and legendary surf breaks. Tall limestone cliffs overlooking the Indian Ocean provide fine vantage points for watching the sunset. While attractions are fairly limited in the area, Uluwatu has lovely hilltop resorts where you can enjoy the peaceful setting. There are also a few inviting cocktail bars and nightclubs that feature top DJs. 

Uluwatu’s most important site is the Pura Luhur Uluwatu, a Hindu temple perched dramatically on a cliff high above the crashing waves. You can spend your days checking out various beaches in the area: at cliff-backed Padang Padang Beach, you can sip coconut water on the sands and watch the monkeys playing nearby, while the boulder-scattered sands of Bingin Beach make an excellent backdrop for photos. You can also take a surfing lesson, with waves for both beginners and experts.
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Explore the stunning Bali coast on this brief but action-packed tour
Map of Balinese Beach Getaway: Uluwatu & the Bukit Peninsula - 5 Days
Balinese Beach Getaway: Uluwatu & the Bukit Peninsula - 5 Days

Bali is home to some of Indonesia's most beautiful beaches, and you'll visit some of the very best on this whirlwind five-day tour. Based on the island's spectacular Bukit Peninsula, you'll have plenty of time for sun and surf in between visiting local temples, sampling some of the island's delicious food, and enjoying a traditional dance performance.

Rock formations on the island of Nusa Penida
Map of Island Adventure in Nusa Penida & Bali  - 5 Days
Island Adventure in Nusa Penida & Bali - 5 Days

Take in the natural beauty of Indonesia's islands, from stunning rock formations to dreamy sunsets, on this 5-day adventure. Traveling by boat, you'll divide your time between the islands of Nusa Penida and Bali. Visit an underground temple and snorkel with manta rays offshore Nusa Penida before cruising over to Bali for a few days of hiking, surfing, and sunbathing on world-class beaches. Finish the trip with a night out on the town in Seminyak — a lively way to end this whirlwind island tour!

Look out over the ocean with the kids from Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple, Bali
Map of Family Adventure in Indonesia: Bali, Flores & Komodo National Park - 7 Days
Family Adventure in Indonesia: Bali, Flores & Komodo National Park - 7 Days

Looking for the perfect vacation for your family of ocean lovers? Think Indonesia. Starting on Bali's Bukit Peninsula, enjoy the perfect mix of exploration, sand, and surf before flying to the paradise of Flores and the Komodo National Park. Discover local culture and dine at an authentic fish market before departing on a three-day island cruise. Prepare to enjoy some of the world's best snorkeling and most beautiful beaches as you and the kids live the adventures family legends are made of!

The Gili Islands
Map of Unforgettable Indonesia: Bali & the Gili Islands - 11 Days
Unforgettable Indonesia: Bali & the Gili Islands - 11 Days

Perfect for leisurely exploring, this fun and culture-filled 11-day itinerary mixes things up with temple viewing, rice paddy walks, and time on the beach. Meet local people, travel in style in a VW convertible, snorkel in warm waters alongside turtles, and sail away on a sunset cruise. A stay on charming Gili Air will introduce you to a slower pace of life, where motor vehicles don't exist, and you can snooze in a hammock by the ocean at a cool beach bar.

Mangrove forest at Walakiri Beach, Sumba
Map of Nature & Beaches in Indonesia: Bali & Sumba - 12 Days
Nature & Beaches in Indonesia: Bali & Sumba - 12 Days

On this outdoor adventure, relax and explore two of Indonesia's most beautiful islands: Bali and Sumba. Begin in Uluwatu in Bali, where you'll visit the cliffside Uluwatu Temple and see a traditional dance show. Then fly to Sumba to explore thatched-roof villages, visit serene beaches, and swim beneath waterfalls. Travel eastward across the island as you take in the natural wonders around Tambolaka, Waikabubak, Tarimbang, and Waingapu. Finally, return to Bali to see one last sunset over Uluwatu.

Terraced rice fields
Map of Highlights of Bali - 8 Days
Highlights of Bali - 8 Days

Explore the culture, countryside, and coastline of the "Island of the Gods" with this eight-day itinerary. Drive around the southeastern corner of the island through rice fields, temples, villages, the Monkey Forest, a volcanic caldera, and more before ending your trip on the beach.

Learn why Bali is called the "Island of the gods" at Tirta Empul
Map of Balinese Escape: Ubud to the Gili Islands - 13 Days
Balinese Escape: Ubud to the Gili Islands - 13 Days

Experience tropical island life on this 13-day escape to Bali's ornate temples and lush landscapes. See the famous sea temple of Tanah Lot, then head to Ubud to look out over the Tegallalang rice terraces and learn to cook Balinese dishes with a local. Wind down with plenty of time to relax and snorkel on the car-free Gili Islands, then end your trip with a sunset cruise and barbecue on the golden beaches of Uluwatu.

Take a predawn hike to the top of Mount Batur and watch the sunrise
Map of Active Adventure in Bali: Munduk, Ubud, Sideman & Uluwatu - 10 Days
Active Adventure in Bali: Munduk, Ubud, Sideman & Uluwatu - 10 Days

Enjoy all the adventures Bali has to offer on this 10-day itinerary, leading active travelers on a sunrise hike atop Mount Batur, a cycle excursion through the island's verdant rice terraces in Ubud, and off-road escapades to a rubber plantation in the Pekutatan district. You'll also discover ancient temples nestled along Tamblingan Lake, witness a traditional dance performance, explore the countryside of Sidemen, and conclude with a surfing lesson on the white-sand beaches of the Bukit Peninsula.

The heart-shaped isle of Pulo Cinta
Map of Honeymooner's Secret Escape to Bali - 14 Days
Honeymooner's Secret Escape to Bali - 14 Days

You don't have to be a newlywed to enjoy this romantic itinerary ideal for adventure-loving couples with two weeks to spend. Together, you'll immerse yourselves in Bali's scenic beauty, hike to a hidden waterfall for a picnic lunch, receive a honeymooner's holy blessing ceremony, and indulge in sunning and snorkeling while savoring being romantic on tiny, heart-shaped Pulo Cinta, the "magical Island of Love."

Padar Island in Indonesia
Map of Discover Indonesia: North Sumatra, East Java & Bali - 15 Days
Discover Indonesia: North Sumatra, East Java & Bali - 15 Days

See Indonesia's highlights in Sumatra, Java, and Bali. Begin in the town of Bohorok, where you'll explore the rainforest and spot orangutans, then head to Yogyakarta to visit UNESCO-listed temples. Hike Mount Bromo and Mount Ijen at sunrise, then go snorkeling near Menjangan Island before transferring to Ubud to enjoy cultural activities, ending the trip with rafting and relaxation on the beaches around Uluwatu.

Timbumana Waterfall
Map of Indonesia's Temples & Waterfalls: Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Ubud & Uluwatu - 9 Days
Indonesia's Temples & Waterfalls: Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Ubud & Uluwatu - 9 Days

Discover temples and waterfalls on the islands of Java and Bali on this nine-day adventure. Touch down in Jakarta before heading to Yogyakarta, where you'll visit Prambanan and Borobudur temples. Fly to Ubud, Bali's cultural capital, and cool off at Timbumana Waterfall. Wander among Jatiluwih Rice Terraces' many shades of green and bike through a bamboo forest. Finally, head south to the sea and climb to Uluwatu Temple, where you can look down on crashing waves.

Explore the Taman Sari water castle in Yogyakarta home to Java's early sultans
Map of Culture & Nature in Indonesia: Yogyakarta & Bali - 8 Days
Culture & Nature in Indonesia: Yogyakarta & Bali - 8 Days

Explore the cultural and natural highlights of Java's historic city of Yogyakarta and the island of Bali on this eight-day trip. Begin by visiting Yogyakarta's shopping and night markets and discovering Borobudur Temple on a guided tour. Wander the UNESCO-listed Prambanan Temple Complex, then transfer to Bali and explore Ubud and the Tegalalang terraced rice fields, then visit a family-run Rumah Desa (village house) for a tour and traditional lunch. On your last day, say hello to the monkeys at Uluwatu Temple and enjoy the cliffside views.

Sunrise on a Balinese farm
Map of Explore Authentic Bali - 10 Days
Explore Authentic Bali - 10 Days

Soak up the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Bali on this wide-reaching 10-day tour around the island. In addition to traditional sightseeing and outdoor adventures, from visiting temples to swimming in a waterfall, this itinerary features a range of local experiences—you'll learn to cook regional dishes with a Balinese chef and spend time with a local family. You'll also snorkel, canoe, and hike through terraced rice fields before finishing the adventure on one of the island's best "hidden" beaches.

Experience Indonesian art and culture through classes and dance performances on this exciting tour
Map of Cultural Family Vacation in Indonesia: Yogyakarta & Bali - 10 Days
Cultural Family Vacation in Indonesia: Yogyakarta & Bali - 10 Days

This 10-day family adventure combines two gorgeous islands—Java and Bali—that showcase the best cultural activities in Indonesia. Start in the royal city of Yogyakarta, where you'll explore two ancient UNESCO-listed sites, including the largest Buddhist temple in the world. Then hop on a short flight to Bali and get close to Hindu traditions at temples, classes, and dance performances—with plenty of monkey sightings—for an educational trip you and your kids will never forget.

Other popular travel destinations in Indonesia
Ubud, Bali · Yogyakarta · Munduk, Bali · Bali · Pemuteran, Bali · Lombok · Gili Air · Senggigi, Lombok · Amed, Bali · Komodo Island · Kuta, Bali