Jan 222 min read

The ultimate Bali travel guide (2023 updated)

Bali is a dream destination with a waterfall nearby no mather where you are, palm trees everywhere and amazing food to fill your belly. We've stayed on this gorgeous island for 3 months combined and for each time we've discovered something new and exciting. This is my most updated travel guide (2023) which would fit perfectly for a 3-week trip + a bonus trip to the Komodo Islands.

This guide will include:

Important tips you should know before traveling to Bali
An itinerary and map of our journey
Recommendations for each area
Bonus trip to Komodo Islands!
Places we stayed
Costs of our trip

What you need to know before your Bali trip

VISA: You can get a 30-day visa on arrival or an e-visa on Indonesia’s site: molina.imigrasi.go.id 🧑‍💻 If you buy it online you can also extend it to 60 days on the same website instead of going to the autorities a bunch of times (which you have to do to extend a visa-on-arrival) 🛬
BEFORE FLYING: An onward ticket & the Satusehat app is required. The app just need to be on your phone before departure to Indonesia. I have heard it’s not regularly checked, but the airline we flew with wanted to see it! You don’t have to open the app at all📱
TAXES: When going to western restaurants there’s often a 15-20% tax on top of the prices listed. Local restaurants (warungs) don’t have them, so this is a great way to save money 💰
TRANSPORT: The cheapest (and quickest!!!) mode of transport is scooters. I recommend renting a scooter on balirentscooter.com with airport pick-up. That way you don’t have to pay for a cab and you don’t have to haggle with scooter rentals. Download Gojek or Grab (or both) if you don’t want to drive yourself 🛵
DATA: Sim cards with data are easy to purchase at the airport. Telkomsel is the best and works all over Bali and nearby islands 🤳
BALI BELLY: We avoided stomach issues aka “bali belly” by following a few rules; don’t drink tap water, don’t eat raw vegetables (in case they have been washed in tap water), brush your teeth with bottled water and check the Google reviews 🍽️

Our complete itinerary with map!

The itinerary:

A) Bukit / Uluwatu

B) Canggu

C) Ubud area

D) Jatiluwuh

E) Munduk area

F) Sekumpul

G) Mt Batur, Kintamani

H) Sidemen area

I) Padang Bai – the ferry to the Gili Islands

J) Sanur – the ferry to the Nusa Islands

Bonus) The Komodo Islands

1. The southern tip: Bukit 🌊🐚🏄

Home to rocky beaches, pool clubs and a surfer paradise. Most famous area is around Uluwatu, where you’ll find lots of trendy cafés and some of the most famous beaches in Bali next door. NB! The tide really plays a big part on all the beaches in Bukit. When it is high tide, there is little to no beach and the waves are insane, which is why the area is crawling with surfers. At low tide, it becomes so low that the only places you can take a dip is in one of the many rock tide pools and it is much more suitable for tanning.

Top beaches:

📍Balangan Beach

5k parking fee. Stunning viewpoint on the cliff just north of the beach. There is a set of concrete stairs that connects the beach and the parking lot. Seemed like a good place for both beginners and seasoned surfers. Surfboards can be rented for as little as 50k IDR.

📍Melasti Beach

10k per person + 2k parking fee. Toilets, showers and changing rooms are part of the entrance fee which is nice. There is also several warungs, a convenience store and multiple beach clubs to accommodate beachgoers.

📍Nyang Nyang

The entrance fee is donation-based. The west entrance has a newly constructed road from the top of the cliff to the shoreline. By scooter you can drive all the way to the beach and park but keep in mind that it is a very steep and very winding road. We managed though, but lots of people descended on foot instead. The reef goes all the way to the shore, so it is best to have shoes. Lots of natural pools show up at low tide, when the water is calmer.

📍Nunggalan Beach

Home to a little cool shipwreck on the shore about 2 kilometers from Nyang Nyang Beach. The two beaches are connected, but we took a different path to Nunggalan, but the path down was soooo long that we wished we had just walked on the beach from Nyang Nyang.

📍Blue Point/Suluban Beach

10k parking fee. A nice little cove between the cliffs, but there’s only a beach to hang out on when it is low tide. The rest of the day it is only for surfers, but it is fun to see. There’s a pool on the edge of the cliff that you can visit for 100k/person for the day.

📍Thomas Beach

One of the few free beaches in the area. Just opposite Suka Espresso there is a white chalky driveway that leads down to the beach. It is a 5 minute walk down the stairway to the beach. I wish I had watershoes because there's a lot of reef. At low tide, there is so many tide pools to sit in though!

📍Bingin Beach

5k parking fee. You have to park at the top of the cliff and walk down to the beach through a paved alleyway and some restaurants and hilltop accommodations. It is a small and very busy beach, but if you head south along the sand, you’ll find smaller secluded beaches.

📍Green Bowl Beach

12k parking fee. One of the most secluded beaches on Bukit as you will have to descend 300 cencrete steps to reach the shore. Make sure to go at low tide so you didn’t take the journey in vain. At high tide the water reaches all the way to the stairway.

Restaurants I recommend:

📍Chela – share a brunch platter

📍Suka Espresso – famous coffee shop

📍La Baracca – really good pizza

The BEST sunset spot:

📍Uluwatu/Karan Boma Cliff – 5k per person

2. The cities of Canggu & Seminyak 🛍️🥑🥞

These areas are the trendiest part of Bali. Home to partygoers, surfers, expats and digital nomads. Especially Canggu is famous for its young and energetic vibes. The selection of restaurants, shops and cafes is uncanny and impossible to get through on one holiday, but I’d spend a few days in Canggu and try. Be prepared for the worse traffic ever – especially the high season is quite hectic!!

📍Canggu

You could walk around in Canggu and find a new place worth visiting on every corner, but here's some of my top recs anyways!

Breakfast/lunch:

Brunch Club Bali – fluffy soufflé pancakes also known as porncakes.
Copenhagen Canggu – delishious Nordic brunch. Known for their rye bread and other danish specialties.
Kedai Bantan – a tiny hidden warung with good western breakfast and local prices.
Rise and shine – fair prices and good breakfast from 7am-3pm every day.
The Rabbithole Bakery Project – awesome croissants and the best chai latte I’ve had in Bali!
Tickled Pink – really cute place just a little way out of Canggu. It’s not very famous yet, so it’s quiet and has a great view of the rice fields.
CRATE – THE place to eat in Canggu. The large place is always buzzing with people, and the food is fairly priced and the portions are generous!

Dinner spots:

Lola’s Cantina Mexicana – so good mexican food and great vibes
Local Warung – good and affordable Nasi Campur!

Sunset spots:

La Brisa – huge sunset bar at Canggu Beach. Doubles as a market place every Sunday from 10am-4pm
Pasut Beach – it is an hour north from Canggu, but the black sand beach is just something special. Locals and tourists alike drive on scooters on the beach, the black sand sparkles during golden hour and you can watch the sun set behind hundreds of palm trees.

📍Seminyak

A little city between Kuta and Canggu full of shopping and insta-friendly restaurants! Compared to its two neighbors, Seminyak is more fancy. I recommend spending at least one night here or do a day trip from Canggu:

Breakfast at Kynd Community
Spa day at stunning Bodyworks Spa
Lunch at the funny-looking Sea Circus (mexican)
Shopping spree in the city centre and the on the road down to Double Six Beach
Sunset dinner at the colorful beach bar: La Plancha
Drinks at Motel Mexicola

Where to stay:

📍The Cali Villas Canggu

The most ✨aesthetic✨ villa I have EVER experienced. Both outside and inside. Check out their instagram @thecalivillascanggu to check it out. It is the most boujee place and actually affordable since it fits 4 persons.

3. The cultural center of Bali: Ubud 🛕🌴💫

Located neatly in the middle of the island, Ubud is the perfect base to explore central Bali. It is full of cafes, yoga and art markets. But the real gem is the area around Ubud. Lush green rice fields, jungle, waterfalls and temples. The area is also known for its unique accommodations like bamboo treehouses in the jungle and pool villas surrounded by rice fields.

What to visit in the Ubud area:

📍Tibumana Waterfall

Cute waterfall that you can swim in and there’s hardly any people around in the morning. The entrance fee is 20k/pers.

📍Adilla’s Spot

An alleyway of palm trees found on the way to Tibumana, which just lines up perfectly!

📍Suwat Waterfall

A newly discovered waterfall that is increasing in popularity but for now it is still fairly quiet there. The water is 7m deep in some places! There’s a surprisingly large bamboo raft by the pool, which makes for a great photo. You can take it for a spin for a small donation (we gave him 20k). The entrance is 25k/pers.

📍Tegallalang Rice Terraces

Maybe the most iconic place in all of Bali and definitely one of the most beautiful. Sunrise or sunset is extra magical here because the light makes it even more dreamy! The entrance is 50k (or 10k if you take the back entrance). Here’s a guide I used to get to the cheaper entrance.

📍Alas Harum

A pretty part of the rice fields next to Cretya Beach Club. It opens at 8am and costs 50k to explore.

📍Tirta Empul

The Holy Springs of Tirta Empul is a large sacred water temple where you can bade in the holy water and go through a sacred ritual of cleansing your body and soul in the fountains. The entrance is 50k plus 15k to get a sarong to go into the water. Remember your bathing suit!

📍Pura Taman Pecampuhan Sala Temple

A smaller and less famous water temple. Great if you want to experience the sacred Balinese Hindu ritual of purification in a more private setting.

📍Goa Raja Waterfall

A beautiful waterfall in a cave just a short distance from the famous Tukad Cepung cave waterfall. There’s also a small natural pool for swimming where you can sit and enjoy the view of the waterfall. The entrance fee is 20k/pers.

Pool clubs to visit:

📍Tis Café

The prettiest view of the rice fields and the nicest pool. The café opens at 8am so you can come after sunrise and grab one of the sun loungers at the pool and chill for the day. It’s 250k/pers deposit for a sun lounger, which covers breakfast and lunch at their restaurant.

📍Kelapa Muda

A hidden Ubud gem with free access to the pool all day, bean bags and no minimum spend! and DON'T get me started on the surroundings. Snucked inbetween the rice fields... It is not an actual pool club but is a quiet place to spend the day beside a pool.

📍Cretya Day Club

The famous pool club overlooking Tegalalang Rice Fields has a 50k entrance fee. For this price you can take a dip in the pool and explore Alas Harum, but it’s very expensive to sit and it becomes crowded later in the day so best arrive when they open at 9am.

📍Cretya Sunset

No entrance fee, no minimum spend and perfect for a sunset drink.

Where to stay:

📍Zen Hideaway

A budget-friendly bamboo treehouse if you cannot afford Camaya Bali. #3 is the best in my opinion because it has a huge hanging net overlooking the jungle. It also fits 4 people with two double beds, so it is fairly affordable!

📍Samu House Ubud

A pool villa in the rice fields on the outskirts of Ubud. Besides the obvious pull, there is also floating breakfast and a private cinema on the terrace. Take the bed outside and watch a movie at sunset!

Cool places to eat:

📍Lazy Cats Cafe

A famous remote worker café, trendy food and overall just a vibe! Located in the center of Ubud on the first floor overlooking the busy road.

📍Sweet Orange Warung

The most beautiful warung in the pretty rice fields of Ubud. Take a walk through the rice fields in the morning and have breakfast or lunch there.

📍Taman Dedari

A cool restaurant with gigantic goddess statues in the backyard and lots of extravagant decorations. The cuisine is for everyone – both local food and European.

What to do inside the city limits:

📍Bali Botanica Spa

Relax with a flower bath and massage at the Bali Botanica Spa.

📍Campuhan Ridge Walk

Nice sunset walk overlooking the jungle.

📍Ubud Art Market

Very touristy but fun to take a stroll through and great if you’re looking for souvenirs.

📍Ubud Monkey Forest

Kind of a tourist trap, but still a great place to see monkeys hanging around on monkey statues, taking selfies with people (haha) and maybe stealing your lunch (keep your backpack ZIPPED).

4. Northeast: Munduk, Sekumpul & Lovina 💦⛰️💫

Most people stop going north after Ubud, but just an hour northeast of Ubud you will find stunning areas with hills, jungle and waterfalls. In Northern Bali we discovered some of our favorite waterfalls on the island, like NungNung, Leke Leke, Red Coral and Sekumpul. The most well-known area of Northeast Bali is the Munduk area, which makes it an ideal place to use as base while exploring the surroundings.

STOP 1: Between Ubud & Munduk

📍Leke Leke Waterfall

50k/pers entrance fee. For every waterfall in Bali, there's a pretty long steep road/stairs up and down, and this is no exception. Bali is really great if you want to improve your fitness haha! This is still a very cute waterfall a little bit off the beaten path.

📍Nung Nung Waterfall

20k/pers entrance fee + 5k parking. This waterfall is so worth the trek up and down! It is big and powerful. Just remember to bring water!

📍Jatiluwuh Rice Terraces

40k/pers entrance fee + 5k parking. The rice fields has 5 self guided walking and biking tracks through the terraces ranging from 1.5 to 5km. The best place to start is at the lookout just before the entrance to the rice terrace. When you’re done with your walk, I recommend visiting Batu Karu Kopi for lunch overlooking the fields.

STOP 2: Munduk area

📍Ulun Danu Berathan Temple

See the sunrise from the famous Ulun Danu Berathan Temple.

📍Handara Gate

It is actually just the entrance to a golf resort which is kind of funny I think, but the picturesque Handara Gate has become a big photo attraction that people line up to take and it sure is pretty!

📍Banya Wana Amertha Waterfall

This is the prettiest and most unique waterfall of 4 waterfalls in the same area (within same ticket). The water bursts out of a large rock and into a small creek, which creates a fairytale-like scenery. The 20-minute hike down to the falls takes you through the lush banana plantations and is mostly shaded, but I recommend going in the morning.

📍Warung Adit

Good, cheap Indonesian restaurant with a great view (especially from the first floor), that I recommend visiting if you’re staying nearby in the Munduk area.

📍Git Git Waterfall

One of the bigger and more powerfull watefalls Bali has to offer! Git Git is an easy 10 min walk and only cost 20k/pers to visit – however, guides in the parking lot will try to trick you into getting a guide for 125 IDR ($9) which is so unneccesary. Just say no thanks, and walk to the entrance across the road. You will see a sign leading you to a narrow pathway, which will take you right there.

📍Munduk Waterfalls Trail

In the mood for a fairly easy hike with lots to see? The waterfall trail starting in Munduk Village is a 5 km return trip. Start with Golden Valley to Red Coral to Labuan Kebo to Melanting Waterfall. BUT if you only have time for one, “Red Coral Waterfall” is THE best which is why it is also referred to as “Munduk Waterfall” and also my favorite waterfall in the Munduk area.

📍Aling Aling Waterfall

This one is for the adventureous! It is a little hike, passing several small waterfalls and rivers, but at Aling Aling you can jump from the height of 5, 10 and 15 meters and slide down a few as well. You have to have a guide to ensure your safety which is 125k/pers which includes a few hours of fun!

STOP 3: Sekumpul

📍Sekumpul & Fiji Waterfall

Probably my favorite waterfalls in Bali. From Munduk, be prepared for an hour of winding roads and lots of up and down hills. The magnificent waterfall of Sekumpul is one of the biggest on Bali and a must-see in my book.

There is a lot of different ways to see the waterfalls and also two entrances. If you go to the entrance in Sekumpul Village, you can pay 20k/pers ($2) and see the waterfall from the viewpoint. No hiking. Or you can hike down from either Sekumpul Village og Lemukih Village, which is 125k ($10) or 200k ($15) if you include Fiji Waterfall (which you should). Option 2 & 3 includes a local guide which is mandatory.

On the way to the entrance, there is a lot of fake registration points and ticket booths, trying to sell you overpriced guides. Just keep going to the official parking lot, which is called “Central Parking Sekumpul Waterfall/Start Point” on Google Maps or route your GPS to “Warung Fiji”, which is the starting point from Lemukih Village.

I recommend starting in Lemukih Village. It is the lesser known entrance, which makes it a lot easier to get in without too much hassle. It is also a very easy hike – 20-30 minutes and then 10 minutes from Sekumpul to Fiji Waterfall. When going this way, it makes is easier to add the Lemukih Waterslide to the day trip which was my favorite part of the day!

📍Lemukih Natural Waterslide

Bali’s secret natural waterslide! Yet another waterfall of Bali, but this one doubles as the funniest natural waterslide! It is about 50 meters of waterfall slide – similar to a slip-n-slide in a waterpark. To reach it you can either add it to your Sekumpul Waterfall Hike or you can enter it from Lemukih Village. You will see the sign when driving to “Warung Fiji” at the Lemukih entrance for Sekumpul. From here it is a 10 minute walk through the rice fields. There are a few other trails that intersect with the pay but if you stay on the main path all the way to the water slides, you should be good. For 20k IDR ($2), you will be given watershoes and tire-tubes to sit on and then you are free to stay as long as you want to!

STOP 4: Lovina

📍Lovina

The laidback coastal town is famous for its wild dolphin sunrise experiences. Dolphin families glide through the water and leap through the air every day here. Spotting a dolphin at dawn is basically guaranteed and for as little as $5, a fisherman boat will take you dolphin watching at the break of dawn. You can also “swim” with the dolphins by hanging off the boat, which I haven’t seen anywhere else! Unfortunately we had to skip it but check it out for yourself!

5. Mount Batur, Kintamani 🌋☀️🥾

Kintamani is the name of the area of Bali’s easiest volcano hike. Out of Bali’s 3 volcanos, Mount Batur is the most famous and the most active also, so check whether it is safe to climb before going! People flock to Mt Batur for one of the best activities in Bali: Hiking the Batur Volcano at sunrise. From the top you get a splendid view of Mt Agung – the second most famous volcano, but this one takes a bit of training to hike.

What you need to know:

Distance: 3-5 km return depending on the starting point
Top elevation: 1.171 meters (5,633 feet)
The hike took us about 2 hours starting at 4am
Entrance fee: Rp 100.000 per person
A guide is mandatory when climbing Mt Batur. The easiest is to book a tour, which most often includes the entrance fee and also breakfast at the top.
Guide fee: Range from 350k IDR to 500k IDR.
Breakfast: Many tours include breakfast at the top, which is nice. We got a banana sandwich, some fruit and an egg cooked on top op the mountain. Since Mt Batur is an active volcano, there are heat vents around the top of the crater, which the tour guides cook the eggs in.
This is the tour we chose and recommend!

Where to stay:

If you stay a night at a hotel directly in Kintamani, you can walk to the volcano from your hotel or get picked up by your driver! That means starting at 4 AM, instead of 1-2 AM if you start from other areas of Bali like Ubud, Kuta, or Sanur. If you are short on time, you can time a tour from Ubud and take a day tour starting at 1-2 AM.

How long should you stay in Kintamani:

We stayed 3 nights, but I recommend staying at least 2. If you get unlucky with the weather, you have a second chance, or you can use your second day to restitute and see the rest of Kintamani.

Recommended activities:

Watch the sunrise from one of the many coffee shops and cafés in Kintamani overlooking Mt Batur, Lake Batur and Mt Agung. I recommend Paperhills or AKASA Kintamani Coffee, but the road is specced with cafés that all looks really great. There’s even a Starbucks! ☕️
Get a different perspective from the other side of Kintamani around Kayupadi Sunrise. This is a camping area, which you could also try, or you can just drive up there to enjoy the view.
Relax in one of the volcanic hot springs around Lake Batur.
Check out the beautiful Balinese temples.

6. East Bali 🌋🛕🤿

Bali’s eastern region is home to volcanoes, well-preserved ancient temples and villages and some of Bali’s best diving destinations. The active volcano Mt Agung watches over the region, standing tall with its 3142 m (10,308ft). Some of the most famous villages are Sidemen and Padang Bai, which is the gateway to the Gili Islands.

📍Lahangan Sweet Viewpoint

The best view of Mt Agung and a pretty photo location. 20k IDR entrance fee. Mornings are most likely to have a clear view of the volcano, so visit in the morning.

📍Bukit Cinta 🌄

One the most iconic views in Bali is located very secluded in the eastern parts of Bali. The viewpoint has one the best views of Mt. Agung and the rice fields below it. Write “Bukit Cinta” on Google Maps, wake up early and let Maps take you to the viewpoint for sunrise for a magical experience.

📍Gembleng Waterfall, Sidemen

It was raining for days when we reached the eastern shore, so we didn’t get to see much of the east, but this looks like such a cute waterfall with a natural pool at the top to complete it. It is supposedly very easy to get to!

📍Virgin Beach, Karangsem

I have heard that this is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. We didn’t see it for ourselves, but let me know if they are right!

📍Pantai Pasir Hitam

One of Bali’s cool black sand beaches. To access the beach you have to descend down a high bamboo ladder, so it makes for quite a unique beach experience. 😂

📍Warung Batas Kota

This is a small Korean restaurant with the cheapest and BEST food. I really reccommend having dinner here. We found that this area was a perfect base while exploring the east coast of Bali so we stayed nearby.

📍Padang Bai

The port to Gili Islands. Not the most exciting town, but I recommend staying a night here so you can leave your 🛵 with the accommodation while you visit Gili.

Bask Nest underwater statues at Gili Meno

7. Gili Islands 🏝️🐢🚴‍♀️

The islands with zero motors, lots of bicycles, an insane amount of sea turtles and the bluest water to snorkel in. The 3 islands are dotted with palm trees, beaches, resorts, restaurants and bars. Gili Trawangan is famous for its night life and buzzing atmosphere. Gili Meno is known for its peace and quiet. Gili Air is a mixture of the two if you can’t decide. I recommend making Gili T your base if you want things going on all the time and then do day trips to the other islands, or plan a few nights on each island for the full experience. Jacob and I don’t really party, but we still loved Gili T as much as the other two.

The only way to get around the islands is on foot or bike. You can rent bicycles for 50k IDR a day. The three islands are connected by cheap 5-minute boat rides that runs between 8am - 4.30pm. You can buy tickets at the harbors.

From Bali, the easiest way to reach Gili, is by taking a fast ferry from Padang Bai in Eastern Bali. It takes around 2 hours and I recommend taking a sea sickness pill beforehand as the sea can get very rough in this area! We bought all our tickets on 12go.asia

What you need to know before going to Gili:

Besides bikes, there is a lot of horse taxis which are not recommended since it is commonly known that they are not treated well. Instead, pack light so you can carry it to your accommodation.
If the seas are rough, the fast boats to Bali sometimes gets cancelled, so it is a good idea to have some buffer days before you fly home. We got stuck for 3 extra days, but don’t let it scare you – I would still go back!
Everything is more expensive on Gili. Especially groceries and amenities, so stock up on sunscreen beforehand and don’t expect to cook for yourself.

📍Gili Trawangan

Gili T is the largest of the islands but it is still small and can be explored in an hour or two on a bike. The island is buzzing with people chilling, partying, going to the beaches and snorkeling and eating good food. 

Pretty pink sunset drinks at PinkCoco
Street food dinner at Gili T Night Market. The best and cheapest place to eat on Gili T. The place is brimming with stalls that only serve a variety of veggie dishes and barbequed fish, meat and vegetables. We opted for the veggie dishes which was SO GOOD as we had heard a few people before us getting Bali Belly on Gili T. We ate here 3 nights in a row and everything was fine though!
Snorkel with turtles at Turtle Point. Located at the upper east corner of Gilit T. It is easy to find street vendors with snorkels and fins if you didn’t bring your own.
Sunset beer in a beanbag at The Exile Bar
Cycle through the flower alley Lover’s Lane. A flower-covered alleyway to Kelapo Villas makes for the prettiest walk or ride on the island.
Photoshoot in the palm tree groves. It might not look like it, but once you get past the main part of town, there are fields of symmetrical palm trees and super scenic roads. A few of the best ones are just outside Kelapa Villas and Lover’s Lane. Just watch your head for falling coconuts!
Brunch buffet at Fat Cats Bar & Restaurant. As a Dane, I loooove a brunch buffet, which is not easy to find on Bali. Fat Cats offers a great buffet which is only 110k/pers from 7am to 10am.
Movie on the beach at Aston Sunset Beach Resort. Every night, Aston Sunset shows a free movie on the beach in front of the hotel for guests and non-guests alike at 7.30pm and 9.30pm. The movie schedule for the week is released on a big board in front of their beach.
Trendy western breakfast at The Banyan Tree
Smoothie bowls at Hello Capitano
Have a cheap crépe for lunch from one of the many street vendors along the beach

📍Gili Air

The island is a more relaxed and less crowded version of Gili T. You can still find bars, shops and restaurants, but everything is more chill. It is favored by couples especially. The small island can be explored within 30 minutes by bicycle.

Happy hour at Gili Lumbung Bar
Snorkel with turtles
5-star pizza at Mama Pizza
Gili Bliss smoothie bowls
Really good pizzas at Classico Italiano
Movie on the beach at Royal Regantris
Eat, Pray, Love. Mamma Mia. Titanic. Every night we watched a movie on the beach in front of the hotel Royal Regantris. It is free, as long as you buy something from the bar or restaurant. No minimum spend. It is a small place, so arrive at least 15 min before the movie starts to secure a beanbag.
Movie night at Begadang (tuesdays)

📍Gili Meno

Gili Meno is the smallest and most quiet island of the three, and often favorised by couples and everyone trying to get away from the hustle and bustle. Gili Meno has only 400 local residents, and is the least touristy island of the three. 

Snorkel at Bask Nest – underwater statues 🤿🫧
Many people take a tour from Gili T to see the underwater statues, which is the biggest snorkeling attraction on Gili. It is 38 life-size human sculptures that has been placed to help the nearby reef thrive better. At Gili Meno, you don’t have to take a tour – you can just snorkel off the beach if you start at Le Pirate Beach Club
Snorkel with turtles in the North of Meno
We wanted to go to Turtle Point which is northeast, but we ended up going to the north coast, where we got to swim with lots of turtles completely undisturbed by other snorklers.
Swim to see the Gili Island Wreck (Meno Bounty)
Watch the sunset on the east coast

8. The Nusa Islands 🌊🐠⛱️

The group of islands consists of Nusa Penida, Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan. Known for its spectacular coastal cliff sides, pristine beaches, manta ray snorkeling and its proximity to Bali. Only a 30 minute boat ride from Sanur on Bali mainland and you reach a paradise of endless blues and white sand beaches. Many people visit the famous Nusa Penida. Either on a day trip or by staying a few days on the island while Nusa Ceningan and Lembongan are popular but still relatively quiet. A yellow pedestrian / scooter bridge connects the two islands and in between the seagrass farmers work on their farms.

Practical information:

A boat from Sanur to Nusa Penida or Lembongan costs around $30
Scooter rental is 70-80k IDR/day and the best way to get around the islands
There is no pier on the islands, so you have to walk up the beach to get off and on the boat. Therefore it is best to dress accordingly and wear shoes that are waterproof or can easily be removed

📍Nusa Penida:

Order a tour to Nusa Penida or spend a few days here exploring it for yourself
Visit the mesmerizingly beautiful Diamond Beach
Walk to the viewpoint and photo opt Rumah Pohon Treehouse
See if you can spot the dinosaur at Kelingking Beach and the famous T-Rex cliffs
View Broken Beach from the view points
Walk under the palm tree groves at Crystal Bay

📍Nusa Lembongan:

Watch the seaweed farmers work in the early mornings north of the bridge between the two islands. The seaweed farms are under water and only visible at lowtide
Have breakfast with a view at Deck Café (7.30-11am)
Golden sand, rocky shores and turquoise water at Dream Beach
Cool off in the calmest and bluest of waters on Mushroom Beach
Have breakfast or lunch at Cookies Coffee Shop and Warung. Pancakes and other breakfast items are only 15k IDR and they have a delicious dragon fruit smoothie bowl
Get sunkissed or take a long beach stroll at Jungutbatu Beach. On a clear day, it has a great view of Mt Agung on Bali
Walk around the palm tree paradise of Mahagiri Beach (Pasir Putih Beach)
Cloudland Bar sunset drinks after a great day
Delicious thai food at Thai Pantry
Tasty & cheap breakfast at Bali Eco Deli (opens at 7am)
Visit the unique cemetery with its colorful umbrellas on the tombstones, keeping the deceased shaded from the sun

📍Nusa Ceningan:

Walk or drive over Yellow Bridge, the suspension bridge that connects Ceningan with Lembongan
Mahana Point the the hangout spot on the island with its 5m and 10m diving board, and overhanging rocks jutting out into the sea
Visit Blue Lagoon; a stunning viewpoint and cliff jumping point on Ceningan
Take a snorkeling tour to see Manta Rays at Manta Point
The Nusa islands are in love with swings in the water and can be found all over the island. We found a lot at The Sands and Sea Breeze while watching the seaweed farms in the morning

BONUS: Komodo Islands 🐊🪸🐚

Flores and Komodo are a beautiful and magical area of islands and national park with almost unreal sceneries, colorful beaches and home to the Komodo Dragons.

How to get to Komodo from Bali:

Fly from Denpasar to Labuan Bajo. The flight is only an hour and fairly cheap. From the airport is approx. 10k IDR for a motorbike taxi to Labuan Bajo pier but also walkable – especially down to the pier as the area is quite hilly.

How to get around:

The best way to explore the islands are by taking a boat that can take you from island to island. Either a speedboat that does the highlights on a day or a larger boat that sails you around for 2-4 nights. The larger boat will let you see more of the stunning national park. We aren’t sea strong, so we opted for a speedboat tour which I've linked to.

Where to go:

📍Komodo Island or Rinca Island

The two places to meet the Komodo Dragons which the national park is famous for and a must of course.

📍Pink Beach

Komodo National Park has two pink sand beaches due to red coral offshore. The combination of crystal blue water and lightly pink toned sand is pretty incredible.

📍Padar Island

Dubbed the best place to hike in the area due to the unique tri-colored beaches that can be seen from the top of the hill: Pink, white and grey. The viewpoint can only be visited before sunrise – 10am and after 3pm because it is too hot inbetween, but the hike is only 15-30 min long. And it IS the best view point in all of Komodo National Park

📍Kelor Island

A tranquil island with beatiful water and stunning scenery. With no electricity, no internet connection and no restaurants or shops, this is the most peace and quiet you can find. Bring supplies!

Good to know:

Flying drones are not allowed in Komodo National Park without a permit which costs 1mio IDR, so I suggest leaving the drone at home and bringing your camera and underwater GoPro instead!