Bali had always been on my bucket list and when life gave me the opportunity to travel there for a full month I could hardly wait to get on the plane! I spent countless house scouring Pinterest, Instagram, and reading blogs for the perfect itinerary. After finally settling on a route around the entire island and even a stop in Lombok, I put together a list of my must do’s and my must dont’s!
The perfect itinerary for a month in Bali, with some do’s & dont’s
// Day 1-2 KUTA //
Arrive and get acquainted with Kuta. There aren’t a ton of unique things to do here, but it’s the perfect starting point for the trip of a lifetime. Get on the right time schedule, catch your first of many amazing sunsets, and be sure to stop at the cute cafes for some amazing food!
DO:
Eat at Shelter Cafe! So cute, so photogenic & so yummy!
DON’T:
Stay too long. There are way better things to see in Bali!
// Day 3-4 NUSA PENIDA //
Take a boat over to Nasu Penida. This island is a short 45-minute boat ride from the mainland and so worth it! There are a ton of adventurous things to do here! I will tell you right off the bat it’s rather underdeveloped so don’t expect beautiful resorts and loads of cute cafes like you did in Kuta. Renting a motorbike on the island is a must! I read so many blogs talking about how the roads weren’t safe to drive on unless you’re experienced but honestly, it was a lot better than Kuta because there were not so many people honking and shoving their way in. The one thing those blogs forgot to mention is that it does take a solid 45 minutes on windy roads to get to any of the cool attractions. I thought my butt was going to fall off a few times, but would 10/10 recommend going anyways.
DO:
Rent a motorbike! It’s the best way to get around and you won’t waste money on Taxi’s
Eat at Secret Penida - options on the island are slim and this was a favorite! We went back twice
Hike down to KelingKing beach (dinosaur beach) - So many tourists stand at the top just to take photos, but half of the experience is actually making it down to the sand! Scaling the side of a cliff for 45 minutes is definitely a story you’ll never forget. GET HERE EARLY! Not only is it so hot, but there were so many people on our way up!
DONT:
Go to Tembeling Beach and Forest. What the internet describes as a “secret water hole” is the biggest joke ever. It was the longest walk ever for nothing…not to mention its such a scam because the locals try to sell you a ride up the hill on their motorbike when they see you dying on the 2-hour walk.
// Day 5-6 GILI AIR //
Hop on yet another boat and head over to Gili Air! Not going to lie it was a long ride, but so worth it! This adorable island has no cars so you ride bikes everywhere. Not to mention it was so relaxing after a very busy few days in Nasu Penida.
DO:
Stay at 7Seas Cottages. This was one of my favorite places that we stayed! IT WAS SO CUTE! Each room is an individual free-standing bungalow decorated in adorable blue and white beach decor. There is a great private outdoor bathroom and you could rent beach cruisers directly from the hotel.
Yoga and food at Kenza. Do I even need to say more?! This restaurant/yoga studio is right next to the hotel; I believe they are owned by the same people. Not only is the food fantastic, but it was a really good yoga class too!
Take a snorkeling tour! I cringed when Gavri pitched me the idea of spending a day on a boat with 10 strangers visiting every nearby island and snorkel spot, but I have to admit I was really glad we did it! We saw tons of turtles and even the famous underwater statues. I would have liked for it to have been a little shorter, but overall it was still a really good experience!
DON’T:
Eat at random restaurants with less than 3 people there. I’m sure you could have already guessed this one, but sometimes when you’re super hungry you just sit down at any acceptable looking place. Bad choice… Ya girl got sick twice here from the food I ate. Let’s just say it wasn’t pleasant. All the rest of my meals were consumed at Kenza because I knew it was fresh and always agreed with my stomach.
// Day 6-9 AMED //
Get on yet another boat and head over to Amed; East Bali! Most tourists don’t make it this far, but let me tell you that they are missing out! It was so nice to not have hoards of people everywhere and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed my time here!
DO:
Stay at Kubu Kangin Resort. This family-run resort is so pretty and so new! Similar to 7Seas, each room its own individual cottage with an outdoor bathroom and porch! The grounds of this property are immaculate and the beautiful pool is a plus!
Eat at Tropikal Cafe. Please get the avo, spinach, pesto panini. I promise you won’t regret it (I’m drooling thinking about it right now). Go here for lunch because they close early!
Also, try Blue Earth Village for dinner! Sit upstairs in their “treehouse” where you will be asked to remove your shoes and sit on the floor while you dine. Such a fun experience and the menu has a ton of things to choose from; all of which were yummy!
If you do nothing else in Amed let it be waking up for sunrise and going to Bukit Cinta. This hidden gem was also at the top of my list! It was so with the 4 am wakeup call because there was only one other couple and you get to watch the sunrise over the beautiful volcano with the rice fields below. Take your time on the way back because there are a lot of great places to stop and take photos among the local rise fields.
DONT:
Go to Pura Lempuyan Luhur “The Gates of Bali” this place is the definition of a tourist trap and we had no idea what we were walking into. First of all, you don’t technically have to pay to get in, but they ask for a “donation” and let’s just say if you don’t give one you get such a nasty sneer. Upon entry, they will give both men and women a wrap for their waist (like a skirt) and another one for your shoulders. What they don’t mention is that in order to get a picture standing in between those ever-popular gates you have to wait 2+ hours for your number to be called. I’m sorry but there are so many other beautiful things to take pictures of and this is not one of them. Hard pass on this.
// Day 10-11 LOVINA //
A two-hour car ride up will bring you up to Lovina. I’ll cut to the chase and say I don’t have anything good to say about this place. There isn’t anything to do here, and our resort-style hotel while very pretty also felt very abandoned; which isn’t pleasant. Just pass on Lovina all together.
// Day 12-14 MUNDUK //
45 minutes up a windy road and you’ll hit Munduk. It’s higher elevation makes it a lot cooler in temperature which is a super nice change from the usually hot and humid Bali weather. Munduk is known for its waterfalls and let’s be real the amazing hotel; Munduk Moding Plantation.
DO:
Stay at the Mundk Moding Plantation! Defiantly one of the more expensive places we stayed during our time in Bali, but for good reason. This hotel is known for its Instagram famous infinity pool that looks like your floating in the clouds during sunrise or sunset. You're guaranteed to see some blogger taking photos standing on the edge and to be honest, it makes for some solid entertainment. This stunning hotel has so much more to offer then this pool and if that’s the only reason you come here that’s a little sad…lol This hotel sits on a huge piece of land in which you can stroll through the hydrangea gardens or take a tour of the forest and learn about all the things they grow! The food was delicious and the staff was on their A-game. This hotel was so perfect we didn’t want to leave!
Go take beautiful pictures at Munduk Waterfall . Just a short walk to from the parking area and you’ll arrive at this stunning waterfall. The pathway is rather confusing so we walked right past it before we realized we went too far. Ironically enough I suggest going when it’s raining. Gavri and I were the only people there, making for amazing photo opportunities!
DON’T:
The one thing they don’t tell you about the waterfalls is they are basically run by the mafia and each one charges a separate fee even if they are right near each other. I thought I would see a ton of them for the cost of one because they were all along the same trail, but don’t be fooled. Pick your top two and stick with those. It’s not worth the money.
// Day 15-17 UBUD //
Our next stop was Ubud and I was way to excited. I’d heard so many things about this city and to be honest, I’m a city girl at heart so I was looking forward to having more people around since our last few stops were quieter. I couldn’t wait for a plethora of yummy food, yoga, and shopping!
DO:
Go shopping!!! The Ubud Art Market is the biggest "vendor market” you’ll see during your entire stay in Bali. It’s more known for clothing, jewelry, and shoes, as opposed to Canggu’s markets which had a bunch of home decor items, but if you’re looking for souvenirs here is the place to get them! Don’t be afraid to haggle either. If one vendor doesn’t want to sell it to you for the price another one will; trust me.
Take a yoga class! You cant visit Ubud and not take at least one yoga class! I couldn’t wait to try the infamous Yoga Barn. The atmosphere was amazing and in my opinion, it lived up to the hype. The class was done all in English and I understood every pose. There were a lot of beginners though so if you’re not the biggest yogi don’t even worry about it.
Ready for a weird one? lol Go to a local “supermarket” Bintang Market is technically just a grocery store, but they have EVERYTHING and its sooo cheap! Stock up on snacks, drinks, and coffee if that’s your thing! Also is just really fun to stroll the isles and see what unique Bali treats you can find.
DON’T:
Stay close to the city center. I read so many blogs talking about how you should specifically stay outside the city because its so loud there, but trust me getting in a cab or on a motorbike every time you want to get dinner is a pain in the ass. Our villa was 20 minutes each way and I was annoyed by the end. Pick something close to the action! You won’t regret it!
Skip the Tegallalang Rice Terraces. If you listen to me beforehand and visit the rice terraces in Amed you’ll realize how big of a scam this place is. Not only was there 0 rice growing because it had all be harvested, but the amount of swings here that you’re supposed to pay to sit on for your insta pick is repulsive. They are in every direction no matter which way you look and the background isn’t even pretty. Hard pass is my book.
// Day 17-24 Canggu //
Only a few more car rides I promise! Canggu is known for being very “livable” which is why we chose to stay here so long. There are a lot of things to see and do, but it also has a large number of ex-pats living there so it’s easy to get into a routine which is kind of nice for a few days. Known for the overwhelming amount of cute cafes, surf lessons, and home decor markets Canggu was a really enjoyable part of our trip.
DO:
Watch the sunset at Echo Beach with all the doggos. Our hotel was right behind this beach so I’m a little biased to it, but it was still so pretty and relaxing at sunset! There are a ton of great places to grab a drink and watch the sky change colors. It’s also a known place for locals to let their dogs run around, so if your a dog lover like me its basically heaven. So many doggos everywhere!
Learn the local's shortcuts! This is the biggest time saver when it comes to getting around, but I will admit is not the faint of heart especially at rush hour. There is a super-narrow road that runs behind Pretty Posin and saves you so much time from having to drive all the way back to the main road. Give it a try during the off hours first!
Take a surf lesson. I totally cringed when Gavri told me this is what he wanted to do, but tbh I was really glad I went. Surfing runs in my family, but clearly it skipped me because I suck lol. Was a great workout though! I couldn’t feel my arms afterward and I got a tan so I was okay with it. Plus is make for really funny stories when you fall off the board and look like a drowning fish :)
Eat the best doughnuts ever at Dough Darlings. Technically it’s no in Canggu, but its well worth the short-ish drive. They were mouth-watering!
Shop till your heart is full at local markets and adorable boutiques. Love Canggu art market is definitely the most popular and for good reason. There are so many cute things, but I will admit the prices are that cheap. Just be selective and keep that in mind when browsing. Every other store is filled with bikinis and stylish rompers so just be prepared to go in and out of them all.
DON’T:
Waste your money at every single basic white girl cafe. I’m sure during your planning of Bali you read about Peleton Supershop, The Shady Shack, and a million other hip cafes that you “have to” try while in Canggu. Yeah me too… Don’t get me wrong I was sucked in and went to a few of them but, I quickly realized the cute atmosphere didn’t always live up to the food. I often left hungry or just annoyed that there were so many people Instagramming their food. To each is own, but I’d rather not take a picture of every single thing I put in my mouth especially when it looks wayyy better then it tastes.
Be mindful of time to drive. Much like LA there was a stupid amount of traffic in this town. Even on a motorbike, it can easily take you 45 minutes to go what should have only taken 10. Not to mention you’re breathing in a ton of pollution from all the bikes and cars around you and it made me naueseous more than once.
// DAY 25-29 ULUWATU //
Bittersweet because this was our last stop in Bali. Set at the most southern part of the island, Uluwatu is known for this dramatic cliffsides and insane surf. I passed on the surf but was all about the cliffs because I love me a good sunset overlooking the ocean below.
DO:
Treat yourself and stay somewhere nice!! Who knows if and when you’ll ever be back in Bali; now is the time to pick a beautiful resort and enjoy every last minute of it. We stayed at the Raddison Blue and it was 20/10. The rooms were huge, the pool was stunning, and the breakfast buffet was to die for and the gym was a great bonus so I could work off all the carbs I just ate :) I highly recommend!
Go to Nyang Nyang beach. Ugh this beach is everything. Few people, white sand, blue water, super clean, and it’s HUGE! Fair warning it was so hot when you get to the sand so please please please don’t forget to pack extra water and wear tons of sunscreen. Well worth the hike down and back up! There are also a ton of pretty seashells along the sand so if that’s your thing have at it!
Watch the sunset at Uluwatu Temple. Not going to lie it was all tourists, but it was so pretty I didn’t even care. Set upon a huge cliffside you look out onto nothing but the ocean and the sky changing colors. It was stunning!
DON’T:
I had read about this “beach cave” that a few bloggers had made look so cool and were suppose to be a must-see in Uluwatu… yeah photoshop and cameras work wonders here! Definitely not what I expected when I looked at the photos online. All the bloggers that went here must have shot with a super wide-angle lens because this “cave” is basically non-existent. So non-existent that I walked past it before even noticing what I was looking at. Don’t get me wrong I still took pictures because I was there, but I’d definitely not recommend it. The internet let me down.
This Bali trip was a trip of a lifetime! I loved that I was able to see the entire island; the good and the not so good! I would go back in a heartbeat and I hope that this post adds a few new stops to your existing itinerary or bucket list!
