11 Days in Bali

Bali may be our favorite place we’ve ever visited. We promise that honeymooning there only slightly biased us. The island really does have something for everyone, though. From beautiful scenery to budget-friendly dining to vibrant nightlife, it is all at once a backpacker’s paradise and honeymooner’s delight. You’ll love it.

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Itinerary

• Day 1: Nusa Dua
• Day 2: Nusa Dua, South Kuta, and Jimbaran
• Day 3: Nusa Dua
• Day 4: Nusa Penida day trip from Nusa Dua
• Day 5: Nusa Dua
• Day 6: Nusa Dua to North Bali, with waterfall hikes along the way
• Day 7: North Bali
• Day 8: North Bali to Ubud, with waterfall hikes along the way
• Day 9: Ubud
• Day 10: Ubud
• Day 11: Ubud

We thought this itinerary gave us the perfect combination of relaxation and adventure. Nusa Dua has a reputation as a luxury resort beach destination in Bali, and it does not disappoint. Really, though, you can substitute Nusa Dua for any of the other beach towns in South Bali (Kuta, Seminyak, etc.) when choosing your first home base. North Bali is lush with jungles and waterfalls, and Ubud is a cultural center with great spas, restaurants, and activities. For more detail on where to stay in Bali, take a look at our post about some of Bali’s best honeymoon hotels, in which we also describe some of the regional differences found on the island.

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Getting Around

What can $40 get you in Bali? A personal chauffeur for 10 hours that will take you all over the island and wait for you at each of your stops. Considering the price point, there is no better way to get from Point A to Point B. The roads in Bali are kind of nuts (especially in South Bali), so think twice before trying to rent a car or scooter. If you do choose to drive yourself, make sure you’re comfortable in chaos. Lanes don’t really exist here. At one point we saw about seven scooters riding in a group down a two “lane” road. Oh, yea, and a few of the scooters had two or three people on them, including children.

Each part of Bali has its own treasures to offer, so getting transportation is more a question of “when” than “if”. Luckily, there are plenty of companies offering private car services. We used both Your Bali Driver and Bali Travelo during our time in Bali. Both were solid options, but we preferred Your Bali Driver because they were less pushy and didn’t seem to have their own agenda. With either company, there’s a good chance your driver may accompany you at your stops to take pictures and help you translate.

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Recommendations for Each Area

If you’re looking for food and activity recommendations for each area we visited, check out our posts linked below.

• South Bali
• Ubud and North Bali
• Nusa Penida (day trip)

For recommendations on which waterfalls to visit on the island (an absolute must do), you can refer to our post here.

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Other Tips & Tricks

• Money: The currency in Bali is the Indonesian rupiah. At the time of this writing, the exchange rate is 1 to 13,664.50. Not easy math to do in your head, but fear not! Everything in Bali (outside of resorts) is so cheap that you won’t have to worry about money much on your trip. One piece of advice here is to make sure you use credible currency exchanges, which are easy to find in the main tourist towns. If you doubt the authenticity of an exchange, ask your hotel or host for recommendations.

• Language Barrier: Most locals in the tourist towns of Bali speak English, so the language barrier isn’t much of a concern. If you plan to go off the beaten path, though, it would be best to bring a local guide that can serve as a translator and help you navigate. Generally speaking, your private driver will do this for you.

• Luwak Coffee: There are many places to try the famous “poop coffee” in Bali. Luwak coffee, which is made with partially digested coffee cherries that have been eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet, is a bit of a delicacy here. We visited a plantation near Uluwatu to sample the drink along with some teas. It sounds gross, but it is at least worth trying this local treat and learning about the process.

Happy traveling!

Kitrina & Jordan