From rugged inland volcanic jungles to palm-fringed sandy beaches, Bali is a destination of abundant variety. What’s even better about this bucket list slice of paradise is that it provides a world of adventures within a relatively small island setting, making it the perfect spot for a short but rewarding holiday.
This Bali 5-day itinerary will take you from Uluwatu along the island’s southern shores to Lovina along its northern coast, passing through volcanic peaks, ancient temples, and religious ceremonies celebrating Balinese culture along the way.
With only a limited time to see it all, this itinerary is fairly fast-paced. So get those hiking shoes, strap in, and let’s get started on our journey through the Island of Gods.
The Ultimate 5-Days Bali Itinerary For First-Time Visitors
Day 1: Arrival and Uluwatu (Bukit Peninsula)
Getting There
If you only have 5 days in Bali, you are going to want to arrive early in the morning on the first day to make the most of your limited time. Ideally, you could even land the evening prior to allow for a full day.
Regardless, Day 1 is going to be fairly laid back, allowing for a relaxing taste of the soothing atmosphere while acclimatizing to the new setting before the whirlwind of adventures that will come in the following days.
For this reason, Uluwatu is the perfect spot to spend your first day. Although you could really base this day in a number of areas within the Bukit Peninsula, including Sanur, Nusa Dua, and Jimbaran.
The first thing you are going to want to do is check in to your hotel. There are several hotels in the area, but I personally suggest Uluwatu Desa. Alternatively, The Bingin Sari Hotel is a great budget option in nearby Jimbaran. Both are less than a half-hour drive from the airport.
After checking in, it is time to take a tour of the Bukit Peninsula. While you can take an arranged tour, the area can easily be explored on your own as long as you have a vehicle or private driver.
Day 1: Sightseeing
Since this day is all about getting fixed into island time, most of the attractions within this area include lounging along the soft sands of various beaches, including the prestigious Nusa Dua Beach, Nyang Nyang Beach, and Bingin Beach.
Don’t worry too much if you can’t get to them all. Bali has plenty of beautiful beaches to go around, and this isn’t the last opportunity you will have to bask along the golden sands.
However you choose to spend your day, it is important to make it back to Uluwatu Temple in time to catch the traditional Kecak Fire Dance that is performed every day at 5:45 and 7:00 pm. The show lasts about an hour, but you should arrive an hour or two before the show to have the opportunity to explore the picturesque sea temple.
Once you are done at Uluwatu Temple, it is time to grab an evening meal. I suggest swinging by the beachfront restaurants in Jimbaran for some of the island’s best seafood, but there is a whole variety of options in the area, including world-class restaurants just a short drive away in Kuta.
But don’t stay out too late, as we are going to need to have an early start the following morning if we are to get to all of the sights.
Day 2: Ubud
Day 2 of this Bali 5-day itinerary is all about exploring the island’s cultural hub — Ubud.
Set near the middle of the island, Ubud is surrounded by tropical jungles and is packed with amazing cultural temples, beautiful waterfalls, and its world-famous rice fields.
Unfortunately, since we are only working with 5 days, we aren’t going to get to all of the region’s wondrous attractions, but we can at least cross off all of the highlights from your bucket list.
First things first, though. Ubud is about an hour and a half from Uluwatu, so we are going to want to head out from our hotel early enough to give ourselves plenty of time to experience everything we want to do. I suggest leaving around 8:00 am or, at the latest, 9:00 am.
If you plan on spending the night in Ubud, you can head directly to your hotel to check-in. With that said, I am going to get a little more into your accommodation options for the night a little further down.
Instead, let’s focus more on how we are going to spend the day.
If we leave Uluwatu on time, we arrive in Ubud around 9:30 to 10:00 am. This gives us plenty of time to engage in some sightseeing. Choosing what to visit and what to skip is difficult and comes down to personal preference.
I personally suggest getting a taste of what the area offers by hitting the Ubud Monkey Forest, Tegallalang Rice Terrace, and Tegenungan Waterfall before heading into the town centre to explore the cultural sights.
Still, in order to make this the ultimate Bali 5-day itinerary for you, I’m going to give you a few of the region’s top attractions and let you decide the perfect way to spend your day
Ubud Monkey Forest
Just as the name sounds, the Ubud Monkey Forest is a natural sanctuary that houses more than 700 long-tailed macaques. Along with allowing visitors to get up close with these occupants, the sanctuary boasts plenty of natural scenery and overgrown sacred temples for a tour of the area’s cultural landmarks and natural ecosystems.
Tegalalang Rice Terrace
Bali is famous for its paddy fields, and perhaps no area of the tropical landscape is as photographed as the Tegalalang Rice Terrace. Set on the fringes of the Ubud area, these rice terraces offer a relaxing stroll with some of the most picturesque views on Bali.
Tegenungan Waterfall
There are several waterfalls scattered throughout the tropical jungles around Ubud. While you can easily spend a day chasing them all, visiting the Tegenungan Waterfall is a great way to get a taste while working with limited time. Just a short hike from the parking lot, this waterfall is one of the biggest and most beautiful in all of Bali.
Campuhan Ridge Walk
A picturesque walking trail, the Campuhan Ridge Walk starts at Gunung Lebah Temple and weaves through the lush valley along the Sungai Wos River. While it offers some of the best nature views, it is a 9 km trek and would unfortunately take up much of the day, should you add this to the itinerary.
Tirta Empul Temple
Perfect for those looking to explore the cultural significance of the Ubud area, Tirta Empul Temple is an important water temple that contains a holy mountain spring. Purification baths, pools, and fish ponds are found throughout the complex, which guests can bathe in during a purification ceremony.
Coffee Plantation
Along with its sprawling rice fields, Ubud is also home to several coffee plantations, many of which are open to tourists. What’s unique about these plantations is the production of their specialized Luwak Coffee, which involves coffee cherries passing through the digestive system of the Asian palm civet. At an Ubud coffee plantation, visitors can explore this production process while sampling the local and unique flavours.
Ubud Art Market
Open daily between 8 am and 5 pm, the Ubud Art Market is a great cultural stop in the city centre. Set just across from the Ubud Palace, this market features stalls of hand-crafted goods, including woven bags, statues, and shirts. Be sure to stop by for some souvenirs.
Day 2 Accommodation
As promised, we are now going to address two different accommodation options of where you should spend the night on Day 2.
Your first option is to stay in town. Ubud is one of the top tourist areas on the island and boasts plenty of hotels and private villas for your stay, with Pulu Sari Suites offering a welcome blend of comfort and affordability.
Your second accommodation option is to get a head start on the next day’s itinerary. It takes about two hours to drive from Ubud to the Kintamani region, and since we are starting the following day’s hike at 4:00 am, we would have to wake up at around 2:00 am if we are staying in Ubud.
While this is still possible and preferred for those looking to explore the nightlife and dining options of Ubud, making the journey to the foot of Mount Batur at the end of day two allows us to sleep in for an extra two hours in preparation for the hike.
Accommodation options in this area are more limited than in Ubud, but there are still some great options. Pinggan Cliff serves as a great place to prepare for the hike and arrange for a guided tour through their front desk.
Day 3: Mount Batur/Lovina
For this itinerary, Day 3 starts off with a moderately challenging hike to the top of Mount Batur. While it is a beautiful trek, those who prefer to skip it can instead spend more time in Ubud or take a yoga class before heading to Ulun Danu Beratan Temple and Lovina in the afternoon.
Day 3 Part 1: Hiking Mount Batur
As mentioned already, Day 3 is an early start regardless of where you spend the night. However, if you did decide to find accommodation in Ubud, you are going to want to get out of there no later than 2:00 am to be able to make it to the top of Mount Batur for sunrise. Transportation and guides can be arranged through most hotels in Ubud.
Most people choose to hike up Mount Batur as part of a tour group. And while I encourage you to take this route, it is entirely feasible to make the journey on your own. There are dozens of tour groups making the hike up the mountain on any given morning, and the journey could easily be made by following the long line of lights produced by their flashlights.
Whether you do it as a group or independently, you are going to want to start the hike at around 4:00 am. This gives you two to two and a half hours to get up the mountain in time to watch the breathtaking light produced by the morning sun as it reflects off the ancient caldera and lake.
Once you have had your fill of the beautiful views, you can start your descent down the mountain. And this is where having a guide becomes beneficial, as while you can descend the same route you came up, it is much more fun to take a different path down, although this can be difficult without someone familiar with the area.
Regardless of your route, you will likely complete your hike at around noon. This gives us plenty of time to continue on to our next destination and even make a stop at one of the most beautiful temples in Bali.
Day 3 Part 2: Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
After grabbing something to eat, we are going to head out from our hotels near Mount Batur and head directly for Ulun Danu Beratan Temple. The temple is about two hours from Mount Batur, so this gives us plenty of time to take in the picturesque landscapes along the way as we unwind from our morning trek.
Ulun Danu Beratan Temple is easily the most photographed religious monument in Bali. It is simply beautiful to behold as it floats along the reflective waters of Lake Bratan, both of which can be explored via a tour or paddle boat.
After spending another two hours exploring this beautiful region, we can then continue our journey to the beautiful beach community of Lovina along the island’s northern shores. With our jam-packed schedule, we likely won’t arrive in Lovina until around 7:00 pm.
It is best to just grab something to eat and check into your hotel for some rest. This is going to be the most exhaustive day, and we have tons of time to explore the community on Day 4.
There are several great hotels in the area, but Ju’Blu Hotel serves as a great spot to unwind while taking advantage of nearby amenities.
Day 4: Lovina
After being on the constant go for nearly three days straight, it is important to take some time and enjoy the relaxation and rejuvenating vibes that have made Bali famous. And Lovina is one of the best places to do it.
Set along Bali’s northern shores, Lovina is removed from the rambunctious tourist scene of the Kuta area but promises the same natural beauty with a quieter atmosphere.
I personally suggest just taking your penultimate day in Bali and spending it soaking on the shores of Lovina Beach. Visit a beachside bar or take to the waters as you explore the aquatic wildlife along a snorkelling or diving adventure. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a dolphin, which has become an iconic landmark of the community.
Alternatively, if you are still keen on doing some more sightseeing, you can head over to the Brahma Vihara Arama Buddhist Monastery, just 10 kilometres from town or even hike to a hidden waterfall.
Day 4 is ultimately yours to curate but is the perfect place to find a more authentic side of Bali.
Day 5: Canggu/Seminyak/Kuta
For our last day in Bali, we are going to have to head back south as we prepare for our flights home. But just because it’s our final day doesn’t mean our adventure is over quite yet.
As we head towards the airport, we make a stop at one final cultural attraction – Tanah Lot Temple. Another one of Bali’s beautiful water temples, this religious centre, is located just off the Balinese coast and is only accessible during periods of low tide when a small land bridge connects it to the mainland.
While you are not permitted to actually enter the temple, it does make for great photos, and the surrounding market is perfect for picking up souvenirs.
Depending on when your flight is, you can either head directly to the airport from the temple or head over to a nearby beach to spend a few hours soaking in the sun. Canggu is great for budget-friendly beachside bars, while Kuta Beach and Seminyak Beach are the far more iconic destinations.
All three options are perfect for spending the last hours of your Balinese holiday, but be sure not to lose yourself in the laid-back vibes. You do have a flight to catch, after all. It would be a shame to miss it and have to spend another couple of days on Bali’s idyllic shores.
Or would it?
Tips For Making The Most Of This 5-Day Bali Itinerary
Transportation And How To Get Around Bali
There are a few ways to get around the island of Bali, but if you only have 5 days, I highly suggest hiring private drivers. While this sounds super expensive, it is actually fairly affordable in Bali and is well worth it, given the convenience it provides. For a private driver, you can expect to pay between IDR 500,000 and IDR 800,000 a day (50 CAD and 80 CAD).
You can also rent a car or a scooter, but I personally don’t suggest this option unless you have experience driving in southeast Asia, as roads can be fairly hectic in certain areas. Meanwhile, public transportation and bus networks are an affordable way to experience the island, but they often take more of your time, which we don’t have in abundance on our 5-day itinerary.
The Best Time To Plan Your 5-Day Bali Itinerary
With only 5 days to do it all, you are going to want to plan your Bali holiday around the time when you have the highest chance of enjoying beautiful weather conditions. This is during Bali’s dry season, which spans from April to October.
You can also visit during the wet season (November to March), but you run the risk of rainy days spoiling your getaway. It is worth noting, though, that rain usually comes in waves, and there is still plenty of sunshine to go around, even during this rainy season.
Tips For Your First Day Arriving In Bali
Most international visitors arrive in Bali through Ngurah Rai International Airport.
Visitors can obtain a Visa On Arrival for 30 days for IDR 500,000 (50 CAD). Considering this is a 5-day Bali itinerary, this 30-day period is more than sufficient for completing your adventure.
One of the first things you are going to want to do upon arrival in the country is buy a SIM card, which you can get from the airport. Alternatively, with more money, eSIM cards offer greater convenience and can be bought before even arriving in the country. Airalo, SimOptions, and Nomad are all great choices.
Is 5 Days In Bali Enough?
5 days in Bali is enough time to experience most of what the island has to offer as long as you are willing to be in a constant state of go. If you are looking to experience it at a slower pace or are looking to add a few more sights to the itinerary, I suggest spending a week in Bali.
How Much Does 5 Days In Bali Cost?
How much you will spend over 5 days in Bali depends on the types of accommodations and the modes of transportation. You can expect to spend about 600 CAD for a private driver and mid-range hotel rooms, the cost of which can be split between party members. Meanwhile, you should add about another 250 CAD per person for food, drinks, and tourist attractions.
With this said, Bali is a super affordable travel destination, and this number can be reduced significantly.
What Are Some Other Bali Attractions I Should Visit If I Have More Time?
While this 5 day Bali itinerary brings you through all of the island’s best highlights, there are plenty more attractions to explore on the Island of the Gods, and your trip can easily be extended by planning visits to the following destinations;
- Nusa Penida
- Lempuyang Temple
- Gili Islands
- Sidemen Valley
- Waterbom Bali
- Besakih Great temple
- Mount Agung
