10 Days in Bali: Uluwatu, Nusa Penida and Ubud

After your long plane flight, Bukit is a great place to unwind, relax and play at some of the most beautiful white-sand beaches in Bali.

Beaches: The Bukit Peninsula is blessed with many beautiful beaches, so this is the time to relax and soak up the sun. A few that I particularly recommend:

Balangan — Balangan is a long, white-sand beach that also happens to be a great surf spot. Aim for medium or low tide for the best beach access. There are plenty of warungs right on the beach serving great and inexpensive food. This is an easy place to spend a whole day!

Padang Padang — Padang is a nice little white sand beach with calm waters, even when the waves are breaking off-shore at the legendary surf spot. The walk down to the beach takes you through a small forest with some occasional monkey visits! There are vendors selling drinks and snacks on the beach, and there are many other options in the town outside the beach entrance.

Nyang Nyang — Located around the south-facing side of Bukit, Nyang; Nyang is less of a swimming beach as it is more rugged and remote. There is a bit of a downhill hike to get there, so consider a visit to Nyang Nyang if you are up for a little challenge. Once there, you will be rewarded with an uncrowded stretch of white sand with a few small warungs serving simple food and refreshments.

Uluwatu Temple: This is one of the most visited spots in Bali, and for good reason! The temple is situated on the high cliffs overlooking Uluwatu, so the views are spectacular. The temple is also home to hundreds of long-tailed macaques, which have essentially taken the place over. They can be quite entertaining, but also love to steal hats, glasses, cameras — really anything you don’t keep a tight grip on. The morning is the best time to see the temple with the smallest crowds, but many people time their visit for sunset along with the Kecak Fire Dance — an experience I highly recommend.

Nusa Penida is one of the islands just off-shore from Bali, so it is easy to get to on a fast ferry. Many people take day trips to the island, but I recommend staying at least one night to be able to explore more of the island and catch a spectacular sunset at Kelingking.

Kelingking: Kelingking is famous for the distinctive “T-rex” land formation jutting out into the deep blue waters. It is worth a trip for this iconic view, particularly at sunrise or sunset. It will get pretty crowded in the afternoon and evenings, but you can easily find a spot to soak up the views. For a real challenge, you can hike down to the beach itself. This hike is not easy, and anyone afraid of heights should definitely avoid it.

Manta Rays: There are a few spots on the island where Manta Rays love to hang out, so while on Nusa Penida, you should definitely join one of the many snorkeling tours to get the chance to swim with these amazing animals. Tours will typically take you to a few spots, depending on the length of the trip.

Diamond Beach/Atuh Beach: These two spots are right next to each other, on the remote east side of the island. Both beaches have amazing views from the top of the cliffs, and the hikes down are relatively moderate. Atuh beach has plenty of small warungs offering simple food and chair rentals if you want to stay and relax for a while. Neither of these beaches are good for swimming, as the water can get pretty rough.

Sekumpul waterfall: There are dozens of waterfalls across central and northern Bali - our favorite is Sekumpul in the north. There are actually a few waterfalls that you can hike to, all very close to each other. You will want to hire a local guide who will show you the way — don’t pass up the chance to swim in the pools! Get there early to beat the crowds.

Tegalalang Rice Paddies: You will have likely seen many photos of this spot, and seeing it in person does not disappoint. Be sure to take the walking paths all around the property — you will quickly leave the crowds by the entrance and find plenty of solitude as you stroll through the rice fields.

Mount Batur: Sign up for a guided tour to see the sunrise from the top of Mount Batur. Full disclosure — you will not be alone! We were surprised that hundreds of people make this trek each morning, but somehow once you reach the top, sipping on a warm cup of coffee, the crowds disappear as the panorama unfurls around you.

Ubud Market: Be sure to set aside some time to do some shopping in the Ubud Market. There are dozens of vendors selling local products at very fair prices. Make sure to practice your negotiation skills ahead of time — it is considered part of the process and expected by vendors. This is a great place to stock up on gifts and mementos from your travels.