Bali Tours and Travel packages | Trip Prices for Vacation, Holiday and Deals Adventures

This day will be your arrival in Bali, you will check in to your hotel, relax and prepare for the following adventure.

Buzzing Canggu is as much a state of mind as an area. This strip of Bali’s west coast is lined with beaches, some great for surfing, such as lovely, black-sand-covered Echo Beach (Pantai Batu Mejan). The area also hosts an ever-growing number of boutique hotels and guesthouses, villas for rent, cool and creative cafes and hip restaurants; it’s little wonder many visitors stay for days.

Set aside some time to swim in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and get your bearings (ideally with a fresh coconut in hand). Then, as the afternoon wears on, follow the Canggu Beach Walk, taking you from Batubelig Beach to Echo Beach in a couple of hours. It’s a great way to get a feel for this tropical getaway.   

Evening: Canggu is a good spot to start exploring typical local cuisine. Varuna Warung is a favorite stop for traditional Indonesian fare; choose off the menu or eat local masakan padang food – a variety of spicy dishes served buffet style, with plenty of vegetable options. 

Explore Ubud’s royal and religious heritage, starting at the city’s surprisingly modest royal palace and its flanking temple, Puri Saren Agung; most of its structures were built after the 1917 earthquake, and the local royal family still lives here.Ubud has dozens more temples, but many are closed to non-Hindus; carving-covered Pura Taman Saraswati is the most picturesque temple that’s always open to the public. Waters flowing from the rear of the large site feed a pond in front, which overflows with lotus blossoms.

Evening: Taking in a show of traditional Balinese dance at sunset is de rigueur in Ubud. For a classic and atmospheric experience, Ubud Palace is one of the most popular venues, with elaborate traditional performances in an ornate royal courtyard. The Pura Dalem Ubud temple makes the most of its sacred setting, with flame-lit backdrops enhancing the intensity of performances of traditional dance forms such as Kecak.

With a second day in Ubud, there’s time to dig deeper into the local culture and immerse yourself in its tropical landscapes. The modern Balinese art movement started in Ubud and the town is dotted with culturally important art museums. 

The Museum Puri Lukisan is the most enjoyable museum, Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) is another must-see museum. Alternatively, you could take a walk along the Campuhan Ridge for impressive views, rent a bike to cycle to surrounding villages through the lime-green rice fields, or head to Tegallalang for epic views over the tumbling Ceking rice terraces. In the evening, combine dinner with a traditional show of Balinese shadow puppetry. The very central Bali Culture Workshop at the Oka Kartini BnB stages popular evening shows.

Go from Ubud to Gunung Agung: Drive north of Ubud for 10km (6 miles) to see the photogenic Ceking rice terraces (if you didn’t see them yesterday) before veering east to Gunung Agung, an active volcano that’s Bali’s highest and most revered peak. 

You can climb the steep, forested slopes of 3142m (10,308ft) Gunung Agung for sweeping views. Scaling the peak takes you through a verdant forest in the clouds, and most visitors hike the trail at night to be greeted by sweeping dawn views from the summit.

Before or after you climb to Gunung Agung’s summit, there should be time to explore the wonders of Pura Besakih, a complex of 23 Hindu temples set high on the southwest flank of the volcano. This is Bali’s most important religious site and processions of villagers arrive constantly for ceremonies and blessings, taking holy water back to their own village temples. 

Go from Gunung Agung to Tulamben: After a second night near Gunung Agung, travel northeast to Tulamben, one of Bali’s hottest diving destinations, a journey of about 1½ hours. Tulamben is a diving hotspot, thanks to the WWII wreck of the USAT Liberty, a US Army cargo ship torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in 1942. It’s perfect for snorkelers, too. The wreck's stern rears up from the depths, encrusted in coral and swarming with dozens of species of colorful fish. 

After a wreck trip, you can stay overnight in one of the local dive resorts, or head northwest around the coast to laid-back Lovina to laze on the beach or take a dolphin-spotting trip – a perfect end to a week exploring Bali’s highlights. 

Arise in the morning, have breakfast, check out and start your journey back home.