Bali Itinerary: 7 Days by Car
A perfect one-week Bali road trip itinerary with day-by-day routes, distances, and must-see stops.
Seven days is the ideal length for a first Bali trip. It gives you enough time to experience the island's incredible diversity — beach sunsets in the south, rice terraces in Ubud, temple ceremonies in the east, and hidden waterfalls in the north. This itinerary assumes you have a rental car or a private driver. All distances and drive times are estimates based on real Baliqu routing data.
Trip Overview
Day 1: Arrival & South Bali Beaches
Ngurah Rai Airport → Kuta / Seminyak | ~15 km | Beach day
Land at DPS, pick up your rental car, and settle into your hotel. Spend the afternoon recovering from jet lag on one of South Bali's famous beaches.
- Morning: Airport arrival, car pickup, hotel check-in.
- Afternoon: Kuta Beach for surfing lessons (IDR 250,000/person) or Seminyak Beach for sunset cocktails at Potato Head or La Plancha.
- Evening: Dinner on Jalan Kayu Aya (Eat Street) in Seminyak. Try Warung Biah Biah for affordable Indonesian tapas or Sisterfields for brunch-style dining.
- Stay: Seminyak or Canggu (best base for Days 1-3).
Day 2: Uluwatu Temple & Bukit Peninsula
Seminyak → Uluwatu → Jimbaran | ~55 km round trip | 4-6 hours with stops
The Bukit Peninsula is Bali's dramatic southern tip — limestone cliffs, world-class surf breaks, and the iconic Uluwatu Temple.
- Morning (9:00 AM): Padang Padang Beach — swim in the turquoise water between cliff walls. Entrance: IDR 15,000.
- Late Morning (11:00 AM): Suluban Beach / Blue Point — watch surfers from the clifftop cafe. No entrance fee.
- Afternoon (3:00 PM): Uluwatu Temple — explore the temple grounds, watch the sunset, and see the 6:00 PM Kecak fire dance. Entrance + dance: IDR 150,000.
- Evening (7:30 PM): Jimbaran Bay seafood dinner on the beach. Choose a restaurant with fresh display tanks. Budget: IDR 300,000-600,000 for two.
Day 3: Ubud Culture & Tegallalang
Seminyak → Ubud | ~35 km | Full day | Move base to Ubud tonight
Leave early and head to Bali's cultural capital. This is one of the most popular day trips, so starting at 7:00 AM avoids traffic and crowds.
- Morning (7:00 AM): Tegenungan Waterfall — a powerful cascade with a natural swimming pool. Entrance: IDR 20,000.
- Late Morning (9:30 AM): Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) — 9th-century archaeological site. Entrance: IDR 50,000.
- Lunch (12:00 PM): Tegallalang Rice Terraces — lunch at a cliffside cafe overlooking the green cascades. Try the Bali Swing (IDR 200,000) for iconic photos.
- Afternoon (2:30 PM): Tirta Empul Temple — participate in a holy spring water purification ritual. Entrance: IDR 50,000.
- Late Afternoon (4:30 PM): Ubud Monkey Forest — explore the sanctuary and meet the macaques. Entrance: IDR 80,000.
- Evening: Check into your Ubud hotel. Dinner at Locavore (fine dining) or Warung Babi Guling Bu Oka (suckling pig).
Day 4: Northern Bali Waterfalls & Temples
Ubud → Bedugul → Sekumpul → Lovina → Ubud | ~180 km | Long day, early start required
Northern Bali is cooler, greener, and far less touristy than the south. This is a long driving day but one of the most rewarding.
- Early Start (6:30 AM): Leave Ubud before traffic builds.
- Morning (8:30 AM): Ulun Danu Beratan Temple — the floating temple on Lake Beratan. Best light for photos at sunrise. Entrance: IDR 60,000.
- Mid-Morning (10:00 AM): Handara Gate — Bali's most photographed stone gateway. Entrance: IDR 30,000.
- Lunch (12:30 PM): Stop at a mountain warung for Indonesian food (IDR 30,000-50,000).
- Afternoon (2:00 PM): Sekumpul Waterfall — seven falls cascading down a jungle cliff. A local guide is mandatory (IDR 175,000). The trek is 45 minutes each way.
- Late Afternoon (4:30 PM): Lovina Beach — black volcanic sand and optional dolphin-watching boat tour (IDR 100,000).
- Evening: Drive back to Ubud (2 hours). Arrive by 7:30 PM.
Day 5: East Bali Temples & Ancient Kingdoms
Ubud → Goa Lawah → Tirta Gangga → Lempuyang → Candidasa → Ubud | ~140 km | Full day
East Bali is the island's historical heart. Ancient temples, royal water palaces, and the famous "Gates of Heaven" await.
- Morning (7:30 AM): Goa Lawah (Bat Cave Temple) — a temple built around a cave filled with thousands of bats. Entrance: IDR 30,000.
- Late Morning (9:30 AM): Tirta Gangga Water Palace — tiered fountains, koi ponds, and stone sculptures. You can wade in the pools. Entrance: IDR 30,000.
- Lunch (12:00 PM): Lunch at a warung in Ababi village overlooking rice fields.
- Afternoon (1:30 PM): Pura Lempuyang (Gate of Heaven) — the most Instagram-famous temple in Bali. The "gates" perfectly frame Mount Agung on clear days. Arrive early or expect long queues for photos. Entrance: IDR 30,000 + sarong.
- Late Afternoon (4:00 PM): Candidasa — a quiet coastal town. Walk the beachfront or snorkel at Blue Lagoon.
- Evening: Return to Ubud. Dinner at Mozaic or a casual meal at Naughty Nuri's (famous pork ribs).
Day 6: Nusa Penida Day Trip
Sanur Harbor → Nusa Penida → Sanur | Boat + scooter/car on island | Full day
Nusa Penida is a separate island southeast of Bali with dramatic cliffs, crystal-clear water, and some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in Indonesia.
- Early Start (7:00 AM): Drive to Sanur Harbor (30 min from Ubud). Park your rental car in the harbor parking lot (IDR 10,000/day).
- Boat (8:00 AM): Speedboat to Nusa Penida (30 minutes). Tickets: IDR 150,000-300,000 round trip.
- Morning (9:00 AM): Kelingking Beach — the T-Rex shaped cliff. The trek down takes 40 minutes and is steep but worth it. Bring water and decent shoes.
- Late Morning (11:30 AM): Angel's Billabong & Broken Beach — natural infinity pool and a stone archway over the ocean.
- Lunch (1:00 PM): Lunch at a local warung near Crystal Bay.
- Afternoon (2:30 PM): Crystal Bay — snorkel with tropical fish and coral. Snorkel gear rental: IDR 50,000.
- Evening (4:30 PM): Return boat to Sanur. Pick up your car and drive back to Ubud or move to South Bali if your flight is tomorrow.
Day 7: Relaxation, Shopping & Departure
Ubud / Seminyak → Airport | Flexible schedule
Your final day should be relaxed. Depending on your flight time, you can shop for souvenirs, enjoy a spa treatment, or visit one last beach.
- Morning: Sleep in or sunrise walk at Campuhan Ridge (Ubud) or Seminyak Beach.
- Mid-Morning: Spa treatment — Balinese massage (IDR 150,000-300,000 for 60 minutes). Try Bodyworks or Jaens Spa.
- Late Morning: Souvenir shopping — Ubud Art Market (bargain hard, start at 40% of asking price) or Seminyak boutiques for higher-end crafts.
- Lunch: Final Balinese meal. Try Bebek Bengil (crispy duck) or Babi Guling (suckling pig).
- Afternoon: Return your rental car to the airport or hotel. Baliqu offers airport drop-off — we meet you 2.5 hours before your flight.
- Airport: Arrive 3 hours before international flights. Duty-free alcohol is cheaper than in Australia or Singapore.
Pro Tips for This Itinerary
- Book your Nusa Penida boat tickets 1-2 days in advance during high season (July-August).
- Day 4 (Northern Bali) is the longest drive. If you prefer a shorter day, skip Lovina and return after Sekumpul.
- Mount Batur sunrise trek can be added to Day 4 if you wake up at 2:00 AM. It is a 2-hour hike with spectacular views.
- A self-drive car saves money but requires confidence on Bali's roads. A private driver costs more but eliminates all navigation stress.
- This itinerary involves 2 hotel moves (South Bali → Ubud). If you prefer one base, stay in Ubud and do Days 1-2 as day trips (45-60 min each way).
Need a Car for Your 7-Day Bali Trip?
This itinerary requires a reliable vehicle for 6 full days of driving. Baliqu offers weekly rental discounts (15-25% off daily rates) and 24/7 roadside assistance anywhere in Bali.
BALIQU CAR RENTAL