Bali Itinerary: Day Routes from Ubud, Sanur and the South

Short answer: build your Bali itinerary around regions, not a list of sights. Ubud gives you five different days, from the palace and ridge walk to the Jatiluwih terraces and the Bedugul highlands. Sanur is best for slow single-area days, and the south covers Jimbaran, Uluwatu and Tanah Lot. Bali is much larger in travel time than its map suggests, so each route below stays in one part of the island.

These are the ten day routes from our Bali guides, with start times, the legs between stops and planning budgets in Indonesian rupiah (IDR).

How the routes work

Each route has four time slots, usually 09:00, 11:30, 14:00 and 16:30. When a stop appears twice, that is time spent in one place, not a second ticket. For a regional day with several stops, use a driver and agree hours, stops, waiting time and overtime before you set off. If a day feels too full, remove one distant stop rather than looking for a faster vehicle.

Day routes from Ubud

An Ubud introduction

Ubud Palace, Saraswati Temple and the Campuhan Ridge Walk, then back to the centre for dinner. The first leg is a 10–20-minute walk; allow 20–35 minutes to reach the ridge and 25–45 minutes to return. Walk the ridge only in suitable conditions and cut it short when the heat rises. Planning budget: IDR 350,000–650,000.

Art and forest

ARMA Museum, the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Neka Art Museum and a return to the palace area. Make the museum that interests you more the main visit; the second is optional. At the forest, follow the sanctuary rules, secure loose belongings and never feed the animals. The transfers look short (15–30, then 25–50 and 20–40 minutes), but Ubud traffic slows them, so protect the lunch break. IDR 450,000–850,000.

Terraces and sacred water

A driver day north of Ubud: Tegallalang Rice Terraces, Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi in Tampaksiring, with car legs of 30–50, 15–30 and 45–90 minutes. Start early and agree what is included before paying at the terraces, where access routes and photo areas vary. Tirta Empul is a living temple. Observing respectfully is a complete visit; taking part in a purification ritual is not something to assume. Leave energy for the stairs at Gunung Kawi. IDR 550,000–1,000,000.

Jatiluwih without rushing

Make the terraces in Tabanan the whole point of the day. Allow 90–150 minutes by road from Ubud, walk a permitted marked section, eat nearby and head back with daylight to spare. Adding distant temples afterwards turns the terraces into a roadside stop. IDR 600,000–1,100,000.

A highland day in Bedugul

Ulun Danu Beratan and the Bali Botanic Garden, 15–30 minutes apart, after 90–180 minutes on the road from Ubud. The lake temple and the garden make a coherent day on their own, so do not add a coast at sunset. IDR 650,000–1,200,000.

Sanur: two slow days

The Sanur routes stay in one place on purpose. On Sanur at walking pace, start with a 30–45-minute walk along the Sanur Promenade with breakfast built in, stop for lunch and a rest, then take a shorter walk in the afternoon. Staying put keeps a beach day from turning into a string of transfers. IDR 250,000–550,000.

A soft landing in Sanur is for the day you arrive or change hotels. Leave your bags, find a simple meal and learn the way from your hotel to the promenade. The airport transfer is not included, and if you land late, keep only the meal and the rest. IDR 250,000–500,000.

Island boat trips from Sanur Harbour belong on a separate day. Check the operator, destination, luggage conditions and exact departure point before you go.

The south and the east

Southern coast and Uluwatu

This one starts later: 11:00 at Jimbaran Beach for a relaxed meal, then 45–90 minutes by car to Uluwatu Temple for 14:00. The 17:00 slot is for a separately booked performance; without one, leave earlier. Stay well inside the barriers on the cliff and keep belongings secure. Arrange the 45–90-minute return before you go, and do not hang a dinner booking elsewhere on an optimistic exit time. IDR 600,000–1,200,000.

Tanah Lot and an easy return

A half-day from the southwest, not an extra on a full Ubud day. Expect a popular coastal temple rather than a quiet encounter. Combine a coastal walk with a meal, and choose between daylight and sunset once you have compared traffic and your way back. IDR 450,000–900,000.

Eastern water gardens

Tirta Gangga and Taman Ujung, 35–60 minutes apart by car, work best from a base in the east. From south Bali, add a long drive each way or move hotels for a night instead. If the transfer already makes a long day, pick one garden and a slow lunch. IDR 550,000–1,000,000.

Linking the routes into a trip

Keep routes that share a base together. Two or three Ubud days in a row save you repeated long drives, and a Sanur day between two driver days gives you a rest without losing time. Jatiluwih and Bedugul both need long drives from Ubud, so avoid putting them back to back. The east makes sense only with a night or two there. For more on the roads and drivers, our Bali getting-around guide has the details.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit Ubud and Uluwatu on the same day?

Not comfortably. Uluwatu has its own southern day in our routes, with a congested evening return, and it is not meant to be attached to a full inland itinerary.

Do I need a driver for a day trip from Ubud?

For the days outside the centre, such as the terraces north of Ubud, Jatiluwih or Bedugul, a driver is the easiest option. Agree the hours, stops, waiting and overtime before leaving. The Ubud introduction can be done on foot.

Is Tegallalang or Jatiluwih better?

Tegallalang is closer to Ubud and fits into a day with the Tampaksiring temples. Jatiluwih, 90–150 minutes away, deserves a full day with a walk on a marked section and lunch nearby.

Can tourists take part in the ritual at Tirta Empul?

Do not assume purification rituals are a tourist activity. Read the entrance guidance, observe how people move through the spaces and ask what is appropriate, and what any arrangement includes, before doing more than watching.

Take the routes with you

All ten routes, with times, legs, budgets and an alternative for each, are in Bali Itineraries – 10 Day Routes + 3, 5 & 7-Day Plans. The Bali Offline Place Guide keeps the stops on your phone, and the Bali Travel Confidence Kit covers drivers, roads and problem solving. Browse everything in Bali Travel Guides.

Times and prices are planning estimates from our research in September 2026, not timetables or guaranteed prices. Check official sources for your travel dates.