Budget-friendly 10-day itinerary in Bali
In this blog post, I’m gonna talk about the perfect budget-friendly 10-day itinerary in Bali.
Are you thinking of going to Bali? Because if you are, I am so excited for you!! I spent 3 months in Bali and loved every minute of it. During those 3 months, I got to explore different areas in Bali and sort through the things I think are worth visiting or exploring while in Bali, and which are not.
Based on the things I absolutely loved or think are worth exploring, I made a 10-day itinerary in Bali for you. It takes you to 4-5 places in Bali to experience different sceneries and optimizes the distances between one place to the other so you don’t spend half the time in a car. Oh, and it’s very easy to keep it budget-friendly or travel in luxury.
But before I share this “perfected” itinerary, here are a few things you should know before visiting Bali.
Things to know before visiting Bali
🛬 Passing through immigration at the airport takes a while so have patience. You have to do different lines to show proof of vaccination, pay for your entry visa, pass immigration, and pass custom declaration. You might be at the airport for an additional 45 minutes to 2 hours going through this process.
🍽 There’s a pretty big variety of food types and restaurants, not just local restaurants. Believe it or not, I’ve had some of the best pasta and burgers in Bali. But be sure to try local dishes too, like Nasi Goreng or Mie Goreng, because they are delicious and usually very affordable.
🏖 Canggu and Kuta are popular beach towns but not very swimming-friendly. They cater more to surfers. But whether you surf or not you can still enjoy them. There are usually plenty of beach beds, bar shacks with cold beer, and a pleasant atmosphere to enjoy the beach from the sand or from the water.
🍹 Alcohol is actually a little more expensive than in other Southeast Asian countries. Although alcohol is still pretty cheap compared to the US, you can expect to pay 100,000 IDR to 200,000 IDR [$6.50 to $13 USD] for cocktails, and around 30,000 IDR to 50,000 IDR [$2 to $3.50 USD] for beers.
🚗 Getting a private car/driver for tours is cheaper than you’d think. Although you can rent a motorbike and drive yourself wherever you want to go, driving in Bali is a little dangerous and places are farther than they appear. So I recommend booking a tour through Tripadvisor, which are usually private and affordable, and visit 4 to 5 places in one day. You can even get the driver’s info and hire them for more tours while in Bali.
💸 Although cash is king in Bali, you can use your credit/debit card almost everywhere. With that being said, I still recommend carrying cash with you at all times. Some places have a minimum amount you have to spend to pay with your card and some charge a small credit/debit card fee when you pay using that method. You also need cash to pay Grab drivers (similar to Uber), buy beers at the beach, or even pay for food at local Warungs.
NOTE: If possible, try booking a flight that arrives early in the morning in Bali. That way you still have lots of time on Day 1 to see and explore. But, of course, keep in mind that jet lag is a very real thing, especially coming from the US which is on the other side of the world. So if you need to rest on Day 1 or maybe take it slow, do what feels right for your body.
10-day itinerary in Bali
This 10-day itinerary is a suggestion based on the most popular (and my favorite) budget-friendly things to do in Bali. And the best way to enjoy everything is to stay a night or two in different areas of Bali during your trip, as mentioned below.
Without further ado, here is the perfect 10-day itinerary in Bali
Day 1 – Uluwatu
🔹 Arrive in Bali and head to your hotel or Airbnb in Uluwatu
🔹 Chill by the beach since you’ll probably be a bit jet-lagged and tired
Day 2 – Uluwatu
🔹 Beach hop around 2 to 3 beaches in Uluwatu
🔹 Visit the Uluwatu Temple in the evening
🔹 Go to a Kecak dance in the Uluwatu Temple at sunset
Day 3 – Nusa Penida
🔹 Book a day tour to Nusa Penida where you can go snorkeling and take photos at the most Instagrammable beaches
Day 4 – Ubud
🔹 Drive to Ubud early in the morning
🔹 Walk around Ubud and do some shopping
🔹 Get a massage
Day 5 – Ubud
🔹 Take a private tour to the Monkey Forest, a Bali swing, the Tirta Empul water temple, and a nearby waterfall (Here’s a tour I recommend – Ubud tour)
Day 6 – Lempuyang Temple
🔹 Take a private car to Tirta Gangga (it’s on the way to The Gate of Heaven)
🔹 Afterwards go to The Gate of Heaven, also known as Lempuyang Temple to take this famous photo 👉🏽 (I recommend going in the afternoon, around 3 – 4 pm when it’s less crowded)
Day 7 – Gili T or Gili Trawangan
🔹 Take a fast boat to Gili T
🔹 While in Gili T, take another small boat to the other Gili Islands to see underwater statues and snorkel with sea turtles
🔹 At night, go bar hopping (A few bars I recommend are Lava Bar (especially on Fridays), Sama Sama, Jungle Bar, and Tequila Sunrise
Day 8 – Gili T
🔹 Spend the morning enjoying the beach and paddle boarding
🔹 Go snorkeling with sea turtles again! (Because why not?!)
🔹 Take a fast boat back to Bali in the afternoon
🔹 Drive to your hotel or Airbnb in Canggu
Day 9 – Canggu
🔹 Spend the day at the beach
🔹 Take a surfing lesson
🔹 Have a few drinks at Finn’s Beach Club
Day 10 – Say goodbye to Bali
🔹 Take a late flight out of Bali if possible so you can enjoy a relaxing morning (Maybe sneak in one last massage!)
Quick tips:
🧳 Pack lose and comfy clothes since Bali has all-year-long tropical weather (meaning it’s always hot and humid)
💸 Take cash out at a local ATM (some places don’t take credit/debit cards)
🔌 Don’t forget to bring an international charger converter for your electronics
📲 Get a SIM card at the airport or at a local market to always have phone service and not depend on WiFi. Don’t forget to unlock your phone before you leave though.
For more ideas on budget-friendly things to do in Bali, read this blog post.
Got any questions about this itinerary or need help planning your trip to Bali? Let me know in the comments below!
Heads up: As a way to earn passive income, this post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you buy something through one of those links, I might get a commission at NO extra cost to you. I appreciate your support! 💕
March 23, 2023
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