See the best of Bali on this 7-day itinerary

For many travelers, Bali offers a first taste of Southeast Asia’s gorgeous tropical islands. Amid lush green vegetation and wafting palms, you’ll find stunning beaches, lavishly spiced cuisine, fascinating festivals and timeless temples. But with so much to see, how many experiences can you fit in during a single week?

To point you in the right direction, this 7-day itinerary takes in Bali’s highlights, from the hedonistic, surf-washed beaches of the southwest coast to serene Ubud – rich in culture, history and temples – ending on the east coast in the diving center of Tulamben.

• Best time to go: During Bali’s high season (July, August and December), crowds swell and prices soar, but there’s a lively buzz across the island. July and August are the driest months, with optimal weather for exploring and good surfing conditions, while December is often damp and cloudy but still warm and very busy with travelers escaping the cold in the northern hemisphere, especially around the Christmas holidays. Temperatures in Bali stay warm year-round, with the average only occasionally dipping below 27°C (81°F). For a calmer experience, Bali’s shoulder season months of May, June and September hit the sweet spot, with lower prices, only moderate rainfall and smaller crowds.

• How to get from the airport: Bali’s international airport, I Gusti Ngurah Rai, is about 13km outside Denpasar, and this is where most people arrive, though some travelers come by ferry from Java and Lombok. Prebooked and regular taxis, rideshares and buses can get you to Denpasar in around half an hour, or directly to traveler hubs on the coast.

• Getting around: Traveling by car – either a rental car under your own steam or with a hired driver – is the most convenient way to explore the island. Local minibuses known as bemos are cheap but infrequent, and they don’t go everywhere. An alternative is to get around by tourist shuttle bus, taxi or rideshare via the Grab and Gojek apps – there are no huge distances to cover in Bali. If you’re feeling more ambitious, scooters are widely available for rent (just make sure you're covered by your travel insurance).

• What to pack: Whenever you come, it’s going to be warm, so pack thin cotton clothing, ideally with some outfits that cover your arms and legs for trips to temples and religious sites. You’ll want swimwear for the beach and a sarong (available locally) for covering up when you leave the sand. November to March is the wet season, but there’s a chance of rain at any time, so bring a light raincoat or umbrella, and keep them handy. Also bring some warmer layers to combat powerful air-conditioning and bug repellent to ward off mosquitoes.

Day 1

Morning

Arrive in Denpasar, Bali’s boisterous capital. Most visitors don’t linger in the city, though there is good shopping and eating for those who do. A taxi or rideshare can take you directly from the airport to Canggu, where you can kick off your shoes and head straight for the sand or pool.

How to spend the day

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 the black sand Pantai Batu Mejan (Echo Beach). The Canggu 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). As the afternoon wears on, follow the Canggu Beach Walk, taking you from Pantai Batu Belig to Pantai Batu Mejan in a couple of hours. It’s a great way to get a feel for this tropical getaway.

Dinner

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

Day 2

Morning

With a second day to play with in Canggu, start off with a morning yoga session. Yoga centers along the coast suit beginners to lifelong yogis. Near Pantai Nelayan, the family-owned, permaculture-based Serenity is a down-to-earth yoga resort with eight daily classes, including sessions of aerial yoga. Samadi is a peaceful yoga and wellness center, plus boutique and eco-conscious supermarket, on the busy Jl Padang Linjong. The Practice on Jl Batu Bolong might appear contemporary in style, but all of its classes are rooted in hatha yoga practice.

How to spend the day

After lunch, hit the breaks. Surf shacks can rent you a board, or you can book a lesson with a surf school at Pantai Berawa, where waves that are suitable for both beginners and more experienced surfers break onto a black sand beach. Pantai Batu Mejan and Pantai Batu Bolong are also good spots.

Dinner

A second night in Canggu provides an opportunity to sample Bali’s famous babi guling (spit-roasted suckling pig), an unapologetically carnivorous feast. Many warungs (food stalls) specialize in this dish – you’ll recognize them from the image of the skewered pig that hangs outside. Babi Guling Men Lari on Jl Bypass Tanah Lot is widely accepted by Canggu residents to be one of the best in the area.

After dark

Sample Canggu’s party scene at Finns Beach Club, a pulsating all-day party venue that extends the pure hedonism late into the night. DJs and vocalists set the vibe as revelers order drinks from swim-up bars, roller-skaters wearing retro hot pants weave between Finns’ four pools and figures with glitter balls for heads dance up a storm.

Day 3

Morning

The drive from Canggu to Ubud takes about an hour, but set off early as there’s loads to see when you arrive.

How to spend the day

Ubud is where Balinese traditions imbue every waking moment, where colorful offerings adorn the streets and where the hypnotic strains of gamelan (traditional Javanese and Balinese orchestra) music provide an ever-present soundtrack to everyday life.

Ubud is easy to get around on foot or by bicycle, so check into your accommodations, then set off toward the area's top attractions in Bali's beating artistic heart. In this green sprawl of tropical river valleys, temples, guesthouses, wellness centers and tumbling rice terraces, a holiday of a few days can turn into a stay of weeks, so be ready to extend if the fancy takes you.

Use your first day to 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. Just west of the town's center, down by the start of Jl Raya Campuan, Pura Gunung Lebah sits on a jutting rock at the confluence of two tributaries of the Sungai Cerik – far below street level in a lush gorge, the setting is magical.

After dark

Taking in a show of 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 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.

Day 4

Morning

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, even if your interest in art is limited. It’s set in lovely tiered gardens that are alive with water features, and four buildings display works from all schools and periods of Balinese art. The Agung Rai Museum of Art's founder built a fortune selling Balinese artwork to foreigners in the 1970s, and during his time as an art dealer, he acquired one of Indonesia’s most impressive private collections of art, now displayed to the public.

How to spend the day

After lunch in one of Ubud’s cafes, you could book into a spa such as hippie-vibed Ubud Sari Health Resort or cool Taksu for an afternoon of relaxing, or feel the energy flow with a yoga class at the respected Yoga Barn, offering a range of classes in many yoga traditions.

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 rice terraces. Look for gaps along the road not yet filled by cafes, and savor the view of the sinuous ribbons of green without the hustle.

Dinner

Combine dinner with a show of Balinese shadow puppetry. The very central Bali Culture Workshop (at the Oka Kartini BnB) stages popular evening shows. For food, graze the warungs; Warung Pulau Kelapa has a huge menu of dishes drawn from across Indonesia, plus sensational sambals (Indonesian-style chili pastes). Alternatively, a cheery family crew doles out spicy Indonesian classics with silky smooth peanut sauce at Mama’s Warung.

Day 5 and 6

Morning

Drive north of Ubud for 10km to see the photogenic rice terraces before veering east to Gunung Agung, an active volcano that’s Bali’s highest and most revered peak.

How to spend the days

If you’re fit and keen – and the volcano is not currently erupting – you can climb the steep forested slopes of 3142m Gunung Agung. 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.

It’s best to climb during the dry season (April to September); at other times the paths can be dangerously slippery and the views are typically clouded over. Check the eruption status of the volcano before attempting the climb.

The easiest route up Gunung Agung begins from the temple at Pura Pasar Agung, taking at least 3 hours one way, but there’s a steeper and tougher route from the temple complex at Pura Besakih. Various lodges and guesthouses around Sidemen and Tirta Gangga offer rooms and can arrange a guide and transfers to the trailheads.

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.

Many of the temples here only admit Hindus, but visitors can walk among the various shrines, and the scores of jet-black meru (multiroofed shrines) soaring toward the sky are a moving and dramatic sight. Visitors can get a ride up the long hill to the temple complex in an electric cart, starting from a dedicated parking area near Sidemen.

Dinner

Most people eat where they are staying; Tirtagangga has a better selection of warungs than Sidemen.

Day 7

Morning

After a second night near Gunung Agung, travel northeast to Tulamben, one of Bali’s top diving destinations, a journey of about 90 minutes

How to spend the day

Tulamben is a diving hot spot, 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.

This article was adapted from Lonely Planet’s Indonesia guidebook.