Bali, Indonesia Itinerary (8 days)


This itinerary will cover Bali, Indonesia over 8 days, and is the second part of my Java-Bali-Lombok backpacking trip. To see the previous itinerary, please check out the 12 day itinerary for Java, Indonesia or fast forward to the next itinerary, 5 day itinerary for Lombok, Indonesia

Trip Summary

  • Trip length and when did I go? 8 days in May 2015
  • How much did it cost me? MYR 660

At A Glance

  • Day 1 - Banyuwangi, Java ‣ Gilimanuk ‣ Kuta
 Ferry from Banyuwangi, Java to Gilimanuk, Bali ‣  Minibus from Gilimanuk to Kuta ‣  Overnight in CX Hostel Legian
 Day trip to Tanah Lot by motorcycle ‣  Evening at Seminyak ‣  Overnight in CX Hostel Legian
 Day trip to Dreamland beach & Uluwatu by motorcycle ‣  Overnight in CX Hostel Legian
  • Day 4 - Kuta ‣ Ubud
 Sightseeing around Kuta ‣  Kuta beach ‣  Check out from CX Hostel Legian ‣  Shuttle from Kuta to Ubud ‣  Walking tour around Ubud ‣  Ubud Market ‣  Ubud Palace ‣  Overnight in Ubud Market Hostel
  • Day 5 - Ubud ‣ Sidemen ‣ Amed
 Check out from Ubud Market Hostel ‣  Motorcycle ride from Ubud to Amed with stopover in Sidemen ‣  Overnight in Sinar Bali 2 Bungalows in Amed
  • Day 6 - Amed ‣ Kintamani ‣ Lovina
 Check out from Sinar Bali 2 Bungalows ‣  Motorcycle ride from Amed to Lovina with stopover in Kintamani ‣  Overnight in Mandara Chico Bungalows in Lovina.
  • Day 7 - Lovina ‣ Bedugul ‣ Ubud
 Day trip to Sekumpul falls by motorcycle ‣  Check out from Mandara Chico Bungalows ‣  Motorcycle ride from Lovina to Ubud with stopover in Bedugul ‣  Ulun Danu Bratan temple ‣  Overnight in Dewa Hostel in Ubud.
  • Day 8 - Ubud ‣ Padangbai ‣ Lombok
 Walking tour of Ubud ‣  Saraswati Temple ‣  Ngaben ‣  Check out from Dewa Hostel ‣  Shuttle from Ubud to Padangbai ‣  Overnight ferry from Bali to Lombok

Itinerary Map (click to view POIs and routes)


Travel Montage




Arrival in Bali & getting from Gilimanuk to Kuta
  • 4.20 pm - Arrive at Gilimanuk port by ferry from Java island
  • Walk from the port area to Gilimanuk bus terminal (under 10 minutes)
  • 5.00 pm - Ride minibus from Gilimanuk bus station to Ubung bus terminal, located in Denpasar - 40,000 rupiah

Arrival at Gilimanuk port, Bali
Taking the minibus for a 4 hour long journey from Gilimanuk to Ubung bus terminal in Denpasar

Arrival in Kuta & Hostel check-in
  • 9.00 pm - Arrive at Ubung bus terminal
  • 9.30 pm - Hire an ojek to take me from Ubung bus terminal to Legian - 70,000 rupiah. Didn't have much of a choice as my options to get from Ubung to Kuta were pretty limited at the time
  • 10.15 pm - Arrive in Kuta (dropped off at Jalan Legian)
  • Check-in to CX Hostel Legian Kelod - 135,000 rupiah per night. Staying for 2 nights (total cost - 270,000 rupiah). Fair price and good location, only a few minutes walk away from Kuta beach. What I really loved about the hostel is the sleeping pods, which are very roomy and comfortable. The breakfast was a bit disappointing but all in all, a good place to stay for a couple of nights

CX Hostel Legian Kelod, located along Jalan Legian
Comfortable and spacious sleeping pods inside CX Hostel


Pre-day
  • 9.00 am - Wake up
  • Breakfast at the hostel - Toast & coffee (included in the room rate)
  • Did laundry at a nearby launderette - 20,000 rupiah
  • Purchased top-up for data plan (Simpati) - 30,000 rupiah (for 1.5GB)
  • Extended stay at CX Hostel Legian Kelod (+1 night for 135,000 rupiah per night)
  • Rented a scooter from the hostel - 65,000 rupiah per day. Renting for 2 days (total cost - 130,000 rupiah)

In & Around Legian
  • 11.00 am - 1.00 pm - Photo walk along Jalan Legian. Did a quick photo stop at the Bali Bombing Memorial
  • Stopover enroute at Perama tour office (Kuta branch) to purchase an open ticket for shuttle van to Padangbai (with a stopover at Ubud) - 75,000 rupiah
  • 1.00 pm - Back to hostel

Morning walk along Jalan Legian
Bali Bombing Memorial, commemorating those who lost their lives during the Bali bombings many years ago
Stopover at Perama tour office to buy my open ticket for the shuttle to Ubud and Padangbai

Kuta to Tanah Lot
  • 2.30 pm - Ride from hostel to Tanah Lot
  • 3.30 pm - Stopover for lunch at Pak Malen babi guling restaurant on the way, located along Jalan Sunset Road - Nasi babi guling (55,000 rupiah). The babi guling served here was quite good taste-wise, however the portion wasn't as generous as I thought it would be, given the price

Pak Malen babi guling restaurant
The babi guling served here is quite good, however the portion is a bit small for the price

Tanah Lot
  • 4.30 pm - Arrive at the Tanah Lot entrance. Paid the entrance - 30,000 rupiah & parking fee - 2,000 rupiah
  • There's a market here where you can get your souvenirs, however like many of Bali's tourist spots, it's hard to find much of a bargain here. Expect to pay the tourist premium for things around here
  • 5.00 pm - 7.00 pm -  Coming here, your experience of Tanah Lot may vary depending on the tide at the time. Since there was low tide at the time, I was able to walk all the way to the temple. Watched the sunset before continuing on 

There was low tide at the time, hence I was able to walk down to the beach and all the way to Tanah Lot temple
Watching the sunset over Tanah Lot

Tanah Lot to Seminyak
  • 7.00 pm - Ride from Tanah Lot to Seminyak
  • 8.00 pm - Arrive in Seminyak
  • 8.15 pm - 9.45 pm - Photo walk around Seminyak. Initially, I planned to have dinner here, and while there were plenty of dining options here, I found most of them were pretty pricey and didn't quite fit my budget

Seminyak Square
Night time in Seminyak. This was taken along Jalan Kayu Aya, the road leading to Seminyak Square
Ultimo is one of  the more popular restaurants in Seminyak. It was a full house when I was there, be sure to reserve ahead to avoid disappointment
Balinese fire dance at Nirvana Restaurant, Seminyak

Back to Kuta
  • 10.00 pm - Ride from Seminyak to Kuta beach road
  • 10.15 pm - 12.00 am - Photo walk along Kuta beach road with photo stops at Hard Rock Cafe Bali and Beachwalk before heading back to hostel

Candi Bentar, the main gate into Kuta beach
A busy street in front of Hard Rock Cafe Bali
Beachwalk mall
Night time along Kuta beach road



Kuta to Dreamland Beach
  • 9.00 am - Wake up
  • Breakfast at the hostel - Toast & coffee (included in the room rate)
  • 11.30 am - Ride scooter from the hostel to Dreamland beach, a picturesque beach located in the Bukit Peninsula, south of Bali
  • Stopover enroute for lunch at Nasi Pedas Ibu Andika restaurant - Nasi pedas (25,000 rupiah). A very popular local hangout especially during lunch time, try to come here before noon to avoid the crowds

Nasi Pedas Ibu Andika restaurant, located along Jalan Raya Kuta, is very popular with the locals
Many delectable dishes to choose from, don't forget the sambal if you love your food spicy and hot
My sumptuous lunch at Ibu Andika restaurant

Dreamland Beach
  • 1.00 pm - Arrive at Dreamland beach. Paid the entrance & parking fee - 5,000 rupiah
  • 1.10 pm - 5.00 pm - Photo ops and hanging around the beach. The beach still manages to retain much of its charm despite rampant development in the area. I initially planned to stop here for 1-2 hours but decided to spend my whole afternoon here instead.

Entrance and parking lot at Dreamland beach
Seeing this beach for the first time felt like a dream, it's no wonder they called it Dreamland beach
Dreamland has it all, glorious white sandy beaches and huge waves perfect for surfing
View of Dreamland beach from the top of a hill nearby
Waves gently washing onto the shores of another part of Dreamland beach, just beyond the hill

Uluwatu Temple
  • 5.00 pm - Ride from Dreamland beach to Uluwatu temple
  • 5.30 pm - Arrive at Uluwatu temple entrance. Entrance fee - 20,000 rupiah & parking - 1,000 rupiah
  • 5.30 pm - 6.30 pm - Photo ops & sunset viewing around Uluwatu temple

Uluwatu Temple, one of Bali's most photographed sites
Waves crashing against the cliffs on the opposite side of Uluwatu
Tuck away and keep a watchful eye on your belongings while you're there, the monkeys there are a mischievous lot
Watched the sun set over the horizon from Uluwatu before heading back to Kuta

Back to Kuta
  • 6.30 pm - Ride back to hostel
  • Balinese massage at a nearby massage parlor along Jalan Legian - 50,000 rupiah
  • 9.00 pm - 11.00 pm - Spent my last evening in Kuta walking around Jalan Legian before returning to my hostel. There are quite a few night spots in Legian area that will satisfy most of your partying needs

Spending my last evening in Jalan Legian
Quite a few night spots along Jalan Legian to satisfy most partygoers



Kuta Beach
  • 8.00 am - Wake up
  • Breakfast at the hostel - Toast & coffee (included in the room rate)
  • 8.30 am - Walk from hostel to Kuta beach (under 10 minutes)
  • 8.45 am - 9.45 am - Photo walk along Kuta Beach
  • 2nd breakfast at Surf Cafe - English breakfast (29,000 rupiah)
  • 10.00 am - Back to hostel

Enjoying my early morning walk along Kuta Beach
Some surfers practicing the waves
Had another breakfast at Surf Cafe before heading back to the hostel

Kuta to Ubud by Perama shuttle
  • 11.00 am - Pack up & check out from hostel
  • Walk from hostel to Perama tour office (located along Jalan Legian, under 30 minutes)
  • 12.15 pm - Ride Perama shuttle to Ubud

Going from Kuta to Ubud. Taking the Perama shuttle is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to do it

Arrival in Ubud
  • 1.45 pm - Arrive in Ubud (dropped off at Perama tour office, located along Jalan Hanoman in Ubud)
  • Walk from Perama tour office to hostel (under 30 minutes)
  • 2.15 pm - Check-in to Ubud Market Hostel - 100,000 rupiah per night (staying for 1 night). Didn't really like the dorm I got at the hostel as it lacked privacy, it was right in front of the reception desk and we can't keep the door closed the whole time. That being said, the beds were really comfy, they even provided bolsters! Guess it's okay for a night but not more than that
  • Rented a scooter from a shop just next to the hostel - 50,000 rupiah per day. Renting for 4 days (total cost - 200,000 rupiah)

Arrival in Ubud. This was taken at the turn-in to Jalan Dewisita from Jalan Hanoman
Loving the tastefully decorated lobby of Ubud Market Hostel
The dorm I got at the hostel. Didn't like it very much as it was right in front of the reception desk

Ubud Market
  • 3.20 pm - Walked to Ubud Market, located just a short walk away from the hostel. Did some quick shopping for souvenirs.

Did some souvenir shopping at Ubud Market, located just a short distance away from the hostel I stayed in
Another part of Ubud Market on the way to Ubud Palace

Ubud Palace
  • 4.00 pm - Photo stop at Ubud Palace. No entrance fees. It's possible to see the place in its entirety in under 30 minutes as it's fairly small. 
  • Additionally, there are optional cultural performances you can catch here just after sundown. Was quoted 70,000 rupiah per person for tickets to watch the Legong dance, but I decided to give this a miss as I wanted to see more of Ubud later this evening 

Ubud Palace gates
This small courtyard is all there is to see in Ubud Palace. No, seriously!

Sightseeing and food trail around Ubud
  • Had icecream at Oops Gelato - Single scoop gelato (25,000 rupiah). Just because I can :)
  • 5.00 pm - 6.00 pm - Photo walk along Jalan Raya Ubud before heading back to the hostel. Spotted a few temples and some nice cafes along the way
  • 7.00 pm - Ride out to the outskirts of Ubud in search of food. Spotted Naughty Nuri's restaurant on the way, and had dinner there - Grilled spare ribs & es tea (145,000 rupiah)
  • 8.00 pm - 9.00 pm - Photo ops around Ubud by scooter. Withdrew some money from an ATM on the way back. As a note, CIMB ATMs are plentiful in Ubud and in much of Bali, good news for people who have a CIMB card, no withdrawal fees!
  • Late coffee at Anomali Coffee - Cafe latte & danish roll (40,000 rupiah)
  • 10.00 pm - Return to hostel to rest for the night

Some fancy restaurant across the road from Ubud Palace
Spotted a few interesting temples while walking around Ubud, this was located just around the corner from where Ubud Palace was
Naughty Nuri's, very famous in Ubud for its grilled pork ribs. They had a branch back home but I just had to try the original for myself
Succulent pork ribs for dinner, one of the best things I had in Bali
Ubud in the evening. Taken at Jalan Dewisita on the way back from dinner
Spent the remainder of my evening at Anomali Coffee near my hostel



Pre-day
  • 7.00 am - Wake up. Pack up and check out from hostel.
  • Breakfast at a shop nearby the hostel - Banana pancake & hot coffee (31,000 rupiah)

Ubud to Sidemen
  • 9.00 am - Ride from Ubud to Sidemen to start my 3 day motorcycle loop around Bali
  • 9.45 am - Photo stop at Goa Gajah, located on the way between Ubud and Gianyar. Admission - 15,000 rupiah. I honestly didn't find Goa Gajah that interesting, but it's still worth checking out as it's on the way. It's a pretty small place and can be seen in less than an hour. 
  • 11.00 am - Continue on to Sidemen (via Jalan Semarapura - Karangasem)
  • 11.35 am - Arrive in Klungkung. Quick photo stop at the scenic Tukad Unda bridge.

Entrance to Goa Gajah, just under an hour away from Ubud on the way to Gianyar
The elephant cave, just about the only interesting thing worth seeing in Goa Gajah
The baths area in Goa Gajah
Tukad Unda bridge in Klungkung
The scenic Tukad Unda dam viewed from the bridge

In & Around Sidemen
  • 12.45 pm - Arrive in Sidemen. A good alternative to the rather touristy Tegalalang. It's a fairly large area to cover, although it's possible to see this place in a couple of hours. Your mileage may vary of course, ideally it's okay to spend a night here to truly appreciate the surroundings. Plenty of homestays in the area, so finding accommodation shouldn't be a problem
  • For those who just want this as a quick stopover, turn in from the main road just before the police station, a few minutes down this road will get you to some of the best spots to view the rice terraces
  • 12.50 pm - 2.50 pm - Photo ops around Sidemen

The rice terraces of Sidemen. So glad I chose to come see this instead of the touristy Tegalalang
Balinese altar in Sidemen. Mount Agung can be seen in the far distance
Another part of Sidemen, more beautiful rice terraces
Continuing on the road from Sidemen to Amed

Sidemen to Amed
  • 3.00 pm - Ride from Sidemen to Amed. The views continue to be amazing along the way. Refuel at a gas station enroute - 15,000 rupiah
  • Passed by Tirta Gangga water palace on my way to Amed, which is worth a visit if you have plenty of time. Decided to give it a miss as I wanted to reach Amed before sundown

The views continue to be amazing on the way to Amed
Beautiful rice terraces near Tirta Gangga
This beautiful valley opened up to me after navigating a rather windy road. The Bali sea can be seen from afar

In & Around Amed
  • 4.45 pm - Arrive in Amed. Photo stop at Amed viewpoint (30 minutes). No entrance fees required. Absolutely breathtaking views of Amed bay and Mount Agung in the distance! 
  • Check-in to Sinar Bali 2 bungalows - 170,000 rupiah per night (staying for 1 night). Out of all my stays in Bali, this guesthouse gave me the best value for my money. Totally recommended!
  • 8.00 pm - Dinner at the guesthouse's cafe - Ayam bakar tomat (40,000 rupiah)
  • Photo ops around Amed by scooter (2 hours). There's a pretty decent reggae bar where you could go for a couple of drinks, otherwise there isn't plenty to do in Amed at night.
  • 10.00 pm - Return to guesthouse

Made it to Amed and completed day 1 of my motorcycle loop around Bali
Absolutely breathtaking views of Amed Bay and Mount Agung from the viewpoint
My accommodation in Amed, Sinar Bali 2
My bungalow for the night. After my first night here, I really wanted to extend my stay but was fully booked unfortunately.  Despite this, the host was very helpful in trying to get me another stay 
The guesthouse really knows how to serve up an appetizing dish for dinner. This dish I had for dinner is ayam bakar tomat
There are quite a few nightspots in Amed you could to in the evenings
Day or night, the view of Amed bay is amazing!



Sightseeing Around Amed
  • 6.30 am - Wake up to a beautiful sunrise, right from my bungalow's front porch
  • 6.45 am - 10.00 am - Photo ops by scooter around Amed. Visited Jemeluk, Bunutan and Lipah bay. Went for a swim before returning to the guesthouse for breakfast
  • Breakfast at the guesthouse - Balinese pancake & milk tea (included in room rate)

Woke up to a beautiful sunrise, without ever having to leave the comforts of my bungalow
Row of trimarans lining the black pebbled shore of Jemeluk Bay
Scenic coastal road on the way to Bunutan and Lipah Bay
Bunutan Bay
Continuing on, Lipah Bay
Very inviting beach located beyond Lipah Bay, not sure what the name is though
My guesthouse served up these delicious Balinese pancakes. It has banana filling, topped off with coconut scrapings

Amed to Kintamani
  • 11.00 am - Pack up and check out from guesthouse
  • Ride from Amed to Kintamani (via Bali's east coast road, Jalan Kubu & Jalan Tejakula - Tianyar) to start day 2 of my Bali motorcycle loop
  • Passed by Tulamben on the way. Initially planned to stay overnight here, but unless you're planning on diving, this place is a safe miss.
  • Note: If you rely on GPS to get to your destination, it may list more than one route to get to Kintamani from Amed. Taking the shortest route may seem like a good idea but it's not. Most roads to Kintamani from the east coast are in very bad condition and almost impossible to traverse, except Jalan Raya Kintamani, which is the only good route. The turn-in is just after Tejakula town, there's ample signage to point the way, you can't miss it.
  • 1.30 pm - Arrive in Tejakula. Refuel at nearby gas station - 15,000 rupiah
  • Turn in to Jalan Raya Kintamani and continue on to Kintamani

On the way to Kintamani via Bali's east coast road. Had to stop for this awesome view of Mount Agung along the way
Turning into the Jalan Raya Kintamani after Tejakula. It's a windy road up scenic hills and forests
Nearing Kintamani, the weather turns from hot and sweaty to pleasantly cool. The fresh mountain air refreshes you and beckons you forward

In & Around Kintamani
  • 3.00 pm - Arrive in Kintamani
  • Stopover for late lunch at Grand Puncak Sari restaurant - Buffet (120,000 rupiah). A hefty price, but the views alone are worth paying for, not to mention the buffet spread was quite good in my opinion

Arriving in Kintamani, and just had to take this candid shot of my motorcycle with Batur mountain and caldera in the background
The balcony area of Grand Puncak Sari restaurant, one of many buffet restaurants along the stretch of road around the caldera 
A closer view of Mount Batur and its caldera from the restaurant
Pura Ulun Danu Batur, Bali's second most important temple, located in Kintamani

Kintamani to Lovina Beach
  • 5.00 pm - Ride from Kintamani to Lovina beach (via Jalan Gunung Batur)
  • 6.30 pm - Arrive in Singaraja. Continue on to Lovina beach
  • 7.00 pm - Arrive in Lovina beach
  • Check-in to Mandara Chico Bungalows - 175,000 rupiah per night (staying for 1 night)
  • 8.00 pm - 9.00 pm - Photo ops around Lovina beach. There's quite a bit of nightlife in Lovina beach itself. Was offered the sunrise dolphin tour package for 100,000 rupiah, but I wasn't too keen on it as I was more interested in seeing the Sekumpul falls the next day
  • 10.00 pm - Return to guesthouse to get some rest for the next day

Clouds and godrays on the way down from Kintamani to Lovina
Greeted by an orange sunset upon arriving in Singaraja
Checking in to Mandara Chico bungalows, my accommodation for the night in Lovina beach



Sekumpul Waterfall
  • 6.30 am - Wake up
  • 7.00 am - Ride from guesthouse to Desa Sekumpul, located inside Sawan district, east of Singaraja
  • 8.00 am - Arrive at the entrance of Sekumpul waterfall. Paid the entrance fee - 15,000 rupiah
  • Trek down to Sekumpul waterfall (under 20 minutes). It's not a difficult trek going down and can be done without a guide. A few minutes down the path, it breaks up into three smaller paths. Went right and followed the path going downwards for about 15 minutes, until I came to a suspension bridge. From there, I crossed a few streams until I finally arrived at the waterfall
  • 8.35 am - 10.15 am - Photo ops at Sekumpul waterfall . It's worth trekking all the way to the base of the waterfall to see two hidden falls behind the cliffs flanking both sides of the main fall
  • Trek back up to the entrance (under 30 minutes). Hardest part of the trek!
  • 11.00 am - Return to guesthouse

Rice field with a view near the parking lot before the entrance to Sekumpul waterfalls
A bit tricky at the beginning, but once you're on the right path, it's pretty straight forward to get to the falls
Crossed a few knee-deep streams on the way to Sekumpul
Sekumpul falls finally in sight

Back at Lovina Beach
  • 12.00 pm - Upon returning to the guesthouse, I still had plenty of time to spare, so I walked around the beach in front of my guesthouse before packing up and checking out

Went for a walk around Lovina beach since I had time to spare, upon returning from Sekumpul

Lovina Beach to Bedugul
  • Started day 3 and the final leg of my motorcyle loop around Bali. Refuel at nearby gas station before continuing on - 15,000 rupiah
  • Ride from Lovina beach to Bedugul (via Munduk, turn-in to Jalan Damai, located at the juncture of Jalan Singaraja-Seririt & Jalan Raya Anturan). Keep in mind it's not really a proper road, and more like a makeshift path through the Munduk plantation's backdoor, so expect a bumpy ride
  • 1.20 pm - Arrive in Munduk. There isn't much to see or do in this area. Continue on to Bedugul
  • 1.30 pm - Photo stop at the viewpoint overlooking Danau Buyan and Danau Tamblingan, located just by the roadside on the way to Bedugul. No entrance fees required.

Took this 'road' through Munduk and onward to Bedugul. Very sure there is a proper road but my shifty GPS decided this was the 'best route'
Quick stop at the viewpoint overlook Danau Buyan and Tamblingan before continuing on to Bedugul

In & Around Bedugul
  • 1.40 pm - Continue on to Bedugul (via Jalan Munduk-Wanagiri). Did a quick photo stop at the monkey forest on the way there, located by the roadside on the way, just after the turn-in to Bedugul
  • 2.00 pm - Arrive in Bedugul. Stopover for lunch at Warung Makan Tepi Buyan - Ayam betutu & coffee (23,000 rupiah)
  • 3.00 pm - 4.00pm - Photo stop at Ulun Danu Beratan temple. Paid the entrance fee - 10,000 rupiah
  • 4.10 pm - Stopover at Pasar Candi Kuning for some quick shopping

Views of Bedugul that can be seen along the road going down
Quick stop at the monkey forest on the way to Bedugul
Stopped over for lunch at this restaurant just after the monkey forest
Ayam betutu, another Balinese dish I've tried, that looks and tastes a lot like nasi lemak from back home
Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, probably Bali's most iconic temple, and is commonly featured in the 50,000 rupiah banknote
Pasar Candi Kuning in Bedugul

Back to Ubud
  • 4.30 pm - Ride from Bedugul back to Ubud
  • 6.30 pm - Arrive in Ubud
  • Check-in to Dewa Hostel - 100,000 rupiah per night (staying for 1 night). This hostel was a bit better than the previous one I stayed in, but unfortunately there's only one small bathroom shared by the whole dorm
  • 8.30 pm - Dinner at Oops Restaurant - Barbequed chicken & Bintang beer (120,000 rupiah). Great atmosphere and a pretty good live band too.
  • 10.30 pm - Return to hostel

On the way back to Ubud
Dewa Hostel, the place I stayed at for my final night in Ubud
The dorm in Dewa Hostel
Spent my final evening at Oops Restaurant in Ubud



Hostel check-out & Last day in Ubud
  • 9.00 am - Wake up
  • Walk from the hostel to Ubud Market for some last minute shopping (under 5 minutes)
  • Breakfast at Ubud Market - Nasi goreng & hot tea (22,000 rupiah)
  • 11.00 am - Pack up and check out from hostel

Morning in Ubud
Locals plying their trade from small pickup trucks in Ubud's morning market

Saraswati Temple
  • 11.10 am - Photo stop at Saraswati Temple, located behind a Starbucks coffee shop (not kidding!). No entrance fees required.
  • Lunch at the nearby Ibu Oka babi guling restaurant - Nasi babi guling special (55,000 rupiah). Want an honest review? I liked it way better than Pak Malen's

Crossing the moat filled with lotus flowers going into Saraswati temple
Ibu oka babi guling restaurant was very high on the Ubud must-try list so it'd be a shame if I didn't stop by
Truth be told, I wasn't disappointed. I liked it a lot better than Pak Malen's

Ngaben
  • 12.30 pm - Walk to Pura Dalem Puri (under 15 minutes) to witness a Balinese cremation ceremony, known to locals as "Ngaben"
  • The bad news for those intending to plan their trip around this event, Ngaben has no fixed calendar dates. This was somewhat a chance encounter for me, I was lucky enough to be around when the event took place.

Ngaben procession. The gilded buffalo they're carrying around is actually the deceased's sarcophagus
It takes a concerted effort to lift the sarcophagus into place
The rituals leading to the cremations takes a few hours to an entire day, be sure to spare a day or tto see the whole thing
Colorful displays at Ngaben 

Ubud to Padangbai
  • 2.30 pm - Hired an ojek to take me to Perama tour office (Ubud branch) - 20,000 rupiah (bargained down from 25,000 rupiah)
  • 3.00 pm - Ride Perama shuttle to Padangbai
  • 4.15 pm - Arrive in Padangbai. From here, you can take either the public ferry (5-6 hours) or the fast boat (2 hours) to Lombok

Arriving in Padangbai
Views of Padangbai from one of the guesthouses here
Padangbai port

Padang Bai to Lombok
  • 4.20 pm - 6.20 pm - Photo walk around Padangbai
  • 6.30 pm - Dinner at Padangbai Beach Resort restaurant - Nasi goreng & Bintang beer (50,000 rupiah)
  • Hung around the port area and had a nap before boarding the 1.00am ferry to Lombok - 44,000 rupiah (one way)

Evening walk around Padangbai beach
Candid shot of one of the public ferries that goes from Padangbai to Lombok and vice versa
Evening falls in Padangbai
Few sleepless hours later, I can finally buy my ferry ticket to Lombok
Waiting to board the night ferry bound for Lombok
Inside of the ferry's passenger deck. There's an area where you can rent a mattress if you want to sleep. Onward to Lombok!


Trip Cost & Expenses


How much?
What for?
IDR 775,000
Accommodation
IDR 405,000
Accommodation in Kuta (3 nights)
IDR 200,000
Accommodation in Ubud (2 nights)
IDR 170,000
Accommodation in Amed (1 night)
IDR 175,000
Accommodation in Lovina (1 night)


IDR 633,000
Ground Cost
IDR 110,000
Transport from Gilimanuk to Kuta
IDR 130,000
Scooter rental in Kuta (2 days)
IDR 32,000
Entrance ticket & parking – Tanah Lot
IDR 5,000
Parking – Dreamland Beach
IDR 21,000
Entrance ticket & parking – Uluwatu
IDR 75,000
Perama shuttle from Kuta to Padangbai (with stopover at Ubud)
IDR 200,000
Scooter rental in Ubud (4 days)
IDR 15,000
Entrance ticket – Goa Gajah
IDR 15,000
Entrance ticket – Sekumpul waterfall
IDR 10,000
Entrance ticket – Ulun Danu Beratan
IDR 20,000
Transportation around Ubud


IDR 44,000
In & Out Cost
IDR 44,000
Ferry from Bali to Lombok


IDR 925,000
Misc
IDR 780,000
Food & drinks
IDR 145,000
Miscellaneous


IDR 2,377,000
Total


How much did it cost me?

  • In local currency: IDR 2,377,000
  • Conversion rate (at the time): MYR 1 = IDR 3,600
  • After conversion: MYR 660 (for 8 days)




3 comments

  1. Hey there, I like your blog very much and reading every line of this. There is mistake in the temple name. You have written it as "Sasrawati Temple" but it is "Saraswati Temple". Saraswati is wife of Brama and she is god of education (according to Epics)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kranthi,

      My bad, thanks for pointing it out :)

      Delete
  2. Nice write up... Have been planning to visit Bali for ages now, hopefully we get to visit this year. Your article seems to be a great guide for us)) We also planning to book a package tour via http://7.holiday/. What do you thinks about that? We picked this company cause we heard good review about them from my friend.

    ReplyDelete

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