My cousins and I had been dreaming about a Bali trip for a while, but actually making the Bali Itinerary happen? That was like trying to catch a unicorn. Not kidding! That’s because our parents, like the quintessential middle-class Asian folks, always tend to choose religious trips over leisure trips. Always. And I mean ALWAYS.
It was hard to convince them but we did and got us all a 7-day Bali trip booked in 2019. Cue the celebratory dances! Yay! Hip Hip Hurray!
So, well, if you’re looking for inspiration regarding what all things to do in Bali, tips, or advice, this Bali itinerary will help, and yes, it’s 100% relevant in 2024 and will be in 2025. Can’t say the same about the budget though! It will need some adjusting.
Convincing Tactic – How’s The Zor
As part of the convincing (and to coordinate our efforts so we could pull off the trip), my cousin-gang created a Whatsapp group named “Zor Lgao, Bali Jao”. Each call began with, “How’s the Zor?” followed by our strategies of, “Tu dobara baat kar,” “Nahi tu kar!” 😛
Fast forward to 2024, and it feels like a lifetime ago (seriously!) — we’re all grown-ups now. Living our own lives. Busy in our own lives. Building our own lives. Consequently, we don’t find enough time even to plan a meet-up let alone an entire trip together. Not to forget, our parents are now old and we are at an age where we are balancing work, emotions, and so much more. And so… those trips with 11 people have come down to trips with 1 – as per availability and circumstances. Such is life! Always changing. Nonetheless beautiful but changing. :))
But, but, take this as a reminder to plan and EXECUTE your Bali trip with your cousins while you can. Or perhaps family. Even solo will do (if your parents allow and you have the courage — mine don’t allow, nor do I have the courage — otherwise I’d have been a full-time blogger by now – I feel. Haha. 😛 ) Anyhow…
Details Of Our Bali Itinerary 7 Days
Note: These details you’ll read below were all penned in 2019, and it feels like I captured a slice of Bali straight into my digital diary. I’m pretty pumped about how vividly it all comes through. Every time I read it, I’m back on those sun-soaked Bali shores and lanes. And I really, really hope that my words whisk you away to Bali just as much as they do for me! ✨
Trip Type
Family Trip, 11 people
Duration
7 days and 6 nights (17th June 2019 to 24th June 2019)
Budget
INR 33,400 PP for Bali flights (round trip) + INR 20,490 PP for the Bali holiday package.
Inclusions
- Flights
- Welcome garlands and mineral water upon arrival (Shahi Swagat 😎)
- Accommodation at Neo Plus Kuta Legian and Uppala Villa in Seminyak
- Breakfast, airport transfers, local transfers, sightseeing tours (Nusa Dua, Nusa Penida, Ubud)
- One mineral water bottle each during tours
- Entrance ticket (Uluwatu, Swing, Tegenungan Waterfall, Tirta Empul Temple, Kelingking Beach, Angel Billabong, Broken Beach, Crystal Bay, Waterbom)
- Snorkeling at Nusa Penida
- Fast boat to Nusa Penida with return
- 1 SIM card
Exclusions
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Water sports at Nusa Dua
- Vehicle on Leisure Day
- Personal Expenses
Short Bali Itinerary: 7 Days-6 Nights
DAY 1
- Bali Arrival by 12.15 PM
- Check-in at Neo Plus Kuta Legian
- Leisure
DAY 2
- Nusa Dua Tour
- Water Sports at Siwa Sempurna 2
- Uluwatu Temple
DAY 3
- Nusa Penida Tour
- Sanur Harbour
- Kelingking Beach
- Crystal Bay (Skipped because of the Kelingking Trek)
- Broken Beach (Skipped because of the Kelingking Trek)
- Angel Billabong (Skipped because of the Kelingking Trek)
- Snorkelling
DAY 4
- Ubud Tour
- Bali Bidadari Batik
- Jewelry Gallery of Gold and Silver
- Uma Pakel for Bali Swing
- Tirta Emphul Temple
- Tegenungan Waterfall
DAY 5
- Waterbom
- Check-in to Uppala Villa
- Seminyak
DAY 6
- Day at Leisure (Scroll to know what we did and how we spent the day)
DAY 7
- Check-out
- Farewell Bali at 12.25 PM
Day-Wise Details Of Our Bali Travel Itinerary
Balle Balle to Bali!
Punjabis being Punjabis, we can’t compromise on food. And because most of us are PURE vegetarians, we had our induction (yes, we carried one), chapatti maker (we carried this too :P), spices (kuch rehna nahi chahiye), and ration ready. Our Bali trip, thus, was a combination of home-made food, family chit-chat, and tambola nights.
Day 1 – Poppies Lane + Kuta Beach
We reached Bali at noon and headed straight to our hotel in Kuta to get some rest. Our stay in Neo Plus was a grand affair because just outside it, were rows and rows of clubs with its streets bustling with people, especially Australians. Safe to say that the location was dope!
✅ Bali Hotel’s Vibe Check
The 24*7 store was just opposite our hotel, making it convenient for us to buy necessities like extra water and chocolates for midnight cravings and so was the money exchange centre. Apart from this, Starbucks, Burger King, and several other cafes were just a few feet away. The famous Poppies Lane and the Kuta Beach were also within walking distance of our place.
✅ Bali Rooms’ Vibe Check
All our five rooms in the hotel were spacious with big wall glasses through which the enormous pool and the resplendent ambience could be observed.
✅ What Did We Do In Bali On Day 1
We utilised the first day by visiting Poppies Lane and Kuta Beach besides having coffee at Starbucks to look cool.
I, honestly, hate Starbucks but this picture below is one of the days I gave in to peer pressure and held the cup to look classy. Otherwise, I am a very desi person and LOVE LOVE LOVEEEEE cold coffee that’s made with a Rs 2 Nescafe coffee pouch. Sorry not sorry.
1. Poppies Lane (+ Free Advice)
Poppies Lane is NOT just any street. It’s a vibe! Truly. Fairy lights, lamps, shops, cafes, stalls, clubs, spas, braids, dreamcatchers, street shows… VIBE! Of all the things, I miss the moon-shaped dreamcatcher that I saw and wanted to buy but didn’t because everyone said I’d get better, more beautiful pieces. Guess what, I didn’t. *sobs*
So here’s a piece of advice – DON’T WAIT FOR THE BETTER. IF YOU LIKE SOMETHING AND IT DOESN’T COST A BOMB, BUY IT. JUST BUY IT. It’s been 4 years since I have been following this and never have I once regretted it. Not once. I assure you that you won’t too. Trust me. 🙂
2. Kuta Beach
The distance between Poppies Lane and Kuta Beach is hardly 700 metres i.e. a 10-minute walk. However, we were pretty late and couldn’t enjoy any view since it was too dark. All that walking and panting did us no good but the beach is absolute beauty, I assure you. Shouldn’t miss it!
Day 2 – Nusa Dua
After the buffet at the hotel, we kick-started our Nusa Dua tour with water activities at Siwa Sempurna 2. Our travel agent didn’t book the water rides for us because he believed that we’d get them at a much lower price from the location itself and wow, he was right!
1. Nusa Dua – Water Sports Price (2019)
Because we had tried most of the water activities in Goa and Thailand, we were only interested in Fly Boarding and Fly Fishing. The agent there initially quoted a price of $150 per person for both the water sports. We bargained and brought it down to $45 per person. (Our bargaining skills are classy – might sound ironical but it is what it is. Haha.)
From INR 10,000 (approx.) to INR 3,000 (approx.) in just 10 minutes of conversation blew our minds too.
Changing Room Check + Experience
After the price settlement, we were all given swimsuits and lockers for free. The changing rooms were unbelievingly clean and if I talk about the water activity fun, IT WAS A ONE-OF-A-KIND EXPERIENCE. You just can’t afford to miss this on a Bali trip, especially the Under-Sea Walk if you haven’t tried it before elsewhere. I ditched this because I had tried this in Thailand and time was of course an issue.
2. Uluwatu Temple
After satiating our hunger with Cuppa Noodles and ready-to-eat poha (yes, Indians being Indians, we were all carrying hot water in our flasks), we headed to the Uluwatu Temple. We were given sarongs to wear without which we couldn’t enter the temple.
Our driver had warned us about the mischievous monkeys lurking around, urging us to guard our belongings. But, to our surprise, we encountered only two lazy monkeys lounging around.
The true spectacle was the Uluwatu Temple itself, perched majestically above a stunning beach. The view was spellbinding, like a scene from a dream, with the waves crashing below and the temple standing proudly against the sky. It’s a mesmerising sight!
Kecak Dance In The Uluwatu Temple
However, the one thing we missed was the Kecak Dance in Uluwatu Temple which retells the story of Ramayana through the light and sound show. It starts at 6.00 PM and the show’s charm increases with the sun setting in the background. Even though I wanted to see it, most of the family compared it with the light and show in Kurukshetra and said it would be the same. Some of the pitfalls of travelling in groups!
So, here’s my advice: If you make it to this enchanting spot in Bali, don’t skip the Kecak Dance. Trust me, it’s a must-see!
Day 3 – Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida Tour on Day 3 kicked off bright and early. Our driver-guide, well-versed in the “5-minute bas” Indian habit, kept nudging us to be in the van by 7 AM sharp. “Speed boats don’t wait,” he cautioned.
1. Sanur Harbour
Sanur Harbour was around 15 minutes from our hotel. Once there, we waited for 5 minutes and then hopped onto the speed boat. The boat’s speed was mind-boggling, slicing through the water like a hot knife through butter. At the other side of the harbour, which was dream-like to its core, taxis were waiting for us to take us snorkelling.
Snorkelling Experience
Snorkelling was an otherworldly experience. We had 20 minutes to ourselves and during that time, an altogether different world with pristine waters, colourful fishes, exotic reefs, and corals was observed.
While we were snorkelling, our guide dove deep into the water – a picture of pure bliss. I wanted to do exactly that so I asked him to help me out. He wasn’t allowing or helping anybody do that because, obviously, it was a different sport and required training. But I am a water baby when put around beaches and requested him to which he obliged.
Details | The 24-Year-Old Heena Had Some Serious Guts Says This 29-Year-Old Heena
The first time I tried doing it, I couldn’t because I was wearing the life jacket. Silly me! But did I stop? Nooooo.
I TOOK OFF THE LIFE JACKET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BEACH AND TRIED DIVING WITHOUT ANY FREAKING EXPERIENCE. (I DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW TO SWIM!) But did I think about that? No. Was I stupid? Yes. Was I out of my mind? 100%.
The 29-year-old Heena proofreading this part can’t relate to what that 24-year-old Heena did. AT ALLL. LIKE. SERIOUSLY.
In the third attempt, I could finally dive down (without feeling like I’d die if I don’t get the earthly oxygen) and touched the coral reef after which I couldn’t actually breathe (figuratively) because the ocean bed was I-COULD-CRY-OHMYGOD-BEAUTIFUL. I came up within seconds when I couldn’t actually breathe (literally this time).
But oh, what a thrill! The reef felt like delicate cotton candy, and the underwater world was a slice of heaven. It’s hard to put into words—it was utterly stupefying.
2. Kelingking Beach
Next, we set our sights on Kelingking Beach, opting to skip Crystal Bay and Broken Beach. That’s because our calculations showed that the Kelingking Trek would eat up all our time, especially since we had to be back at the harbour by 5.
Plus, the Kelingking Trek was high on everyone’s bucket list (except mine – I don’t really like treks, especially after the Triund Trek where I wanted to set up a tent in the middle because there was no way I was going to make it to the top, I felt. I did though but it was a sour experience.)
But from 11 people to 7 to 4, only 2 could make it to the end of the trek. Haha! The stories narrated by those two about how beautiful the beach looked and how scary the trek was, we were in absolute awe of their courage and willpower.
From the taxi to the harbour to the speed boat and Sanur, we reached our hotel with hearts full of adventure.
3. YOLO Swing
Late at night, we took a YOYO swing which was within walking distance from our hotel. The experience had us gulping down our hearts to avoid a full-blown attack. BUT IT WAS OH-MY-GOD-EPIC!
Day 4
Day 4 was all about Ubud. The tour started with a visit to Bali Bidadari Batik (Bali’s Art shop), located in Batu Bulan Village. Just outside the shop, we witnessed the intricate weaving of Batik cloth and the hand-printing process on the clothes.
1. Bali Bidadari Batik (Bali’s Art shop)
While they charge a meagre sum of 1000 Rupiahs (INR 50) to hand-print a design, the store’s prices are pretty steep.
I couldn’t resist buying a shirt for 1,70,000 Rupiahs (INR 850) and had a custom quote printed as a keepsake.
The quote – Making memories because I will never be able to make enough to buy memories.
However, if you’re on a budget, just get a design on whatever you’re wearing. A lot of my family members did that. The designs are laundry-proof, making Batik art truly special.
2. Celluk Village
Next, we ventured to Celuk Village to explore a gold and silver jewelry store. The place was lavish in every aspect and was perfect for pictures to decorate our Instagram profiles. The camera was prohibited inside the store though, but outside it were cute figurines to get clicked with.
Warning – Don’t buy anything from the store. Spend 5 minutes inside, come out, get clicked, and move to the next destination.
3. Coffee Plantations
DID YOU KNOW that the world’s priciest coffee is made from poop? DID YOU? I didn’t! And I was utterly flabbergasted when I learned this little tidbit at the coffee plantation.
Yes, Balinese coffee, that sells for as much as $80 in the US, is made from Luwak’s poop (Luwak is a catlike creature).
Touring the plantation felt like stepping into a scene from “Alice in the Wonderland,” and honestly, I’ve always felt like Alice—curious, adventurous, and a bit whimsical. Hence, the domain name. 🙂
Sure, everyone told me it’s weird, long, and totally SEO-unfriendly, but the heart wants what it wants, right? So, I proudly named it “HeenaInTheWonderland.” And I LOVEEEEE IT! It’s my own little rabbit hole of adventures. ✨
After the tour, we were treated to a tasting of 12 different types of coffee. But we drew the line at the infamous Balinese poop coffee. For one, it wasn’t free, and for another, none of us were brave enough to sample it.
4. The Bali Swing
The fourth stop was the most exciting – The Bali Swing! This 5-minute swing gave us 500 memories to revisit and laugh at. Imagine soaring through the air, feeling like you’re flying, with the lush Balinese landscape stretching out beneath you – SURREAL SERIOUSLY. The place also rents out flow-y dresses for Instagrammable pictures.
Here’s a golden tip: The guides that escort you here are professional photographers. Hand over your phone to them and they’ll give you a perfect shot you can boast about. We got to know about this when we accidently handed the guide our camera. And wow, did she deliver! She was editing them alongside as well.
My cousins and I had to bribe our way back onto the swing because we were the first ones to go and ended up with some pretty awful pictures. That’s because we hadn’t discovered the secret of the escort being a photographer yet and had our parents clicking our pictures. We did get some great shots the second time though. Thank God!
The photos they offer at the reception for a fee are equally terrible. So just trust your guide, and you’ll walk away with shots that look straight out of a dream. 🙂
5. Tirta Emphul Temple
Next up was the famous Tirta Emphul Temple, where we wore sarongs once again. In religious terms, Tirta is to Bali what Haridwar is to North Indians. Picture a holy spring with people taking sacred dips, the air thick with the fragrant smoke of incense sticks, and a palpable sense of faith embedded in the hearts of every visitor. Perfect!
6. Tegenungan Waterfall
Next in line was Tegenungan Waterfall which we could only watch from a distance because all 11 of us were busy eating ‘bhuttas’ and by the time we reached there, the gates had closed.
Yes, we missed a destination but we made sure we didn’t miss out on the family fun and that’s what made this day of the trip successful.
Day 5
After having breakfast and loading the car with our luggage, we were all excited to explore Waterbom – Asia’s Best Waterpark and 2nd Best Waterpark in the World.
We were under the impression that we’ll be getting swimming costumes on rent but there was absolutely no such provision. We could buy clothes from the shop within the park (Expensiveeeee!) or from the Discovery Mall which was just opposite it (Again, expensiveeeee).
It was then that my uncle (mamaji) rescued us all from the situation and gave us his gym wear t-shirts and shorts. We were all looking goofy but being goofy is way better than being broke, right? Right!
Asia’s Best Waterpark
If you happen to explore this water-park and aren’t faint hearted, don’t, I REPEAT, DON’T MISS THE CAPSULE RIDE (Smashdown 2.0)! It is the most exhilarating ride wherein you enter a capsule-shaped room around 26m up after which the door closes and the countdown begins. 3…2…1… and the floor underneath you drops and with it, you fall with 2.5 G force of speed. The vertical dip of the body will give you the thrill of a lifetime. TRUST MEEEEEE! IT’S CRAZYYYY.
After all the water-fun, we were hungry and walked to Spice Mantra, an Indian restaurant, which was hardly 10 feet away. Indian food in a foreign country is *sobs* everything one needs after days of junk. This chain has a branch near Potato Head Beach Club as well.
Spice Mantra
Abandoning the idea of visiting Discover Mall because we were told it’s costly, we went to our Villa at Seminyak where we had booked three villas of 2BHK each with private pools. The villa was the polar opposite of our hotel – silent, isolated, and bereft of people. It was like we were exploring a whole new different world and most of us were enjoying it.
My maternal uncles, however, wanted to go back to the Kuta Hotel for the liveliness of that place. There was a little kalesh – Indian family scenes – as my maternal uncles weren’t too happy with us kids booking the villa. They were like, “Have we spent money to stay in a home-like place when we actually have a home in India?” They made sense because being in a foreign country is all about exploring the culture of that country. But to stay in a villa made sense to us (kids) because we had never stayed in a villa!
But well, kalesh in Indian families is like a nazarbhattu – equally important. Haha!
I had to cancel my spa scenes because of this though. I really wanted to get one done. 🙁 Bali, please call me again for your spa experience. Pretty, please. Manifesting… 🙂
Day 6 Planning
Because we had the next day as leisure which meant no taxi service, we made a deal with our driver. He agreed to lend us his services the next day from 10 in the morning to 8 in the evening at a nominal price. When compared, other taxis were charging double the amount. If you land up in a similar situation, it is better you strike a deal with your driver itself.
Day 6
This was the day when we indulged in the shopping therapy. Listed below are some of the best places to visit in Bali for shopping.
We first headed to Gallery Kohinoor in Duah Puri Kangin near Airport to buy gold jewellery as a souvenir of our trip.
This shop was the best among all others and had the most variety. The best thing about Gold jewellery in Bali is that no making charges are to be paid there and the designs are such that can’t be found in India. They are made from special machines which India doesn’t possess yet.
Gallery Kohinoor
The same designs, if found in India, are expensive because hefty import chargers are levied on it. The Gold shop also exchanged our dollars at the best price of 14210 Rupiahs (for 100 dollars), while all through the trip we had been exchanging it for 13925.
So, if your budget allows, make sure you buy something, no matter how small, as a memento of your time in Bali.
Mal Bali Galeria
Our next destination was Mal Bali Galeria where we bought gifts for our family and friends. The place had reasonable prices for almost all the items and we filled our carts with showpieces, photo frames, perfumes, chocolates, handbags and so much more.
Krishna Souvenir Store
Next, we went to Krishna, a fixed-price souvenir store, which we found to be the best store with goods at minimum prices. Here, you’ll find things that look costly but in real, won’t hurt your pocket even a bit. Guaranteed!
Double-Six beach
Then we went to the famous Double-Six beach which is popular with travellers for its bewitching ambience, colourful bean-bags, live music, and merry environment. Just before entering the beach, we bought sweet corn so eating and walking along the beach could go hand-in-hand after which we, the teenage-gang, sat on the bean-bags and started ordering.
We were informed that a minimum order of 5,000 Rupiahs (INR 250) per person was required. But when the bill arrived, our modest order of 2 coconut waters and 3 drinks didn’t meet their quota. When they insisted we order more, we fibbed and said their drinks weren’t up to par. A little white lie, but hey, we were stuffed. And now that you know the trick—use it wisely when you’re in a similar pinch! You’re welcome. 🙂
Also, they had some extra drinks added up in the bill (which we did not even order). It’s a trick restaurants use to fool people because people hardly notice but we knew this scam. So beware!
After all this, our parents were exhausted but one of our destinations was still pending. Potato Head Beach Club! We were told not to miss this place but because it was already 8, our driver had to leave.
Potato Head Beach Club
After reaching the Villa, we booked a Grab for 7 – only for 45,000 Rupiahs (INR 32 PP).
Note: Just like India has Uber, Bali has Grab.
It was 3 km away from our Villa and took us around 20 minutes. I’ll have to write a different blog solely dedicated to Potato Head Beach Club to describe its ambience but for now, all you need to know is that you JUST CAN’T MISS THIS PLACE AT ANY COST!
No prior bookings are required but if you want to book a bed near the pool behind which is the gorgeous beach, you’ll have to make the booking at least 3-days before. A bed, however, costs a million rupiahs for an evening (INR 5,000). The food isn’t costly at all so you can eat to your heart’s desire.
Revolver Café
Our last destination of the day was the Revolver Café. My cousin’s coffee addiction took us there and we walked to this destination from Potato Head. Walked. 1.3 freaking km. We walked.
And what did we find after reaching the place? It was shutting down. Heart break! But Indians being high on emotional quotient, we blackmailed the staff saying how we’ve come from India and how we’ve walked so much for their coffee. Haha!
But they had shut the machine and it takes, in their words, 20 minutes to start. So they blended the coffee for us with a blender. The place was beautifully built and the coffee was nice too.
After Grab took us home, we had our dinner, played tambola, talked our hearts out, and slept a peaceful sleep.
Day 7
We woke up feeling nostalgic about the 6 days that we spent in Bali and were wondering how fast these days flew by. Like whoosh! Gone. After the final breakfast, we started our journey to the airport with memories etched in our hearts.
It was indeed a wonderful experience. The trip was designed in a way that made us visit every renowned location, simultaneously giving us enough time to rest and feel at ease.
*****
And this is it!
This is all about our time in Bali and our epic 7-day Bali Itinerary. Yes, it’s a bit lengthy (okay, who am I kidding – it’s loooooong). Not sure who’ll make it through the entire piece (probably just me), but if it helps even one person plan their dream Bali trip, my heart will be full. ✨
Here’s to hoping your travel plans come true soon and your long-awaited Bali adventure breathes life. May your journey be magical and memorable. Happy travels! 🌴✨