Road Trip in Bali!

Bali had been on our minds for ages. Somehow, it just never worked out. But after a few late-night discussions and a little cross-continent planning (my bff in Australia and me in India), we decided to meet midway—and honestly, nothing made more sense than Bali!

The plan was simple: spend the first 5 days with my bff and her husband across Kuta/Seminyak and Ubud, then once they flew back home, we’d continue our road trip as planned.

Reality check: Bali is NOT cheap. At many points, it genuinely felt like we were still in India—hotel prices, food costs, everything was almost the same. The only real relief? Fuel is dirt cheap! 😅

🗺️ Route

I had mapped out everything day-wise—all places pinned on a map with approximate time spent at each spot.

(DM me if you want the day-wise maps!)

🛵 Transport

We rented a motorbike for all 14 days.

Now the obvious question—how do you cover all of Bali with luggage on a bike?

Here’s how:

-First 4 days and last 2 days were in Kuta

-We packed clothes we wouldn’t need immediately

-Out of 4 bags, we carried 2 and stored the other 2 safely at our Kuta hotel

-We rented a spacious bike like the Lexi, which made a huge difference

Low fuel prices = guilt-free long rides 🙌

🥗 Food (Jain & Pure Vegetarian)

Being Jain and pure vegetarian, and with baggage limits, we didn’t carry food or snacks. Finding Jain food in Bali was an adventure in itself—but surprisingly, we managed well and never starved. We even enjoyed Indonesian food!

We carried a placard (DM me for a sample) listing:

-Food allergies

-Ingredients we cannot eat

Written in English + Balinese, because explaining religious beliefs repeatedly is… exhausting 😅

Places like Kuta, Seminyak, and Ubud have many Indian restaurants, including the very overrated Kailash Parbat on Legian Street (overpriced, average food).

Apps that saved us: HappyCow & Zomato

🏨 Stay

Our stays included:

-H-Sovereign (near airport & Kuta)

-Uluwatu

-Villa Alam Gold (Airbnb) – Ubud

-Asoka Bungalows – Nusa Penida

-Serene Beach Villa – Gili Trawangan

-Villa Di Amed – Amed

-Hardy’s – Singaraja

-Bakung Ubud Resort – Ubud

-Grandmas Hotel – Kuta

🗓️ Itinerary Breakdown

Night 1 – Kuta

Partied hard at places like Engine Room and Sky Garden on Legian Street.

Stay: H-Sovereign

Day 2

Waterblow, Nusa Dua, lunch at Tavern di Bali, Omnia Day Club, dinner at Kailash Parbat.

Stay: H-Sovereign

Day 3

Jimbaran Beach, Tegal Wangi Cliffs, Uluwatu Temple, Suluban Beach, Padang Padang Beach, Thomas Beach.

Stay: H-Sovereign

Day 4

Brunch at Doppio Café, Saraswati Temple, Ubud Palace, dinner at Warung Citta Ovest (AMAZING pizza!) - https://share.google/Cz6jmm9gDnYj6fEA8

Stay: Villa Alam Gold

Day 5

Mount Batur trek (2am–9am, brutal but worth it!), Ubud Market, Starbucks, Saraswati Temple dance show.

Dinner: Roti Daal (this one is permanently closed now!)

Stay: Villa Alam Gold

Day 6

Campuhan Ridge Walk, F.R.E.A.K Coffee, Tegalalang Rice Terraces, Pura Gunung Kawi (endless steps 😭), Tirta Empul, Goa Gajah.

Dinner: Mumbai Station (https://share.google/VugtIn4NoQ3iAUif7)

Stay: Bakung Ubud Resort

(Bffs fly back to Aussie land)

Day 7

Beratan Lake, Ulun Danu Beratan, Lake Buyan, Wanagiri Hills, Banyumala Twin Waterfalls (gravel road + hike!), Lovina Beach.

Stay: Hardy’s Singaraja

Day 8

Beji Temple, Ulun Danu Batur, Sari Mountain View Café, Besakih Temple, Tirta Gangga, Lempuyang Temple (iconic photo = LOOOOOONG queue).

Stay: Villa Di Amed

Day 9

Mount Agung views, Candidasa Beach, Pantai Wates Karangasem, ferry to Nusa Penida from Sanur, Crystal Beach, Broken Beach, Angel’s Billabong (no roads, only craters 😵), Peguyangan Waterfall (insane steps but WOW).

Dinner: Organica Fresh & Tasty Food (https://share.google/JCi0zBDFGgIGiiGA5)

Stay: Asoka Bungalows

Day 10

Sunrise at Atuh Cliffs, Atuh Beach, Thousand Island viewpoints, ferry to Nusa Lembongan, Mushroom Bay, Dream Beach, Devil’s Tears, Yellow Bridge, Ceningan Cliffs (again—terrible roads).

Stay: H-Sovereign

Day 11

Relaxed day: Tanah Lot, Kynd Community, Kuta Market shopping.

Stay: H-Sovereign

Day 12

Boat pickup to Gili Islands, sunset at Serene Beach Villa, movie night on the beach at Aston Sunset Beach Resort.

Stay: Serene Beach Villa

Day 13

Breakfast by the sea, ferry to Gili Meno (hello seasickness), ferry to Gili Air (tiny island—walkable!), ferry back to Padang Bai.

Lunch: Mama Pizza (https://share.google/VM8RHlxueQ4I1F9yG)

Stay: Grandmas Hotel

Day 14

Upside Down World, Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, Love Anchor in Canggu.

Stay: Grandmas Hotel

💡 Tips

-Skip expensive online ferry bookings—walk to the harbour and book directly (much cheaper).

-Finish hikes before sunset, especially in places like Nusa Penida. Riding through pitch-dark forests is not fun.

-Swings & bird nests near Tegalalang are cheaper than Ubud—bargain hard but be respectful.

-Book Mount Batur trek from Ubud centre and bargain (hiking shoes are a must!).

-Carry a dupatta or long scarf—sarongs are mandatory at temples (for men too).

-Bali people LOVE Shah Rukh Khan—instant conversation starter 😄

-Be kind, polite, well-mannered—and don’t steal hotel stuff 🙏

-We did miss a few places because I met with a small accident near Lempuyang—just a superficial scratch, but the pain slowed things down a bit. Still, we loved every bit of the trip.

Will I go back to Bali?

Honestly—no. Once is enough. Highly recommended once.

Thank you for reading 💛

Few pictures below 👇