Bali 14-Day Itinerary 2026 — 2 Weeks Including Gili / Lombok (by Certified Guides)

Two weeks in Bali is not a longer version of a 10-day trip. It is a different kind of trip. Ten days is enough to cover Bali properly — see our 10-day Bali itinerary, the fast-paced cousin of this plan, for that route. With 14 days you stop trying to see more of Bali and start doing one of three things: going deeper into the regions you already love, taking a side trip to the Gili Islands or Lombok, or building in genuine rest days where you do nothing but read by the pool.

The mistake we see most often on two-week trips is the opposite of the mistake we see on five-day trips. On five days, travelers cram. On 14 days, they over-plan — they map out a different bed every two nights and end the holiday more tired than they started. This itinerary takes the better road: 11 nights in Bali across three or four bases, plus a 3-night side trip to the Gilis or Lombok in the middle. It is paced for adults who actually want a holiday.

The route below is the one we plan most often for clients with a true two-week window. It works for couples, friends, parents with older children, and digital nomads stretching a long weekend. It does not try to impress you with mileage covered.

We are a family of certified guides. Our family is Indonesian, originally from Medan, and we have lived in Bali for years. The wife is a certified French and Mandarin-speaking guide; her parents are official Mandarin guides. The pace below is the pace we use ourselves when relatives stay with us for two weeks — it builds in rest, lets the island speak, and assumes you came here to enjoy a holiday rather than complete a checklist.

At a Glance — 14-Day Bali Itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival in Denpasar, Transfer to Ubud

Most international flights into Ngurah Rai (DPS) land between 5 PM and midnight. Have a private driver waiting with a name sign — the unofficial taxi touts at the arrivals hall quote three times the going rate. Airport pickup to Ubud is 350,000–500,000 IDR ($23–32) and takes 90 minutes outside rush hour.

Use the drive to switch off. Ubud sits at 200 meters elevation and the air becomes greener and slower as you climb the Sayan ridge. Check into your accommodation, drop your bags. If you land before 5 PM, walk Campuhan Ridge for sunset — a flat 1.5-hour out-and-back along a narrow ridge between two river valleys. Free, beautiful, and the perfect low-effort introduction to Bali's landscape.

Dinner at a local warung. Keep it simple. Nasi goreng or soto ayam at Warung Biah Biah on Jalan Goutama runs 50,000–90,000 IDR ($3.20–5.70) per person. Heavy food on a jet-lagged stomach is misery — save the fine dining for night three.

Where to stay in Ubud: Mid-range hotels with a pool run 600,000–1,200,000 IDR per night ($39–78). Boutique villas in the rice fields north of town go up to 2,500,000 IDR ($163). Budget guesthouses with breakfast start at 250,000 IDR ($16). Book at least 6 weeks in advance during dry season.

Day 2 — Ubud Culture in Depth

Start at Tirta Empul, the purification temple about 20 minutes north of Ubud. Arrive before 9 AM to experience the water purification ritual without crowds. The sacred spring water flows through a series of fountains, and walking through them in sequence is one of Bali's most meaningful experiences. Entrance 30,000 IDR ($2). Wear a sarong and sash — they are loaned at the gate. Read our temples guide for full etiquette.

Late morning at the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in central Ubud (entrance 80,000 IDR / $5). Keep sunglasses, water bottles, and snacks zipped away — the macaques are professional thieves. From there, walk 10 minutes north to Saraswati Temple — the lotus pond is one of Bali's most photographed spots and the temple itself stays peaceful in the morning. Lunch at Warung Babi Guling Ibu Oka for the classic Ubud lunch (50,000–90,000 IDR / $3.20–5.70).

Evening cooking class — most run 4 PM to 8 PM and include a market visit, hands-on cooking, and the dinner you prepared. Classes cost 350,000–500,000 IDR ($22–32) per person. Book through our cooking class service for a session in Bahasa, English, French, or Mandarin with our family. See our food guide for what to eat next.

Day 3 — Central Highlands

A full day with a private driver exploring the volcanic highlands north of Ubud. Leave Ubud by 8 AM. Morning stop at a coffee and spice plantation in Kintamani with views over Mount Batur and its caldera lake (entry 50,000–80,000 IDR / $3–5 with tasting). For early-risers who want the Mount Batur sunrise experience without losing day 4, book the Mount Batur trek for tonight (a separate dawn departure).

Continue to Tegallalang rice terraces (entrance 25,000 IDR / $1.60) for the iconic stepped-terrace walk, then to Jatiluwih — UNESCO-listed and far less photographed (entrance 30,000 IDR / $2). Lunch at a local warung with mountain views, 60,000–100,000 IDR ($4–6). Optional afternoon waterfall — Tibumana or Tegenungan are easy half-hour stops with swimming pools at the base (entry 20,000–25,000 IDR / $1.30–1.60). Our waterfall guide lists every option by difficulty.

Return to Ubud for the evening. Dinner at the night market behind the palace — sate ayam from the stall is 15,000–25,000 IDR ($1–1.60) and the easiest, best food you will eat all trip.

Day 4 — Transfer to East Bali (Sidemen)

Leave Ubud after breakfast and drive east to Sidemen — about 90 minutes through increasingly rural landscape. Sidemen is a valley of working rice terraces with Mount Agung as a backdrop and almost no tourist infrastructure. This is where Bali feels most like the Bali of thirty years ago.

Check into your accommodation (boutique lodges 350,000–650,000 IDR per night / $23–42, often with rice-paddy views and infinity pools that cost a tenth what a south-coast equivalent would charge) and spend the afternoon doing very little. Walk through the paddies, swim in the pool, read a book with a mountain view. The whole point of Sidemen is deceleration. The cooler mountain air and quiet make it one of Bali's best places to reset.

If you want an activity, arrange a village walk with a local guide for 200,000–300,000 IDR ($13–19) per person. Sidemen's villages are working agricultural communities, and walking through them during late afternoon — when families are preparing offerings — is quietly memorable. Use our distance calculator if you want to plan tomorrow's drive precisely.

Day 5 — East Bali Exploration

A full day with your driver exploring the east coast — about 2–3 hours total driving but rewarding throughout. Start at Tirta Gangga, the royal water palace with stepping stones across a fish-filled pool (entrance 40,000 IDR / $2.60). Continue 45 minutes north to Amed for snorkeling — the Japanese shipwreck just offshore is accessible to beginners and the coral is genuinely impressive. Snorkel tours through our snorkeling tour run 400,000–600,000 IDR ($26–39) per person.

Lunch at a beachfront warung in Amed — fresh fish grilled to order with sambal and rice, eaten with views of the Lombok Strait. 80,000–120,000 IDR ($5–8) for an excellent lunch. This is one of Bali's simplest and best meals.

Afternoon option: Pura Lempuyang — the temple complex with the famous split gate framing Mount Agung (entrance 60,000 IDR / $4). Go later in the day when the morning photo crowds have thinned. The seven-temple complex climbs the hillside; most visitors only see the first temple. The upper temples are worth the 1.5-hour hike for the views and atmosphere.

Return to Sidemen for the evening. Pack tonight — tomorrow you head to the islands.

Day 6 — Side Trip Begins (Gili Islands or Lombok)

This is the call that shapes the middle of your trip. We recommend Gili Islands for first-timers and travelers who want easy snorkeling and zero stress. We recommend Lombok for trekkers, surfers, and travelers who want emptier landscapes — and especially anyone who wants Mount Rinjani.

Gili Islands route: Driver takes you from Sidemen to Padang Bai port (45 minutes). Fast boat to Gili Trawangan or Gili Air (90 minutes, 350,000–600,000 IDR / $22–38 one-way). Check in by mid-afternoon. Read our Gili Islands guide for which island fits your travel style — Trawangan is liveliest, Air is the sweet spot for couples, Meno is the quietest. No motorized vehicles on any of them.

Lombok route: Driver takes you to Padang Bai. Fast boat to Bangsal or Senggigi (2 hours, 400,000–700,000 IDR / $26–45). Settle into Senggigi for beaches or transfer further to Sembalun if you are starting a Mount Rinjani trek tomorrow morning (Mount Rinjani-specific trekking outfitters arrange transport — a 3-day, 2-night summit trek runs 3,500,000–5,500,000 IDR / $225–355 per person all-in).

Either way, evening is for arriving slowly. Walk the beach, eat grilled fish at a beachfront warung (80,000–150,000 IDR / $5–9), sleep early.

Day 7 — Side Trip Day 2

On the Gilis: Half-day snorkel boat tour around the three islands with stops for sea turtles, coral gardens, and the underwater statue circle. Tours run 150,000–250,000 IDR ($10–16) per person, leaving around 10 AM and returning by 3 PM. You will swim with green and hawksbill turtles — they are genuinely abundant here. Afternoon by the pool. Sunset drink on the west side of whichever Gili you chose. Dinner at the night market on Gili Trawangan if you are based there (40,000–80,000 IDR / $2.60–5).

On Lombok: Day on the south coast — Tanjung Aan, Selong Belanak, Mawi. The southern beaches are nearly empty by Bali standards, and Selong Belanak has a beginner surf school (group lessons 250,000–400,000 IDR / $16–26 for 1.5 hours). If you are summiting Rinjani this morning, you are between Sembalun crater rim and the summit. The view at sunrise from the rim is one of the best in Indonesia.

Day 8 — Side Trip Day 3

Last island day. On the Gilis, rent a bicycle (50,000–80,000 IDR / $3–5 for the day) and circle whichever island you chose — it takes 1.5 to 3 hours depending on stops. The west-side sunset on Gili Trawangan or Gili Air is excellent; bring a sarong and sit on the sand. Dinner at a beachfront restaurant — fresh-grilled snapper for two with sides runs 250,000–450,000 IDR ($16–29) total.

On Lombok, Tetebatu rice terraces and waterfalls if you have a driver, or a slow day in Senggigi if you spent days 6–7 trekking. Pack tonight — long travel day tomorrow.

Day 9 — Return to Bali, Drive North to Munduk

Morning fast boat back to Padang Bai (90 minutes from the Gilis, 2 hours from Lombok). Your private driver meets you at the port. From Padang Bai, the drive to Munduk takes 3 to 3.5 hours through the volcanic ridge. Break it with a stop at Besakih — Bali's Mother Temple, the largest and most sacred temple complex on the island (entrance 60,000 IDR / $4). Visiting with your driver as guide avoids the touts at the entrance.

Arrive in Munduk late afternoon. Check into your mountain lodge early (Munduk accommodations 500,000–900,000 IDR / $33–58 per night, often with breakfast and valley views). The temperatures here are noticeably cooler than the coast — 5 to 10 degrees Celsius lower — and the quiet is remarkable. Bring a light jacket. Evening at your lodge with a hot shower and an early dinner.

Day 10 — Munduk Waterfalls and Lakes

Morning trek through the Munduk waterfall circuit — three waterfalls connected by a jungle trail through clove and coffee plantations. The full loop takes about 2 to 3 hours at a relaxed pace. Hire a local guide for 200,000–300,000 IDR ($13–19) — they know the best swimming pools and can point out plants and wildlife. Munduk Waterfall has a deep pool at its base; bring a swimsuit and dry clothes. The water is cold and refreshing.

After the trek, drive 30 minutes to the twin lakes of Buyan and Tamblingan. These volcanic crater lakes sit side by side at 1,200 meters elevation. The viewpoint from the ridge between them is one of the most beautiful panoramas in Bali. A canoe trip on Lake Tamblingan (150,000 IDR / $10 per person for 1–2 hours) combined with the lakeside temple Pura Ulun Danu Tamblingan is the perfect afternoon. Pack sunscreen and a hat.

Dinner back in Munduk. The mountain warungs serve excellent ayam betutu and bebek goreng for 60,000–100,000 IDR ($4–6).

Day 11 — Optional Lovina or Rest Day

You have been moving for 10 days. Two reasonable choices today:

Option A — Lovina dolphins. A 1-hour drive north drops you at Lovina, Bali's quiet northern coast. Dolphin spotting tours leave at 6 AM (200,000–300,000 IDR / $13–19 per person, 2 hours on the water). Wild pods of bottlenose and spinner dolphins. Combine with snorkeling in Lovina's reef (the same outfitters offer this). Return to Munduk by lunch. Some travelers move base to Lovina for the night to break the long Munduk-to-south drive — black-sand beachfront hotels run 400,000–900,000 IDR / $26–58 per night.

Option B — A real rest day. This is the day you have earned. Sleep in. Long breakfast. Walk the coffee plantation around your lodge. Read for two hours. Lunch on the terrace. Afternoon yoga or massage at your hotel (200,000–400,000 IDR / $13–26 for 60 minutes). Sunset at the Munduk viewpoint. Bed early. Travelers who do this day right end the trip glowing rather than burnt out — see our yoga retreat options if you want something structured.

Either choice is correct. Avoid the temptation to add a third activity.

Day 12 — Transfer to South Coast

Leave Munduk after breakfast and drive south — about 3.5 hours to the Bukit peninsula or Seminyak. Your driver can break the drive with a stop at Tanah Lot, Bali's famous sea temple (entrance 75,000 IDR / $4.80). The temple is most photogenic in late afternoon.

Check into your south coast accommodation (mid-range 600,000–1,800,000 IDR / $39–117 per night). Choose your base based on travel style — see our region picker tool for the full breakdown:

• Uluwatu for couples and dramatic cliff scenery
• Seminyak for restaurants and beach clubs
• Canggu for surfers and a younger crowd
• Sanur for families and a calmer pace

Once you check in, the rest of day 12 is the beach. Sunset cocktails, walk on the sand, an early dinner. You have been moving for 11 days and tomorrow is the final big-experience day.

Day 13 — South Bali in Full

The day where the south coast pays off.

Morning surf lesson if you have any interest — Old Man's or Batu Bolong in Canggu, Padang Padang from Uluwatu. Group lessons cost 350,000–500,000 IDR ($22–32) for 1.5–2 hours including board. Mornings have smaller waves and offshore winds. If you don't surf, walk the beach barefoot and have a long breakfast at a beach cafe (90,000–180,000 IDR / $6–11).

Midday at a beach club. Heat peaks between noon and 3 PM. Beach clubs in Seminyak and Canggu (Potato Head, La Brisa) charge 250,000–500,000 IDR ($16–32) minimum spend, which gets you a sun lounger, towel, and a couple of drinks. Late afternoon, drive to Uluwatu Temple (Pura Luhur Uluwatu) for the Kecak fire dance. Entrance 50,000 IDR ($3.20). Wear the sarong they hand you at the gate. The Kecak performance is 6 PM and 7 PM daily, tickets 150,000 IDR ($9.50) at the gate. Arrive 45 minutes early for a good seat. The 70-strong choir, the cliff temple at sunset, the fire-dance ending — this is one of the cultural highlights of the trip.