Bali itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Bali

1. 01

   Day 1: Lake temple, terraces and a sunset temple

   With a private driver, leave early for the highlands. Start at Ulun Danu Beratan at Bedugul while the lake is still quiet, then drive to Jatiluwih for the rice terraces and a long lunch overlooking the paddies. On the way back to the south coast, stop at Tanah Lot for the late-afternoon light. This is a long day in a car, so it suits families with older children and fit grandparents, and it is the one-day answer for anyone staying in the south.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Tanah Lot	1.5 to 2 hours	Easy	Late afternoon for the light; low tide if you want to walk to the base of the rock

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Plan 02

2 days in Bali

1. 01

   Day 1: Central highlands

   Visit Taman Ayun at Mengwi on the way north, an easy royal temple with a moat and lawns. Continue to Ulun Danu Beratan for the lake and cooler air, then to Jatiluwih for lunch among the terraces. Return via Tanah Lot at the end of the day, timing your arrival for the late afternoon.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Tanah Lot	1.5 to 2 hours	Easy	Late afternoon for the light; low tide if you want to walk to the base of the rock

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

2. 02

   Day 2: East Bali

   Leave early for the Lempuyang temple gate, as queues for the famous photograph grow through the morning, and decide in advance whether the wait is worth it for your family. Visit Tirta Gangga, then Taman Ujung on the coast, and end at the Tenganan village if you have energy. Besakih is a possible alternative to Lempuyang on the same road system.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Taman Ujung (Ujung Water Palace)	1 to 1.5 hours	Moderate	Morning or late afternoon; clear days for mountain views

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Taman Ujung (Ujung Water Palace): The site covers 12 hectares with paths and bridges, and the Bale Kapal pavilion involves steps. There is little shade in the middle of the day. The lower pools and the bridge to the main building are the easiest areas.

Plan 03

3 days in Bali

1. 01

   Day 1: Royal temple, lake temple and terraces

   Start at Taman Ayun in Mengwi, then drive up to Bedugul for Ulun Danu Beratan. Have lunch at Jatiluwih, walking only the short flat paths among the terraces. Finish at Tanah Lot at golden hour and stay for the sunset if the crowds are manageable.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Tanah Lot	1.5 to 2 hours	Easy	Late afternoon for the light; low tide if you want to walk to the base of the rock

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

2. 02

   Day 2: East Bali, water palaces and Besakih

   Drive to Besakih in the morning, going with a clear plan to deal with unofficial guides. Move on to Tirta Gangga for a slow walk through the pools, and finish at Taman Ujung. If you are staying near the south coast, this is a long day with two or more hours of driving each way.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Taman Ujung (Ujung Water Palace)	1 to 1.5 hours	Moderate	Morning or late afternoon; clear days for mountain views

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Taman Ujung (Ujung Water Palace): The site covers 12 hectares with paths and bridges, and the Bale Kapal pavilion involves steps. There is little shade in the middle of the day. The lower pools and the bridge to the main building are the easiest areas.

3. 03

   Day 3: Volcano or north coast

   Fit travellers can do the Mount Batur sunrise trek with a registered guide, returning for a late breakfast and rest. Older travellers can instead enjoy Lake Batur and the caldera rim from Kintamani by car, then continue north to Lovina for a dawn dolphin trip, or swap the north for the Menjangan Island snorkelling day in the national park.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Bali trip for parents and children

• Hire a car with a driver for the day rather than driving yourself. Roads are narrow and busy, and a driver also waits for you at temples and helps with parking.
• Pick one anchor sight a day. Temples such as Besakih and Lempuyang involve many steps, and highland journeys take longer than the distance suggests.
• Temples require covered knees and shoulders; a sarong and sash are usually lent or hired at the gate. Avoid entering temples if you have an open wound or are menstruating, as local custom asks, and ask your driver or hotel about the rule for the temple you are visiting.
• Carry insurance that covers medical evacuation and check that it is accepted at private hospitals such as BIMC and Siloam. Good hospitals are concentrated in the south; the north and east are far from them.
• Keep the highlands for the morning. Bedugul and Kintamani are noticeably cooler than the coast, so carry a light jacket, and mist and rain arrive in the afternoon.
• Check the date of Nyepi and any big temple festivals before booking, because roads and the airport shut or become congested.

Bali with elderly parents: the full guide →