Uluwatu itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Uluwatu

1. 01

   Day 1: Beach morning, temple at sunset

   Start with an easy beach such as Pandawa or Melasti, while it is cool, and lunch nearby. Rest through the heat. Go to Uluwatu Temple by about 4 pm, walk the cliff path with a sarong and sash, and keep your belongings secured from the macaques. Stay for the kecak dance at sunset, and ask your driver to wait for the slow exit.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Uluwatu Temple (Pura Luhur Uluwatu)	1.5 to 2 hours; 3 if you stay on for the evening dance	Moderate	Late afternoon for softer light on the cliffs; the dry months of May to October for clear skies

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

   With parents at Uluwatu Temple (Pura Luhur Uluwatu): Paths along the cliff edge are paved in places but have steps, uneven stone and long stretches with low walls and no handrail. There is little shade after the entrance and few benches. Older visitors usually do best going slowly along the first stretch of the cliff path, then returning rather than walking the whole route.

Plan 02

2 days in Uluwatu

1. 01

   Day 1: Temple and dance

   Spend the morning at GWK Cultural Park, then rest. In the late afternoon visit Uluwatu Temple and the surf viewpoints, then watch the evening kecak dance.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Uluwatu Temple (Pura Luhur Uluwatu)	1.5 to 2 hours; 3 if you stay on for the evening dance	Moderate	Late afternoon for softer light on the cliffs; the dry months of May to October for clear skies

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

   With parents at Uluwatu Temple (Pura Luhur Uluwatu): Paths along the cliff edge are paved in places but have steps, uneven stone and long stretches with low walls and no handrail. There is little shade after the entrance and few benches. Older visitors usually do best going slowly along the first stretch of the cliff path, then returning rather than walking the whole route.

2. 02

   Day 2: Coast and cafes

   Visit Padang Padang from the top of the steps or go down if you are fit. Have brunch at a plant-based cafe, then drive to Suluban and Bingin for the cliff-top lanes and views. Finish with a sunset drink at a cliff-top bar if it suits your group, or an early dinner.

Plan 03

3 days in Uluwatu

1. 01

   Day 1: Statues and sunset

   Start at Pandawa Beach and its carved Mahabharata figures, then visit GWK in the afternoon. Rest before the evening and eat nearby.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Pandawa Beach	1.5 to 2 hours	Easy	Morning on a weekday; dry months

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

2. 02

   Day 2: Temple and kecak

   Take a slow morning at Melasti Beach. Go to Uluwatu Temple in the late afternoon, walk the cliff paths and watch the kecak dance.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Melasti Beach	2 to 3 hours	Easy	Calm mornings in the dry season
   Uluwatu Temple (Pura Luhur Uluwatu)	1.5 to 2 hours; 3 if you stay on for the evening dance	Moderate	Late afternoon for softer light on the cliffs; the dry months of May to October for clear skies

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

   With parents at Uluwatu Temple (Pura Luhur Uluwatu): Paths along the cliff edge are paved in places but have steps, uneven stone and long stretches with low walls and no handrail. There is little shade after the entrance and few benches. Older visitors usually do best going slowly along the first stretch of the cliff path, then returning rather than walking the whole route.

3. 03

   Day 3: West-coast coves

   Visit Balangan, Bingin and Padang Padang, choosing the beaches by the tide and by how much stair-climbing your group can manage. Finish with a sunset at Suluban.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Uluwatu trip for parents and children

• Plan one main outing a day and rest in the afternoon. Heat and humidity are high all year, and the wet season brings heavy showers between about November and April.
• Most cove beaches, including Padang Padang, Suluban and Bingin, involve long flights of steps and uneven rock. Enjoy the view from the cliff-top, or choose Melasti or Pandawa, which have road access.
• At Uluwatu Temple, keep to the outer paths, wear flat shoes and take your time. Cliff edges are unprotected in places, and macaques snatch glasses and phones.
• Use a car with a driver for all trips. Taxis are limited, motorbikes are risky for visitors, and the roads are narrow and busy.
• Carry a sarong or scarf for temples, and wear modest clothing.
• Take travel insurance that covers medical care and evacuation. Serious care is likely to mean a hospital in the Kuta, Nusa Dua or Denpasar areas, so ask your insurer for the nearest approved hospital.

Uluwatu with elderly parents: the full guide →