Bali,  Travel

Bali Travel Guide: Surf, Waterfalls, Manta Rays and Rice Fields

October 3, 2026 / 0 Comments

My full itinerary, region by region: everything I loved, plus what I wish I’d known before landing.

Getting There

Most international flights land at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), which sits just south of Seminyak. That makes Seminyak the easiest first stop: you’re in a hotel within 30 to 45 minutes and can ease into island time.

  • Airport to hotel: pre-book a driver or use a ride app. Arrivals can be chaotic, so having your driver sorted in advance takes the stress out.
  • Getting around: Bali uses Grab or Gojek as their rideshare app and it is fairly affordable. We hired a private driver for the day since it was a group of us however scooters are the most affordable option but can be very dangerous.
  • Island hopping: fast boats run from Sanur and Padang Bai to Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida.

Know Before You Go

  • Book on Agoda. It is basically their version of Expedia or Booking.com, you can start accumulating points for your stay.
  • Skip the scooter, find a driver if there is a few of you. Motorcycle accidents are very common. If you’re travelling as a group, search Instagram for local drivers. Many post their rates and reviews, and it’s often cheaper per person than you’d expect.
  • Everything is built for Instagram. Long flowy swing dresses, remote cabins perched on mountainsides, photo moments in the rice fields. It’s a manufactured vibe I wasn’t expecting. It’s beautiful, but go in knowing it’s staged, and you’ll enjoy it for what it is. Expect queues at the most photographed spots.
  • Go early. Waterfalls, viewpoints and beaches are far calmer first thing in the morning.
  • Pack: reef-safe sunscreen, a sarong or scarf for temples, a dry bag for boats and waterfalls, and grippy sandals.
  • What’s App: most of the business is done on what’s app, I used Google Translate to communicate over what’s app.
Potato Head Bali

Seminyak

Arrive here, shake off the flight and eat well.

  • Sarong Restaurant
  • Potato Head Bali – an iconic daytime beach club, it also has accommodation but we decided to just stop in for an afternoon.
  • La Brisa – another classic Bali beach club that is worth a visit
La Brisa

Canggu and the South-West Coast

Tanah Lot
Treehouse Yoga

Surf, brunch, yoga and sunsets. This is the beating heart of Bali’s surfer-meets-digital-nomad scene.

Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan

The smaller, quieter sister islands, reached by a short boat ride. It is definitely worth the trip, it’s home to all the iconic images of Bali with the large cliffs and the clear blue water.

Nusa Penida

Dramatic cliffs, turquoise water and the bucket-list highlight of the trip. Roads are rough and winding, so a driver is well worth it.

Ubud and Central Bali

Rice terraces, waterfalls, spas and jungle. Give yourself a few days here.

North Bali

A slower, wilder side of the island, with far fewer crowds.

The Send-Off

We finished the trip with a send-off ceremony, a lovely, meaningful way to close out the journey.

Honourable Mentions

  • Uluwatu: we only stopped in briefly, and I wish I’d spent more time here. It has a brilliant surfer-town vibe, with boutiques, cliffside cafes, world-class breaks and a laid-back energy. Uluwatu is top of my list for next time.
  • Gili Islands: I’d love to go next time. Car-free, palm-fringed and famous for turtles and snorkelling. Gili Islands are on the wish list.

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