Most day trips from Bali start in the south, around Kuta. The island is small, but traffic is slow. Pick one or two stops a day and keep the route simple.
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This guide gives the drive times, ferry options and opening hours for each trip. It also covers entry fees where they are known. Treat every drive time as a free-flow estimate, because real traffic adds time.
Quick list of day trips from Bali
- Ubud and Goa Gajah: culture, temples and a monkey forest. 31 km from Kuta by road.
- Nusa Penida: cliffs, beaches and a natural pool. A full-day excursion by speedboat.
- Mount Batur sunrise: a night climb. The outing takes about 4 hours.
- Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi: a water temple and rock-cut shrines.
- Uluwatu Temple: a clifftop temple with a sunset dance.
- Sekumpul Waterfall: a north Bali waterfall, 82.2 km by road from Kuta.
A closer option is Tanah Lot. It is 23 km by road and about 28 minutes from Kuta in free-flow traffic. The dry season, from April to October, is ideal for outdoor activities and day trips.
How to get around on a day trip
Bali has no public transportation system in the usual sense. For day trips, the best choices are to rent a scooter or hire a car with a driver.
Gojek and Grab scooter taxis are the cheapest option for short hops. If you self-drive, you need an IDP. Driving in Indonesia is on the left.
Distances mislead on this island.
Organised tours are another route. Day tour prices run between $50 and $150, depending on what is included and how long the tour lasts. Typical starting points are Ubud, Denpasar or Kuta.
Public buses exist, but they are slow. The Trans Metro Dewata goes from the airport to central Ubud for Rp 8800, but takes at least 2½ hours and needs at least one change. A Trans Sarbagita bus from the airport costs Rp 4400.
If you arrive by air, a private transfer is one option. One listed airport transfer uses a sedan for up to three people or a van for up to six. A pre-arranged pickup also helps because the airport can be rather chaotic.
1. Ubud and Goa Gajah
Ubud is 31 km from Kuta by road. A free-flow car estimate is about 30 minutes. Around 1hr30 is a realistic travel time, so plan for that.
The Kura-Kura shuttle runs between Kuta and Ubud. A private day tour is another route. One private full-day tour includes round-trip transfers from Ubud and south Bali. It visits Tegenungan Waterfall, Elephant Cave, Ubud Monkey Forest and the wood-carving village of Mas.
Start at Goa Gajah, the Elephant Cave. It is 34 km from Kuta by road, about 27 minutes in free-flow traffic. Plan on 45 minutes there.
The site dates to the 9th century, when bathing rituals took place. Inside the cave is an elephant statue tied to Hinduism. The odd creatures carved around the entrance are said to keep evil spirits out. Two rivers meet near the temple, which is why the spot is considered holy.
Next, go into Ubud.
The Monkey Feeding Place and the Agung Rai Museum of Art are close by.
A sensible order runs Goa Gajah, then Ubud Palace, then the Monkey Forest. Pick one museum to finish. Goa Gajah closes first, so it goes at the start of the day.
2. Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida is the main island escape. It lies 39.3 km in a straight line from Kuta. One route is a 30 to 45 minute drive to Sanur Harbour, then a 30-minute ferry. A fast boat from Sanur is also listed.
The slow option is the ro-ro ferry from Padang Bai. It leaves Padang Bai at 10:00 and 14:30, and leaves Nusa Penida at 08:00 and 12:00. Those are the times for 2023, so check them before you go.
Those hours matter for a day trip. The last boat back leaves Nusa Penida at 12:00, so the ro-ro suits an overnight stay better than a same-day return. For a same-day return, a tour with its own boat is simpler.
Tours use a faster boat. One full-day excursion goes by speedboat, with a local driver and lunch. It stops at Broken Beach, the Angel’s Billabong infinity pool and Crystal Bay.
Another full-day tour includes round-trip fast boat rides and snorkeling among manta rays. You can upgrade it to a private experience or choose a snorkel-only option. Kelingking Beach is another famous stop on the island.
If you want more islands, Nusa Ceningan is a frequently listed attraction next door. Public boats from Nusa Lembongan run daily at 06:00. They leave near the suspension bridge between Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. They go to Toyapakeh or Buyuk Harbour in northern Nusa Penida.
3. Mount Batur sunrise trek
Mount Batur is an active volcano. It stands over 1,700 meters tall. From Kuta it is 74.1 km by road, about 62 minutes in free-flow traffic.
The climb starts around 2 a.m. After about two hours you reach the summit, just in time to watch the sun rise above Lake Batur. The whole outing takes about 4 hours. Add the drive from your base on top of that.
The sunrise trek is described as challenging yet rewarding. It gives wide views of the island and Lake Batur. Guides are worth having on a trail that you walk in the dark.
After the climb, you can stay in the area. The Pura Ulun Danu Batur water temple is one stop on a Batur day. Cantik Agriculture Luwak Coffee is another. Keep the afternoon light after such an early start.
4. Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi
This is a temple day in the hills near Tampaksiring. Tirta Empul is one of Bali’s most popular attractions. It is a water temple where visitors can bathe in the streams.
Ask about the exact procedure before bathing. Visitors use only 11 of the 13 streams, because the last two are for funerals. Non-Hindu visitors may prefer to watch the rituals rather than take part.
Gunung Kawi is about a kilometer down the road. It has 10 large shrines carved in a rock cliff. Reaching it means a half-hour hike downhill, and back up again, through rice terraces. Sellers outside the temple offer snacks before the walk.
The temple is open daily 07:00 to 17:00. Nearby are Tirta Empul, Patung Dewa Indra and the Skull stone.
On the way back, stop at the Tegallalang Rice Terraces. They sit 20 minutes north of Ubud and are best viewed from the road. Look for the Subak irrigation system, which many farmers run together. Tegallalang is also one of Bali’s most popular attractions.
5. Uluwatu Temple at sunset
Pura Luhur Uluwatu is one of Bali’s six sacred Sad Kahyangan temples. It sits on a cliff about 97 meters above the Indian Ocean in Pecatu Village, South Kuta. The temple was founded in the 11th century by Mpu Kuturan. Dang Hyang Nirartha later expanded it.
The name comes from “ulu” (top) and “watu” (rock). The temple honours Lord Rudra and is still a place of worship. It is also one of Bali’s most popular attractions.
The Kecak and Fire Dance runs twice daily. The first show is 6pm to 7pm and the second is 7:15pm to 8:15pm. Seventy performers tell the tale of Rama and Sinta. The first show lets you pair the dance with sunset.
Watch for the monkeys that live near the temple. A guide can meet you at the main entrance with your booking voucher. The guide also arranges the entry ticket and the Kecak ticket without a long queue.
Garuda Wisnu Kencana is a good partner stop on the Bukit Peninsula. This private cultural park in Ungasan is open daily 08:00 to 22:00.
Pandawa Beach is also on this part of the peninsula. Together these make an easy south Bali day, with Uluwatu last for sunset.
6. Sekumpul Waterfall and north Bali
Sekumpul is 82.2 km from Kuta by road. The free-flow drive is about 73 minutes. Expect more in real traffic, and start early.
North Bali suits a quieter day. A road tour can combine Banyumala or Sekumpul with black-sand beaches near Lovina and mountain viewpoints with no crowds. Lovina Beach is a common stop in the north. Dolphin tours also run from Lovina.
Nung Nung Waterfall is about an hour’s drive from Ubud. The hike down is steep, around 500 steps, and the rocks can be slippery. The walk down takes about 20 minutes and the entrance fee is IDR20k.
Inland highlights also include Jatiluwih Rice Terraces and Besakih Temple. Both rank among Bali’s most popular attractions.
What should you be careful of in Ubud?
Traffic is the main issue. Ubud’s traffic is described as infamous, so leave early and keep stops close together. A short distance can take far longer than the map suggests, since 3 km can mean 30 minutes.
At temples, follow local rules. Tirta Empul has a set bathing procedure, so ask first. Sarongs are included at Goa Gajah and Gunung Kawi. At the Monkey Forest, keep food and loose items out of reach.
Which countries can you combine with Bali?
Bali works as a base for the region. Low-cost airlines fly cheaply from Denpasar (DPS) to destinations across Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Within Indonesia, Java and Lombok are the nearest add-ons.
Ferries cross from Ketapang on Java to Gilimanuk in western Bali every 15 minutes, 24/7. The crossing takes 30 minutes. For Java by land, a longer trip such as the Ijen Volcano hike can be done as an overnight or very long day trip.
Lombok is reached from Padang Bai. Slow ferries run about every hour, 24 hours a day. It can take 5-6 hours.
Fast boats are quicker. From Serangan to Lombok takes about 2 hr 30 min. Speedboats and catamarans also run between the Gili Islands and Padangbai in 80 minutes. Those trips suit an overnight stay more than a day trip.
Is the trip worth it?
For a first day trip, choose Ubud with Goa Gajah. It is close and easy to build around the opening hours above. Choose Nusa Penida when you want a full day on the water and coast.
Pick Mount Batur if you like early starts. Add Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi for temples, or Uluwatu for sunset. Hire a driver for any trip with more than one stop.
Opening hours, prices and visiting details: Ubud Palace, Ubud Monkey Forest, Bali Museum, Puri Lukisan Museum.