# My Bali Tour Guide > A tailor-made trip through the real Bali. Michèle designs your trip, Dek Leonk drives you around the island. You pay us only for your trip plan; you pay for the trip itself directly to the people on Bali. Website: https://mybalitourguide.com/ Contact: through the chat on https://mybalitourguide.com/contact (e-mail: hello@mybalitourguide.com) Language: English (there is also a Dutch version on mybalitourguide.nl). Personal trip plan €250 to €500, contact with the driver free; you pay for the trip itself locally. ## About us My Bali Tour Guide sells tailor-made personal trip plans for Bali, not trips. Michèle, a Bali expert in the Netherlands, designs your trip: route, daily plan and, if you want, places to stay. Dek Leonk (I Made Partha Wijaya), born in Karangasem on the eastern tip of Bali and a driver for twenty years, drives you around the island. Bas (ESBL B.V.) provides the website and the trip tool. You pay for the trip itself locally or directly to Dek Leonk and the accommodation; we only earn on the trip plan and take no commission. Packages: Trip plan €250, Trip plan with stays €350, All arranged €500 (incl. VAT); contact with Dek Leonk is free. A driver costs from about €45 a day. The focus is on quiet Bali: the east, the north and the mountains. --- # Personal trip plan ## Your trip through Bali, designed by someone who knows it The example routes on this site are a start. Most travellers want something different: longer, shorter, more beach, a retreat in Ubud, a diving week, a few days on Lombok. All of that is possible. Michèle designs your trip around what you want, with her experience and her contacts on the island. You only pay us for your trip plan. You pay for the trip itself directly to the local people who make it with you. ### Choose how much you hand over - **Direct contact** (Free): We put you in touch with Dek Leonk. You put the trip together with him and make the arrangements with him. - **Trip plan** (€250): An intake call, your route and daily plan made to measure, driving times, tips per place and what you are better off skipping. You book yourself. - **Trip plan with stays** (€350): The trip plan, plus two or three places to stay per stop that suit your budget and style. You book yourself. - **All arranged** (€500): The trip plan, and we book everything in your name and after your approval: places to stay, Dek Leonk, activities, scooter or boat. Prices include VAT. Every package includes one round of changes. ### How it goes 1. **Getting to know you** In a free 15-minute call, or through the trip planner or the chat. You tell us when, how long, who with and what matters to you. What you do not want is useful to know too. 2. **You choose your package and pay the fee** Then we schedule the intake call. 3. **You get your trip plan** Within five working days of the intake, with a daily plan, driving times and, if you chose it, places to stay. The plan is yours. 4. **You book, or we book for you** You book Dek Leonk and the places to stay yourself, or we do it in your name. You always pay them directly, on the spot or in advance to them. 5. **You travel with local people** Dek Leonk picks you up at the airport and is your point of contact on the island. ### Good to know We do not sell trips. We design your trip and advise you with care. You make the arrangement for the trip itself with Dek Leonk and the places you stay; they are responsible for what they provide. That way your money ends up with them, and we keep our advice independent: we get no commission from the partners we recommend. ## A private driver on Bali, by the day or for your whole trip Dek Leonk drives you to the rice fields for a day, from place to place for a week, or for your whole trip. He picks you up at your hotel, your villa or the airport. You decide the route and the pace; he knows when to be where to beat the crowds. - Driver: Dek Leonk (I Made Partha Wijaya), born on the eastern tip of Bali, has been driving travellers for twenty years - Seats: 1 to 6 people; larger groups by arrangement - Pick-up: Your hotel or villa, or the airport - Day: Up to 10 hours, fuel and parking included - Price: From about €45 a day in south and central Bali; further away by arrangement. You get a total price in advance. - Language: English and Indonesian; in the chat also Dutch, with Michèle ### How paying works You book and pay Dek Leonk directly, on the spot or in advance to him. We put you in touch with him for free, or include him in your personal trip plan. We earn nothing on his rides. ### What you can do with a private driver - A day around Ubud: rice fields, a village temple, an artists' village and lunch with a view. - A day tour to the east, the mountains or the rice terraces of Jatiluwih. - A round trip, where he drives you from stay to stay and does day trips in between. - A ride from A to B, such as from the airport to Ubud or from Amed to Munduk. ### How it works 1. You send a message in the chat: when, who with and what you want to see. 2. You get a proposal with a route, driving times and a price. We are honest about what is doable; on Bali ten kilometers can take half an hour. 3. You change what you want and only confirm when it is right. 4. You can still change the plan on the way. With your own driver, that is possible. ### Included - The air-conditioned car with Dek Leonk as your driver - Fuel and parking - Water in the car - Stops wherever you want them Not included, unless your proposal says otherwise: accommodation, meals, entrance fees, tips and insurance. Dek Leonk takes care of his own lunch; usually he eats at the same warung. ### Why your own driver instead of Grab or a taxi? Grab and Gojek work well in the south and in Ubud, but some villages do not allow them to pick you up, and in the east and north they hardly operate. And on a round trip you do not want to find someone new every day. Dek Leonk waits for you, knows the way and knows where to eat well. ### Often asked **Can I book Dek Leonk for just one day?** Yes. A few days ahead is often enough; in July, August and around Christmas, book earlier. **Does Dek Leonk speak Dutch?** No, he speaks English and Indonesian. In the chat Michèle answers in Dutch. **Should I tip Dek Leonk?** You do not have to, but it is appreciated. After a round trip IDR 100,000 to 200,000 per day is usual. ## Day trips on Bali: which one suits you? Staying in one place and want to go out for a few days? Below you see at a glance how long you are out and how long you sit in the car. All day trips are private, in Dek Leonk's car, at your own pace. | Day trip | Out (hours) | In the car (hours) | Who it suits | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Around Ubud: rice fields, temple, artists' village | 7 | 1.5 | If you want to start slowly | | East Bali: Tirta Gangga, Taman Ujung, Tenganan | 9 | 4 | If you are after culture and history | | Jatiluwih, Beratan and Munduk | 10 | 4.5 | If you want to hike and head into the mountains | | Sidemen and the Agung | 8 | 2.5 | If you want rice fields without the crowds | | Cooking class with a family | 5 | 1 | If you love food, kids included | | Water blessing at a spring | 4 | 1 | If you want to take part in a Balinese ritual | Times assume a start in Ubud. From the south, add one to one and a half hours. ### How paying works You pay for a day trip directly to Dek Leonk. We put you in touch with him for free, or include the day trips in your personal trip plan. ### Often asked **Can I book Dek Leonk for just one day?** Yes. A few days ahead is often enough; in July, August and around Christmas, book earlier. **Is a day to Jatiluwih and Munduk too much driving?** You spend four to five hours in the car. Rather take it slower? Then stay a night in Munduk; we put that in your trip plan. ## Bali airport transfer: Dek Leonk waits for you in arrivals After a long flight you do not want to haggle with taxi drivers. Dek Leonk waits in the arrivals hall of Ngurah Rai with a sign with your name. He follows your flight, so if it is late he simply waits. He helps with your bags and drives you to your first stay. | To | Driving time | Indication per car | | --- | --- | --- | | Sanur | about 30 minutes | about €20 | | Ubud | 1 to 1.5 hours | about €25–30 | | Canggu or Uluwatu | 45 minutes to 1.5 hours | about €20–25 | | Sidemen | about 2 hours | about €35 | | Amed or Munduk | 2.5 to 3 hours | about €40–45 | Driving times depend on traffic: between four and seven in the afternoon the south is gridlocked. On Nyepi the airport is closed for 24 hours. ### Good to know when you arrive - Fill in the All Indonesia arrival declaration in advance, pay the tourist levy through Love Bali and sort out your visa. - Take out some rupiah for the first days at an ATM in the arrivals hall. ### How paying works You pay for the ride directly to Dek Leonk. We put you in touch with him for free, or include the transfer in your personal trip plan. ### Often asked **What if my flight is delayed?** Dek Leonk follows your flight, so if it is late he simply waits. **Can I land on Nyepi?** No. On Nyepi the airport is closed for 24 hours. In 2027 Nyepi falls on Monday 8 March. ## Renting a scooter on Bali: we arrange it, and tell you honestly what you need A scooter is the easiest way to get around on your own for a day on Bali, especially around Ubud, Sidemen or Amed. Dek Leonk arranges one through a regular rental, with good helmets, papers and a full tank. But we tell you honestly what you need, because most rental shops do not. - Price: About €5–8 a day, two helmets included. Cheaper for a week or longer. - Arranged by: Dek Leonk, through a regular rental ### What you need - A motorcycle licence (category A) from your home country. With only a car licence you may not ride a 125cc scooter on Bali. - An international driving permit with category A. In the Netherlands you get it from the ANWB, in Belgium from your municipality. - The registration papers (STNK) of the scooter. You get them from the rental. - A helmet, for you and your passenger. Compulsory, and sensible. ### Why this matters The police do check, especially in Canggu, Seminyak, Uluwatu and around Ubud. Without the right papers you pay a fine of IDR 300,000 to 500,000 per missing document. More important: without a valid licence your travel insurance often does not pay out after an accident. A hospital bill on Bali can run into thousands of euros. ### Not sure? Then Dek Leonk drives. Or he drops you off somewhere you can cycle for a few hours; around Ubud and Sidemen there are lovely cycling routes, also by e-bike. - More about the rules and where riding is nice: Source for the licence rules: Bali.com, July 2026. Before you leave, check the current rules and the terms of your travel insurance. ### Often asked **Can I rent a scooter?** Yes, with a motorcycle licence and an international driving permit with category A. Without those papers your insurance often covers nothing. **Can the children ride on the back of a scooter?** We advise against it. In the car with Dek Leonk is safer, and simply nicer too. --- # Round trips and day tours ## Quiet Bali: ten days of rice fields, volcanoes and black sand beaches URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/trips/quiet-bali Type: Round trip. Duration: 10 days, 9 nights. Group: 1 to 6 people. Start: At the airport. Price: Personal trip plan from €250. Ubud, Sidemen, Amed and Munduk in ten days, with your own driver and the well-known places at the right times. Personal trip plan from €250. ### Highlights - Three nights just outside Ubud, among the rice fields instead of in the traffic - Walking through the Sidemen valley, with Mount Agung in the background - Snorkelling from the beach in Amed, between the fishing boats - Waterfalls and coffee plantations in the cool mountain village of Munduk - The rice terraces of Jatiluwih on the day you fly home Ten days in Bali without feeling like you're in a theme park. You stay in four places, a few nights each, so you're not packing every day. [Dek Leonk](/en/about/dek-leonk) picks you up at the airport and drives you from the [rice fields around Ubud](/en/destinations/ubud) to the [east coast](/en/destinations/amed), then through the north [up into the mountains](/en/destinations/munduk). The well-known places are on the route too, but at the times when they're quiet. ### Program step by step - **Days 1–3: Ubud and around** Dek Leonk waits in the arrivals hall and drives you an hour or an hour and a half to a place to stay just outside Ubud. You have two full days: a morning walk along the Campuhan ridge, the market, a temple in a village rather than in the centre, or simply a day by the pool. - **Days 4–5: Sidemen** An hour's drive east is a valley where life still revolves around rice. You walk along the terraces with a guide from the village, visit a songket weaving workshop and, when the sky is clear, see Mount Agung rising above everything. - **Days 6–7: Amed** On the way you stop at the Tirta Gangga water palace at eight in the morning, before the groups arrive. Amed is a string of fishing villages on black sand beaches. You snorkel from the shore, or ask Dek Leonk to arrange a boat trip at sunrise. - **Days 8–9: Munduk** You drive along the north coast and up into the mountains, with a stop at Sekumpul waterfall. Munduk is a few degrees cooler. You walk past coffee and clove plantations to the waterfalls. - **Day 10: Jatiluwih and departure** On the way to the airport you walk for an hour through the rice terraces of Jatiluwih, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Dek Leonk drops you off in good time for your flight. ### Frequently asked questions **Can I do it in eight days?** Yes. Then we leave out Munduk, or you spend one night less in Ubud. We don't recommend this route in less than eight days; you would mostly be sitting in the car. **How long are we in the car each day?** Usually one to two hours, with stops. The longest drive is from Amed to Munduk: three to four hours, via the north coast and a waterfall. **Can I add a few days at the beach?** Yes. A few nights in Sanur, Nusa Lembongan or the Gili Islands at the end fit well. Dek Leonk arranges the boat. ## Bali in three weeks: Ubud, the east coast, the north and the mountains URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/trips/bali-in-three-weeks Type: Round trip. Duration: 21 days, 20 nights. Group: 1 to 6 people. Start: At the airport. Price: Personal trip plan from €250. Three weeks in Bali in six places: Ubud, Sidemen, Amed, Pemuteran, Munduk and the coast. With your own driver and little packing. Personal trip plan from €250. ### Highlights - Six places in three weeks, and never fewer than three nights in one place - A day with Dek Leonk through Karangasem, the area where he was born - Snorkelling from the beach in Amed and at Menjangan island - Waterfalls, coffee plantations and mountain lakes around Munduk - The rice terraces of Jatiluwih on the way to four days by the sea Three weeks is enough to get to know Bali rather than tick it off. You stay in six places, three or four nights each, so you're not packing every other day. [Dek Leonk](/en/about/dek-leonk) picks you up at the airport and drives you from [Ubud](/en/destinations/ubud) via [Sidemen](/en/destinations/sidemen) to [Amed](/en/destinations/amed) on the east coast, then along the north coast to [Pemuteran](/en/destinations/pemuteran) and up into the mountains to [Munduk](/en/destinations/munduk). You finish by the sea, in [Sanur](/en/destinations/sanur) or on [Nusa Lembongan](/en/destinations/nusa-lembongan). This is a route for people who take their time. Between the travel days there are always days without the car, for walking, snorkelling or reading. If you have two weeks, look at [Quiet Bali](/en/trips/quiet-bali) or the route for [a first time in Bali](/en/blog/first-time-in-bali-route). If you want something different, with more beach or a few days on Lombok, we [design your own route](/en/personal-trip-plan). ### Program step by step - **Days 1–3: Ubud** Dek Leonk waits in the arrivals hall and drives you an hour to an hour and a half to a place to stay just outside Ubud. The first day you recover from the flight. After that you walk the Campuhan ridge early in the morning, visit the market and watch a dance performance in the evening. On day 3 Dek Leonk takes you to a water blessing at a quiet spring, or you join a cooking class with a family. - **Days 4–6: Sidemen** An hour's drive east, with a stop at Kerta Gosa, the old hall of justice in Klungkung. In Sidemen you walk along the rice terraces with a guide from the village, visit a songket weaving workshop and, when the sky is clear, see Mount Agung. You stay three nights, so there is time to do nothing too. - **Days 7–10: Amed** An hour and a half's drive, with a stop at the Tirta Gangga water palace at eight in the morning. Four nights on the east coast: snorkelling from the beach, the fishing boats at sunrise and, if you like, a dive at the Tulamben wreck. On day 9 Dek Leonk drives you through Karangasem: the village of Tenganan, the Taman Ujung water palace and, if it works out, the village where he grew up. - **Days 11–13: Pemuteran** The longest drive of the trip: three and a half to four hours along the north coast, with stops at the Banjar hot springs and the Brahmavihara-Arama Buddhist monastery. Pemuteran is a quiet village on a bay. On one of the days you take a boat to Menjangan, in West Bali National Park, and snorkel along the coral walls. - **Days 14–16: Munduk** Two hours' drive up into the mountains. Munduk is a few degrees cooler. You walk with a guide from the village past coffee and clove plantations to the waterfalls. On day 16 you go early in the morning with Dek Leonk to the Ulun Danu Beratan temple and past the Buyan and Tamblingan lakes. - **Days 17–20: Sanur or Nusa Lembongan** After a little over an hour's drive you walk through the rice terraces of Jatiluwih, a UNESCO World Heritage site. From there it is about two hours to the coast. Sanur is quiet, with calm water behind the reef. If you choose Nusa Lembongan, you take the half-hour fast boat from Sanur; leave Munduk early so you catch an afternoon boat. - **Day 21: home** From Sanur it is half an hour to the airport. From Lembongan you take the boat back in the morning, and Dek Leonk meets you in Sanur. ### Frequently asked questions **How long are we in the car each day?** On most travel days one to two hours, with stops. Two days are long: from Amed to Pemuteran (three and a half to four hours) and from Munduk via Jatiluwih to the coast (three to three and a half hours, with a walk in between). Between travel days you spend two or three days out of the car. **Does three weeks fit in one visa?** If your nationality can get a visa on arrival or an e-VOA (most European, North American and Australian travellers can), it is valid for 30 days. How to apply and how the tourist levy works is under Visa and tourist levy. **When is this route at its best?** April to October is the dry season, and until November the water in Amed and at Menjangan is at its clearest. May, June and September are quieter than July and August. Don't plan a travel day on Nyepi; in 2027 that is Monday 8 March. ## Bali with kids: two weeks of short drives and plenty of pool time URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/trips/bali-with-kids Type: Round trip. Duration: 14 days, 13 nights. Group: Families up to 6 people. Start: At the airport. Price: Personal trip plan from €250. Short drives, places to stay with a pool and outings for the whole family. Two weeks in Bali with your own driver, from Sanur via Ubud to Amed. ### Highlights - A gentle start in Sanur, on a beach without big waves - Planting rice with a farmer and seeing the ducks in the sawah - A cooking class with a family, where the children join in - Four days in Amed, snorkelling from the beach - A pool everywhere you stay, and no packing every day With children you mainly want two things: not too long in the car and not a new bed every day. This route does both. You start in [Sanur](/en/destinations/sanur) to recover from the flight, then head for the [rice fields](/en/destinations/ubud) and the [east coast](/en/destinations/amed), and every place has a pool. [Dek Leonk](/en/about/dek-leonk) drives a car with room for the whole family, and arranges child seats if you let him know in advance. ### Program step by step - **Days 1–3: Sanur** Half an hour from the airport. There's a reef in front of the beach, so the water is calm. A good place to get used to the time difference. - **Days 4–7: Ubud** An hour's drive. A villa or hotel with a pool just outside the centre. You plant rice with a farmer, go to the cooking class with a family and watch a Legong dance in the evening. - **Days 8–9: Sidemen** Just over an hour's drive. Two days among the rice fields, with a short walk that children can easily manage. - **Days 10–13: Amed** An hour and a half's drive, with a stop to see the fish in the ponds at Tirta Gangga. Four days of snorkelling, playing on the beach and a short boat trip. - **Day 14: back to the airport** The only long drive: two and a half to three hours, with a stop on the way. Dek Leonk allows plenty of time, so you don't have to rush. ### Frequently asked questions **Is Bali suitable for children?** Yes. Balinese people love children and you're made welcome everywhere. Watch out for the sun, mosquitoes and tap water; there's more under Food and drink and Safety. **Can the children ride on the back of a scooter?** We advise against it. The car with Dek Leonk is safer, and simply more comfortable. **What if a child gets ill?** Dek Leonk knows where the nearest clinic is and drives you there. Ubud and the south have international hospitals. ## North and West Bali: rice terraces, mountain lakes and snorkelling at Menjangan URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/trips/north-and-west-bali Type: Round trip. Duration: 8 days, 7 nights. Group: 1 to 6 people. Start: At the airport or in Ubud. Price: Personal trip plan from €250. Jatiluwih, Munduk and snorkelling at Menjangan. The green, quiet side of Bali in eight days, with your own driver. Personal trip plan from €250. ### Highlights - A night among the rice terraces of Jatiluwih, before the day visitors arrive - Ulun Danu Beratan, the temple on the lake, at sunrise - Walking to the waterfalls around Munduk - Snorkelling at Menjangan island, in West Bali National Park - A side of Bali most travellers never see The north and west of Bali are green, cool and quiet. There are no beach clubs and no traffic jams, but there are [mountain lakes](/en/destinations/munduk), plantations and a [coast with coral reefs](/en/destinations/pemuteran). This trip is for people who like to be active: walking, snorkelling and early starts. It also works well as a second week, after a few days in [the south](/en/destinations/south-bali) or in [Ubud](/en/destinations/ubud). ### Program step by step - **Day 1: to Jatiluwih** Dek Leonk picks you up and drives you two hours to the rice terraces. You sleep in a homestay at the edge of the fields and go for a walk at the end of the afternoon, when the light softens. - **Days 2–4: Munduk** Early in the morning to Ulun Danu Beratan, the temple that seems to float on the lake. Then up into the mountains. You walk with a local guide to three waterfalls and past coffee plantations. - **Days 5–7: Pemuteran** Two hours to the northwest coast. A quiet village by the sea with a coral restoration project. One day you take a boat to Menjangan, one of the best snorkelling spots in Bali. - **Day 8: back to the south** A long drive of four to five hours along the west coast, with a lunch stop. Rather not do it in one go? Then spend your last night in Ubud or Medewi. ### Frequently asked questions **Is the north really quieter?** Yes, much quieter. In Munduk and Pemuteran you mostly meet travellers who chose to go there. **How cold is it in Munduk?** Around 22 degrees during the day, sometimes 16 at night. Bring a jumper. **Can I dive instead of snorkelling?** Yes. Pemuteran has good dive schools. Let us know in advance and Dek Leonk will book you a place. ## East Bali in one day: Tirta Gangga, Taman Ujung and the old village of Tenganan URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/trips/east-bali-day-tour Type: Day tour. Duration: About 9 hours. Group: 1 to 6 people. Start: Your hotel in Ubud, Sanur or Sidemen. Price: About €55–85 per car, paid directly to Dek Leonk. Tirta Gangga at eight in the morning, the Taman Ujung water palace by the sea and Tenganan, a Bali Aga village. A day in East Bali with Dek Leonk. ### Highlights - Tirta Gangga at eight in the morning, before the groups - Stepping stones between the koi in the water palace - Taman Ujung, the second water palace, where hardly anyone goes - Tenganan, one of the oldest villages in Bali, with its own traditions and weaving - Lunch overlooking the rice fields In the east, the kings of [Karangasem](/en/destinations/karangasem) built two water palaces in the last century. [Tirta Gangga](/en/destinations/amed) is the better known, and at eight in the morning you have it almost to yourself. Then you drive to Taman Ujung by the sea and on to Tenganan, a village of the Bali Aga, the original inhabitants of the island. They weave a cloth there using a double ikat technique that exists only here and in India. ### Program step by step - **6:30 am: departure from Ubud** From Sidemen you leave later. - **8:00 am: Tirta Gangga** The better known of the two water palaces. At eight in the morning you have it almost to yourself. - **10:00 am: Taman Ujung** The second water palace, by the sea, where hardly anyone goes. - **12 noon: lunch** Overlooking the rice fields. - **1:30 pm: Tenganan** A village of the Bali Aga, the original inhabitants of the island, with its own traditions and weaving. - **4:00 pm: back at your hotel** Dek Leonk drives you back. ### Included - Driver - Car - Fuel - Parking - Water ### Not included - Entrance fees (Tirta Gangga about IDR 90,000, the other sites about IDR 50,000) - Lunch - Donation in Tenganan ### Frequently asked questions **Do we also go to the Lempuyang gate?** We can, but we advise against it. For the famous photo you often queue for two hours or more. If you still want to go, we leave at four in the morning. ## Rice terraces and mountain lakes: a day to Jatiluwih, Beratan and Munduk URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/trips/jatiluwih-and-munduk-day-tour Type: Day tour. Duration: About 10 hours. Group: 1 to 6 people. Start: Your hotel in Ubud or the south. Price: About €60–85 per car, paid directly to Dek Leonk. The best rice terraces in Bali at Jatiluwih, the temple on Lake Beratan and a waterfall near Munduk. A full day out with your own driver. ### Highlights - An hour or two walking through the rice terraces of Jatiluwih, a UNESCO World Heritage site - Ulun Danu Beratan, the temple on the lake - Lunch overlooking the lake - A waterfall in the mountains near Munduk The best rice terraces in Bali aren't near [Ubud](/en/destinations/ubud), but an hour further on in [Jatiluwih](/en/destinations/jatiluwih). They are part of the subak system, the centuries-old way Balinese farmers share out the water, and they are on the UNESCO list. You walk there for an hour or two, drive on to the temple on Lake Beratan and finish at a waterfall in the mountains near [Munduk](/en/destinations/munduk). ### Program step by step - **7:00 am: departure** Dek Leonk picks you up at your hotel in Ubud or the south. - **8:30 am: walking in Jatiluwih** An hour or two through the rice terraces, which are part of the UNESCO subak World Heritage site. - **11:00 am: Ulun Danu Beratan** The temple on Lake Beratan, which seems to float on the water when the lake is high. - **12:30 pm: lunch** Overlooking the lake. - **2:00 pm: waterfall near Munduk** In the mountains, where it's a few degrees cooler than on the coast. - **5:30 pm: back at your hotel** Dek Leonk drives you back. ### Included - Driver - Car - Fuel - Parking - Water ### Not included - Entrance fees (Jatiluwih about IDR 75,000, Beratan IDR 100,000 since July 2026) - Lunch ### Frequently asked questions **Is this too much driving for one day?** You spend four to five hours in the car. Prefer a slower pace? Then stay a night in Munduk; we'll put that in your trip plan. ## Cooking with a Balinese family: market, kitchen and a shared meal URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/trips/balinese-cooking-class Type: Workshop. Duration: About 5 hours, morning and lunch. Group: 2 to 8 people. Start: A village near Ubud or Sidemen. Price: Price on request, paid directly to the family. A morning cooking with a Balinese family: first the market, then making basa genep and dishes such as sate lilit and lawar, and lunch at the family table. ### Highlights - The market with Dek Leonk: kemiri nuts, turmeric, lemongrass - Making basa genep, the spice paste behind almost every Balinese dish - Cooking sate lilit and lawar in a family kitchen - Sitting down to eat with the family You start the morning at the market, where [Dek Leonk](/en/about/dek-leonk) explains what you're looking at: kemiri nuts (candlenuts), turmeric, lemongrass, small shallots. Then you cook in the kitchen of a family he knows. You make basa genep, the spice paste behind almost every [Balinese dish](/en/practical/food-and-drink), and use it for a few dishes such as sate lilit and lawar. It ends at the table, with the family. Vegetarian, vegan or dairy-free is fine; just let us know in advance. ### Included - Transport - Market visit - Ingredients - Cooking class - Lunch - Recipes to take home ## Melukat: a Balinese water blessing at a quiet spring URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/trips/water-blessing-melukat Type: Experience. Duration: About 4 hours. Group: 1 to 6 people. Start: Your hotel in the Ubud area. Price: Price on request, paid directly to Dek Leonk. Melukat is a Balinese purification ritual under fountains of spring water. Dek Leonk takes you to a quiet spring and explains every step beforehand. ### Highlights - A smaller spring such as Pura Mengening, instead of the crowds at Tirta Empul - Dek Leonk explains step by step what happens, before you start - A ritual Balinese people do themselves at a new stage in life Melukat is a purification ritual in which you stand under a series of fountains of spring water. Balinese people do it at a new stage in their lives, or when they feel they need it. At the well-known temple of Tirta Empul you share it with hundreds of others. [Dek Leonk](/en/about/dek-leonk) takes you to a smaller spring, such as Pura Mengening, and explains step by step beforehand what will happen: which fountain you skip, what you say and [what you wear](/en/practical/temples-and-what-to-wear). ### Good to know You'll be given a sarong and sash. Bring dry clothes. By Balinese custom, women who have their period don't enter the temple; you can talk this through with Dek Leonk beforehand, so you can choose another day. --- # Destinations ## Ubud and around URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/destinations/ubud Region: Central Bali. Drive time: About 1 to 1.5 hours by car from the airport. Best time: All year round. Ubud is the cultural heart of Bali, and it's busy. Stay just outside the centre among the rice fields and go early to the well-known places. ### Highlights - Rice fields and walking trails around town - The market and the palace - Legong and Kecak dance in the evening - Artists' villages such as Mas and Batuan - Yoga and good coffee Ubud is the cultural heart of Bali. It has also become busy: the centre is full of cars during the day, and the Monkey Forest and the [swings at Tegallalang](/en/blog/instagram-bali-vs-real-bali) are tourist attractions in their own right. That's why, with us, you stay [just outside the centre, among the rice fields](/en/trips/quiet-bali), and go to the well-known places early. At seven in the morning you walk along the Campuhan ridge with only a few joggers for company. At the market you see the offering flowers for the day. In the evening you watch a dance performance in a temple courtyard. ### Frequently asked questions **Do I have to go to Ubud?** Not necessarily, but it's a good first stop: central, lots to do and an hour from the airport. ## Sidemen URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/destinations/sidemen Region: East Bali. Drive time: About 2 hours from the airport, 1 hour from Ubud. Best time: All year round, greenest from December to March. Sidemen is what Ubud was thirty years ago. Walking, weaving workshops and homestays among the rice terraces, at the foot of Mount Agung in East Bali. ### Highlights - Walking along the rice terraces with a guide from the village - Songket weaving workshops - Views of Mount Agung - Homestays among the fields - Pura Besakih and the Bukit Jambul viewpoint nearby - Rafting on the Telaga Waja river Sidemen is what [Ubud](/en/destinations/ubud) was thirty years ago. A valley with rice terraces, a river and villages where life revolves around the harvest and the temple calendar. There are a few homestays and small hotels, and nothing else. You walk here, you eat at a [warung](/en/practical/food-and-drink) and you look out at Mount Agung, Bali's holy volcano. [Two nights](/en/trips/quiet-bali) is ideal. ### What is there to do in Sidemen? - **Walking:** narrow paths run between the fields along the irrigation channels. With a guide from the village you spend a morning walking through the terraces, past small temples and farmers at work. He knows which paths are passable and explains how the subak works, the centuries-old way the farmers share out the water. Go early, while it's still cool and Mount Agung is often still free of cloud. - **Weaving:** Sidemen is a weaving village. Women weave on wooden looms: endek, an ikat cloth for everyday wear, and songket, with gold or silver thread, for weddings, tooth-filing ceremonies and other big occasions. In the small workshops you can watch how it's done and buy cloth. A piece of endek easily costs a few hundred thousand rupiah; songket costs more, because far more work goes into it. - **Bukit Jambul:** a viewpoint on the road from Klungkung to Besakih, looking out over rice terraces and green valleys. On a clear day you can see as far as the sea and Nusa Penida. A good stop on the way to or from Besakih. - **Pura Besakih:** Bali's mother temple, the largest temple complex on the island, on the slopes of Mount Agung. It's just under an hour's drive and busy during the day. Go early, and read [what to wear in a temple](/en/practical/temples-and-what-to-wear) first. - **Rafting on the Telaga Waja:** trips start near Muncan, a few kilometres away, and finish close to Sidemen. You spend two to three hours on the water, over about 17 kilometres. - **Cooking:** with a family in the village you [learn to cook Balinese food](/en/trips/balinese-cooking-class), starting at the market. ### How long should you stay, and how does it fit into a route? Two nights is enough for a walk, a weaving workshop and a trip to Besakih or Bukit Jambul. If rest is what you're after, stay three. On the [Quiet Bali](/en/trips/quiet-bali) trip, Sidemen sits between Ubud and [Amed](/en/destinations/amed): after the bustle of Ubud you slow down here, then head for the coast. The [East Bali day tour](/en/trips/east-bali-day-tour), past Tirta Gangga, Taman Ujung and Tenganan, can also start from Sidemen. On [Bali with kids](/en/trips/bali-with-kids) you spend two nights here too. ### How do you get there? From the airport it's about a two-hour drive, from Ubud one hour. Amed is an hour and a half to two hours away, with the Tirta Gangga water palace on the way. There's hardly any public transport into the valley, and the roads are narrow and winding. Most travellers come with a [private driver](/en/private-driver-bali). Dek Leonk himself comes from [Karangasem](/en/destinations/karangasem), the regency Sidemen belongs to. ### When should you go? Sidemen works all year round. The valley is greenest from December to March, in the [rainy season](/en/practical/best-time-to-visit). There's usually a heavy shower in the afternoon then, and the paths get muddy. From April to October it's drier and you see Mount Agung more often. It's clearest early in the morning; later in the day clouds often roll in front of it. ### What does it cost? A homestay or small hotel costs about €25–80 a night for two (2026), a villa with a pool about €80–200. On top of that come the guide for your walk and the entrance fee at Besakih. Rafting costs about IDR 300,000–600,000 per person, depending on lunch and transport. A driver costs from about €45 a day. How it all adds up for a whole trip is in [What does a trip to Bali cost?](/en/blog/what-does-a-trip-to-bali-cost) ### Frequently asked questions **Is there anything to do in Sidemen?** Not much, and that's the point. Walking, reading, a cooking class, a weaving workshop. If you want lots of action, stay one night. **How many nights should I stay in Sidemen?** Two nights is enough for a walk, a weaving workshop and a trip to Besakih or Bukit Jambul. If rest is what you're after, stay three. **Can I visit Pura Besakih from Sidemen?** Yes, it's a drive of just under an hour. Go early, before the coaches from the south arrive. Foreign visitors pay about IDR 150,000 per person (the rate since 2024), including the shuttle, a sarong and a guide from the village. **Can I go rafting in Sidemen?** Yes, on the Telaga Waja. Trips start near Muncan and finish close to Sidemen: about 17 kilometres and two to three hours on the water. ## Amed and Tirta Gangga URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/destinations/amed Region: East Bali. Drive time: About 2.5 to 3 hours from the airport. Best time: April to November is best for snorkelling. Fishing villages on the east coast, snorkelling from the shore among coral and turtles, and the wreck at Tulamben. With Tirta Gangga on the way. ### Highlights - Snorkelling and diving from the beach - The USAT Liberty shipwreck at Tulamben - Jukung fishing boats at sunrise - The Tirta Gangga water palace - The Japanese wreck at Banyuning, just off the beach Amed isn't one village but a string of fishing villages along fifteen kilometres of coast, with Mount Agung behind them. The beaches are black volcanic sand and the water is clear. You snorkel from the shore among coral and turtles. A little further north, at Tulamben, an American cargo ship from the Second World War lies just a few metres down. On the way is [Tirta Gangga](/en/trips/east-bali-day-tour), the water palace of the last king of [Karangasem](/en/destinations/karangasem). ### Where do you snorkel in Amed? You don't need a boat. At most of the villages you walk into the water and swim straight out to the reef. You can hire snorkelling gear from the warungs on the beach for about IDR 50,000–100,000 a day (2026). Bring water shoes, because the beaches are covered in smooth pebbles. - **Jemeluk:** a sheltered bay with coral just below the surface near the shore, and a small underwater shrine a few metres out. Above the bay is a viewpoint over the coast and Mount Agung. - **Lipah:** a few kilometres further south, calm and a good place if you're new to snorkelling. - **The Japanese wreck at Banyuning:** a ship of about twenty metres, just off the beach, between two and twelve metres deep and covered in coral. Nobody is quite sure what kind of ship it was. - **Further out:** off Bunutan and Selang the current can be strong. There you're better off going with a jukung, a narrow fishing boat with outriggers on both sides. The water is clearest in the dry season, and in the morning, before the wind picks up. ### The USAT Liberty wreck at Tulamben Twenty minutes to half an hour's drive north, at Tulamben, lies the USAT Liberty, a 125-metre American cargo ship. A Japanese submarine torpedoed it in January 1942. The ship was beached at Tulamben, and when Mount Agung erupted in 1963 it slid into the sea. Today it lies about forty metres offshore, between five and thirty metres deep. Divers see the whole ship; with a snorkel you see the shallowest part. There are dive schools in Tulamben and Amed, including for people who want to learn to dive. ### What else is there to do? - **Go out with the fishermen:** at sunrise the fishermen head out in their jukung. You can go out to sea with them. - **Salt made the old way:** in Purwakerthi, near Amed, a small group of farmers still make salt the traditional way. They filter seawater through bamboo and let it dry in hollowed-out coconut palm trunks. This only happens in the dry season. Garam Amed (Amed salt) has had a protected geographical indication since 2015. - **Tirta Gangga:** the water palace is on the way. At 8 in the morning you have it almost to yourself. Foreign visitors pay about IDR 90,000 per person (2026). - **Lempuyang:** the famous temple gate is nearby too. Read [what to expect there](/en/blog/instagram-bali-vs-real-bali) first. ### How long should you stay, and how do you get there? Two to three nights. From the airport it's a two and a half to three hour drive, from [Sidemen](/en/destinations/sidemen) an hour and a half to two hours. On [Quiet Bali](/en/trips/quiet-bali) you arrive from Sidemen and then drive along the north coast to [Munduk](/en/destinations/munduk): three to four hours, with a waterfall on the way. On [Bali with kids](/en/trips/bali-with-kids) you stay four days, because the sea here is usually calm. There's hardly any public transport along the coast; most travellers come with a [private driver](/en/private-driver-bali). ### When should you go? From April to November the sea is at its clearest. In the rainy season, heavy showers wash mud into the sea and visibility underwater can drop a lot. You can still snorkel then, preferably in the morning. The east coast is one of the drier parts of Bali, with hills full of lontar palms. Month by month, see [Best time to visit](/en/practical/best-time-to-visit). ### What does it cost? A homestay or small hotel by the water costs about €25–80 a night for two (2026), a villa with a pool about €80–200. Snorkelling gear costs a few euros a day to hire, and at most beaches you pay a few thousand rupiah to park. Diving the Liberty costs more; the dive schools in Amed and Tulamben give their prices in advance. ### Frequently asked questions **Is the beach in Amed nice?** Beautiful in its own way: black, with pebbles and fishing boats. If you're looking for white sand, combine it with Nusa Lembongan or the Gilis. **Do I need a boat to go snorkelling?** No. At Jemeluk, Lipah and the Japanese wreck at Banyuning you swim from the beach to the reef. Bring water shoes: the beaches are covered in pebbles. **Do I need to dive to see the wreck at Tulamben?** Not necessarily. The ship lies about forty metres offshore, its shallowest part at around five metres. With a snorkel you see the top; divers see the whole ship. **How many nights should I stay in Amed?** Two to three. That gives you time to snorkel, spend a morning at Tulamben and have a day of doing nothing. ## Munduk and the mountain lakes URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/destinations/munduk Region: Mountains in the north. Drive time: About 2.5 to 3 hours from the airport. Best time: Nicest in the dry season. Munduk lies at over 800 metres and is cooler than the coast. You walk past plantations to waterfalls, with three crater lakes close by. ### Highlights - Waterfalls you reach on walking trails - Coffee, clove and cocoa plantations - Ulun Danu Beratan temple on the lake - The twin lakes Buyan and Tamblingan - Across Lake Tamblingan in a wooden canoe Munduk sits at over 800 metres, a few degrees cooler than the coast. The village clings to a mountainside, with plantations and waterfalls in the valleys below. You [walk here for half a day](/en/trips/north-and-west-bali) and see three waterfalls along the way. Close by are three crater lakes; [Ulun Danu Beratan](/en/trips/jatiluwih-and-munduk-day-tour), the temple on Lake Beratan, seems to float when the water is high. ### Which waterfalls can you see near Munduk? Around the village, several waterfalls tumble into the valleys. Paths past coffee, clove and cocoa plantations link them together. At each waterfall you pay a small entrance fee, usually IDR 20,000–50,000 per person (2026), in cash. - **Munduk waterfall (Red Coral):** the best known, about twenty minutes' walk on a fairly level path. - **Labuan Kebo and Melanting:** two waterfalls in the same valley. To reach Melanting you go down some five hundred steep steps, and you have to climb them again. Only if you're steady on your feet. - **Golden Valley:** close to the road and a few minutes' walk. You leave a small donation. - **Banyumala:** a wide twin waterfall near Wanagiri, between Munduk and Lake Buyan, with a pool you can swim in. Fifteen to twenty minutes' walk, mostly on steps. All together it's half a day to a full day of walking. After rain the paths and steps are slippery, so wear shoes with a good grip. ### The three lakes Munduk lies on the edge of an old volcanic crater with three lakes in it. - **Tamblingan:** the smallest and quietest lake. A path through the forest runs past old temples on the shore, and guides from the surrounding villages take you out in a wooden canoe. For the walk, the canoe and the entrance fee, count on about €15–30 per person (2026). - **Buyan:** the lake next door. From the road along the ridge between Buyan and Tamblingan you look down on both lakes. A few kilometres on, at Pancasari, is the [Handara gate](/en/blog/instagram-bali-vs-real-bali), famous from Instagram. - **Beratan:** home to the Ulun Danu Beratan temple, and the busiest of the three. Go early, as on the [North and West Bali](/en/trips/north-and-west-bali) trip. Since 1 July 2026 foreign visitors pay IDR 100,000 per person. From Munduk it's a drive of half an hour to 45 minutes. ### How long should you stay, and how does it fit into a route? Two to three nights. On [Quiet Bali](/en/trips/quiet-bali) you come from [Amed](/en/destinations/amed) along the north coast, stopping at Sekumpul waterfall. On [North and West Bali](/en/trips/north-and-west-bali), Munduk sits between [Jatiluwih](/en/destinations/jatiluwih) and [Pemuteran](/en/destinations/pemuteran). Short on time? Then you can see Jatiluwih, Beratan and a waterfall in [one day](/en/trips/jatiluwih-and-munduk-day-tour), but you'll spend four to five hours in the car. ### How do you get there? From the airport it's a two and a half to three hour drive, from [Ubud](/en/destinations/ubud) two to two and a half hours, via Lake Beratan. From [Lovina](/en/destinations/lovina) on the north coast it takes just over an hour, and Pemuteran is two hours away. The last few kilometres are narrow, winding mountain roads. With a [private driver](/en/private-driver-bali) you stop wherever you like on the way. ### When should you go? It's nicest in the dry season, from April to October: the paths are dry and the lakes are often clear. More rain falls in the mountains than on the coast. From November to March there's often cloud and mist, and the paths are muddy and slippery; the waterfalls do carry more water then. During the day it's around 22 °C, at night sometimes 16 °C. See also [Best time to visit](/en/practical/best-time-to-visit). ### What does it cost? A homestay or small hotel costs about €25–80 a night for two (2026), often with a view over the valley. A villa with a pool costs about €80–200. On top of that come the entrance fees for the waterfalls and Ulun Danu Beratan, and a guide for the walk if you want one. A driver costs from about €45 a day. ### Frequently asked questions **How cold is it in Munduk?** Around 22 °C during the day, sometimes 16 °C at night. Bring a jumper and a rain jacket. **Do I need a guide for the waterfalls?** Not necessarily: the paths are partly signposted. With a guide from the village it's easier to find your way between the waterfalls, and you hear more about the plantations along the way. **How many nights should I stay in Munduk?** Two to three. One night is short: the mornings are the clearest time of day here, and you don't want to spend them in the car. **Can you swim in Munduk?** At a few waterfalls, such as Banyumala, you can get into the water at the bottom. It's cold, though. ## Jatiluwih URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/destinations/jatiluwih Region: Central Bali, at the foot of Mount Batukaru. Drive time: About 2 hours from the airport. Best time: Most beautiful just before the harvest (when the terraces turn yellow) or after planting (mirror-like water). Jatiluwih is the largest continuous area of rice terraces in Bali and a UNESCO World Heritage site, with walking trails where you meet hardly anyone. ### Highlights - The largest continuous area of rice terraces in Bali - Part of the UNESCO subak World Heritage site - Marked walking trails of one to four hours - A few hundred metres from the viewpoint, you're on your own Jatiluwih is the largest continuous area of rice terraces in Bali and part of the UNESCO subak World Heritage site. Subak is the system of channels and water sharing that Balinese farmers have used since the ninth century, organised from the [water temples](/en/practical/temples-and-what-to-wear). There are [marked walking trails](/en/trips/jatiluwih-and-munduk-day-tour) of one to four hours. Coaches come during the day, but they stay at the viewpoint. A few hundred metres further on, you're on your own. ## Pemuteran and Menjangan URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/destinations/pemuteran Region: Northwest Bali. Drive time: About 4 hours from the airport. Best time: All year round, clearest water from April to November. Pemuteran is a small village on a bay in northwest Bali. From here you snorkel at Menjangan, among turtles and coral walls that drop steeply away. ### Highlights - Snorkelling at Menjangan, an uninhabited island in West Bali National Park - Coral walls that drop steeply into the deep - A coral restoration project you can see from the beach - Turtles and shoals of fish Pemuteran is a small village on a bay, right next to West Bali National Park. The village has been working for decades to [restore its coral](/en/practical/responsible-travel), with a project whose underwater structures you can see from the beach. From the harbour at Labuhan Lalang, twenty minutes' drive away, you take a boat to [Menjangan](/en/trips/north-and-west-bali), an uninhabited island in the park with coral walls that drop steeply into the deep. You snorkel there among turtles and shoals of fish. ## Sanur URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/destinations/sanur Region: South Bali. Drive time: About 30 minutes from the airport. Best time: All year round. Sanur is the quietest place on the south coast: calm water behind the reef, a long beach path and half an hour from the airport. Good with children. ### Highlights - Calm water behind the reef - Kilometres of cycling and walking path along the beach - A good place to arrive or to end your trip, especially with children - The boats to Nusa Lembongan Sanur is the quietest spot on the south coast. A reef offshore keeps the waves out, so the water stays calm. A cycling and walking path runs along the beach for kilometres. It's a good place to [arrive](/en/bali-airport-transfer), [especially with children](/en/trips/bali-with-kids), or to wrap up your trip. The boats to [Nusa Lembongan](/en/destinations/nusa-lembongan) leave from Sanur too. ## Nusa Lembongan URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/destinations/nusa-lembongan Region: Island off the southeast coast. Drive time: About 30 minutes by fast boat from Sanur. Best time: All year round. Nusa Lembongan is the smaller, quieter sister of Nusa Penida. Snorkel with manta rays and cross the yellow bridge to Ceningan, half an hour from Sanur. ### Highlights - Snorkelling with manta rays - Across the yellow bridge to Nusa Ceningan - The waves at Devil's Tear - Getting around the island by scooter or golf cart Lembongan is the smaller, quieter sister of Nusa Penida. You get around by [scooter](/en/scooter-rental-bali) or golf cart. You snorkel with manta rays, walk across the yellow bridge to Nusa Ceningan, and watch the waves at Devil's Tear. You can visit Penida, with its [famous cliffs](/en/blog/instagram-bali-vs-real-bali), in a day. But expect bad roads and crowds at the viewpoints there. ## The south: Canggu, Seminyak and Uluwatu URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/destinations/south-bali Region: South Bali. Drive time: 30 minutes to 1.5 hours from the airport, depending on traffic. Best time: All year round, dry from April to October. Canggu, Seminyak and Uluwatu: beach clubs, surf beaches, cliffs and a lot of traffic. Fine for a few days, but not for your whole trip to Bali. ### Highlights - Cliffs and surf beaches at Uluwatu - The Kecak dance at Uluwatu temple at sunset - Beach clubs and coffee bars in Canggu and Seminyak - A few days of surfing, going out or lying on the beach Let's be straight: this part of Bali is busy. Canggu and Seminyak mean beach clubs, coffee bars and [traffic](/en/practical/getting-around). Uluwatu has cliffs and surf beaches, but more and more building work too. If you want a few days of surfing, going out or lying on the beach, that's fine – and [we'll put it in your trip](/en/personal-trip-plan). We just don't recommend [spending your whole trip here](/en/blog/bali-is-more-than-the-south). The Kecak dance at Uluwatu temple at sunset is worth it, though, if you can handle the crowds. ## Karangasem and the eastern tip URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/destinations/karangasem Region: East Bali. Drive time: About 2.5 to 3 hours from the airport. Best time: All year round, clearest from April to October. Karangasem, the easternmost part of Bali: Mount Agung, water palaces, the village of Tenganan and villages where life revolves around temple and harvest. ### Highlights - Villages where life revolves around the temple and the harvest - Mount Agung, Bali's holy mountain - Tenganan, the village of the Bali Aga - The Tirta Gangga and Taman Ujung water palaces - The rugged peninsula near Seraya - The area where Dek Leonk was born Karangasem is the easternmost regency of Bali and the area where [Dek Leonk](/en/about/dek-leonk) was born. It was once a kingdom of its own, and you can still see that: palaces, water palaces and temples that have belonged to the same families for centuries. Mount Agung, at over 3,000 metres the highest and holiest mountain on the island, dominates the landscape. In the villages everything revolves around the temple calendar, and there is almost always a ceremony somewhere. Tourists mostly come here for [a day at Tirta Gangga](/en/trips/east-bali-day-tour) or the [Lempuyang gate](/en/blog/instagram-bali-vs-real-bali). Stay the night and you see a different Bali: dry hills with lontar palms, fishermen heading out in their jukung at sunrise, markets where you're the only foreigner. Dek Leonk knows the back roads and the people, and if the timing works out, he'll show you the village where he was born. ### How to combine it Karangasem lies between [Sidemen](/en/destinations/sidemen) and [Amed](/en/destinations/amed). Two or three nights in Sidemen or Amed make a good base. ### Frequently asked questions **Isn't East Bali too far away?** From the airport it's a two and a half to three hour drive. That's why we recommend staying a few nights, rather than rushing through on a day trip. ## Lovina and the north coast URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/destinations/lovina Region: North Bali. Drive time: About 3 hours from the airport, 1 hour from Munduk. Best time: All year round, driest from April to October. Bali's north coast is drier and quieter: black sand beaches at Lovina, hot springs, waterfalls and Singaraja, the old capital from the Dutch era. ### Highlights - Black sand beaches and a calm sea - The Banjar hot springs - The Brahmavihara-Arama Buddhist monastery - The Sekumpul and Gitgit waterfalls - Singaraja, the old capital from the Dutch colonial era The north coast is the side of Bali you reach when you drive down from [Munduk](/en/destinations/munduk) and suddenly see a completely different island: drier, quieter, with vineyards and coastal villages. Lovina was a popular spot for backpackers in the 1980s and then slipped out of view. That's good news: it's relaxed, affordable and free of crowds. In Singaraja, the old port town, you can still see buildings from colonial times; until the end of the 1950s this was the capital of Bali. A little inland are the Banjar hot springs, stone pools with dragon heads, and the only large Buddhist monastery on the island. We don't recommend the well-known dolphin trips at sunrise: [dozens of boats chase the animals](/en/practical/responsible-travel) at the same time. A quiet morning on the beach or a snorkelling trip is a better choice. ### How to combine it Lovina fits well between Munduk and [Pemuteran](/en/destinations/pemuteran), or as a quiet stop on the way from [Amed](/en/destinations/amed) to the west. --- # Practical guides ## Best time to visit Bali, by month URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/practical/best-time-to-visit Updated: 2026-11-03 Rain, temperature, crowds and holidays month by month, with Nyepi and Galungan in 2027: when to go to Bali, including the east and the mountains. ### In short - Dry season: April to October. Rainy season: November to March. - It is busiest in July, August and around Christmas and New Year. - The nicest months are May, June and September: dry, green and quieter. - On Nyepi, the Balinese New Year, the whole island shuts down for 24 hours. In 2027 Nyepi falls on Monday 8 March. Bali lies just south of the equator. All year round it is 27 to 32 °C on the coast, and quite a bit cooler in the mountains. What changes is the rain. In the dry season you get sun almost every day. In the rainy season there is usually a heavy shower late in the afternoon, and then it is dry again. The rice fields are at their greenest and the popular places are quieter. Only in January and February can it stay grey for days on end. ### Bali month by month in 2027 | Month | Rain | Coast, night and day | Crowds | Good to know | |---|---|---|---|---| | January | A lot: about 390 mm, 19 rainy days | 25 to 31 °C | Quiet after the first week | Galungan 13 January, Kuningan 23 January. Australian summer holidays until late January. | | February | A lot: about 300 mm, 17 rainy days | 25 to 31 °C | Quiet | Chinese New Year 6 February. Half-term holidays in parts of Europe. | | March | Less: about 215 mm, 13 rainy days | 25 to 31 °C | Quiet, except around Nyepi | Nyepi Monday 8 March: the island shuts down for 24 hours. Eid al-Fitr 10 and 11 March. Easter Sunday 28 March. | | April | Mixed: about 115 mm, 9 rainy days | 25 to 31 °C | Average | Easter and autumn school holidays in Europe and Australia, from late March into April. | | May | Dry: about 75 mm, 6 rainy days | 25 to 30 °C | Quiet | Everything is still green from the rainy season. | | June | Dry: about 50 mm, 5 rainy days | 25 to 30 °C | Quiet, busier at the end of the month | Australian winter school holidays start in late June. | | July | Dry: about 30 mm, 3 rainy days | 24 to 29 °C | Busy | European summer holidays begin. Cool nights in the mountains. | | August | Driest: about 15 mm, 2 rainy days | 24 to 29 °C | Busiest | Galungan 11 August, Kuningan 21 August. Independence Day 17 August. | | September | Dry: about 40 mm, 3 rainy days | 24 to 30 °C | Quieter | Australian spring school holidays from late September. | | October | Dry: about 70 mm, 5 rainy days | 25 to 31 °C | Average | Hot and humid. Autumn half-term in parts of Europe. | | November | First showers: about 150 mm, 10 rainy days | 25 to 32 °C | Quiet | Everything turns green again. | | December | A lot: about 300 mm, 16 rainy days | 25 to 31 °C | Quiet until mid-December, then very busy | Christmas and New Year, plus the start of the Australian summer holidays. Book well ahead. | Rain and temperatures are averages for 1991 to 2020, measured at the airport in the south. Australians are by far the largest group of foreign visitors to Bali, so you notice their school holidays, especially in the south. Australian holiday dates differ a little from state to state. ### What is the weather like in the east, north and mountains? The table is for the south. Elsewhere on the island the weather is different: - **The north** ([Lovina](/en/destinations/lovina), [Pemuteran](/en/destinations/pemuteran)) is drier than the south. Singaraja gets about 1,400 mm of rain a year, against more than 1,700 mm at the airport. From June to October it hardly rains at all. - **The east** lies in the lee of Mount Agung and is also drier than the south, especially along the coast at [Amed](/en/destinations/amed). [Sidemen](/en/destinations/sidemen) lies higher up, in a green valley among the rice fields. - **The mountains** ([Munduk](/en/destinations/munduk), Bedugul, [Jatiluwih](/en/destinations/jatiluwih), Kintamani) are cooler and wetter. In Munduk it is around 22 to 25 °C during the day and sometimes 16 °C or lower at night. Mist or cloud often hangs over the hills, and in the rainy season it can rain there for days. Bring a jumper. So in the rainy season the north and east are a good choice. In the dry season the mountains are at their best. ### Nyepi On the day of silence nobody is allowed out on the street, tourists included. The airport is closed, no lights are on and sometimes the internet is down. You stay at your hotel. The evening before, ogoh-ogoh parades move through the villages: huge papier-mâché giants that chase away evil spirits. It is one of the best evenings of the year to be in Bali. Don't plan a flight on [Nyepi](/en/blog/nyepi-2027). In 2027 Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, falls two days after Nyepi, on 10 and 11 March. Many Indonesians have that week off and travel to see family. Airports, ferries and roads are busy then. ### Ceremonies In Bali there is almost always a temple festival going on somewhere. Galungan, the biggest festival, comes round every 210 days on the Balinese calendar; the streets are then lined with penjor, decorated bamboo poles. In 2027 Galungan falls on Wednesday 13 January and Wednesday 11 August. Ten days later Kuningan closes the festival, on 23 January and 21 August. Around those days many Balinese are busy with family and the temple. [Dek Leonk](/en/about/dek-leonk) knows what is happening on your travel dates and whether you can be there. ## Is Bali safe? Traffic, the sea, rabies and more URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/practical/safety Updated: 2026-11-03 Bali is safe, but watch out for the traffic, the currents and the monkeys. What you need to know before you go. ### In short - Bali is a safe destination. Violence against tourists is rare. - The biggest risks are the traffic, the sun, currents in the sea and an upset stomach. - Rabies occurs in Bali. Stay away from stray dogs and monkeys. - Emergency number: 112. Most accidents in Bali involve scooters: tourists with no riding experience, no helmet, in heavy traffic. That is why, when you travel with us, [Dek Leonk](/en/private-driver-bali) drives, or we only arrange a scooter if you have the right licences (see [Scooter rental](/en/scooter-rental-bali)). The currents along the south and west coasts are strong; don't swim when the red flags are up, and only swim where there are lifeguards. In [Amed](/en/destinations/amed), [Sanur](/en/destinations/sanur) and [Pemuteran](/en/destinations/pemuteran) the sea is calm. Petty theft happens, mostly in the busy parts of the south: a phone grabbed off a scooter, a bag on the beach. In the countryside it is rare. Leave your passport in the hotel safe and carry a copy. Monkeys in Ubud and Uluwatu grab anything loose, sunglasses included. If a dog or monkey bites or scratches you, go to a clinic the same day for a rabies vaccination. Before you leave, ask your GP or a travel clinic (in the Netherlands, the GGD) whether you should get vaccinated. Bali has active volcanoes, Agung and Batur. When activity rises, the government closes the area around them and the airport may close for a while. Check your government's travel advice before you go. ## Health in Bali: vaccinations, Bali belly, dengue and rabies URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/practical/health Updated: 2026-11-03 Which jabs you need, what helps with Bali belly, how to avoid mosquito bites and rabies, and where to go if you fall ill in Bali. ### In short - Most travellers are advised to be up to date with tetanus, diphtheria and polio and to get hepatitis A. Other jabs depend on your trip: see a travel clinic or your doctor six to eight weeks before you leave. - Don't drink tap water. Bali belly usually passes within a few days with rehydration salts, rest and plain food. - Rabies has been rising in Bali since 2025. After a bite or scratch from a dog or monkey: wash the wound for 15 minutes and see a clinic the same day. - The big hospitals are in the south. In the east and north care is basic, so good travel insurance matters. No vaccinations are required for Bali, except yellow fever if you arrive from a country where it occurs. Most health services advise hepatitis A and an up-to-date tetanus, diphtheria and polio vaccine; the rest depends on your trip. Most travellers have at most a few days of stomach trouble. The risks to take seriously are dengue, rabies, the sun and the traffic. For traffic, the sea and theft, see [Is Bali safe?](/en/practical/safety) ### Which vaccinations do you need for Bali? The advice differs a little from country to country, but for Indonesia it usually comes down to this (2026): - **Most travellers:** tetanus, diphtheria and polio up to date, hepatitis A, and your routine vaccines such as measles (MMR). - **Some travellers, depending on your trip and health:** hepatitis B, rabies, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis and dengue. - **Yellow fever:** a certificate is only needed if you arrive from a country with yellow fever. Check with a travel clinic or your doctor six to eight weeks before you leave. They look at your route, how long you are away and what you plan to do. For current advice, see the Indonesia page of [TravelHealthPro](https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries/indonesia), the UK's official travel health service, or your own country's travel health service. Malaria is not a big risk in Bali. For a normal holiday, tablets are usually not needed. ### Bali belly: what helps? Bali belly is diarrhoea and stomach cramps in the first days of your trip, usually from bacteria in food or water. To lower the chance: - **Don't drink tap water.** Bottled water and refill points are everywhere, and many places to stay keep a large bottle in the room. - **Ice:** in restaurants and cafés it is usually factory ice made from purified water, recognisable by the tubes with a hole in the middle. At roadside stalls you can't tell, so skip it there. - **Eat where it is busy.** That is where the food is fresh (see [Food and drink](/en/practical/food-and-drink)). - **Wash your hands** before eating, or use hand gel. If you get it anyway, drink plenty and take oral rehydration salts (ORS), dissolved in bottled water. Eat plain food: rice, bananas, crackers. Loperamide can help for a long drive, but not if you have a fever or blood in your stool. Go to a clinic if you have a high fever, see blood, can't keep anything down, or aren't better after two days. With children or older people, go sooner. ### Dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases Dengue fever occurs in Bali all year round, most of all during and after the rainy season. The mosquito that carries it bites during the day. You get a high fever, a headache behind the eyes and aching muscles, sometimes with a rash. With a fever, see a clinic and take paracetamol, not ibuprofen or aspirin. There is a dengue vaccine, but it is not useful for everyone. Ask about it at your travel clinic. Since 2025, more cases of Zika have also been reported in travellers returning from Bali. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, discuss the trip with your doctor or a travel clinic first. Protect yourself day and night: - insect repellent with DEET (30 to 50 per cent), during the day as well; - long sleeves and long trousers around dusk; - a room with air conditioning or a mosquito net. Repellent is on the [packing list](/en/practical/packing-list) too. ### Rabies: dogs and monkeys Rabies occurs in Bali and has been rising since 2025. From January to August 2026, Bali's provincial health office counted more than 45,000 bites from animals that can carry rabies, mostly dogs. Don't stroke stray dogs, cats or monkeys, and don't feed monkeys. At the monkey forests in Ubud and at Uluwatu, keep your bags closed and don't bring food. If you are bitten, scratched or licked on broken skin: 1. Wash the wound straight away for 15 minutes with running water and soap. 2. Disinfect it with iodine (Betadine), if you have some. 3. Go to a clinic or hospital the same day for a rabies vaccination. 4. Call your travel insurer's emergency line. 5. Finish the course of injections, even once you are back home. If you were not vaccinated beforehand, you also need rabies immunoglobulin after a bite. It is not available everywhere in Bali; the private hospitals in the south usually have it. That is why many travellers get the rabies vaccine before they go: after a bite you then need fewer injections and no immunoglobulin. ### Sun and heat Bali lies just south of the equator. The sun is much stronger than you may be used to, even when it is cloudy. - Use factor 30 to 50 and put more on after swimming. - Wear a shirt when snorkelling; your back burns quickly in the water. - Stay in the shade between 11am and 3pm. - Drink two to three litres a day. If you sweat a lot, ORS helps too. In the mountains it is cooler, but the sun is just as strong. ### Pharmacies, clinics and hospitals A pharmacy in Bali is an *apotek*. You find them in the south, in Ubud and in every town, including chains such as Kimia Farma and Guardian. Many medicines are sold without a prescription. Buy them at a proper apotek, not at a shop. The big hospitals are in the south: in Denpasar, Kuta and Nusa Dua. There you find international private hospitals such as BIMC and Siloam, and Bali's largest public hospital, RSUP Prof. Ngoerah in Denpasar. Private hospitals often ask for a payment guarantee from your insurer or a deposit before they treat you. In the east and north, care is basic. There are regional hospitals, for example in Amlapura and Singaraja, and small clinics and health centres (*puskesmas*). They are fine for a cut or an upset stomach. For anything serious you go to the south: from [Amed](/en/destinations/amed) or [Lovina](/en/destinations/lovina) that is a two to three hour drive. Sometimes patients have to be flown to Singapore or Australia. Bring your own medicines in their original packaging, with a prescription or a letter from your doctor in English. Some medicines are banned in Indonesia, even with a prescription. Check the rules with the Indonesian embassy before you go; TravelHealthPro also has advice on travelling with medicines. Emergency number: 112. For an ambulance you can also call 118. ### What travel insurance do you need? Take out travel insurance that covers medical treatment abroad, medical evacuation and repatriation. Private hospitals in Bali are not cheap, and an evacuation flight can cost tens of thousands of pounds, euros or dollars. Your national health insurance usually covers little or nothing in Indonesia. - If you ride a [scooter](/en/blog/renting-a-scooter-in-bali) yourself, many policies only cover an accident if you hold a valid motorcycle licence. - If you plan to dive, check that it is covered. - Save your insurer's emergency number in your phone and write it down on paper too. ### Frequently asked questions **Do you need malaria tablets for Bali?** For a normal holiday, usually not: Bali is a low-risk area for malaria. Do protect yourself against mosquitoes, because of dengue. If you are travelling further east in Indonesia, ask a travel clinic. **Can you drink the tap water in Bali?** No. Drink bottled water or water from a refill point. Ice in restaurants and cafés is usually factory ice made from purified water; at roadside stalls it is better to skip it. **What should you do if a monkey bites or scratches you?** Wash the wound straight away for 15 minutes with soap and water, disinfect it and go to a clinic or hospital the same day for a rabies vaccination. Call your travel insurer's emergency line too. ## Travelling solo in Bali as a woman: safety, transport and where to stay URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/practical/travelling-solo-as-a-woman Updated: 2026-11-03 Is Bali safe for women travelling alone? Yes, with a few habits. On getting around, drinks, evenings, clothing, homestays and the quiet east and north. ### In short - Bali is a safe destination, including for women travelling alone. The biggest risk is the traffic, especially on a scooter. - Don't accept drinks from strangers, keep an eye on your glass and don't drink arak when you don't know where it comes from. - Know whose car you get into: your own driver, or a car booked through Grab or Gojek with the trip shared. - There are few tourists in the east and north. Covering your shoulders and knees is more comfortable there, and you get more curious questions. Yes, you can travel around Bali alone as a woman without much trouble. Violence against tourists is rare, Balinese people are used to travellers, and the biggest risks are the same as for everyone: the traffic, the sun, the sea and your stomach. With a few habits, and someone you can call, you can travel there at ease. I mostly travel alone myself, and in early 2027 I am spending three months in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Borneo and Bali. So I know what it feels like to arrive on your own in a country you don't know yet. You want to know whose car you are getting into, where you will sleep and that there is someone you can call when things go wrong. That is what this guide is about. The general story about traffic, the sea and rabies is under [Is Bali safe?](/en/practical/safety). ### Drinks and nights out The British government reports drink spiking in Bali, Lombok and the Gili Islands, sometimes followed by sexual assault. The Dutch government warns that drugging mostly happens in a bar or a taxi, and that victims may then be robbed. Don't accept drinks, food or cigarettes from strangers, watch your drink being made and don't leave your glass unattended. Don't go back to the hotel room of someone you have only just met. A second risk is methanol in spirits, especially in arak, the local rice or palm spirit. You cannot taste or smell it. Only drink spirits in good restaurants and hotels, or stick to beer. If you feel sick or dizzy after drinking, or your vision blurs, go to a clinic straight away. There is more under [Food and drink](/en/practical/food-and-drink). ### Getting around: know whose car you get into With your [own driver](/en/private-driver-bali) you know in advance who is driving. [Dek Leonk](/en/about/dek-leonk) has been driving travellers around Bali for twenty years and speaks English, Indonesian and Balinese. If he can't make it one day, a colleague he knows personally drives instead, and you hear about it beforehand. If you use Grab or Gojek, check that the number plate and the driver match the app, and share your trip with someone at home through the app. Don't get in with someone who approaches you in the street and says he drives for an app. In the south, a blue Bluebird taxi with a meter is a good alternative. In the east and north, ride-hailing apps hardly operate; there you need a driver or ask your accommodation to arrange something. There is more under [Getting around Bali](/en/practical/getting-around). Scooters cause most accidents in Bali, and without a motorcycle licence you are usually not insured. Read [what you need to know about renting a scooter](/en/blog/renting-a-scooter-in-bali) first. ### In the evening Outside the south and Ubud, evenings are quiet and many small roads have little street lighting. Bring a torch or use the one on your phone. Don't walk alone along a deserted beach or a remote road, and get a lift back if you eat somewhere late. If you come across stray dogs, walk calmly around them. If you are bitten or scratched, go to a clinic the same day. ### Staying with a family Many homestays in Bali are in a family compound: a few guest rooms next to the house and the family temple. You are not anonymous there. Usually someone from the family is around who knows their way around the village and whom you can ask for a driver or a guide. When you choose, look for a room that locks, reviews by other women who travelled alone, and the distance to somewhere you can eat in the evening. With the [Trip plan with stays](/en/personal-trip-plan) package, I pick out two or three places to stay for you in each spot. ### What do you wear? In a temple you wear a sarong and a sash and cover your shoulders and knees. By Balinese custom, women who have their period do not enter a temple. Everything about this is under [Temples and what to wear](/en/practical/temples-and-what-to-wear). Outside the temples Bali is relaxed: shorts and dresses are normal. Swimwear is for the beach and the pool, not for the village or the warung. ### What is different in the east and north? In [Sidemen](/en/destinations/sidemen), [Amed](/en/destinations/amed), [Munduk](/en/destinations/munduk) and [Pemuteran](/en/destinations/pemuteran) you see far fewer tourists. A woman travelling alone stands out more there. People ask *dari mana?* (where are you from?) and *sudah menikah?* (are you married?). In Indonesia that is simply polite interest. *Belum*, not yet, is an answer everyone understands. Clothes that cover your shoulders and knees are more comfortable in the villages, although nobody will say anything. There is little to do in the evening, and kitchens close early. Dek Leonk comes from [Karangasem](/en/destinations/karangasem) and knows the back roads and the people in the east. ### Someone you can call On the ground, Dek Leonk is your contact. You can also ask questions in the chat on this site: with me in Dutch or English, or with Dek Leonk in English. During the day in Europe you usually get an answer within a few hours; Bali is six or seven hours ahead of the Netherlands. For anything urgent, call Dek Leonk or 112. Let someone at home know where you are staying, and save the numbers of your insurer and your places to stay in your phone. ### Frequently asked questions **Is travelling alone in Bali more expensive?** Per person, yes. You pay a driver per car and a room per night, so you carry those costs on your own. In 2026, budget about €50–65 a day for Dek Leonk and about €25–80 a night for a homestay or small hotel. A single room is often only a little cheaper than a double. **How do I meet other travellers on the way?** In Ubud at a cooking class or a yoga class, in Amed and Pemuteran at a dive school or on a snorkelling boat, and in homestays over breakfast. There are fewer travellers in the east and north; there you mostly chat with the family you are staying with. **What do I do in an emergency?** Call 112 for all emergencies, 110 for the police and 118 or 119 for an ambulance. If you travel with Dek Leonk, call him too; he knows where the nearest clinic is. Save the emergency number of your embassy or consulate before you go. ## Visiting temples in Bali and what to wear URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/practical/temples-and-what-to-wear Updated: 2026-11-03 In a Balinese temple you wear a sarong and a sash, men and women alike. Cover your shoulders and knees, and don't step on the offerings on the pavement. ### In short - In a temple you wear a sarong and a sash around your waist, men and women alike. - Cover your shoulders and knees. - By Balinese custom, women who have their period do not enter a temple. - Don't step on the small offerings (canang sari) on the pavement, and don't stand or sit higher than the priest. Bali is the only mainly Hindu island in Indonesia. Every village has at least three temples, every house a family temple. Temples are not sights that happen to be sacred; they are places where people pray every day. Tourists are welcome, as long as you keep to a few rules. At the big temples you can borrow or rent a sarong. It is easier to have your own sarong and sash; [Dek Leonk](/en/about/dek-leonk) always has a few in the car. If there is a ceremony, you can sometimes watch, from a distance and without flash. Don't walk in front of people who are praying, and don't point your feet at an altar. Outside the temples Bali is relaxed. Shorts and dresses are normal. In villages in the [east](/en/destinations/karangasem) and [north](/en/destinations/lovina) it is nice to cover up a little more, but nobody will say anything. ## Money and payments in Bali URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/practical/money-and-payments Updated: 2026-11-03 In Bali you pay in rupiah: €1 is about IDR 20,000. About cards and cash machines, cash, bargaining, tips and the costs you should budget for. ### In short - You pay in Indonesian rupiah (IDR). €1 is about IDR 20,000. - Paying by card and withdrawing cash is easy with a credit card or a debit card that works outside Europe (check with your bank). Take cash with you to the countryside. - In hotels and restaurants in the south and Ubud you can pay by card; in warungs and at markets you can't. - Tips are not expected, but they are appreciated. The numbers are big: a meal in a [warung](/en/practical/food-and-drink) costs IDR 30,000 to 60,000, or €1.50 to €3. Drop four zeros and divide by two, and you have roughly the amount in euros. Use cash machines inside or next to a bank or supermarket; standalone machines on the street are sometimes tampered with. When you pay or withdraw by card, always choose to be charged in rupiah, not in euros. At markets and stalls, bargaining is normal. In shops with price tags and in warungs it isn't. A tip of 5 to 10 percent in a restaurant is nice, unless a service charge has already been added. For [Dek Leonk](/en/about/dek-leonk), after a [multi-day trip](/en/trips), IDR 100,000 to 200,000 per day is usual. Costs to budget for: the [tourist levy](/en/practical/visa-and-tourist-levy) (IDR 150,000 per person), the visa (IDR 500,000 per person) and entrance fees of IDR 30,000 to 100,000 per temple or waterfall. ## Internet and eSIM in Bali: SIM cards, IMEI, coverage and wifi URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/practical/internet-and-esim Updated: 2026-11-03 eSIM or local SIM, the IMEI rule for foreign phones, mobile coverage in the east, north and mountains, and what wifi is like in homestays. ### In short - You set up an eSIM at home and it works as soon as you land. A local SIM from Telkomsel, XL or Indosat is cheaper if you stay longer. - Buy a local SIM at an official shop or at the airport, with your passport. They register your phone there, and it then works for 90 days. - Telkomsel has the best coverage in the mountains and the countryside. On mountain roads and in deep valleys the signal sometimes drops. - Download offline maps before you go. Wifi is almost everywhere, but not always fast. In Bali you have internet almost everywhere: wifi where you stay and 4G on the road. For most travellers an eSIM is the easiest option, because you set it up at home and it works as soon as you land. If you stay longer than a few weeks or use a lot of data, a local SIM is cheaper. Either way, WhatsApp keeps working with your own number, which is useful: in Bali almost everything is arranged over WhatsApp, from your driver to your homestay. ### eSIM or local SIM? **An eSIM** you buy online before you leave from an international provider, such as Airalo, Holafly or Saily. There are dozens; we have no preference and earn nothing from them. Expect to pay roughly €5 to €15 for 10 GB for a month (2026). Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked. Also check which network the eSIM uses in Bali: Telkomsel gives you the most coverage in the mountains. **A local SIM** comes from Telkomsel, XL or Indosat. A Telkomsel tourist pack costs around IDR 150,000 (about €7.50) in a shop for 25 GB and 30 days; at the airport you often pay twice that (2026). You need your passport. Buy it at the airport or at one of the provider's official shops, such as a Telkomsel GraPARI. A SIM from a small phone shop or minimarket may work at first, but your phone often isn't registered, and after a few days you lose signal. ### Do you need to register your phone (IMEI)? Indonesia blocks foreign phones on local networks if their IMEI number isn't registered. These are the rules in 2026: - **Your own SIM on roaming, or an international eSIM:** nothing to register. - **Indonesian SIM, stay of up to 90 days:** the shop that sells the SIM (an official shop or the airport counter) registers your phone temporarily. After 90 days it no longer works on an Indonesian SIM, only on wifi. - **Indonesian SIM, stay of more than 90 days:** register your phone with customs in the arrivals hall when you land. You declare it in advance on the All Indonesia arrival card (see [Visa and tourist levy](/en/practical/visa-and-tourist-levy)). The limit is two phones per person. Up to a value of US$500 this is free; for a more expensive phone you may have to pay import duty. The rules change regularly. Check them just before you leave on the Indonesian customs website, beacukai.go.id. ### What is coverage like in the east, north and mountains? In the south, in Ubud and in the coastal towns, coverage is good. In the villages of the east ([Sidemen](/en/destinations/sidemen), [Amed](/en/destinations/amed)), the north ([Lovina](/en/destinations/lovina), [Pemuteran](/en/destinations/pemuteran)) and the mountains ([Munduk](/en/destinations/munduk), [Jatiluwih](/en/destinations/jatiluwih)) you usually have 4G too. On mountain roads, in deep valleys and along remote stretches of coast the signal sometimes drops, often just for a few kilometres. Telkomsel reaches furthest. XL and Indosat work well in the south and in towns, but are more likely to let you down in the countryside. On Nyepi, the day of silence, mobile internet is sometimes switched off (see [Best time to visit](/en/practical/best-time-to-visit)). ### Wifi in homestays and hotels Almost every hotel, homestay and café has free wifi. In the south and in Ubud it is usually fast enough for video calls. In small homestays in the mountains and the east it is sometimes slow, and in heavy rain or a power cut it can drop for a while. If you need to work on the road, ask about the speed in advance and keep mobile data as a backup. ### Offline maps and useful apps - **Offline maps:** download the map of Bali in Google Maps before you head into the mountains. Apps such as Organic Maps also show walking paths offline. - **Translation:** download Indonesian in Google Translate so it works without signal too (see also [Language and etiquette](/en/practical/language-and-etiquette)). - **Ride-hailing apps:** Grab and Gojek only work with mobile data (see [Getting around](/en/practical/getting-around)). ### Frequently asked questions **Will my own SIM card work in Bali?** Yes, on roaming. Check what calls and data cost with your own provider before you go: roaming in Indonesia is often expensive. An eSIM or local SIM is usually much cheaper. **Do I need to register my phone if I use an eSIM?** Not with an international eSIM or your own SIM. Registration (IMEI) is only needed with an Indonesian SIM card. For stays of up to 90 days, the shop that sells you the SIM does it for you. ## Getting around Bali URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/practical/getting-around Updated: 2026-11-03 There is no train in Bali and public transport is limited. About Grab and Gojek, the boat to the islands and why your own driver is the easiest way to travel. ### In short - There is no train, and public transport is limited. - Grab and Gojek work in the south and Ubud, but they are not allowed to pick you up everywhere. - For a multi-day trip, your own driver is the easiest option, and not expensive. - In Bali you drive on the left. You may only ride a scooter with a motorcycle licence and an international driving permit. Bali has one main road in the south, and it's often jammed. From the airport to [Canggu](/en/destinations/south-bali) can take an hour and a half at rush hour – for twenty kilometres. Further across the island, the roads go through villages and over mountains. They're fine, but narrow and winding. Grab and Gojek are Indonesia's ride-hailing apps. In the south they're cheap and handy. In [Ubud](/en/destinations/ubud) and some villages they can't pick up passengers, because local drivers have agreements about that. In the east and north you'll hardly find them. A blue Bluebird taxi with a meter is a solid alternative in the south. You reach the islands by fast boat: from [Sanur](/en/destinations/sanur) to [Nusa Lembongan](/en/destinations/nusa-lembongan) and Penida, and from Padang Bai or Amed to the Gili Islands. Pick an established company, and don't cross when the waves are high. [Your own driver](/en/private-driver-bali) costs from about €45 per day, for the whole car. For two people or a family that's often no more expensive than separate rides – and you don't have to arrange anything. ## Nusa Penida, Lembongan, the Gilis or Lombok? Which island suits your trip URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/practical/nusa-penida-lembongan-gili-or-lombok Updated: 2026-11-03 What each island offers, how long the boat takes from Sanur and Padang Bai, what it costs, how safe it is, and whether to go for a day or stay the night. ### In short - Nusa Lembongan is small and quiet, half an hour by boat from Sanur. Nusa Penida is bigger, with the famous cliffs, crowded viewpoints and bad roads. - There are no cars or scooters on the Gili Islands. The boat from Padang Bai takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours. - Lombok is a little smaller than Bali and much quieter, with the Rinjani volcano. You get there by boat or a flight of about 40 minutes. - In 2026 a fast boat costs around IDR 150,000 to 250,000 to the Nusa islands and IDR 350,000 to 700,000 to the Gilis. Don't sail when the waves are high. If you want to add one island to your Bali trip, choose [Nusa Lembongan](/en/destinations/nusa-lembongan) for two or three nights: close by, quiet and good for snorkelling. Nusa Penida has the famous cliffs, but it is crowded at the well-known spots and rough to drive around. The Gili Islands are for beaches and snorkelling without traffic. Lombok is for travellers with more time who want a big, quiet island. ### Which island suits you? | Island | What it is like | Boat from | Crossing | How long to stay | |---|---|---|---|---| | Nusa Lembongan | Small and quiet, snorkelling with manta rays, the yellow bridge to Ceningan | Sanur | About 30 minutes | 2 to 3 nights | | Nusa Penida | Bigger and rougher, the Kelingking cliffs, bad roads | Sanur | About 30 to 50 minutes | Day trip or 1 to 2 nights | | Gili Islands | No cars or scooters, beaches, snorkelling with turtles | Padang Bai, Amed or Sanur | 1.5 to 4 hours | 3 nights or more | | Lombok | Big and green, the Rinjani volcano, bays on the south coast | Padang Bai, or fly | Ferry 4 to 5 hours, flight about 40 minutes | A week or more | ### Nusa Lembongan The smallest and easiest island: half an hour from [Sanur](/en/destinations/sanur), and once there you get around by scooter or golf cart. What to do there is on the [Nusa Lembongan](/en/destinations/nusa-lembongan) page. From Lembongan a local boat takes you to Penida in about a quarter of an hour. That way you see Penida without the crowds of a day trip from Bali. ### Nusa Penida Penida is the biggest of the three Nusa islands. The famous spots are mostly on the west coast: the Kelingking cliff, Broken Beach and Angel's Billabong. To be honest: the viewpoint at Kelingking is often packed, the path down to the beach is steep and at your own risk, and swimming there is banned. The roads are narrow and bumpy, so getting from one viewpoint to the next can easily take an hour. On a day trip you take an early boat, drive all day and sail back in the late afternoon. If you stay one or two nights, you can be at the cliffs before the day trips arrive or after they have left. More on the crowds at Kelingking in [Instagram Bali vs the real Bali](/en/blog/instagram-bali-vs-real-bali). On Nusa Penida, Lembongan and Ceningan you pay a local levy to Klungkung regency when you arrive: around IDR 25,000 per adult (2026). It comes on top of [Bali's tourist levy](/en/practical/visa-and-tourist-levy). ### The Gili Islands Three small islands off the coast of Lombok: Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. There are no cars or scooters; you walk, cycle or take a horse cart (*cidomo*). Trawangan is the biggest and busiest, with the most bars. Meno is the quietest, and Air sits in between. You can snorkel straight off the beach and often see turtles. A day trip makes no sense: the boat takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours from Padang Bai, and 3 to 4 hours from Sanur. From Amed it is shorter, but fewer boats leave from there. Many boats stop at more than one island. ### Lombok Lombok is a little smaller than Bali and a lot quieter. In the north stands Rinjani, a volcano of 3,726 metres. The climb takes two to four days and is hard. The trails are closed from January to March, and sometimes at other times too; check just before you go. On the south coast there are white-sand bays and surf beaches around Kuta Lombok. Most people on Lombok are Sasak and Muslim. Away from the beaches, dress a little more modestly. You can fly to Lombok from Denpasar in about 40 minutes, or take the ferry from Padang Bai to Lembar: slow (4 to 5 hours) but cheap. Fast boats go via the Gilis to the northwest coast of Lombok. Allow at least a week for Lombok. ### How do you get there, and what does the boat cost? - **Sanur to Lembongan or Penida:** fast boats from about 7am to 5pm, about 30 to 50 minutes, around IDR 150,000 to 250,000 per person one way (2026). - **Padang Bai to the Gilis:** 1.5 to 2.5 hours, around IDR 350,000 to 700,000 one way (2026). From Sanur or Serangan it takes 3 to 4 hours. - **Padang Bai to Lembar (Lombok):** the public ferry, 4 to 5 hours, throughout the day. - **Flying to Lombok:** about 40 minutes from Bali's airport. Book with an established company, through its own website or a well-known booking site, and check the departure time the day before. In some places you get on and off in shallow water: wear sandals and keep your bag high. [Dek Leonk](/en/private-driver-bali) can book the boat for you and take you to the harbour. ### Are the fast boats safe? Usually it goes fine, but not always. Government travel advice, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs for example, calls boat travel between the Indonesian islands unsafe: boats are often in poor condition and overloaded, and in bad weather the risk is high. In August 2025 a fast boat from Nusa Penida capsized near Sanur harbour, and two passengers died. The sea between Bali and Lombok is rougher than the short crossing to the Nusa islands. High waves occur both in the rainy season and in the middle of the dry season. The Indonesian weather agency BMKG then issues warnings, and boats don't sail. - Choose a company with good recent reviews, and check that there are enough life jackets. - Don't get on an overcrowded boat. The back is less bumpy than the front. - If your boat is cancelled, don't look for another one that does sail. - Put your phone and passport in a waterproof bag. - Plan at least one night in Bali between the island and your flight home. ### How does an island fit into your route? The Nusa islands fit at the start or end of your trip, via Sanur, half an hour from the airport. For example: two nights on Lembongan, back to Sanur for the last night, then home. Padang Bai is in the east, so the Gilis and Lombok fit well after a few days in [Sidemen](/en/destinations/sidemen) or [Amed](/en/destinations/amed). Allow at least four days for the Gilis, travel included, and a week for Lombok. On a two-week trip, one island is a better choice than three. If you are not sure, we can work it out in your [personal trip plan](/en/personal-trip-plan). ### Frequently asked questions **Can you do Nusa Penida in one day?** Yes, but it is a long day: the boat there and back, and in between mostly driving on narrow, bumpy roads to crowded viewpoints. To see more with fewer people around, spend one or two nights on Penida or Lembongan. **How long is the boat from Bali to the Gili Islands?** From Padang Bai 1.5 to 2.5 hours by fast boat, from Sanur 3 to 4 hours. When the waves are high it takes longer, or the boat doesn't sail. **Which is quieter, Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida?** Lembongan. The island is smaller and most visitors stay a few nights. The day trips go to Penida, especially to the viewpoints on the west coast. ## Food and drink in Bali URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/practical/food-and-drink Updated: 2026-11-03 Don't drink the tap water, and eat where the Balinese eat. What to try in Bali, how to avoid Bali belly and why you should be careful with arak. ### In short - Don't drink tap water. Bottled water and refill points are everywhere. - Eat where it is busy with Balinese people; that is where the food is fresh. - Vegetarian food is easy: tempeh, tofu and vegetables are on every menu. - Balinese cooking uses hardly any dairy. The basis is rice with small portions: nasi campur, a plate of rice with vegetables, tempeh, egg, meat or fish and sambal. Also try sate lilit (minced fish or chicken wrapped around a lemongrass stalk), lawar (vegetables with coconut and spices) and babi guling, suckling pig, if you eat meat. In the [east](/en/destinations/amed) you eat fish that was caught that morning. Many travellers get Bali belly, an upset stomach in the first few days. Wash your hands, be careful with ice cubes outside big restaurants and bring [ORS](/en/practical/packing-list) (oral rehydration salts). With a high fever, or symptoms that haven't gone after two days, go to a clinic. Alcohol is on sale. A Bintang costs IDR 30,000 to 40,000 in a warung. Be careful with arak, the local rice spirit: illegally distilled arak has led to methanol poisoning. Only drink it in good restaurants, or not at all. ## Language and etiquette in Bali URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/practical/language-and-etiquette Updated: 2026-11-03 The Balinese speak Balinese and Indonesian, and English in tourism. A few words of Indonesian, how Balinese names work and the manners that matter. ### In short - The Balinese speak Balinese and Indonesian; in tourism, English too. - Give and take things with your right hand. - Don't touch anyone's head, not even a child's. - Stay calm. Getting angry or raising your voice backfires. A few words of Indonesian make people happy: terima kasih (thank you), selamat pagi (good morning), berapa? (how much?), tidak, terima kasih (no, thank you). In Balinese, thank you is suksma. Many Balinese are called Wayan, Made, Nyoman or Ketut. These are not surnames but names for the first, second, third and fourth child. With a fifth child it starts again. The I before the name means it is a man. So our driver [I Made Partha Wijaya](/en/about/dek-leonk) is a second child; his nickname is Dek Leonk. The Balinese are hospitable and patient, and avoid open confrontation. If something goes wrong, stay friendly and ask whether [Dek Leonk](/en/private-driver-bali) can help. Only take photos of people after you have asked. ## Visa and tourist levy for Bali (2027) URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/practical/visa-and-tourist-levy Updated: 2026-11-03 Visa on arrival or e-VOA, the IDR 150,000 tourist levy and the arrival declaration. Step by step. ### In short - You need a passport that is valid for at least six more months. - Dutch and Belgian travellers buy a visa on arrival or an e-VOA online in advance: IDR 500,000 (about €25), valid for 30 days and extendable once by 30 days. - Every foreign visitor pays a tourist levy of IDR 150,000, children included. - Fill in the All Indonesia arrival declaration within the three days before you arrive. You buy the e-VOA on the official website of the Indonesian immigration service, evisa.imigrasi.go.id. Watch out for middlemen who charge double. With an e-VOA you can use the automatic gates at the [airport](/en/bali-airport-transfer), which saves a lot of time in high season. Indonesia plans to raise the price; check the current amount just before you leave. You pay the tourist levy in advance on the Love Bali website or app. You receive a QR code by email; save a screenshot. Among other things, the levy helps protect Bali's nature and culture. Take out travel insurance that covers medical costs abroad, and read the [conditions for scooters](/en/blog/renting-a-scooter-in-bali). ## Packing list for Bali URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/practical/packing-list Updated: 2026-11-03 What to pack for Bali: a sarong and sash, light clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, a jumper for the mountains, reef-safe sunscreen, ORS and more. - [Sarong and sash](/en/practical/temples-and-what-to-wear) (or just buy them locally) - Light clothes that cover your shoulders and knees - A jumper for the mountains - [A light rain jacket from November to March](/en/practical/best-time-to-visit) - Water shoes for the pebbly beaches - Reef-safe sunscreen - Mosquito repellent with DEET - ORS (oral rehydration salts) and painkillers - A water bottle to refill - Plug adapter type C/F (a European plug usually fits) - Copy of your passport - [International driving permit](/en/scooter-rental-bali) if you want to ride a scooter ## Travelling respectfully in Bali URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/practical/responsible-travel Updated: 2026-11-03 Choose local stays, warungs and guides, so your money reaches the people who live there. How to travel respectfully in Bali, with less plastic and more calm. ### In short - Choose local stays, warungs and guides: that way your money reaches the people who live there. - Use as little plastic as possible; bring a water bottle and refill it. - Respect temples, ceremonies and the silence of Nyepi. - Don't ride elephants, and skip dolphin tours and animal shows. Tourism has changed Bali in twenty years. It has brought the island prosperity, but also traffic jams, rubbish, water shortages in the south and a lot of construction. As a traveller you can't change all of that, but you can choose where your money and your footprint end up. ### Let your money land locally A big resort owned by an international chain keeps much of your money off the island. A homestay, a small hotel run by a Balinese family, a warung and a local guide do the opposite. That is why, when you travel with us, you pay [Dek Leonk](/en/about/dek-leonk) and the places you stay directly. ### Water and rubbish You don't drink the tap water, but you don't need to buy three plastic bottles a day either. Many places to stay and cafés have refill points. Bring your own bottle and a bag. ### Animals Elephant rides, photos with civets on coffee plantations (for kopi luwak) and dolphin tours with dozens of boats are bad for the animals. Choose a coffee plantation without cages and a [quiet snorkelling trip](/en/destinations/pemuteran) instead. ### Culture Temples are not a backdrop. Wear a sarong, don't walk through a ceremony, and ask before you take a photo. More on that in [Visiting temples and what to wear](/en/practical/temples-and-what-to-wear). ### Peace and quiet Try the [east or north](/en/blog/bali-is-more-than-the-south) for a change, instead of the busy south. You spread the pressure on the island, and you have a better trip yourself. ## Mount Batur at sunrise: is it worth it? URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/practical/mount-batur-sunrise Updated: 2026-11-03 How the Mount Batur sunrise trek works, what it costs in 2026, the downsides you rarely read about, and quieter options such as the sunrise jeep. ### In short - Mount Batur (1,717 m) is an active volcano. You start walking around 4 am and climb for an hour and a half to two hours to the top, in time for sunrise. - A local guide is required. A group trek with pick-up in Ubud costs about IDR 400,000–800,000 per person (2026). - The downsides: hundreds of people on the same path, cold at the top and no guarantee of sun. - Don't fancy the climb? A jeep also gets you above the clouds, or you can pick a quiet sunrise somewhere else. Yes, if you're fit, fine with a very early start and know what's coming. The sun rising over the Batur caldera, with Mount Agung and sometimes Mount Rinjani on Lombok on the horizon, is a fine sight. But you won't be alone up there, it's cold and the sun doesn't always show. Below: how the climb works, what it costs and when you're better off doing something else. ### How does the climb work? Mount Batur is 1,717 metres high and stands in Kintamani, in the middle of a huge caldera, with Lake Batur beside it. The area is part of the Batur UNESCO Global Geopark. A sunrise trek usually goes like this: - **Around 2 am:** you're picked up in Ubud. The drive to the starting point takes just over an hour. - **Between 3.30 and 4 am:** you start walking with a torch, behind your guide. - **An hour and a half to two hours of climbing:** first past fields and through forest, the last stretch on loose volcanic gravel. You climb about 500 metres. - **Around 6 am:** the sun comes up. Guides often cook eggs or bananas in the steam coming out of the ground. - **The descent:** an hour to an hour and a half. You're back in Ubud by late morning. ### What the photo doesn't show The photo: you, alone on the summit, above a sea of clouds. The reality looks different. - **It's busy:** on an ordinary morning hundreds of people climb at the same time, and more in high season. You walk in a line of torches, and at the top you look for a spot between the groups. - **A guide is required:** the climb is run by the association of local mountain guides. Without one of their guides you won't get to the top; hikers who tried anyway were confronted and pressured into paying. The money does stay in the villages around the lake. - **It's cold:** before sunrise it's around 10 °C or colder at the top, and windy. Bring a warm jumper, a jacket and a hat. - **Sun isn't guaranteed:** in the rainy season, from November to March, the summit is regularly in cloud. You can be unlucky in the dry season too. Then you've set your alarm for 2 am to stare at a grey wall. - **The descent is hard on your knees:** the gravel slides away under your feet. Wear sturdy shoes with a good grip. - **The rules may change:** Bali's mountains are sacred. In 2023 the governor announced a ban on tourists climbing them. That ban hasn't fully come into force: in 2026 you can climb Batur with a local guide. Check shortly before your trip whether that's still the case. ### What does it cost in 2026? - **Group trek:** with pick-up in Ubud, a guide and a simple breakfast, about IDR 400,000–800,000 per person (about €20–40). A private trek with just your own guide costs more. - **Sunrise jeep tour:** with pick-up, about IDR 500,000–1,000,000 per person, depending on breakfast, a stop at the hot springs and whether you share the jeep. - **Entry to Kintamani:** during the day, foreign visitors pay IDR 50,000 per person at the entry posts. If you travel with a [private driver](/en/private-driver-bali), they take you to the starting point and you pay for the guide or the jeep there. ### The alternative: by jeep ![Two travellers on the roof of a jeep at sunrise, above the clouds near Mount Batur](/images/batur-jeep-zonsopkomst.jpg "By jeep: no climb, but still above the clouds") A four-wheel drive takes you across the lava fields at the foot of Mount Batur to a viewpoint in the dark. You don't climb, but you do see the sun rise above the clouds. Afterwards you drive across the black lava of earlier eruptions. You won't be alone here either, because the jeeps all head for the same few viewpoints. But it's a good choice with children, with bad knees, or if you want the sunrise without the climb. ### Quieter alternatives - **Climb during the day or late in the afternoon:** you won't see the sunrise, but the mountain is much quieter. - **Watch from the crater rim:** from the village of Pinggan, on the northern rim of the caldera at about 1,300 metres, you look out at sunrise over the mist in the caldera towards Mount Batur. No climbing needed. The road is poor and hard to find in the dark, so go with someone who knows it. - **Pick a sunrise somewhere else:** in [Sidemen](/en/destinations/sidemen) you walk through the rice fields at first light, with Mount Agung above the valley. In [Amed](/en/destinations/amed) the fishermen head out in their jukung at sunrise, and you can go with them. And at the Ulun Danu Beratan temple you're there [early in the morning](/en/trips/north-and-west-bali), before the coaches. ### Who is it for? It suits you if you're reasonably fit, can climb for a couple of hours on loose gravel, don't mind getting up at 2 am and can live with the crowds. It doesn't suit young children, people with knee or back problems, or anyone who comes to Bali for the quiet. Take the jeep or one of the alternatives above instead. ### How does it fit into a route? Most people do Batur from [Ubud](/en/destinations/ubud). Don't plan anything strenuous for the rest of that day: you're back around midday and tired. If you'd rather not get up so early, spend a night in Kintamani or by the lake. Then you start around 3.30 am and skip the night-time drive. After the descent you can go to the hot springs on Lake Batur. In a [personal trip plan](/en/personal-trip-plan) we look at whether Batur suits your trip, or whether a quieter sunrise is the better choice. ### Frequently asked questions **Can I climb Mount Batur without a guide?** In practice, no. The association of local mountain guides controls access, and anyone who sets off without a guide gets stopped or sent back. The money for the guide stays in the villages around the lake. **How hard is the climb?** About 500 metres up in an hour and a half to two hours, the last stretch on loose gravel. With reasonable fitness it's doable. The descent is harder on your knees than the climb. **What should I wear?** Layers: a T-shirt for the climb, a warm jumper and a windproof jacket for the top, and a hat. Sturdy shoes with a good grip, not flip-flops. Your guide usually provides a torch. **Is Mount Batur safe?** Batur is an active volcano; its last eruption was in 2000. When activity rises, the government closes the area. The current alert level is on the website of MAGMA Indonesia, the Indonesian government's volcano service. --- # Frequently asked questions ## Travelling with Dek Leonk **What exactly do you do?** We design your trip: the route, the day-by-day plan and, if you like, the places to stay. For that you pay a fixed fee of €250 to €500. If you only want a reliable driver, we put you in touch with Dek Leonk for free. **Why don't I pay you for the trip?** Because we want your money to end up with the people in Bali. You pay Dek Leonk, the homestays and the guides directly. We only earn from your trip plan. **Who is responsible for the trip itself?** The partners you make the arrangement with: Dek Leonk for the transport, the accommodations for your stay. We are responsible for our advice, and we only recommend people we know personally. **What is the difference between the three options?** With Trip plan you get the route and the day-by-day plan, and you book yourself. With Trip plan with stays we also pick out two or three places to stay for you in each location. With All arranged we reserve everything in your name; you pay the partners yourself. **How soon do I get my trip plan?** Within five working days of the intake call. One round of changes is part of it. **What if I get the plan and then don't go?** The plan is yours. The fee is for the work we have done, so you don't get it back once the plan has been delivered. If you cancel after the intake but before delivery, you get half of it back. **Who drives during the trip?** Dek Leonk himself. If he is not available on a given day, a colleague he knows personally drives, and you hear about it in advance. **Which languages does Dek Leonk speak?** English, Indonesian and Balinese. You can chat with Michèle in Dutch. **How far ahead should I plan?** For July, August and the Christmas holidays, ideally three to six months ahead, because the good small places to stay fill up fast. Outside those periods a few weeks is usually enough. **Do you get commission from hotels or Dek Leonk?** No. That keeps our advice independent, and they get the full price. **Do you arrange flights too?** No. You book those yourself; that way you also have the protection of your airline or booking site. ## Bali **Hasn't Bali become far too busy?** In the south and southwest, yes: Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu and parts of Uluwatu. There you are often stuck in traffic and a lot is being built. The east, the north and the mountains are still quiet and authentic. That is where our trips focus. **When is the best time to go?** April to October is dry. May, June and September are the nicest: dry and less busy. See [Best time to visit](/en/practical/best-time-to-visit). **Is Bali safe?** Yes. The biggest risks are the traffic, the sea and an upset stomach. See [Is Bali safe?](/en/practical/safety) **Do I need a visa?** Yes, a visa on arrival or an e-VOA bought in advance, plus the tourist levy. See [Visa and tourist levy](/en/practical/visa-and-tourist-levy). **Can I rent a scooter?** Yes, with a motorcycle licence and an international driving permit with category A. Without those papers your insurance often covers nothing. See [Scooter rental](/en/scooter-rental-bali). **Is Bali suitable for children?** Very much so. The Balinese love children. Take a look at the [Bali with kids](/en/trips/bali-with-kids) trip. **What should I know about visiting temples?** Wear a sarong and sash, and cover your shoulders. See [Visiting temples](/en/practical/temples-and-what-to-wear). ## Emergencies **What are the emergency numbers?** 112 for all emergencies, 110 for the police, 118 or 119 for an ambulance. The Dutch and Belgian embassies are in Jakarta. When you travel with Dek Leonk, call him first; he knows where the nearest clinic is. --- # Blog ## Instagram Bali versus the real Bali URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/blog/instagram-bali-vs-real-bali Date: 2026-11-03 The swing, the gate, the cliffs: five famous Instagram spots in Bali, what they are really like, and a quiet alternative for each one. You know the photos: a woman in a flowing dress on a swing above the rice fields. Two people in a temple gate with a volcano behind them and a mirror-like pond in front. They are beautiful, and they tell only part of the story. Below are five famous spots, what they are really like, and where you can go instead. ### 1. The swings at Tegallalang The photo: you, floating above green rice terraces. The reality: a queue, a ticket costing tens of euros per person, and terraces full of cafés and souvenir stalls. The alternative: [Jatiluwih](/en/destinations/jatiluwih). Bigger terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and footpaths where you meet almost nobody for hours. ### 2. The Gates of Heaven at Lempuyang The photo: a temple gate with Mount Agung behind it, reflected in water. The reality: a queue of two hours or more for a few seconds in the gate. And the water doesn't exist: a photographer holds a mirror under your phone. The alternative: [the Tirta Gangga water palace at 8 in the morning](/en/trips/east-bali-day-tour), or the rest of the Lempuyang temple complex, where you climb for an hour past quiet temples. If you still want the gate, we leave at 4 am. ### 3. Kelingking on Nusa Penida The photo: a cliff shaped like a dinosaur above a turquoise bay. The reality: a long boat ride, a drive over bad roads, a packed viewpoint and a steep, dangerous path down. The alternative: two nights on [Nusa Lembongan](/en/destinations/nusa-lembongan), with snorkelling among the manta rays and the yellow bridge to Nusa Ceningan. Quieter, and you see more of the island. ### 4. The Handara gate The photo: a Balinese gate with misty mountains behind it. The reality: the entrance gate of a golf course, where you queue and pay for a photo. The alternative: a few kilometres further on, [the twin lakes Buyan and Tamblingan](/en/destinations/munduk), with trails through the forest and old temples by the water. ### 5. Tanah Lot at sunset The photo: a temple on a rock in the sea, an orange sky. The reality: thousands of people at once, and an hour in traffic on the way back. The alternative: Pura Taman Ayun in Mengwi, early in the morning. A royal temple with lawns, a moat and meru towers, and almost nobody there. Or: sunset on the beach at [Amed](/en/destinations/amed), with Mount Agung behind you. ### Why this matters Crowds are not just annoying for you. A few places get most of the visitors, and the rest of the island sees little of what tourism brings in. If you also go to the quiet places, you have a better trip and you spread the pressure. Still want that one photo? Fine. With [your own driver](/en/private-driver-bali) and smart planning, you are there before the buses arrive. ## Ubud or Sidemen? An honest comparison for choosing your base URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/blog/ubud-or-sidemen Date: 2026-11-03 Ubud or Sidemen as your base? How busy each is, what you do there, where you stay and eat, how you get there, and why most routes include both. The short answer: pick Ubud if you want plenty within reach – restaurants, dance performances, yoga and shops. Pick Sidemen if you mostly want to walk and have quiet evenings. They're an hour's drive apart, so most routes include both: a few nights in Ubud first, then Sidemen on the way east. ### Ubud and Sidemen side by side | | Ubud | Sidemen | | --- | --- | --- | | From the airport | 1 to 1.5 hours by car | About 2 hours by car | | What it is | A small town with lots of tourism and rice fields around it | A valley with villages and rice terraces | | Crowds | Busy in the centre, quieter outside it | Quiet | | Food | A great many restaurants, warungs and cafés | A few warungs and the kitchen where you stay | | Getting around | The centre on foot, Grab and Gojek limited | With a driver or through your accommodation | | How many nights | Three | Two or three | ### What is Ubud like? [Ubud](/en/destinations/ubud) is the cultural heart of Bali. There's a palace, a market, and every evening a dance performance somewhere – Legong or Kecak. Around the town are rice fields, artists' villages like Mas and Batuan, and walking trails like the Campuhan ridge. It has also become busy. During the day the centre is full of cars, and the Monkey Forest and the [swings at Tegallalang](/en/blog/instagram-bali-vs-real-bali) are attractions with queues. Stay just outside the centre, among the rice fields or in a village like Penestanan or Sayan, and you have all the choice of Ubud with quiet evenings. ### What is Sidemen like? [Sidemen](/en/destinations/sidemen) is a valley in East Bali, an hour's drive from Ubud. Rice terraces, a river and villages where life revolves around the harvest and the temple calendar. When the sky is clear you look out at Mount Agung, Bali's holy volcano. There are a few homestays and small hotels, and not much else: no nightlife, no shopping street, no big sight that coaches stop for. ### What do you do there? In Ubud you walk the Campuhan ridge early in the morning, go to the market while the offering flowers are laid out, and watch a dance performance in the evening. The one at the palace costs around IDR 100,000 per person (2026). You can [cook with a family](/en/trips/balinese-cooking-class), take part in a [water blessing](/en/trips/water-blessing-melukat) at a quiet spring, or do yoga. When it rains, there are museums, massages and cooking classes under a roof. In Sidemen you walk along the terraces with a guide from the village, visit a songket weaving workshop and perhaps join a cooking class. Beyond that you read, look at the mountain and eat at a warung. There is little to do, and that is exactly why people come. If you want to see something new every day, one night is enough. ### Where do you stay, and what does it cost? Around Ubud you find everything: a homestay in a family compound, a small hotel among the rice fields or a resort in the Ayung river valley. In Sidemen it is mostly homestays and small hotels among the fields, some with a pool. In 2026, budget about €25–80 a night for two for a homestay or small hotel, and about €80–200 for a villa with a pool. Because Sidemen has few places to stay, the good ones fill up quickly in July, August and around Christmas. Book well ahead for those months. ### Food In Ubud you can eat somewhere different every evening, and vegetarian or vegan food is easy to find. In Sidemen you eat at one of the warungs or where you stay. Kitchens close early, and not everywhere takes cards. Bring enough [cash](/en/practical/money-and-payments). There is more about what you eat in Bali under [Food and drink](/en/practical/food-and-drink). ### How do you get there, and how do you get around? Ubud is an hour to an hour and a half from the airport, longer in traffic. In the centre you walk. Grab and Gojek work, but they're not allowed to pick you up everywhere in Ubud. Sidemen is about two hours from the airport. Ride-hailing apps hardly operate in the east, so you need a driver or ask your accommodation to arrange transport. A scooter is possible too, but only [with the right licences](/en/scooter-rental-bali). There is more under [Getting around Bali](/en/practical/getting-around). ### Who should choose which? Pick Ubud if it's your first time in Bali, if you want choice in the evenings, if you travel in the rainy season or if you don't have a driver. Pick Sidemen if you want to walk, if you already know Ubud, if you want to get away from the crowds or if you're travelling on to [Amed](/en/destinations/amed) and the east coast. ### Why most routes include both They're an hour apart, and Sidemen is on the way east. That's why you often start in Ubud: it's closest to the airport, it's an easy place to recover from the flight and there's plenty to do. Then you drive to Sidemen, and from there on to Amed and [Karangasem](/en/destinations/karangasem). That's how we do it in [Quiet Bali](/en/trips/quiet-bali), with three nights in Ubud and two in Sidemen, and in [Bali in three weeks](/en/trips/bali-in-three-weeks), with three nights in each. Still not sure, or want a different split? Then [we work out together what suits you](/en/personal-trip-plan). ## What you get for €250: this is what a trip plan looks like URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/blog/what-you-get-with-a-trip-plan Date: 2026-11-02 What is in a My Bali Tour Guide trip plan, how soon do you get it and what happens next? The difference between the three packages, short and honest. A question we get a lot: what do you actually get for that money? Fair point. A trip plan is not a book or an app you pick up in a shop. So here it is, listed out. ### The Trip plan, €250 You start with an intake call with Michèle. You tell her when you are going, who with, for how long and what you enjoy. What you do not want is useful to know too. Within five working days of that call you have your trip plan. It contains: - your route and daily plan, made to measure; - the driving times between the places; - tips per place; - what you are better off skipping, and why. One round of changes is included. After that you book yourself. ### Trip plan with stays, €350 The same trip plan, plus two or three places to stay per stop that suit your budget and style. Michèle picks them out; you choose and book. ### All arranged, €500 The trip plan, and we book everything in your name: places to stay, Dek Leonk, activities, a scooter or a boat. We only do that after you approve each part. You then pay the providers directly. ### And if you do not go after all? The plan is yours. The fee is for the work we have done, so you do not get it back once the plan is delivered. If you cancel after the intake but before delivery, you get half back. ### Rather do it all yourself? That works too. If you only want a reliable driver, we put you in touch with Dek Leonk for free. You then put the trip together with him. Not sure which package fits? Book a free 15-minute introduction, or have a look at [Personal trip plan](/en/personal-trip-plan) first. ## First time in Bali: two weeks without the crowds URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/blog/first-time-in-bali-route Date: 2026-11-01 Your first time in Bali? A 14-day route through Ubud, Sidemen, Amed, Munduk and the coast, with the famous places at smart times and little time in the car. Most people plan their first trip to Bali from lists: the swing, the gate, the cliffs, the beach club. You end up with a lot of traffic and a lot of queues. This route does it differently. You see the best of the island, sleep in five places, and rarely spend more than two hours in the car. ### The route at a glance | Days | Place | Why | | --- | --- | --- | | 1–3 | [Ubud](/en/destinations/ubud), just outside the centre | Recover from the flight, culture, rice fields | | 4–5 | [Sidemen](/en/destinations/sidemen) | Walking in the valley below Mount Agung | | 6–8 | [Amed](/en/destinations/amed) | Snorkelling, fishing villages, the east coast | | 9–10 | [Munduk](/en/destinations/munduk) | Mountains, waterfalls, cooler weather | | 11–13 | [Sanur](/en/destinations/sanur) or [Nusa Lembongan](/en/destinations/nusa-lembongan) | Beach and sea to finish | | 14 | Departure | Sanur is half an hour from the airport | ### Days 1–3: Ubud You land, [Dek Leonk is waiting in the arrivals hall](/en/bali-airport-transfer) and drives you an hour and a half to a place to stay among the rice fields. Take it easy on the first day. After that: the market early in the morning, a walk along the Campuhan ridge, a dance performance in a temple courtyard. Skip the Monkey Forest and the swings, or go at 8 am. ### Days 4–5: Sidemen An hour to the east. It is quiet here: rice terraces, a river, weaving workshops. Spend a morning walking with a guide from the village. On a clear day you see Mount Agung rising above everything. ### Days 6–8: Amed On the way you stop at 8 am at the Tirta Gangga water palace. In Amed you snorkel off the beach, go out to sea on a fishing boat at sunrise and, if you like, dive the shipwreck at Tulamben. ### Days 9–10: Munduk The longest drive of the trip: three to four hours along the north coast, with a stop at the Sekumpul waterfall. Munduk lies in the mountains, among coffee and cloves. In the morning you visit the temple on Lake Beratan. ### Days 11–13: Sanur or Nusa Lembongan On the way down you walk for an hour through the rice terraces of Jatiluwih. Then three days by the sea. Sanur is quiet and easy; Nusa Lembongan, half an hour by boat, is a small island with clear water and manta rays. ### Day 14: home From Sanur you are at the airport in half an hour. ### What you skip, and why - **Canggu and Seminyak:** fun for an evening, but mostly you lose time in traffic. - **The Lempuyang gate:** two hours in a queue for a photo. - **Nusa Penida as a day trip:** a long boat ride, bad roads, crowded viewpoints. Better to spend two nights on Lembongan. ### Roughly what it costs For two people, about €1,500 to €2,500 on the ground, depending on where you stay. More on this in our article on [what a trip to Bali costs](/en/blog/what-does-a-trip-to-bali-cost). This route is a starting point. Slower, more beach or more walking? Then [we will turn it into your route](/en/personal-trip-plan). ## Nyepi 2027: the day Bali goes silent URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/blog/nyepi-2027 Date: 2026-10-30 On Monday 8 March 2027 Bali stops for 24 hours: Nyepi, the Balinese New Year. What happens, what you can and can't do, and how to plan your trip around it. Picture an island with more than four million people where nobody goes outside for a full day. No cars, no scooters, no lights, no music. The airport is closed and sometimes even the mobile internet goes down. That is Nyepi, the day of silence that marks the start of the new year in the Balinese saka calendar. In 2027 Nyepi falls on Monday 8 March, from 6 am until 6 am the next morning. ### The days before: cleansing and noise A few days before Nyepi, processions head to the sea or to a holy spring for Melasti, a purification ceremony. People dressed in white carry temple objects under parasols to the water. If you are near the coast, it is quite a sight – watch from a distance and don't walk through it. The evening before Nyepi is the opposite of silent. In every village the ogoh-ogoh take to the streets: huge figures of papier-mâché and bamboo, monsters and demons that the village's young people have worked on for months. They are carried through the streets with music and a lot of shouting to chase away the evil spirits, and are often burned afterwards. It is one of the best evenings of the year to be in Bali. ### Nyepi itself: four rules On Nyepi the Balinese keep four prohibitions: no fire or light, no work, no travel and no entertainment. The idea is that the evil spirits fly over the island, see no one and leave again. For you as a visitor, this means: - You stay on the grounds of your accommodation all day. The pecalang, the village guards, make sure of it. - The airport and the harbours are closed. No flights leave or land. - In the evening you keep the curtains closed and the lights low. Many hotels provide food. - Save music and loud voices for indoors. Many travellers find it a special day: reading, swimming in the pool where you are staying and, at night, a starry sky without light pollution. ### The day after On Ngembak Geni, the day after Nyepi, life goes on again. Families visit each other and ask each other for forgiveness. The roads stay quiet for the first few hours. ### Planning your trip around it - **Don't plan a flight on 8 March.** Land on 6 March at the latest, and you will also be there for the ogoh-ogoh evening on 7 March. - **Choose where you spend Nyepi with care.** A place with a pool and food, in a village where you can see the ogoh-ogoh. In [Ubud](/en/destinations/ubud) and [Sidemen](/en/destinations/sidemen) the parades are small-scale and worth watching. - **Don't plan a drive on 8 March.** [Dek Leonk](/en/about/dek-leonk) is at home with his family that day. - **Do your shopping on 7 March.** Shops and warungs are closed on Nyepi. Want to experience Nyepi? Put it in your [personal trip plan](/en/personal-trip-plan), and we will find the right place to stay and the right spot for the parade. ## Where your travel money goes: twelve days on Bali worked out URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/blog/where-your-travel-money-goes Date: 2026-10-29 What do twelve days on Bali for two cost on the spot, and who gets that money? A worked example with the driver, the places to stay, outings and your trip plan. With a big travel company, a large part of your travel money stays in Europe. The driver, the homestay and the cooking teacher on Bali only see part of it. With us it works differently. I worked it out below. ### The worked example Twelve days on Bali, the two of you, with Dek Leonk as your driver and stays in homestays and small hotels. These are the indicative prices we use: | Item | Indicative price | |---|---| | Dek Leonk as your driver | €45–65 a day, 10 hours, fuel included | | Homestay or small hotel | €25–80 a night for two | | Villa with a pool | €80–200 a night | | Scooter | €5–8 a day | | Cooking class, ceremony, boat trip | €15–40 per person | All together such a trip costs roughly €1,200 to €2,000 on the spot. You pay that directly to the people who provide it. On top of that comes your personal trip plan. If you take the Trip plan with stays, that is €350. ### Where the money goes Work it out, and about 80% of what you spend (excluding flights) goes to the people on Bali. About 20% is the price of your trip plan. We earn nothing on the trip itself. No mark-up on the driver, no commission from the places you stay. That is not a marketing line, it is simply how the model works: we do not pass money on, so there is nothing to skim off. ### What is not included To be clear: - Flights. You book those yourself. - Meals. At a warung you eat for €1.50 to €3. - The tourist levy (IDR 150,000 per person) and the visa (IDR 500,000 per person). - Entrance fees for temples and waterfalls. More about the cost of a trip in [what does a trip to Bali cost in 2027?](/en/blog/what-does-a-trip-to-bali-cost) Want to know roughly what your trip costs? The [trip planner](/en/trip-planner) shows an indication right away. ## Renting a scooter in Bali: what you need to know URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/blog/renting-a-scooter-in-bali Date: 2026-10-27 Renting a scooter in Bali? Which licence you need, what the police check, how your insurance works and when a driver is the smarter choice. Everyone in Bali seems to ride a scooter. The rental place on the corner hands you the key without asking anything, for a few euros a day. What they don't tell you: with only a car licence you are probably riding around uninsured. Here is how it works. ### Which licence do you need? For a 125cc scooter, which almost all rental scooters are, you need two things: - A motorcycle licence (category A) from the Netherlands or Belgium. A car licence (B) is not enough. - An international driving permit with category A on it. In the Netherlands you apply at the ANWB, in Belgium at your local council. It costs a few tens of euros and is quickly done; do sort it out before you leave, because you can't get one in Bali. Also bring your regular licence, and make sure the rental place gives you the registration papers (STNK). ### What the police check Especially in Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta, Uluwatu and around Ubud, the police hold regular checks, often in the morning at big junctions. If you are missing a document, you pay a fine of IDR 300,000 to 500,000 (about €15 to €25) for each missing document. Without a helmet, add IDR 250,000. Fines add up. ### The real risk: your insurance The fine is not the problem. An accident is. Travel insurers often won't pay medical costs after a scooter accident if you didn't have a valid licence for that vehicle. A hospital stay in Bali, or repatriation, quickly runs into thousands of euros. Read your policy conditions before you leave. ### Where riding is nice, and where it isn't - **Nice:** the back roads around [Sidemen](/en/destinations/sidemen), [Amed](/en/destinations/amed) and [Munduk](/en/destinations/munduk), and quiet villages in the east and north. Little traffic, beautiful roads. - **Not nice:** the south. From the airport to Canggu or Uluwatu you ride with hundreds of scooters between buses and lorries. - **Watch out for:** sand and gravel on bends, dogs on the road, afternoon rain (especially from November to March) and steep mountain roads. ### Alternatives - **A driver.** [Dek Leonk](/en/private-driver-bali) takes you wherever you want from about €45 per day, and knows where to stop along the way. - **A scooter with a rider.** Through [Gojek or Grab](/en/practical/getting-around), in the south and around Ubud. - **A bicycle or e-bike.** Around Ubud and Sidemen there are beautiful routes, also with a guide. Want to ride yourself, with the right papers? Then [we arrange a good scooter](/en/scooter-rental-bali) through our network, with two helmets and the papers that go with it. ## Why we do not sell trips, only a personal trip plan URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/blog/why-we-do-not-sell-trips Date: 2026-10-25 With My Bali Tour Guide you only pay us for your personal trip plan. You pay for the trip itself directly to Dek Leonk and the places you stay. Here is why. Short version: you pay us for a personal trip plan. A fixed amount, €250 to €500. The trip itself you pay directly to Dek Leonk, the homestays and the guides. We are not in between. That is a choice we made on purpose. Let me explain why. ### What I learned in Morocco With my company ESBL I earlier built Vrouwvriendelijk Marokko (women-friendly Morocco), together with Soukayna, one of the few female drivers in Marrakesh. There I saw how well it works when you travel with someone who lives there. You see more of the country. And the money goes to the driver, not to a big travel company. I also saw where it gets complicated. As soon as a website sells the whole trip, with transport and accommodation in one price, you quickly fall under the rules for package holidays. And then you stand between the traveller and the people who actually make the trip. ### How we do it on Bali That is why on Bali we only sell the trip plan. In it, Michèle sets out the route, the daily plan, the driving times and, if you want, the places to stay. That is our work, and that is what you pay us for. You arrange the trip itself with the people who carry it out: - Dek Leonk drives you, and you pay him directly. From about €45 a day. - You book the homestays and small hotels yourself, or we book them in your name. You pay them directly. - A cooking class, a boat or a guide: same thing. Partners pay us no commission. That keeps our advice independent, and they get the full price. ### What that means for you You know exactly what you pay us and what goes to Bali. On a twelve-day round trip for two you pay roughly €1,200 to €2,000 locally. With a fee of €350, about 80% of what you spend (excluding flights) goes to the people on Bali. And the plan is yours. Even if you then decide to do it differently. Want to know which package suits you? Have a look at [Personal trip plan](/en/personal-trip-plan), or book a free 15-minute introduction with Michèle through the [trip planner](/en/trip-planner). ## What does a trip to Bali cost in 2027? URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/blog/what-does-a-trip-to-bali-cost Date: 2026-10-23 What do two weeks in Bali cost in 2027? Flights, visa, places to stay, transport and food worked out for two people, from budget to upmarket. Bali has a reputation for being cheap, and food and transport still are. But the flight is long, there's a visa and a tourist levy on top, and a good place to stay with a pool costs more than you'd think. Below we work out two weeks in Bali for two people, in three versions. ### Fixed costs - **Flight.** There's no direct flight from Amsterdam to Denpasar; you change in Singapore, Doha or Dubai, for example. Count on about €800 to €1,300 per person for an economy return, depending on the season and how early you book. - **Visa.** A [visa on arrival or an e-VOA bought in advance](/en/practical/visa-and-tourist-levy) costs IDR 500,000, about €25 per person. There are plans to raise this. - **Tourist levy.** IDR 150,000 per person, about €7.50, paid in advance through Love Bali. - **Travel insurance.** An annual policy with worldwide cover costs a few tens of euros a year extra. ### What it costs on the ground | | Budget | Comfortable | Upmarket | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Place to stay per night | homestay, about €35 | small hotel with a pool, about €70 | villa or boutique hotel, about €150 | | Transport | 5 days with a driver, 6 days by scooter | 9 days with a driver | 12 days with a driver | | Food per person per day | about €10 (warungs) | about €20 | about €35 | | Activities and entrance fees | about €150 | about €300 | about €500 | | **Total on the ground, two weeks for two** | **about €1,250** | **about €2,300** | **about €4,200** | These totals cover the visa and the levy, but not the flights. With flights, add €1,600 to €2,600 for two people. ### Where you can save - **Travel outside July and August.** In [May, June and September](/en/practical/best-time-to-visit) it's dry and quieter, and places to stay are cheaper. - **Eat in warungs.** A nasi campur costs €2 to €3 and often tastes better than in a tourist restaurant. - **A driver only on travel days.** On days when you stay in one place, you walk, cycle or take a scooter (with the [right licences](/en/scooter-rental-bali)). - **Stay longer in fewer places.** Every move costs a drive and half a day. Where you'd better not save: your travel insurance, a [reliable driver](/en/private-driver-bali) and a helmet if you do get on a scooter. ### And what does a personal trip plan cost? If you have us design your trip, you pay us €250 to €500, depending on how much you hand over. You pay the rest directly to [Dek Leonk](/en/about/dek-leonk) and the places you stay. See [Personal trip plan](/en/personal-trip-plan) for what suits you. ## Bali is more than the south: why you should go east and north URL: https://mybalitourguide.com/blog/bali-is-more-than-the-south Date: 2026-10-20 Bali is busy in the south, but the east and north are still quiet and authentic. Where to find the real Bali, and how to get there. Anyone who has been to Canggu lately knows the deal. An hour in traffic for ten kilometres. Villas everywhere. Beach clubs with DJs, coffee bars full of laptops, menus in English. Fine for a few days, but is this really Bali? The answer: this is a small piece of Bali. The south and southwest, from Kuta to Canggu and Uluwatu, have been built up for tourism over the past twenty years. Most of the nearly 7 million foreign visitors a year end up there. The rest of the island sees a fraction of that. ### The east: volcanoes, rice and fishing villages Drive an hour east from Ubud and you are in [Sidemen](/en/destinations/sidemen). A valley with rice terraces, a river and Mount Agung above it. No beach clubs here, but there are weaving workshops and homestays among the fields. Another hour and a half further on lies [Amed](/en/destinations/amed), a string of fishing villages on black sand beaches. In the morning you see the jukungs, narrow outrigger boats, coming back with the catch. You snorkel straight off the beach. On the way are [the water palaces of Karangasem and the village of Tenganan](/en/trips/east-bali-day-tour), home to the Bali Aga, the island's original inhabitants, with their own traditions. ### The north: mountains, lakes and coral The north is cooler and greener. In [Munduk](/en/destinations/munduk) you walk past coffee and clove plantations to waterfalls. Close by are three crater lakes, with the Ulun Danu Beratan temple on the water. Further west lies [Pemuteran](/en/destinations/pemuteran), a village that restores its own coral, with Menjangan island just off the coast. ### And in the middle too Even around Ubud you can still find it: the rice terraces of [Jatiluwih](/en/destinations/jatiluwih), a World Heritage site with hours of walking, or a village temple where the gamelan rehearses in the evening. The difference is often a few kilometres, or getting up a few hours earlier. ### How to get there Public transport to the east and north is limited, and ride-hailing apps hardly go there. With your own driver it is easy: he takes you from place to place and knows where to stop. That is how we set up our trips. Take a look at [Quiet Bali](/en/trips/quiet-bali) or [North and West](/en/trips/north-and-west-bali), or ask for a [personal trip plan](/en/personal-trip-plan).