Bali and the Gili Islands

9 days, 8 nights: Ubud (3N), Gili Islands (3N), Seminyak (2N). Best time to go: Best Apr–Oct; boats rough Dec–Feb.

Day 1: Arrive in Ubud

Ubud

Legong dance at Ubud Palace · 1.5 h. Nightly at ~7:30pm; tickets are sold at the gate on the day.
Ubud Palace and art market · 1.5 h. Bargain at the market; start at about half the first price.

Local tip: Nightly at ~7:30pm; tickets are sold at the gate on the day.

Ubud

Tegallalang rice terraces · 2 h. Go before 8am for soft light and no crowds; small donations are asked at bridges and the swings inside are charged separately.
Tirta Empul water temple · 2 h. Sarong and sash are included at the gate. Bring a change of clothes if you join the purification bath; go at opening (~8am).
Campuhan Ridge walk · 1.5 h. Start by 7am — the ridge has no shade.
Balinese massage and flower bath · 2 h. A 60-minute Balinese massage costs ~IDR 150,000–250,000 in town; villa spas charge more.

Local tip: Go before 8am for soft light and no crowds; small donations are asked at bridges and the swings inside are charged separately.

Ubud

Market tour & Balinese cooking class · 4.5 h. Most classes offer a full vegetarian menu; tell them at booking.
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary · 1.5 h. Carry no food or plastic bags, keep sunglasses away and don't touch the monkeys. Higher price on weekends.
Ubud jungle swing · 2 h. Packages vary by number of swings and photo nests; check what is included.

Local tip: Most classes offer a full vegetarian menu; tell them at booking.

Gili Islands · Ubud to Gili Islands, Car to Padang Bai (~1.25h) + fast boat ~1.5–2h

Sunset swings on Gili Trawangan's west coast · 2 h. Swings stand in the water at beach bars on the west side; buy a drink to use them.
Island loop by bicycle · 2 h. ~7km around Gili T; the inland and north paths are sandy — walk those stretches.

Local tip: Swings stand in the water at beach bars on the west side; buy a drink to use them.

Gili Islands

Turtle snorkel trip around the three Gilis · 3.5 h. Shared glass-bottom boats stop at the turtle reef and the underwater statues off Gili Meno. Don't touch or chase turtles.
Gili dive or try-dive · 4 h. Gili T is a popular place to certify; turtles are seen on most dives.

Local tip: Shared glass-bottom boats stop at the turtle reef and the underwater statues off Gili Meno. Don't touch or chase turtles.

Gili Islands

Gili Meno and Gili Air island hop · 5 h. Public boats link the islands twice a day; Meno is the quietest.

Local tip: Public boats link the islands twice a day; Meno is the quietest.

Seminyak · Gili Islands to Seminyak, Car to Serangan or Padang Bai + fast boat, ~4–4.5h total

Seminyak beach sunset with bean bags · 2 h. Bean-bag bars line the sand from Double Six to Petitenget; order a drink to use them.

Local tip: Bean-bag bars line the sand from Double Six to Petitenget; order a drink to use them.

Seminyak

Seminyak beach club afternoon · 4 h. Daybeds carry a minimum spend (IDR 500,000–1.5 million); book sunset beds ahead in Jul–Aug.
Jalan Kayu Aya boutiques · 2.5 h
Petitenget Temple at sunset · 1 h. Wear a sarong and sash; ceremonies take priority over visitors.

Local tip: Daybeds carry a minimum spend (IDR 500,000–1.5 million); book sunset beds ahead in Jul–Aug.

Seminyak

Keep a buffer before your flight; check-out is usually noon.

Ubud (3 nights): Penestanan and Sayan pool villas. Private pools over rice fields, 10 min from the centre.
Gili Islands (3 nights): Gili Air beachfront bungalows. Quieter than Gili T, still with cafés and snorkelling from the beach.
Seminyak (2 nights): Central Seminyak private-pool villas. One- and two-bedroom pool villas near Kayu Aya and Eat Street.