Itinerary · 10 days
Bali in 10 days: Ubud, the rural east, then the sea
Ten days let you add a third base without rushing. The route goes through the east, more rural, before ending on the south coast, as close as possible to the airport.
- Updated on
- 3 bases
- balanced pace
- 8 min read
- By Kylian Dev
Contents
Key points
- Three bases: Ubud for three nights, Sidemen or Amed for two nights, Uluwatu for three nights.
- A last night in Sanur, 30 to 40 min from the airport, if your flight leaves early.
- Sidemen for the rice fields and the quiet, Amed for diving and snorkeling: not both in ten days.
- The long day on the road is the crossing from the east to the Bukit: plan nothing else.
Ten days is the format that lets a first trip breathe. You keep Ubud and the sea from the one-week itinerary, and add the east of the island, more rural, where the rhythm of the villages can still be read in the rice fields.
Driving times come from the getting around Bali guide. For choosing the season, especially for diving in Amed, see best time to visit Bali.
Different length, different interests, children? Adapt this route with the planner.
Bali 10-day itinerary: the route day by day
In 10 days, sleep three nights in Ubud, two nights in Sidemen or Amed in the east, then three nights in Uluwatu on the south coast. End with a night in Sanur if the flight leaves early. The route turns in one direction, without backtracking, and keeps a free day.
| Day | Stop | Where to stay | Road | To do | To skip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 01 | Arrival, Ubud | Ubud | Airport → Ubud: about 1 h 15 to 1 h 45. | Check in, dinner in a warung, early night. | Sightseeing on arrival day: keep it for tomorrow. |
| Day 02 | Ubud on foot | Ubud | No car. | The Campuhan ridge early, the rice fields around the center, the market, a Balinese dance in the evening. | The Monkey Forest with food or objects in your hand: rabies is present among the macaques. |
| Day 03 | Temples and rice fields north of Ubud | Ubud | A day with a driver, short rides around Ubud. | Tegalalang at opening time, Tirta Empul (sarong and covered shoulders), Gunung Kawi. Or Batur at sunrise, departure around 3 am. | Batur and the temples on the same day: choose one or the other. |
| Day 04 | East to Sidemen | Sidemen | Ubud → Sidemen: shorter than airport–Sidemen (about 1 h 45), along valley roads. | A stop at the Klungkung court of justice (Kerta Gosa) on the way, then a walk in the rice fields in the late afternoon. | Besakih at noon, at peak crowds and under the sun. |
| Day 05 | Sidemen and the east coast | Sidemen | A morning without a car, or half a day with a driver to the east. | A walk in the valley with a village guide, weaving workshops; or Tirta Gangga early in the morning. | The wait for the photo at Lempuyang’s “gates of heaven”, often very long. |
| Day 06 | Crossing to the Bukit | Uluwatu | Sidemen → airport about 1 h 45, then 45 to 60 min to Uluwatu: the long day on the road. | Drive with no visit, then Uluwatu temple and the kecak dance at sunset. | A stop at Tanah Lot on the way: a major detour and a packed site in the late afternoon. |
| Day 07 | Bukit beaches | Uluwatu | Short rides on the Bukit. | Bingin, Padang Padang or Melasti, depending on the tide; a surf lesson if the swell allows. | Doing three beaches in a row: one in the morning, one in the evening is enough. |
| Day 08 | Free day | Uluwatu | No car. | Beach, reading, massage. The buffer day in case of rain or fatigue. | Nusa Penida as a day trip. |
| Day 09 | Last night near the airport | Sanur | Uluwatu → airport about 45 to 60 min; Sanur is 30 to 40 min from the airport. | The Sanur promenade by bike, a swim in a calm sea. If your flight leaves late, rather stay in Uluwatu. | A last beach club in Seminyak the night before an early flight. |
| Day 10 | Departure | Flight home | Sanur → airport: about 30 to 40 min. | Leave without stress, with a margin for traffic. | Last-minute shopping in Kuta. |
Why this route with three bases
Three bases in ten days give at least two nights everywhere, which avoids repacking every morning. Ubud serves as a central point for the temples and rice fields, the east brings quiet and valley landscapes, the south coast lets you finish rested, near the airport.
Sidemen is about 1 h 45 from the airport, Amed 2 h 30 to 3 h. From Ubud, either one can be reached in a day without excessive fatigue, which is not the case as a round trip.
What stays off the route
- The north (Munduk, the lakes): about 2 h 30 from the airport, on a mountain road. It finds its place in the 3-week itinerary.
- Nusa Penida with a night there: possible by sacrificing the free day, at the cost of a brisker pace. The 2-week route includes it without strain.
The 2 choices that change everything
First choice: Sidemen or Amed for the eastern base. Sidemen for the rice fields, walks and quiet; Amed for diving, snorkeling and the sea. Second choice: stay in Uluwatu to the end or spend the last night in Sanur, depending on the time of your return flight.
Sidemen or Amed
Sidemen is a valley of rice fields, villages and weavers, closer to the airport. Amed is a coast of fishing villages and pebble beaches, turned towards the reefs. With two nights, choose: wanting both turns the stage into a marathon.
The last night
Uluwatu is about 45 to 60 min from the airport, Sanur about 30 to 40 min. For a late flight, stay on the Bukit. For an early morning flight, a night in Sanur reduces the risk from traffic.
Where to stay on a 10-day itinerary
In Ubud, stay in the center or on the edge of the rice fields within walking distance of restaurants. In Sidemen, choose a place with a view of the valley, as you spend your evenings there. In Amed, sleep near the reef you are aiming for. On the Bukit, stay near the beach you chose, the area is spread out.
Ubud
Three nights, in the center or on the edge of the rice fields.
Sidemen
Two nights facing the valley; few restaurants, dine where you stay.
Amed
The diving alternative: two nights by the reefs.
Uluwatu
Three nights near Bingin, Padang Padang or Melasti.
Sanur
The transit night before an early flight, along the promenade.
Variants: family, surf, diving, tight budget
As a family, prefer Sidemen to Amed and replace Uluwatu with Sanur for the calm sea. For surf, keep Uluwatu or switch to Canggu. For diving, choose Amed and add a night there by removing the transit night. On a tight budget, limit the days with a driver to the changes of base.
Diving
Amed for three nights rather than two, dropping the night in Sanur if your flight allows it.
Tight budget
Four transfers with a driver are enough: arrival, the east, the south, departure. The rest on foot or by ride-hailing in the south.
The classic mistakes on 10 days in Bali
The typical mistakes over ten days: adding a fourth base to “see the north”, doing Ubud–Amed as a day trip, slipping Nusa Penida in as a day trip between two stages, and heading back east at the end of the stay. Each one eats into the free day, which is precisely the one that protects the trip.
- Too many bases: with four places to stay, you no longer spend two nights anywhere.
- Ubud–Amed as a round trip: the east coast takes long hours on the road each way. If Amed appeals to you, sleep there.
- Nusa Penida as a day trip: road to Sanur, boat, difficult roads on the island, return in the late afternoon.
- The east last: a return from Amed on the day of the flight means 2 h 30 to 3 h on the road with no margin.
Indicative budget for 10 days in Bali
Over ten days, the budget depends mostly on the level of accommodation and the days with a driver: this route needs four for the changes of base, plus one or two for excursions. Add, per person, the e-VoA and the tourist levy. The budget guide details the ranges.
| Item | On this route | Order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Entry fees | e-VoA and tourist levy, per person | IDR 500,000 and IDR 150,000, official rates |
| Changes of base | Ubud, the east, the Bukit, Sanur | A day or half a day with a driver each |
| Excursions | Temples north of Ubud, east coast | One to two days with a driver, entrance fees extra |
| Accommodation | Ubud, Sidemen or Amed, Uluwatu, Sanur | Highly variable depending on the neighborhood and the season |
| Activities | Diving in Amed, surf lessons | The item that varies most by profile |
The method for estimating your budget from the itinerary is in the Bali travel budget guide.
Frequently asked questions
What to do in Bali in 10 days?
Three bases are enough: Ubud for the temples and rice fields, Sidemen or Amed for the east, Uluwatu for the beaches. Add a night in Sanur if your flight leaves early.
Sidemen or Amed: which one to choose?
Sidemen for the rice fields, walking and quiet; Amed for diving and snorkeling. With only two nights in the east, better to choose just one.
Can you add Nusa Penida to a 10-day stay?
Yes, by sleeping there at least one night and giving up the free day. Avoid the day trip, which leaves very little time on the island.
Should you sleep near the airport on the last night?
Only if the flight leaves early. Sanur is about 30 to 40 min from the airport, Uluwatu about 45 to 60 min: for a late flight, staying on the Bukit is enough.
Sources
Figures and rules checked on October 17, 2026 against the sources below. Entry rules and fees change: always check them on the official websites before you leave.
