10 Days in Bali, Eight of Them in the North: A Slow Itinerary

In Brief

A Bali itinerary 10 days long has room for eight days in the north. Spend days 1 and 2 in the south or Ubud to get over the flight. On day 3, cross the mountains by the Bedugul road, stopping at the lake temple and the botanic garden. Then sleep two nights in Munduk for the waterfall walks, the twin lakes and the coffee farms.

Days 5 to 7 are on the Lovina coast, with a dawn dolphin trip, the hot springs at Banjar and a waterfall day at Sekumpul. One day stays free for the sea or the Sunday market. For days 8 to 10, choose Pemuteran and Menjangan for the reef, or head east to Amed or Sidemen for a shorter drive to the airport.

Hire a driver for the transfer days, and let each base be slow.

The Route at a Glance

• Days 1 and 2: the south or Ubud. Arrive, sleep, one easy day.
• Day 3: cross north by the Bedugul road, with Ulun Danu Beratan, the botanic garden and the market. Sleep in Munduk.
• Day 4: Munduk, with a waterfall walk, the twin lakes and a coffee farm.
• Day 5: down to Lovina, with the hot springs and the monastery at Banjar on the way.
• Day 6: dawn dolphins, then a slow day on the coast or in Singaraja.
• Day 7: the waterfall day, at Sekumpul and Fiji, Aling-Aling or Gitgit.
• Days 8 and 9: Pemuteran and Menjangan in the west, or Amed or Sidemen in the east.
• Day 10: the drive to the airport.
• Nights: two in the south or Ubud, two in Munduk, three in Lovina, two at the last base.

The 3-day north Bali itinerary works from one base in Lovina, and the 7-day version moves through three north coast bases at a steady pace. This one adds a proper landing in the south, a crossing that is a day out in itself and an extra free day on the coast. If you are still deciding on length, how many days to spend in north Bali sets out the trade-offs.

Drive Times Here Are Rough Allowances, Without Stops

The distances on this page are road kilometres from OpenStreetMap routing.

The times are ours, rough allowances for a car with a driver on mountain and coast roads, with no stops. Traffic, rain and road works on the mountain crossing can add an hour. Treat them as planning figures and let your driver judge the day.

Days 1 and 2: Land in the South or Ubud

The flight into Ngurah Rai is the hardest part of the trip, so keep the three-hour mountain drive for later.

• Base: the south or Ubud, two nights
• Driving: only the airport transfer
• In order: land, sleep, then one easy day

If you land late, sleep near the airport or in the south on night one. If you land early, go straight to Ubud. Before you fly, sort the arrival card and the Bali tourist levy, since both save time at the airport.

If you choose the south, day 2 is a beach day. The best beaches in Bali covers the southern coast from Uluwatu up, and Bali's beach clubs the long lunches.

If you choose Ubud, day 2 is for the rice fields, a class or a yoga session and a slow dinner. Ubud is also the better start for this route, because it is a shorter drive to the lakes. North Bali or Ubud explains what each does best, and the best restaurants in Ubud will feed you for both nights.

The Tegallalang terraces outside Ubud. Photo: Philip Nalangan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Day 3: The Crossing Is the Day Out

Leave after breakfast and make three stops at the top of the pass.

• Base: Munduk, first of two nights
• Driving: Ubud to Lake Beratan about 45 km, allow an hour and a half. From the airport or the south, about 60 km, two hours or more. Then about 20 km along the ridge to Munduk, 40 minutes to an hour.
• In order: the lake temple, the botanic garden, Candikuning market, the ridge road past Wanagiri, Munduk by mid-afternoon

The 60-kilometre figure is the Beratan lake site's own. The routes and the new "shortcut" road works are in getting to north Bali.

Pura Ulun Danu Beratan. The lake temple at Candikuning is one of the island's nine most significant temples, according to its official site. Go before midday, when the cloud tends to come down off the hills, and dress for a working temple.

The Bali Botanic Garden. A few minutes from the temple, the garden covers 157 hectares of conifers, orchids, greenhouses and forest, and was founded in 1959. Walk it for an hour or two, and see our Bali Botanic Garden guide for the highlights and how entry works.

Candikuning market. It sits on the main road by the garden turn, selling strawberries and highland fruit from the farms around it. Buy lunch for the car.

Pura Ulun Danu Beratan on Lake Beratan. Photo: Alharomain354 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The ridge road to Munduk. It runs west along the rim above Lakes Buyan and Tamblingan, past the Wanagiri viewpoints, so stop at one if the view is clear. You reach Munduk by mid-afternoon, which is when the mist usually arrives. The whole area is in the Bedugul guide.

Day 4: Munduk's Waterfalls, Lakes and Coffee

Munduk sits on a ridge facing the sea at about 600 to 800 metres, by the Buleleng tourism office's count. The ridge is planted with coffee and clove, and cool enough for a jumper at night.

• Base: Munduk, second night
• Driving: short drives from the village down to the lakes
• In order: a waterfall walk in the morning, the lakes in the afternoon, a coffee farm on the way back

Morning. Start early with a waterfall loop. Munduk and Melanting falls can be walked from the village. Munduk's waterfall trails sets out the routes, the steeper falls and when a guide helps. Be back at the road by lunch.

Afternoon. Drive down to Buyan and Tamblingan, quiet lakes forested to the shore, where dugout canoes still work the water on Tamblingan.

On the way back. Stop at a farm. The coffee plantations of Munduk explains who grows what and where you can taste it.

The twin lakes from the Wanagiri ridge. Photo: Stefan Fussan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Where to sleep, and the rest of the village, is in the Munduk guide.

Day 5: Down to Lovina, by Way of Banjar

The road drops off the ridge and reaches the coast west of Lovina, so the two stops at Banjar come first.

• Base: Lovina, first of three nights
• Driving: Munduk to Lovina about 33 km, allow about an hour
• In order: Banjar Hot Springs, the Brahma Vihara Arama monastery, Lovina by afternoon, sunset on the beach

Banjar Hot Springs. Warm natural pools in a garden are fed through carved stone spouts. An hour in the water makes a good end to two days of walking.

Brahma Vihara Arama. The Buddhist monastery in the hills above Banjar is open to respectful visitors, with terraced gardens and meditation halls. Go for the quiet.

Lovina. Arrive in the afternoon and walk to the beach for sunset. The coast faces north over the Bali Sea, the water is usually flat, and the evening light lasts.

Before you sleep. Book tomorrow's dolphin boat tonight, through your villa or with a captain on the beach. The boats leave the Lovina shore at dawn, and the dolphins guide explains how to choose one. The Lovina area guide covers the villages along the coast and where to eat.

Day 6: Dolphins at Dawn, Then a Free Day

This is the slow day, the one the shorter itineraries have no room for.

• Base: Lovina
• Driving: none, or twenty minutes east to Singaraja
• In order: the dolphin boat at dawn, back by about eight, then the day open

Dawn. The boats leave in the dark. Traditional jukung outriggers go out to where the wild dolphins feed at first light, and they are back by about eight. Our Lovina dolphins guide covers what to expect and how to choose a captain who does not chase the pods. It also explains what happens when the sea is rough.

Calm dry-season dawn on the Lovina dolphin water. Photo: Michelle Maria / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

The rest of the day. Swim, sleep, read and eat well. The best restaurants in Lovina and the beach guide will fill it.

If you want one outing, go to Singaraja. The old harbour, the Chinese temple beside it and the palm-leaf manuscript library are a short walk apart. Singaraja's old town guide maps the half day.

If one of your Lovina days is a Sunday, go to the Lovina Sunday Market at Kaliasem after the dolphins. It runs on the sand from the morning, with weaving, laklak cooked to order and other things made in Buleleng. Check it is on that week before you plan around it.

Day 7: The Waterfall Day, from an Early Start

The north's big falls are in the hills behind Singaraja, and this is a full day.

• Base: Lovina, last night
• Driving: about an hour from Lovina to the Sekumpul trailhead, or about 40 minutes inland to Aling-Aling
• In order: one waterfall plan in the morning, back on the coast by late afternoon, a long dinner by the sea

The north Bali waterfalls guide compares them all. Pick one plan.

Sekumpul and Fiji. Sekumpul is often called the most spectacular fall on the island. It is a canyon of drops reached by a long descent, a river crossing and a climb back out, with a local guide from the village. Fiji Waterfall is in the same valley, on the same trek. Allow most of the morning on foot.

Sekumpul's main falls. Photo: Putu Andika Panendra / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Aling-Aling. It lies inland from Lovina at Sambangan, with guided jumps and natural rock slides into the pools. Aling-Aling's guide sets out what the guides allow. Sekumpul in the morning and Aling-Aling after lunch makes a full, wet day.

Gitgit. The easy option has a short path and no canyon, just off the Bedugul road above Singaraja. Choose Gitgit waterfall if your knees had enough in Munduk.

Days 8 to 10, Option A: West to Pemuteran for Menjangan's Reef

Choose this if you snorkel or dive, for reefs often rated among the best in Bali. The one downside is the long drive to the airport on day 10.

• Base: Pemuteran, two nights
• Driving: Lovina to Pemuteran about 48 km along the coast, allow an hour and a half. Pemuteran to the airport about 134 km by the Pemuteran village listing, allow three and a half to four hours.
• In order: Pura Pulaki and an afternoon snorkel on day 8, the Menjangan boat on day 9, the airport on day 10

Day 8. Stop on the way at Pura Pulaki, the sea temple against a black cliff. Macaques live there, so keep sunglasses and snacks out of reach. Check in and snorkel straight off the beach in the afternoon. The Pemuteran guide covers the bay, the reef restoration offshore and where to stay.

Day 9. Take the Menjangan trip in the morning. The island is inside West Bali National Park, reached only by boat with a registered park guide, from Pemuteran or the harbours to its east. Our Menjangan Island guide names the sites and explains how park access works. Diving and snorkelling in Pemuteran covers booking the trip, dive courses and the reef closer to shore.

The Coral Garden on Menjangan, sea fans and hard coral in clear water. Photo: Lakshmi Sawitri / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Day 10. The drive to the airport suits an evening flight. With a morning flight, spend night nine in the south instead, and make the drive on day 9 after the boat.

Days 8 to 10, Option B: East to Amed or Sidemen

Choose this to end closer to the airport, or if you have already seen Pemuteran. It also shows you a quieter coast many visitors to the north never drive.

• Base: Amed or Sidemen, two nights
• Driving: Lovina to Amed about 90 km, allow two and a half to three hours, and the same from Amed to the airport. Lovina to Sidemen about 115 km, three hours or more. Sidemen to the airport under 60 km, an hour and a half to two hours.
• In order: the drive east on day 8, the water or the valley on day 9, the airport on day 10

Amed. From Lovina, the coast road runs east through Tejakula and past Yeh Mampeh waterfall at Les, an easy stop on the way. Amed is a string of fishing villages under Mount Agung. Coral lies a few kicks off the black sand, and the Liberty wreck is up the road at Tulamben. Spend day 9 in the water, and see the Amed guide for the bays and the diving.

Jukungs back on the sand at Amed, the day's divers taking over. Photo: Marklchaves / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Sidemen. This inland valley in Karangasem has the Unda river running through it. Mount Agung is in view from almost everywhere, as Mongabay described it. You walk through the rice fields and hills from your guesthouse.

The village is a centre of Balinese weaving. The province's information office calls Sidemen's handmade songket a mark of prestige among lovers of traditional cloth, and the village is also known for endek.

Sidemen is the farthest drive from Lovina, and it pays you back on day 10, the easiest last day of any option here.

The rice fields of Sidemen. Photo: Paul Arps / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Where to Stay on This Route

• The south or Ubud (2 nights): close to the airport for a late landing, or in Ubud to be an hour closer to the crossing.
• Munduk (2 nights): a room with a valley view and hot water, since the nights are cool. See the Munduk guide.
• Lovina (3 nights): a villa with a pool is the right place for the slow day. Palm Living's villas are around Lovina, and the best villas in Lovina compares the stretch of coast.
• Pemuteran, Amed or Sidemen (2 nights): beachfront in Pemuteran and Amed puts the reef on your doorstep. In Sidemen, choose the view over the valley.

The wider picture of north Bali bases is in where to stay in north Bali.

Getting Around: a Driver for the Four Transfer Days

Hire a private driver for the transfer days: days 3, 5, 8 and 10.

The roads over the mountains are narrow and winding. The driver carries the bags between bases and knows where to stop.

On the days in between you can keep the driver or take short rides from your base. If you are confident on a scooter, rent one around Lovina or Pemuteran. Private drivers in north Bali explains how to book one and what to agree before you set off.

When to Go: April to October Suits the Boats and Trails

The dry season, roughly April to October, is the easiest time for this route. The sea is calmer for the dolphins and the Menjangan boats, and the views over the lakes are clearer. The trails down to Sekumpul are firmer too.

In the wet season the falls are fuller and the highlands greener, but boats are more often cancelled and the canyon paths turn slippery. The detail is in the best time to visit north Bali.

Practical Notes

• Cash: carry enough for the highlands and the last base. Waterfall entries, parking and small warungs take cash, and ATMs are thinner away from Lovina and Singaraja.
• Layers: Munduk and Bedugul are far cooler than the coast. Pack a jumper and a rain jacket.
• Temple dress: bring a sarong for Ulun Danu Beratan, Pura Pulaki and any ceremony you come across. The temple etiquette guide has the rest.
• Shoes: Sekumpul and the Munduk trails need grip. Sandals suit the river crossings.
• Buffers: leave slack before any flight. The mountain roads are slow and the south's traffic is slower.
• Prices and hours: entry fees, boat prices and opening hours change, and each linked guide points to the place's own source.

FAQ

Is 10 days in Bali enough? Yes, if you choose one side of the island to go deep on. Ten days lets you land gently in the south or Ubud and then spend eight days in the north across three bases. That leaves time for the highlands, the coast, the waterfalls and the reef, and one day with nothing planned.

How many days should I spend in north Bali on a 10-day trip? Seven or eight. Two nights in Munduk, three in Lovina and two in Pemuteran, Amed or Sidemen covers the north without hurrying, and it leaves the first two days for recovering from the flight.

What is the best order for a north Bali itinerary? Come over the mountains by the Bedugul road and stop in Munduk first, since the highlands are on the way. Then go down to Lovina, then west to Pemuteran or east to Amed. The route never doubles back over the mountains until the drive home.

Should I end my Bali trip in the north or the east? End in the west at Pemuteran if the reef matters most and you have an afternoon or evening flight, since the drive to the airport takes three and a half to four hours. End in Sidemen or Amed for a shorter last day.

Do I need a driver for this itinerary? For the transfer days, yes. The mountain crossing, the ridge road to Munduk and the long coast drives are much easier with a local driver who carries your bags. On the days in between you can do without one.

Can I do Ubud and north Bali in 10 days? Yes, and this itinerary does exactly that. Ubud takes days 1 and 2 and is the natural start, because it sits on the way to the Bedugul crossing.

Sources

• Ulun Danu Beratan, official lake and temple site, read September 2026
• Kebun Raya Indonesia, Kebun Raya Bali, read September 2026 (in Indonesian)
• Balai Taman Nasional Bali Barat, West Bali National Park, read September 2026 (in Indonesian)
• Mongabay Indonesia, Merehatkan Mata dan Jiwa di Desa Sidemen, 26 January 2018 (in Indonesian)
• Diskominfos Provinsi Bali, Untaian Filosofi pada Kain Songket Sidemen, read September 2026 (in Indonesian)
• Dinas Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata Kabupaten Buleleng, Menikmati Hening dan Sejuk Desa Munduk, read October 2026 (in Indonesian)
• Buleleng Regency, Visit North Bali, Pemuteran Tourism Village, read October 2026
• Road distances from OpenStreetMap routing (project-osrm.org), September 2026; drive times are our own rough allowances
• Every other stop is sourced on its own Northbound guide, linked in the text

Shorter versions of the same north: 3 days and 7 days. For the whole region, the north Bali travel guide.