Start your first Bali day with Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in the Ubud Monkey Forest area while it’s still cool and the macaques are most active. Aim to be there around opening time, roughly 8:30–9:00 AM, before the tour groups and heat build up. Entry is usually around IDR 80,000–100,000 for adults, and you’ll want to keep sunglasses, snacks, and anything loose in a zipped bag—the monkeys are bold, and they know exactly what they’re doing. Walk the shaded stone paths slowly; it’s part nature reserve, part temple ground, and a very easy way to settle into Ubud’s rhythm.
From there, it’s a short walk or quick scooter/taxi hop into central Ubud for Pura Taman Saraswati. This one is best before lunch when the lotus pond is calm and the light is good for photos. It’s a temple you can appreciate in 20–45 minutes without rushing, and the surrounding café strip makes it easy to pause for a drink if you want. A few steps away is Ubud Palace, which is more about atmosphere than long sightseeing—think carved gates, royal compound architecture, and a quick glimpse into the town’s historic core. It’s right in the center, so you can do both on foot in sequence.
For lunch, head to Warung Biah Biah in central Ubud, one of those places locals actually still recommend because it’s dependable, fast, and genuinely good value. Expect Balinese and Indonesian small plates, usually in the USD 8–15 range per person depending on how hungry you are. If you want a relaxed midday break, sit on the street-facing side and people-watch a little; if not, order, eat, and keep moving. Everything in this part of Ubud is walkable, so no need to overthink transport—just let the day unfold on foot.
After lunch, give yourself an easy walk or short ride out to Campuhan Ridge Walk, which is best once the sun starts softening and the valley views open up a bit. The trail itself is straightforward, and you can make it as long or short as you like; plan on about 1.5 hours if you wander, stop for photos, and take the gentler route back. Wear proper walking shoes, not flip-flops if you can avoid it—parts of the path get uneven, especially if it’s been rainy. Before you loop back, end at Pura Gunung Lebah, a quiet temple tucked right at the start of the ridge area. It’s a peaceful last stop, and because it sits a little below the foot traffic, it feels like you’ve found a pocket of old Ubud rather than another checklist sight.
From here, the rest of the evening is yours to keep loose—this is the kind of first day where wandering a side street in central Ubud, grabbing a coffee, or ducking into a spa for a foot massage makes more sense than trying to cram in one more attraction. If you want to stay out for dinner, this part of town has plenty of easy options along Jalan Hanoman, Jalan Dewi Sita, and around the main market area. Since you’re staying in Ubud tonight, no transfer stress—just take a slow return walk or a short taxi back to your base and save your energy for the longer island legs later in the week.
Leave Ubud early and head up into the highlands so you reach Pura Ulun Danu Beratan before the tour buses and the lake mist turn the whole scene into a queue. In good light, this is the Bali postcard: the temple looks like it’s floating on Lake Beratan, and December mornings can be especially atmospheric, with cool air and soft cloud over the water. Plan on about 1.5 hours here, and give yourself a little extra time for the parking area and entrance; tickets are usually around IDR 75,000 for adults, plus a small parking fee. Afterward, it’s a short hop to Bali Botanic Garden, which feels like the island exhaling — wide forest paths, giant trees, fern-heavy corners, and enough space to wander without rushing. It’s one of the best breaks from the road, especially if you want a quieter, greener side of Bedugul.
Continue to Pasar Candi Kuning for a quick, local market stop. This is the place to pick up Bedugul strawberries, packed spices, dried snacks, and simple mountain produce you won’t see as neatly displayed elsewhere. It’s not a polished tourist market, which is part of the charm — just keep small cash handy and expect friendly bargaining. From there, head to The Blooms Garden, a more manicured, scenic stop with flower beds, photo points, and open views that contrast nicely with the temple and forest earlier in the day. It works best when you’re not trying to “do” it too fast; allow around 1.5 hours so you can actually enjoy the grounds instead of only snapping pictures. For lunch, settle in at Warung Rekreasi Bedugul — a reliable, easygoing place for Indonesian comfort food, with dishes like fried rice, grilled chicken, vegetables, and hot tea that make sense in the cooler weather. Expect roughly USD 7–14 per person, and enjoy the mountain-view setting without overthinking it.
Finish with a quick photo stop at Handara Gate on the way back down. It’s famous for the split-gate framing against the mountain backdrop, and while it’s undeniably busy these days, it still makes a nice final Bedugul image if you go late afternoon when the light softens. Keep this one brief — about 30 minutes is enough — and don’t worry if the line is moving slowly; the stop is really just a clean punctuation mark to the day. If you’re heading back toward your next base afterward, leave with enough daylight to avoid the worst of mountain traffic and to enjoy the drive downhill in comfort.
From Bedugul to Candidasa, plan on an early breakfast and a fairly full transfer day, so the key is to get on the road right after you check out and arrive in Amlapura with enough energy for the sightseeing circuit. Start at Taman Ujung around opening time if you can; the water palace is prettier in the softer morning light, and the reflective pools are calmer before the midday heat kicks in. Budget about IDR 50,000–75,000 for entry, and give yourself around 1.5 hours to wander the bridges, pavilions, and landscaped grounds without rushing. It’s an easy, photogenic start to the day and a nice way to ease into East Bali’s royal history.
Next, head a short drive into Amlapura for Puri Agung Karangasem, a compact but worthwhile stop if you like old Bali architecture and local history. This is less of a big-ticket attraction and more of a slow, atmospheric look at the Karangasem royal legacy, so 45 minutes is plenty unless you’re especially into heritage sites. The complex is generally quiet, and the best part is simply soaking up the contrast between the palace grounds and the busy streets around them. From here, continue uphill toward Lempuyang Temple; the climb and temple circuit can take a couple of hours, and December weather can be humid even in the mountains, so bring water and expect a bit of waiting if the sky is clear and views are drawing crowds.
For lunch, stop at Warung Babi Guling Ibu Oka Karangasem in the Amlapura area and keep it simple: a plate of crispy roasted pork, rice, and sides is exactly what this stretch of the day calls for. It’s one of those places where the meal is the point, not the setting, and you’ll usually spend around USD 6–12 per person depending on what you order. If you’re not eating pork, it’s worth checking alternatives nearby before you arrive, since this stop is specifically for the signature dish. After lunch, the road back toward the coast is a welcome break from the temple steps.
Save the afternoon for Virgin Beach (Pantai Pasir Putih), one of the nicer soft-sand beaches on this side of Bali and a good place to cool off after the temple circuit. Expect a low-key beach club or warung setup, small parking fees, and a relaxed feel rather than polished resort infrastructure; it’s best for a swim, a barefoot walk, and a long sit with something cold. Give yourself about 2 hours here, then head back toward Candidasa for an unhurried finish at Candidasa Lotus Lagoon. By evening, this is a pleasant place for a shoreline stroll and dinner; keep an eye out for small seafood spots and local cafés around the main strip, and aim to arrive before sunset so you can catch the lagoon in the last light before settling in for the night.
Arrive into Nusa Penida early enough to get moving by around 8:00 AM, because the west side is a proper bumpy-island road day and you want the best light at the first stop. Head straight to Kelingking Beach first: this is the classic cliff viewpoint everyone comes for, and it’s worth doing before the heat builds and the tour vans stack up. Give yourself about 1.5 hours here so you can walk the edge, take the usual photo, and just stand there for a minute and take in the scale of it. Wear grippy shoes, keep cash for the small parking fee, and don’t feel pressured to hike all the way down unless you’re genuinely fit and ready for a steep return.
From Kelingking Beach, continue along the west-coast circuit to Angel’s Billabong and then Broken Beach. These two work best back-to-back because they’re close, and the roads between them are short but slow enough that you should still budget a little buffer. At Angel’s Billabong, go only when the water is calm and the tide is low; the rock pool can look gorgeous, but safety matters more than the photo. Then walk over to Broken Beach for the natural arch and cove view, which is one of those quick stops where 30–45 minutes is plenty unless you’re lingering for drone shots. The paths are uneven limestone, so sandals are fine only if they’re secure.
For lunch, pull into Warung D’Bataran and keep it simple: nasi goreng, mie goreng, grilled fish, or fresh juice is usually the move after a morning on Penida’s roads. It’s a practical stop more than a fancy one, and that’s exactly why it works here; expect roughly USD 8–15 per person depending on how much you order. Afterward, make your way to Crystal Bay for the softer part of the day. This is the easiest beach stop on the west side for swimming and snorkeling, especially if you want a calmer break after the cliffs. Plan on about 2 hours here, and if you’re snorkeling, ask locally about current conditions before heading in — December can be variable, and the sea is best when it’s settled.
Finish at Penida Colada Beach Bar near Crystal Bay for sunset drinks or an early dinner, which is the nicest way to let the island day wind down without rushing back to the harbor too soon. It’s a good spot for cold drinks, beach-facing seating, and a slower pace after the long sightseeing circuit, with roughly USD 10–20 per person depending on how you eat and drink. If you’re staying overnight on Nusa Penida, this is the time to relax and keep the evening easy; if you’re continuing onward, leave enough margin for the drive back from the west side to the harbor, because island roads are dark, narrow, and slower than they look on the map.
After your boat into Sanur, keep the day soft and unhurried. Start with Sanur Beach, where the paved seaside path is the whole point: it’s flat, breezy, and perfect for a quiet 8:00–9:00 AM walk before the heat settles in. This stretch is ideal for a first coffee stop, a bit of people-watching, and a gentle reset after the island transfer. If you want the cleanest swim-and-stroll vibe, stay on the promenade side near the better-maintained access points rather than heading too far north or south.
From there, drift down to Mertasari Beach, which feels more local and less polished in a good way. It’s a calmer patch for sitting under the trees, watching fishing boats, or just enjoying the slower side of Sanur. The walk between the two is easy by foot or a short scooter/taxi hop if the midday sun is already up. If you’re hungry, keep an eye out for simple warungs around the beach roads, but don’t rush—this is one of those corners of Bali where the pace matters more than the plan.
Head inland for Sindhu Market, a lively neighborhood stop where you can graze rather than “shop.” Come before noon if you want the best fruit, pastries, and snack selection; after that it gets thinner, and some of the food stalls wind down. It’s a good place to pick up ripe mango, bananas, klepon, or a quick nasi campur-style lunch from a local stall without paying resort-area prices. From the market, Kopi Bali House is an easy next move for a proper sit-down break—good coffee, brunch plates, and enough shade to let your feet recover. Expect roughly USD 6–12 per person here, and it’s the kind of café where lingering for an hour feels completely normal.
Once you’ve cooled off, continue to Museum Le Mayeur, one of Sanur’s more charming cultural stops and pleasantly compact, so it won’t eat the whole afternoon. The building itself is a beachfront house with real personality, and the collection gives you a neat window into Bali’s artistic history without turning into a long museum marathon. Plan for about an hour, and go with the expectation that this is a reflective stop rather than a big-ticket attraction; entrance is usually modest, and it’s especially nice if you like old photographs, paintings, and a bit of colonial-era storytelling. Afterward, if you have extra energy, you can wander back along the beach path or just rest at your hotel before dinner.
Finish at Batujimbar Café, which is a comfortable final stop for a proper meal before an evening harbor transfer or an early night. It’s one of the easiest places in Sanur to settle into without overthinking the menu, and a good choice if you want a cleaner, more polished dinner than a beach warung but still relaxed enough for travel day. Budget around USD 12–25 per person depending on what you order. If you’re heading onward, leave yourself a buffer so you’re not trying to rush across Sanur in the dark; traffic is usually manageable, but the area gets noticeably busier around sunset and dinner time.
From Sanur, leave early so you can be in Pecatu by opening time and have Padang Padang Beach almost to yourself for a bit. The beach is compact, so 1.5 hours is enough to swim, people-watch, and climb back up without rushing. Expect a small entrance fee, cash preferred, and a short set of steps down through the rock split; bring a little extra time if you’re carrying a beach bag or camera. If you want a coffee before the first stop, grab it in Ungasan or along the Bypass Ngurah Rai before turning onto the peninsula roads.
A short drive brings you to Suluban Beach, where the fun is the descent through the cave opening and along the limestone ledges. This is more of a walk-and-look place than a long-sit beach, and at high tide the access gets trickier, so keep an eye on the waterline and wear sandals you don’t mind getting wet. By midday, head up to Uluwatu Temple; dress modestly with a sarong or borrow one at the entrance, and plan around the cliff edge viewpoints rather than trying to rush through. After that, go straight to Single Fin for lunch or an early drink — it’s one of the easiest places to settle in with an ocean-facing table, and it works best when you’re not in a hurry. Expect resort-pricing rather than warung pricing, roughly in the USD 12–25 range per person.
After lunch, continue south to Melasti Beach in Ungasan, which feels like a different side of the island entirely: broader sand, dramatic white limestone walls, and a more spacious, slower rhythm. This is the spot for a proper afternoon pause, whether that means a swim, a long walk, or just sitting under an umbrella and letting the heat drop a little. The road in is scenic but can bottleneck near the access point, so be patient on arrival and keep some small bills handy for parking and beach access fees. If you have energy left, stay until the light softens on the cliffs — December afternoons can be moody here in the best way.
Finish at the Jimbaran Seafood Cafés along Jimbaran Bay, where dinner is really about the ritual: choose your fish or prawns from the display, settle into a table right on the sand, and let the sky do its thing over the water. Go a little before sunset if you want a front-row seat and faster service, and expect the meal to run roughly USD 20–40 per person depending on what you order and whether you add drinks. This is one of the easiest last stops in Bali, so don’t overcomplicate it — arrive hungry, order simply, and enjoy the slow beachfront finish to the day.
If you’re coming up from Uluwatu, leave after breakfast or by mid-morning so you land in Seminyak before the worst of the beach-road traffic; the drive is usually 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on how the Bypass Ngurah Rai and Jalan Sunset Road are flowing. Drop bags first if you can, then head straight to Double Six Beach for an easy sunrise-to-late-morning stretch on the sand. This is one of the best places in Seminyak for a proper walk: wide beach, steady surf, and plenty of local joggers, dog walkers, and surf schools. If you want a coffee after the walk, there are plenty of simple beach cafés along the strip, but don’t linger too long — the sun gets strong fast in December.
From the beach, it’s a short taxi or ride-share hop to Pura Petitenget, a compact coastal temple tucked just off Jalan Petitenget. It’s small, but it matters — especially if you want one last dose of Balinese temple atmosphere without committing to a half-day outing. Dress modestly, and expect a quick visit of about 30 minutes. After that, continue to Seminyak Village for some air-conditioned wandering and last-minute shopping; it’s a practical stop if you want batik, homeware, or souvenirs that are a bit nicer than the usual airport grab-and-go. Right nearby, Sisterfields is an easy brunch call for good coffee, eggs, smoothie bowls, or a solid burger if you want something familiar before the final afternoon out.
Keep the middle of the day soft at Petitenget Beach — this is the part of Seminyak where you can choose your style: spread out on the sand, rent loungers, or settle into a beach club with shade and a cold drink while the light turns golden. If you’re walking in from Jalan Petitenget, bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, and small cash for parking or beach-side purchases; the beach itself is free, but drinks and daybeds vary a lot in price. For your final sunset, head to La Plancha on Double Six Beach and grab a beanbag early — around 5:00 PM is the sweet spot in December so you’re seated before the sky starts changing. Expect easy-going music, bright umbrellas, and an end-of-trip vibe that feels very Bali: unhurried, social, and just polished enough for a final night drink.