Keep your first day gentle: after landing, allow roughly 1.5–2 hours for the drive from Ngurah Rai Airport to Ubud, longer in December traffic, then check in and freshen up. Have your hotel arrange a car, or use a licensed airport transfer; ride-hailing pickups can be less straightforward at the terminal. Once you’re ready, head to Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung) in the town center for an easy 45-minute look around its historic courtyards. It’s generally open during the day, though access to some areas may be limited; there’s usually no admission charge.
From the palace, walk a few minutes to Saraswati Temple to admire its ornate entrance and lotus pond—allow about 30 minutes, and remember that the inner temple is reserved for worshippers. Continue on foot to Ubud Art Market, typically open from morning into early evening, for an unhurried browse through textiles and crafts. Prices are often negotiable; compare a couple of stalls and bargain warmly rather than treating the first price as fixed. December showers are common, so bring a light rain jacket and keep a little flexibility in your strolling time.
Finish at Cafe Wayan, a leafy garden restaurant on Jalan Monkey Forest, about a 10-minute walk from the market. Set aside 1.5 hours for Indonesian and international dishes; expect roughly IDR 100,000–250,000 per person, before drinks. It’s a lovely first-night setting for a honeymoon, but if you’re tired from the flight, ask your hotel to arrange a short car ride back rather than navigating the dark streets on foot.
Set out around 7:00am for Tegallalang Rice Terraces, roughly 30–45 minutes north of central Ubud depending on traffic. Going early means cooler air and softer light for photos; allow about 1½ hours to wander the paths and viewpoints. Entry is typically around IDR 25,000–50,000 per person, with some swings or photo spots charging extra. Wear shoes with grip—the steps can be slick after December rain—and agree with your driver on a pickup point before you start exploring.
Continue about 20 minutes to Tirta Empul Temple in Tampaksiring. Give yourselves around 1½ hours for the temple grounds; it’s generally open daily from morning to late afternoon, and entry is usually around IDR 50,000–75,000 per person. Cover shoulders and knees (sarongs are available at the entrance). The purification pools are sacred, so enjoy watching respectfully unless you’ve specifically chosen to take part in the ritual.
On the way back toward Ubud, stop for a relaxed lunch at Karsa Cafe in Campuhan, beside the rice fields. It’s a lovely pause after the temple visit; budget roughly IDR 100,000–200,000 per person and allow an hour. Then take a car into central Ubud for the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary—around 15–25 minutes from the café, depending on traffic. Spend about 1½ hours on its shaded paths and temple grounds; it generally opens daily from morning to early evening, with adult admission often around IDR 100,000–120,000. Keep phones, sunglasses, and bags secured, and don’t carry food. December showers can arrive suddenly, so bring a light rain jacket and let the afternoon unfold at an easy pace.
Start around 7:00am at the trail entrance beside Ibah Luxury Villas, just west of central Ubud, for the Campuhan Ridge Walk. The walk is free and takes about 1½ hours at an easy pace; go early for cooler air and fewer people, and bring water—the ridge has little shade. In December, showers can arrive quickly, so pack a light rain jacket and watch your footing if the path is wet. From the trail entrance, it’s a short walk to the Blanco Renaissance Museum; allow about 1½ hours to see Antonio Blanco’s art and former home. It generally opens around 9:00am, but check its hours before setting out; admission is roughly IDR 100,000 per person.
Walk or take a short ride to Alchemy in Penestanan for a relaxed plant-based lunch. Budget around IDR 100,000–200,000 per person, depending on drinks and dishes. It’s a good place to slow down after the walk; check the day’s opening hours, especially around the holidays. When you’re ready to head into the center, allow roughly 10–15 minutes by car or ride-hailing app, with extra time for Ubud traffic.
Visit Pura Dalem Ubud to admire its richly carved exterior; modest dress is appropriate, and a sarong is useful if you plan to enter. Allow about 45 minutes, then ask locally whether a traditional dance performance is scheduled that evening—show nights vary, and tickets and start times can change. If there’s no performance, keep the evening unhurried and enjoy a stroll through central Ubud before dinner.
Leave Ubud after breakfast, around 8:00–9:00am, and allow 1½–2 hours to reach Sidemen; December showers and traffic can add time. Have your accommodation arrange a private car and confirm that your luggage is coming with you. After checking in or dropping bags, take a gentle walk through the Sidemen Rice Terraces (about 1½ hours). These are working fields, so stick to public paths and ask locally which trails are suitable after rain; muddy sections can be slippery.
Settle in for lunch at Asri Dining by Samanvaya, where Indonesian and international dishes come with a lovely valley outlook. Allow 1–1½ hours and budget roughly IDR 150,000–300,000 per person. It’s a relaxed first meal in Sidemen, so there’s no need to rush.
Spend the late afternoon wandering the Sidemen village lanes, past gardens and traditional homes. Keep to public paths, dress modestly near temples, and ask before photographing residents. For dinner, head to Warung Dapur Kapulaga for Balinese and Indonesian cooking; expect around IDR 75,000–175,000 per person and allow about 1½ hours. Sidemen is quiet after dark, so arrange your ride back with your accommodation if you’re not staying within easy walking distance.
Arrange a local guide through your stay for a Sidemen valley guided walk, setting out around 7:00–8:00am while it’s cool. Allow 2–3 hours to follow village lanes and rice-field paths at an easy pace; ask your guide to adjust the route if December rain has made the footing muddy. Guides and routes vary, so confirm the price and duration with your accommodation the evening before, and wear shoes with grip.
From the valley, take a car or scooter taxi to Gembleng Waterfall—usually around 20–30 minutes, depending on where you’re staying—and leave about an hour for the cascade and natural pools. The steps can be slick, especially after rain; skip the climb or swimming if conditions feel unsafe. Then head back to Warung Maha Neka for an unhurried Indonesian lunch. Budget roughly IDR 50,000–125,000 per person; check with your stay or the restaurant for the day’s opening hours.
After lunch, continue by car to the Kusamba coast, allowing roughly 45–60 minutes each way from Sidemen. Spend about an hour seeing the traditional salt-making, but treat it as a working-farm visit: production depends on sunshine, sea conditions and the farmers’ schedule, so ask locally before setting off and be respectful about photos. Return to your accommodation before dusk, then keep the evening deliberately quiet—watch the sunset from your stay and enjoy dinner there, without needing another drive after dark.
Have your Sidemen stay arrange a private car and confirm it can take both of you and your luggage; with a morning departure and a comfort stop, expect to reach Uluwatu around noon or early afternoon. Ask your accommodation whether you can drop your bags or check in early, then head to Padang Padang Beach for a relaxed couple of hours. The cove is reached by steps through a rocky entrance, and there’s usually a small entry fee—bring cash, swimwear, and sandals. December showers can make the steps slippery, and surf and tide conditions vary, so check before swimming; it’s often better to enjoy the water from shore if the waves are rough.
Allow roughly 20–30 minutes by car from Padang Padang Beach to Uluwatu Temple (Pura Luhur Uluwatu), with extra time for traffic and the walk from the entrance to the clifftop. Arrive well before sunset to explore the grounds and find your seats for the Kecak performance. Sarongs are required and are generally provided at the entrance; temple and performance fees are separate, and the sunset show is popular, so check the day’s schedule and buy tickets as early as you can. Keep sunglasses, loose items, and phones secure around the macaques.
After the temple, take a short drive to Single Fin in Suluban for dinner and a drink with ocean views. Budget about IDR 150,000–350,000 per person; Sunday evenings can be lively, so expect a wait or reserve if possible. Allow around 1½ hours, and take a ride arranged by your accommodation or a local driver rather than walking the dark, steep roads back.
Take a relaxed start at Bingin Beach in Pecatu, where the limestone cliffs and tucked-away shoreline make a lovely last-day backdrop. Allow about 1½ hours, but remember the beach is reached by a steep set of stairs; wear shoes with grip, especially if December rain has left them slick. Afterward, drive roughly 10–15 minutes to Suka Espresso for coffee and a late breakfast or brunch. Budget around IDR 75,000–175,000 per person, and leave about an hour to linger.
Continue by car to Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park in Ungasan, around 20–30 minutes away depending on traffic. Set aside about two hours for the huge statue and the open-air grounds; check the day’s performance schedule at the entrance, and bring water and sun protection since much of the park is exposed. Admission is generally in the low-to-mid hundreds of thousands of rupiah per person, with prices and inclusions varying—confirm when booking.
Finish at The Edge Bali for a reserved couples’ spa treatment or another resort experience, allowing 1½–2 hours. It’s a short drive from the park, but ask the resort in advance about treatment availability, guest access, and the best arrival time; spa treatments are premium-priced and should be booked ahead. December showers can interrupt plans, so keep a little flexibility—and let your driver know whether you’ll be returning to your hotel or staying for dinner.
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