Bali: Rice Terraces, Reef and Ritual
Ubud for the temples and the terrace walks, Sidemen for the quiet, Amed for the reef. We stay in family-run guesthouses, eat where the drivers eat, and start the Batur climb at two in the morning so you are on the rim before the light arrives.
- Days
- 9
- 8 nights
- Group size
- 8–12
- Hard cap
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- See the day-by-day below
- From, per person
- $1,690
- Land price, no flights
The 9 days, in order
Written by the guide who runs it. Where a day is hard, it says so.
Land in Denpasar, drive north to Ubud
Day 1 of 9Airport pickup and an hour and a half north through Batubulan. Nothing scheduled after that beyond dinner on the guesthouse terrace — you will have crossed too many time zones to want more.
Night: Guesthouse in Penestanan, UbudMeals: DCampuhan ridge, then the market before it turns touristy
Day 2 of 9Out at six for the Campuhan ridge walk while it is still cool, back through Ubud market at the hour the restaurant buyers use it. Afternoon at Goa Gajah and Yeh Pulu, which most itineraries skip.
Night: Guesthouse in Penestanan, UbudMeals: B · LCooking with Ibu Wayan
Day 3 of 9A full day in one kitchen: market at seven, then base gede from scratch, lawar, sate lilit, and the long slow business of betutu. You will not want dinner.
Night: Guesthouse in Penestanan, UbudMeals: B · LJatiluwih terraces and the road to Sidemen
Day 4 of 9The UNESCO-listed terraces at Jatiluwih on the way through, then east into the Sidemen valley where the tour buses do not go. Weaving workshop in the village if the light holds.
Night: Valley lodge, SidemenMeals: B · DMount Batur, 02:00 start
Day 5 of 9Up at half one, on the trail by three, on the crater rim for sunrise over Abang with Rinjani beyond it. Two hours up, ninety minutes down, breakfast cooked in a steam vent. Back in the valley by ten and the rest of the day is yours.
Night: Valley lodge, SidemenMeals: B · LDown to the coast at Amed
Day 6 of 9Tirta Gangga water palace on the way, then the black-sand coast. Afternoon check dive or a long snorkel over the Japanese wreck, depending on what you are certified for.
Night: Beachfront bungalows, AmedMeals: B · DReef day
Day 7 of 9Two boat dives at Jemeluk and the drop-off, or a jukung out to the coral garden with a mask and nothing else. Grilled fish on the sand for lunch, which is the best meal of the trip and nobody expects it.
Night: Beachfront bungalows, AmedMeals: B · LLempuyang, then west
Day 8 of 9Early at Pura Lempuyang before the queue for the gate forms, then back across the island to Sanur for the last night and a proper dinner as a group.
Night: Hotel in SanurMeals: B · DFly out
Day 9 of 9Twenty minutes to the airport. Late flight? Leave your bag with us and take the morning on the beach.
Depart todayMeals: B
Bali, month by month
Average daily high and average monthly rainfall. Our own recommendation is May to September.
Average high temperature
30–32 °C across the year
| Month | Average high (°C) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 31°C |
| Feb | 31°C |
| Mar | 31°C |
| Apr | 32°C |
| May | 31°C |
| Jun | 30°C |
| Jul | 30°C |
| Aug | 30°C |
| Sep | 31°C |
| Oct | 31°C |
| Nov | 31°C |
| Dec | 31°C |
Average rainfall
30–345 mm a month
VerdictSweet spot: May–September — barely any rain, the terraces are still green from the wet season, and the reef at Amed is glass-flat.
What is and is not in the price
Included
- 8 nights in family-run guesthouses and lodges, twin share
- All ground transport in an air-conditioned minibus with driver
- Guide with you for all 9 days, plus local guides at each site
- Cooking class, weaving workshop and every temple entry
- Mount Batur permit, guide and headtorch
- Breakfast daily, plus 6 lunches and 4 dinners
- Airport transfers on both days
Not included
- International flights to and from Denpasar (DPS)
- Indonesia visa on arrival, currently IDR 500,000
- Travel insurance — required, and we check it
- Dive certification and equipment hire at Amed
- Meals not listed, and all drinks
- Tips for drivers and local guides
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Centred on where the trip is based. OpenStreetMap, so nothing is requested from a third party that sets cookies.
Before you book Bali
When is the best time to visit Bali?
May to September. Sweet spot: May–September — barely any rain, the terraces are still green from the wet season, and the reef at Amed is glass-flat. The two charts in the "best time to visit" block above plot the average daily high and the average monthly rainfall for all twelve months, so you can judge it against your own tolerance for heat and rain rather than taking our word for it.
How hard is the Bali trip?
We rate it moderate. It runs 9 days with a group of 8–12, and the day-by-day itinerary above says exactly what each day asks of you. If a particular day looks like too much, say so when you book — sitting one out is normal and costs nothing.
What is included in the Bali price?
8 nights in family-run guesthouses and lodges, twin share; All ground transport in an air-conditioned minibus with driver; Guide with you for all 9 days, plus local guides at each site — and more; the full list is in the inclusions above. Flights are not included.
What is the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation for 14 days after booking, with the deposit refunded in full. After that: cancel more than 60 days before departure and you lose the 20% deposit only; between 60 and 30 days, 50% of the trip price; inside 30 days, the full amount. If we cancel a departure — too few travellers, or a route genuinely closed — you choose between a full refund and a transfer to any other date.