Two Weeks in Bali

THE SOLO TRIP OF A LIFETIME! Bali makes me feel some type of way! Bali will always be something different for everyone, but for me it's a feeling I can't even describe. It's officially one of my favorite places in the world. There are so many places to visit in Bali and if I could, I would've stayed an entire month so that I could see everything I wanted to. But I only had two weeks... so keep reading for my two week itinerary in Seminyak, Canggu, Ubud, and Uluwatu!

Seminyak & Canggu

Seminyak and Canggu are on the southern part of Bali. This is where most of the expats live and it's a hub for digital nomads. There are a ton of luxury hotels, hostels, bars, restaurants, clubs, and a ton of night life.

Shop at the Love Anchor

I really loved shopping in this little bazaar. There's everything from home decor, clothing, handbags, jewelry, everything. I would say out of everywhere I shopped in Bali, I loved the designs/trends and quality of this market. You can haggle here and some vendors take card but I would just bring cash.

Eat at Kynd Community

This plant based cafe in Seminyak, the food was amazing and the ambiance is so cute. The vibes in this place were just awesome. You have probably seen the famous Bali bowls or have seen this place on Instagram a lot, there are a ton of people taking pictures in here. I got an acai smoothie bowl and it was decorated with BALI letters and it was delicious. *They also serve alcohol!

Eat Local Food at Varuna Warung

For some legit local food, I went to Varuna Warung, you can pick what you want from the window or have them freshly make a dish. I got a fried chicken noodle with an egg on top. It was really good and well flavored.

Eat Breakfast at The Loft

After awhile I was craving a more Western breakfast. The Loft was so good. They also have a really extensive menu but it's mostly American foods. There is also good coffee here and it's on a busy street full of small boutiques!

Visit the Tanah Lot Temple

This is a temple that is out on the water, the tide was a bit low when I went but it was such a magical place. There is no dress code but tourists are not allowed in the temple. However, outside of the temple there is a holy water cleansing area.

Visit the GWK Cultural Park (Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue)

I stumbled upon this place because my cab driver suggested to go here. It's the biggest statue in Indonesia of the devoted to the Hindu god Vishnu, and his mount, Garuda, the mythical bird who became his companion. You can see this statue when you drive around Bali. At first, I thought it was a bit of a tourist trap only because you have to pay for entry, then pay for the shuttle there, then you pay to go up the statue, and you pay for a shuttle back. So instead, I just paid for entry and did not go up the statue, I shuttled there and walked back while exploring the grounds. Here you can watch a traditional balinese fire dance but I just looked around and found some cool little places to relax between the huge stone walls.

Catch a sunset at The Lawn in Canggu

Sunsets are everything in Bali. Make sure to always find a good spot to catch a sunset! I went to the Lawn in Canggu and absolutely loved it. There is a pool, a bar, or grab a beach chair on the beach! Great place for groups or just hanging out. There is good music playing and it's a super chill place to hang out.

Ubud

Ubud is a must when visiting Bali. It's a bit of a drive out of the bustling Seminyak area but it's totally worth seeing the lush jungle, you can visit rice terraces, a monkey forest, shop in the Ubud market, or just explore the town. There are a ton of things to do and you can get a great feel to Balinese culture.

Stay at the Sandat Glamping Tents

I spent one night at this amazing glamping tent in Ubud. Sandat Glamping Tents are the first ever glamour-camp in Bali and it was established back in 2013. These luxury tents and huts are fully furnished with A/C, a private pool, shower, restaurant, bar, spa service, and shuttle into town. It was such a unique getaway in the jungle. I loved all of the little details, the aesthetics were on point!

You can check out their website here: https://www.glampingsandat.com/

Stay at the Bisma Eight

Next, I stayed a weekend at the Bisma Eight hotel. It was a combination of luxury, comfort, and nature all in one place. I was seriously living my best life here. I highly suggest to get the jungle suite because your balcony view is very lush. There is an infinity pool, amazing breakfast restaurant on the roof, a wood tub, and afternoon tea that can be delivered to your room. It was such an amazing hotel and I had such a great Ubud experience there.

You can check out their website here: https://bisma-eight.com/

Shop at the Ubud Market

If you are in Ubud and love to shop, go to the Ubud Market. I loved shopping here, getting lost in the aisles and back corners, haggling and meeting locals, touching things and just buying all kinds of stuff. I bought a ton of cute bags and home decor!

Spend the day at the Tegallalang Rice Terrace

So, if you went to Ubud and didn't go to the Rice Terrace, did you even go to Ubud? kidding. But this place is definitely THE PLACE to go if you are in Ubud, at least once. Yes, there are a lot of tourist and they charge you if you want to keep going further in the rice fields, but it really is worth the hype. It's such a beautiful place, I loved every minute there. When you are done, make sure to just take a minute and grab a beer at the bars at the top of the Rice Terraces and just enjoy the sights.

Uluwatu Surf Town

For the last week of my stay in Bali, I stayed in Uluwatu which is a huge surf town. It's a bit more secluded and the roads are smaller but there are some amazing places to visit in Uluwatu. It's also close to the airport so it's a good location to end the trip and make your way to the airport.

Stay at La Joya Balangan Resort

I stayed a whole week at this resort in Uluwatu, Bali. It was so relaxing and has it's own stair access to the Balangan Beach! You can stay in your own bungalow or get a room. They all include a patio or balcony. There are two pools to lounge at with plenty of pool chairs and breakfast is included with your stay. They offer yoga in the mornings and afternoons as well as a spa for massages. It was such a great place for relaxing and taking it easy.

You can check out their website here: http://www.lajoyaresorts.com/balangan/

Watch a sunset at Balangan Beach

This was the beach that you can access from La Joya hotel, there was a stair access that led directly to it. It was such a perfect place to watch the surfers, take a surf lesson, watch a sunset, grab a beer, eat dinner, as there are many little restaurants and bars along this beach. Also, keep a look out for some stray doggos that might come and hang out with you!

Visit Dreamland Beach

Dreamland beach is exactly what it's called, a DREAM. There is a beautiful cliff and resorts on the beach. You can also pay for a beach umbrella, beach chair, and chill on the beach. The water was so clear and turquoise, it was amazing.

Watch a sunset at the Pantai Tegal Wangi Beach

This was a local spot where people come and watch the sunset. There are a ton of little caves that you can grab a spot in. It got pretty crowded around sunset but it was a super chill vibe. There are also some vendors at the top of this spot selling drinks and snacks to have the best little picnic on the beach.

Grab a drink and watch a sunset at Sunset Point

I loved this bar in Uluwatu, grab a beer and a bean bag and just enjoy the sites. This bar was located on a cliff overlooking the beach. Towards sunset it gets lively with music and a ton of people. It was super cute and a good vibe. Great place to meet some people and have a drink with them!

Check out the Abandoned Aircraft

I don't know why I have an obsession with planes that aren't at the airport but I am. This was an abandoned plane in Uluwatu, pretty cool for photo ops, you can't go inside but it was pretty awesome to see. Just google "Abandoned Aircraft" in Google Maps to find it. Once you get to the location, walk up the hill to find it!

Get a massage and body scrub at The Calma Spa

This was a spa that was recommended by my driver, it was super nice to relax and get a massage and body scrub before my flight back to the states. I got the package for a 1 hour massage, 1 hour body scrub, and then a flower bath after. Highly recommended in Bali! Also, your skin feels super soft after a body scrub and I totally needed that after 2 weeks in Bali.

Eat seafood on the beachfront at Blue Marlin Cafe in Jimbaran Bay

I stumbled upon this restaurant in Jimbaran Bay! It was a seafood restaurant right on the beach, it was super lively and the food was amazing! There are a ton of restaurants to choose from but I went with Blue Marlin Cafe. It was a super chill place to eat dinner and try some local seafood. It is a bit on the pricey side but it's fresh seafood!

Night out at Single Fin's

Single Fin's is SO MUCH FUN! Definitely go on Sunday or Wednesday Nights. The music was amazing (some reggae/house/techno) and the crowd was super fun. They have a pool and they serve food and alcohol. There is a live band inside and a DJ outside. Great place to catch the sunset and end the night dancing! Or... meeting a cute expat!

Love,

Laura C.