Bali is Indonesia's Island of the Gods, a tropical paradise renowned for its terraced rice paddies, ancient Hindu temples, vibrant arts scene, and world-class surf breaks. The island seamlessly blends spiritual tradition with modern luxury, offering travelers everything from serene yoga retreats in Ubud to electric beach clubs in Seminyak.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida is a rugged limestone island southeast of Bali, known for cliff-top viewpoints, a manta ray snorkelling site, and beaches reached by steep paths cut into cliff faces. It is a full day out, not a half-day add-on, because the island is large and its roads are slow and potholed. Most visitors hire a car and driver on the island itself rather than trying to self-drive a rented scooter on the terrain.
Highlights: Kelingking Beach viewpoint (T-Rex rock formation) · Angel's Billabong natural infinity pool · Broken Beach arch formation · Crystal Bay snorkeling · Manta ray snorkeling at Manta Point · Diamond Beach viewpoint
Nusa Lembongan
Nusa Lembongan sits closer to Bali than Nusa Penida and is smaller and calmer, making it workable as a genuine day trip without an overly early start. It combines a mangrove channel, a couple of surf-and-snorkel beaches, and a short cliff walk, all within a compact area that a scooter or small buggy can cover in a few hours.
Highlights: Mushroom Bay beach and snorkeling · Shipwrecks surf break · Dream Beach and Sandy Bay · Mangrove forest boat tour · Devil's Tear blowhole · Village life and seaweed farms
Ubud Cultural Day Trip
Ubud is Bali's inland arts and culture hub, set among rice terraces rather than on the coast, and a day trip there is really a circuit of temples, a market, and craft villages rather than a single site. It works well as a day trip from the south but the traffic on the way in and out can eat into the time available, so the itinerary needs to be realistic rather than packed.
Highlights: Tegallalang Rice Terraces · Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary · Ubud Palace and Royal Temple · Ubud Traditional Market · Tirta Empul purification temple · Traditional dance performance
Mount Batur Sunrise Trek
Mount Batur is an active volcano in central Bali, and its sunrise trek is a genuine hike rather than a scenic drive - a pre-dawn climb of roughly two hours up loose volcanic scree to watch the sunrise from the crater rim, with Lake Batur and, on clear mornings, Mount Agung visible beyond it. It demands an extremely early start, since guided groups gather at the trailhead around 03:00-04:00 to summit before daybreak.
Highlights: Active volcano sunrise trek · Panoramic caldera and lake views · Summit breakfast (eggs boiled in volcanic steam) · Views of Mount Agung and Mount Rinjani (clear days)
Bedugul Highlands & Tanah Lot Combo
This route pairs Bali's cooler central highlands around Lake Bratan with the coastal temple of Tanah Lot, covering very different landscapes - misty mountain lake and dramatic sunset coastline - in a single long day. The distance and the temple's sunset timing mean the day is built around a late finish rather than an early one.
Highlights: Pura Ulun Danu Beratan floating temple on the lake · Bali Botanical Garden (Kebun Raya) · Cool highland scenery and volcanic lakes · Strawberry farms along the route · Tanah Lot sunset
Uluwatu, Kecak Dance & Jimbaran Seafood
This is a compact south-Bali peninsula day built around one clifftop temple, an evening dance performance staged at that same temple, and a seafood dinner on the beach afterward - geographically tight, so it suits travellers based in Seminyak, Kuta or Canggu who don't want a long drive.
Highlights: Uluwatu Temple clifftop views · Kecak fire dance at sunset · Grilled seafood dinner on Jimbaran Beach · Sunset over the Indian Ocean · Macaque monkeys at Uluwatu
East Bali Cultural & Temple Trail
East Bali is the island's least developed tourist region and this trail covers its temple and water-palace sites around Karangasem, well away from the south's traffic and crowds. The distance from south Bali makes it a genuinely long day, so the itinerary has to prioritise rather than attempt everything.
Highlights: Besakih Mother Temple on Mount Agung slopes · Sidemen Valley rice terrace walks · Tirta Gangga royal water palace · East Bali countryside and traditional villages · Optional Amed Beach snorkeling
Multi-day tours from Bali
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from BaliWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Start early — most popular day-trip destinations get crowded by mid-morning.
Check return transport times before you leave — missing the last train or bus can be costly.
Carry water, snacks, and layers — weather and food options can be limited at smaller destinations.