Bali is so huge that it was hard to fit all the places I wanted to see in a short 1.5 week trip. However, I was able to stop at a couple of temples and other cities.

One of the days during my trip we took a tour with GP Bali Tours and went on the Ulun Danu Temple and Green Tour, which was a convenient way to check out Taman ayun (royal family temple), Bedugal temple, candi kuning (fruit/vegetable market), and Tanah lot. An alternative would be to take a taxi to Tanah lot, a temple I would definitely recommend. Tanah lot is a temple by the sea and sunset is a popular time to see it. We also booked a sunrise hike to Mount Batur, which was an amazing hiking experience of moderate difficulty that started at 2AM! The view reminded me of Maui's Haleakala sunrise experience.

Taman ayun

Bedugal temple

Tahah lot

Tanah lot

Pandawa Beach

Padang Padang beach

Mount Batur at sunrise

We took day trips to Seminyak, Kuta, and Ulawatu. I would recommend planning your trip carefully with a map of Bali because these places are pretty far from each other. Seminyak and Kuta are right by the beach and are great if you want to stay somewhere busier with more options for restaurants, shopping at boutiques, grabbing coffee at cute coffee shops, or if you enjoy surfing. It has a beach town vibe to it and it's just more lively. The next time I go to Bali, I'll definitely be staying here. I'm not a surfer, but I hear the surfing in Ulawatu is better and more challenging. I stopped by Padang Padang beach and it was a picturesque spot with nice rocks, crowded with surfers and tanning tourists. Pandawa beach was also pretty with calm blue waters and a nice spot to relax under an umbrella.

Kuta Beach

Uluwatu temple

Padang Padang Beach

Pandawa Beach

Sea Circus, Seminyak

where to stay

Seminyak
- The Legian, Bali
- The Oberoi, Bali
Uluwatu
- Alila Villas Uluwatu
- Bulgaria Resort Bali