The ultimate Bali itinerary - how to plan your dream Bali vacation

Lying slap bang in the middle of the tropics, Bali has two main seasons. The dry season runs from May until September. Better-value accommodation and slightly lower humidity can be had outside the peak months of July and August. The other half of the year is the wet season, although in between showers large parts of the day are still perfect for sightseeing and relaxing on the beach.

Balinese, rather than Bahasa (Indonesian), is the island’s main language. However, a huge number of people on Bali speak good English, ensuring your Bali itinerary can run without a hitch.

Outside of the best restaurants in Ubud, which will accept credit and debit cards, you’re going to want some physical cash. There are plenty of counters changing the main international currencies, and a good number of ATMs for withdrawals.

The best way to stay healthy is to drink only bottled or treated water, which is easy to come by. Also, consider avoiding salads and other food items that may have been washed or prepared using untreated water.

Set on the edge of Bali’s central mountains, Ubud is the island’s cultural capital, with a fantastic ambience and plenty to explore amid its lush foliage and stunning local architecture.

If you’re wondering what to do in Ubud, a list of things to do in Ubud must include a visit to the seventeenth-century royal palace. Not only is the compound beautiful in its own right, but each evening there’s also an alternating schedule of traditional dances.

Nearby, you’ll find Ubud Art Market, offering a range of handcrafted souvenirs, while the temples in Ubud’s Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary are slightly further along the same road. This small patch of forest in the heart of Ubud is home to more than 1000 long-tailed macaques, who consider the three temples their own personal property.

Before you leave Ubud, be sure to explore the natural wonders slightly further afield. The Tegallalang Rice Terraces combine a fine natural setting with the twenty-first-century addition of a zipline and jungle swings, while Tegenungan Waterfall is the perfect place to cap off your itinerary of Ubud things to do.

A little more laid back than party-centric Kuta, Jimbaran’s tranquil beachside location undoubtedly makes it one of the best places to stay in Bali. Its white sands and calm waters make it ideal for a relaxed beach stop. The natural rock pools of Tegal Wangi Beach make for a romantic place to watch the sunset, as does nearby Uluwatu Hindu Temple, which sits on precipitous cliffs soaring 70 metres above the southern coast.

If you’re up for a few days in quintessential scenes of paradise, the Gili Islands are the places to stay in Bali for you. Located off the coast of neighbouring Lombok, fast boats can make the trip in around two hours, and avoid the hassle of airports. With three days there’s the potential to visit each of the three main islands – Trawangan (or Gili T), Air, and Meno.

Trawangan is the largest and liveliest, making it the place to head for those looking to throw shapes long into the night. Air is a little more muted, but still has plenty to entertain the visitor, while Meno is the top pick to forget about the rest of the world.

Whichever island you end up on, you can’t come to the Gilis without slipping on a snorkel and mask – the corals off the islands are exquisite.

Famed for its sunsets, Seminyak on Bali’s southwest coast is a touch more refined than other destinations on this part of the island. Here you’ll encounter those you enjoy the finer things in life rather than the backpacking crowd. As a result, things to do in Seminyak centre around the mile-long beach and spa scene. Further afield, there’s Tanah Lot, the much-photographed Hindu pilgrimage site just offshore, which is worth the detour before heading to the airport.