Bali has a reputation for being two islands at once: one packed with beach clubs and surf breaks, the other wrapped in rice terraces and temple incense. A backpacker with seven days can get a fair taste of both, as long as the route stays honest about traffic, distances, and budgets.
In This Guide
This Bali itinerary covers what to sort out on arrival, which bases make sense, how to get around cheaply, a day by day route, and roughly what a week costs. It also looks at Nusa Lembongan, where some travellers extend their stay for underwater training, and where that path can lead.
Getting to Bali as a Backpacker
Most travellers land at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), just south of Denpasar. A visa on arrival has been listed at about USD 35 for 30 days, and a tourism levy of Rp 150,000 (roughly USD 9.50) applies per visitor. Both fees change, so the official immigration pages are worth checking before departure.
Rides from the airport are easier than they look. Pre booked transfers to Canggu run roughly Rp 250,000 to 350,000, ride apps charge around Rp 200,000 to 300,000, and kerb taxi quotes tend to be inflated. A local SIM or eSIM on arrival keeps maps and ride apps working from the first minute.
Why Choose Bali for Backpacking
Bali has been on the backpacker circuit for decades, and the infrastructure shows. Guesthouses and homestays are plentiful and priced for long stays, with one 2023 cost log recording rooms at USD 8 to 18 a night, while hostels in Canggu, Ubud, and Uluwatu add shared spaces that make meeting other solo travellers easy.
Food, transport, and logistics follow the same pattern. Meals start from a few dollars, ride apps and shared shuttles cover most routes, and a visa on arrival keeps entry simple for many nationalities. The island is also compact, so beaches, rice terraces, temples, and offshore islands like Nusa Lembongan fit into one trip, and English is widely understood in tourist areas.
Getting Around on a Backpacker Budget
Each option trades cost against comfort. Scooters rent for about Rp 70,000 to 100,000 a day and give the most freedom, but they need an international driving permit with a motorcycle endorsement, which police checkpoints do ask for. Travellers with no riding experience are better off skipping them, since Bali traffic is a poor place to learn.
Ride apps such as Grab and Gojek suit short hops, though some villages restrict pickups. Private drivers cost around Rp 700,000 to 900,000 for an 8 to 10 hour day, which splits comfortably among three or four travellers and makes sense for longer routes like the east coast or the northern lakes.
Choosing Stops That Keep Costs Down
Bali is easy on a budget, but small choices add up quickly. The route matters as much as the price list: grouping nearby stops, moving in one direction, and matching the transport to each leg keeps both spending and wasted hours down. Here are six ways to do:
Make Good Use of Cheap Ride Apps
Days one and two cover the south coast, from the beach at Canggu to the cliffs of Uluwatu. Grab and Gojek keep short rides cheap, and the fare drops further when split between two or three travellers. Some villages restrict pickups, so a short walk to the main road is sometimes needed.
Choose Warungs Over Tourist Restaurants
A plate of nasi goreng at a local warung costs a fraction of a beachfront menu and tastes just as good. Meals in sit down restaurants averaged USD 2 to 5 in one 2023 cost log, and warungs often come in lower. That leaves room for one splurge, such as seafood at Jimbaran after the Uluwatu temple.
Pick Free Beaches and Cheap Sights
Day two shows how little a good day can cost. Padang Padang beach charges about Rp 15,000, the Uluwatu temple about Rp 75,000 including a sarong, and the sunset is free. The kecak fire dance around 6 pm, at roughly Rp 150,000, is the one big spend. Bingin beach involves about 200 steps, so lighter bags help.
Walk More Around Ubud
Days three and four make Ubud the base, and its centre is compact. Ubud Palace, the art market, and the Campuhan Ridge Walk are reachable on foot, which saves ride fares for the legs that really need wheels. The Monkey Forest is close enough to walk too, though a firm grip on bags and sunglasses is wise, because the macaques are quick.
Share a Driver for the Long Day
For the stretch outside town, the Tegenungan waterfall, the Tegallalang rice terraces, and Tirta Empul, a private driver costs around Rp 700,000 to 900,000 for an 8 to 10 hour day. Split among three or four travellers, it works out cheaper per head than several separate rides, and an early start means the springs at Tirta Empul are quietest around 8 am.
Finish on Nusa Lembongan
Days five to seven move to Nusa Lembongan, where guesthouses ran around USD 13 to 15 a night in one 2023 log. The fast boat from Sanur takes about 30 to 45 minutes, and the mangrove forest, calm beaches, and snorkeling at Mangrove Point ask for little more than time. A spare half day before the flight is sensible, since rough seas can delay crossings.
Your 7 Day Bali Itinerary
Here is the plan, one day at a time:
Day One: in Canggu
Day one is for landing softly. After the airport transfer, a beach at Canggu, a sunset, and a plate of nasi goreng are plenty, since travel fatigue and traffic eat most of the afternoon. Pre booked transfers and ride apps both reach Canggu easily, and an early night sets up the days ahead.
If you’d like more ideas for the south coast, take a look at my favourite things to do in Seminyak on the weekend, just a short ride from Canggu.
Day Two: in Uluwatu
Day two heads south, with Padang Padang beach in the morning, the clifftop temple in the afternoon, and the kecak fire dance around 6 pm. Knees should be covered at the temple, and sarongs are lent at the door. Bingin beach nearby involves about 200 steps, which is worth knowing before anyone commits with a heavy bag.
Day Three: in Ubud
Day three moves inland to Ubud. The Tegenungan waterfall, Ubud Palace, and the art market fill the day, and a Legong dance performance finishes it in the evening. The centre is compact, so most of it works on foot. The Monkey Forest rewards a firm grip on bags and sunglasses, because the macaques are quick.
Day Four: Around Ubud
Day four starts with the Campuhan Ridge Walk, then heads out to the Tegallalang rice terraces and Tirta Empul, whose springs are quietest around 8 am. Travellers happy with a 2 am start can swap part of the day for a Mount Batur sunrise hike, which takes roughly two hours to reach the summit.
Day Five: on the Way to Nusa Lembongan
Day five heads east to Sanur for the fast boat to Nusa Lembongan, which takes about 30 to 45 minutes depending on the operator and sea conditions. The island sits inside the Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area, and its calm beaches and mangrove forest make a slower finish to the week. Rough seas can delay crossings, so a morning departure is usually the smoother choice.
Day Six: Try Various Dive Sites around Nusa Islands
Day six belongs to the water. Snorkeling at Mangrove Point, a shallow reef about ten minutes by local boat from Jungut Batu, suits first timers, and the reefs nearby tend to pull in more than day trippers. Certified divers sometimes stay on to build experience, and divemasters often start asking about an IDC in Nusa Lembongan programme, which trains PADI divemasters to become Open Water Scuba Instructors.
The PADI Instructor Development Course at Legend Diving runs 15 to 16 days and finishes with the Instructor Examination. Candidates typically need to be 18 or older, hold a divemaster rating, and have recent first aid training and a medical clearance, with around 90 logged dives recommended.
Day Seven: Heading Home
Day seven returns to Sanur and then the airport. A spare half day before any international flight protects the whole trip, particularly around Nyepi, Bali’s Day of Silence in March, when Ngurah Rai airport closes for roughly 24 hours.
By this point the week has covered a lot of ground, from the beaches of Canggu and the cliffs of Uluwatu to the rice terraces around Ubud. Two days on Nusa Lembongan, around a professional dive center, show how training works behind the scenes, and divers who stay on sometimes look into an IDC staff course in Nusa Lembongan, where instructors learn to assist Course Directors in running instructor courses. Requirements are worth confirming with the centre.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is seven days enough for Bali?
Enough for a first look at the south coast, Ubud, and one island stop, but not for the north or the far east. Adding a few days opens up those regions without extra rushing. For those extra days, Buyan Lakeside Villas shows the cooler, quieter side of Bali up in the northern lakes.
Do backpackers need a visa?
Many nationalities can use a visa on arrival, listed at about USD 35 for 30 days, plus a tourism levy. Rules change, so the official immigration page is the reliable reference.
Is a scooter necessary?
No. Ride apps, shuttles, and shared drivers cover most routes, and a scooter only suits riders with experience and a valid licence.
How long is the boat to Nusa Lembongan?
Roughly 30 to 45 minutes by fast boat from Sanur, depending on the operator and sea conditions.
Wrapping Up
A week in Bali works when the route stays small: three bases, sensible transport, and a handful of paid sights balanced against free beaches and street food. The mix of south coast energy, Ubud’s culture, and a quiet island finish covers a lot of ground without feeling like a race.
Nusa Lembongan adds something extra. For most visitors it is a snorkelling stop and a slower pace, and for a few it opens a path into diving as a profession. Whichever way the week ends, a flexible plan and a spare day near the flight home keep the trip comfortable.
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