Perfect 2 Day Bali Itinerary Planned for First Timers in Indonesia

Bali has for long been synonymous to short vacation! This little island of Indonesia provides a wholesome experience of calm quiet life with a good dose of adventure and culture. Here is a Perfect 2 Day Bali Itinerary for First Timers in Indonesia; you can’t go wrong with this!

Visa to Go to Indonesia

64 countries are eligible for Visa on arrival to Indonesia. India is one of them. Do check this for info on visa formalities to Indonesia: Getting a Bali Visa

How to get to Bali Indonesia

Flights to Bali land at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), also called Denspasar International Airport. It is located in southern Bali. The airport is very well connected with various other international airports with several airlines providing their services. There are Malindo Air services from India.

Flight costs to Bali are highest in December and cheapest during March.

2 Day Bali Itinerary: Day 1

Walking Tour of Ubud Village

Walking tours enable to see the real village life of people of Bali, what lies behind the much hyped beach and night life there. This comes as a part of tour packages in Bali but you can opt for specific ones too. Most often your hotel staff will be helpful in this.

Set against the green rice fields, streets lined with coconut trees a walking tour through a village of Ubud was refreshing. The guide explained their culture and various customs followed and preserved generations after generations. In fact he took us to his house where he showed us all the customs he followed! Every house we saw there had a temple, no wonder why Bali is called Land of Temples!

Read: Why Bali has so many Temples!

Ubud Rice Fields

Visit the famous rice fields of Ubud to see their unique farming pattern. Excessive rains cause washing away of rich soil down the slope, hence they resorted to step farming. It is a treat to eye to see the green rice fields just before the harvest. They allow tourists to enter the fields which they more often do for the purpose of taking good insta worthy pictures.

To make it more attractive they have made interesting props to pose and take pictures. Especially with the craze for instagrammable pictures this location makes the best destination in Bali. I have not seen anything like these props in any other cities of the different countries I have visited yet.

Swings of Ubud Rice Fields

For pure thrill and joy of swinging go for one of those swings which go over the rice fields. There are so many located at different places that offer views of Ayung River, mini waterfalls, and Mount Agung too.

The various swing packages include free drinks, lunch buffet, posing in props, different kinds of swings like single seat, double seat, facing both ways, swings of different heights. You can choose the one that suits your budget.

Be assured that you will be securely fastened to the swing and nothing can go wrong, at least none yet as I am writing the post. But sometimes the fear of heights lurks in mind, don’t cling to the fear. I had the fear of heights and went with a friend on the swing. After a few swings even though not satiated I preferred to get down. On second thoughts now I wish I had mustered up some more courage.

You can rent the bright red and yellow flowing dresses to pose on the swings for good pictures to make attractive instagram content. Cost of Bali swing can be between 500000IDR to 150000IDR depending on what you choose to experience.

Visit to Bidadari Batik Bali

Make a trip to Bidadari Batik Bali to see the complete batik making process. Group of women here demonstrate the various stages of batik fabric making right from its weaving stage. They use canting, a pen-like instrument to draw the hot wax onto the fabric.

Women of almost every household here are experts at Batik art with years of practice. They seem to do it with so much ease. Hot wax is used to draw the various designs. The fabric is then dyed. The hardened wax on the fabric prevents the penetration of dye. After the fist dyeing of fabric is done, they draw yet another design on the same fabric and the cycle repeated to create more complex and colorful designs.

The showroom is so neatly presented with different items made of the batik fabric. The hand fans, hats, artwork make such wonderful souvenir to take back home. One look at the items here and you will not want to pick up the mass factory produced garments.

Sunset at Tanah Lot Temple

For a good sunset capture visit the Tanah Lot Temple and Batu Bolong Temple. Both temples are majestically located on rock forms in Indian Ocean south of Bali. This is at a distance of 33km from Ubud. There is good shopping complex here stuffed with souvenirs of Bali.

Read: Unmissable Tanah Lot Temple and Batu Bolong Temple in Bali

2 Day Bali Itinerary: Day 2

Follow this Bali trip plan on day 2 of the tour itinerary. The day will be well spent yet will leave you craving for more.

Shopping: Krisna Oleh Oleh Bali Sunset Road

It is best to finish your shopping in the earlier part of the day and the evenings reserved for visiting sunset points. After all Bali sunsets are listed in the list of amazing sunset viewpoints. We did exactly that! We hit the shopping complex at Krisna Oleh Oleh Bali Sunset Road, the first place after our sumptuous breakfast. It is a mega outlet of Balinese souvenirs; spacious and has wide choices of goods to take home at very reasonable prices.

The shopping complex has eateries and good parking space. It is open all 24hours!

Spa Experience: Balinese Massage

What is coming to Bali and not experiencing a Balinese massage!

Balinese massage is unique combination of techniques from various cultures. It includes Indian Hindu influence, Ayurvedic healing massage techniques, oils and herbs. The acupressure philosophy is the influence from China. All of these were adopted into Balinese technique and adjusted for a style of their own. One can experience this to pamper oneself after an adventurous day and may be find the difference.

You can push the spa experience to end of the day but you may miss the sunset, at the same time try not having the Balinese massage immediately after your meals.

GWK Cultural Park

Garuda Wisnu Cultural Park is home to Indonesia’s tallest statue. The 122m tall statue of Lord Vishnu riding Garuda made of copper and brass sheeting is a scene taken out of Hindu mythological story. According to the story, Garuda agreed to be ridden by Vishnu in return for the right to use the amrit (elixir for immortality) to liberate his enslaved mother.

GWK Park has several theaters showcasing the rich culture of Bali through its traditional dances.

• Watch the exotic Balinese Kecak Dance show in GWK Bali’s Amphitheater.
• Legong Dance, an elegant yet fast-paced dance performance, earlier had the audience restricted to only the royalty. But now it is open to all.
• Children will enjoy watching the animated movie – Garuda Cilik, at the Garuda Cinema.
• Dine at the spacious and aesthetically done interiors of Beranda restaurant.
• Take a picture wearing Balinese traditional outfits at GWK Photo Studio.

Uluwatu Temple Bali

Set aside the whole of evening for Uluwatu Temple. (Ulu means the ‘top’ or the ‘tip’ and watu is ‘stone’ or ‘rock’ in Balinese.)

The photographer in you will be totally mesmerized by its magnificent location! Uluwatu Temple is perched on top of a steep cliff approximately 70 m above the waters of Indian Ocean surrounding it. While you may be slightly disappointed about not being able to enter the temple, the walk along the cliff edge is thoroughly satisfying.

Words fail me to explain how it felt to watch the blue water and waves lash the rocks down below. One of those moments when I seriously wished time would stand still here and now!

Rocky shoreline Uluwatu Bali

Open Amphitheater of Uluwatu completely filled with spectators

While you are there please be aware of the monkeys roaming around, they are famed to snatch your belongings.

After you have toured the place settle down for the exotic Balinese Kecak Dance show in the amphitheater at the hill top. It goes on for an hour but seats start getting filled up at least an hour before the start of the show. If you wish for a good seat try reaching early.

Do let me know in your comments the possible alterations to this 2 day Bali Itinerary.

Stay Options in Bali

Please check this list of luxury hotels in Bali for a comfortable stay: Luxury stay with family and food options in Bali.

Thanks for the Familiarization Trip by Indonesia Tourism and Malindo Air. Opinions are completely my own.

Bali Map – Ubud and Uluwatu

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