Bali’s story reaches back over a millennium, with Hindu-Balinese culture shaping the island’s villages, temples, and the UNESCO-recognized subak irrigation that feeds emerald rice terraces. Dutch colonialism, independence, and a modern creative boom followed—today’s Bali blends ritual and art with contemporary food, design, and wellness.

Expect warm hospitality, offerings of flowers and incense, and a calendar dotted with temple ceremonies. Practical notes: bring a sarong for temple visits, carry small bills for cash-first warungs, and budget time for traffic between hubs. Balinese cuisine sings with sambal matah, babi guling (spit-roasted pork), bebek betutu (slow-roasted duck), and jamu herbal tonics.

This 14-day plan keeps the pace easy: Ubud for culture and spas; Uluwatu and Jimbaran for clifftop sunsets and seafood; Canggu and Seminyak for cafés, boutiques, and beach strolls. Fly into Denpasar (DPS) via Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com, then use private drivers for smooth transfers.

Ubud

Cradled by jungle and rice terraces, Ubud is Bali’s wellness heart—think dawn yoga, temple bells, and river-valley spas. Spend unhurried days exploring artisan villages, waterfalls, and serene compound temples, returning for twilight dinners and gamelan in the warm night air.

Base yourself in or near the center for easy walks to markets and cafés, or along the Campuhan Ridge for views and birdsong. Set aside spa days, a leisurely market morning, and a sunrise jeep outing that keeps effort low and rewards high.

Days 1–6: Ubud Wellness & Culture

• Essentials and easy days: Stroll the Campuhan Ridge Walk at sunrise; wander Ubud Art Market for woven baskets and silverwork; visit Saraswati Temple’s lotus pond. Book a melukat (purification) at Tirta Empul with a guide, observing temple dress and etiquette.
• Spa & wellness (book ahead): Karsa Spa for garden pavilions and flower baths; Fivelements Day Spa for riverside treatments and plant-based lunch; Taksu Spa for deep-tissue and Balinese boreh body wraps; Yoga Barn for gentle classes and sound baths.
• Unique day trips (gentle pace): Tegallalang Rice Terrace early, then a light swing; Tibumana or Tukad Cepung waterfall for soft adventure; Pejeng village craft stops for woodcarving and mask-makers.
• Food & drink: Breakfast at KAFE (smoothie bowls, tempeh scrambles) or Alchemy (raw treats, cold-pressed juices). Lunch at Warung Pondok Madu (BBQ pork ribs and nasi campur) or Clear Café (zoodles, fresh wraps). Dinner at Hujan Locale’s successor concepts rotate—alternatively try Nusantara by Locavore’s alumni for regional Indonesian plates, Naughty Nuri’s for smoky ribs, or Ibu Oka for classic babi guling. Coffee at Seniman Coffee Studio for single-origin pours.

Where to stay (Ubud): Browse stays on VRBO Ubud or Hotels.com Ubud. Splurge: riverside villas at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan. Budget-social: Puri Garden Hotel & Hostel with a pool and daily activities.

Getting in: Fly into DPS via Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com; a private transfer to Ubud takes ~1.5–2 hours depending on traffic. Expect IDR 300k–600k for a point-to-point car; a full-day driver (8–10 hours) runs about IDR 700k–900k.

Suggested Ubud Viator experiences:

• All-Inclusive Ubud Private Tour — a relaxed circuit of Monkey Forest, a waterfall, rice terraces, and temple time, with an English-speaking driver-guide.

  

• Mount Batur Sunrise Jeep Tour with Optional Activities — catch the sunrise without the hike; add hot springs afterward to keep the day soothing.

  

• Full-Day Tour to Water Temples and UNESCO Rice Terraces — wander Ulun Danu Beratan on the lake and Jatiluwih’s sweeping subak landscapes at an unhurried pace.

  

Uluwatu & Jimbaran

The Bukit Peninsula trades rice terraces for dramatic cliffs and aquamarine coves. Days here are for slow beaches, spa rituals, and sunsets that end with fire-lit chants of the Kecak dance at Uluwatu Temple.

Jimbaran Bay brings barefoot seafood dinners in the sand; Uluwatu adds surf breaks, beach clubs, and limestone caves. Keep one evening free for the temple-to-beach arc—golden hour at the cliff, then grilled fish under the stars.

Days 7–10: Clifftop Sunsets, Seafood, and Slow Beach Time

• Easy beach time: Morning dips at Padang Padang or Melasti Beach; soft-sand strolls at Jimbaran. Book loungers and stay shaded through mid-day heat.
• Spa & thermal rituals: The Istana for contrast therapy (ice baths, infrared sauna, cliffside views); Spring Spa for Balinese massage and foot rituals; Therapy Spa for long jet-lag recovery sessions.
• Signature evening: Uluwatu Temple at sunset, then seafood on Jimbaran Bay—try Menega Cafe for clams and snapper, Lia Cafe for prawns with sambal matah, or Made Bagus for grilled squid.
• Food & coffee: Breakfast at Suka Espresso (ricotta pancakes, shakshuka) or Drifter Cafe (surfer vibes, good roasts). Lunch at The Cashew Tree (nasi campur, salads) or Warung Nasi Ayam Ibu Oki (spicy chicken rice). Sunset drinks at Single Fin above the break.

Where to stay (Uluwatu/Jimbaran): Explore options on VRBO Uluwatu and Hotels.com Uluwatu. For a pampered southern-coast stay, consider The St. Regis Bali Resort in nearby Nusa Dua. Families who want a lively base with waterslides can opt for Bali Dynasty Resort in Kuta, a short drive away.

Travel from Ubud (morning of Day 7): Private driver 1.5–2.5 hours depending on traffic, IDR 400k–700k for a transfer. Book a full-day car if you want to stop at a waterfall or coffee plantation en route. A reliable option is Experts Bali Driver: Best Bali Private Driver for flexible touring.

Suggested Uluwatu/Jimbaran Viator experiences:

• Uluwatu Sunset, Kecak Dance, and Dinner Jimbaran Beach — the essential cliffside sunset and fire-dance pairing, ending with a toes-in-the-sand seafood feast.

  

• Nusa Penida day trip: boat, 4 snorkeling, Manta rays & Land tour — a relaxed full day with private fast boat, manta-spotting snorkel, and a scenic land circuit from Kelingking to Broken Beach.

  

• ️Nusa Penida by Private Boat - Snorkeling 4 spots, Swim with Mantas + Land Tour — upgrade to the Premium boat for extra space, welcome drinks, and a pro photographer if you prefer a slower, VIP-style day.

  

Canggu & Seminyak

Finish with four days of gentle beach walks, boutique browsing, and café culture. Canggu’s rice paddies meet black-sand shores; Seminyak adds design-forward shops and candles-at-dusk dining.

Keep it light: slow breakfasts, market browsing, and sunset at Tanah Lot or Berawa Beach. If you’ve caught the Bali rhythm, this is the place to float with it.

Days 11–14: Cafés, Boutiques, Tanah Lot Sunsets

• Soft adventures: Early visit to Tanah Lot Temple before tour buses, then coffee in Pererenan. Take a beach walk from Berawa to Batu Bolong; watch longboarders from the sand.
• Spa & recovery: AMO Spa for hydrotherapy circuit and massages; Spring Spa Canggu for head-to-toe pampering; Therapy Canggu for Balinese and deep-tissue treatments.
• Café and dining favorites: Breakfast at Crate Cafe (big bowls, strong coffee), Milk & Madu (eggs benny, wood-fired pizzas later), or BGS Coffee Bar (great brews near the surf). Lunch at Warung Bu Mi (build-your-own nasi campur) or Warung Varuna (Indonesian staples). Dinner at Mason (wood-fired meats and veg), Santanera (share plates, Latin-meets-Bali), or Shelter Seminyak (Middle Eastern flavors, breezy terrace). Gelato at Gaya or Mad Pops afterward.
• Optional guided days: Save one mellow day for an artisan workshop (silver jewelry or batik) and another for a sunset temple run that ends with a seaside dinner.

Where to stay (Canggu/Seminyak): See VRBO Canggu or Hotels.com Canggu. For a budget-friendly Seminyak base with easy access to cafés, check M Boutique Hostel; for more polished beachfront options, browse Hotels.com Seminyak.

Travel from Uluwatu (morning of Day 11): Private driver 1.5–2 hours to Canggu; expect IDR 350k–600k. Stop at a viewpoint or Padang Padang for a last cliff swim en route if you book a full-day car like Experts Bali Driver.

Suggested Canggu/Seminyak Viator experiences:

• Tanah Lot and North Bali Tour: Scenic Journey — pair the iconic sea temple with cooler highland stops if you missed them earlier, or revisit at a gentler pace.

  

• Bali Instagram: Gate of Heaven Temple Tour — an early start and patient photography make this a memorable, relaxed pilgrimage to Lempuyang with views of Mount Agung.

  

• Bali Secret Waterfall Tour - Private and All-Inclusive — a cool, crowd-light waterfall day with plenty of photo stops and time to linger.

  

Budget & Vibe Tips (for a relaxing mid-range stay)

• Budget 50/100 sweet spot: Mix boutique guesthouses with one or two splurge nights; choose private drivers over day-by-day taxis to save; eat lunch at warungs and dinner at one special spot each day.
• Relaxing rhythm: Plan one “anchor” activity per day (temple, spa, or short tour), then leave space for naps, pools, and sunsets. Book spa slots for late afternoon when the light is golden and the heat eases.
• Practical: Dress modestly for temples (shoulders, knees covered); carry a sarong. Expect sudden showers—light rain jacket or quick-dry layers help. Buy a local eSIM on arrival and use metered Bluebird taxis or reputable drivers.

Optional final-night indulgence: If you’d like one last blowout, shift your final night to Nusa Dua at The St. Regis Bali Resort for a silky beach and quiet sleep before departure.

Depart from DPS; rides from Canggu/Seminyak take ~45–75 minutes depending on traffic. Search homebound flights on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com and allow generous buffer time at the airport.

Over two weeks, you’ll trace Bali’s soft edges: dawn mist over rice fields, temple silhouettes at sunset, and ocean breezes by candlelight. With spa days and easy-paced excursions woven in, this itinerary keeps your shoulders low, your senses full, and your memories long.