14 Nights in Bali & Singapore — Honeymoon Escape

Arrive at Ngurah Rai International Airport & transfer to Ubud

Your pre-arranged private driver will take you north to Ubud — roughly 1.5 hours depending on traffic. Use this time to decompress, watch the landscape shift from coast to jungle, and sip the coconut water your driver may offer.

Check in & explore your guesthouse surroundings

Settle into your accommodation and take a slow walk along Jalan Bisma or Jalan Kajeng to get your bearings — both are quiet lanes lined with shrines, warung cafes, and frangipani. Don't rush anything today.

Stroll through Ubud Palace & central market area

Walk through Puri Saren Agung (Ubud Royal Palace) — the gates and courtyards are beautifully lit at dusk and free to look around. The adjacent night market is perfect for picking up snacks and absorbing the atmosphere.

Tirta Empul Temple — holy spring ritual

One of Bali's most sacred water temples, where locals and visitors participate in a melukat purification ritual in the natural spring pools. Arrive early to beat tour groups — it genuinely feels spiritual before 9:30 AM. Wear a sarong (provided at the entrance).

Gunung Kawi Temple Complex

A 10-minute drive from Tirta Empul, this 11th-century rock-cut temple is carved directly into a cliff face above a river gorge — genuinely dramatic and far less visited than it deserves. There are about 300 steps down, so wear comfortable shoes.

Return to Ubud & afternoon at leisure

Wander the galleries and boutiques along Jalan Hanoman or Monkey Forest Road — Ubud has a genuinely good craft scene with woodcarvings, silver jewellery, and batik textiles. Take it slowly and let your favourite spots find you.

Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

A lush nature reserve home to over 700 long-tailed macaques and three ancient Hindu temples. It's touristy but genuinely fun as a couple — just secure your belongings and don't hold food in the open. The forest itself is beautiful.

Tegalalang Rice Terraces at sunrise

The iconic UNESCO-listed rice terraces north of Ubud look extraordinary in the early morning light before the tour buses arrive. Walk the narrow paths between the paddies, photograph the traditional subak irrigation channels, and stop for a coffee at one of the cliff-edge cafes overlooking the valley.

Komaneka or COMO Shambhala couples spa treatment

Book a two-hour couples Balinese massage and flower bath at one of Ubud's top spa properties — this is quintessential honeymoon Bali. COMO Shambhala's spa is among the best on the island; Komaneka at Bisma offers spectacular jungle ravine views from the treatment rooms.

Yoga Barn afternoon class

Ubud's most famous yoga studio runs afternoon classes in an open-air jungle setting — even if you're not regular practitioners, a 75-minute hatha or yin class here is a genuinely lovely experience. Check their schedule on arrival and book the day before.

Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA)

One of Bali's best art museums, set in beautiful gardens with permanent collections of traditional Balinese and Javanese paintings alongside works by Walter Spies and Theo Meier. The grounds alone are worth a visit — there are small temples, koi ponds, and shaded walkways.

Ubud Traditional Art Market (Pasar Seni Ubud)

The lower level of the market is where local vendors sell genuine hand-crafted goods — sarongs, wood carvings, silver rings, and handwoven textiles. Bargaining is expected and part of the fun. Budget 30–45 minutes and don't be pressured.

Campuhan Ridge Walk

A 3km out-and-back walk along a narrow ridge above two river valleys, past small shrines and grass-covered hills — this is Ubud's most scenic and peaceful walk. Best done in the afternoon when the light turns golden. Takes roughly 1.5 hours at a leisurely pace.

Kecak Fire Dance at Uluwatu (or Ubud Palace)

If staying in Ubud, catch the Kecak and Fire Dance performance at Puri Saren (Ubud Royal Palace) — held most evenings at 7:30 PM in the palace courtyard. It's a mesmerising 1-hour performance with 50+ chanting men and a fire-walking finale.

Depart Ubud for Sidemen Valley

It's a 1.5-hour drive east through winding mountain roads — the views on arrival are worth every kilometre. Sidemen sits in a deep river valley flanked by terraced rice fields and framed by Gunung Agung on clear days. Arrive and check in slowly.

Walk the rice terrace trails around your guesthouse

Most guesthouses in Sidemen sit directly beside working rice paddies — ask your host to point you toward a 1–2 hour walking trail through the fields. You'll pass local farmers, duck herders, and small village temples. No guide necessary.

Visit a traditional Endek weaving workshop

Sidemen is one of Bali's heartlands for traditional ikat and endek silk weaving — most villages have small family workshops where women weave on backstrap looms. Watch the process, ask questions, and buy directly from the maker. Genuinely fascinating and far less commercialised than Ubud.

Sunset from your rice terrace infinity pool or viewpoint

Sidemen's best moment is watching afternoon light fade across the terraces toward Gunung Agung — most mid-range guesthouses here have a pool or terrace with this exact view. Order a Bintang, don't move, and appreciate where you are.

Morning rice paddy walk before the heat

The valley is magical in the first hour of daylight — mist sits low over the paddies and Gunung Agung turns pink. Take a slow one-hour walk along the ridge paths north of the village. Ask your guesthouse for directions the night before.

Visit Pura Agung Besakih — Bali's Mother Temple

The most sacred Hindu temple complex on Bali sits on the slopes of Gunung Agung, 45 minutes from Sidemen. It's a dramatic complex of 23 separate temples — wear a sarong, hire the official temple guide (insist on the official one to avoid scams), and spend 1.5–2 hours exploring.

Couples spa at Darmada Eco Resort or Uma Niang

Both Sidemen properties offer Balinese massage and herbal body treatments in open-air jungle settings for a fraction of Ubud prices. Book through your guesthouse or walk in — they rarely turn away guests.

Early departure for Padang Bai ferry port

Sidemen to Padang Bai is roughly 45 minutes by car. Arrive at the port by 9 AM at the latest to check in for your fast boat to Gili Air. The crossing takes 60–90 minutes depending on the operator — sit on the upper deck for views.

Arrive Gili Air & find your feet

Gili Air has no motorised vehicles — horse carts (cidomo) and bicycles only. Your accommodation will likely have someone waiting at the boat landing to help carry bags. Take the first hour just to walk the beach path and slow down to island pace.

Snorkelling at Turtle Point (north coast)

The north and east shores of Gili Air have easy, accessible snorkelling with resident green sea turtles — you can often find them without even renting a boat. Rent fins and a mask from any beach shack ($3–$5 USD) and swim out from the beach.

Sunset drinks on the west beach

Gili Air's west coast faces directly into the sunset with Bali's volcanic silhouette on the horizon. Grab a beanbag at any of the beach bars (Scallywags or Good Heart are reliable) and watch one of the best sunsets of the trip.

Guided scuba dive or snorkel boat trip

Gili Air has some of Lombok's best dive sites — the underwater sculptures at Bounty Wreck and Shark Point are highlights. For non-divers, a boat snorkelling trip (2–3 hours covering 3 sites) is fantastic value and almost guarantees turtle sightings. Book through your hotel or any dive shop on the main drag.

Walk or cycle the island perimeter

The entire island of Gili Air can be walked in 90 minutes or cycled in 30 — doing a full loop gives you a great sense of the quiet east coast (calm, shallow, fewer tourists) versus the busier west. Stop wherever catches your eye.

Afternoon hammock time & beach swimming

The east coast of Gili Air has calm, shallow water ideal for swimming and is far quieter than the main strip — find a beachside hammock, read a book, and genuinely do nothing for a couple of hours. This is the honeymoon part.

Stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking

Rent a SUP board or kayak from the main beach area and paddle north along the coast — the water is glassy in the morning and visibility into the reef below is exceptional. Most rentals are hourly with no guide needed.

Couples massage at Gili Air Spa

A 90-minute couples Balinese massage in a beachside bale — this is the most affordable proper spa treatment you'll find anywhere on the trip. The combination of the sound of the sea and skilled therapists makes this a genuine highlight.

Final swim & sunset from the west beach

Spend your last Gili Air afternoon exactly as you spent the first one — in the sea and watching the sun drop behind Bali. Order an Arak Attack (local rum cocktail) from any beach bar and toast to the island.

Fast boat from Gili Air to Serangan/Padang Bai

Morning fast boats to Bali take 60–90 minutes. Aim for the 7 AM or 8 AM departure to give yourself the full afternoon in Uluwatu. The south Bukit Peninsula (Uluwatu) is roughly 45–60 minutes from the Serangan boat dock.

Check in to your Uluwatu accommodation & first swim

Uluwatu's best mid-range properties are perched above cliffs or within 5 minutes of Padang Padang or Bingin Beach. Drop your bags and head straight for the ocean — after days on Gili, you'll want to compare the Indian Ocean swells with the Lombok Strait calm.

Padang Padang Beach

One of Bali's most beautiful small beaches — accessed through a narrow cave in the cliff, the beach opens into a turquoise cove with dramatic rock formations. Swim, sunbathe, and watch the surfers on the outside break.

Kecak Fire Dance at Pura Luhur Uluwatu

The most spectacular version of the Kecak dance in Bali — performed on a clifftop stage with the Indian Ocean 70 metres below and the sun setting behind the dancers. The choreography culminates in a fire walk. Arrive 30 minutes early for the best seats.

Pura Luhur Uluwatu Temple (morning visit)

Visit the clifftop sea temple in the morning light before it fills with visitors — the ocean views from the temple walls are extraordinary. Watch out for the monkeys (they steal glasses and jewellery). Wear a sarong, which is provided at the gate.

Bingin Beach

Down 120 steep steps from the cliff road, Bingin is a gorgeous crescent of golden sand flanked by layered limestone terraces and a left-hand surf break — the view back up at the cliffs is stunning. Rent a surfboard if either of you want to try the gentle inside wave.

Nyang Nyang Beach (secluded afternoon)

A 20-minute walk down a dirt track leads to one of Bali's most spectacular and empty beaches — 2km of white sand with almost no one on it. Bring water and snacks. The solitude and views make this one of the great Bali secrets.

Sunset at Suluban Beach (Blue Point)

Navigate the limestone cave and steps down to the sea level platform at Suluban — cave bars and viewpoints are carved into the cliff face and the surf here at sunset, especially in June, is dramatic. Order a Bintang from the cave bar and watch the waves.

Balangan Beach morning swim

Arguably the most beautiful beach on the Bukit Peninsula — a wide arc of pale sand with turquoise water and a backdrop of white limestone cliffs. Arrive early for shade and a good spot. The reef is close enough for snorkelling at low tide.

Relaxed lunch and beach time

Stay at Balangan or move to your preferred beach — this is your last full Bali afternoon and it should be entirely unscheduled. If you've been wanting a surf lesson, the inside break at Balangan or Bingin is appropriate for beginners.

Return to accommodation, pack and freshen up

Head back to your guesthouse with time to shower, pack carefully, and get ready for your final Bali dinner. Your flight to Singapore (or next morning departure) means tonight is the send-off.

Farewell sunset cocktails at a clifftop bar

Ulu Cliffhouse, El Kabron, or the cliff terrace at Alaya Resort — raise a glass to Bali with the Indian Ocean at your feet. A fitting end to 12 nights on the island.

Fly Bali (DPS) to Singapore (SIN)

Most Bali–Singapore flights are 2.5 hours and arrive at Changi Airport — regularly voted the world's best airport. Even if you've transited before, allow 30 minutes after landing just to wander Changi's Jewel rainforest vortex installation in the terminal.

Check in & drop bags — head to Marina Bay

Singapore's MRT from Changi to the city centre is fast and cheap ($2.50 SGD). Check in to your hotel in the CBD or Marina Bay area and walk out to the Marina Bay waterfront — the skyline view from the Helix Bridge is immediately impressive.

Gardens by the Bay — Supertree Grove & Cloud Forest

Walk through the Supertrees and book tickets for the Cloud Forest dome — a cooled conservatory containing a 35-metre indoor waterfall and a mountain of tropical plants. Genuinely spectacular and a cool break from the afternoon heat. The Flower Dome next door is also beautiful.

Supertree Grove light show

The Garden Rhapsody light and music show runs nightly at 7:45 PM and 8:45 PM — the Supertrees light up in synchronised colour patterns and it's completely free. Bring a picnic rug or book a table at IndoChine restaurant in the Supertrees for a spectacular backdrop.

Explore Haji Lane & Kampong Glam

Singapore's Arab Quarter is a photogenic maze of narrow streets, pastel shophouses, boutique fashion stores, and the gold-domed Sultan Mosque. Haji Lane itself is one of the most Instagrammed streets in the city — colourful murals, independent cafes, and vintage shops. Best explored before the midday heat.

Visit Sultan Mosque (Masjid Sultan)

One of Singapore's most beautiful religious buildings — the gold dome and arabesque architecture are stunning. Non-Muslim visitors are welcome outside prayer times (robes are provided at the entrance). Spend 20–30 minutes exploring the interior and courtyard.

Chinatown & Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

A short MRT ride to Chinatown — the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple on South Bridge Road is a five-storey Tang dynasty-style temple housing a relic of the Buddha in an impressive golden stupa. The rooftop garden and museum floors are free. Worth 45 minutes.

Orchard Road or last-minute shopping & strolling

Singapore's famous shopping belt runs for 2km and includes everything from budget finds to high-end malls. Ion Orchard and Ngee Ann City are the flagships. Even if you're not shopping, the air-conditioned malls are a welcome break and the people-watching is excellent.

Final farewell at a Singapore rooftop or Lau Pa Sat

For your last night: either a rooftop cocktail at 1-Altitude or LeVeL33 brewery with skyline views, or an atmospheric dinner at Lau Pa Sat — a Victorian-era cast-iron hawker pavilion in the CBD where Satay Street fires up at night. Both are quintessentially Singapore.