10 days in Indonesia: itinerary

The 10-day route stays inside Bali and Lombok. You fly into Denpasar (DPS), spend four nights in Ubud, take a fast boat from Padang Bai or Sanur to the Gili islands, then return to a Bali beach base for the last three nights so the airport is a short transfer on departure day.

Do not add Yogyakarta or Bromo to this. Each Javanese stop costs a flight or a long train ride plus a pre-dawn start, and you would spend two of your ten days in transit. The 14-day route exists for that reason.

Days 1–4, Ubud. Arrive, sleep, then use Ubud as a base for the things around it: Tirta Empul and the Tegallalang or Jatiluwih rice terraces early, the Monkey Forest and the market on foot, and a dance performance in the evening. One day trip by driver covers the temples and terraces; a second can go to Batur for sunrise if you want a volcano without leaving Bali.

Days 5–7, Gili Air. Take the morning boat and slow down. The Gilis are car-free, so you walk or cycle. Snorkelling and diving trips leave from the beach, and turtles are the usual draw. Gili Air is the middle option between quiet Gili Meno and busier Gili Trawangan.

Days 8–10, Sanur or Uluwatu. Sanur is calm water, a paved beachfront path and a 30-minute airport run. Uluwatu is cliffs, surf and sunset temple visits, with a longer transfer. Pick one and stay there rather than splitting the three nights.

On Bali, a private driver for the day is the practical option for anything outside walking distance; agree the price and the stops before you set off. Ride-hailing apps work in the south and in Denpasar but are restricted in some town centres, where local transport co-operatives set the rules. Scooter rental is common and cheap, but you need a valid motorcycle licence and travel insurance that covers it.

Between islands, flying is normal and cheap. Domestic routes such as DPS–LOP (Lombok) take under an hour. For the Gilis, fast boats run from Padang Bai, Sanur and Serangan; the crossing is 1.5–2.5 hours depending on the port and the sea. Boats do cancel in bad weather, so never book a fast boat for the same day as an international flight.

Ubud: stay within walking distance of the centre if you want restaurants and dance on foot, or out among the rice fields for quiet. Four nights is the right length for a first visit.

Gili Air: the east side faces the sunrise and the boats; the west side has the sunset and most of the bars. Three nights covers a snorkel trip and a rest day.

Sanur or Uluwatu: Sanur suits families, calm swimming and an easy airport run. Uluwatu suits surfers and couples and needs a car for everything. Either way, keep the last three nights in one place.

Mid-range travellers spending on private drivers, a fast boat and a mix of guesthouses and hotels should budget roughly IDR 12–20 million per person for 10 days, excluding international flights. Backpackers using shuttles, hostels and warungs can come in near IDR 6–9 million. A resort stay in Uluwatu pushes well past the top of that range.

If you have less time, the 7-day version drops the Gilis and runs Ubud plus one beach base. If you have more, the 14-day version adds Yogyakarta, Bromo and Ijen before Bali, which is the route to take if temples and volcanoes matter more to you than island time.

Two swaps worth considering. Replace the Gilis with Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan if you want cliffs and manta rays without a long boat crossing. Replace Ubud's second day trip with a move to Amed or Lovina if you would rather dive or see dolphins than temples.