Exploring Bali and Lombok in 14 days

What to see in Indonesia when you have 2 weeks ?

I’ve been lucky to travel to Indonesia in 2024 with my mom. We have been doing an annual mother-daughter trip since 2021 so be sure to browse through our destinations, travel tips, and photo diaries to spark your own wanderlust.

Our Program

Day 1 to 4 : Uluwatu & the Bukit Peninsula

  • Balangan Beach

  • Padang padang

  • Pantai Uluwatu Pecatu Beach

  • Garuda Wisnu Kencana

  • Pandawa Beach to parasail

  • Uluwatu Kecak Dance

We started our adventure in southern Bali, home to coastlines and paradise to surfers.

What to do?

Explore Balangan Beach and Padang Padang, two of the island’s most iconic surf spots, before wandering along Pantai Uluwatu Pecatu Beach at sunset

Discover Garuda Wisnu Kencana, a park celebrating Bali’s mythology. It was inaugurated in 2018 and quickly became a major attraction for both locals and tourists. The statue stands out not for its enormous size. The one you see on my pictures is one of the tallest statues in the world, reaching more than 120 meters including its base. The statue represents Vishnu, one of the main deities in Hinduism, known as the protector and preserver of the universe. He is depicted riding Garuda, a mythical bird-like creature that symbolizes loyalty and devotion. As for the word “Kencana”, it means gold, referencing the golden crown worn by Vishnu in the statue.

You can then end the day by taking in panoramic views while paragliding over Pandawa Beach, just like I did: it will impress you and maybe you’ll get out of your comfort zone, but I mostly did it because the price is far more attractive here in Indonesia than anywhere else in Europe while still having one of the most beautiful places to look at.

For the sunset, we went to an Uluwatu Kecak Dance, performed atop the cliffs as the sun disappeared into the Indian Ocean and monkeys tried to snatch our glasses, bags, and anything else we held in our hands. Very typical Bali… and very entertaining.

Day 4 to 7 : Nusa Penida

  • Crystal Bay

  • Broken Beach

  • Atuh and Diamond Beach

  • Tembeling Beach

  • Manta Point

The vibe on Nusa Penida is more local and laid-back : you’ll have to handle rougher roads, but you’ll do it for the incredible views.

What to do:

We came to Indonesia to relax some more than usual so I’ll recommend enjoy the beaches or renting a scooter to explore the island (but side note as mentioned above: the roads are steep and bumpy, so drive carefully). You have some famous spots like Broken Beach, Atuh and Diamond Beach that are facing each other) and Kelingking Beach is of course the famous spot. Kelingking Beach is a top photo spot and one of Nusa Penida’s most famous attractions so you will encounter a lot of tourists. The viewpoint is easily accessible, but reaching the beach itself is more challenging (there is a big stairwell you first need to go down and then come up again). Wear proper shoes, a cap, water and a lot of courage.

I really enjoyed Tembeling Beach, a hidden spot that requires a short hike to reach. The trail adds a sense of adventure, and you’re rewarded by a quiet beach surrounded by cliffs. My favorite part was the swings overlooking the ocean.

Go snorkeling : the spots near Crystal Bay or Gamat Bay are easy to reach and full of marine life. Why not do a boat trip to see manta rays and sea turtles. I’d recommend early morning tours, as the ocean tends to get rougher later in the day. Bring motion-sickness pills if you need them because it can be choppy.

Day 7 to 10 : Ubud & East Bali (Manggis)

After Nusa Penida, we returned to Bali and explored Ubud and the eastern regions of the island.

What to do:

Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) was our first stop. It’s a public temple built in the 11th century, originally used as a meditation center for priests. The entrance to the cave is carved into the rock in the shape of an elephant, and we, as visitors, enter through its mouth. 

After that, we headed to Sumampan Waterfall. It’s a short 10-minute walk down a flight of stairs (though be careful, the steps are a bit uneven). At the bottom, there is a great view of the waterfall across the river, and plenty of carvings on the rocks to discover along the way (that reminded me of Zelda). To get right up close, I waded through the river, holding onto a guide rope that’s there for balance. Our guide pointed out that although it might look natural, Sumampan Waterfall is actually …man-made. It was created when local farmers built a network of irrigation channels for their rice fields, and all that by accident. We then went on to Tegenungan Waterfall, way more touristic.

For the more cultural aspect I was glad to visit Tanah Lot, a temple which name means meaning “Land in the Sea”. Legend has it, it was founded by a Hindu priest named Danghyang Nirartha in the 16th century. While traveling along Bali’s coast, Nirartha discovered a beautiful rocky outcrop that he recognized as a sacred place to honor the sea gods. But at that time, the site was said to be guarded by a giant sea serpent, Naga Basuki, the protector of the ocean. When Nirartha decided to build a temple there, the serpent didn’t quite approve and a spiritual battle followed. Nirartha calmed the creature and convinced it to share the space for worship. From then on, the temple stood proudly on its offshore rock, accessible only at low tide. And who knows, maybe Naga Basuki still protects the place? ;)

Nearby, you can see Taman Ayun Temple, considered one of Bali’s most beautiful Hindu temples. Its name means “Beautiful Garden,” and you’ll see that the temple lives up to it.

The next day, we stopped at a viewpoint overlooking Mount Batur. You can hike up to the summit for sunrise, but we decided to just enjoy the view from a small café because Sekumpul Waterfalls was waiting for us. And there we did the hike. It is quite challenging and leads you to multiple cascading falls. We didn’t go on our own but were guided by a local who had a restaurant at the beginning of the hike. 

The café we went to : 📍Ritakala Café Batur

 

For the sunset we went to the shores of Lake Bratan, surrounded by mountains and home to Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, a temple floating on the lake. It was built in 1663 by the King of Mengwi and is dedicated to Dewi Danu, the Balinese goddess of lakes, rivers, and water

Well, then it seems you can’t visit Bali without seeing a rice terrace, and for us, it was the Abian Desa Rice Terraces or the famous photo spot Lahangan Sweet. It’s a site perched high above the coast and offers panoramic views of Mount Agung and the Bali Sea as well as installations to take those pretty pictures.

We also explored Bali’s historic water palaces: first Tirta Gangga. The palace spans three levels (springs, ponds and fountains). The gardens are filled with statues, lotus flowers, and decorative carvings, most are inspired by Balinese mythology and Hindu culture.

Then we headed to and Soekasada Ujung, also known as Taman Ujung Water Palace, which is sometimes considered the sister site of Tirta Gangga. This one blends Balinese and European architectural styles

For sunset, rendez-vous at Virgin Beach, and unlike much of East Bali’s coastline, which is mainly black sand, this one dazzles with white sand. We had dinner there surrounded by little dogs that live in the area.

Some Tips:

  • Start early for temples and waterfalls to avoid crowds and heat.

  • Renting a scooter makes it easier to move between dispersed attractions in East Bali.

  • Bring cash !!! for entrance fees, local snacks, and small purchases because you’ll see that not all places take cards.

Day 10 to 14 : Lombok & the Gili Islands

  • Gili Islands

  • Autore Pearl Farm

  • Bike Tour

 

What to do?

The next part of our adventure made us hop on a boat to Lombok. 

Our first full day was spent on the water around the Gili Islands. We did stop to explore them by foot but didn’t stay too long, since we had our sandwiches on the boat and rather spent our time snorkeling to go see the famous underwater statues (go really early, it gets so crowded).

We visited the Autore Pearl Farm, where we learned about the process of cultivating pearls.

And for sunset, we set out on a bike tour, but be sure to have lights on your bikes because we didn’t and it gets dark when you wander around on your own. Which is scary when you don’t know the island :) (we had to ask for help lol).

Evenings were reserved for watching the sunset over the islands, though we quickly realized that the real magic is in the sunrise !!

If you want more details about our exact tour or the guides we had, just reach out, I’d be happy to share all the details with you.