Bali Self-Launched: Canggu to Gili Trawangan (9 Days)
9 days · Bali & Gili Islands
Turban Adventures charges £1,130
No-markup version: ~£480 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A solo-friendly, self-launched version of Turban Adventures' 9-day Bali group tour, running from Canggu's surf beaches through Ubud's rice terraces and waterfalls to three relaxed nights on Gili Trawangan. You'll book everything yourself — hostels and guesthouses instead of 4-star hotels, a mix of Grab/Gojek rides and shared shuttles instead of a private driver, and self-bookable activities via GetYourGuide, Klook or direct with local operators. Same route, same highlights, roughly a third of the price. Costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP based on current budget/backpacker rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Canggu
Canggu
Land at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) and make your own way to Canggu. Grab and Gojek both operate from the airport — a car to Canggu is roughly £6-8 and takes 45-75 minutes depending on traffic. Skip the official airport taxi desk, which charges more. Check into a hostel or guesthouse around Batu Bolong, Berawa or Echo Beach. Settle in with a sunset walk to the beach and a cheap warung dinner (£3-5) plus a welcome Bintang.
🚌Grab/Gojek car from DPS airport to Canggu, ~£7
🛏Hostel dorm or private room in Canggu guesthouse, £10-16/night
- →Airport transfer by Grab/Gojek
- →Sunset walk at Batu Bolong Beach
- →Warung dinner in Canggu
Tanah Lot, surf lesson and beach bar
Canggu
Start early for Tanah Lot Temple to beat the crowds — a Grab car from Canggu is about £5-6 each way, or rent a scooter for the day (~£5, international licence required; many travellers skip it and just use Grab). Entry to Tanah Lot is around £4. Back in Canggu, book a beginner surf lesson directly with one of the beach schools at Batu Bolong or Echo Beach (~£15-20 for 2 hours including board); GetYourGuide also lists Canggu surf lessons if you prefer to pre-book. In the afternoon treat yourself to a Balinese massage at a local spa (~£7-10 for an hour — the group tour's included massage is easy to replicate). Finish with sunset drinks at a beach club like La Brisa or Old Man's (£5-10 for a beer and live music).
🚌Grab cars to/from Tanah Lot, ~£11 return; local Grab hops ~£1-2
🛏Hostel dorm or private room in Canggu guesthouse, £10-16/night
- →Tanah Lot Temple at low-to-mid tide (~£4 entry)
- →Beginner surf lesson in Canggu (~£17)
- →Balinese massage (~£8)
- →Beach bar sunset with live DJ (~£8)
Canggu to Ubud via Tegenungan Waterfall and Monkey Forest
Ubud
Move inland to Ubud. The cheapest option is a shared shuttle or Grab car — a Grab from Canggu to Ubud is roughly £10-13 for the car; shared tourist shuttles run about £5-7 per person and can be booked the day before through your hostel. En route or shortly after arrival, visit Tegenungan Waterfall (entry ~£1.50-2, plus a small parking fee) and take a dip in the pool below. Then head to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in central Ubud (entry ~£5, bookable on Klook or just pay at the gate — go early or late as it's busy midday). Check into a guesthouse in central Ubud or a quieter spot like Penestanan.
🚌Grab car or shared shuttle Canggu to Ubud, ~£6-13
🛏Ubud guesthouse or hostel, private room £12-18/night
- →Tegenungan Waterfall (~£2)
- →Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (~£5)
- →Evening wander along Jalan Hanoman and Jalan Dewi Sita
Tegallalang Rice Terraces, Bali Swing and Kintamani
Ubud
Join a small-group day tour or hire a driver for the day to cover the northern loop — a full-day private driver in Bali costs around £30-40 for the car (splittable if you buddy up with hostel mates), or pre-book a Kintamani/Tegallalang day tour via GetYourGuide or Klook for around £25-35 per person including entry fees. Stop at the Tegallalang Rice Terraces (entry ~£2.50; the 'Bali Swing' experiences there cost roughly £18-25 for the swing-and-photos package — the group tour's photographer add-on is optional and pricier). Continue to a coffee plantation for a free tasting (luwak coffee tastings typically free, a cup of the real thing ~£4) and finish at Kintamani with views over Lake Batur, where lunch with a view runs about £6-8.
🚌Full-day private driver ~£34 (or small-group day tour ~£25-35/person)
🛏Ubud guesthouse or hostel, private room £12-18/night
- →Tegallalang Rice Terraces (~£2.50)
- →Bali Swing experience (~£20)
- →Coffee plantation tasting (free entry)
- →Kintamani and Lake Batur viewpoint (included in day tour/entry)
Market, Balinese cooking class and Goa Gajah
Ubud
Start at Ubud's traditional morning market on Jalan Raya Ubud for fresh ingredients and snacks (free to wander, budget £2-3 for fruit and breakfast). Take a half-day Balinese cooking class — these are widely bookable on GetYourGuide, Klook or direct with the school, cost around £25-35, and almost always include a market visit and a lunch of everything you cook. In the afternoon, grab a Grab to Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave), about £3-4 each way, entry ~£3. Spend the evening at a free-to-enter Ubud dance performance (Legong or Kecak) if timing works — tickets ~£8-12 direct at the palace or temples.
🚌Grab cars around Ubud, ~£8 total
🛏Ubud guesthouse or hostel, private room £12-18/night
- →Ubud morning market visit
- →Balinese cooking class with lunch (~£30)
- →Goa Gajah Elephant Cave (~£3)
- →Optional Balinese dance performance (~£10)
Ubud to Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan
Book a fast boat to Gili Trawangan — the best-value route is a shuttle pick-up from Ubud down to Padang Bai or Serangan, then a fast boat across. Bundled Ubud-to-Gili-T tickets cost around £25-35 per person and are easily booked on Klook or GetYourGuide a day or two ahead (the slow public ferry via Lembar is cheaper but takes most of the day and requires an extra transfer). Journey is 3-4 hours door to door. On arrival, pay the small Gili T harbour fee (~£1), check into a beachfront guesthouse or hostel, and spend the afternoon swimming and watching the sunset from the west side of the island — the classic Gili T sunset spot is anywhere along Sunset Beach.
🚌Shuttle + fast boat Ubud to Gili Trawangan, ~£30
🛏Gili Trawangan beachfront guesthouse or hostel, £14-22/night
- →Fast boat crossing to Gili Trawangan
- →Afternoon beach swim
- →Sunset on the west coast
Snorkelling trip and beach bar night
Gili Trawangan
The main draw is the three-island snorkelling trip — book direct with any of the boat operators along the main strip or via Klook, roughly £12-18 per person for a half-day trip stopping at Gili Meno and Gili Air with turtles, coral and the underwater statues. Bring your own mask and a reef-safe sunscreen; fins and GoPro rental are cheap extras. Afternoon is free for beach time or a cheap bike rental (~£3/day) to circle the island. In the evening, head to the night market on the east coast for grilled seafood and local food for £4-6, then hit the beach bars — Gili T's party night shifts between venues, so just follow the noise.
🚌Walking or bicycle rental ~£3
🛏Gili Trawangan beachfront guesthouse or hostel, £14-22/night
- →Three-island snorkelling trip (~£15)
- →Bicycle rental around the island (~£3)
- →Night market dinner
- →Beach party
Island hopping by bike and farewell dinner
Gili Trawangan
Spend the day exploring on two wheels — the full loop around Gili T is around 7km and takes 1-2 hours at a relaxed pace, passing the quieter northern beaches and the turtle hatchery. You can also take a public boat across to Gili Meno or Gili Air for a few hours (~£2-3 each way on the local shuttle boats) if you want more variety. Treat yourself to a proper farewell dinner at one of the beachfront restaurants on the sunset side — fresh fish or Indonesian plates with a view, roughly £10-15. Book your onward boat for tomorrow morning today to avoid last-minute price gouging.
🚌Bicycle rental ~£3; optional boat to Gili Meno/Air ~£5 return
🛏Gili Trawangan beachfront guesthouse or hostel, £14-22/night
- →Full island bike loop
- →Optional Gili Meno or Gili Air day trip
- →Beachfront farewell dinner (~£12)
Departure from Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan / Lombok
Depending on your onward plans, take a fast boat back to Bali (Padang Bai or Serangan, ~£25-30 including shuttle to the airport) or continue east to Lombok — public boats and fast boats run from Gili T harbour to Bangsal, then a shared taxi or bus to Lombok airport or the Senggigi/Kuta Lombok areas. Allow a generous buffer if you're flying from Denpasar (DPS) the same day — aim for a boat that gets you to Bali at least 4 hours before your flight. Breakfast at the guesthouse before you go.
🚌Fast boat from Gili T to Bali with airport shuttle, ~£28
🛏None — departure day
- →Breakfast at guesthouse
- →Fast boat onward to Bali or Lombok
Self-launched vs. Turban Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Turban Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£480 | £1,130 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £650 per person (58%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Turban Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£480
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Bali Self-Launched: Canggu to Gili Trawangan (9 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £480 per person for 9 days in Bali & Gili Islands. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Turban Adventures?+
Yes — Turban Adventures charges around £1,130 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £480 — a saving of roughly £650 (58%) per person.
How long is the Bali & Gili Islands trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Bali & Gili Islands.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, beaches, culture trip through Bali & Gili Islands, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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