Bali Highlights: Self-Launched 7-Day Adventure
7 days · Bali, Indonesia
Putu Bali Driver charges £670
No-markup version: ~£320 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
This self-launched version of the popular Bali Highlight Tour takes you through Bali's most iconic temples, rice terraces, waterfalls, and beaches — from Sanur and Kuta up through Ubud and down to Uluwatu — without the private driver price tag. By booking activities independently via GetYourGuide or Klook, using local ride-hailing apps (Gojek/Grab) and renting a scooter where practical, and staying in well-reviewed budget hotels and guesthouses near each hub, you can experience everything the original tour offers for a fraction of the $850/£670 per-person price. All cost estimates are approximate and based on current backpacker rates.
Day-by-day
Arrival in Sanur
Sanur, Bali
Arrive at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS). Skip the pricey private transfer and use the official airport taxi desk in Arrivals — fixed-rate taxis to Sanur cost around IDR 150,000–200,000 (~£7–9). Alternatively, book a Grab or Gojek car from outside the airport zone for even less. Check into your Sanur guesthouse, grab a cheap nasi goreng from a warung, and take an evening stroll along the Sanur beachfront boardwalk to shake off any jet lag.
🚌Fixed-rate airport taxi (IDR 150,000–200,000, ~£7–9) or Grab/Gojek from outside the airport zone (~£5–7)
🛏Flashbacks Guesthouse or Griya Santrian Homestay, Sanur — budget rooms from ~£15/night
- →Arrive at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS)
- →Take a fixed-rate airport taxi or Grab/Gojek car to Sanur (~£7–9)
- →Check in to budget accommodation in Sanur
- →Evening walk along Sanur beachfront boardwalk
- →Dinner at a local warung (try nasi goreng or mie goreng)
Temples & Waterfalls in the North
Kuta / Tabanan / Bedugul
Today mirrors the original tour's Day 2 — Taman Ayun Temple, Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, and Banyumala Twin Waterfalls. The most cost-effective way is to join a shared group day tour from Kuta or Sanur, easily bookable on GetYourGuide or Klook for around £18–25 per person. Alternatively, hire a local driver for the day (~£30–40 for the whole car — great if sharing costs with others you meet at the hostel). Entrance fees are paid separately at each site (usually IDR 20,000–50,000 each, under £3). Banyumala requires a short hike — wear sturdy footwear.
🚌Shared group day tour via GetYourGuide/Klook (~£20–25 pp) or hire a local driver for the day (~£30–40 per car)
🛏Sama-sama Hostel or Pop! Hotel Kuta — dorms from ~£10/night, private rooms from ~£20/night
- →Visit Taman Ayun Royal Temple, Mengwi (entrance ~£1.50)
- →Visit Ulun Danu Bratan Temple on Lake Bratan (entrance ~£2)
- →Hike to Banyumala Twin Waterfalls (entrance ~£2, short jungle trail)
- →Lunch at a local warung near Bedugul
White Water Rafting on the Ayung River
Kuta / Ubud (Ayung River)
Today is all about the rapids. Book white water rafting on the Ayung River (Class II–III) directly through Klook or GetYourGuide — operators like Mason Adventures or Bali Adventure Tours offer this for around £20–30 per person including equipment, guide, and usually a buffet lunch. This is significantly cheaper than the guided tour price and you'll be on the same river with the same rapids. After rafting, make your way to Ubud by shared shuttle (Perama Tour or similar, ~£3–5) to set yourself up for the cultural days ahead.
🚌Grab/Gojek to rafting point (~£5–8), shared Perama shuttle Kuta–Ubud (~£3–5)
🛏Bisma Cottages or Ubi Ubud Hostel — dorms from ~£10/night, private rooms from ~£20/night
- →White water rafting on the Ayung River, Class II–III rapids (book via Klook or GetYourGuide, ~£20–30 pp including lunch)
- →Afternoon transfer to Ubud by shared shuttle (~£3–5)
- →Explore Ubud's Monkey Forest or Jalan Hanoman market area in the evening
Ubud Art Villages, Temples & Rice Terraces
Ubud & surrounds
This is a packed cultural day covering the art villages of Tohpati, Celuk, Batuan, and Mas, plus Desa Batuan Temple, Tirta Empul Holy Springs Temple, the Mount Batur caldera viewpoint, and Tegalalang Rice Terrace. The most practical way to cover all this is to hire a local driver/guide for the day — easily arranged through your guesthouse or apps like Traveloka for ~£30–40 per car. Split between 2–4 people you meet at your hostel and it's very affordable. Alternatively, rent a scooter (~£5/day) and go at your own pace, though some roads are steep. Tirta Empul allows you to participate in a traditional purification ritual — bring a sarong (free to borrow at the temple).
🚌Hire a local driver for the day (~£30–40 per car) or rent a scooter (~£5/day)
🛏Bisma Cottages or Ubi Ubud Hostel — dorms from ~£10/night, private rooms from ~£20/night
- →Visit Tohpati, Celuk, Batuan, and Mas art villages (free to browse, small purchases optional)
- →Visit a traditional Balinese family house compound (entrance ~£1)
- →Visit Desa Batuan Temple (sarong required, entrance ~£1)
- →Participate in purification ritual at Tirta Empul Holy Springs Temple (entrance ~£1.50)
- →Stop at Mount Batur caldera viewpoint (free)
- →Visit Tegalalang Rice Terrace (entrance ~£1.50, small path fee)
Lempuyang Temple, Tirta Gangga & Tukad Cepung Waterfall
East Bali (Karangasem region)
An early start is essential today — Lempuyang Temple (Gate of Heaven) gets extremely crowded by mid-morning. Aim to leave Ubud by 5:30am. Hire a local driver for the day (~£35–45 per car from Ubud) or book a shared east Bali day tour via GetYourGuide (~£20–25 pp). Lempuyang is free to enter but queues for the famous 'Gate of Heaven' photo can be long — bring a sarong. Continue to the stunning Tirta Gangga water palace (entrance ~£1.50) and finish with a short hike to Tukad Cepung Waterfall, a magical cave waterfall near Ubud (entrance ~£2, ~20-min walk). Return to Ubud for a well-earned dinner on Jalan Dewi Sita.
🚌Hire a local driver for the day (~£35–45 per car from Ubud) or join a shared east Bali day tour via GetYourGuide (~£20–25 pp)
🛏Bisma Cottages or Ubi Ubud Hostel — dorms from ~£10/night, private rooms from ~£20/night
- →Early morning visit to Lempuyang Temple — Gate of Heaven (entrance free, sarong required)
- →Visit Tirta Gangga Water Palace (entrance ~£1.50)
- →Hike to Tukad Cepung Waterfall, a cave waterfall near Ubud (entrance ~£2, ~20-min walk each way)
- →Dinner in Ubud — try Warung Babi Guling Ibu Oka for Bali's famous roast suckling pig
Beaches & Sunset at Uluwatu Temple
Ubud to Uluwatu / Bukit Peninsula
Check out of Ubud and head south to the Bukit Peninsula. Take a shared Perama shuttle or GoJek/Grab to the Nusa Dua/Uluwatu area (~£5–10). Spend the afternoon hopping between Nusa Dua Beach (calm, good for swimming), Padang Padang Beach (small, beautiful, down steep steps — entrance ~£1), and the optional Suluban Beach (Blue Point, loved by surfers). Time your arrival at Uluwatu Temple for the famous sunset and the Kecak Fire Dance performance (starts ~6pm daily, tickets ~£8–10 bought at the gate — book ahead on GetYourGuide to secure a spot). Entrance to the temple itself is ~£2. Watch for the cheeky monkeys — keep sunglasses and phones hidden!
🚌Shared Perama shuttle or Grab/Gojek from Ubud to Uluwatu area (~£8–12), local Grab/Gojek between beaches (~£2–5 per ride)
🛏Kuta Bed & Breakfast or Kuta Central Park Hotel — budget rooms from ~£18/night, close to airport for Day 7 departure
- →Visit Nusa Dua Beach — swim or relax (free beach access)
- →Visit Padang Padang Beach (entrance ~£1)
- →Optional: Suluban Beach (Blue Point) — great for surfing or watching surfers
- →Sunset visit to Uluwatu Temple (entrance ~£2, sarong required)
- →Watch the Kecak Fire Dance at Uluwatu (tickets ~£8–10, book via GetYourGuide)
Departure from Bali
Sanur / Kuta to Ngurah Rai Airport
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, check out, and make your way to Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS). A Grab or Gojek from Kuta costs just £3–6 and takes 15–30 minutes depending on traffic. A metered Bluebird taxi is equally reliable. If time allows before your flight, pick up last-minute souvenirs at the Kuta Art Market on Jalan Bakung Sari — far cheaper than the airport shops. Safe travels!
🚌Grab/Gojek or Bluebird metered taxi to airport (~£3–6 from Kuta)
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Checkout and final breakfast at a local cafe or warung
- →Last-minute souvenir shopping at Kuta Art Market (optional)
- →Transfer to Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) via Grab/Gojek (~£3–6) or Bluebird taxi
Self-launched vs. Putu Bali Driver
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Putu Bali Driver | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£320 | £670 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £350 per person (52%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Putu Bali Driver-style trips? Check them out here.~£320
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 Highlights: Self-Launched 7-Day Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £320 per person for 7 days in Bali, Indonesia. 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 Putu Bali Driver?+
Yes — Putu Bali Driver charges around £670 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £320 — a saving of roughly £350 (52%) per person.
How long is the Bali, Indonesia trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Bali, Indonesia.
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 culture, beaches, adventure trip through Bali, Indonesia, 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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