Classic Bali: Self-Launched Island Circuit (Sanur to Candi Dasa)
8 days · Bali, Indonesia
G Adventures charges £1,215
No-markup version: ~£540 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 8-day self-launched version of G Adventures' Classic Bali route, strung together with local bemos, shared shuttles and cheap Grab rides instead of a private van. You start on the coast at Sanur, climb into the cool highlands around Munduk, swing by Lake Bratan's floating temple and the Jatiluwih rice terraces, overnight in Kintamani beneath Mt Batur, then settle into Ubud for temples, Monkey Forest and a Kecak dance before finishing on the quiet east coast at Candi Dasa. Everything in the original tour is replicable independently — and the optional extras (sunrise Batur hike, cooking class, Tirta Gangga) are easy to book direct. Costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Sanur — settle in by the sea
Sanur
Land at Ngurah Rai (DPS) any time and take a Grab or Bluebird taxi to Sanur — around 250,000–350,000 IDR (£13–18) for the 30–45 min ride, or a cheaper Kura-Kura airport shuttle if you're not in a hurry. Pay the Bali tourist levy (150,000 IDR / ~£7.50) online via the Love Bali system before arrival to skip the airport queue. Check into a Sanur guesthouse or beachside hostel, then spend the late afternoon walking the paved beachfront promenade and eating your first nasi campur at a warung. Book tomorrow's Munduk-bound transport tonight (a per-seat shared shuttle runs from Sanur/Ubud; ask your guesthouse or use a local operator) and sort a data SIM if you haven't got one — ~100,000 IDR for 15–20GB.
🚌Airport taxi/Grab ~£15 (shared shuttle ~£6 if timed right)
🛏Sanur guesthouse or hostel dorm/private, ~£16
- →Beachfront promenade walk
- →Warung dinner
- →Book onward shared shuttle to Munduk
Lake Bratan temple and the Jatiluwih rice terraces
Sanur to Munduk
Take an early shared shuttle (or a hired car with driver for the day, ~£45–55 split between 2–4 people) north into the highlands. First stop: Ulun Danu Beratan temple on Lake Bratan, the postcard water temple with its tiered meru shrines — entry ~75,000 IDR (~£3.75). Continue to the Jatiluwih rice terraces, a UNESCO-listed patchwork of subak-irrigated paddies; entry ~50,000 IDR and the walking trails take 1–2 hours. Arrive in Munduk in the late afternoon, check into a valley-view guesthouse, and eat a home-cooked Balinese dinner at your accommodation or a nearby warung (often a set menu of sate, tempeh and rice for ~80,000 IDR). Bring a layer — Munduk is 700m up and genuinely cool at night.
🚌Shared shuttle or day-hire car to Munduk ~£18
🛏Munduk homestay/guesthouse with valley views, ~£15
- →Ulun Danu Beratan temple
- →Jatiluwih rice terrace walk
Munduk waterfall, north-coast road and Kintamani hot springs
Munduk to Kintamani
Start with the short walk down to Munduk or Melanting waterfall before it gets busy (entry ~30,000 IDR). Then make your way east to Kintamani — there's no direct public link, so the practical options are a negotiated private car (~£25–35) via the scenic northern route, or piecing together a bemo/shuttle to Singaraja then onward. It's a slow, beautiful drive through rice fields, coffee groves and winding mountain roads. On arrival in Kintamani, soak in the local hot springs above Lake Batur (~150,000 IDR) with the volcano as your backdrop, then find a guesthouse with a caldera view and watch the sun drop behind Mt Batur over dinner.
🚌Private car hire Kintamani-bound ~£15
🛏Kintamani guesthouse with volcano view, ~£14
- →Munduk/Melanting waterfall walk
- →Kintamani hot springs
- →Lake Batur viewpoints
Optional Mt Batur sunrise hike, then Ubud
Kintamani to Ubud
If you want the sunrise, book a Mt Batur trek the night before through your guesthouse or on GetYourGuide (~650,000 IDR / £32 including guide and headtorch; you're picked up around 3.30am). It's a steep 1.5–2 hour climb on loose volcanic scree to a summit view over the caldera and Lombok's Rinjani on a clear day. Sleep it off, then take a shared shuttle or Grab to Ubud (roughly 1.5 hours, ~£8–12). For lunch, visit the Bali Community Training Lunch Program in Ubud — the G for Good project the original tour supports — which trains local hospitality students (book ahead online or ask locally). Arrive in Ubud mid-afternoon, do your own orientation wander down Jalan Hanoman and the Campuhan Ridge Walk at golden hour, and book a Kecak ticket for tomorrow.
🚌Shared shuttle/Grab Kintamani–Ubud ~£10
🛏Ubud hostel or guesthouse, ~£16
- →Mt Batur sunrise hike (optional)
- →Bali Community Training lunch
- →Ubud orientation walk
- →Campuhan Ridge Walk
Ubud free day — Monkey Forest, temples and Kecak
Ubud
A full free day in Bali's cultural heart. Start at the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (~100,000 IDR) — keep sunglasses, water bottles and snacks zipped away, the macaques are quick. Wander to Pura Taman Kemuda Saraswati (the lotus temple) and the Ubud Palace, poke around the Ubud art market, then walk south through rice paddies toward Nyuh Kuning. Afternoon options: a drop-in yoga class (~£8–12), a Balinese cooking class (~350,000–500,000 IDR), or an hour of massage for ~£7. In the evening, catch the Kecak and Fire Dance at Pura Dalem Taman Kaja or Ubud Palace, ~150,000 IDR (~£7.50) — buy tickets earlier in the day as they sell out.
🚌Walking, occasional short Grab ~£3
🛏Ubud hostel or guesthouse, ~£16
- →Monkey Forest
- →Saraswati temple and Ubud Palace
- →Art market and rice paddy walk
- →Kecak dance performance
Kerta Gosa and the road to Candi Dasa
Ubud to Candi Dasa
Head east via Klungkung to see Kerta Gosa, the open-air 18th-century hall of justice with its vivid ceiling murals of karmic punishment — small entry fee (~50,000 IDR). If you're comfortable on two wheels, renting a scooter for the day (~80,000 IDR plus fuel) is the cheapest and most fun way to do this stretch; otherwise a Grab or a negotiated car costs roughly £12–18. Continue down the east coast to Candi Dasa, a laid-back strip of beachfront guesthouses and seafood restaurants. Check in, swim, and eat grilled fish at one of the beach warungs — it's a fraction of the price of Jimbaran.
🚌Scooter rental or Grab/car to Candi Dasa ~£12
🛏Candi Dasa beachfront guesthouse, ~£15
- →Kerta Gosa hall of justice
- →Beach time in Candi Dasa
Tirta Gangga, rice terraces and relaxation
Candi Dasa
A slow day with optional extras. Rent a scooter (~£5) and ride 20 minutes inland to Tirta Gangga, the water palace built for the last Raja of Karangasem — koi ponds, stepping stones and fountains, entry ~50,000 IDR. Carry on a little further to the Sidemen or Tirtagangga rice terraces for a short walk, and stop for lunch with a view of Mt Agung. Back on the coast in the afternoon: massage (~£7), a swim off the beach, or join an afternoon cooking class if you skipped Ubud's. Finish with a sunset drink and a seafood dinner.
🚌Scooter rental and fuel ~£6
🛏Candi Dasa beachfront guesthouse, ~£15
- →Tirta Gangga water palace
- →Sidemen/Agung rice terrace walk
- →Massage or cooking class (optional)
Departure from Candi Dasa
Candi Dasa
Check out at your leisure and take a pre-booked shared shuttle or Grab straight to DPS airport — allow 2.5 hours for the drive plus buffer, and more again if you're heading into Denpasar in morning traffic. If you have a late flight, spend the morning swimming or take a final walk along the coast. Shared shuttle ~£10–14; private car ~£22–28. Anything left on your SIM or leftover rupiah is best spent on airport snacks and coffee before security.
🚌Candi Dasa to DPS airport shuttle/taxi ~£12
🛏None (departure day)
- →Final beach swim
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£540 | £1,215 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £675 per person (56%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£540
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 Classic Bali: Self-Launched Island Circuit (Sanur to Candi Dasa) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £540 per person for 8 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,215 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £540 — a saving of roughly £675 (56%) per person.
How long is the Bali, Indonesia trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 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 adventure, culture, beaches 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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