Bali and Lombok in three weeks
Bali countryside, southern Lombok, a foothill village and Gili Air, ending on the mainland.
Your route at a glance
Bali countryside, southern Lombok, a foothill village and Gili Air, ending on the mainland. This plan allocates 20 nights across 21 travel days, including arrival and departure. Nights are not the same as full sightseeing days.
- Ubud4 nights
- Sidemen3 nights
- Sanur2 nights
- Kuta Lombok4 nights
- Senaru2 nights
- Gili Air3 nights
- Kuta Lombok2 nights
Overnight overview
| Night numbers | Base | Count | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | Ubud | 4 | Ubud works best when you treat it as a lived-in town and a countryside base, rather than a list of famous photographs. Spend part of the stay walking between courtyards, cafés and galleries, then arrange a separate outing into the rice-growing landscape. Central streets can be busy; a quiet valley hotel and a walkable town hotel offer very different holidays. |
| 5–7 | Sidemen | 3 | Sidemen is a countryside stay rather than a miniature version of Ubud. The attraction is the valley itself: rice-growing landscapes, village lanes and accommodation where the view is part of the day. Choose it for a slower pace and fewer restaurant-hopping evenings. A guided walk and a weaving visit can provide more depth than another long circuit by car. |
| 8–9 | Sanur | 2 | Sanur is a useful place to slow down and a practical final Bali base. The beachfront promenade allows gentler outings than repeated road transfers, while restaurants and accommodation come in a broad range of styles. It is also a gateway to the Nusa islands. Choose it for a relaxed coastal rhythm, while remembering that tides shape the beach experience. |
| 10–13 | Kuta Lombok | 4 | Kuta Lombok is on southern Lombok and is distinct from Kuta on Bali. Use it as a base for selected bays, a village visit and unhurried meals. The beaches are spread out, so a town stay and a remote coastal resort mean different days. Choose transport around the group’s experience rather than assuming everyone should ride a scooter. |
| 14–15 | Senaru | 2 | Senaru offers a quieter northern Lombok stay around waterfalls, village life and mountain scenery. It can be worthwhile without a Rinjani trek. A proper trekking expedition is a separate commitment with permits, fitness, equipment and current park rules; do not confuse it with a short village walk or a two-night sightseeing pause. |
| 16–18 | Gili Air | 3 | Gili Air is a small island stay whose appeal is the change of pace. Choose the coastline and accommodation carefully, then leave room for walks, meals and an appropriate marine outing. The island’s relative compactness does not remove practical differences between the harbour side, quieter northern stretches and sunset-facing places. |
| 19–20 | Kuta Lombok | 2 | A slower mainland finish with time for the complete airport transfer. Keep the final day flexible around departure. |
Total: 20 nights. Day 21 is departure day. A late arrival or early departure reduces sightseeing time, so remove an outing before removing a necessary transfer buffer.
How to use each stay
1. Ubud · 4 nights
Ubud works best when you treat it as a lived-in town and a countryside base, rather than a list of famous photographs. Spend part of the stay walking between courtyards, cafés and galleries, then arrange a separate outing into the rice-growing landscape. Central streets can be busy; a quiet valley hotel and a walkable town hotel offer very different holidays.
Ubud Palace and the town centre is a useful anchor for the day. Add one nearby stop, a meal and a proper break rather than covering every attraction.
2. Sidemen · 3 nights
Sidemen is a countryside stay rather than a miniature version of Ubud. The attraction is the valley itself: rice-growing landscapes, village lanes and accommodation where the view is part of the day. Choose it for a slower pace and fewer restaurant-hopping evenings. A guided walk and a weaving visit can provide more depth than another long circuit by car.
Walk the rice-growing valley is a useful anchor for the day. Add one nearby stop, a meal and a proper break rather than covering every attraction.
3. Sanur · 2 nights
Sanur is a useful place to slow down and a practical final Bali base. The beachfront promenade allows gentler outings than repeated road transfers, while restaurants and accommodation come in a broad range of styles. It is also a gateway to the Nusa islands. Choose it for a relaxed coastal rhythm, while remembering that tides shape the beach experience.
Walk the beachfront promenade is a useful anchor for the day. Add one nearby stop, a meal and a proper break rather than covering every attraction.
4. Kuta Lombok · 4 nights
Kuta Lombok is on southern Lombok and is distinct from Kuta on Bali. Use it as a base for selected bays, a village visit and unhurried meals. The beaches are spread out, so a town stay and a remote coastal resort mean different days. Choose transport around the group’s experience rather than assuming everyone should ride a scooter.
Tanjung Aan is a useful anchor for the day. Add one nearby stop, a meal and a proper break rather than covering every attraction.
5. Senaru · 2 nights
Senaru offers a quieter northern Lombok stay around waterfalls, village life and mountain scenery. It can be worthwhile without a Rinjani trek. A proper trekking expedition is a separate commitment with permits, fitness, equipment and current park rules; do not confuse it with a short village walk or a two-night sightseeing pause.
Sendang Gile waterfall is a useful anchor for the day. Add one nearby stop, a meal and a proper break rather than covering every attraction.
6. Gili Air · 3 nights
Gili Air is a small island stay whose appeal is the change of pace. Choose the coastline and accommodation carefully, then leave room for walks, meals and an appropriate marine outing. The island’s relative compactness does not remove practical differences between the harbour side, quieter northern stretches and sunset-facing places.
A sunset shore walk is a useful anchor for the day. Add one nearby stop, a meal and a proper break rather than covering every attraction.
7. Kuta Lombok · 2 nights
A slower mainland finish with time for the complete airport transfer. Keep the final day flexible around departure.
Tanjung Aan is a useful anchor for the day. Add one nearby stop, a meal and a proper break rather than covering every attraction.
Plan the transfer days
Keep each long transfer separate from the main outing. Agree the complete car journey, luggage and arrival time with the provider. After Sanur, compare a DPS–LOP flight with its complete airport transfers. Travel north from Kuta Lombok to Senaru, then use the confirmed mainland-to-Gili Air boat arrangement. Return to Kuta Lombok for two final mainland nights before a Lombok airport departure. The first and last Kuta stays are intentional. Senaru is a village and waterfall stay, not a Rinjani summit trek.
Adapt the route to your group
Choose a different outing when weather or access changes. Do not add another island without removing another base and repricing the complete connection.
Route questions
Do the nights add up?
20 nights are allocated across 21 travel days, with arrival and departure included.
Can I reverse this route?
Only after checking the actual flights, road and boat connections. Preserve the mainland buffer and sufficient time for each excursion.
Are sunrise and boat outings guaranteed?
No. Current access, weather and the named provider determine whether an outing can run. Keep a worthwhile alternative.
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Sources and last review
Reviewed 3 November 2026. The routes, visiting pace and transfer allowances are editorial suggestions. Use the named provider or authority for current access, prices and booking conditions.