Hanging out all day at your luxury Bali resort, sipping Mai Tai’s by the pool and only moving from room to restaurant sounds like a tropical fantasy right? Well, indeed, for some. But for those that are fully re-charged from their day-to-day life after a few days of doing absolutely nothing, there is an island adventure that awaits! Hit the road by renting a private taxi driver for the day and explore all the known and unknown that Bali has to offer. Here is some inspiration to help you, and your driver, along the way!
Want to know what to pay for a full day private taxi?
These trips have been mapped from the Canggu/Seminyak area. If you are planning on taking one of these trips whilst located near Uluwatu (trip 2) or Ubud (trip 1), check the travel distances on Google maps and see if you can possibly do the tour yourself by scooter.
Bali day trip 1:
Ready to explore hidden waterfalls and hike through lush rice paddies? Discover the beauty of Bali’s inland on roundtrip no. 1. This trip will take you to some of the lesser known waterfalls on the island, past the famous rice terraces, and last but not least, seat you directly at the table of a Balinese family.
Summarized day tour:
Tukad Cepung waterfall
Tegallalang rice terraces
Lunch: Balinese Home Cooking
Tibumana waterfall
Tukad Cepung waterfall
Now here is a secret we don’t like sharing. The Tukad Cepung waterfall is amongst the prettiest waterfalls on the island. Not due to its size or crystal clear waters, but due to its magnificent light rays. Light rays? Yes, stay with us, we’re still talking about a waterfall here. What makes Tukad Cepung so unique, is its underground location. The waterfall is set between rock formations, of which the top has been largely covered by natural plantation. When the sun hits the top of the cave just right, light rays turn the waterfall into something majestic.
It takes a little adventure to get to Tukad Cepung, but that’s half the fun! Expect a short trekking through the jungle (paved, but steep), going into a cave, wiggling under a rock, and passing through streaming water. Yes, the feet will get wet.
Usually, we would say save the best for last on a road trip, but this waterfall is too magical in the morning to miss. Arriving here before 09:30 will likely mean you get to chance to experience this hidden gem all by yourself. Hang around for a bit longer to get a glimpse of the light beams, they start making their way through the waterfall a little later on the day. Let’s keep this beauty a secret between us, for now, shall we.
Entrance fee for the Tukad Cepung waterfall is 10.000 IDR.
Tegallalang rice terraces
If you’ve seen pictures of Ubud, you’ve seen pictures of the Tellegan rice terraces. These rice terraces have become quite the phenomenon, which unfortunately also means the area is now hurdled with tourist orientated shops, restaurants, and the latest hype, the Bali swings. That said, the rice fields are still, without a doubt, worth a visit whilst in the area. The area is quite large and once you make your way through past the chaos, it is easy to find yourself a nice quiet area to enjoy the immenseness of the green paddies.
Lunch: Balinese Home Cooking
Support the local community by dining in the backyard of a lovely Balinese family. Balinese Home Cooking is a small family run restaurant which operates from their own backyard. The entire family lives on the premises and visitors are happily allowed to take a walk around their homes so that they can get a sense of local habits and culture.
Tibumana waterfall
We started the day with a waterfall, so it only feels right to end it on the same note; with a visit to the Tibumana waterfall. The Tibumana waterfall might not be the biggest on the island, nor is it the smallest, but it is a lovely one to experience in an intimate jungle setting. The walk down to the waterfall takes roughly 10-minutes and is an amusing tropical track. Don’t forget to pack your swimming gear!
Bali day trip 2:
This beach orientated day trip is guaranteed to take you past some of the most incredible beaches on Bali’s mainland. Expect to see all shades of turquoise and plenty of surf action. Best thing is; although insanely beautiful, these beaches are not as crowded as one would expect because they are hard to reach without a driver.
Summarized day tour:
Belagan beach
Bingin beach
Lunch: the Cashew Tree
Dreamland beach
Uluwatu Tempel/Pura Luhur Uluwatu
Keen on going for a surf? Keep in mind that waves and currents in the Uluwatu area are extremely strong. This is therefore not the place for anyone just starting out. There are loads of surfers in the water but these are at an expert level.
Balangan Beach
Starting off, yet again, with a good one; Balangan Beach. Aside from being a popular beach amongst local surfers, Balangan features a limestone cliff with an incredible view. The viewing point is actually super easy to access from the parking lot, making it a popular pitstop for daytrippers like yourselves. Make sure to make your way down for a dip in the waters, as they’re just as blue from beneath as they’re from above.
Bingin beach
Bingin beach, a quiet little surf hub that can only be entered via an alley, followed by a steep stair down. This hidden beach is surrounded by limestone cliffs and has a stretch of sand that lends itself perfectly for some sunbathing. Cool off with a drink at Kelly’s Warung, or any other of the other beach shacks, and enjoy Bingin’s splendid coastline.
Lunch: the Cashew Tree
Stop for lunch at the Cashew Tree. The restaurant is playfully set-up on a small square and focusses on serving healthy meals that are just as good for you as they are for your taste buds.
Dreamland beach
Another beach, another baby blue shoreline. The last beach of the day is perfect for a dip in, yet again, crystal clear waters or, if you’re done swimming, to do some bodyboarding! More a pool lover than an ocean fanatic? Make your way upwards to the Klupa New Kuta resort for a pool overlooking the sea. The resort allows outside visitors to use the pool for 60.000 IDR. Disclaimer: this place does get crazy busy with Asian hotel guests. Some days worse than others, but it’s definitely something to consider before paying.
Parking fee for Dreamland Beach is 20.000 IDR. This includes usage of a minivan that will bring you towards the actual beach.
Uluwatu Temple / Pura Luhur Uluwatu
Finish off the day with a visit to a temple rising 70 meters above sea level; the Pura Luhur Uluwatu, commonly known as the Uluwatu temple. Whilst the temple itself might not be very impressive, the cliff views that accompany the premises are nothing short of spectacular. This spot is one of Uluwatu’s touristic highlights, so do expect a lot of people here. A walk along the grounds surrounding the temple will not take more than 30 minutes of your time.
Note: Watch out for the monkeys here. Whilst they may look incredibly cute, they’re more than eager to get a hold of a pair of sunnies or, worst case scenario, your camera or phone.
The entrance fee for the Uluwatu Temple is 30.000 IDR. This includes free usage of a sarong, which is required as it is considered holy ground.
What you should pay for a full day private taxi
A fair price pay for a full day private taxi in Bali would be anywhere between 500.000 and 600.000 IDR, equal to €37,- and $42,- Keep in mind that a lot of the sights on this list also ask a small parking and/or entrance fee, which has to be paid by yourself as well. This is usually fairly cheap -think anywhere between 2.000 until 20.000- but make sure to bring some spare change for this.
All prices as of 25 January 2019, in US dollar and EURO, converted on http://www.xe.com.
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