How I spent 7 days travelling solo in Bali

Bali was my first real solo trip. The people were warm and friendly, and I never felt unsafe, which made it a great destination for travelling alone as a woman.

When I travelled with friends, I usually just went along with whatever we had planned. Travelling solo was different. I had to work out where to go, how to get around, and what I actually wanted each day to look like, but that was part of what made the experience so rewarding.

I went in mid-December, right in the wet season.

Before the trip, I kept hearing that the rainy season was not the best time to visit Bali. In reality, it was completely manageable. I expected a few plans to be disrupted, but it never rained all day, and I still made it everywhere I wanted to go.

Sometimes, the sudden tropical downpours even made the trip more memorable.

If you are planning a solo trip to Bali, here is my 7-day, 6-night itinerary.

Beachwalk Shopping Centre

Kuta Beach

My flight landed in the afternoon, so I stayed in Kuta for the first night since it is close to the airport.

I had planned to find a beachfront restaurant and watch the sunset, but a sudden downpour changed that. Instead, I ended up wandering around Beachwalk, which somehow made me feel like I was back in Australia.

Not exactly the tropical start I had imagined, but I did find a surprisingly good plate of fried rice upstairs.

If you have more time, Kuta Beach is worth a stroll, and you can also try stand-up paddleboarding.

La Brisa Sunday Market

Penny Lane for lunch

Times Beach Warung for a drink by the sea

Putri Ubud for a spa treatment

On the second day, I was heading from Kuta to Ubud, so I stopped in Canggu along the way.

I started at La Brisa Sunday Market. It was busy, but almost every corner was photogenic. The market itself felt a little pricey, so I was happy just browsing. There are also a few smaller markets nearby selling local crafts and handmade pieces.

By lunchtime, I headed to Penny Lane. The space is beautiful, the atmosphere is relaxed, and the food was good too. I ordered an Indonesian sharing platter.

GigiSusu is just nearby, so it is an easy stop for an iced coffee afterwards.

Later, I wanted some time by the ocean, so I walked into Times Beach Warung without a booking. There was no minimum spend, so I ordered a drink, sat by the sea and did absolutely nothing for most of the afternoon. Perfect.

That evening, I continued on to Ubud and finished the day with a spa treatment at Putri Ubud.

Ubud Palace

Shopping in central Ubud

Chakra reading at The Wizard Ubud

Active Consciousness at Yoga Barn

I wanted this trip to include more yoga, meditation and time surrounded by nature, so I stayed in Ubud for several days.

That morning, I slept in and started the day at Ubud Palace. From there, I wandered along the main streets and explored the small shops around the town centre.

Central Ubud is quite compact. Along Jalan Raya Ubud and the nearby streets, you will find many of the popular gelato shops, boutiques and bag stores. I also had time to visit the Monkey Forest.

In the afternoon, I went to The Wizard Ubud for a chakra reading with Sina. I recommend booking ahead, as they may not have availability for walk-ins.

It was such an interesting experience.

That evening, I joined an Active Consciousness chakra-cleansing meditation session at Yoga Barn.

Bali Pulina

Tirta Empul Temple

Tis Cafe

My original plan was simple: visit a coffee plantation and have lunch at Tis Cafe.

But I got lucky with my Gojek driver, a warm and friendly Balinese girl who ended up becoming my local guide for the day. She took me to Tirta Empul Temple, a nearby waterfall and a few hidden spots I probably would never have found on my own.

Tis Cafe was another lovely stop, with views over the rice terraces, swings and plenty of photo spots. It was also much quieter than some of the bigger clubs, so you do not necessarily need to go somewhere more crowded or expensive for the same kind of experience.

Pandawa Beach

Tanah Barak Cliff Road

Lunch at Malini Uluwatu

Blue Point Beach

Sunset at Balangan Beach

The weather was not really on my side that day. I had planned to spend more time along the beaches and cliff roads, but the rain turned most stops into quick visits.

Malini Uluwatu is beautiful for the ocean views and photos, but the food was fairly average and quite pricey. My driver suggested stopping there for a drink and the view, then heading further down the cliff for a better lunch.

I would probably do exactly that next time.

Lovina - Dolphin watching and snorkelling

Sunset at Jimbaran Beach

Dolphin watching in Lovina was high on my list, and I also wanted to try snorkelling, so I booked the tour well in advance.

The only downside was the distance. I had to leave at around 3 am and spend more than three hours on the road just to get there.

Lovina Beach itself is quite small, and there were no public showers, which meant sitting through another long drive back while still damp after snorkelling. If you are staying far away and are not especially interested in snorkelling, I would probably stick to the dolphin tour.

Traffic around Denpasar was heavy on the way back, so by the time I returned, showered and rested, it was already early evening.

Still, seeing a whole pod of dolphins, snorkelling with little fish, watching the sunset at Jimbaran and ending the day with grilled seafood made the early start completely worth it.

Seminyak Village

Bintang Supermarket

Hair treatment and massage at Spa Yasmin

My flight was not until the evening, so I had most of the day to take it easy in Seminyak.

I started at Seminyak Village and slowly wandered towards Bintang Supermarket, stopping at shops along the way. The area is easy to explore on foot, and Bread Yard made a nice lunch and coffee stop halfway through.

Bintang Supermarket is great for souvenirs too, with reasonable prices and plenty of easy gifts to take home.

With a few hours still to spare, I found a nearby spa and booked a hair treatment with a shoulder, neck and arm massage.

Affordable, relaxing, and a pretty perfect way to end the trip.

For longer transfers, I usually booked a private driver for the day. It made moving between areas much easier, especially with luggage, and I could stop wherever I wanted along the way.

A full-day driver costs around AUD $200, which works out better if you are sharing the ride.

For shorter trips, I used Gojek or Grab motorbikes. They were quick, convenient and much easier for getting through Bali traffic. I also never found the rides too fast or intimidating.