My Romantic Bali Exploration 10D9N

Santi Mandala Villa, Ubud

Just so excited about going on my first romantic trip with my boyfriend (let's call him G). It's just so weird calling him my boyfriend. Is there a not so intense word to use? beloved, darling, sweetheart? It's all new and exciting to me since he's my second boyfriend *blushes*. Sure I go on dates for the past year, but I never expected to fall in love again. The occasional crushes and likes are fine up till now and the thought of going into another relationship scares me. We will take it slow and easy, get to know each other and enjoy each other's companionship. Darn I sound like some old woman now.

3.5 hectares hillside garden

 Santi Mandala Villas - Garden Villa

 the outdoor bathroom

When I told G I'll be celebrating my birthday (year end) in either Korea or Bali. He asked why not go on a romantic trip together for my birthday. He said Bali would be perfect for me. I do love Bali, and I hope to relive Bali in another light, this time with someone special. We will be flying to Bali on Christmas day itself and be back after New Year's. This makes it a triple kill trip - Christmas, New Year and Birthday all together so we're going to make it count, not only in staying longer but also at beautiful places I picked out myself.

We pretty much decided and booked accommodations for Day 1 - 3 (Kuta) and Day 6 - 10 (Ubud). Day 3 - 6 is not decided entirely. For the moment, G is going to research but it takes him ages to research and he's a very indecisive person so I made back up on Agoda (free cancellation) for a nice Balinese budget place called the Puri Kelapa Cottages. Only Rm500 for 4 nights stay :D 5 mins walk to Sanur beach. Surrounded by eateries and bars, heard it's cheaper there than Kuta / Seminyak beach areas.

 Kuta - Bali Prime Villas

Kuta - Bali Prime Villas "Pool Villa"

Kuta - Bali Prime Villas

While I'm still researching what to do, where to go and if we both die of boredom? (my bff says why are we staying so long, we'll be bored there). Thinking of all the possibilities and making this the ultimate Bali trip, I came up with an itinerary for a 10D9N Bali exploration.  Here's what I planned out so far covering must see places in Bali from West, East, South and North region. Comments are welcome! Nothing is set in stone yet except for staying in Kuta and Ubud.

Day 1 25/12	DENPASAR - KUTA Reaching just in time for check in at Bali Prime Villas, I booked a private pool vila that look just like The Banjaran Hotsprings, Tambun (Ipoh). Though from the pictures it seems like a beautiful replicate, I hope it lives up to it's reviews. Located at a quiet area, out of Kuta's busy night life situated in between Seminyak & Kuta. The Villa provides free shuttles to the nearest Seminyak Beach and Kuta town. I think it's great that we have the best of both world to explore for the next 3 days. Arrive Check-In Free & Easy Seminyak Beach Kuta town Meals :                    Accommodation :     Bali Prime Villas
Day 2 26/12	DOLPHIN TOUR (NORTH) Groupies greet the morning, and their driver, at 4am ready for a day of guided sightseeing. Enjoy the sunrise as you arrive at Lovina Beach, a chilled-out 12km coastal stretch to the west of Singaraja in Northern Bali. Take to a boat for a closer look at the scenic area and the pods of dolphins that call this part of the coast home. Refuel with an included breakfast before taking advantage of a unique opportunity to meet a dolphin for a memorable photo. 4am - 2pm See the playful pods of dolphins at Lovina Beach in Northern Bali Get up close with the unique creature for a memorable photo opportunity Enjoy an included breakfast Marvel at the towering GitGit Waterfall, surrounded by lush rainforest Visit Bratan Lake and Kuning Temple Meals :                      Breakfast Accommodation :      Bali Prime Villas
Day 3  27/12	KUTA - SANUR Quietly tucked away in the midst of green surroundings, Puri Kelapa Garden Cottages is Natural, Serene & Peaceful. Puri Kelapa can be your home away from home. Equipped with pool and spa, the hotel is located in the heart of the traditional Sanur village and only 5mins walk away to the famous sunrise beach of Sanur. There's a lot of places to eat here that I hear is cheap and still not touristy like Kuta or Seminyak.  Check out Kuta town Check in Sanur Beach walk Cycling Meals :                      Breakfast  Accommodation :      Puri Kelapa Cottages
Day 4 28/12	TOUR 1 NUSA DUA + ULUWATU + JIMBARAN (SOUTH) An ocean sunset, cliff-top fire dance and stunning views of Bali’s legendary surf breaks are the three pluses of this tour. The actual highlight, though, is the Uluwatu Temple, one of the most spectacular Hindu temples along the Bali coastline.  Built by a high Hindu priest from East Java named Dang Hyang Dwijendra in the 11th century, this beautiful temple is located atop a limestone cliff towering 90 meters above the Indian Ocean. Here, enjoy a performance of The Ramayana epic-based Kecak Dance with the majestic temple and sunset as its background, then continue on to a small fishing village at Jimbaran, where a seafood dinner will be served right on the beach, concluding the memorable evening. Nusa Dua BeachUluwatu Temple, Bali's famous cliff-top temple Kecak Dance, a dramatic performance with sunset as backdrop Jimbaran Seafood Dinner Meals :                      Breakfast Accommodation :     Puri Kelapa Cottages
Day 5 29/12	TOUR 2 BEDUGUL & TANAH LOT SUNSET (WEST) Bedugul and Tanah Lot Sunset Tour is an impressive experience to visit Ulundanu Temple with breathtaking view of Beratan Lake Bedugul and Wonderful Sunset At Tanah Lot Temple. Visit places interest in Bali like Taman Ayun Temple with Royal Family Temple. Tanah Lot temple is anyone will think about the beautiful sunset, awesome rocky beach, and graceful beachfront temple. Tanah Lot temple was built around sixteenth century, seeming like an islet surrounded by the sea. Particularly when it comes to sunset in Tanah Lot beach, you will be mesmerized by the magnificent view of the sun descending into the horizon. This concept of 3 temples has also influenced the smaller unit of Balinese settlement in the level called " Desa ". The temple as a whole is dedicated to the god of the sea. Mengwi royal family Bedugul Ulun danu temple Beratan lake Tanah lot Meals :                      Breakfast Accommodation :      Puri Kelapa Cottages
Day 6 30/12	SANUR - UBUD Breakfast at the hotel and maybe some sight seeing before Santi Mandala picks us up to Ubud. Santi Mandala Villa is a beautiful resort with traditional Balinese architecture on a 3.5 hectares hillside garden with rice paddies & tropical gardens. It's actually located near Sukawati, right by Ubud (25mins drive). Free shuttles 5 times a day to Ubud's cultural town. This is another place away from the busy town. Check out to Ubud Ubud exploration Meals :                      Breakfast Accommodation :      Santi Mandala Villa
Day 7 31/12	New Year Eve - FREE & EASY I think everywhere will be so pack and traffic will be so bad. We'll explore the surround areas of this hillside garden. Rent a bike and cycle around this place. At night we will be having a New Year Eve Buffet with countdown and performances! Can't wait.  Meals :                      Breakfast, Dinner  Accommodation :      Santi Mandala Villa
Day 8 1/1	TOUR 3 - GOA LAWAH + TIRTA GANGGA PARK (EAST) First journey during east Bali tour is visiting the beautiful goa lawah temple or more known as the bat cave temple located near the beach, the unique in this temple is there a cave where thousand bat hanging up in the cave. Then continue the tour to visit the Tenganan village is the traditional village in east Bali which still used the old traditions, ceremonies and rules of ancient Balinese, and its unique village layout and architecture. The east bali tour continue to visit the Taman Ujung water palace, is beautiful water palace was built by King karangasem for recreation place for royal family and then we will stop at local restaurant for having lunch with Indonesian food, after lunch we will continue the east Bali Tour to visit the last site in this packages is the Tirta Gangga Park is the water palace with beautiful setting and the function was same like ujung water palace is for recreation park for royal family. Is great full day tour to east bali we offer to complete your journey in this amazing islands, the tour will using private car and English speaking Bali driver to make your more convenient during the amazing full day east Bali. Meals :                      Breakfast Accommodation :      Santi Mandala Villa
Day 9 2/1	TOUR 4 KINTAMANI (MIDDLE) The best full day tour in Bali to visit Kintamani Village with breathtaking view of an active volcano and lake Batur from the top. Kintamani Tour will visit places of interest in Bali Starting from Tegalalang rice terrace, The holly Spring water of Tirta Empul, visit Coffee plantation and than Lunch at Kintamani at local restaurant with view volcano of mount Batur and lake Batur from distance. Batuan temple Tegallalang rice terrace Cofffee plantation Mount Batur/Kintamani Tirta empul Meals :                      Breakfast Accommodation :     Santi Mandala Villa
Day 10 3/1	END OF TRIP  The last day is reserved for some peace and quiet. A "no drama day", perhaps a walk around the resort and take the resort shuttle to Ubud / Sukawati market exploring and eating. We have to be back at the resort so we can get our airport transfer to Denpasar to catch our flight at night. Meals :                      Breakfast Accommodation :      -