Do you want to see 3 islands in 2 weeks in Indonesia? Are you wondering if you should visit Bali or the Gili islands? Well with this Bali Lombok itinerary, you can and you can visit them all!
Bali is the most popular island in Indonesia for tourists, followed by the Gili Islands which comprise of Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno. However, these Gili Islands are not part of Bali, they are part of Lombok and they’re very close to Lombok island.
Lombok is popular for tourists because there are lots of things to do in Lombok however, tourism is not as nearly as developed as it is in Bali, which is the reason why I think you should go to Lombok on this 2 week Indonesia itinerary when you visit Bali and do this Bali Gili Lombok itinerary!
Bali, Gili, Lombok Itinerary
So here’s how to see Indonesia in 2 weeks!
- More of my Must-Read Bali, Lombok and Gili blog posts to help plan your trip:
- The Best Bali Sunset Locations!
- Everything you need to know about the Gili Islands!
- The best places to visit in Lombok!
- 30 Things to do in Gili Trawangan!
Map of places to visit in Bali and Lombok
To help you plan your Bali Lombok itinerary, here’s a map with all the places I have mentioned below in this Bali and Lombok itinerary 2 weeks.
Day 1 – Fly into Bali Airport & Transfer to Southern Beaches
Bali has one airport and it is well located for the Southern beaches in Bali which are also the most popular beaches in Bali, so this is where I recommend you go first.
Places to visit in Bali
There are many beaches in Bali to choose from and with 1 week in Bali on this Bali itinerary, you will need to pick one beach and explore from there.
I suggest pre-booking a taxi service like this from the airport to where you’ll stay in Bali so you don’t get ripped off by taxi’s outside and it’s hard to get Grabs and Ubers from the airport.
If you want cool cafes and good waves, head to Canggu which is popular with digital nomads and is one of the best places to stay in Bali.
If you want shops and big nights out, head to Kuta or Seminyak which are popular for holidaymakers, especially Australians and therefore is the best place to stay on holiday in Bali.
If you want quiet beaches and culture, head to Uluwatu which is home to lots of temples and famous for its sunset.
Where to stay in Bali?
This will depend on which area along the coast of Bali you decide to stay on this itinerary for Bali. There are lots and lots of hostels if you are on a budget in Bali or travelling to Bali solo.
There are also many mid-range guesthouses, homestays and hotels as well as high-end resorts in Bali, there is no shortage of accommodation in Bali.
I recommend looking on Booking.com for your Bali accommodation.
Day 2 & 3 – Explore Bali
From your base, you can explore more of Bali and the Southern beaches in particular.
Things to do in Bali
Surfing is one of the top things to do in Bali because most of the beaches have great waves and waves that are good for beginners.
Bali’s cafe culture and food scene are well known for a reason so be sure to visit some of the best cafes in Bali. My favourite cafe in Canguu is The Loft and Crumb and Coaster cafe in Kuta.
The best thing about Bali is that you can see a lot on a Bali day trip too, so if you want to see some famous places like the island of Nusa Penida or go on an Instagram tour to Balinese Gates, Birds Nests and Rice Terraces, check out these day tours of Bali:
However, be sure not to do a day tour that goes close to Ubud or includes places to see in Ubud, as Ubud is where I recommend you go next on this best Bali itinerary.
Day 4 – Travel to Ubud
You can arrange a shared bus and car with one of the many travel agents in Bali to Ubud, or book a bus yourself from Canggu to Ubud for example on 12GO Asia here for a great price!
It takes 1-2 hours to get to Ubud from South Bali like Kuta to Ubud, depending on where you are staying so you can still have a full day to see Ubud this day.
Day 5 & 6 – Explore Ubud
The best way to see Ubud and visit the many places to see in Ubud and places near Ubud is to go on a day tour.
Things to do in Ubud
A day tour from Ubud will include stops at the rice terraces, temples and markets. One of these Ubud day tours will be perfect:
Climbing Mount Batur at Sunrise is number one in the things to do in Ubud, you can do it from elsewhere in Bali but Ubud is closer meaning you don’t have to get up as early. Be sure to look into one of these Mount Batur Sunrise tours:
Ubud is the home of yoga and meditation in Bali so be sure to try and take a yoga lesson, enjoy the healthy food, especially at the Vegan and Vegetarian restaurants.
If you want to head to a unique cafe in Ubud and have a unique experience in Ubud, I recommend these local restaurants in Ubud and TIS Cafe Ubud which are next to the very famous and popular Tegalalang Rice Terraces, these are the top places to visit in Ubud but at TIS Cafe you get to go in an infinity pool overlooking the rice terraces rather than watching hundreds of tourists walk through them!
Day 7 – Travel to the Gili Islands
To start your Bali itinerary including Gili islands. From Ubud, you can easily book a bus and boat from Ubud to the Gili Islands which involves taking a car or bus to Padang Bai harbour and the boat over to the Gili Islands.
I really recommend the company Eka Jaya as their boat is the comfiest. You can book an Eka Jaya Boat on 12GO Asia from Padang Bai but you’ll need to get yourself to the harbour. This whole journey will take around 4 hours so I suggest you leave early in the morning so you can make the most of your Gili islands 3 day itinerary.
Places to visit in Gili Islands
Which is the best Gili island to visit? There are 3 Gili Islands – Gili Trawangan, most commonly known as Gili T, Gili Air and Gili Meno, and no visit to Bali is complete without doing a Bali itinerary including the Gili Islands.
Gili T is the most popular of the Gili islands with the most things to do and the most going on. It’s known for its partying and diving but it offers a lot more than that! For example, here is my blog post with 30 THINGS TO DO ON GILI T FOR EVERYONE!
However, Gili Air is also very popular, particularly with honeymooners and couples who want a slightly quieter island. Gili Meno is good but it is very quiet.
Personally, I recommend you visit Gili T or Gili Air and with this 2 week Bali and Gili Island itinerary, I recommend basing yourself in just 1 island rather than trying to stay on them all!
However, if you’re just looking for a Bali and Gili islands 2-week itinerary without going over to the mainland of Lombok, you could spend 1 week in the Gili islands and island-hop.
PLANNING YOUR GILI ISLANDS TRIP
I lived on Gili Trawangan island for 6 months so I know it well! Here are my top posts to help you plan your trip:
Where to stay in the Gili Islands?
If you’re going to stay on Gili T, here’s my accommodation guide for the best places to stay in Gili Trawangan, including hostels, bungalows, beach resorts and villas.
Again, Booking.com offers lots of accommodation in the Gili Islands including many private villas with swimming pools.
Day 8 & 9 – Explore the Gili Islands
Getting in the crystal clear water is one of the best things to do in the Gili islands so be sure to go out snorkeling or diving on this Bali Lombok itinerary!
Hiring a bike is the best way to see Gili T and you can cycle around the island in just a few hours. Be sure to look out for the Instagram famous Gili Swings.
Come evening, be sure to watch the sunset on this Gili islands itinerary. The Gili islands are known for their sunsets and then head out for a drink to see some live music on the beach or get ready for a big night out because the nightlife in Gili T is famous!
If you want to see more than one Gili island during this part of your Gili Islands itinerary, you can easily take a day trip to another island by getting the boat between them. Here’s my post on how to get around the 3 Gili islands!
Related Post: 30 THINGS TO DO ON GILI T FOR EVERYONE!
Day 10 – Travel from Gili Islands to Lombok
Moving onto your Lombok and Gili islands itinerary. There are regular boats leaving all 3 Gili islands to Lombok, the best thing to do is to get a local boat from Gili T to Lombok early in the morning as this is the cheapest option and only takes 20 minutes. The pier in Lombok is called Bangsal Harbour.
From Bangsal, head slightly South staying along the West coast to Klui or Senggigi. You can prebook a car from Bangsal Harbour to Senggigi here.
If you want to stay in a really quiet place with a nice, wild beach, perfect for surfing, stay in Klui. I recommend staying at Diva Lombok Resort or Jeeva Klui Resort as the best hotel in Klui.
If you want to stay somewhere with a holidaymaker feel to it with more hotels, restaurants and bars, but still with a nice beach, stay in Senggigi.
This area of Lombok is quiet but it’s worth seeing for one day which is why I suggest it in this itinerary for Lombok. Out of the many things to do in Lombok, surfing is number one! If you want a surf lesson, go see my friends at Lombok Wave Surf Shack in Klui for a lesson and a sunset chill, these are the best things to do in Klui and best things to do in Senggigi.
Related Post: Here’s my full blog post on things to do in Senggigi and Klui Beach!
Day 11 – Travel to Kuta in Lombok
From Klui or Senggigi head down to the South of Lombok. Southern Lombok is the best place to visit in Lombok for tourists I think due to how many amazing beaches there are and how well it’s catered for tourists, but it is not yet overdeveloped.
The journey from Senggigi to Kuta in Lombok will take 1.5-2 hours and you can arrange a bus or private transfer in your accommodation.
If you are looking for a Bali Lombok itinerary for 10 days, instead of going down to Kuta, you could fly from Lombok Airport on this day.
Related Post: Lombok Itinerary and the best places to visit in Lombok!
Where to stay in Kuta Lombok?
Once in South Lombok, I recommend Kuta Lombok as the best place to stay on this Bali Lombok itinerary because the town offers plenty of accommodation, restaurants, tour agencies and Kuta beach is within walking distance. Pipes Hostel is a really great hostel in Kuta Lombok and you should stay there on this backpacking Lombok itinerary.
However, if you want to stay in a quiet beach village I recommend Selong Belank.
Booking.com is the best place to look for accommodation in Kuta, there are lots of options for all budgets.
GETTING FROM BALI TO THE GILI ISLANDS
There is only one way to get from Bali to the Gili Islands and that’s my fast boat from Padang Bay.
You can wait until you arrive to book your boat or be organised and book it in advance here. Booking in advance is especially good during the summer and Christmas months!
BUY HERE: From Bali: 1-Way Boat Transfer to Gili Trawangan/Gili Air/Lombok
BUY HERE: From all Gili Islands: 1-Way Boat Transfer to Bali
Day 12 & 13 – Explore South Lombok
If you are confident in riding a moped, this is by far the best way to get around Lombok and see all of the places near Kuta Lombok.
Things to do in Kuta Lombok
As mentioned, surfing is one of the top things to do in Lombok and South Lombok is no different, you can go surfing on Kuta Beach and Selong Belank Beach.
However, for a unique surfing experience, head to Gerupuk where you take a boat out into the ocean and surf in the middle of the sea, it’s such a cool experience and tourist attraction in Lombok.
As for more beaches to visit near Kuta and the best beaches in Lombok, Tanjung Aan Beach is a beautiful white sand beach and you should stick around for sunset and head up Merese Hill for sunset. The beaches are where you should head in Lombok during your Lombok itinerary 1 week.
Day 14 – Fly out of Lombok Airport
Lombok Praya International Airport is just 30 minutes away from Kuta in Lombok and you can book a transfer car to the airport here or once you are in Kuta. Lombok Airport and it is well connected to cities in Australia and South East Asia so I would recommend looking at flights on Skyscanner from here to finish your 2 week Indonesia itinerary and this Bali Lombok itinerary!
If there are no flights from Lombok to where you want to go, or it’s better to book return flights from Bali, you can get cheap, internal flights from Lombok to Bali and then fly from Bali. The flight is only 45 minutes.
If you have longer to spend in Indonesia and you’re looking for a 3 week Bali and Lombok itinerary, I recommend you head into Central and North Lombok and spend an extra 1 week in Lombok there, or you could look into a Java, Bali and Lombok itinerary and spend 1 week in Java flying from Lombok over to Java.
Best time to visit Bali and Lombok
Both islands of Bali and Lombok have the same wet season and dry season. Wet Season is from November to March and Dry Season is from April to October. You may think that dry season sounds more appealing but this also means it is high season in Bali and Lombok during these months so it depends what you want when you’re thinking about when to visit Lombok and Bali.
Personally, I’d recommend the shoulder months as the best time to visit Bali and Lombok– November, December and April bring less rain and also fewer tourists! Win win.
I hope you found this 2-week itinerary for Indonesia helpful and by following this you really will see the best of Bali and Lombok in one trip!
- Here are more of my Indonesia blog posts to help you plan your trip:
- The best Sunset Spots in Bali!
- The best places to visit in Lombok!
- 30 THINGS TO DO IN GILI TRAWANGAN!
- Where to stay on Gili Trawangan – The BEST Hotels, Hostels & Villa’s for all budgets!
- How to find the BEST swings on Gili T!
- How are the horses that work on Gili T treated NOW?
Ange
Saturday 5th of February 2022
Hi,
I literally never leave comments anywhere, but had to stop on this. This post is exactly what I have been searching for for ages and ages, and its so clear and really helpful! Never planning travel again without checking in here first! Thank you :)
TheWanderingQuinn
Monday 7th of February 2022
Hi Ange, Ooh thats so so nice to hear! I'm really glad it helped you. Let me know if you need anything else and it will be an amazing trip!