Bali Honeymoon Holiday

There is a moment, as the plane drops towards Bali, when the island comes into view below you: a green, mountainous island fringed with surf, volcano peaks rising through the clouds, and rice fields stepping down the hillsides towards the sea. It is one of the most romantic first sights in Asia, and the perfect beginning to a honeymoon. Bali is two and a half hours ahead of India, so set your watches forward as you land.

Ngurah Rai International Airport, also called Denpasar airport, sits on a narrow strip of land in the south of the island, with the runway stretching out into the sea. Indian passport holders get a visa on arrival, which you can apply for online in advance as an e-VOA to save time, and you should also complete the arrival card and pay the Bali tourist levy before you fly. At immigration, you show your passport, return ticket and visa, and the officer stamps you in. Collect your bags, pass through customs and walk out into the arrivals hall, where our representative will be waiting with a board showing your names.

Your transfer is private, so you can relax together in the back of the car as Bali unfolds outside the window. The drive to Ubud takes about one and a half to two hours, depending on traffic, and it is a lovely introduction to the island. The busy roads of the south slowly give way to villages where every house has its own family temple, carved stone gateways and little offerings of flowers, rice and incense placed on the ground each morning. These offerings, called canang sari, are part of everyday Balinese life, so step around them carefully when you walk.

As you climb towards Ubud, the air becomes a little cooler and the landscape greener. Ubud is the cultural heart of Bali, a town of artists, dancers, woodcarvers and painters set among jungle valleys, rivers and rice fields. It has been drawing travellers for almost a century, ever since European painters settled here in the 1920s and 1930s, and it still feels peaceful and creative, with yoga studios, galleries, organic cafés and small boutique hotels hidden among the trees.

Check in to your hotel and take the rest of the day to unwind after the journey. Standard check-in is usually from 2 PM; if you arrive early, leave your bags at reception and have a light lunch nearby. Do let us know in advance that you are on your honeymoon, as many hotels in Ubud like to welcome newly married couples with flowers on the bed or a small cake, and we can also arrange extras such as a room with a private pool, a flower bath or a candlelit dinner, subject to availability.

If you still have energy in the late afternoon, take a gentle walk into the centre of Ubud. The Ubud Palace, home of the town's royal family, has beautiful carved gates and courtyards, and in the evening it hosts traditional Balinese dance performances such as the Legong, with dancers in gold costumes moving to the shimmering sound of the gamelan orchestra. Across the road, the Ubud Art Market sells sarongs, baskets, paintings and wood carvings, and is busiest in the morning.

For dinner, Ubud has a wonderful choice of restaurants, from simple warungs serving Balinese food to romantic restaurants overlooking the jungle and the river valleys. Try nasi campur, a plate of rice with small portions of meat, vegetables and sambal, or the famous Balinese crispy duck. Vegetarians are very well looked after in Ubud, and you will also find several Indian restaurants in and around the town if you are craving dal, paneer or a good masala chai.

A few practical tips help on the first day. Buy a local SIM card or eSIM at the airport, so that you can use maps and ride-hailing apps such as Grab and Gojek. ATMs are easy to find, but use machines inside banks or shops, and change money only at authorised exchange counters, as some street money changers short-change visitors. Drink bottled or filtered water rather than tap water, and carry mosquito repellent, especially in the green, humid valleys around Ubud.

After a long day of travel, an early night is a good idea. Tomorrow brings one of Bali's most loved experiences, the Bali Swing, high above the jungle.

Included today: meet and greet at Bali airport, private arrival transfer to your hotel in Ubud, hotel stay.

Good to know: apply for the e-VOA, complete the arrival card and pay the tourist levy before you fly, and keep your passport, return ticket and hotel booking handy. Tell us about your honeymoon when you book so we can inform the hotel. Read our guide to the Bali visa for Indians and the arrival card and tourist levy.

Wake up to birdsong and the green light of the jungle. Breakfast in Ubud is one of the small pleasures of Bali: tropical fruit such as papaya, dragon fruit, mangosteen and snake fruit, fresh juices, banana pancakes and strong Balinese coffee, often served on a terrace overlooking rice fields or the treetops. Take your time, as the morning has a relaxed start.

Today you visit the Bali Swing, one of the island's most famous experiences and a favourite with honeymoon couples. It is set on the edge of a deep jungle valley, a short drive from central Ubud, with tall coconut palms and thick tropical forest falling away to the river below. Giant swings hang from high wooden frames and from the trees themselves, and as you swing out over the valley, you feel as if you are flying above the jungle.

A professional team looks after you from start to finish. You are fitted with a safety harness, given a short briefing and helped onto the swing, and the staff push and catch you each time. There are swings of different heights, from gentle ones close to the ground to dramatic ones that swing high out over the valley, so you can choose what feels comfortable. Many places also have a couple's swing, where you can swing out together, side by side, which makes a wonderful honeymoon moment.

The Bali Swing is as much about photographs as it is about adventure. Around the swings, you will find giant birds' nests woven from branches and palm leaves, heart-shaped frames, floating platforms and viewpoints, all designed for pictures against the jungle backdrop. Many couples hire the long, flowing, brightly coloured dresses offered on site, which billow out beautifully as you swing, and the staff are happy to take photos for you. Wear comfortable clothes and secure shoes, and bring a change of clothes if you plan to dress up for photos.

The best time to visit is in the morning, when the light is soft, the air is fresher and the views over the valley are clearest. By midday it can get busy and hot, especially in the dry season from April to October. Allow two to three hours to enjoy the swings and take photographs without rushing, and stop for a fresh coconut or a juice at the café, where the views over the jungle are lovely.

The rest of the day is free to spend together in Ubud. One of the best ways to spend the afternoon is with a Balinese massage. Ubud is famous for its spas, and a traditional massage uses long, gentle strokes and fragrant oils to relax tired muscles. Many spas offer couple's treatments in rooms open to the garden, and some include a flower bath afterwards, a warm bath scattered with frangipani and hibiscus petals, a perfect honeymoon treat.

If you prefer to explore, the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in the heart of Ubud is home to hundreds of long-tailed macaques living among ancient temples and giant banyan trees with hanging roots. It is beautiful and atmospheric, but keep sunglasses, hats and bags close, as the monkeys are curious and quick. For a peaceful walk, the Campuhan Ridge Walk follows a grassy ridge between two river valleys, best in the early morning or late afternoon. The Tegalalang rice terraces, north of Ubud, are another lovely optional visit, with green steps of rice curving around the hillside.

In the evening, treat yourselves to a romantic dinner. Several restaurants in and around Ubud are set on the edge of river valleys, lit by candles and lanterns, with the sound of the river and the frogs below. Balinese cooking classes are also popular with couples, and some include a morning market visit if you would like to do one on another day.

Bali has two seasons. The dry season, from about April to October, brings sunny days and cooler evenings in Ubud, while the wet season, from November to March, brings short, heavy tropical showers, usually in the afternoon, followed by fresh, green landscapes. The Bali Swing operates in both seasons, but heavy rain may pause the swings for a while, so a morning slot is the safest choice in the wet months.

For something truly special, ask us about a private dinner in the rice fields or by the river, with a table set just for the two of you, lanterns and a Balinese menu.

Ubud evenings are quiet and peaceful, so enjoy a slow stroll back to your hotel under the stars. Tomorrow, you leave the jungle for the beach.

Included today: Bali Swing experience as per the selected package, breakfast.

Good to know: the swing has weight and health limits and is not recommended during pregnancy or for anyone with back or heart problems. Dress hire, extra photo packages, spa treatments and other sightseeing are at extra cost. Read our Ubud guide for more ideas.

After a final breakfast among the rice fields, check out from your Ubud hotel. Checkout is usually at 11 AM or noon, so there is time for a last walk, a swim in the pool or a quick visit to the Ubud Art Market before you leave. If you have time, buy a few souvenirs here: handwoven baskets, batik sarongs, silver jewellery and carved wooden figures are all good value in Ubud, and bargaining with a smile is expected in the market.

Your private car takes you south to Kuta, a drive of about one and a half hours. Along the way, you may like to stop at one of the craft villages on the road between Ubud and the coast. Celuk is known for its silversmiths, whose workshops make delicate filigree jewellery, and Mas for its woodcarvers, who create everything from small figures to huge carved doors. Batubulan, closer to Denpasar, is famous for stone carving, and the roadsides are lined with statues of gods, demons and guardians in grey volcanic stone. Let your driver know if you would like a short stop.

As you reach the south of the island, the landscape changes. The rice fields give way to busier towns, shopping streets and resorts, and you catch your first glimpses of the Indian Ocean. Kuta is where tourism in Bali began, in the 1960s and 1970s, when surfers and backpackers discovered its long golden beach and powerful waves. Today, it is the island's liveliest beach area, full of shops, restaurants, bars, surf schools and hotels of every style, and it sits close to the airport, which makes it convenient for the last part of your trip.

Check in to your hotel and spend the afternoon at leisure. Most hotels in Kuta have pools, and many are just a short walk from the beach. In the late afternoon, walk down to Kuta Beach for one of the great free shows of Bali: the sunset. The beach faces west, so the sun goes down over the sea, turning the sky orange, pink and purple, while surfers catch the last waves and families gather on the sand. Buy a fresh coconut from one of the beach vendors, find a spot on the sand together, and watch the sun disappear into the ocean.

If you would like to try surfing, Kuta is one of the best places in Bali to learn. The beach has a sandy bottom and gentle waves close to shore, and there are many surf schools offering lessons for beginners, with boards, rash vests and instructors who stay in the water with you. A two-hour lesson is enough to stand up on the board for the first time, and it is a fun thing to do together. Lessons are at extra cost, and the best time is usually in the morning, when the sea is calmer.

In the evening, Kuta and neighbouring Legian come alive. Beachwalk Shopping Centre, an open-air mall facing the beach, has international brands, cafés and restaurants, and it is pleasant to walk around in the cooler evening air. For a quieter, more romantic dinner, many couples head south to Jimbaran Bay, about 20 minutes away, where seafood restaurants set their tables directly on the sand. You choose your fish, prawns and lobster from the ice, they are grilled over coconut husks, and you eat with your toes in the sand as the sun sets and the candles are lit. It is one of the most memorable evenings in Bali.

Kuta also has a good choice of Indian restaurants, serving North and South Indian food, and plenty of vegetarian options, so you will never be far from familiar flavours if you want them.

Kuta also has a quieter side. A short drive south, the beaches of Jimbaran and Nusa Dua are calmer and less crowded, and north of Kuta, Legian and Seminyak are more relaxed. Wherever you go, the west-coast beaches can have strong currents, so swim only between the red and yellow flags, where lifeguards are on duty.

Traffic in the south of Bali can be slow in the late afternoon, especially on the narrow streets of Kuta and Legian, so allow extra time if you have a dinner booking. Walking is often quicker for short distances, and the beachfront path between Kuta and Legian is pleasant in the evening breeze.

Kuta can be loud and busy late at night, especially around the bars of Legian Street, so if you prefer a peaceful evening, have dinner near your hotel and turn in early. Tomorrow is a morning of water sports at Tanjung Benoa.

Included today: private transfer from Ubud to your hotel in Kuta, hotel stay, breakfast.

Good to know: stops on the way are short and depend on time and traffic. Surf lessons and Jimbaran seafood dinners are optional, at extra cost. Agree the price before you buy anything at beach stalls. Compare the areas in our guide to where to stay in Bali.

After breakfast, you are driven to Tanjung Benoa, a narrow peninsula on the east side of the Nusa Dua area, about 30 to 40 minutes from Kuta. Tanjung Benoa means "Benoa Cape", and it is Bali's main water sports centre. Unlike the open surf beaches on the west coast, the water here is protected by a reef offshore, so the sea is calm and shallow, which makes it ideal for water activities, even for people who are not strong swimmers.

Your package includes a banana boat ride, and it is one of the most fun ways to start the day. You sit astride a long inflatable tube shaped like a banana, together with other riders, wearing life jackets, and a speedboat pulls you at speed across the water. The driver swerves and turns, the boat bounces over the waves, and at the end, he usually tips everyone into the warm sea. You will be laughing all the way, and it is an easy, carefree activity to do together.

Once you have tried the banana boat, you can add other water sports at the beach, paid locally. Parasailing is a favourite with couples: you are strapped into a harness under a colourful parachute, and the speedboat lifts you high into the air for a few minutes, with wonderful views over the coast, the reef and the hotels of Nusa Dua. Jet skiing lets you race across the bay yourselves, with an instructor, and the flying fish is a wild ride on an inflatable raft that lifts into the air as the boat speeds along.

For something gentler, try the sea walker. You put on a special helmet that is fed with air from the surface, and walk on the sea floor a few metres below the surface, among corals and tropical fish, without needing to swim or dive. Snorkelling and glass-bottom boat trips are also popular, and some boats visit Pulau Penyu, or Turtle Island, a short ride away, where a small conservation centre looks after sea turtles and you can see them up close.

Prices for water sports are usually quoted per person, per activity, and many operators offer packages that combine two or three activities at a better price. Our team can advise you on what is worth doing, and the activities are always subject to weather and sea conditions. Life jackets are provided, and the staff give a safety briefing before each ride. Wear swimwear, bring a towel, sunscreen and a change of clothes, and keep your phone in a waterproof pouch.

The sun in Bali is strong, even on cloudy days, because the island lies just south of the equator. Use high-factor sunscreen, reapply it after swimming, wear a hat and sunglasses, and drink plenty of water. Fresh coconut water is the perfect drink after a morning in the sea.

After the water sports, you return to your hotel, and the afternoon is free. Relax by the pool, or book a couple's massage at your hotel or a nearby spa. In the late afternoon, many couples visit one of the beach clubs along the coast north of Kuta, in Legian, Seminyak and Canggu, where you can spend the sunset on a daybed by the pool, with music, cocktails and mocktails and a view of the sea. Entry and minimum spends vary, so check before you go.

In the evening, the restaurants and cafés of Kuta and Legian are close by, or you could take a short taxi ride to Seminyak, a few kilometres north, which has some of the best restaurants in Bali, from Balinese and Indonesian to Italian, Japanese and modern international cooking. Taxis and ride-hailing apps such as Grab and Gojek are easy to use and inexpensive.

If you have never done water sports before, Tanjung Benoa is a good place to try. The staff are experienced with beginners, the water is shallow close to shore, and most activities last only a few minutes, so you can try several without getting tired. Couples often share a tandem parasail, flying side by side under one parachute, which makes a fun honeymoon memory.

The peninsula itself is worth a short walk. Tanjung Benoa is an old fishing village, and its narrow streets are home to a Hindu temple, a mosque and a colourful Chinese temple standing close together, a reminder of the many communities who have lived and traded here for centuries.

Rest well tonight: tomorrow combines a fun theme park with one of the most beautiful sunsets in Bali.

Included today: half-day Tanjung Benoa beach visit with one banana boat ride, transfers, breakfast.

Good to know: parasailing, jet ski, sea walker, flying fish, snorkelling and Turtle Island are optional and paid locally. Water sports are not recommended during pregnancy or for anyone with back or heart problems. Read our guide to Bali water sports and activities for prices and tips.

Today brings two very different sides of Bali: a playful morning at an indoor theme park and a romantic evening at the island's most famous sea temple. Enjoy a relaxed breakfast before you set off, and dress in comfortable clothes and shoes, with a light layer for the air-conditioning and a sarong or shawl for the temple.

Your first stop is Trans Studio Bali, a large indoor theme park on the edge of Denpasar, not far from Kuta. It is fully air-conditioned, which makes it a welcome break from the heat or the rain, and it has a range of rides and attractions, from thrill rides and simulators to gentler rides, live shows, themed zones and games. It is a fun and light-hearted way to spend a few hours together, laughing on the rides and competing in the games, and it is something a little different from the usual temples and beaches.

After Trans Studio, the tour heads north-west along the coast to Tanah Lot, about an hour away depending on traffic. Tanah Lot is one of the most important sea temples in Bali, and one of the most photographed places on the island. The temple stands on a large rock just off the shore, surrounded by the sea at high tide, with waves crashing against its base. Its name means "land in the sea" in Balinese, and it has been a place of pilgrimage for more than 500 years.

According to legend, the temple was founded in the 16th century by Dang Hyang Nirartha, a Hindu priest who travelled from Java to Bali. He rested on the rock, struck by its beauty, and told the local fishermen to build a shrine there to honour the gods of the sea. Tanah Lot is one of a chain of sea temples built along the Balinese coast, each said to be within sight of the next, protecting the island from evil spirits from the sea. Sea snakes are said to guard the base of the rock, and in a small cave nearby, you may be shown a holy snake.

The inner temple is open only to Balinese Hindus at prayer, but visitors can walk across to the base of the rock at low tide, where priests offer holy water from a spring that flows from beneath the temple. Receiving a blessing, with a sprinkle of water and a few grains of rice pressed to your forehead and a frangipani flower tucked behind your ear, is a beautiful moment to share. A small donation is customary.

As the afternoon goes on, find a spot on the clifftop above the temple, where cafés and terraces face the sea. This is where crowds gather for the sunset, one of the most famous in Bali. As the sun sinks towards the horizon, the temple becomes a dark silhouette against a sky of gold, orange and pink, and the waves glow in the last of the light. It is an unforgettable sight, and one of the most romantic moments of your honeymoon. Arrive a little early to find a good spot, especially in the busy season.

Around the temple, a long path leads through a market of souvenir stalls selling sarongs, paintings, carvings and snacks. You will also pass other small temples on the cliffs, including Pura Batu Bolong, built on a rock arch over the sea, a short walk along the coast and quieter than the main temple.

Tanah Lot is busiest in the hour before sunset, when coachloads of visitors arrive, so do not expect solitude, but the atmosphere is festive and friendly. The best photographs are often from the clifftop to the left of the temple, looking back towards the rock with the sun behind it.

Balinese Hindu temples follow a calendar of ceremonies called odalan, held every 210 days in the Balinese calendar, and if your visit falls on one, you may see crowds of worshippers in white and gold, carrying offerings and accompanied by gamelan music. Visitors are welcome to watch respectfully from the side.

After the sunset, your driver takes you back to Kuta. Dinner is at your own choice, so make it a special one: this is your last evening in Bali. A seafood dinner on the beach at Jimbaran, a rooftop restaurant in Seminyak or a candlelit table at your hotel are all lovely ways to end your honeymoon.

Included today: Trans Studio Bali visit and Tanah Lot sunset tour as per the selected package, transfers, breakfast.

Good to know: wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees at the temple, or tie on a sarong, which is often provided at the entrance. The path to the rock may be closed at high tide. Lunch and dinner are at your own cost. Read our Bali temples guide.

Your last morning in Bali has come, and it is worth starting it slowly. If you wake early, walk down to the beach while it is still quiet, with only a few surfers in the water and the cleaners raking the sand. Watch the light change over the sea, take a final swim, or simply sit together with a coffee and look back on the week: the jungle and rice fields of Ubud, the thrill of the Bali Swing, the laughter on the banana boat and the sunset at Tanah Lot.

After breakfast, pack your bags carefully. Checkout is usually at 11 AM or noon. If your flight is later in the day, ask the hotel to keep your luggage and spend a few final hours by the pool or at Beachwalk Shopping Centre. Late checkout is sometimes possible, subject to availability and usually at extra cost, and it is worth asking, especially for an evening or night flight.

Bali is a wonderful place for gifts. Popular choices include Balinese coffee, spices and vanilla, handmade soaps and essential oils, batik and ikat sarongs, silver jewellery from Celuk, wooden carvings, rattan bags and small paintings. Many visitors are offered kopi luwak, coffee made from beans eaten by civets, but much of it comes from caged animals, so we suggest choosing ordinary Balinese coffee instead. Remember that Indian customs has limits on duty-free goods, so keep bills for any expensive purchases.

Before leaving the room, check it carefully: the safe, the bathroom, the wardrobe and under the bed. Passports, phones, chargers, jewellery and sunglasses are the items most often left behind. Keep your passports, tickets and any bills for valuable items in your hand luggage, and pack liquids such as oils and perfumes in your checked baggage.

At the agreed time, your private driver collects you from the hotel lobby for the drive to Ngurah Rai International Airport. From Kuta, the airport is only 15 to 30 minutes away, but traffic in the south of Bali can be heavy, especially in the afternoon and at weekends, so leave plenty of time. Check in at least three hours before an international flight.

The international terminal has cafés, restaurants, duty-free shops and lounges, a pleasant place to wait. Leave a little time for the security queues, which can be long in the busy season, and have your boarding passes and passports ready. If you need to change leftover Indonesian rupiah back into rupees or dollars, the airport has exchange counters, though rates are usually better in town.

As the plane climbs away from the island, look out of the window for one last view of Bali: the beaches, the surf, and on a clear day, the volcanoes rising above the clouds. Many couples come back to Bali for their anniversaries, to see more of the island, such as the Gili Islands, Nusa Penida or the volcano at Kintamani, or to combine it with Singapore on the way. Whenever you are ready for your next journey together, we would love to help you plan it.

If you have a late flight and a few spare hours, a final massage is a lovely way to end your holiday. Several spas near Kuta and the airport offer treatments with showers, so you can freshen up before your journey, and some hotels have day rooms or lounges for guests leaving late.

Bali's airport has free Wi-Fi and charging points, so keep your phone charged for your boarding pass and for messages to family back home. Let them know your flight number, and if you are flying via Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, check the connection time so you are not rushed.

Before you leave the island, take a moment to thank your driver and the hotel staff. Tipping is not compulsory in Bali, but a small amount for good service is always appreciated, and the Balinese are among the warmest hosts in the world.

Once you are home, unpack your photographs and choose a few favourites to print. The Bali Swing, the sunset at Tanah Lot and the rice fields of Ubud make beautiful pictures for your new home, and a little album of your honeymoon is a lovely way to remember the trip.

Thank you for choosing Dreamland Vacations for your honeymoon. Our team will stay in touch until you are safely home, and we wish you a lifetime of happiness together. If you enjoyed your trip, a short review on Google would mean a great deal to our team.

Included today: private departure transfer to Ngurah Rai International Airport, breakfast.

Good to know: choose a flight that leaves at least 3 hours after you reach the airport. Late checkout is subject to availability and may cost extra. See more ideas in our Bali honeymoon packages guide and our Bali travel tips.