Bali Kuta & Seminyak Island Escape

Some holidays are about seeing as much as possible. This one is about having time: seven nights on the sunset coast of Bali, four in Kuta and three in Seminyak, with one hotel change, a handful of well-chosen excursions and plenty of unhurried hours in between. It is a week planned for couples, honeymooners, older travellers and anyone who would rather linger over breakfast than rush to the next sight.

The journey from India is shorter than many people expect. Direct flights run from some Indian cities, and other routes connect through Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok, so most travellers land at Ngurah Rai International Airport in the afternoon or evening. Bali runs two and a half hours ahead of Indian time, which is just enough to make the first evening feel a little later than it is, so do not be surprised if you are ready for bed early.

Formalities are simple if you prepare at home. Apply online for the e-VOA, Indonesia's electronic visa on arrival, fill in the arrival card in the days before you fly, and pay the small tourist levy that every international visitor to Bali contributes towards the island's culture and environment. Save the confirmations as screenshots, because phone signal in the immigration hall can be patchy. The officer checks your passport, visa and onward ticket, and after the baggage hall and a quick customs scan, our representative is waiting for you outside with a board bearing your names.

The private car to Kuta takes a quarter of an hour to half an hour, depending on the traffic around the airport. It is a short ride, but a revealing one. Watch the scooters, sometimes carrying whole families or towers of baskets, weave calmly through the traffic; notice the carved stone shrines tucked into shopfronts, and the bright offerings of petals and rice laid on the pavements. Even in the busiest part of the island, Bali's faith is never far from view.

Once you have checked in, the best thing you can do is very little. Have a shower, unpack slowly, order a fresh juice by the pool and let the long day of travel settle. Standard check-in is usually from 2 PM, and if you arrive before then, the hotel will keep your bags. If you are celebrating a honeymoon or an anniversary, tell us when you book, and we will mention it to each of your hotels.

Kuta has a reputation as Bali's liveliest beach town, and in the evenings around Jalan Legian it certainly can be. But it has a quieter side too, and you will find it in the early mornings. If the time difference wakes you before dawn, walk down to the beach as the sky lightens. At that hour, the sand is smooth and empty, the first surfers are paddling out, local women are placing offerings at the small beach shrines, and the air is cool and soft. It is one of the most peaceful moments of the day, and many guests make it a ritual for the rest of the week.

Legian, the neighbourhood just north of Kuta, has a slightly calmer feel, with a long beachfront path, smaller hotels and cafés facing the sea. On your first evening, a slow walk along the sand from Kuta towards Legian at sunset is a gentle introduction to the coast. The sun drops straight into the ocean here, and the whole beach seems to pause and watch it go.

Keep the first dinner simple. Most hotels have good restaurants, and the streets nearby are full of small warungs serving Indonesian dishes such as nasi campur, a plate of rice with a little of everything, and soto ayam, a fragrant chicken soup that is very comforting after a flight. Kuta also has plenty of Indian restaurants and vegetarian cafés, if you would prefer familiar flavours on the first night.

A few small things will make the week smoother. Pick up a SIM card or eSIM at the airport so that maps and ride-hailing apps such as Grab and Gojek work from the start. Take cash from ATMs inside banks or shopping centres, and change money only at authorised counters. Drink bottled or filtered water, carry a light mosquito repellent for the evenings, and pack a shawl or light layer for air-conditioned restaurants and cars.

Most of all, give yourself permission to rest. There is no early start tomorrow, and the whole week is paced so that you can enjoy each day without feeling tired. Sleep well, and let Bali wait until morning.

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

Good to know: apply for the e-VOA, complete the arrival card and pay the tourist levy before you fly, and keep screenshots of all three. Mention any special occasion when you book. Read our guide to the arrival card and tourist levy.

Water sports might not sound like a gentle start to a relaxing week, but at Tanjung Benoa, they can be exactly as calm or as lively as you choose. After a leisurely breakfast, your private car takes you to the cape at the northern tip of Nusa Dua, about 30 to 40 minutes from Kuta, along a toll road that runs on a bridge above the shallow bay. At low tide, you may see fishermen wading through the water below and egrets picking their way along the edges of the mangroves.

The beach at Tanjung Benoa sits behind a long coral reef, which takes the force out of the ocean swell. Inside the reef, the water is shallow, clear and gentle, and that is why almost every water sport on the island is based here. Your package includes a banana boat ride: you put on a life jacket, sit on a long inflatable tube with a few other riders, and a speedboat pulls you in loops around the bay. It is short, cheerful and splashy, and it usually ends with a deliberate tumble into warm water, but you float comfortably in your jacket and the crew are always close by.

If one burst of excitement is enough, the rest of the morning can be spent at a much slower pace. The glass-bottom boat is a lovely, peaceful option. You sit on benches around a clear panel in the floor and watch the reef pass below: brain coral, swaying sea grass, striped sergeant fish and the occasional sea cucumber resting on the sand. The boat continues to Pulau Penyu, or Turtle Island, where a small conservation centre cares for green sea turtles, from palm-sized hatchlings to heavy adults with barnacled shells.

The sea walker is another quiet way to see the reef, and older travellers often enjoy it more than they expect. A helmet fed with air from the surface rests on your shoulders, and you simply walk down a ladder onto the sandy floor, a few metres below the surface, where guides hand you bread for the fish that gather round. There is no need to swim or to put your face in the water, and you breathe normally the whole time.

For those who want a little more, parasailing gives a few silent minutes high above the bay, with the reef laid out below like a map, and couples can fly side by side in a tandem harness. All of these activities are paid locally, and our team will give you an idea of current prices beforehand so that you can decide calmly, without pressure on the beach. Every activity depends on the weather and the sea, and some have health or age limits, so please tell us about any medical conditions in advance.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a hat and a change of clothes. The water sports centres have showers, changing rooms and shaded cafés where you can sit with a cold coconut and watch the parachutes drift across the sky. The morning sun at this latitude is strong, so reapply sunscreen after every swim, even if the day is cloudy.

By late morning, you are back in Kuta, and the afternoon is entirely yours. This is the moment for the pace of the week to settle in. Sleep for an hour, read by the pool, or book a short treatment at your hotel spa. If you would like to stretch your legs later, the beachfront path towards Legian is pleasant in the late afternoon, when the heat eases and the light softens.

In the evening, consider a short trip south to Jimbaran Bay, about 20 minutes away. As the sun sets, the seafood restaurants there carry their tables down onto the sand. You choose your fish and prawns from the ice, they are grilled over smouldering coconut husks, and you eat by candlelight with the sound of small waves at your feet. Vegetarians will find grilled corn, vegetables, rice and sambal on every menu, and the setting is the real pleasure.

If you are travelling as a couple, the quieter corners of the water sports centres are pleasant places to linger. Several have shaded decks over the water, where you can sit with a drink and watch the colourful boats come and go.

Back at the hotel, take a moment on your balcony before bed. Tomorrow is a longer day, up into the hills, but there is no need to rush: breakfast is at your own pace, and your driver will wait for you.

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

Good to know: the glass-bottom boat, Turtle Island, sea walker and parasailing are optional and paid locally. Water sports are not recommended during pregnancy or for anyone with back, neck or heart problems. See our guide to Bali water sports and activities.

Today you leave the coast behind and climb into the highlands at the centre of the island. Your private car and driver collect you after breakfast for a full day that winds through Bali's craft villages, up to the rim of the Batur caldera and back again. Because the car is yours for the day, the pace is entirely in your hands: stop when something catches your eye, skip what does not, and take as many breaks as you like.

The first hour or so takes you through the villages north of Denpasar, where workshops line the road. Stone carvers sit cross-legged in front of half-finished temple guardians, tapping patiently at soft volcanic tuff. Silversmiths bend over tiny gas flames, soldering granules of silver onto rings no bigger than a fingertip. In a batik workshop, a woman traces a pattern onto white cloth with a small spouted pen of melted wax, and the finished pieces hang in long, colourful rows. You are welcome to watch quietly, ask questions and buy nothing at all.

As the road rises past Ubud, the rice terraces begin, and the landscape becomes greener and more sculpted. These terraces are not just beautiful; they are the result of a thousand years of careful cooperation. Water from the mountain lakes and springs is shared between farmers through a system of channels and water temples called subak, and every field receives its share in turn. The arrangement is so remarkable that UNESCO has recognised it as part of Bali's cultural landscape.

Higher still, the air cools, and the vegetation changes again: coffee bushes under shade trees, cabbages and spring onions on steep plots, and orchards of small, sweet tangerines. Kintamani is known across Bali for its citrus, and roadside sellers stack the fruit in bright pyramids. Buy a bag for the drive; they are juicy, refreshing and very cheap.

If you would like a gentle detour on the way up, Penglipuran, a traditional village east of the main road, is one of the most peaceful places in Bali, at extra cost for entry. Its houses stand in neat, identical compounds on either side of a single stepped street, each with a matching carved gateway, and the village is famous for its cleanliness, its ban on motorbikes in the centre and the tall bamboo forest that surrounds it. Walking up the quiet main lane, past women weaving offerings on their doorsteps, is a lovely, calm experience.

At the rim of the caldera, the view opens out dramatically. Mount Batur rises from the floor of an enormous ancient crater, its upper slopes bare and dark, with frozen rivers of lava running down towards the shore of Lake Batur. Across the water, the steep walls of the outer caldera close the scene. On clear mornings, the tall cone of Mount Agung stands behind it all, the holiest mountain on the island.

The villages along the lake belong to some of the Bali Aga, the island's oldest communities, whose traditions predate the arrival of the Javanese Hindu kingdoms in the 14th century. They kept their own calendar, their own village councils and their own customs, some of which survive today, which is one reason the highlands feel so different from the coast. Your driver can tell you more as you look across the lake.

Lunch is at your own cost, at one of the restaurants along the rim, many of which have wide terraces facing the volcano. Arrive before midday if you can, as clouds often gather in the afternoon. It can feel chilly at around 1,500 metres, so bring a shawl or light jacket.

On the way down, you stop at a coffee plantation, where you can stroll among cocoa pods, vanilla vines, lemongrass and coffee bushes, and sit on a shaded terrace to taste small cups of coffee, cocoa and herbal teas. You will probably be offered kopi luwak, made from beans eaten by civets, but many of the animals are kept in poor conditions, so we gently suggest trying the other coffees instead.

If you would like to see Ubud itself, ask your driver for a short stop in the town on the way back, perhaps for a walk past the royal palace and the lotus ponds of the water temple beside it. It is only a glimpse, but enough to know whether you would like to stay there on a future visit.

The drive home is a good time to rest your eyes and watch the countryside pass: farmers walking home along the rice field banks, children flying kites from the edges of the paddies and smoke rising from evening cooking fires.

You return to Kuta in the late afternoon, comfortably tired. A quiet dinner and an early night are the perfect end to the day.

Included today: full-day Kintamani volcano and Ubud village tour on a private basis, breakfast.

Good to know: bring a light jacket, comfortable shoes and some cash. Lunch, the Penglipuran entry fee and other optional stops are not included. Read our Mount Batur and Kintamani guide.

To understand the two temples you visit today, it helps to know how the Balinese see their island. In Balinese belief, the world is ordered along a line that runs from the mountains to the sea. The direction of the mountains, kaja, is pure and sacred, the home of the gods, and the direction of the sea, kelod, is associated with danger, demons and the underworld. Houses, villages and temples are laid out along this line, with the family shrine always on the side nearest the mountain.

The sea temples are where these two worlds meet. Built on rocks and cliffs facing the ocean, they guard the island against the forces of the sea and keep the balance between the two directions. Today, after a slow morning, your private car and driver take you to two of the most important: Tanah Lot on the west coast and Uluwatu on the cliffs of the far south.

Before you go, a few words on temple etiquette, which the Balinese greatly appreciate. Wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees, and tie a sarong and sash around your waist when you enter a temple; both are usually provided at the gate. Do not climb on shrines or walls, and never stand higher than a priest or the offerings. Step around the small offerings on the ground rather than over them. Women who are menstruating are traditionally asked not to enter temple grounds, and anyone with an open wound is asked to stay outside. Speak quietly, and if a ceremony is taking place, watch from the side.

Tanah Lot is about 45 minutes to an hour from Kuta. The path down from the car park passes through a lively market, but the moment you reach the shore, the temple holds all your attention: a cluster of black thatched shrines on top of a rock that becomes an island at high tide, with the ocean breaking white around its base. It was founded in the 16th century by Dang Hyang Nirartha, the wandering priest from Java who did so much to shape Balinese Hinduism.

At low tide, you can cross the sand to the foot of the rock, where a spring of fresh water rises from beneath the temple despite the salt sea all around. Priests offer the water to visitors as a blessing, with a few grains of rice pressed to the forehead and a frangipani flower tucked behind the ear. Take your time here; it is a quiet, moving moment, and a small donation is customary.

Between the two temples, it is also possible to stop at one of the Bukit's beaches, such as Melasti or Padang Padang, for a short swim, if you have the time and energy.

From Tanah Lot, the drive south to the Bukit peninsula takes about an hour and a half. You can stop for lunch on the way, at your own cost. The landscape changes as you reach the Bukit: the green rice fields give way to dry limestone, scrub and sudden views of deep blue sea far below.

Uluwatu Temple stands at the very edge of a cliff some 70 metres above the Indian Ocean, at the south-western tip of Bali. It is one of the island's great directional temples, protecting it from the south-west, and tradition holds that Dang Hyang Nirartha spent his final days here before reaching moksha, liberation. Paths lead along the clifftop on either side, with low walls and frangipani trees, and views over the ocean that seem to go on forever.

If the walk along the Uluwatu clifftop feels long in the heat, take it in stages. There are shaded benches along the path, and the views are just as lovely from the first viewpoint as from the furthest one.

Keep sunglasses, hats and jewellery safely in your bag; the temple's monkeys are skilled thieves and often trade their loot for fruit. Walk slowly, enjoy the breeze and find a place on the wall facing west as the sun begins to sink.

If you wish, stay for the Kecak dance in the clifftop amphitheatre, at extra cost. A circle of men chanting in layered, hypnotic rhythms tells the story of Rama, Sita and Hanuman, while the sky behind the stage turns from gold to deep red. When the last light has gone, your driver takes you back to Kuta.

Seen together, the two temples tell the story of how the Balinese live with the sea: respectfully, at a little distance, with offerings and prayers rather than conquest. Even the fishermen who work these waters bless their boats before going out, and many beach shrines along the coast are tended every morning.

Included today: full-day Tanah Lot temple and Uluwatu temple tour on a private basis, breakfast.

Good to know: cover shoulders and knees at both temples. Entry tickets, the Kecak dance, lunch and dinner are not included. Read our Bali temples guide.

Today is a gentle day of moving on, with no tours and no timetable. Enjoy a last slow breakfast in Kuta and, if you have made the early beach walk part of your routine, take one more before checking out. Checkout is usually at 11 AM or noon, and your private car then takes you north along the coast to Seminyak, a short drive of 20 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

Seminyak is only a few kilometres from Kuta, but it feels like a different world. Until the 1990s, much of it was rice fields, coconut groves and small villages, with a handful of guesthouses scattered among the paddies. Then designers, artists and restaurateurs began to settle here, drawn by the wide beach and the relaxed atmosphere, and over the next two decades, Seminyak became the most stylish corner of Bali. The rice fields have mostly gone, but the village temples remain, and so does a certain unhurried calm.

Check in to your hotel and take the afternoon slowly. Many Seminyak hotels are small and intimate, set behind high walls in quiet lanes, with lush gardens and pools shaded by frangipani trees. Others face the beach directly. Either way, this is a good afternoon to swim, read and rest.

If you would like a treatment on your first afternoon in Seminyak, many of the small spas in the lanes take walk-in guests, and a foot massage or reflexology session is a lovely way to recover from the Kintamani and temple days, at extra cost.

Seminyak Beach is long, wide and golden, and less crowded than Kuta. It is good for walking at any time of day, but the waves can be powerful and there are currents, so swim only between the red and yellow flags. Lifeguards are on duty along the main stretches.

When you feel like exploring, Seminyak rewards a slow wander. The main streets, Jalan Kayu Aya, Jalan Laksmana and Jalan Petitenget, are lined with independent boutiques selling linen and cotton clothing, handmade jewellery, ceramics, woven bags and beautiful homeware. Prices are fixed in most shops, which makes browsing relaxed, and many of the designs are made in small workshops on the island.

Seminyak is also a good place to rest your feet in a café. The area has a strong coffee culture, with roasters serving beans grown in Kintamani and other Indonesian highlands, alongside fresh juices, smoothies and cakes. Find a shady table, order something cold and watch the quiet life of the lane go by.

For a sense of the village that Seminyak once was, walk down one of the smaller lanes away from the main streets. Behind the boutiques, you will still find family compounds with carved gateways, small shrines piled with offerings and the occasional patch of rice field.

Seminyak also has a growing art scene. Small galleries along the main streets and in the lanes show contemporary paintings, photography and sculpture by Balinese and Indonesian artists, alongside work by foreign artists who have made the island their home. Most welcome visitors to browse, and a small painting or print makes a lasting reminder of the trip.

Near the beach stands Pura Petitenget, one of the island's old sea temples, linked by tradition to the journeys of Dang Hyang Nirartha. Its name means "magic box", after a legend of a chest of the priest's belongings left in the care of the temple. In the late afternoon, you may see villagers arriving in white and gold with offerings balanced on their heads, and hear the gentle sound of the gamelan drifting across the sand.

As the sun goes down, the whole beachfront turns towards the sea. You can join the crowds at one of Seminyak's beach clubs, with daybeds, pools and music, though entry rules and minimum spends vary, so check first. Many couples prefer the simpler beach bars, where you can sink into a beanbag on the sand with a fresh coconut and watch the sky change colour.

Dinner in Seminyak is a pleasure. The area has some of the best restaurants in Indonesia, covering almost every cuisine, from Balinese babi guling and Indonesian rijsttafel to wood-fired pizza, Japanese and modern Australian cooking. There are excellent vegetarian and vegan restaurants too, and several Indian restaurants within easy reach. Many have candlelit gardens that are perfect for a quiet evening together.

Seminyak's evenings are lively near the beach clubs but peaceful in the lanes, and it is easy to find a calm corner. Tomorrow brings the most dramatic scenery of the trip, on the island of Nusa Penida, so enjoy a relaxed evening and an early night.

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

Good to know: swim only between the flags. Beach clubs, gallery purchases and spa treatments are optional, at extra cost. Compare the beach areas in our guide to where to stay in Bali.

Nusa Penida is the wild cousin of Bali, a rugged limestone island across the strait to the south-east, with towering cliffs, hidden coves and water of an almost unreal blue. Today's tour is shared with other guests and includes a simple local lunch on the island, and it is the most physically demanding day of the week, so it is worth knowing what to expect.

The day begins early. You are collected from your hotel in Seminyak for the drive to the harbour, usually at Sanur, about 40 minutes to an hour away. From there, a fast boat crosses to Nusa Penida in roughly 45 minutes. The crossing can be choppy, especially later in the day, so take a seasickness tablet before boarding if you need one, and sit towards the back of the boat. Boats often land directly on the beach, so wear sandals and be ready to step into knee-deep water; the crew are used to helping passengers on and off.

On the island, you travel by car with a local driver. The roads are narrow, steep and bumpy in places, and the drives between viewpoints can take 30 to 60 minutes, so it helps to be patient and to bring water and a small snack. There is a fair amount of walking on uneven ground at each stop, but you can choose how far to go.

If you would prefer not to do the full day, our team can suggest alternatives, such as a gentler day trip to Nusa Lembongan, with its mangrove forest, seaweed farms and quiet beaches, at a different price. Please ask before you travel.

Pack a small day bag with a towel, sunscreen, a hat, a dry change of clothes, a plastic bag for wet things, water and a little cash for toilets and drinks at the viewpoints.

The first stop is usually Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida's most famous view. A narrow, steep-sided headland, often compared to the head of a dinosaur, plunges into the sea above a perfect crescent of white sand and turquoise water. A path does lead down the cliff to the beach, but it is very steep, rough and exposed, and takes a fit walker about an hour each way. For most of our guests, the view from the top is more than enough, and the clifftop has places to sit and take it all in without hurrying.

At Broken Beach, or Pasih Uug, the ocean has hollowed out a circular bay inside the cliffs and broken through to the sea, leaving a natural stone arch. A level path circles the rim, so it is one of the easier stops for walking. A few minutes away is Angel's Billabong, a clear rock pool at the edge of the cliffs, which looks like an infinity pool spilling into the ocean. It is beautiful, but waves can surge over it without warning, so stay well back from the edge and swim only if the guide confirms that conditions are safe.

Life on Nusa Penida moves slowly, and the island is much less developed than Bali. As you drive, you will pass small villages, goats grazing on the hillsides and, along the coast, the neat underwater plots of seaweed farms. Seaweed has been one of the island's main livelihoods for decades; you may see it drying on mats in the sun before it is sold for use in food and cosmetics. On the north coast stands Pura Dalem Ped, a temple visited by pilgrims from all over Bali who come to pray for protection, though it is not part of this tour.

Lunch is a simple, freshly cooked meal at a local restaurant, usually rice with vegetables, chicken or fish, and fruit. Vegetarian food is available, but please tell us in advance about any dietary needs.

The day ends at Crystal Bay, a sheltered beach on the west coast with clear water, palm trees and a small temple on the rocks. It is the ideal place to slow down after the morning's viewpoints: paddle in the shallows, swim or snorkel if you wish, or simply sit in the shade and watch the colours of the water.

Photographers will find the light best in the morning, when Kelingking is lit from the side, and at Crystal Bay in the afternoon, when the water is at its clearest.

In the late afternoon, the boat takes you back to Bali and your driver returns you to Seminyak. Expect to be tired but glad you went; a light dinner and an early night are well deserved.

Included today: full-day Nusa Penida west island tour with return fast boat, island transport and local lunch (shared), transfers, breakfast.

Good to know: wear comfortable shoes with a good grip, a hat and sunscreen, and bring swimwear and a towel. The tour depends on sea conditions and may be rescheduled. Island entry fees may be extra. Read our Nusa Penida guide.

Your last full day in Bali has no plans at all, and that is the point. After a week of gentle exploring, this is a day to do exactly what you feel like, at your own pace. Sleep late, have a long breakfast and decide over a second cup of coffee how you would like to spend it. Here are a few ideas, any of which our team can book for you.

Do not feel that you need to fill the day. Many guests tell us that their favourite memory of the whole trip is an afternoon spent doing nothing at all, by the pool or on the beach, with a book and the sound of the waves.

For many guests, the perfect last day begins at the spa. Seminyak has some of the best spas on the island, from simple, welcoming massage studios to elegant day spas set in tropical gardens. A traditional Balinese massage uses long, flowing strokes, gentle stretching and warm, scented oils such as frangipani, coconut and lemongrass, and it is the ideal way to ease the muscles after yesterday's walking. Couples can book side-by-side treatments, often followed by a flower bath. Treatments are optional, at extra cost.

If you would like to learn something to take home, a Balinese cooking class is a wonderful way to spend the morning. Many classes begin with a visit to a local market, where you learn about the spices, fruits and vegetables of the island, then move to an open kitchen, where you prepare a full meal together: base genep, the aromatic spice paste at the heart of Balinese cooking, sate lilit, vegetable curries and a sweet dessert of rice flour and palm sugar. Vegetarian classes are easy to arrange.

Yoga lovers will find plenty of drop-in classes in Seminyak and nearby Canggu, in airy studios open to the garden, at every level from gentle stretching to more energetic flows. A morning class followed by a healthy breakfast is a calm, restorative way to begin the day.

For a gentle activity on the water, stand-up paddleboarding and surf lessons are available on the beaches north of Seminyak, best in the morning when the sea is calmest, at extra cost. The instructors are patient with beginners of every age.

For a change of scene, Canggu, about 20 to 30 minutes north, has a relaxed, creative atmosphere, with rice fields between the cafés, surf beaches such as Batu Bolong and Echo Beach, and some of the island's best coffee shops and juice bars. Watching the surfers from a beachfront café, with a smoothie bowl in hand, is a very Bali way to spend an hour or two. Taxis and ride-hailing apps make it easy to get there and back.

Seminyak is also a lovely place for a long, lazy lunch. Some of its best restaurants open onto gardens or rice field views, and a three-course meal at a relaxed pace, followed by a siesta, is a perfectly good way to spend a holiday afternoon.

If you prefer to stay close to your hotel, Seminyak's lanes are perfect for a final slow afternoon of browsing in the boutiques and galleries, and the beach is lovely for a long walk north towards Batu Belig, where the coast becomes quieter. Between June and August, look up: this is kite season, and you may see enormous traditional kites, some many metres long, flown by village teams in the sky above the beach.

If you have a special occasion to celebrate, this is the day for it. Our team can help arrange a cake, flowers in your room, a photographer for a short beach shoot or a table with a view, all at extra cost, and the hotels in Seminyak are very good at making these moments feel personal.

As evening approaches, choose where to watch your final Bali sunset. A daybed at a beach club, a beanbag at a simple beach bar, or simply a quiet spot on the sand are all wonderful. Many couples end the week with a special dinner, perhaps a candlelit table in a garden restaurant, a rooftop with a view of the sea, or a private dinner arranged by the hotel, at extra cost.

Before bed, start packing. Gather swimwear from the balcony, collect anything left in the safe, and set aside the clothes you will travel in. Check your flight time and confirm your pickup time with our team, who will message you the day before.

Take a last look at the stars from your terrace. You have seen the beaches, the volcano, the sea temples and the cliffs of Nusa Penida, and you have had time to enjoy them properly, which is a rare luxury on any holiday.

Included today: hotel stay, breakfast.

Good to know: the spa, cooking class, yoga, beach clubs and trips to Canggu are optional, at extra cost, and are best booked a day ahead. Read our guide to Indian food in Bali and our Bali travel tips.

The last morning of your week has arrived. If you have kept up the habit of an early walk, take one more along Seminyak Beach while it is still quiet, with the sand freshly raked, a few surfers on the waves and the hotel staff setting out the sun loungers. Then return for a long breakfast and enjoy the slow start for a final time.

Checkout is usually at 11 AM or noon. If your flight is later in the day, your hotel will happily store your luggage, and you can enjoy a final swim, a coffee in one of Seminyak's cafés or a last stroll through the boutiques. Late checkout is sometimes possible, subject to availability and usually at extra cost, and it is worth asking if your flight leaves in the evening or at night.

A few gift ideas, if you still need them: small bags of Balinese coffee and Kintamani tangerine jam, vanilla pods and cloves, handmade coconut soap, frangipani or sandalwood oils, ikat scarves, silver earrings and a little painting from one of Seminyak's galleries. Keep receipts for anything valuable, as Indian customs has limits on duty-free goods and jewellery.

Before you leave the room, check it carefully: the safe, the bathroom, the wardrobe, the balcony and under the bed. Passports, chargers, glasses and swimwear are the most commonly forgotten items. Pack liquids such as oils and perfumes in your checked luggage, keep passports, tickets and medicines in your hand baggage, and make sure that any wooden or bamboo souvenirs are clean and free of bark.

At the agreed time, your private driver collects you for the drive to Ngurah Rai International Airport. From Seminyak, it usually takes 30 to 45 minutes, but the roads of southern Bali can be slow, especially in the afternoon and during holiday periods, so we build in extra time. Plan to arrive at the airport at least three hours before your international flight.

The international terminal is comfortable, with cafés, restaurants, duty-free shops, prayer rooms and lounges, and free Wi-Fi. If you have rupiah left, you can change it at the counters there, though you might like to keep a few notes as a souvenir or for your next visit. Security and immigration can be busy in July, August, December and January, so do not leave it too late.

As you wait for your flight, it is worth looking back on the shape of the week. You began with quiet beach mornings in Kuta, tried the calm waters of Tanjung Benoa, stood on the rim of a volcano, received a blessing at Tanah Lot, watched the sun set from the cliffs of Uluwatu, saw the extraordinary coastline of Nusa Penida and ended with a whole day to yourselves in Seminyak. It is a gentle, balanced way to know Bali.

When the plane climbs away from the island, look out for the long line of the west coast beaches, the dark cliffs of the Bukit and, if the sky is clear, the volcanoes floating above the clouds. Many of our guests find that Bali stays with them long after they are home, in the smell of incense, the sound of the gamelan or the taste of fresh coconut.

There is always more to discover on another visit. You might spend a few nights among the rice fields of Ubud, sail to the Gili Islands, stay in the calm resorts of Nusa Dua, or combine Bali with Singapore or Malaysia for a longer holiday.

Before you leave, thank your driver and the hotel staff, who will have looked after you so warmly. Tipping is not compulsory in Bali, but a small amount for good service is always appreciated.

If you have an early-morning flight, ask your hotel the evening before for a breakfast box, which most are happy to prepare, and settle your bill the night before to save time.

Keep your phone charged for your boarding pass and messages home, and if your flight connects through Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok, check the connection time and terminal so you are not rushed.

Bali has two seasons, and each has its charm. The dry months, from April to October, bring clear skies and calm seas, while the green season, from November to March, brings short tropical showers, lush rice fields and quieter beaches outside the Christmas holidays.

Thank you for travelling with Dreamland Vacations. Our team will stay in touch until you are home safely, and we would love to hear your favourite memories of the week. If you enjoyed your holiday, a short review on Google means 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 our Bali honeymoon packages and the best time to visit Bali for your next trip.