Canggu is one of Bali’s best destinations, and it’s easy to spend a week in the town without getting bored.
But the town is also perfectly situated for exploring the rest of the island, and if you’re in the mood for a day trip from Canggu, we’ve got 10 awesome ideas for you.
Our Top 10 Day Trip Destinations From Canggu
Ubud: Stunning Temples, Monkey Forests and More
Ubud is often referred to as the spiritual heart of the island, and this centrally located town is extremely popular with visitors.
It’s full of hidden gems as well as some of the most interesting temples, palaces, museums and art markets.
Get outside of the town centre and you can find the world-famous Sacred Monkey Forest, the Tegallalang Rice Terraces, waterfalls, a mini zoo, and so much more.
In fact, there’s so much to do in Ubud, you’re never going to fit it all into one day. However, we’ve got some suggestions for you to consider for your day trip.
- Pura Tirta Empul, this water temple allows you to participate in its purification ceremony,y unlike most other temples, which are for locals only
- Tegallalang the Jatiluwih Park, is too much of a drive,e and this means you can see some awesome rice fields without heading too far out of town
- The Monkey Forest with three awesome temples and more monkeys than you can shake a stick at, you can’t go wrong
- Sweet Orange Trail, this charming walk in Ubud is, to our minds, more interesting than the famous Campuhan Ridge Walk, which has become much less fun of late
- Ubud Arts Market and Ubud Palace are real highlights of time spent in Ubud, and you can even join the traditional dance show at the Lotus Cafe in the Palace grounds if you have time
Uluwatu: Pristine White Sand Beaches Ideal For Beach Hopping
Uluwatu is super popular with the surfing community, and if you want to watch surfers from the beach, this is a great place to do it from.
Places to check out here include:
- The pristine white sands of beaches like Thomas Beach and Suluban Beach
- The surfing action on the main Uluwatu Beach stretch – this is a professional circuit destination, and the surfers here have mad skills
- Uluwatu Temple, this clifftop temple is a glorious place to watch, and you can meet monkeys in their natural habitat here too. It’s also home to the famous Kecak Fire Dance.
- GWK Cultural Park is the best place to go in Bali if you’re trying to get a rapid handle on the local culture, and if you want to see the tallest statue in Indonesia
- You could also consider doing some paragliding on Nyang Nyang Beach, which is a great destination for it
Kintamani Highlands: Amazing Views Of Mount Batur
The Kintamani Highlands don’t get as many visitors as they should because most people have their hearts set on climbing Mount Batur, but this region has a lot more to offer:
- Natural hot springs are the best way to spend some time soaking out all the aches and pains
- Wear comfortable shoes and go hiking in the highlands between the villages
- Enjoy some of the best cafe hopping in Bali as you move between spots all with luscious vantage points over this highland area
- Check out the Pura Segara Ulun Temple with its rich history and cultural viewpoint
- Visit the Batur Geopark Museum and learn more about Bali’s volcanoes
Munduk Waterfalls: Stunning Waterfalls And Breathtaking Views
The Munduk Waterfalls require a certain amount of patience and dedication to explore. They’re a 2-hour drive from Canggu, and then, it’s a fairly long hike to see all the waterfalls.
It’s worth it, though. You’ll find that there are very few tourists in this area, and you’ll get the best shots ever for your Instagram feed. Enjoy:
- The Munduk Waterfalls – Golden Valley, Red Coral, Labuhan Kebo and Melanting, the round trip hike will take about 3 hours and takes you through lush Balinese countryside
- Banyumala Waterfall – a neat side trip where you can enjoy one of the more famous waterfalls in Bali, too
- Twin Lake View Point – enjoy an incredible view over one of the most attractive areas on the island
East Bali: The Ultimate Snorkelling Break
If you really want to enjoy the best marine life on the island, then a day trip to East Bali is where you can go snorkelling offshore.
You can also go diving in this area and explore the wreck of the USS Liberty.
Nusa Dua: Museums, Shows And Beaches
Nusa Dua is Bali’s upmarket resort town built around the glorious white sand beaches of this part of the Bukit Peninsula. There’s not enough in Nusa Dua for us to recommend staying there, but there’s enough for a great day trip. Check out:
- Dharma Island and Peninsula Island – both lovely spots for a garden walk and some sea breeze
- The promenade along the beach where you can enjoy seeing the whole of the area, just be warned, there aren’t many places to stop along this stretch
- The Devdan Show, which is a glorious cultural display with some amazing sound, lights and effects
- The Bali Collection is a lovely place for a bit of upmarket shopping
- Tanjung Benoa is great if you’re in the mood for some water sports
Tanah Lot Temple Complex: A Must-See Spot For Balinese Spirituality
Tanah Lot Temple is probably the most popular day trip from Canggu. It’s a pretty short drive up the coast through some attractive countryside.
The big highlight of this trip is the temple itself, which sits on an island offshore, protecting Bali from evil spirits. Don’t visit at high tide because at low tide you can walk out to the island from the shore.
We’d recommend checking out some of the rice fields on the way out and maybe even stopping in Seseh Village for some food and to chill out before you return.
Nusa Islands: Explore Vibrant Marine Life, Beautiful Beaches And More
You probably won’t get to Nusa Ceningan on a day trip, but Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan are certainly possible.
These islands are actually worth taking the time to stay on for a few days; however, if you don’t have time, one day is better than none.
Highlights of a trip should include Atuh Beach, Kelingking Beach and some of the other pristine beaches in this area. Along with the Angel’s Billabong, Devil’s Tears, Crystal Bay and others.
It’s best to do a day trip to the islands using a tour provider, it’s too much effort for too little reward to do it yourself.
Bedugul: The Central Highlands For A Different View Of This Beautiful Island
Bedugul is pretty remote from Canggu, but it can be done on a long day trip. We’d recommend checking out the following when you’re there:
- The botanical gardens are the best in Bali and probably in the whole of Indonesia. They’re lovely to chill out in and learn more about the native flora of the island
- Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, the floating temple, is extremely famous and even appears on the 50,000 IDR banknote
- Sekumpul Waterfall is the biggest waterfall in Bali and one of the easiest to get to once you’re in the neighbourhood
- Handara Gate is one of the most iconic photo spots in Bali, even though it’s actually just the front door of a golf course and resort
Tabanan: Getting Off The Beaten Path
Tabanan is a great place for you to enjoy some amazing waterfalls. It’s a long way off the beaten path, but if you hit up Nung Nung and Leke Leke waterfalls, you’ll have a great time.
It’s also a good place to visit the Jatiluwih Rice Fields from, and if you have time on your way back to Canggu, then the Bali Butterfly Park is on the route home.
FAQs
Can You Do Day Trips From Canggu?
Yes, you can do day trips from Canggu. In fact, Canggu, which is the home of FINNS Beach Club, the world’s best beach club, is ideally placed for you to explore much of Bali during day trips.
You could head down to the Bukit Peninsula and sit on Thomas Beach, or visit Nusa Penisa and sit on Atuh Beach or look down from above at the T-Rex of Kelingking Beach, see the intricate stone carvings of Bali’s Valley of the Kings near Ubud or explore the supreme water temple, you could get out to the mother temple at Besakih or stroll through Jatiluwih rpark or climb an active volcano.
There’s so much worth visiting within a day trip from Canggu that you’re bound to find something that works for you and your travel companions.
How Many Days In Canggu Is Enough?
Canggu is one of the most popular destinations in Bali and while you can certainly see the highlights running through in a day or two, we’d recommend spending 3-5 days in the area so that you can really get the most out of it.
Tourist destinations like Canggu are popular because of the wealth of things they have to do and there are awesome beaches, scenic rice fields, boutique stores, art classes, yoga studios, horse riding and many more things for you to enjoy to ensure that your time spent in Canggu is memorable.
Can You Do A Day Trip From Canggu To Uluwatu?
Yes, in fact, Uluwatu is only a fairly short distance from Canggu as the crow flies, but unfortunately, traffic in Bali can be something of a nightmare, and you may find it takes a couple of hours to drive between the two in each direction.
Many people opt to stay in Canggu and then do a day trip to this area to see the world-famous Uluwatu Temple on top of the limestone cliffs above the pristine beaches of this area. They watch the monkeys frolic around the temple grounds and then enjoy an amazing dance performance at the amphitheatre, which makes spectacular use of the sunset and fire.
Can You Do A Day Trip From Canggu to Ubud?
Yes, it’s very easy to do a day trip from Canggu to Ubud and while the Bali traffic can certainly slow things down a little, if you head out early in the day, you will find it’s only about an hour’s drive from Canggu to Ubud.
There are plenty of walking paths in Ubud where you can enjoy stunning views of temples, explore the amazing monkey forest and even take a trip out into the famous rice terraces of Tegallang or the Jatiluwih rice terraces.
You should have plenty of time on a day trip to Ubud to spend some of your day in the amazing cafes, bars and restaurants in this central Balinese town too. Some of the best hidden gems in this area are local warungs serving up authentic and tasty cuisine.
What Is The Best Day Tour In Bali?
It really depends on your personal vibe. We think a day tour of Ubud is likely to be awesome if you’ve spent your time beach hopping in the Southern Beach towns.
Whereas, you might prefer the vibrant atmosphere of Canggu if you’ve been in Ubud all the time.
If you’re in North Bali, you might have a hankering for the West Bali National Park and so on.
The best day trip is the one that vibes with what you want to do. You get fairly fixed ticket prices for organize tours here, so you won’t
What Is The Most Romantic Part Of Bali?
You’ll get a lot of votes for Ubud or Uluwatu if you ask around on the island but we think the most romantic part of Bali is probably Nusa Ceningan.
This small Nusa island gets fewer visitors than its big brothers Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan and it’s quiet and relaxed.
You can get a room in a nice resort for less money than you might in Bali, enjoy amazing sunsets and walk comfortably from place to place, hand in hand.
And you’re not far from all the best sights in the Nusa Islands too, you can easily hit up places like Diamond Beach, Dream Beach, the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Bay, etc. and dive into turquoise waters and swim with manta rays or go diving to meet the giant sunfish, a sight exclusive to Bali.
Can You Get A Boat From Canggu To Uluwatu?
Yes, you can get a boat from Canggu to Uluwatu on GoBoat.Id. It’s not particularly expensive, but we have to note that while, in theory, it might get you there faster than a taxi or bus would, this service does not have a great safety record.
The boats have, in the past, sunk and we’d strongly advise that you don’t take the boat unless it’s a matter of life and death (which it might be if you do take the boat, even if it wasn’t before).
Final Thoughts On Day Trips From Canggu
Canggu is one of the best places on the island to be for its proximity to many other places and once you’re ready to take a break from the incredible sunset views over the Indian Ocean on Berawa Beach, you can easily take day trips to get even more out of your holiday experience.
Our 10 day trips above should give you some great ideas for places to visit on day trips, but there are plenty of other day trips you could take with a little imagination too.