International Tours
Bali with Gili Island
Bali with Gili Island is an 8-day, 7-night tropical escape that pairs the temples, rice terraces and volcanoes of Bali with the laid-back, car-free calm of the Gili islands off Lombok. You settle into Bali for temple tours, a Kintamani volcano drive and water sports at Tanjung Benoa, hop across to a Gili island for pure beach leisure, then return for a Seminyak stay and a sunset dinner cruise — a mix of culture, adventure and unhurried island time.
Tour overview
Bali is Indonesia's "Island of the Gods", famous for its Hindu temples, terraced paddy fields, artisan villages and warm, spiritual culture. This itinerary threads together the classic experiences — a Barong dance, the silver and woodcarving villages, the caldera views at Kintamani, and the iconic sea temple of Tanah Lot at sunset — while leaving plenty of room for the beach. The Gili islands add a different rhythm entirely: tiny, motor-free coral isles where the only transport is by bicycle or pony cart, ringed by clear water perfect for snorkelling and swimming.
Era Tours arranges this as a flexible, tailor-made holiday with a local representative on the ground, hand-picked hotels and villas across Kuta, the Gilis and Seminyak, and all the key transfers, tours and activities. The plan below is our recommended flow; the balance of touring versus beach time, the hotel categories and the island you stay on can all be tuned to your taste. Note that some of the short local connections on the Gilis — such as the pony-cart ride between the harbour and your hotel — are arranged locally at your own cost.
Kintamani volcano country
A full day inland through the artisan villages of Celuk, Mas and Ubud to the rim of the Batur caldera, with lunch overlooking the volcano and its ribbon of black lava.
Tanah Lot at sunset
You end a day of water sports at the island's most photographed temple, perched on a rock in the sea and glowing gold as the sun goes down.
Car-free Gili days
A speedboat carries you to a Gili island for pure leisure — no cars, no motorbikes, just white sand, coral reefs and turquoise water.
Bali Hai sunset dinner cruise
Your Bali finale is a catamaran cruise around Benoa Harbour with live music, a buffet dinner and a cabaret show as the sun sets over South Bali.
Day-by-day itinerary
8 daysWelcome to Bali! After immigration and customs you are met by our local representative and transferred to your hotel to check in and freshen up. In the evening we arrange an authentic Balinese spa session to unwind after your flight, followed by a candlelit three-course dinner in a flower-decorated room. Overnight in Bali.
After breakfast you set out to explore Bali's villages and highlands. You watch the dramatic Barong dance at Batubulan, see a traditional Balinese house compound, and visit the craft villages of Celuk (gold and silversmiths), Mas (woodcarving) and Ubud (painting), with a coffee and tea plantation en route. The road climbs through terraced rice fields to Kintamani for a buffet lunch and spectacular views of the Batur volcano, and a stop at the Goa Gajah "Elephant Cave". Overnight in Bali.
- Kintamani
- — Highland village on the rim of the Batur caldera, with sweeping volcano views.
- Ubud
- — Bali's artistic heart, famous for painting, galleries and craft.
- Goa Gajah
- — The ancient "Elephant Cave" temple site near Ubud.
A day of sea and adventure at Tanjung Benoa. You enjoy water sports including jet ski and parasailing, an hour of snorkelling, and a glass-bottom boat ride out to Turtle Island, where you can see turtles and other animals up close. In the late afternoon you drive to Tanah Lot, the island's most photographed sea temple, to watch the sun set over the water. Overnight in Bali.
- Tanjung Benoa
- — Bali's water-sports hub for jet ski, parasailing and snorkelling.
- Tanah Lot
- — Iconic temple set on a rock in the sea, famed for its sunset.
After breakfast you check out and transfer from your Kuta hotel to Bali's harbour, then cross by speedboat to the Gili islands. On arrival at the Gili harbour you make your own way to the hotel by pony cart — the islands are car-free. The rest of the day is yours to settle in and enjoy the beach. Overnight on Gili.
A full day at leisure on your car-free Gili island. Swim, snorkel over the coral reefs, cycle the sandy lanes or simply relax on the beach with nowhere to be. Overnight on Gili.
After breakfast you check out and make your way by pony cart back to the Gili harbour, then cross by speedboat to Bali. From the harbour a shared transfer takes you to your villa in stylish Seminyak, Bali's fashionable beach district known for its boutiques, restaurants and sunset bars. Overnight in Seminyak.
After breakfast at your villa the day is relaxed, building up to the evening's highlight: the Bali Hai sunset dinner cruise. You set off around Benoa Harbour aboard a luxury catamaran, taking in the cool night air on the top deck with live musicians, an international and Indian buffet dinner, and a lively cabaret show. Overnight in Bali.
- Seminyak
- — Chic beach district of boutiques, dining and sunset lounges.
- Bali Hai dinner cruise
- — Evening catamaran cruise with buffet dinner and cabaret.
After breakfast you have time for last-minute shopping before transferring to the airport for your flight home, carrying away sweet memories of Bali and the Gili islands. Tour ends.
This itinerary is a suggested flow and is fully customisable — hotels, pace and sightseeing are tailored to you. Ask us to adjust it →
Places on this tour
What's included
- Accommodation on twin-sharing basis in Bali, Gili and Seminyak as per itinerary
- Daily breakfast plus specified dinners including the candlelight dinner and dinner cruise
- Airport and hotel transfers and shared inter-hotel transfers as noted
- Speedboat transfers between Bali and the Gili harbour
- Kintamani day tour, Tanjung Benoa water sports and Tanah Lot sunset tour
- Balinese spa session and the Bali Hai sunset dinner cruise
Not included
- International airfare and Indonesia visa where applicable
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
- Pony-cart transfers between the Gili harbour and hotel (arranged locally at own cost)
- Camera fees, tips and gratuities
- Meals and activities not specified in the itinerary
- Anything not mentioned under inclusions
Ideal for: Honeymooners, couples and families wanting culture, water sports and beach time.
FAQ
Bali with Gili Island — your questions answered
Around 8 days works beautifully for Bali with a Gili island. That gives you three nights in Bali for temples, Kintamani and water sports, two nights on a car-free Gili for pure beach time, and a couple of nights back in Bali for Seminyak and a sunset dinner cruise.
The best time to visit Bali is the dry season from April to October, with sunny days ideal for beaches, temples and island-hopping. The wetter months from November to March are greener and quieter but bring more rain, which can affect the sea crossings to the Gilis.
You cross from Bali to the Gili islands by speedboat, which is included in this tour. On arrival the islands are entirely car-free, so the short hop between the harbour and your hotel is by pony cart, arranged locally at your own cost.
Plenty — the tour combines culture and adventure with beach time. You visit temples like Tanah Lot and Goa Gajah, watch a Barong dance, tour the craft villages of Celuk, Mas and Ubud, drive up to the Kintamani volcano, and enjoy water sports and snorkelling at Tanjung Benoa.
Yes, the Gili islands suit families well thanks to their calm, car-free setting and gentle, clear waters for swimming and snorkelling. With no motor traffic and safe beaches, they make a relaxed contrast to Bali's busier resort areas.
