Indonesia
The trip
Bali packs temples, jungle, waterfalls, and impossible coastline into one island — and we tried to see all of it. We based ourselves across East Bali (Karangasem), Ubud, Nusa Penida, the Gili Islands, and the Uluwatu peninsula. Below is exactly where every shot was taken, ranked by how much we'd tell you not to miss it — plus the tours we actually booked, if you want the easy button. We visited in September 2025.
The list
📍 Pura Penataran Agung Lempuyang · Karangasem, East Bali
This is Bali's most famous photo, and for us it was worth the early alarm. The "reflection" isn't a lake — a staffer holds a mirror under a phone to create it. We arrived right at opening (around 6–7am) to beat a line that can hit two hours by mid-morning. Mount Agung frames the gap on a clear day.
Sunrise startSarong requiredFree-ish + tip
📍 Kelingking Viewpoint · Nusa Penida
The T-Rex cliff — honestly the most jaw-dropping coastline we saw in Indonesia. The viewpoint shot is the easy win; the climb down to the sand is steep, hot, and only for the sure-footed. We did it as a day trip from mainland Bali (fast boat from Sanur, ~45 min).
Day trip from SanurWear grippy shoes
📍 Tegallalang Rice Terrace & swing parks · Ubud
Emerald staircase rice paddies with a cluster of swings, heart-nests, and the famous "flying dress" platforms overlooking the valley. Melody rented a long flowing dress and the staff fanned it out for the shot. Go before 10am for soft light and smaller crowds.
Flying-dress shotCombo ticket
📍 Tirta Gangga · Karangasem, East Bali
A royal water garden of tiered fountains, statue-lined pools, and the famous stepping stones over a pond thick with koi. We bought a little fish food, balanced across the stones, and had the shot. It pairs perfectly with Lempuyang — both are in East Bali, about 30 minutes apart.
Pair with LempuyangKoi stepping stones
📍 Thousand Islands Viewpoint / Diamond Beach · East Nusa Penida
This was the east coast's showstopper for us: a turquoise bay studded with jagged sea stacks, with Diamond Beach and Atuh Beach carved into the cliffs below. The clifftop viewpoint is the money shot; carved stairways lead down to the sand if you've got the legs for the climb back up.
East Nusa PenidaSea-stack views
📍 Pasih Uug (Broken Beach) · West Nusa Penida
A near-perfect circular cove carved into the cliffs, with a natural stone arch letting the ocean rush in. We found it a short walk from Angel's Billabong on the west side of Nusa Penida — both are on the same full-day loop as Kelingking.
Same loop as Kelingking
📍 Pura Luhur Uluwatu · Bukit Peninsula
A 1,000-year-old sea temple clinging to a sheer cliff 70 metres above crashing surf — one of Bali's holiest sites and its most cinematic sunset spot. We stayed for the fire-lit Kecak dance at dusk, and kept an eye on the resident monkeys, who are notorious sunglasses thieves.
Sunset Kecak danceWatch the monkeys
📍 Tukad Cepung · Bangli (≈1 hr from Ubud)
A hidden waterfall inside a slot canyon, where late-morning sun drops through the roof in a single beam of light. We came mid-morning on a clear day for the sunbeam — wear water shoes and be ready to wade, since the short river walk in is part of the fun.
Go 10am–noonWater shoes
📍 "Nest" statue circle, off Gili Meno · Gili Islands
A ring of 48 human figures sunk offshore as an artificial reef — now draped in coral and swirling with fish. The same shallow snorkel trip took us gliding beside green sea turtles (see the clip below). One of the most otherworldly things we did in Indonesia.
Snorkel, no diving neededReef-safe sunscreen
📍 ATV quad tracks · Ubud outskirts
Mud, rice fields, tunnels, and the surreal roar of that giant stone gorilla-mouth cave we rode straight through. Total blast — wear clothes you don't mind trashing, and go for the morning slot before the afternoon rain.
Messy & worth itMorning slot
📍 GWK Cultural Park · Ungasan, near Uluwatu
One of the tallest statues on earth, best framed from the corridor cut between towering limestone walls. The park is huge — we'd leave time for the plaza views, and catch the Kecak fire dance if your timing lines up.
Limestone corridor shot
📍 Suluban / Blue Point area · Bukit Peninsula
The Bukit's southern tip is a maze of cliff staircases opening onto cave-framed coves and glassy tide pools. We'd time it with low tide so the sand and pools are exposed, and stay for a cliff-bar sunset afterward.
Check the tide chartSunset nearby
📍 Jimbaran Bay · South Bali
A long, calm crescent of sand that glows at golden hour — and we did the classic thing: a barefoot seafood dinner right on the beach as the sky turned. The gentlest, most romantic way to close out a Bali day.
Seafood on the sandGolden hourSave these
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The full roll
