Vikram’s 5-Day Bali Trip: Nusa Penida, Ubud & Sunset Adventures with Thrillophilia

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PNR: BKDLB2C2GHP
Rating: ★★★★★
Traveller: Vikram Kale and wife
Trip Duration: 5 Days
Travel Date: 13 Mar 2024 to 17 Mar 2024
Destination: Bali
Package Booked: 4 Nights 5 Days Bali Tour Package

Five days can sound short for a Bali holiday, especially when there is an entire island of temples, beaches, waterfalls, rice terraces and mountain landscapes waiting to be explored.

Vikram Kale and his wife knew the experiences they wanted and wanted hotels that suited their holiday too. After discussing their requirements with Thrillophilia's sales team, they found a plan that kept their preferred itinerary intact while helping them choose hotels that worked for their stay.

Then they landed in Bali, and the planning gave way to the fun part. Over the next few days, Vikram and his wife crossed the sea to Nusa Penida, looked across the volcanic landscapes of Kintamani, wandered through Tegalalang's rice terraces, explored the highlands of Bedugul and watched the sun disappear behind Tanah Lot.

Their five-day getaway packed in a surprising amount of Bali.

Nusa Penida Was Their First Big Adventure

Their first full day began early, with a transfer towards the harbour and a boat ride across to Nusa Penida. The island immediately felt different from mainland Bali. Its western coast is all cliffs, limestone formations and brilliant blue water, and Vikram and his wife spent the day moving between some of its most spectacular viewpoints.

At Kelingking Beach, the famous T-Rex-shaped cliff created their first major wow moment. The narrow headland curves dramatically into the sea, with steep cliffs dropping towards the turquoise water below. It is one of those places that looks almost unreal in photographs, and seeing the coastline spread out in front of them gave the couple plenty to take in.

The adventure continued at Angel's Billabong, a natural rock pool carved into the coastline, and Broken Bay, where an enormous natural arch opens towards the sea. The day eventually slowed down at Bubu Beach, where they could get closer to the water, swim and enjoy some time away from the viewpoints. Complimentary snorkelling was also included if time permitted.

It was a packed introduction to Nusa Penida, but the variety kept the day moving. One moment they were looking down from a cliff, the next they were beside the sea.

Bali Turned Green Around Kintamani

After the dramatic coastline of Nusa Penida, the couple's next major experience took them into Bali's lush interior.

Kintamani offered a completely different landscape, with views towards Lake Batur and the volcanic slopes around Mount Batur. The cool highland setting made a striking contrast to the sunny beaches and cliffs they had just experienced.

From there, they visited a coffee and spice plantation, getting a glimpse into Bali's local produce and coffee culture before continuing towards Tegalalang Rice Terrace. The terraces are among the island's most recognisable landscapes, with layers of bright green rice fields following the contours of the hills.

The day kept changing character. At Tegenungan Waterfall, dense tropical greenery surrounded the cascading water, while the Bali Jungle Swing brought out the playful side of the trip. The couple could try different swings and explore the photo nests built into the greenery, with options ranging from adult swings to a couple swing and swing beds. A complimentary local lunch, along with Balinese coffee, tea and water, completed the countryside experience.

From Bedugul’s Mountains to Tanah Lot

Their next sightseeing circuit took them into Bedugul, one of Bali's cooler and greener highland regions.

The first stop, Handara Gate, looked almost like a doorway into the mountains. Its traditional Balinese split-gate design stood against a backdrop of dense greenery and highland scenery, creating one of the trip's most photogenic stops.

The couple then continued to Ulun Danu Beratan, the famous temple complex beside Lake Bratan. The temple's distinctive shrines rising beside the water give the impression of a floating sanctuary, especially when the lake and surrounding mountains create a misty backdrop. The setting was a complete change from the cliffs of Nusa Penida and the volcanic views of Kintamani.

By evening, the couple had travelled all the way to the coast for Tanah Lot. The temple sits dramatically against the ocean, and sunset transformed the setting as the sky shifted behind the silhouette of the shrine. After spending the day among mountain landscapes and lakeside temples, ending beside the sea gave their sightseeing circuit a particularly beautiful finish.

Five Days, Several Versions of Bali

What made the trip interesting was how quickly the scenery kept changing.

Nusa Penida gave Vikram and his wife dramatic cliffs and clear coastal waters. Kintamani brought volcanic mountains and Lake Batur, while Tegalalang introduced them to Bali's famous rice terraces. Tegenungan added a tropical waterfall, and the Jungle Swing brought a little fun into the middle of the sightseeing.

Then came the cultural and architectural side of the island through Handara Gate and Ulun Danu Beratan, before Tanah Lot returned them to the coast for sunset.

Even within five days, the couple experienced Bali as several different destinations stitched together. The journey moved between adventure, nature, culture and leisurely sightseeing without losing the sense that they were on a holiday together.

Why Vikram Chose Thrillophilia

For Vikram, a good Bali holiday began with getting the planning right. He and his wife already had an idea of the itinerary they wanted, but they also wanted hotels that suited their stay and a package that offered good value.

The sales team helped them choose the right hotels and provided a quotation that Vikram felt compared well with other options. Most importantly, he appreciated that the price planning came without compromising on the itinerary they wanted.

Akshay Pandey, Thrillophilia's Bali Destination Expert, played a key role in coordinating their holiday and bringing the different elements of the trip together. With accommodation and sightseeing planned around their requirements, Vikram and his wife could spend their five days actually enjoying Bali rather than worrying about how each part of the trip would come together.

By the time they headed home, they had crossed the waters to Nusa Penida, stood above Kelingking's dramatic coastline, looked across Lake Batur, wandered through Tegalalang's green terraces, explored Bedugul's temples and watched a Bali sunset at Tanah Lot.

For a five-day trip, they had managed to see a remarkable amount of the island.

And Vikram's final review captured the experience simply: “I and my wife Enjoyed the overall trip.”

Also Read: Abhishek’s 6-Day Bali Romantic Getaway with Thrillophilia