This blog is a complete breakdown of our 9-day honeymoon itinerary and costs in Bali. Fair warning—this is a lengthy read! I did my best to condense each day, but every single one was so packed with adventures that this was the shortest I could manage.
Too lazy to read the whole thing? Here's a video highlight of our entire trip, shot & edited by Lennon.
DAY 1: ARRIVAL, COFFEE PLANTATION & RICE TERRACES
After nearly 12 hours of travel, we landed in Denpasar at 8 a.m. Exhausted, hungry, and already sticky from Bali’s humidity, we pushed through—we had a full day planned and wanted to make every minute count.
We met Raka, our private driver & guide from Book Bali Driver (Lennon found him on TikTok just two weeks before we flew out). Raka built our itinerary around the activities and places we wanted to see. Normally, I’m a control freak who researches every detail, but after months of wedding planning, I had no energy left. This time, I just listed what I wanted to do and let Raka handle the rest. As soon as we hopped in the car, we picked his brain about Bali—its people, culture, and geography—so we could make the most of our trip across different areas of the island. I briefly mentioned wanting to visit a coffee plantation, and he immediately adjusted our route. First stop: Satria Coffee Plantation.
Upon arrival, a guide gave us a private tour and a brief lesson on coffee production. Afterward, they prepared a tasting set of various teas and coffees—completely free, no entrance fee! We couldn't resist trying the famous Kopi Luwak (coffee cherries eaten, digested, and defecated by an Asian palm civet) for IDR 50,000 per cup. As coffee lovers, we thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Next: Tegallalang Rice Terraces. By 11 a.m., the sun was brutal, so we stayed just long enough for photos and two activities: 1 Double Sky Bike and 2 ziplines. Total for both of us, including entrance fees: IDR 1,184,500. By the time we finished, it was lunchtime at Tis Café. Since I can already foresee this blog post becoming a looooong read, I've dedicated a separate post just to food—check out Everything We Ate in Bali!
After lunch, we headed to our hotel. We'd booked Raka and his team for 4 days (8–10 hours/day), costing IDR 700,000–1,000,000 per day. They were incredibly helpful—taking us to a tech shop for SD cards, a money exchange, laundry shops, and even lending us cash when we ran out.
We checked into Amarell Ubud – Private Luxury Villa Hotel: spacious, modern, with a shared living room and kitchen. We got lucky—the other room was empty, so we had the whole place to ourselves. After a quick shower and nap, we cooled off in the pool overlooking the jungle.
That evening, the hotel helped us rent a motorbike (NMAX scooter, ~IDR 150,000/day; full tank ~IDR 80,000). We rode 10 minutes into downtown Ubud for dinner at Nostimo Greek Grill. Just across the street, we enjoyed a 1-hour full-body Balinese massage at Sang Spa Massage.We ended the night with a quick grocery run before heading back to rest—early start tomorrow!
Satria Coffee Plantation
Tegallalang Rice Terraces
Amarell Ubud – Private Luxury Villa Hotel
Day 1
Expenses Breakdown
Day 2: Thrill Seeking Adventures – ATV & White Water Rafting
At 8 a.m. sharp, Raka was waiting outside our hotel to kick off the day's adventures. We had breakfast first at 7AM Bakers Club, then headed to Kuber Bali ATV Tours.
My original plan was to just be a passenger on one tandem ATV. But watching the earlier batch zoom off, I got excited and decided we'd each have our own ATV—way more fun, and honestly, more comfortable given the rough terrain ahead.
After settling payments, slathering on sunscreen, and gearing up with boots and helmets, we met our group—just 6 people with 2 guides. A quick tutorial later, we were off!
Our 90-minute route took us through rice fields, jungle trails, winding curves, river tracks, steep hills, a cave tunnel, and the highlight—a waterfall! I had an absolute blast, especially at the waterfall (though I did get momentarily stuck under it—Lennon quickly helped me out). The guides stopped several times to take photos; we opted out of their package and just tipped them to use our phones instead.
Not a single dull moment—there was so much to see. The final stretch was a muddy pool near the starting point, where Raka was already waiting to film us. I went full speed, trying to drift—the adrenaline had me in a need-for-speed mood!
After the ride, we grabbed a quick shower and a complimentary sandwich and fries before heading to our next adventure.
White Water Rafting on Ayung River with Bali Bintang Rafting. Raka handled registration and secured us a private boat. After donning life jackets, stashing our belongings in lockers, and grabbing paddles, we took a 10-minute ride to the starting point, then descended 600 steps to the river.
Ayung River is Bali's longest at 68.5 km, carving through jungle gorges, hidden waterfalls, and stone-carved river walls. The 2-hour journey was surreal—intense drops and fast currents mixed with calm stretches where we soaked in birdsong, sunshine, and lush greenery. Near the final stretch, our guide Yogi even let us jump out for a swim!
The ascent back up was grueling—exhaustion hit hard, and every step with our paddles felt heavier. Back at the meeting point, we showered and had a quick meal provided by the company, then returned to the hotel to recharge.
By evening, we were ready to explore again and headed back to downtown Ubud for dinner. While cruising on our motorbike, Casa Luna caught our eye—and we got lucky: it was their jazz night with a live band! We ended the night with dessert from Cream & Crumble and another massage from UR Spa Massage just across the street.
Day 2
Expenses Breakdown
Day 3: the adrenaline continues with Waterfalls Trekking & Cliff Jumps
Up early again for another adrenaline-filled day, Juli (another driver from Raka's team) picked us up and took us to Pison for breakfast. We loved this cafe so much we returned on our last day in Bali.
There were three trekking options—short, medium, and long. We opted for the short trek (~20 minutes), covering four waterfalls: Aling Aling, Kroya, Kembar, and Pucuk. We initially wanted the medium trek which includes the Blue Lagoon, but at 3–4 hours long, our driver suggested skipping it so we could visit Sekumpul Waterfall afterward instead.
Stepping into the forest felt magical, almost like mystical creatures were watching our every move. Our first stop was Aling Aling Waterfall. As we appreciate it, we were able to feel a cool mist coming from the massive drop. Watching the waters crash down felt like there was a natural green tint that made it feel like we were watching a nature documentary. A few minutes' walk brought us to Kroya Waterfall, where we could try a 5m cliff jump or a 12m waterfall slide. Lennon went to try the cliff jump first without hesitation. After a few jumps, he was able to convince me to try it as well.
Never in a million years did I imagine myself cliff diving. I hesitated several times, but mustered just enough courage to leap. You can see in the video that I didn't get enough forward momentum to clear the rocks properly—thankfully, I came out unharmed.
Lennon then took on the 12m slide. When he surfaced, he encouraged me to join him, insisting the cliff jump was scarier. Foolishly, I believed him. As soon as I slid down, I was completely swallowed by the water. I felt submerged for ages, and when I surfaced, the current swept me away. Another tour guide pulled me out since our original guide was still up top. We later learned that usually there is only one waterfall but this time there were two so that's why the currents were so strong. Lennon later admitted the slide was definitely scarier—but he knew I wouldn't have tried it if he'd told me the truth. Thanks, I guess? Hahaha.
Next was Kembar Waterfall with a 10m jump. Our guide advised me to sit out since I can't swim—though honestly, even if he'd allowed it, I wouldn't have. The height looked insane. Lennon, the natural daredevil, with a bit of hesitation took the leap.
Last was Pucuk Waterfall. By then, I was exhausted, and the rocky, narrow path was a broken-camera risk, so I stayed back to sit by the water and soak in the view. Pucuk offered a 15m jump, but even Lennon drew the line there.
We were both drained, and with rain starting to drizzle, we reluctantly decided to skip Sekumpul. Juli took us to a buffet-style restaurant serving authentic Balinese food for lunch, then drove us back to the hotel. We rested until dinner, spent about 20 minutes roaming Ubud's downtown, and finally settled on Gedong Sisi to eat.
Day 3
Expenses Breakdown
DAY 4: Onto a new island (with minor INCONVENIENCES)
By Day 4, the exhaustion from our 3-day routine—driver pickups, breakfast, activities, quick hotel dips, scooter explorations, dinner, and nightly massages—was starting to creep up. So this day was meant for simply unwinding and exploring Ubud without plans. Well, that was the plan. As soon as we woke up, I proposed moving to Nusa Lembongan a day early.
Before checking out, we grabbed breakfast at Three Monkeys, then hunted for ATMs that would accept my card. After driving under the blistering heat, we finally found one—only for the machine to eat my card. My only card activated for international withdrawals. After panicking and sorting things out at a nearby 7/11, we returned to the hotel, checked out, and hailed a Gojek taxi to Sanur Harbor for a 45-minute ferry ride with Setia Ferry to Nusa Lembongan. At the docks, I couldn't resist snapping photos of the insanely clear, blue waters.
Upon docking at Jungut Batu Beach, our driver (organized by Lennon) greeted us and hauled our heavy luggages across the fine white sand. He then drove us to Cliff Park Lembongan. The views were breathtaking—perched on a cliff with waves crashing against the rocks—but our excitement was short-lived. The room was a disappointment: stained sheets, cushions, and sofas. The property had clearly seen better days. We dropped our bags and immediately left to find a new hotel.
By the time we started hunting, it was nearly 3 p.m. We were exhausted, hungry, and fried from the heat. First, we grabbed lunch. We hopped on the scooter left for us by our driver and, after getting lost on the island's uneven, rocky streets, found Gabet's Pub to refuel.
Mustering our strength, we resumed hotel hunting and eventually landed at Ora Resort Avia Blue Lagoon on Nusa Ceningan—the island just next to Nusa Lembongan, connected by a narrow yellow bridge. After a tour of the property and available rooms, their staff immediately arranged transport for our luggages. The bridge is only passable by foot or scooter, so they coordinated two taxis: one from our old hotel to the bridge, then their team helped carry our bags across on foot (Lennon followed us behind on our scooter), then another taxi to the resort.
We checked in just in time before the sun sets. I couldn't contain my excitement seeing our private pool—the rooms were fenced for intimacy (unlike our Ubud villa, where the pool felt exposed to anyone passing by). I wasted no time jumping in and ordering room service to finally unwind after a long, stressful day.
We ended the night with a date night at the resort's restaurant, Kylf Club.
Day 4
Expenses Breakdown
DAY 5: Breakfast with views & whole day in the sea
I woke up early, had coffee delivered to our room, and basked in the morning sun beside the pool. I soaked in every moment—the warmth on my skin, the cool breeze, birds chirping, and the faint chatter of people passing by our villa. Lennon soon woke up, and we headed to Klyf Club for breakfast.
Since we'd arrived after sunset the night before, we hadn't fully appreciated the resort's beauty. As we made our way to breakfast, the panoramic view of the Blue Lagoon left us speechless—perched on a cliff, waves crashing loudly below. The staff had mentioned we might spot turtles if we were lucky, so we kept our eyes peeled throughout the meal.
We returned to Jungut Batu Beach to look for tours. After some haggling with locals, we scored a good deal on a private boat tour to Manta Point, Crystal Bay, and Sandy Bay. At all three spots, we snorkeled—and even got up close with manta rays at Manta Point! Despite only visiting three locations, we spent nearly half the day in the sea. By the time we headed back, the sun was scorching.
Still in our swimwear, we found lunch at Fin Island, then went home and immediately passed out from exhaustion until dinner. We ate at Sunset Villa, grabbed drinks at Let's Bake, and ended the night with a massage at Karuna Island.
Day 5
Expenses Breakdown
DAY 6: SURF & SOUL
This day was exciting—for the first time on any trip we've taken, Lennon and I would be doing separate activities. We first went to The Deck for breakfast, enjoying the calm, low-tide view of Jungut Batu Beach. Before the trip, Lennon had really wanted to try surfing. I wanted to tag along too, but since I don't know how to swim, I sadly opted out.
While roaming the island in previous days, I'd come across an advertisement for healing sessions. As a skeptic, I was intrigued—I thought, "Why not?" Just for the experience. Lennon dropped me off at Green Garden after breakfast, then returned to Jungut Batu Beach for his surfing lesson.
I had no idea what to expect—I'd never done any kind of reading or healing session. Green Garden offered treatments like Reiki Body Process, Cakra Balancing, and Tarot Reading. When I booked via WhatsApp, the staff suggested starting with an energy reading first, then identifying the appropriate treatment.
Upon arrival, a staff member greeted me and directed me to a dark bungalow. The reiki master entered, explained he'd perform an energy reading, and had me lie down on a reiki table with my eyes closed. I could feel his hands hovering above me, moving in subtle motions. After a while, he asked me to open my eyes and shared everything he'd learned.
He first explained the seven chakras—Root, Sacral, Solar Plexus, Heart, Throat, Third Eye, and Crown—and identified which of mine were under or overactive.
The Deck
Then he went into great detail about my life. Every single thing he said was completely accurate. He mentioned specific health issues I'd heard from previous hospital visits and even my pilates instructor. As he continued, I started feeling heavier and heavier, and without realizing it, I was already tearing up. I began the session lightly crying; by the end, I was full-on sobbing. Keep in mind—the only thing I'd said to him was a simple greeting and my name.
Finally, he addressed what was currently bothering me at this stage of my life. Despite being in denial about that very thing, he mentioned it without me saying a single word on the topic. We then began the reiki session. I shut my eyes. Despite it being a no-contact treatment, I felt my heart burn and ache, then my stomach churn. Waves of sadness and mixed emotions washed over me, yet somehow, the reiki felt calming and grounding.
By the end of the reiki session, I was sobbing. We finished with a tarot reading. He asked me to pose a burning question. I asked, picked three cards, and he fell silent for a moment. Then he gave me his answer—and I cried even harder.
***
I made my way to a nearby café and sat there for hours, processing everything. I completely hadn't expected the outcome. I felt so heavy, yet also like a weight had been lifted—a strange juxtaposition that left me drained and depleted. Not a single thing mentioned was speculation. Everything was the truth behind the walls I'd built. And that made it harder—a complete stranger had seen who I really am, my thoughts, my secrets, the parts of me I'm still in denial about.
I sat in deep introspection until Lennon messaged that he was coming to pick me up.
We went to Acala Bistro for lunch, but it was a quiet meal—I struggled to open up about my session. In contrast, Lennon had so much to share, but he saw how down I was and kept it brief.
***
We'd booked a massage at Spring Spa, which I'd seen rave reviews about on TikTok. With time to kill before our appointment—but not enough to return to our resort—we hung out in their lobby/lounge area, occasionally exploring nearby. We ended up upgrading from a 60-minute massage to a 75-minute Surfer's Relief treatment, since we were badly sunburned from the previous day's tour and Lennon's surfing class.
The experience was truly luxurious. A buggy picked us up from the lounge and drove us up a hill to a private villa—huge, with an outdoor ensuite. The treatment involved actual aloe vera and cucumber placed over our whole body, paired with a soothing massage.
Afterward, it was dinner time. We roamed the main street—packed with restaurants and shops—and stumbled upon Little Prema Warung (a warung is a small family-owned eatery, similar to a Filipino carinderia or Macau's cha chan teng) filled with tourists. We decided to eat there. By this point, the massage had completely relaxed me, and I was in a much more joyful state compared to a few hours earlier.
Little Prema Warung
Day 6
Expenses Breakdown
DAY 7: PAMPER DAY
By the seventh day, exhaustion from constant travel, intense physical activities, and nearly non-stop sun exposure had caught up with us. So I specifically requested to Lennon that this day would be purely for relaxing, pampering, and having no plans but to unwind. This time, we were definitely going to rest—despite our previous failed attempts at a chill day (haha).
Again, we headed to our resort's restaurant, Klyf Club, for a quick breakfast, then made our way straight to Spring Spa. Since we'd enjoyed our time there the previous day, we decided to spend almost a full day back and booked the following treatments:
Lennon:
* Spring Signature Massage (90 mins) – IDR 470,000
Me:
* Spring Signature Massage (60 mins) – IDR 595,000
* Hydration Plus Facial (75 mins) – IDR 780,000
* Davines Deep Keratin Restructuring (60 mins) – IDR 850,000
Lennon opted for just the massage, while I fully committed to the pampering marathon: massage, facial, then a hair spa and treatment.
Same routine as the day before—a buggy picked us up at the lobby and drove us to our private villa. Since we'd started late the previous day, we hadn't really appreciated the overlooking beach. But today, stepping into our villa (an even better one this time), we were greeted by stunning ocean views.
As our massage began, we could faintly hear gentle waves, birds chirping, insects buzzing, and soft relaxing music. It was truly marvelous—I don't think I'd ever reached such a full state of relaxation before. Pure heaven. (Also, their massage tables had a mirror underneath the headrest, reflecting the terrace and ocean view—a small detail I really appreciated!) After my 60-minute massage, they immediately started my facial.
Once we'd both finished our massages and my facial was done, it was time to say goodbye to our magnificent villa. Since this villa had a pool, Lennon had a quick dip for the gram, then we showered at the outdoor bathroom ensuite.
We walked back to the lobby, where the hair salon was located, for my hair treatment. By this time, we'd worked up quite an appetite. Since Spring Spa sits on a hillside along the boardwalk above Jungut Batu Beach—surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and hotels—Lennon roamed around to grab takeout for lunch. Twenty minutes later, he returned with a pizza and a burger, which we shared while I got my treatment done. Since we were the only ones at the salon, the lovely staff allowed us to eat there.
I also ordered an iced strawberry matcha from their bar. As a matcha fanatic and snob, I have to say—this was probably the best matcha I've tasted in any cafe I've been to!
Afterwards, we went to Mahagiri Resort Nusa Lembongan to grab a few drinks by the beach and watch the sun set.
Since it was our last day in Nusa Lembongan, we roamed around Jalan Jungutbatu—the lively main street packed with restaurants, cafes, boutiques, and more—to look for souvenirs. This street had been our go-to for dining throughout our stay.
By the time we finished shopping, it was almost 10 p.m., and we started looking for dinner. We checked multiple restaurants and warungs, but most were already closing. After several failed attempts, we decided to head home—a 15-minute motorcycle ride—and look for a restaurant on the way. Worst case, we'd grab cup noodles from a convenience store near our hotel (our hotel didn't offer 24-hour in-room dining, and most small to medium hotels in Bali don't have 24-hour front desk service either).
Luckily, just as we neared our hotel, we passed Nick's Point, which closes late. We had a hearty meal, then went back to our hotel to start packing up.
Day 7
Expenses Breakdown
DAY 8: ROAMING AROUND DOWNTOWN UBUD (OUR LAST DAY IN BALI)
We woke up way before sunrise—we'd booked a ferry back to Sanur (Bali's main island) scheduled to leave at 7 a.m. We checked out by 6 a.m., and the hotel kindly provided free transport from the resort to the Yellow Bridge. As we rode the taxi, the sky was still dark, and we said a sad goodbye to Nusa Ceningan at dawn—and eventually Nusa Lembongan.
Once we reached the Yellow Bridge, the hotel staff helped carry our luggages across, where another taxi we'd organized was waiting to take us to Jungut Batu Beach to board the Kai Koa Fast Boat. Our ferry from Sanur had taken 45 minutes, but this time, we were back in just 20 minutes. The sun had just risen—it was nice to feel the cool breeze, every bump from the waves, and the early morning stillness. Upon docking, a group of staff greeted us and helped with our luggages all the way to the taxi pick-up area.
We hopped in a taxi and made our way to our new hotel, Umahan Ubud. The staff kindly prepared our room since we'd arrived way before check-in time. While we waited (about an hour), we decided to head out for breakfast. The staff also assisted us with renting a motorcycle.
For breakfast, I casually browsed Google Maps and came across Mayasari—the photos looked lovely. When we arrived, we were surprised to find it was actually a restaurant within Maya Ubud Resort & Spa, nestled in the jungle. They offered a breakfast buffet with a huge spread of Indonesian and international cuisine, mainly for hotel guests. We were lucky enough to be seated on the balcony with a tranquil jungle view. We enjoyed the experience and ambiance so much that we vowed to book a stay here when we return to Bali.
We then went back to our hotel, checked in, finally freshened up (no matter how short or long you've been traveling, you always end up feeling sticky and icky, haha), and passed out.
By the time we woke up, it was already past lunchtime—still full from breakfast—so we decided to return to downtown Ubud to roam around and shop for more souvenirs on our last day in Bali. One of our favorite travel activities is aimlessly walking down main streets, popping into random shops, and grabbing snacks along the way (it takes us back to when we spent a whole day roaming Hanoi's busy, lively streets).
We returned to Pison for afternoon tea since it had become one of our favorite cafes. Lennon managed to pick up several shirts, while I found an elegant, god-like orange-brown pantsuit from Aya Sacred Wear. I wanted to buy another dress too, but unfortunately, my size wasn't available. (Here's the link to the pantsuit I bought and the dress I also wanted to purchase.)
I don't remember how long we walked—but it was long enough for me to get cranky and beg to go home. We didn't bother looking for a place to eat and just ordered delivery via Gojek. I just wanted to lie down and rest.
Umahan Ubud
Breakfast at Mayasari
Roaming around Downtown Ubud
Day 8
Expenses Breakdown
OUR BALI HONEYMOON TRIP HIGHLIGHTS: THE ISLAND AND ITS PEOPLE
We ended our Bali trip the next day with an early morning flight back to Hong Kong. As cliché as it sounds, it was truly hard to say goodbye to the island—it and its people were incredibly beautiful. I now truly understand why so many foreigners choose to migrate here (though I'm in no way supporting gentrification).
Two main things stood out as the highlights of our honeymoon.
First, the island itself. Bali is incredibly gorgeous and has so much to offer. It's big enough to have something for every type of traveler. Adventure seeker? Plenty of adrenaline-pumping activities. Chill traveler? Beautiful beaches and cafes to relax in. Sightseeing and culture? Temples everywhere. Soul searching? Healing sessions and spiritual journeys abound. The options are basically endless—whatever you want to do, you can probably find it in Bali.
Second, its people. The Balinese were truly kind, accommodating, and overall lovely. Out of all our international trips, we were the most extroverted during this one and managed to connect with so many locals. Almost everywhere we went, we ended up striking up conversations for a few minutes and learned a great deal about their culture and religion.
The way we connected with the island and its people was truly something else—a completely new experience for us.
Suksma Bali!
TOTAL EXPENSES FOR OUR
9-DAY TRIP IN BALI
