Planning a three-week trip to Bali and wondering how to map out a memorable route? This guide follows a classic but slightly off-the-beaten-path loop: starting in Ubud, then heading to Lovina in the north, continuing along the coast to Amed, drifting west to Candidasa, and finishing with relaxed days in Sanur. Use this as a practical route planner to visualize your Bali map and uncover some beautiful, less-visited corners along the way.
Understanding Your Bali Map: The Big Picture
Bali is compact, but its winding roads, rice terraces, and volcanic hills mean travel times can be longer than they look on a simple map. When you plan a three-week itinerary, think of the island in sections: central (Ubud), north (Lovina), northeast (Amed), east (Candidasa), and southeast (Sanur). This circuit minimizes backtracking while showing you both famous highlights and quieter areas.
How Long to Spend in Each Destination
- Ubud: 5–7 days for culture, rice fields, and day trips.
- Lovina: 3–4 days for the quieter north coast and waterfalls.
- Amed: 3–4 days for snorkeling, diving, and views of Mount Agung.
- Candidasa: 3–4 days for relaxed coastal villages and east Bali temples.
- Sanur: 3–5 days for calm beaches and easy access to the airport.
Starting in the Heart of Bali: Ubud
Ubud, in central Bali, is a natural starting point for a three-week route. On your map, it sits surrounded by rice terraces, river valleys, and small artisan villages. It is a hub for arts, traditional dance performances, and wellness retreats, making it ideal for easing into Bali’s rhythm.
What to Explore Around Ubud
- Walk or cycle through rice terraces just a short distance from the town center.
- Visit nearby temples and shrines tucked away in jungle gorges.
- Take day trips to waterfalls and viewpoints in the central highlands.
- Explore small, out-of-the-way villages known for carving, painting, or silversmithing.
Practical Map Tips for Ubud
The center of Ubud can be walkable, but many of the most beautiful spots lie a short drive or scooter ride away. When looking at a Bali map, mark the roads that lead north and east of Ubud; these winding lanes often reveal the quiet, scenic routes that most visitors overlook.
Heading North: Ubud to Lovina
From Ubud, the map takes you north across the central mountains to Lovina, a string of coastal villages on Bali’s north shore. This journey is as rewarding as the destination, with viewpoints, lakes, and temples along the way.
Route Highlights Between Ubud and Lovina
- Mountain viewpoints looking down over central Bali’s valleys.
- Cooler highland areas around scenic lakes.
- Temples perched on hillsides or beside the water.
Why Add Lovina to Your Bali Map
Lovina is noticeably quieter than the busy south. The coastline here is gentler, and away from the main beach strip you can still find small roads leading into the hills, with access to hidden waterfalls and simple village life. Plotting Lovina on your itinerary helps you experience a different, more laid-back side of Bali.
Along the North and Down to the Northeast: Lovina to Amed
The next stage runs along Bali’s north coast before turning down toward the northeast. On the map, Lovina and Amed are connected by a coastal road that passes fishing villages, viewpoints, and scattered black-sand coves.
Scenic Coastal Drive
Driving or riding along this stretch, you will notice the sea constantly on one side and forested slopes on the other. Because many travelers rush between the south and Ubud, this northern route can feel pleasantly uncrowded, with chances to stop at small, out-of-the-way beaches or warungs overlooking the water.
Why Amed Belongs on Your Bali Itinerary
Amed is actually a chain of bays rather than a single town. It is known for its black-sand shores, coral reefs close to shore, and clear views of Mount Agung when the sky is clear. On your Bali map, Amed marks the gateway to the island’s best snorkeling and diving spots, including accessible reefs just a short swim from the beach.
Turning South Along the East Coast: Amed to Candidasa
From Amed, your route curves south along the eastern edge of Bali. This section of the map is dotted with small coastal settlements where traditional salt-making, fishing, and farming still shape daily life.
Scenic Stops Between Amed and Candidasa
- Lookout points over terraced hills dropping into the sea.
- Quiet stretches of coastline where you may see traditional fishing boats.
- Small roadside stalls selling local snacks and fruit from the region.
Candidasa and Eastern Bali
Candidasa provides a relaxed base for exploring east Bali. From here, temple complexes, small inland villages, and viewpoints are all within easy reach. The layout of this region on the map shows how close the coast is to the foothills of Mount Agung, making it simple to combine sea views with inland excursions.
Completing the Loop: Candidasa to Sanur
The final leg of your three-week loop runs from Candidasa to Sanur on the island’s southeast coast. This part of the map brings you closer to Bali’s main transport routes while still offering pockets of peace.
Why End in Sanur
Sanur’s long, calm shoreline, protected by an offshore reef, makes it a gentle place to end a journey. A paved beachfront path runs for several kilometers, ideal for easy walks or bike rides. On the map, Sanur also sits conveniently close to departure points for offshore islands and the main airport, which keeps your last travel day relatively simple.
Exploring the Southeast Coast
While Sanur itself is relaxed, it also serves as a base for short trips along the southeast, where you can discover local markets, coastal temples, and small residential neighborhoods that many visitors bypass.
Finding Beautiful Out-of-the-Way Places
One of the main advantages of mapping out a three-week route across Bali is the freedom to leave the main roads. Between Ubud and the north, and again along the east coast, smaller roads branch off into hills, rice fields, and quiet shorelines. These detours are where you will often find the most memorable scenes: farmers working terraced fields, village ceremonies, and viewpoints that rarely appear in standard brochures.
Using Maps for Slow Travel in Bali
Digital maps are helpful, but do not rely solely on the fastest route suggestions. Slower, scenic roads may look longer on the screen yet offer more chances to stop. Combining a digital map with local advice—such as which roads are steep, narrow, or currently under repair—helps you balance efficiency with exploration.
Practical Route & Transport Tips
- Transport options: Private drivers, shared transfers, or self-drive scooters and cars are the main ways to move between Ubud, Lovina, Amed, Candidasa, and Sanur.
- Travel times: Distances are short on the map, but allow generous time for mountain roads, occasional traffic, and scenic stops.
- Weather considerations: During the rainy season, some smaller roads can be slippery; in drier months, remote tracks may be dusty but more accessible.
Staying in Ubud, Lovina, Amed, Candidasa and Sanur
Along this route, accommodation options range from simple guesthouses tucked into villages to small boutique stays overlooking the sea. In Ubud, many places are set amid rice fields or jungle ravines, so check your map carefully to understand walking distances and access roads. In Lovina, accommodations often line the quiet beachfront or sit just inland on small village lanes. Amed and Candidasa tend to offer intimate coastal stays, some with direct beach access and views of fishing boats heading out at dawn. Sanur provides a wider mix, from modest homestays on side streets to larger beachfront properties, with most clustered in an easy-to-navigate strip parallel to the shore. Booking a mix of locations—central, hillside, and beachfront—adds variety to your three-week journey and helps you experience different sides of Bali’s landscapes.
Planning Your Own Three-Week Bali Map Route
This Ubud–Lovina–Amed–Candidasa–Sanur loop provides a balanced overview of Bali’s cultural, coastal, and rural areas without rushing between them. When you sketch your own route on a map, think about travel pace, seasonal weather, and how many day trips you want to take from each base. With three weeks, you have enough time to follow the main circuit while still leaving space for those spontaneous turns down smaller roads that often lead to the most beautiful, out-of-the-way places.