A wedding anniversary in Bali: creating your tailor-made trip for two
Ten years of marriage deserves a celebration. Kevin and Elodie asked me to organise a trip to Bali for their 10th wedding anniversary, with a simple idea in mind: time together, far from everyday life, somewhere truly out of the ordinary. Terraced rice fields, temples perched on lakeshores and clifftops, villas with pools in the middle of the jungle, sunsets over the Indian Ocean: Bali has everything for that kind of escape. You still need to choose the right stops, season and pace for the island to show you its very best side.
In this guide, I walk you through the trip I designed for them, and share what makes the difference for a successful trip for two in Bali: the best time to go, which stops to combine, the romantic moments not to miss and my practical tips. And if you would rather be carried along, I design your tailor-made Bali trip, from the very first idea until you are back home.
Why choose Bali to celebrate your wedding anniversary
Bali is nicknamed "the island of the gods", and you quickly understand why. Hindu spirituality runs through daily life: flower offerings laid in front of every home each morning, thousands of temples, ceremonies that set the rhythm of the calendar. For a wedding anniversary, this gentle, serene atmosphere changes everything: you slow down, reconnect and live the trip rather than rush through it.
It is also a surprisingly varied island. In a dozen days you can wander through the rice fields of Ubud, gaze at Mount Agung from the Sidemen valley, swim above the corals of Amed, spend a few days on a car-free island and finish facing the ocean, high on the cliffs of Uluwatu. Each region has its own mood, which is exactly why a tailor-made trip matters so much: the order of the stops, the choice of villas and the pace of the stay make all the difference between a lovely trip and an unforgettable memory. Another plus: in Bali, a villa with a private pool remains far more affordable than in most romantic destinations.
On the practical side, Bali takes a little more preparation than a nearby destination. There is no direct flight from Paris: plan on one stopover, in Singapore, Doha, Dubai or Istanbul for example, and 16 to 20 hours of travel. The time difference is 6 hours in summer and 7 hours in winter. That is why I recommend at least 12 days on the island, so the trip is not just about recovering. If you are still weighing up several countries, my ranking of the most beautiful honeymoon destinations works just as well for a wedding anniversary.
When to go to Bali for your wedding anniversary
Bali is warm all year round, between 27 and 32 °C on the coast and a little cooler in the hills of Ubud and Sidemen. What changes from month to month is the rain, the crowds and therefore prices.
| Period | Weather | For your trip for two |
|---|---|---|
| April – June | Start of the dry season, rice fields still lush and green | The ideal window: good weather, green landscapes and reasonable crowds |
| July – August | Dry season, sunny, cooler evenings | Very pleasant, but peak season: the highest prices and crowds |
| September – October | End of the dry season, hot and sunny | An excellent window, often slightly quieter |
| November – March | Rainy season, hot and humid, heavy showers often late in the day | Lower prices and a quieter island, but rougher seas for the islands, and high prices over the holidays |
Kevin and Elodie had chosen April, and it is one of my favourite times of year: the dry season is starting, the rice fields are still a brilliant green and the summer holidays have not yet filled the island. May, June and September are just as good.
Tip: check the date of Nyepi, the Balinese New Year, which falls in March and changes every year. For 24 hours the whole island keeps silent: the airport closes, the roads are empty and travellers stay at their hotel. It is a remarkable experience if you are already there, but a day to avoid for arriving or leaving. If your anniversary falls in the middle of the rainy season, nothing stops you from shifting the trip by a few weeks: it is the milestone you are celebrating, not the exact day.
Ubud, Sidemen, Amed, the islands, Uluwatu: the itinerary designed for Kevin and Elodie
For their 10th anniversary, I designed a 12 to 14-day loop that takes in Bali's different faces: the rice fields and culture of Ubud, the still-unspoilt east with Sidemen and Amed, an island interlude, then the south and its cliffs, finishing close to the airport. The itinerary evolved with their wishes and our conversations, which is the whole point of a tailor-made trip. Bali is small, but the traffic is heavy: I plan a private driver for every transfer, and never more than two to three hours on the road in a day. For a full overview of the island, you can also read my tailor-made Bali travel guide.
Ubud, the rice fields and the spiritual heart of Bali
Ubud is the ideal first stop, about an hour and a half from the airport. Tucked into the hills among rice fields and rainforest, it is the cultural heart of the island: traditional dances at the royal palace in the evening, art galleries, markets and temples on every corner. You walk the Campuhan ridge at sunrise, discover the Tegallalang rice terraces before the groups arrive, and share one of the most moving moments of the trip at Tirta Empul temple, where Balinese people come to purify themselves under the fountains of the sacred spring.
For a trip for two, I recommend three to four nights in Ubud, ideally in a villa a little away from the centre, overlooking the jungle or the Ayung river valley: it is utterly peaceful, and a floating breakfast served in your pool is one of those small pleasures you never forget.
Sidemen and the east, timeless Bali
An hour and a half from Ubud, the Sidemen valley shows Bali as you picture it: emerald rice fields running down to the river, villages where traditional fabrics are still woven, and Mount Agung, the sacred volcano, watching over the landscape. No traffic jams or souvenir shops here: you stroll through the rice fields and dine facing the volcano.
From Sidemen, the east of the island is easy to explore: Lempuyang temple and its famous "Gates of Heaven" facing Mount Agung, the Tirta Gangga water palace with its carp-filled pools, or Besakih, Bali's mother temple. Tip: at Lempuyang, set off at dawn. The light is softer, and the queue for the photo between the two gates can exceed an hour by mid-morning. Two nights in Sidemen are enough to enjoy it without rushing.
Amed, snorkelling at the foot of the volcano
On the north-east coast, Amed is a string of fishing villages with black sand beaches, where jukung, the outrigger boats, still head out at dawn. The water is calm and the coral starts a few metres from the shore: a mask and snorkel are all you need to swim among the fish, with Mount Agung in the background. Twenty minutes north, Tulamben is home to the wreck of the USAT Liberty, a Second World War cargo ship reachable from the beach, which you can explore while snorkelling or on a try-dive.
Amed has kept a very gentle pace, far from the bustle of the south. Two nights in a small beachfront hotel are enough to enjoy it, and it is also the ideal departure point for the Gili Islands.
The Gili Islands or Nusa Penida, an island interlude
After the rice fields and temples, a few days on an island bring a complete change of scenery. From Amed, the Gili Islands, off Lombok, are only about an hour away by fast boat. There are no cars or scooters on these three small islands: you get around by bike or horse-drawn cart, swim with turtles and watch the sun set behind Mount Agung. Gili Air and Gili Meno are the quietest and most romantic, Gili Trawangan the liveliest.
Another option, south-east of Bali and around forty minutes by boat from Sanur: Nusa Penida with its spectacular cliffs, including the famous Kelingking beach, and manta rays you can approach while snorkelling. The island can be visited as a day trip, but it is lovelier when you stay overnight, or from its gentler neighbour, Nusa Lembongan. I choose one or the other depending on your wishes, with three nights to truly switch off. Tip: the sea often picks up in the afternoon, so I book crossings in the morning, with reliable operators.
Uluwatu and Jimbaran, a grand finale facing the ocean
To end the trip, the south of the island has two assets: it is close to the airport, 45 minutes to an hour by road, and its cliffs are among the most spectacular in Bali. On the Bukit peninsula, Uluwatu temple towers more than 70 metres above the ocean. At sunset you can watch the Kecak, a hypnotic dance in which dozens of men chant in chorus around a fire. Watch out for the temple monkeys, known for snatching sunglasses and phones!
Between beaches tucked at the foot of the cliffs, a grilled fish dinner with your feet in the sand of Jimbaran Bay, facing the sunset, is the loveliest way to say goodbye to Bali. I recommend two to three nights in the south, in a hotel perched above the ocean, to wind the trip down gently before the flight home, often in the evening or overnight.
Romantic experiences to share in Bali
Beyond the scenery, it is often a handful of special moments that stay with you. Here are the ones I love to weave into a wedding anniversary trip to Bali.
A Balinese blessing to renew your vows
For a wedding anniversary, this is probably the most moving experience of all. Dressed in traditional clothing, you receive the blessing of a Balinese priest, surrounded by offerings, incense and flower petals, in a temple, by the ocean or among the rice fields. The ceremony is symbolic, with no legal value, but the emotion is very real, and it is a beautiful way to mark your ten years, just the two of you or with a few words you have prepared.
A candlelit dinner, facing the ocean or the rice fields
A table set just for you on Jimbaran beach, on the edge of an Uluwatu cliff or by the pool of your villa in Ubud, lanterns, frangipani petals and a Balinese menu: many hotels offer a private dinner, but slots are limited and the best evenings go fast. I book it ahead, timed with the sunset, so it falls at the right moment of your stay, and why not on the evening of your anniversary itself.
A Balinese massage and a flower bath for two
Bali is one of the world's wellness capitals, and treatments there are both excellent and affordable. The traditional Balinese massage, with fragrant oils, is often followed by a flower bath, a large tub covered in frangipani and hibiscus petals that you share as a couple. The day after the long flight or at the end of your stay, it is a real moment just for the two of you.
A Balinese blessing, a private dinner, a couples' treatment, flowers in your villa when you arrive: tell me what you dream of and I can weave these moments into your stay, in the right place and at the right time.
Your tailor-made wedding anniversary trip to Bali by Lisa
Between work and everyday life, finding the time to plan a trip to the other side of the world is not easy. My role is to take that weight off your shoulders, so all that is left for you is to choose and to dream.
My tips for a successful trip for two in Bali
- Don't try to see everything: four to five stops are plenty in 12 to 14 days, with at least two nights in each.
- Plan a private driver for your transfers: the roads are narrow, the traffic heavy, and scooters are risky if you are not used to them.
- End in the south, close to the airport, so you reach your flight home without stress.
- Mention your wedding anniversary with every booking: many hotels and villas arrange a special touch, flower decorations or a cake.
- In temples, shoulders and knees must be covered: a sarong and sash are often lent at the entrance, but carrying one in your bag is easier. And take care not to step on the offerings placed on the ground.
- Don't drink tap water, including to brush your teeth, and pack reef-safe sunscreen and mosquito repellent.
- To stay connected from the moment you land without roaming charges, get an eSIM before you leave: my code NEWHORIZONS gives you 15% off Saily (partner link).
- As a rough budget guide, allow from €3,000 per person for 12 to 14 days in 4★ hotels and villas with pools, international flights and driver included.
To go further, I have also gathered my tips for planning a trip as a couple and my first Bali guide, with the mistakes to avoid.
What I bring to your trip for two
I design every trip from A to Z, based on your wishes, your budget and the way you like to travel. In practice:
- an itinerary built around your dates and the season, with stops, car transfers and boat crossings in the right order
- hotels and villas chosen for their atmosphere, location and privacy, from a pool villa in the rice fields to a clifftop hotel
- the moments that matter for your anniversary, booked ahead: Balinese blessing, private dinner, couples' treatment
- if you wish, booking your accommodation, driver, boats and activities
- a line-by-line budget, with no hidden fees
- a clear travel booklet with all your bookings and my recommendations
- a single point of contact, reachable 7 days a week during your trip
They trusted me with their wedding anniversary
Kevin and Elodie entrusted me with their trip to Bali for their 10th wedding anniversary. Here is what Kevin says about it.
A truly exceptional organizer! Despite all the changes and adjustments we requested, she was always there with incredible responsiveness. She listened to our wishes, offered tailored solutions, and put together a trip that perfectly matched our expectations. I recommend her without hesitation to anyone who wants a stress-free custom trip.
Start planning my tailor-made trip for two
FAQ: your questions about a couple's trip to Bali
How many days should you plan for a couple's trip to Bali?
Allow 12 to 14 days on the island to combine Ubud, the east, a few days on the islands and the south without rushing. With 10 days, it is better to stick to three stops, for example Ubud, an island and Uluwatu. With less than a week, the long journey from Europe weighs too heavily: Bali deserves time.
Which parts of Bali are best for a romantic stay?
Ubud and Sidemen for the rice fields, peaceful villas and Balinese culture, Amed and the Gili Islands for the sea and switching off, Uluwatu for the cliffs and sunsets. On the other hand, I advise against spending most of your stay in Kuta, Seminyak or Canggu: busy and congested, these southern areas are not well suited to a romantic trip.
Is Bali also a good choice for a honeymoon?
Yes, absolutely. The itinerary designed for Kevin and Elodie works just as well for a honeymoon: hotels and villas often have special touches for newlyweds, and the Balinese blessing then becomes a lovely celebration of your marriage. For a more beach-focused honeymoon, you can extend your stay on the islands or in the south.
What are the entry requirements for Bali?
French, Belgian and Swiss travellers need a visa, which you can get on arrival or, more simply, online before you leave on the official Indonesian immigration portal: it costs 500,000 rupiah, just under €30 per person, for a stay of up to 30 days. You also need to pay the Bali tourist levy, 150,000 rupiah (under €10) per person, on the official Love Bali website, and fill in the free All Indonesia arrival card online within three days before arrival. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your arrival date. No vaccinations are required when arriving from Europe. These rules change regularly: check them a few weeks before you leave, and I remind you of them in your travel booklet too.