Rice paddies, monkeys, sandy beaches, volcanoes, temples: images of Bali, Indonesia beckoned us, calling to us on Instagram and inviting us to discover its beauty from, it seemed, everyone’s travel blog except for ours. Our curiosity was majorly piqued, but when we finally booked our plane tickets to spend 2 weeks in Bali, Indonesia this past July, we were filled with nervous anticipation. Would we actually like Bali?

After all, we weren’t seeking that Instagrammable luxury resort experience: that’s just not our travel style. We wanted affordable attractions and cultural experiences that, if not truly authentic, at least didn’t scream “tourist trap.” We were worried that the Bali you see on Instagram was all there was: just a wasteland of digital nomads, acai bowls, yoga, and girls on swings waving two fingers in the air. Was there more to Bali than all of that?

Well, we are happy to report that yes: Bali is much more than just what you see on the ‘gram! While you can certainly appreciate Bali for its picturesque beauty, there is so much more to discover under it’s shimmering, glittering surface – a deeper, richer cultural experience that we barely glimpsed during our 2 weeks. We left Bali wanting more and wishing we could spend more time exploring, discovering more corners of the giant island of Bali (we’re low-key ashamed to admit that we had no idea how large Bali was until we started planning our trip).

In this massive, giant, monster post, you’ll find everything you need to know to plan the perfect Bali Itinerary. I’ve included the exact 2-week itinerary we followed, plus suggested changes we’d make – and everything you need to know to plan your trip to Bali!