Bali
Bali is one of the best destinations for solo female travel. It’s social without being overwhelming, structured without feeling restrictive, and easy to move around even if it’s your first solo trip. This 10 to 12 day Bali itinerary covers Canggu, Ubud, Gili Trawangan and Uluwatu, with realistic timing, safety tips and honest advice on whether to travel independently or join a solo female group trip.
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By Gabi
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7 min read
The quick version
Bali is social without being overwhelming, which makes it great for a first solo trip.
The classic loop: Canggu, Ubud, Gili Trawangan, then Uluwatu.
Give it 10 to 12 days so it never feels rushed.
Grab and taxis are the easy way to get around.
Bali is one of those places that keeps coming up when women talk about solo travel. Not because it’s extreme or challenging, but because it’s easy to settle into. It’s social when you want company and quiet when you don’t. Bali is also really simple to navigate, even if this is your first time travelling alone.
Mornings can be slow, and evenings can be as lively as you want them to be. You can fill your time with yoga and beach walks, or cultural sights and relaxation.
This itinerary is built with solo female travellers in mind. It focuses on places where women tend to feel comfortable and relaxed, without rushing to see everything at once. This route is extremely popular with solo travellers and gives you a way to experience Bali at a pace that actually feels good.
If you’re looking for a trip that builds confidence without feeling a bit too overwhelming, this is a strong place to start.
Is Bali Safe for Solo Female Travellers?
Short answer: Yes, Bali is one of the safest places to travel solo as a woman.
Bali has a long history of welcoming solo travellers, and that shows. In areas like Canggu, Ubud, Uluwatu and the Gilis, it’s completely normal to see women travelling alone. Whether it is solo travellers heading to yoga classes or the beach.
In Bali, traffic is the main thing to be mindful of, especially scooters. Many solo travellers choose to use drivers or apps like Grab or Gojek instead of renting their own, which makes getting around simple.
What makes Bali especially good for solo female travellers is the community feel. It’s so easy to meet people!
For many women, Bali is where solo travel starts to feel comfortable rather than intimidating.
The Perfect Route for a Solo Female Bali Trip
For solo female travellers, Bali works best when you don’t try to do everything. The most enjoyable itineraries follow a simple loop that balances social spots, culture, and time to slow down.
A 10–12 day route that consistently works well is:
Canggu - Ubud - Gili Trawangan - Uluwatu
When following this order, you start somewhere social and easy, move inland for culture and calm, head out to island life, then finish on the coast before flying home.
Why this route works so well solo
Canggu: close to the airport and great for easing into Bali. Cafés, surf schools and social hostels make it easy to meet people straight away.
Ubud: a slower pace after the buzz. Think rice fields, yoga and waterfalls. Ubud is also full of cultural experiences that suit solo travel perfectly.
Gili Trawangan: a short island escape with no cars, picturesque waters and a very social atmosphere if you want it.
Uluwatu: calmer and more spread out, Uluwatu is great for finishing the trip with beach days and sunsets.
This is the exact route we follow on our group trips to Bali.
How long we spend in each place
A realistic breakdown of our trips looks like this:
Canggu: 2–3 days
Ubud: 3–4 days
Gili Trawangan: 2–3 days
Uluwatu: 2–3 days
This gives you time to settle into each place rather than constantly packing and moving on.
Canggu:
Canggu is a great place to begin a solo trip in Bali. It’s lively, and you don’t need a plan to enjoy it. Cafes, beach spots and yoga studios are everywhere, so every day feels enjoyable and simple.
For solo female travellers, Canggu works because it’s social without being too intense. Surf lessons at beaches like Echo Beach and Batu Bolong are easy to join, and the streets are packed with great places to eat. Canggu is also full of relaxed bars and local markets that make it easy to fill your days.
Canggu is the kind of place where you don’t need a plan. You can walk to the beach, join a surf or yoga class, grab food when you’re hungry and watch the sun go down. It’s relaxed and makes settling into Bali feel effortless.
This is why it’s the first stop on our 12-day Bali group trip. It gives everyone time to arrive, relax and connect without throwing you straight into something overwhelming.
Ubud: Culture, Nature and a Slower Pace
After the coast, Ubud feels like a reset. It’s calmer and much more focused on culture and nature. Many solo female travellers say this is where Bali really feels like Bali.
Ubud is perfect if you enjoy being outdoors and having quieter moments between activities. Days here might include visiting rice terraces, walking the Campuhan Ridge, exploring temples or heading out to waterfalls. There’s also yoga everywhere ( I mean everywhere!)
Ubud is slower and more peaceful, without ever feeling lonely. It’s very normal to explore alone here. Markets and yoga classes are full of solo travellers doing their own thing. You can keep to yourself or join group activities if you want some company.
Spending 3–4 days in Ubud gives you time to slow down properly. It balances out the energy of Canggu and sets the tone for the rest of the trip. On our group trips, this is often where people say they feel the most grounded and relaxed.
Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan is a different rhythm altogether. With no cars or scooters, life moves on island time. You cycle, walk, swim, repeat.
Because the island is so small, everything feels accessible. You end up doing things as they come, often with people you’ve just met, without trying to plan it.
Meeting people here feels effortless. A snorkelling trip or a drink by the beach can easily turn into plans for the rest of the day. And when you want space, it’s just as easy to find somewhere calm. Nothing is forced.
Uluwatu
Uluwatu is all about quiet mornings and sunsets that feel like enough on their own. It’s peaceful without ever feeling cut off.
Days here usually centre around the beach. Padang Padang, Bingin, a long lunch at a clifftop café, maybe a yoga class in between. Uluwatu Temple at sunset is a highlight. It’s genuinely surreal.
Because everything is a little more spread out, Uluwatu works best when you’re not rushing. Staying near cafés and beaches makes it easy to move around without long walks at night. And having a driver or scooter arranged takes the stress out of getting from place to place.
Getting Around Bali as a Solo Female Traveller
Getting around Bali is fairly straightforward once you know what to expect, but it can be one of the more tiring parts of planning a solo trip.
Distances are longer than they look on a map and moving between places often involves a mix of cars, scooters and boats. Most solo travellers rely on private drivers or apps like Grab rather than public transport, especially for longer journeys.
Scooters are everywhere, but they’re also the biggest risk in Bali. If you’re confident riding one, great. If not, you’re absolutely not missing out. Many women choose to sit on the back of a Grab or use taxis instead.
Island transfers, especially to places like Gili Trawangan, require a bit more coordination. Fast boats and timing all need to line up, which can feel like a lot when you’re juggling it alone.
This is where group travel can make things feel much easier. On our Females Flying Solo group trips to Bali, all transport is organised for you. Airport pickups, boat transfers and timing are handled in the background. You still get the freedom of solo travel, just without having to think about routes and schedules.
Final Thoughts
Bali is one of those places that really works for solo female travellers. It’s social, easy to navigate and full of moments that don’t need much planning. Whether you’re watching the sunset after a surf lesson or wandering rice fields in Ubud, it’s a destination that gives you space to do things your way.
If you’re confident travelling independently, Bali gives you that freedom. And if the idea of organising routes and transport feels like a barrier, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with choosing a trip where that’s all taken care of. On our Females Flying Solo group trips to Bali, you still get that travel experience, just with the support of a ready-made group and none of the logistics stress.
Either way, Bali is a place that builds confidence quickly and leaves you wondering why you didn’t book it sooner.
GOOD QUESTION
Is Bali safe for solo female travellers?
Do I need to ride a scooter in Bali?
Is Bali good for first-time solo female travellers?
Is it easy to meet other travellers in Bali?
What’s the best way to get between places in Bali?
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