Solo Travel in Bali: The Island Hopping Guide and Best Stays

November 15, 2025

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If you’ve been thinking about solo travel to Bali let me start with this: there is so much more to Indonesia than just Bali!

There’s something about the Indonesian islands that makes solo travel feel easy: people talk to you at cafés, tours are naturally social, and there’s a huge community of other women doing exactly the same thing — healing, exploring, learning to trust themselves a little more.

But outside of the dreamy photos, here’s what actually matters when choosing where to go as a solo traveller: safety, walkability, good accommodation, and places where being alone never feels strange.

At the end of this guide, you will find my solo travel to Bali faves, but let me tell you why you should be considering more of Indonesia than the island of Bali. This guide breaks down your options honestly — based on research, personal experience, and real solo-travel patterns. Chances are you’ll be flying in to Bali, so all of these islands are super accessible for you from the island. We have gathered the island to visit and the best areas for solo travel in Bali so you can enjoy your Indonesia for your trip.

You’ll notice I haven’t included Canggu- this is purely based on personal preference.

🌋 Why Lombok Might Actually Be Better Than Bali for Solo Travellers

Let’s start here because it’s something most blogs don’t say:

👉 Lombok is calmer, safer-feeling and less chaotic than Bali.
It doesn’t have Bali’s traffic, noise, or crowds — and that makes it perfect for anyone who wants solo adventure travel in Bali and beyond without overstimulation.

What I loved about Lombok as a solo traveller

You can walk around parts of Kuta Lombok without feeling overwhelmed
People are warm, helpful and not pushy
Beaches are quieter and feel more “yours”
It’s easy to join surf lessons or waterfall tours
The tourist areas aren’t as built-up

What surprised me

Grab/GoJek don’t run everywhere
Roads can be remote (especially to Pink Beach)
ATMs sometimes run out — cash is essential
Be mindful, if you arrive into the port from the Gili Islands, you will have people who will try to run off with your luggage to take it down to the entrance and then charge you for it so just be prepared to say no if you don’t want that

⭐ Where to Stay in Lombok as a Solo Traveller

Kuta Lombok — Best overall for first-time solo travellers

Kuta has the perfect balance: cafés, surf camps, boutique hotels, scooters everywhere, and a small-town, surfy vibe.
You’ll see backpackers, digital nomads, couples, and solos all mixed together.

Great if you want:

Walkability
Meeting people without trying
Easy day trips
Café culture

Stays to recommend:

Pipes Resort is one of Kuta Lombok’s most social surf stays — the kind of place where you meet people instantly without even trying. With bamboo huts, a fun communal vibe and a big central pool area, it’s ideal if you want a lively base surrounded by surfers, backpackers and friendly solo travellers.

Origin Lombok – is boutique, peaceful and beautifully designed — the perfect option if you want a calmer, more polished stay without losing that warm, friendly island vibe. It’s surrounded by greenery with a serene pool that feels like a hidden oasis.

The Kutaya – is one of Kuta Lombok’s best budget-friendly finds — simple, clean, safe and perfectly located. The rooms are modern and well-kept, the pool area is peaceful, and the staff go above and beyond to make you feel welcome.

Senggigi — Best if you want calm & sunsets

Less touristy, more scenic. A great choice if you prefer slow mornings and quieter beaches.

Stays:

Katamaran Resort – is one of those places that makes you stop, stare and think, “Okay… this is paradise.” Set right on Senggigi’s beachfront, it’s all about ocean views, glassy blue pools and peaceful luxury — the perfect base if you’re a solo traveller wanting calm, scenic mornings and a touch of indulgence.

Sudamala Senggigi – is boutique, elegant and beautifully understated — ideal if you prefer peace over bustle and want somewhere that feels private but welcoming. With traditional Indonesian design, a quiet beachfront setting, and artful touches everywhere, it gives you that grounded, Balinese-inspired calm without the crowds.

🌊 Solo-Friendly Things to Do in Lombok

These are the activities where solos naturally meet people (or feel totally happy being on their own).

🏄 Surf Lessons in Kuta

Think gentle waves, group lessons, and friendly instructors. If you’re nervous, this is the easiest place in Indonesia to learn.

💦 Waterfalls: Tiu Kelep & Sendang Gile

You need a guide — not for safety alone, but because it’s way easier with a group. The route can be slippery, but absolutely worth it.

🌅 Ashtari Viewpoint

If golden-hour therapy is a thing, this place invented it. Yoga, sunset, and a mellow social atmosphere.

🛵 Pink Beach Day Trip

Beautiful, remote, and best done with a driver if you’re solo.
Tours are your safest option (and good for meeting others). Many of the tours are private and require at least two people but I’ve linked one of the providers that let’s you book into a group!

🌋 Mount Rinjani Trek

Not for beginners — but incredible if you join a group.
Solo is a no. Group = friends + safety. I have linked a tour that lets you book on as a solo traveller!

🌴 The Gili Islands — The Easiest Place in Indonesia to Travel Solo

If Lombok is calm, the Gilis are carefree.
No cars, no stress, and everyone walks or cycles everywhere. No solo travel to Bali would be complete without hopping to this part of Indonesia.

⭐ Gili T — Best for meeting people

Hostels, sunset bars, snorkelling trips, night markets.
It’s social without being intimidating.

Good stays:

Coconut Garden Resort– is the kind of place solo travellers book for “a couple of nights” and end up staying for a week. Hidden away in Gili T’s peaceful coconut groves, it feels like your own little sanctuary — calm, safe, and surrounded by nature — while still being close enough to cycle to the beach, cafés, and the night market.
Mad Monkey Gili T– If you’re looking for the most social place to stay on Gili Trawangan, Mad Monkey is the hotspot. It’s energetic, friendly, and basically designed for people travelling solo who want to meet others easily — whether that’s for snorkelling trips, sunset drinks, or joining the famous island bar crawl.

Samba Villas– this is where I stayed and loved it. It is ideal if you want to stay right by the beach without losing that peaceful, relaxed Gili T feeling. It’s located on the quieter north-east coast of the island — close enough to cycle to the buzz, but far enough away that your evenings stay calm, safe, and quiet.

⭐ Gili Air — Calm, cute, yogi-friendly

Perfect if you want café culture, slower days, and ocean swims.

Stays:

Now, I won’t be mentioning my accommodation because I wouldn’t recommend it and I actually left the island a day early because I disliked it so much and there was literally no accommodation with vacancies across the island so be sure to choose wisely and book ahead!

Captain Coconuts is one of Gili Air’s most iconic eco-boutique stays — perfect if you want somewhere stylish, tropical, and designed for slow mornings. It’s the kind of place where solo travellers feel instantly relaxed, surrounded by hammock corners, bamboo walkways, and gentle island noise instead of traffic and chaos.
PinkCoco is one of the most recognisable boutique stays on Gili Air — and honestly, it’s a dream for solo female travellers. Think Barbiecore meets tropical island calm: pink parasols, bougainvillea, cute poolside corners and the friendliest staff on the island. If you want somewhere safe, aesthetic, and full of soft social energy, PinkCoco is it.

⭐ Gili Meno — Total peace

If you want to journal, read, rest, or reset — this is your island. I only came onto Gili Meno for lunch when I was on a snorkelling trip and it was total paradise but unless you’re looking for solitude, I would pick another island!

🔐 Gili Safety Notes

No motorised vehicles = safe to walk everywhere (but beware of bikes 😅)
ATMs can be unreliable
Bike in daylight (roads get sandy at night)
Avoid horse carts

🌊 Snorkelling as a solo

Go with a group — stronger currents between Meno & Air.

🌊 Nusa Penida & Lembongan — The Surprisingly Good Solo Combo

Penida is gorgeous but not easy solo (steep roads, sharp bends, potholes).
Lembongan, on the other hand, is perfect. Another island hop on your solo trip to Bali that is hopefully now becoming about visiting more of Indonesia.

⭐ Stay on Nusa Lembongan

Walkable, relaxed, great cafés, and safe.

Stays:

Kawans Inn– is a budget-friendly, local-style guesthouse that’s perfect for solo travellers who prioritise safety, kindness and comfort over luxury. The staff are known for being incredibly warm and helpful, which makes arriving alone feel easy. Rooms are clean, simple and quiet, and it’s a convenient base for day trips to Penida’s big attractions like Kelingking, Diamond Beach and Atuh. It’s the kind of place where the hosts help arrange everything — scooters, drivers, snorkelling — making logistics stress-free for solo travellers. Best for: budget-conscious solo travellers who want a safe, friendly homestay-style experience on Nusa Penida.
The Tamarind– is upscale, modern, and incredibly relaxing — perfect if you’re a solo traveller wanting a more luxurious island stay. Set on a gentle hillside with ocean views, it offers spacious rooms, two gorgeous pools, great service and a very safe, serene atmosphere. It’s close to Jungut Batu Beach but far enough for peaceful nights, and the staff can arrange all your tours, scooters and boats for you. Best for: solo travellers looking for comfort, ocean views, and a peaceful “treat yourself” base.

Mahagiri Resort– sits on one of Nusa Lembongan’s best stretches of white sand, giving you sunrise views, a huge beachfront pool and a peaceful, resort-style atmosphere. It’s a great pick for solo travellers who want space, safety, and easy beach access — without being too far from cafés or yoga spots. The rooms are simple but bright, the beachfront deck is gorgeous, and the location is ideal for relaxed ocean days or long walks. Best for: solo travellers who want a calm beachfront stay with stunning views and a little “resort feel” without losing the island vibe.

⭐ Visit Penida as a Day Trip

Small groups are ideal — safe, social, and no worrying about navigating difficult roads.

You’ll see:

Diamond Beach
Kelingking
Angel’s Billabong
Broken Beach

🌿 Ubud — Where Solo Travel Feels Completely Normal

So, we finally land on Bali itself when it comes to planning your solo travel to Bali and let’s start in one of my favourite places, Ubud.

Ubud is one of the easiest places in Bali to be alone.
Everyone is doing yoga, joining classes, healing, learning something, or finding themselves a bit.

⭐ Why Ubud works so well for solos

Walkable centre
So many workshops + classes
Wellness-focused
Amazing tours
Safe atmosphere

⭐ Solo-Friendly Activities

Ring-making workshops
White-water rafting
ATV tours
Cooking classes
Coffee farm tours
Yoga Barn classes
Traditional dance shows

⭐ Accommodation ideas

Ubud Tropical Garden is one of those places that instantly gives you that “I’m really in Bali” feeling — open-air spaces, lush greenery, views over rice fields, and a quiet, peaceful atmosphere despite being in a great central location. For solo travellers, it’s the perfect blend of budget-friendly, safe, scenic, and comforting.

Arya Wellness – is the spot for solo female travellers in Ubud. If you want somewhere that feels safe, restorative and deeply feminine — without being a strict retreat — this hotel is honestly perfect. It blends Bali’s wellness culture with boutique comfort, creating a space where you can rest, reflect, heal and meet like-minded women naturally.

Adiwana Resort Jembawan– I stayed here, beautiful. It is one of those Ubud stays that instantly shifts your nervous system into “soft life mode.” Tucked away in central Ubud but surrounded by lush tropical gardens, it’s a peaceful wellness-focused escape that feels luxurious without being pretentious.

🌅 Uluwatu — Sunsets, Surf, & Social Moments

Uluwatu feels safe, spacious, and full of people doing their own thing — surfing, reading, taking photos, watching the waves crash.

⭐ Why Uluwatu is great solo

Safe area
Stunning scenic spots
Beginner-friendly surf
Beach clubs are effortless solo days

Stays:

Dreamsea Surf Camp– is one of Uluwatu’s most Instagrammable clifftop stays — and a total favourite among solo travellers in Bali who want ocean views, surf energy and a social-but-chilled vibe. Perched right above the waves with boho interiors and that famous panoramic deck, it’s the dream if you love waking up to the sound of the sea.

Bingin Sebelas– is a stylish, calm and beautifully curated boutique stay tucked into one of Uluwatu’s cutest neighbourhoods. It’s ideal for solo travellers wanting a peaceful base near Bingin’s cafés, beaches and surf spots without the hill traffic or party noise.

Ulu Cliffhouse– is one of the most iconic luxury beach clubs in Uluwatu — and its suites are just as dreamy. Overlooking endless cliffs and turquoise waves, it’s a perfect pick for solo travellers who want a more elevated, lifestyle-forward stay with access to Uluwatu’s best sunsets.

💛 Final Thoughts: Is Indonesia Good for Solo Travel?

Honestly? Yes — and not in a “travel blogger exaggeration” way.
In a real, practical, you’re-going-to-feel-supported-here way.

Solo travel in Bali is great, but if you can broaden your horizons to discover Indonesia, you’re trip has the potential to be magical. If you’re a solo female traveller, Lombok, the Gilis, Ubud, Uluwatu and Lembongan/Penida give you the best combination of: