When I first booked my one-way ticket to Bali, I imagined days of sipping coconuts under palm trees while typing away on my laptop. What I didn’t expect was how seamlessly work and adventure would blend on this island. Here’s my journey of spending 30 days working, exploring, and living as a digital nomad in Bali.
Ubud’s Jungle Vibes
I began my month in Ubud, trading city noise for rice terraces and jungle sounds. I stayed in a villa surrounded by green paddies and woke up to roosters and distant gamelan music. My work sessions at Outpost Ubud (and occasionally Hubud) were some of the most productive of my trip. There’s something about Ubud’s creative energy, especially when surrounded by like-minded nomads in beautifully designed coworking spaces.
When I wasn’t working, I explored temples, practiced yoga, and went on a waterfall expedition to Tegenungan and Tukad Cepung. Trekking through the jungle to reach these hidden cascades was the perfect counterbalance to long work hours.
East Coast Adventures
By week two, I craved some adventure. I spent a few days in Sidemen, a quiet village with mountain views that encouraged deep focus. With fewer distractions, I powered through projects I’d been putting off. Then I moved on to Amed, a seaside town known for diving and snorkeling. Working with the sound of waves in the background was pure magic.
The most unforgettable moment? Waking up at 2 a.m. to hike Mount Batur. Watching the sunrise from the top before logging back into Slack later that day was the ultimate balance of work and wanderlust.
Island Beginnings in Gili Trawangan
For the third week, I ferried over to Gili Trawangan, a tiny island with no cars, just bicycles and horse carts. Life here moved slowly, but I also embraced a big challenge: I signed up for an advanced diving course with Trawangan Dive Centre. Balancing early morning dives and certification classes with a few focused work sessions was both intense and rewarding.
Afternoons were filled with exploring coral reefs and evenings with sunset swings in the ocean and beachfront barbecues. Diving deep by day and working on projects by night made this week feel like the perfect mix of growth and freedom.
Seminyak & Uluwatu Bliss
I wrapped up my month in Seminyak and Uluwatu. Seminyak’s chic cafés gave me reliable WiFi and good lattes to finish up client work. Uluwatu, on the other hand, was all about reward, cliffside sunsets, surf breaks, and beach clubs. I worked in the mornings and spent afternoons chasing waves and watching the sky turn orange over the ocean.
To close out the trip, I joined a community bonfire on the beach with other nomads. We shared stories of travel, business, and the strange balance of calling everywhere home.
My Nomad Tips for Bali
Stay connected: Get a Telkomsel SIM card, solid coverage almost everywhere.
Visas matter: I used a 30-day visa on arrival.
Scooter life: Renting a scooter is a must. Just be careful, the roads can be wild.
Community is gold: Don’t skip coworking events or casual meetups. Some of my best memories came from connections, not locations.
Find your flow: Bali is inspiring, but it’s also distracting. Figure out your rhythm early on.
