Private Car or Van Charter with Driver Bali

Lempuyang, Tirta Gangga and Besakih in the east

Route B is the option to choose if you want to reach the great temples of Karangasem with your own car. Lempuyang Temple, with its Gates of Heaven split gate framing Mount Agung, is best reached early, which is why this option allows pickups from 05:00. From there it is a short drive to Tirta Gangga Water Palace, a royal water garden of koi ponds, fountains and stepping stones, and about an hour to Besakih, the Mother Temple of Bali on the slopes of the volcano.

With a private driver you are free to linger at the gate, add a rice-terrace stop or skip a site altogether. Remember that entrance fees, sarong rental and the local shuttle at Lempuyang are paid on the spot, so carry some cash. Covered shoulders and knees are expected at all temples.

Amed and Candidasa on the east coast

Amed is a string of quiet fishing villages along the east coast, where colourful jukung outrigger boats line black-sand beaches and Mount Agung rises behind the bays. The sea here is calm and clear, and coral gardens start a few metres from shore, so snorkelling is easy straight off the beach; the famous wartime shipwreck at Tulamben is a short drive further north.

Candidasa, further south, is a relaxed seaside town with a lotus lagoon and views over the strait towards the small islets offshore. Nearby lies Tenganan, a walled village of the Bali Aga, the island's original inhabitants, known for rare double-ikat weaving. Combining Amed or Candidasa with Tirta Gangga makes an easy and varied day out of the south, about two and a half to three hours away.

Sekumpul and Git Git waterfalls in the north

Sekumpul in the Buleleng hills is often called the most beautiful waterfall in Bali: several tall cascades pour side by side into a green gorge surrounded by clove and durian plantations. Reaching the base means a steep path and many steps down and back up, so allow two hours and bring shoes with good grip and a change of clothes for the spray. Villagers at the entrance offer local guides, paid on site.

Git Git, near Singaraja on the road over the mountains from Bedugul, is much easier: a short paved path through the forest leads to a high twin fall and its pool. If you are wondering how to get to Sekumpul waterfall without joining a group, a private driver is the simplest answer, and both falls fit into one day with a stop at the lakes of Bedugul on the way.

Lovina and Pemuteran on the north coast

Lovina is a laid-back stretch of black-sand beaches on the calm north coast, best known for its sunrise boat trips to watch wild dolphins. Inland lie the Banjar hot springs, where warm volcanic water flows from carved dragon spouts into stone pools, and a peaceful Buddhist monastery set on a hillside with views to the sea.

Pemuteran, in the far north-west, is a small village with a coral reef restoration project right off the beach and the gateway to Menjangan Island in West Bali National Park, one of the island's best snorkelling and diving areas. The drive from south Bali takes three to four hours, so many travellers use the charter as a scenic transfer, or start from a hotel in Lovina or Pemuteran, which this option also covers.

How your private driver day works

You choose your pickup time and tell us your wish list when you book; our driver meets you in the hotel lobby and adapts the route on the day to traffic, weather and your energy. Ten hours goes quickly in Bali, so the best plan is one region per day: the east for temples and coast, the north for waterfalls and Lovina, or Route A for Ubud, Tanah Lot, Uluwatu, Bedugul and Kintamani.

Your driver speaks English and knows the roads, parking spots and quieter times at the main sights, but is not a licensed guide, so he waits with the car while you visit. Hiring a car with driver in Bali is also the easiest option for families with luggage, since the car is yours for the day and you can stop for photos, lunch or rest whenever you like.