Kuta & the Bali South Coast, 4 Nights

Ngurah Rai airport sits almost on Kuta's doorstep, and the drive is short unless the evening traffic is heavy. Check in and rest, then walk to the beach for sunset: Kuta's long sweep of sand faces west, with surfers catching the last waves and stalls selling grilled corn. Keep the evening near the hotel; Legian's restaurants run north from Kuta along the same beach.

Mornings are calmest at Tanjung Benoa, the sheltered peninsula north of Nusa Dua whose reef-protected water is Bali's centre for water sports. The banana boat and a jet-ski turn are included; parasailing and the rest can be added on the beach. After lunch and a rest, drive south to Uluwatu, a sea temple on a cliff some seventy metres above the waves. Hold on to sunglasses and phones, because the resident monkeys snatch them. Stay for sunset.

Inland to the hills around Ubud. The swing parks hang long ropes from palms high above the river valleys and rice terraces north of the town, with harnesses and staff who run the safety checks; the included session takes an hour or so, more with photographs. Then a two-hour Balinese massage, using pressure, long strokes and warm oils scented with local spices. The drive back reaches Kuta by late afternoon.

An early pickup for Sanur harbour and a shared fast boat across the strait to Nusa Penida. The island's west coast is the draw: Kelingking, a headland shaped like a dinosaur's back above a white beach; Broken Beach, a bay entered through a natural arch; the rock pool of Angel's Billabong; and a swim and snorkel at Crystal Bay. Lunch is included. The roads are narrow and bumpy, and the boat returns in the late afternoon.

Breakfast and a last swim if time allows. The driver collects you at a time set by the flight; the airport is close, but allow for traffic on the bypass. Beachwalk mall in Kuta, a short walk from most hotels, is the place for a last coffee and for sarongs and other gifts at fixed prices.