A three–centre Bali adventure with our teens: Ubud, Nusa Lembongan & Seminyak

We began our trip in Ubud, Bali’s cultural heart. After the long flight, driving into Ubud felt like entering another world: lush green rice fields, tiny shrines tucked into doorways and scooters weaving between offerings on the roadside.

Our stay at Purist Villas

We based ourselves at Purist Villas, and it set the tone for the whole holiday. Tucked into the greenery just outside Ubud, it felt like a little sanctuary: stone paths winding through tropical gardens, pools framed by palms and that lovely sense of being wrapped in nature yet still close enough to head into town when we wanted to.

It was exactly what we needed at the start of the trip: peaceful, beautiful and very easy to settle into “Bali time”.

Exploring temples, rice terraces and waterfalls

We wanted the kids to get a sense of real Balinese life rather than just ticking off sights, so we started with temples and traditions.

Walking through temple courtyards, with the smell of incense lingering in the air and colourful offerings placed on every surface, was a gentle way to introduce them to the island’s spirituality. We learned about the meaning behind the offerings and watched a traditional dance performance one evening, which felt atmospheric and very different to anything back home.

The rice terraces were a big hit. Even our teens, who are usually allergic to anything that sounds “too scenic”, loved walking along the narrow paths between the paddies and stopping at viewpoints for photos. Nearby waterfalls gave us a little taste of adventure: short jungle walks leading to cool, misty cascades where the reward at the end was a dip and a lot of laughter.

Trying our hand at wood carving

One of the most special experiences for all of us was a wood carving class. Ubud is famous for its artisans, so it felt fitting to try it ourselves.

Armed with chisels and blocks of wood, we sat under a shaded area while our teacher patiently showed us how to carve patterns and shapes. Watching the teens completely absorbed in the process, tongues peeking out in concentration, was a lovely change from seeing them glued to their phones.

By the end, we each had a slightly wonky but much–loved piece to bring home. Those carvings are now some of our favourite souvenirs, because they are tied to a memory of us learning and laughing together.

Back at Purist Villas, our days were a happy blur of pool time, lazy breakfasts and the occasional spa treatment, which meant we started the holiday feeling rested and reconnected.

Stop 2: Nusa Lembongan – island life, snorkelling & manta rays

From Ubud, we headed out to Nusa Lembongan, a small island just off Bali’s coast. As soon as we arrived, everything felt more relaxed: sandy lanes, beach cafés and that salty, barefoot feeling that comes with island life.

Snorkelling as a family

We booked a snorkelling trip that took us to a few different spots around Nusa Lembongan and its neighbouring islands. The water was incredibly clear, and drifting over coral gardens with colourful fish darting below was a joy for all of us.

Even the less confident swimmers in the family felt comfortable with life jackets and a helpful guide in the water. The teens were in their element, filming underwater videos and comparing who had spotted what.

Our unforgettable manta ray moment

The absolute standout, though, was our manta ray experience.

We had heard there was a chance of seeing them, but nothing really prepares you for that first glimpse. We slipped into the water, heads down, and suddenly there it was: a huge, graceful manta ray gliding silently beneath us, its wings moving so effortlessly that it felt almost unreal.

The kids popped up out of the water with wide eyes and breathless shouts of “Did you see that?”. It was one of those shared, slightly magical moments that I know we will talk about for years.

Slow afternoons & sandy feet

Back on land, Nusa Lembongan gave us permission to slow right down. Our days were shaped by tides and mealtimes rather than alarms and schedules:

• Wandering along the beach at low tide, exploring rock pools.
• Long, lazy lunches at simple beachfront cafés, toes in the sand.
• Swimming, reading and dozing by the pool, with no pressure to be anywhere.

It was the perfect middle chapter of the trip: enough activity to keep the teens happy, but plenty of relaxed family time too.

Stop 3: Seminyak – shopping, surfing & sunset beach clubs

For the final part of our trip, we moved to Seminyak. After the calm of Ubud and the laid–back feel of Lembongan, Seminyak felt energetic, stylish and fun: the perfect place to end our Bali adventure.

Shopping with teens

Seminyak quickly became our teenagers’ favourite shopping stop. The streets are lined with boutiques, surf shops and little design stores, and we spent happy hours dipping in and out:

• The kids hunting for clothes, swimwear and accessories that felt properly “Bali cool”.
• Us eyeing up homeware, baskets and prints that would fit right into our living room.
• Frequent stops for iced coffees, juices and gelato whenever the heat got a bit much.

It had just the right level of buzz for us: busy enough to feel exciting, but not overwhelming.

Surfing lessons on Seminyak Beach

One of the best decisions we made was to book surfing lessons in Seminyak. The long sandy beach and friendly waves make it ideal for beginners, and our instructor was brilliant with the kids.

We started with a quick lesson on the sand, practising popping up on the board and getting a feel for the movements. Then it was time to head into the water.

Watching the teens catch their first waves was pure joy: the initial wobbles, the falls, the splashes, then finally those triumphant moments where they stood up and rode a wave right into the shallows, arms spread wide and huge grins on their faces.

By the end of the session they were tired, salty–haired and completely hooked. It gave them such a sense of achievement and added a whole new layer of fun to our beach time.

Beach clubs & Bali sunsets

We could not leave Bali without experiencing one of Seminyak’s famous beach clubs, so we chose an afternoon and evening at Potato Head.

We arrived in time for the late afternoon light, settled into a spot with a view and spent the next few hours drifting between the pool and the beach. The teens sipped on colourful mocktails, we enjoyed a well–earned drink, and the whole place had that easy, relaxed energy that makes you instantly feel on holiday.

As the sun began to sink, the sky turned golden, then pink and orange, and everyone seemed to pause to watch. It was one of those quietly perfect family moments: music playing in the background, waves rolling in, and all of us together, just soaking it in.

Looking back: why this Bali itinerary worked for our family

Thinking back on our trip, what made it so special was the balance:

• Ubud gave us culture, creativity and space to slow down, with the comfort of staying somewhere as peaceful as Purist Villas.
• Nusa Lembongan gave us island simplicity, snorkelling and that incredible manta ray encounter that we will never forget.
• Seminyak gave us a fun, stylish finale: shopping with the teens, surfing lessons that had everyone laughing and cheering each other on, and those golden sunsets at the beach clubs.

We came home feeling like we had seen three very different sides of Bali, without endless packing and unpacking or long travel days. There was always something to suit every mood, whether it was adventure, culture, beach time or a little bit of barefoot luxury.

If you would love to plan something similar for your own family, with a mix of culture, sea life, surfing and stylish sunsets that really work for teens, I would be delighted to help you design your own Bali adventure.