With ancient temples, pristine beaches, terraced ricefields, a forest teeming with monkeys, incredible art, and island sunsets, you will discover something new behind every green misty mountain in Bali. This exotic island is blessed with natural beauty that you will find in few other places. And, its cultural richness is just as striking. The Balinese people will win your heart and you will fall in love with Bali the way Julia Roberts did in “Eat, Pray, Love.” See all this and more and experience the best known and unknown treasures of this island with Ann’s Adventures in Travel.

Bali can be whatever you want it to be. By making the effort to speak to our local guide and hotel staff, we may open up a whole new world. Traditional temple ceremonies, weddings, cremations, and sacrifices can be witnessed if you are ready to step out of your comfort zone. With no set schedules, these types of activities cannot be arranged in advance, but the most memorable times are often the unplanned moments that reward your passion for travel. Our itinerary is flexible and free time is there to be filled, so let’s make the most of our time on this beautiful island.

ITINERARY

Day 1

Our flight will depart 1:00 AM on Friday and arrive in Denpasar mid-Saturday. Upon arrival, we will travel to the Komaneka at Rasa Sayang Hotel in Ubud to settle in and relax. Nap, swim, walk or explore before our evening group dinner. Ubud is often called the “Cultural Heart of Bali,” and is one of the best regions for visitors to experience the unique Balinese culture, arts, temples, mountains, scenery and more. There is something magical that draws you in the moment you walk among the rice terraces and beautiful temples. It is a place that can heal your soul. Bali is called the land of smiles, and one of them will be yours!

Day 2

After breakfast, we will visit one of the oldest temples in Bali, Gunung Kawi. We will then visit the holy spring at Tirta Empul for a dip, see the natural beauty of the waterfall at Tegenungan, shop for the finest woodcarving at Kemenuh village, and visit Goa Gajah, the Elephant Cave, at Bedulu. The exterior facade of the cave is the carved face of a demon, and you enter through the demon’s gaping mouth. Lunch will be provided afterwards.

Day 3

At 8:00am we will be picked up for a traditional Bali cooking class courtesy of the Lobong Culinary Experience. Start off on a guided rice paddy expedition where you will learn about the most important food in Bali, rice! Then your chef will introduce you to the local markets to buy the tropical fruits, vegetables and spices that will be used in class. You will then go to a family home to be expertly guided by your personal chef who will help you create your own authentic Balinese dishes. This excursion is as much about socializing with the Balinese people as it is about cooking. Your lunch is included.

Your afternoon and evening are free, so you can relax in the pool and spa, take a yoga class, or explore local villages, museums, and galleries. Below is a list of other suggestions:

• Ubud Monkey Forest – Come see playful and mischievous Macaque monkeys in their natural habitat. This is a must-see attraction!
• Campuhan ridge walk – This is a lush, scenic, and gorgeous hillside vista hiking trail. (recommended) 1-3 hours
• Rice field walk

Day 4

Today, early risers have the option to take the Mount Batur volcano sunrise hike.

After breakfast, we will go to Bali Adventure Tours for some whitewater rafting down the Ayung River. This is an action-packed and wonderfully scenic 90 minute journey (Class 2 and 3 rapids). If rafting is not your cup of tea, you can select any option from day 3 instead.

Next up is a visit to the Elephant Safari Park, where you will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with these magnificent animals. The Elephant Safari Park is Bali’s only elephant rescue sanctuary and promotes the ethical treatment of the Asian elephant. Hand feed them, take photos, and learn about elephant ancestry and diversity at the park’s historical and graphical displays. Then, take a ride on an elephant through the cool jungle of Taro. A buffet lunch is included.

Day 5

You will be picked up at our hotel and driven outside of Ubud to the beautiful Balinese countryside for a cycling adventure. You will enjoy a light breakfast with the view of Mount Batur in the distance before heading off on your bike. You will coast the downhill trail at your own pace through sleepy villages along little used roads and tracks. See Kintamani volcano, Lake Batur, the Tegallalang Rice Terraces, coffee plantations (try the famous Kopi Luwak coffee) and various villages. After a wonderful lunch, you will return to your hotel and spend some free time however you wish. Tonight we will go as a group to see a traditional Balinese Kecak dance performance at the Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal temple.

*For those of you who do not want to bike, you can sightsee with a guided tour.

Day 6

After breakfast, we will drive to Lake Bratan and explore a gorgeous temple in the middle of the lake, Pura Ulun Danu Bratan. After that, we will go on a guided walk through the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest terraces anywhere in the world. The coolness of the mountains coupled with a stunning view of the lake, temple, and mountains, away from the noise of the city, is breathtaking. We will then have lunch at “Strawberry Hill” (maybe pick our own strawberries). We will end the day with a sunset at the famous Tanah Lot temple. Tanah means earth, and Lot means sea, so the translation is something like “land in the sea.” Standing on solid sea rock, it is a place of pilgrimage, stunning beauty, and sunset is the best time to be here.

Day 7

Today, we leave the countryside for the beach town of Jimbaran and the 5-star InterContinental Hotel, our home for the next two days. The hotel offers facilities and services second to none, and is situated on a stunning stretch of beach which is very safe for swimming. Along the way, we will stop at the artist villages: Mas for its woodcarving, Celuk for its gold and silver, Tohpati for its batik and hand woven cloth, and Batuan for its paintings and traditional houses.

The rest of the day is free for beach, spa, relaxation or exploration on your own. In the late afternoon, there is an option to drive south to enjoy another Kecak dance performance. This dance is always performed just before sunset and continues into the darkness of nightfall when dancers are dramatically lit only by the light thrown from the flames of torches. The Uluwatu Temple, which overlooks the ocean from the cliffs above, is magnificent.

Although there are plenty of 5-star restaurants, the beach here is known for the seafood warungs (local cafes) where you can sit, feet in sand, facing the water, and feast on the best seafood in Bali.

Day 8

This morning, you have the option to go horseback riding. You will be picked up at the hotel and transported out to the stable area. You will be riding in the Sesah beach area, which has beautiful black volcanic sands as well as surrounding coastal landscapes that frame the scenic beauty of the beach backdrop. No experience necessary. *Bring long pants.

In the evening, we will drive to Seminyak or Kuta for a new beach town sunset. Enjoy music, dinner, and dancing on our last night with the whole group.

Day 9

Some people will depart for home, for others, our journey continues in Gili Trawangan.

GILI ISLANDS ITINERARY

Gili Trawangan is the most popular island of the three Gilis. Everyone comes to Gili Trawangan to just kick-back, enjoy the sun, and clear calm water. By night, the waterfront comes to life with beach parties as the restaurants and bars serve up, fresh snapper, grouper, and tuna cooked over charcoal flames.

***For our 2 nights in the Gilis, large luggage will be left in secure storage with the boat company because large suitcases cannot fit on the boat. So, remember to bring a smaller overnight “carry-on” size bag with you to Bali.

Days 9 and 10

From the ferry port, we embark on our motorboat ride to Gili Trawangan arriving by early afternoon. We will take a horse and buggy ride to our hotel. The Hotel Ombak Sunset features a large landscaped pool and modern Balinese style bungalows just 30 feet away from Gili Trawangan beach.

Below are some options for how to spend your two days:

• Scuba diving and snorkeling
• Glass bottom boat tours
  
• Explore island by foot, bike, or carriage (cidamo)
• Massages at the hotel spa
  
• Relax at the pool or beach
• Kayaking or paddleboarding
• Surfing or windsurfing

Bolong’s Turtle Sanctuary
Get up close with cute baby turtles and learn about marine conservation. This awesome place protects endangered turtles. After hatching, turtles are cared for, fed and cleaned until they are independent and then released back to the sea.

Fish Pedi
This is an unbelievable experience. The tiny fish eat off all the dead skin around your heels and toes. It tickles and your feet will never feel better.

Night Market
Open-air stalls serving the best in fresh, authentic, Balinese food; full of colors, taste and flavors. You have to eat here once for the sake of your taste buds.

Open Outdoor Cinema
In various places on the beach, you will find bean bag chairs set up and popcorn to watch outdoor movies.

Day 11

We travel back from Gili Trawangan by boat to Seminyak for our last day in Bali. The Trans Resort, Seminyak’s newest 5-star luxury accommodation, is yours to enjoy while we are here. Seminyak features a beautiful stretch of beach with unbelievable sunsets and is an exciting area with an abundance of shops, restaurants, and nightlife. There is something here for everybody.

Day 12

We say a reluctant goodbye to Bali and catch our plane ride home.