Bali Explorer

On arrival this afternoon at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali, you will be greeted by our local guide, who will provide the private vehicle transfer to Candi Dasa, in the east of Bali. On the way to your hotel, enjoy a stop at Goa Lawah temple. One of Bali’s most important temples, it features a complex built around a cave opening that is inhabited by a colony of bats, and its name translates to ‘Bat Cave’. This temple was established in the 11th century by Mpu Kuturan, one of the early priests who laid the foundations of Hinduism on the island. In the evening, check in to your hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Enjoy an early breakfast and get ready for a morning trek to Pura Lempuyang. Pura Lempuyang, translated as the ‘highest lantern’, is one of Bali’s most important and sacred temples. The entrance resembles the gateway to heaven, opening with panoramic views as wide as from the summits of nearby Mount Agung and down to the beautiful tranquil bays on the east coast of Bali. Embark on a two-and-a-half-hour uphill hike on a trail hidden in grasslands and Pandan forests. You are rewarded with breathtaking views while enjoying tea or coffee, and Balinese snacks served 1,058 metres above sea level. Receive a blessing from a Balinese Hindu priest, and enjoy more of the lush surroundings while climbing down the 1,700 steps of the path. From the bottom of Belibis Mountain, continue on a short drive to a beautifully situated restaurant for a refuelling Megibung lunch, served in the style of the Royal family of Karangasem.

Notes:

Good hiking shoes are recommended for the trail, of which shorter sections are steep and can be slippery.
This trekking section is based on a join-in trip.

Not far from here, there is the Tirta Gangga Water Palace. Founded in the early twentieth century, this palace is filled with decorative ponds, natural bathing pools and lush gardens. Stroll across the grounds, and learn about the palace’s history and the significance of water in the Hindu religion. There is not only an opportunity to visit the gardens but also to swim in the cooling waters of the adjacent pool (basic changing facilities).

Notes:

Basic changing facilities at Tirta Gangga Water Palace; towels are unavailable and need to be brought. 

Proceed to Tenganan village. The village is home to the Bali Aga people, Bali’s first inhabitants, here before the arrival of the Majapahit dynasty people who came from Java. You’ll see the village’s unique architecture and observe the weaving of the ikat pattern and traditional basket weaving. Return to the hotel in Candi Dasa where the remainder of today is at leisure. 

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, check out and meet with the driver and tour guide for the start of the day’s program. The day’s first visit is to Besakih Temple, also known as the ‘Mother Temple’. Located on the western slopes of Mount Agung, Bali’s highest volcano (2,567m), Besakih is the largest and most important temple on the island. In addition to being beautiful, it’s one of the best places in Bali to see traditional culture and religious practices. 

After viewing the Besakih Temple, continue driving inland and after arriving in Kintamani, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant with spectacular views over Lake Batur and Mount Batur. Mount Batur is the most active volcano, surrounded by an impressive caldera overlooking the lake. After lunch, drive over the mountain and make a stop at the Beji Temple. Then, continue to Lovina, in the North of Bali, check in to your hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Today after enjoying breakfast, embark on a morning of leisure discovering Lovina’s uniquely beautiful coffee ground-coloured and textured sands. In the afternoon, drive to Brahma Vihara Arama, a rare Buddhist temple in Bali. View the unique architecture and beautiful surroundings, then enjoy a visit to the area’s natural hot springs for a bath in its sacred waters (changing facilities are basic).

After soaking up the healing waters of the hot springs, continue with the drive further up the hills of the surrounding area before descending again to the remote and wonderfully scenic area of Munduk, arriving towards the end of the day. On arrival, check in to your hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Munduk is the ideal location for outdoor activities due to its lush tropical rainforests, beautiful waterfalls and relatively cool temperatures due to its higher elevation (20-25°C). Due to the unique climate and abundant rainfall, many fruits, vegetables and spices are grown in the area contributing to its ‘Garden of Eden’ feel. 

Commence with the tour guide and an additional local guide on a pleasant two-hour trekking adventure around Munduk to explore its three major waterfalls and several plantations, including coffee, cloves and local spices. En route to the hotel, stop at a local restaurant to enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, drive along a small mountain road and stop at a viewpoint overlooking the ‘Twin Lakes’ of Buyan and Tamblingan. Although it’s just on the side of the road, it’s considered one of Bali’s best viewpoints. Continue to Lake Bratan for a visit to Ulun Danu Temple. The temple is set in the middle of the lake’s calm waters on a small bit of land, giving it the impression of floating. Ulun Danu is widely considered to be one of Bali’s most beautiful temples. From here, enjoy a nearby traditional local market of Bedugul, where a myriad of fruits, vegetables and orchids are for sale from the area’s gardens. There are also stalls selling exotic spices and souvenirs.

Afterwards, return to the south, stopping along the way to visit the UNESCO Heritage-listed rice fields of Jatiluwih. Here, take a leisurely one-hour walk through the terraced rice fields and learn about the subak style of rice production in Bali. 

Continue to Umabian and check in to the hotel for the evening. Designed to resemble a traditional house, the numerous pavilions and guestrooms are laid out in the style of a village compound and are surrounded by rice fields and a swimming pool in the garden. It’s an ideal place to unwind.

Distance and journey time:

Munduk – Umabian (69 km): 2 hours 20 minutes

Today enjoy a taste of authentic local culture with an insightful Bali village tour, transfer to Marga, a typical rural village in the Tabanan Regency. Surrounded by stunning landscapes, this is the perfect place to experience the authentic countryside lifestyle of the local people.

Be welcomed with a healthy drink in a family’s compound. The hosts will introduce themselves and explain their daily activities on the farm, learn about their traditional herbal remedies, see remarkable inscribed palm leaves and discover other aspects of typical Balinese life. After exploring the family compound, join a farmer for an easy trek through the surroundings. Learn about the Balinese Subak irrigation system, a unique and effective method used by generations of local farmers. Pass through vibrant rice fields where, depending on the time of year, there may be a chance to assist the local farmers before you loop back to the house compound in time for a delicious, family-style lunch. In the afternoon, transfer to Ubud, stopping en route at the serene Taman Ayun Temple near Mengwi. Next, enjoy a stop at the famous Tanah Lot Sea Temple, set precariously on a rock in the sea, the crashing waves and unique location make it one of the most photogenic places on the island. Continue to Ubud and check in to the hotel to freshen up. After enjoying some rest, head out again for an unforgettable Balinese dance performance. No visit to Bali would be complete without witnessing this beautiful manifestation of Balinese culture, and Ubud is the best place on the island to see it. 

Afterwards, return to Ubud for dinner in a local restaurant.

This morning after breakfast, meet with the driver and tour guide for the day’s touring. The first visit is to Tampaksiring Village to explore Tirta Empul, a temple famous for its sacred spring water. All Balinese will bathe there at least once a year for ritual cleansing in these holy waters dedicated to Vishnu.

Continue to the nearby village and visit the unique temple of Gunung Kawi. Set amidst lush rice terraces, these 11th-century temples feature ten rock-cut Candi (shrines) carved into the cliff face. They stand at 7-metre-high and combine ancient Hindu and Buddhist temple attributes. There are numerous stairs leading down to the Temple, and good walking shoes are required. Next, continue your drive South towards Ubud and enjoy lunch overlooking the beautiful rice fields, then continue to Ubud centre and enjoy the afternoon with a relaxing one-hour Balinese massage treatment at a local spa. 

Spend this morning discovering the many charms of Ubud with visits to museums, palaces and local markets. Start with a visit to ARMA Museum (Agung Rai Museum of Art) and enjoy one of the best permanent collections of Balinese and Indonesian paintings. A visit to ARMA provides a great overview of the island’s rich artistic traditions. Next, continue to Ubud Royal Palace in the heart of the small town. Built in the 16th century, the Palace is still home to Ubud’s King and its Royal family. Finish this morning’s excursion with a walk in Ubud Market, where local vendors come to buy and sell food as well as handicrafts and textiles. Lunch will be enjoyed at Indus Restaurant, one of Ubud’s top tables, with breathtaking views over the Tjampuhan river valley.

At the end of the day, you will be to Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar for your onward flight.