Highlights
- Be mesmerized by traditional Balinese dance in Ubud
- Hike to waterfalls and take a swim in Tegenungan
- Marvel at the agricultural wonders of the Tegallalang rice terraces
- Learn traditional recipes and weaving techniques in Sidemen
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Bali, Transfer to Ubud & Explore | Ubud |
| Day 2 | Tegallalang Rice Terraces & Tibumana Waterfall | Ubud |
| Day 3 | Tegenungan & Suwat Waterfalls | Ubud |
| Day 4 | Transfer to Lovina & Lake Bratan Temples | Lovina |
| Day 5 | Sekumpul Waterfall Hike | Lovina |
| Day 6 | Bedugul Hiking & Canoeing | Lovina |
| Day 7 | Transfer to Munduk & Gitgit Waterfall Hike | Munduk |
| Day 8 | Aling Aling Waterfalls | Munduk |
| Day 9 | Munduk Wilderness Adventure | Munduk |
| Day 10 | Transfer to Sidemen & Besakih Temple | Sidemen |
| Day 11 | Balinese Art & Cooking Lessons | Sidemen |
| Day 12 | Sidemen Trek | Sidemen |
| Day 13 | Depart Bali |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Bali, Transfer to Ubud & Explore
Welcome to Bali! This island is one of the only Indonesian provinces that follows Balinese Hinduism, giving it a distinctive culture and a rich tradition of arts, music, and spiritual ceremonies. The journey begins as a driver welcomes you at Denpasar Airport and drives you to your hotel in Ubud, where you can get settled in after your flight. Considered by some to be the "spiritual heart of Bali," during the drive, notice how terraced rice fields and lush jungles surround Ubud.
After arriving at your hotel, explore one of the many temples in town such as Ubud Water Palace, Pura Dalem, or Pura Puseh, and notice their intricate stone carvings and serene ponds and fountains. Eat dinner at an outdoor restaurant or a lively night market, and catch a Gamelan or traditional Balinese dance performance. At the end of the day, relax at your hotel.
Day 2: Tegallalang Rice Terraces & Tibumana Waterfall
From Tegallalang, it's about a one-hour drive south to reach Tibumana waterfall in the Bangli region northeast of Ubud. Surrounded by tropical rainforest, take a dip in it, the first of many waterfalls on your tour. Enjoy a refreshing swim in the natural pools below the falls and soak up the tropical island energy of Bali.
Day 3: Tegenungan & Suwat Waterfalls
In Ubud, there are dozens of waterfalls to visit, and today you'll see one at Tegenungan in the village Tegenungan Kemenuh. This is one of the few waterfalls on the island that is not located in highlands or mountains—meaning the water level can become high in the rainy season, so take a swim but be careful as the waterfall's cascade may be very powerful! Spend some time enjoying the lush landscape and taking photos, and then move on to your next stop for another picturesque waterfall.
Suwat is known as one of the most beautiful waterfalls on Bali and is more hidden than some of the others you'll see during your trip. In the area of Gianyar, about 9.3 miles (15 km) from the center of Ubud, your guide will lead the way as you carefully follow a narrow and steep path down to this serene place. Climb inside a small cave and take a photo, hop in a canoe for a ride, or go for a swim. After this relaxing day seeking out waterfalls, go back to your hotel for a massage, or enjoy a drink by the pool before going out for dinner in Ubud.
Day 4: Transfer to Lovina & Lake Bratan Temples
A driver will pick you up in the morning from your Ubud hotel for a drive north about two hours to the coast and the beachfront village of Lovina, where you'll stay at a resort. Lovina is also a starting point to visit some of Bali's most picturesque Hindu temples set on Lake Bratan and among Mount Batukaru—Bali's second-highest volcano. The first stop will be Batukaru temple in Tabanan, which was originally built during the 11th century, restored in the 1950s, and is meant to protect the island of Bali.
After learning about some of Bali's traditional ceremonies and temple culture, the next stop is the Jatiluwih rice terraces for an explanation of Balinese agricultural practices. The terraces, like many others on the island, use a subak irrigation system, a technique used since the ninth century to water rice fields. Next, get your camera ready to see Ulun Danu Bratan on the shores of Lake Bratan. Marvel at how this important Hindu temple seems to float on the lake, surrounded by the Bedugul mountains.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Sekumpul Waterfall Hike
After breakfast, travel about one hour inland from Lovina to Sekumpul village, a starting point to hike through lush jungles and to waterfalls. Make sure you have sturdy hiking shoes, waterproof gear, a bathing suit, and a camera ready. Follow a five to six-hour trek with your guide through verdant landscapes and breathe the crisp mountain air. At the Sekumpul waterfalls, go for a swim to cool off after your hiking excursion.
Throughout the hike, walk through scenic rice fields, learn about the region's particular plant and animal species, and take some time to explore this corner of Bali and its unspoiled nature. At the end of the hike, return to Lovina to watch a traditional Balinese music performance on the beach or eat dinner at an outdoor restaurant.
Day 6: Bedugul Hiking & Canoeing
From Lovina, travel by car about 45 minutes southeast to Tamblingan Lake, which was formed from a caldera at the base of Mount Lesung. Surrounded by rainforests and the archaeological site of a 10th-century civilization, the area is ideal for trekking adventures to see Bali's natural beauty and learn about its history. Spend a couple of hours hiking through the jungle for magnificent lake and temple views. Take a break for lunch and maybe even go for a swim in the lake or to a waterfall.
After the trekking excursion, step on board a canoe to paddle through Tamblingan's still waters. You may get a little wet, but it will be worth it for the lake views on your path. At the end of a full day, return to your Lovina hotel to relax.
Day 7: Transfer to Munduk & Gitgit Waterfall Hike
In the morning, travel with your driver from Lovina to Munduk, a trip that's about 45 minutes southeast. This mountain village is found amid a jungle, and from here, you can take another half-day trek to one of the area's most impressive waterfalls—Gitgit. Go for a swim and then make the trek back to explore more of the region around Munduk.
One must-see spot as you return to Munduk is the Bali Twin Lakes Viewpoint, to see views of Tamblingan and Buyan Lakes. Take some photos and then relax at your Munduk hotel.
Day 8: Aling Aling Waterfalls
Another nature trek to waterfalls is on your schedule today, starting with a drive north to the hiking area around Aling Aling. While it is prohibited to swim in the Aling Aling waterfall, you can swim in a few others around it to cool off after your hike. Some of these waterfalls are approximately 98 feet (30 m) high, and if you are daring, take a plunge by jumping from a small cliff into the water below.
From Aling Aling, travel back to Munduk and maybe make a stop at Munduk Moding Plantation to taste some of the island's unique coffee and learn about its harvesting and production. Then go back to your Munduk hotel for the night.
Day 9: Munduk Wilderness Adventure
Today, get ready for a day of off-roading by car and bike at Munduk Wilderness adventure camp. With Fin Komodo off-road buggies and mountain bikes as your rides, see the landscape around Munduk at a high speed. First, take a two-hour ride in a buggy, passing through dirt tracks and hills and navigating rock challenges and rice fields. At the end of an off-road adventure, race a couple of rounds around a track to further test your buggy-driving skills.
After the drive, swap a buggy for a mountain bike and set off on a dirt trail through more farm scenery. With all of that driving, you're sure to be hungry, so stop for lunch to try local dishes such as bakso meatballs, grilled corn, or corn fritters. Then, return to your buggy headed in the direction of Bengkel village to get out and take a walk through the rice fields. Drive out a little farther to find a waterfall in the middle of a forest to go for a swim. At the end of a packed day, return to camp and then to your Munduk hotel.Day 10: Transfer to Sidemen & Besakih Temple
From Munduk, the road trip will take you southeast, traveling approximately two hours to Sidemen. On the way there, stop at Besakih Temple, one of the largest Hindu temples in Bali. There are 23 temples to explore in the complex as you climb up steps through its many candi bentar (entrance gates) built on six levels on the slopes of Mount Agung. Each temple is the site of multiple festivals and anniversaries each year, with colorful processions and offerings marking the ceremonies.
Day 11: Balinese Art & Cooking Lessons
Start your morning in Sidemen with a walk through rice fields and plantations, learning more about the subak irrigation system seen throughout Bali. After the walk, get ready to cook, learning about the spices, herbs, and other ingredients needed to prepare traditional Balinese rice dishes prepared over an open fire, such as lawar and nasi jinggo. Enjoy what you've cooked for lunch and end the meal by sipping on jamu, a drink with anti-inflammatory properties that is a mixture of turmeric, ginger, tamarind paste, lime juice, and honey.
In the afternoon, learn how to create offerings by weaving palm leaves and decorating them with flowers and other symbolic items. With an explanation of how the offerings are used for family temples daily and during special ceremonies at public temples, create your own offerings to place on a public altar. Learn how dried palm leaves are also formed into paper in another workshop. See how the pages are used to write mantras and other important texts in the Aksara Bali alphabet. Learn some of the letters, and then try copying some text on your own. After a full day, look for some of the dishes you cooked on the menu at a restaurant to enjoy for dinner.
Day 12: Sidemen Trek
Day 13: Farewell Bali
It's time to say goodbye to Bali! A driver will pick you up for a ride to Denpasar International Airport, where you'll catch a flight to your next destination. Safe travels!
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