In touch with happiness

1.Tag: Ubud

Om Swastiastu! Welcome to Ubud, Bali’s largest Hindu town, and artistic and cultural heart. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. Afterwards, perhaps head out to for a group meal at one of the delicious local restaurants.

2.Tag: Ubud

Start the day with a guided walking tour (about 2.5 hours). Gain an insight into daily village life as you pass lush rice fields, an alang alang valley (type of wild grass used to make the roof of traditional buildings) and stop by a Balinese home for coffee. The tour ends in central Ubud, where you’ll have time to explore the many cafes, galleries and shops on your own. In the evening sit down to a Kecak dance performance. Driven not by musical instruments, but by human chanting, this fascinating theatrical performance is considered a highlight by many travellers.

Included activities:
– Campuhan Ridge & Village walk
– Kecak dance performance

3.Tag: Sidemen

Today you’ll explore the area from a different angle – from the saddle of a bike. Enjoy a 2.5-hour tour through backstreets, villages and rice fields. It’s a relatively easy ride – much of the route is downhill – and there will be plenty of opportunities to stop for photos or a brief rest. You’ll also stop to check out some small, intricately carved temples, before concluding your bike tour back in Ubud. After refuelling at lunch, head for the hills to the village of Sidemen, travelling by private minivan (about 2 hours). Set against a backdrop of Bali’s highest peak, Mt Agung, the peaceful village of Sidemen is proof that Bali still has some pockets that are untouched by tourism.

Included activities:
– Bayung Gede (Kahyangan) Village to Tampak Siring cycling tour

4.Tag: Mount Batur

Take a morning walk (approximately 2.5 hours) around Sidemen, visiting the craftspeople of the local songket weaving industry, a traditional ’bungkus’ lunch is included. The walk is a great chance to take in the beautiful scenery. Continuing your journey higher into the mountains, drive along the crater rim road to a fishing village on the edge of Lake Batur (approximately 2 hours). Volcanic Mt Batur (1717 metres/5633 feet) sits inside a stark and spectacular caldera and with Lake Batur below, it’s a stunning sight. The lake supports the local fishing industry, while many of the villagers work as guides for the volcano climb. Your accommodation at the base of Mt Batur is a hotel with a restaurant. This is a great location to start tomorrow’s early morning trek without extra travelling time.

Included activities:
– Guided walking tour and traditional lunch

5.Tag: Mount Batur and Lovina

It’s a very early start today – you’ll have to wake at 3 am to begin the 1.5 to 2-hour walk to the summit of Mt Batur in order to reach it before sunrise. Trust us, it’s worth the effort. On a clear morning, it’s possible to see all the way across the Lombok Strait to the peaks of Lombok’s Mt Rinjani. The view of the gorgeous sunrise over the valleys of Bali may well be the most memorable part of your trip. Do keep in mind, however, that the weather can be unpredictable and sometimes the view is obscured by clouds. After descending the volcano, there’s an option to soak in hot springs with fantastic views over the lake and caldera. Then make the journey from the mountains to the small coastal town of Lovina (approximately 3 hours). Lovina is famous for the dolphins that patrol its coast. It’s also a great spot for fine food, traditional massages and yoga.

Included activities:
– Sunrise volcano climb on Mount Batur

6.Tag: Lovina

Enjoy a day of snorkelling amongst Menjangan Island’s coral reef, part of the Bali Barat National Park. You will travel 1.5 to 2 hours by road (each way) and then take a boat ride of around 20 mins into the National Park at Menjangan. On the way back, you’ll stop for a soak at Banjar Hot Springs, a small spring popular with locals. Tonight, head to Ibu Wayan’s to learn about Balinese cuisine before sitting down to a home-cooked meal.

Included activities:
– Menjangan Island Reef snorkeling tour
– Banjar Hot Springs

7.Tag: Bedugul

After breakfast, visit the local market then head to the tiny hilltop village of Munduk (approximately 1 hour) where you’ll walk through aromatic clove and coffee plantations to a spectacular hidden waterfall. Continue inland to the picturesque mountain town of Bedugul (approximately 1 hour). It’s a good idea to pack warm clothing as the early mornings and evenings can be quite cool. Spend the afternoon strolling among more than 2000 species of plants indigenous to Indonesia at the Bali Botanical Gardens.

Included activities:
– Munduk – Waterfall walk
– Lovina – Seririt Market visit
– Bedugul – Bali Botanical Gardens

8.Tag: Sanur

Start the day with a visit to Lake Bratan for a delightful view of Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, a Hindu-Buddhist temple set on a small island in the lake. Continue by minivan to Sanur and enjoy some free time there in the afternoon. Perhaps enjoy a stroll along Bali’s first beachfront walk, watch the fishermen in the shallows or kick back and relax at one of the beachside restaurants. Get a feel for the traditions and local customs which are well maintained here. Ancient temples are also easily accessible – just a short distance away from the beach.

Included activities:
– Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple

9.Tag: Tetebatu

Traditionally in Lombok, weddings are normally held on Sundays. Sometimes our local leaders may know about a wedding that coincides with your visit to Lombok. If this is possible your group leader can organise for you to attend a local wedding and help you to understand the many customs that you will see and experience. You will need to be dressed appropriately so they will organise traditional clothes to be hired and a small donation is given to the bridge and groom. Please note this activity is only offered when a wedding coincides during your village visit.

Included activities:
– Masbagik – Village walk and pottery demonstration

10.Tag: Labuan Pandan

Enjoy a guided walk through lush rice fields and see how the region’s farmers have tended the land for centuries, still using traditional water buffalo ploughs. Climb a little higher and pass through clove and coffee plantations and stop at a local warung to try some local coffee (approximately 2.5 hours total). Visit the local village of Pringgasela to learn traditional weaving and enjoy a delicious Sasak feast. In the afternoon return to the hotel, then travel to Labuhan Pandan on the East Coast of Lombok. This remote beachside location is little visited by tourists. Tonight we will stay in our bungalow accommodation amid the peace and quiet of the secluded coast.

Included activities:
– Pringasella – Village walk & Sasak feast

11.Tag: Labuan Pandan

Take a trip out to the nearby coral reef and enjoy some fantastic snorkelling off the boat. Stop in at a secluded island for lunch with Mt Rinjani towering over Lombok. Tonight, eat a fresh seafood barbecue on the beach. This is island living and relaxation at its best, so soak it all up!

Included activities:
– Snorkelling and picnic lunch
– BBQ dinner

12.Tag: Senaru

Travel by minibus around the spiritual centre and sleeping giant of the island, Mt Rinjani (approx 2 hours). Arrive around midday at Senaru, a small, rustic village nestled between the base of Mt Rinjani and the edge of the jungle. Take a guided tour of the local Sasak village to learn about the history and culture of these people who have long lived on the slopes of Mt Rinjani. Here our local guide is part of a female guiding association that trains and develops women in tourism. You will also take a walk to the spectacular Singang Gila waterfall, and perhaps take a refreshing shower underneath it.

Included activities:
– Senaru – Waterfall walk
– Senaru – Guided Sasak Village walking tour

13.Tag: Gili Air

Continue to the west coast today by minibus (approximately 2.5 hours). The Gili Islands (Tiga Gili) are an archipelago of three small islands – Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. Transfer by small boat to Gili Air (approximately 30 minutes), where you can take in the breezy atmosphere and stroll down stunning white beaches that rival those of the neighbouring islands. Your hotel is about a 15-minute walk from the port. Your bags can be transported by cidemo (horse cart) from the port to the hotel.

14.Tag: Gili Air

The island is your oyster and today is completely free to relax or explore. Perhaps take in another snorkeling trip, or catch a ferry across to the other islands of Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno and see who has the better beaches. This evening enjoy an optional final group dinner on the beachfront as you say farewell to your fellow travellers.

15.Tag: Gili Air and departure

Your trip comes to an end today. Perhaps extend your stay on the blissful Gili Air.