Wonders of Bali

Upon arrival at the airport in Denpasar, you will be met and transferred to the hotel in Sanur, a former fishing village, which has cultural and historical significance in Bali, from early Hindu influences of more than a thousand years ago to the influences of early European visitors when Sanur was a quiet fishing village in the 19th century.

After breakfast, depart for Pemuteran, located near the western tip of the island in a wonderfully remote area. On the way, stop at the Royal Temple of Taman Ayun in Mengwi. Built in the 17th century, this impressive, spacious temple is surrounded by a wide moat that creates the impression of being in the middle of a lake. The temple itself has three ascending courtyards in a particularly beautiful layout. Continue on to the unique experience of Alas Kedaton, or “holy monkey forest,” and walk through the forest where hundreds of  monkeys live. Here, you may have the opportunity to feed them bananas or peanuts. Afterwards, visit the Tanah Lot Sea Temple, one of the most splendid temples in Bali. Perched atop an enormous rock, it is completely surrounded by the Indian Ocean during high tide. Enjoy lunch today at a local restaurant near Tanah Lot. After lunch, continue on the drive westward along the island and through the West Bali National Park. Later, arrive at the hotel, the Taman Sari Cottage, located on the secluded Pemuteran Beach. If time permits, spend the afternoon snorkeling just off the hotel’s beach. Taman Sari Cottage’s beach is among the best snorkeling sites in Pemuteran, and the hotel continually receives national and international awards for its efforts in coral reef restoration.

Depart this morning for Menjangan Island for snorkeling. (You may choose to dive at an extra cost.) Return to the hotel for lunch, then drive to the Bali Barat National Park near Cekik for hiking in the forest. Here, explore the varying vegetation of the lowland tropical forest. Return to your bungalow in Pemuteran for the night.

Today, depart Pemuteran for Ubud, renowned for its arts and crafts. The drive goes by Mayong, providing beautiful views of rice terraces. Along the way, stop at the village of Munduk to see Dutch colonial houses that serve as a reminder of past times. Arrive at the Puri Lumbung Cottage in Munduk, where the next adventure, a two-hour trek, goes past majestic ferns, coffee, cacao, and clove. Next, walk along a small, crystal-clear river leading to the 131-foot Munduk Waterfall. Return to the Puri Lumbung Cottage for lunch. Over lunch, enjoy a panoramic view of Bali’s central mountain range. Continue driving to Asah Panji, which affords a stunning overlook of Buyan and Tamblingan Lakes (the Twin Lakes). Next, travel to Bedugul for a visit to the magnificent “floating” Ulun Danu Temple on Lake Beratan. Enjoy a short visit to the Candi Kuning Market, which sells wonderful fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Stay overnight in Ubud at the Tjampuhan Hotel, surrounded by lush gardens and located on the terraced bank of the sacred Tjampuhan River.

Spend the day at leisure in Ubud. In the evening, take in the nightly cultural show – be sure to check the schedule at the front desk of the Tjampuhan Hotel (cost for cultural show not included).

After breakfast this morning, depart for a full day of touring the eastern part of the island. First, visit the village of Penglipuran, which still maintains the traditional settlement pattern used to differentiate one village from another. Continue on to the Besakih Temple, located on the beautiful, terraced slope of Mt. Agung and known as the island’s “mother temple.” Mt. Agung is Bali’s highest peak and is also considered its most sacred mountain. Lunch is provided at the Puri Boga restaurant in Bukit Jambul with a lovely view of the southern hills. Later, journey through the beautiful, mountainous countryside on the way to Sidemen village. In Sidemen, observe Endek and Songket weaving, both of which are of great cultural importance to the Balinese. Next, visit Kertagosa, the law court of the former Klungkung kingdom whose famous ceiling paintings feature the traditional Wayang Kamasan. Then visit the village of Kamasan, which is the birthplace of the painting style used at Kertagosa. Also, in Kamasan, view the gallery of I Noyman Mandra, one of the most notable artists in Bali. Arrive back at the hotel in the late afternoon.

Enjoy another day at leisure in Ubud. Wander around the city, exploring its art galleries or its museums such as the Neka, Antonio Blanco, and Puri Lukisan. These museums house extensive collections of traditional as well as contemporary artworks by famous local and foreign artists.

After breakfast, there will be a little time to do some last minute sightseeing or shopping, then transfer to the airport for the onward flight.