Bali & Lombok Adventure

Om Swastiastu! Welcome to Bali.

Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1.

You can arrive at any time as there are no activities planned until this important meeting; please ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader.

Ubud is Bali's main arts and cultural centre, recently made famous by the Hollywood movie, Eat Pray Love. It's a wonderful place to experience the magic that has made Bali such a popular travel destination.

Head out to Gianyar night market to try some of the local cuisine. Although the setup is very informal when eating here, it's a great way to get your first taste of the local culture and cuisine.

Enjoy a traditional Kecak dance performance, considered a highlight by most travellers. Kecak tells the Ramayana story of Prince Rama on a quest to rescue his kidnapped wife, Sita, with the help of the monkey army. No musical instruments are used, just human chanting that rises to crescendo as fires burn around, and monsters appear from the darkness to perform their part in the story.

Our local guide will take you on an approx 3 hour tour of the Ubud area, which will give you an opportunity to observe the day-to-day village life of the local people, see rice fields and an alang alang valley (wild grass that is used for making the roof on traditional buildings), and visit a local painting handicraft area. The tour ends in central Ubud where you'll have time to explore the many cafes, galleries and shops on your own.

Set off by bicycle through hilly back lanes, small villages and rice paddies - a great way to meet the local people and take in the views along the way. We ride for about 3 hours, making stops for magnificent photo opportunities and a rest if needed. There are plenty of opportunities to visit some of the small and intricately carved temples and our ride concludes at Sangeh, home of a centuries-old temple nestled in a grove of towering trees.Note that bicycle helmets are not included and can be difficult to hire locally, so if this concerns you please bring your own. We also have a support vehicle if the going gets too tough.

Head for the hills and the village of Sidemen by minivan (approx 2 hrs).

Set against a backdrop of Bali's highest peak, Mt Agung, the peaceful and friendly village of Sidemen is proof that Bali has pockets completely away from the tourism the island is famous for. Being at elevation it's slightly cooler here which is a welcome relief.

Take a morning walk around Sidemen, visiting local songket weaving cottage industries and sampling a traditional 'bungkus' lunch. The walk takes around 3-4 hours and is a chance to take in great views. You can also cool off in the nearby river.

Continuing our journey higher into the mountains, drive along the crater rim road to a fishing village on the edge of Lake Batur (approx 2 hrs).

Volcanic Mt Batur (1717 m) 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.

Guesthouse (1 nt)

Rising early, reach the summit of Mt Batur in time to witness a stunning sunrise over the valleys of Bali. The walk takes 1.5-2 hours up, and yes, it's UP! On a clear morning, it's possible to see all the way across the Lombok Strait to the peaks of Lombok's Mt Rinjani. For the adventurous it may be possible to walk the narrow paths right around the volcano rim (max. 1 hour). After descending the volcano, there's an option to soak in hot springs with great views over the lake and caldera.

Make the journey from the mountains to the small coastal town of Lovina (approx 4 hrs).

Lovina is famous for the dolphins that patrol its coast, and is a great place for fine food, traditional massage or a big night out.

Our time in Lovina provides plenty of opportunities to explore this area - perhaps a dawn trip by outrigger boat to watch the dolphins come into the bay.

Enjoy a day of snorkelling on a Menjangan Island reef, a short boat ride from the coast. This pristine island and its coral reefs are part of the Bali Barat National Park.

Leave the coast bound for Bedugal.

En route we visit the lively Seririt market then spend the rest of the morning soaking in the traditional Banjar holy hot springs.

Soak in the enchanting Banjar Holy Hot Springs, where the warm waters gush from the mouths of stone-carved nagas (dragons) in a beautifully landscaped lush tropical garden.

Continue to the tiny hilltop village of Munduk (approx 1 hr).

Walk through clove and coffee plantations to a hidden waterfall for a refreshing dip. The area offers superb views across the hills of Bali and, on a clear day, the beaches of the northern coast.

Travel on to Bedugal (approx 1 hr).

Cool and misty, the beautiful Bedugal region is a series of volcanic formed lakes and mountain ranges covered in lush vegetation.

Ubud is Bali's main arts and cultural centre, recently made famous by the Hollywood movie, Eat Pray Love. It's a wonderful place to experience the magic that has made Bali such a popular travel destination.

For those with extra time in Ubud there are plenty of things to see and do. Bicycles can be hired to explore surrounding rice paddies and small villages or get to the lush Botanic Gardens just outside of town. There are numerous art galleries and interesting museums that can take up your day, and If shopping is more your thing, there are plenty of woodwork, silverware and other handicraft shops to browse through.

As this is a combination trip, your group leader and the composition of your group may change at this location. There will be a group meeting to discuss the next stage of your itinerary and you're welcome to attend, as this is a great chance to meet your new fellow travellers.

Hotel (1 nt)

Travel by minivan from Ubud to the port of Padang Bai (approx 1 hr).

Take a ferry from Bali to Lombok (approx 4-7 hrs). The ferry is a huge multi-level boat busy with food hawkers offering interesting snacks, as well as plenty of local passengers to meet. Although the journey is long, this ferry ride and the arrival into Lembar port can be quite an eye opener as both the scenery and culture of Lombok are very different to that of Bali.

Take a short ride by 'bemo' (minibus) to Tetebatu (approx 2 hrs).

The hill retreat of Tetebatu, situated in the centre of Lombok at the southern base of Mt Rinjani, provides spectacular views.

Take a walk with our local guide through verdant rice fields (tobacco in the dry season) and see how the farmers of this region have farmed for centuries, still using traditional water buffalo ploughs. Climb a little higher through clove and coffee plantations, eventually entering the Taman Wisata National Park. In this dense rainforest you may be lucky enough to see some of the resident, but very shy, black ebony leaf monkeys, known locally as lutung. Finish the walk with a refreshing dip in a tropical waterfall. Approximate walking time: 3 hours.

Visit the local village of Pringgasela to learn traditional weaving and enjoy a delicious Sasak feast.

Hop into cidomos (horse-drawn carts) to visit a market and local villages famous for their crafts, including pottery and bamboo weaving.

Travel by minibus around the spiritual centre and sleeping giant of the island, Mt Rinjani. Total driving time is about 5 hours but it will take most of the day to reach our destination at Senaru as we stop a couple of times.

Senaru is a small rustic village nestled between the base of Mt Rinjani and the edge of the jungle.

Guesthouse (1 nt)

Travel on to the west coast (approx 2 hrs).

Transfer by small boat to the laidback island of Gili Air (approx 30 mins).

The Gili Islands (Tiga Gili) are an archipelago of three small islands - Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air.

Enjoy snorkelling around the crystal waters of Gili Air. Indulge in a delicious BBQ buffet dinner, hopefully sampling some of the local catch.

You have free time to enjoy the pristine beach, which is literally only metres from our bungalows or island-hop to the nearby Gili Trawangan or Gili Meno.

Take a short boat trip back to Lombok (approx 40 mins) and transfer to our guesthouse in Senggigi (approx 1.5 hrs).

Transfer to our guesthouse in Senggigi (approx 1.5 hrs).

There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart our accommodation at any time. Another alternative is to take the ferry back to Bali. Your leader can advise you of transport options.

Guesthouse (1 nt)