Discover Lombok

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.

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.

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. Please check the 'Finishing Point Hotel' section for checkout times and luggage storage possibilities.

Another alternative is to take the ferry back to Bali. Your leader can advise you of transport options.

Guesthouse (1 nt)