12 day Bali – Indonesia Tour

You will meet your guide late afternoon for a sunset rooftop drink at your hostel and get to know your other travelling mates and ask all those burning questions you have. We will then all head for a welcome dinner at a nearby restaurant. Canggu is such a hip and happening part of Bali. Amazing cheap restaurants and super cool bars are all within walking distance of the beach.

Meals: Dinner

Assuming you didn’t have one too many of the amazing cocktails last night we start our true Balinese adventure today with a surf lesson with expert local instructors. Our amazing local instructors will find us the perfect break to get you up and riding the legendary waves in no time.

This afternoon you are free to hire a surf board and keep mastering the hangten, or we recommend exploring many of the ancient temples in the area, joining a local yoga class that the area is so famous for, or just hanging by the beach and getting you tan on.

As the sun goes down, we will change the theme to the party, so remember to pack your dance moves with you as some of us head out to visit one of the famous beach clubs.

NOTE: in some circumstances the order of the day may change due to weather or tidal restrictions.

Included Activities: half-day surf adventure
Optional Extras: Massage, yoga
Meals: Breakfast

After dancing the night away, this morning, we take a short drive to Sanur where we will join a ferry to the island Nusa Penida. We arrive in time to book into our epic boutique hotel before heading off to explore the island.

You will head to Diamond Beach and the epic vista at Thousand Island View Point (did you know there are over 17,000 islands in the Indonesian archipelago). Grab a traditional lunch while you soak in the view (not included) before we head to the most Instagrammable Kelingking and Broken Beaches. And if your battery is not flat on your camera and you are not sunabused enough get ready for an amazing Balinese sunset at Crystal beach. Maybe it is the perfect time for a little cocktail?

Included Activities: Day tour of Nusa Penida
Meals: Breakfast

For many of our travellers this is the highlight day of their trip – a truly once-ina-lifetime experience. This morning you will board a private boat early to take you around the spectacular Nusa Penida coastline and it’s wonderful tiny bays to one of the most famous – Manta Bay.

Manta Bay is home to one of the largest populations of manta rays anywhere in the world! Be prepared to be over-awed as you snorkel amongst these magnificent rays as they glide effortlessly in the crystal clear waters. Their giant wingspans make them wider than they are long giving this incredible flying motion.

Tonight the plan is to find a cheap restaurant the suits everyone to eat as a group.

Included Activities: Full day trip around Nusa Penida and snorkelling with manta rays.
Meals: Breakfast

This morning it is back on a local ferry for our next island stop of the famous Gili Trawangan! Famed for its snorkelling, abundance of sea turtles and of course amazing nightlife. We arrive in time for lunch at a local cafe before getting very serious and hating the pool at our hotel beach club overlooking the ocean. Relax, putting on some tunes, faze out (or in if you need to do the social media and email thing), then this evening we will head out exploring.

With no cars allowed on the island, there is only one way to get around – by bike! This evening your guide will take you our for a sunset bike tour, and not wanting to spoil the surprise, an amazing sunset view at a secluded area of the island that we know of not to far from the hotel.

Included activities: Sunset Bike Tour
Meals: Breakfast

Gili Trawangan, or Gili T to the cool kids, are some of the most beautiful islands in the world and the best way to explore it is by boat. Today we head out island hopping on our own private boat.

The highlight of today’s snorkelling and exploring has to be the Gili Meno statues. Known as the Nest these 48 life-sized underwater sculptures by British sculptor, Jason deCaires Taylor, are cast from real people and symbolise life and continuity. They have been often described as hauntingly beautiful. The islands are teaming with sea turtles and tropical fish amongst the coral reefs.

This afternoon is an awesome U. Impact! Experience – the opportunity to give back to the community that is so welcoming to us. Time allowing we will get involved in a local beach cleanup.

Head out with the group this evening to explore some of the cool restaurants and mega hip reggae bars that have made Gili T so well know.

Activities: Island Hopping Tour
Optional Extras: Gili Eco Recycling Tour
Meals: Breakfast

It is super hard leaving the beauty of Gili T this morning and heading back to Bali Island. But, we lessen the blow as you make your way into the central foothills of the island and into the magical town of Ubud.

This afternoon you are free to explore on your own and we recommend trying one of the world-class yoga sessions that the area is famous for.

Alternatively you might want to visit the Monkey Forest.

Why we don’t support the Monkey Forest:
Ill considered human encroachment on the animal kingdom can be devastating and the Monkey Forest is case-in-point. Because of tourists continually feeding the monkeys (despite being asked not to) the animals have become almost trained and often extremely aggressive towards humans. There are many incidents of visitors being bitten or cameras and bags being stollen. As tourists we have ruined it for ourselves by not following the rules and over-stepping our welcome in their domain.

Activities: Monkey Forest Tour
Optional Extras: Massageu
Meals: Breakfast

Ubud is the cultural capital with those amazing insta-worthy photos of incredible terraced rice fields set among the tropical forest. Today you will explore the very best that Ubud has to offer!

You will start by heading to the Tirta Empul Water Temple, a sacred temple to the Balinese Hindu community. Dedicated to Vishnu, the Hindu God of water, Tirta Empul loosely translates water gushing from the earth. The Tirta Empul Temple includes shrines to Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, as well as one for Indra and Mount Batur. You will have the opportunity to enter the water and make an offering if you want.

Next you’ll check out the ultimate Instagram spot – Tegallalang Rice Terraces. Some of the area is listing as a UNESCO World Heritage area with its incredible bright shared of green from the Subak irrigation system. Of course, there are the optional swings to get yourself the huge Instagram photo or the hike hike down into the valley to see the terraces up close is definitely worth it.

After exploring the area for the afternoon you will meet up with your guide and rest of the group gain to walk the short Tjampuhan Ridgewalk. The walk is full of beautiful views of the palm trees and rice terraces away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Ubud – although sure close to town itself. It is the perfect end to an awesome day!

Included Activities: Entrance fees for Tegallalang rice terraces and
Tjampuhan Ridgewalk, Tirta Empul Water Temple
Meals: Breakfast

Ok, we don’t deny it hurts when the alarm goes mega early so we can do a short hike up Mount Batur in time for sunrise. Yet, the early start, is made so much more than worth it with this really emotive experience. It is a bit of a surreal experience hiking up in the dark not knowing what is around you. Sit back and enjoy a cup of local coffee as the sun comes up over the horizon – it kind of feels like you are on the planet Mars.

After watching the sunrise we will continue our short hike over to the crater for 360- degree views of Batur Lake and surrounding landscapes and villages.

We get back down off the volcano mid morning where a big breakfast is waiting for us.

This afternoon you have time to explore more of Ubud, perhaps get a massage, join one of the renowned yoga classes or try sound healing.

Included Activities: Mt Butur hike
Optional Extras: Massage, Yoga
Meals: Breakfast

This morning you will be heading to the northern part of the Bali island for a change of pace at the sleepy village of Pemuteran. On the way you will stop at the spectacular and hidden Banyumala waterfalls. We think these are one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Bali and an amazing place for a fresh water swim. Surrounded by lush vegetation, the twin waterfalls flow directly into a massive plunge pool.

After more than enough time to swim you will keep heading north stopping an extremely local coffee plantation. Here you will meet a local family who will share with us their amazing story of how they have been making coffee the same way for almost 100 years!

Awe arrive in the afternoon with plenty of time to explore Pemuteran. We recommend trying one of the local restaurants tonight where not surprisingly, being a fishing village, the seafood is amazing. The local fresh fruit is also pretty special.

Included Activities: Entrance fees to Banyumala waterfalls, U. Impact!
Experience – local family visit and coffee plantation
Meals: Breakfast

Today is the penultimate day of your incredible Bali experience and one of our favourites. Get ready for a big day of exploring of the beaten track on Menjangan island and its surrounding reefs. In Bahasa, Menjangan means ‘deer’ so don’t be surprised when some furry friends come and have lunch with you!

The surrounding reefs are some of the best in Indonesia and home to an incredible array of coloured fish, sea turtles and who knows maybe even passing manta rays or dolphins. Your U.Guide will be able to you identify some of the amazing species that are unique to the area’s coral reef.

Here we also have a unique U. Impact! Experience where we visit the amazing Bio-Rock Project – the world’s largest coral nursery. Since 2000 over 60 structures have been replanted with the goal to restore the damaged reefs from blast fishing and cyanide poisoning. What sets the Bio-Rock project apart is the use of Electrolytic Mineral Accretion Technology. You will learn first-hand about how low voltage current from solar panels causes dissolved minerals to crystallise and form structures similar to limestone where coral larvae can more easily settle and grow.

Back on land we continue giving back to the incredible country and people which have made our Balinese experience so amazing with a sunset beach clean-up before enjoying a U. exclusive happy hour by the pool. It is a super rewarding way to end what has been a really amazing trip.

Included Activities: Menjangen Island snorkelling, BioRock project visit
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Unfortunately it time to say goodbye to your new travel buddies and head toward your onward journeys! You will be travelling back to Canggu this morning arriving around 1pm in time for connecting evening flights or many of you might choose to stay on and explore the areas around Seminyak or Uluwatu.

Meals: Breakfast