Secrets of Bali and Lombok

Welcome to Bali. Upon your arrival to Denpasar International Airport, you’ll be greeted by your private driver/guide and for the transfer to your accommodation in Ubud, one of the most popular destinations on the island. The center of arts and crafts, it’s home to brilliant green rice terraces, cascading waterfalls and lots of monkeys. You’ll see colourful offerings throughout the streets and discover lots of great eateries from vegan organic cafes to restaurants serving authentic local Balinese fare. After checking into your hotel, get settled in, relax and perhaps enjoy a refreshing swim in the pool, resting up for busier days ahead.

Learn all about the delicious flavors of Balinese cuisine firsthand with a cooking class today. You’ll be accompanied by a food specialist guide to visit a local market, gathering ingredients for a traditional dish you’ll help to prepare and cook. Afterwards sit down to enjoy an authentic dining experience. You’ll have the rest of the day to enjoy on your own as we wish. You might want to do some shopping – Raya Ubud is the main street running through the town’s center, where you can find a colourful mix of fashion boutiques with everything from sarongs and batiks to handmade lace.

With a full day of leisure, you’ll have lots of fun options to choose from today. You might visit the Monkey Forest where you can stroll around with more than a thousand Balinese long-tailed macaques. Or take a full day tour, perhaps to visit some of the most spectacular temples and rice terraces on the island, or venture to Eastern Bali for a nature excursion, visiting temples, gardens and the Blue Lagoon beach where you can snorkel through the coral reefs among the colourful fish. Afterwards, come back and relax, taking advantage of your hotel facilities and getting ready for your next destination, Munduk.

After checking out of your hotel, you’ll be transferred to northern Bali where you’ll be immersed in breathtaking mountain scenery in the highlands of Munduk, far from the busy streets of Ubud, though just an hour and 40-minute journey away. Tucked among rice fields, coffee and clove plantations, this is the authentic, quiet side of the island. It’s the ideal place for hiking, viewing some of Bali’s most magnificent waterfalls and delving into village culture, perhaps watching locals prepare baskets for daily offerings or the famous Indonesia sambal, a chili sauce made with a mixture of various chili peppers and other ingredients.

A full day exploring the beautiful Munduk region begins by travelling in a buggy to the tropical mountain forest along the shores of Lake Tamblingan. Marvel at the lakeside temple and then hop in a canoe, paddling across the lake. Continue by buggy through the forest, watching for tropical birds like colourful kingfishers. Continue to a coffee plantation where you’ll be able to relax and enjoy sipping the fresh roasted coffee before returning to your accommodation. You might want to enjoy the pool or indulge in a traditional Balinese massage treatment before preparing for tomorrow’s travels, with West Bali National Park the next stop.

After checking out of your hotel, a private driver/guide will bring you to the northwestern region of Bali today. The enchanting 90-minute drive will bring you to The Menjangan resort which is right inside West Bali National Park. Set across 944 acres, there’s lots to do on-site. Jump into clear blue waters from the pier to snorkel among all sorts of exotic fish. There are two outdoors swimming pools, open-air spa treatments, opportunities to kayak, hike or go horseback riding. Or, simply relax with a drink and watch all the wildlife, there are lots of monkeys and deer right on the property.

For the ultimate snorkelling or diving experience on Bali, you might want to join the resort’s boat trip to Menjangan Island today. Only accessible by sea on a guided tour, it’s just a short boat ride from your resort to this island that boasts a thriving coral reef in a paradise-like setting. On the reef drop-off you can swim among thick shoals of chromis, angelfish, clown-fish, reef sharks, schools of snapper and other marine life – it’s considered the best place in Bali exploring the underwater world. Afterwards, return to the resort, relax, refresh and then enjoy dining under the stars.

With so much on offer at your resort, choose your favourite activity or enjoy a day to do absolutely nothing at all, it’s up to you. With over 120 bird species in the park, you might want to take a guided birding tour, looking for the Bali Starling, helping to protect this rare, endemic bird that nearly became extinct. Or ride an Australian horse through the woods and on the beach, enjoying picturesque views of nature. As this will be your last night here, perhaps celebrate with a candlelit alfresco dinner at the resort with its delicious variety of local and Western fare.

Get your bags packed and ready this morning as your private driver/guide will pick you up this morning for transfer to Sanur on the southeast coast, a three- to four-hour drive away. Relax and enjoy the scenery before reaching this laid-back beach town where you’ll enjoy two days at your leisure. It has an over three-mile-long sandy beach with reef-protected waters, perfect for a long stroll to stretch your legs after the drive. Once you’ve checked into your hotel, you might want to explore some of the shops and then find a place to dine among the many restaurants and cafes.

Enjoy the day relaxing and perhaps taking part in some of the water-sports available. The water is clear and calm here making it ideal for many activities like swimming, snorkelling, wakeboarding, sea kayaking, parasailing, or kite-surfing. During the late afternoon and evening hours, you might check out the Pasar Sindhu Night Market which features stalls selling traditionally cooked Indonesian dishes, fresh fruit and vegetables, drinks and a variety of household items. The Mayeur Museum is worth a look, dating back to 1932 it showcases works of art by Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur along with his collection of traditional Balinese art and local artefacts.

After checking out of your Sanur hotel you’ll transfer to Serangan harbour. Hop on a speedboat for the two-hour ride to Lombok, a tropical island paradise with a coast fringed with rice, coconut and coffee fields along with fine powdery stretches of deserted sands. While it’s part of Indonesia, it has a culture of its own. The indigenous Sasak culture’s way of life reflected in the thatched-roof artisan villages. You’ll have three days to do as you wish. This evening you might want to attend a theatrical dinner with dishes served by staff wearing ceremonial costumes.

Staying at Sire beach, you’ll be in one of the most picturesque places on the island, with the crescent shaped bay backed by palm tree groves and the massive peak of Gunung Rinjani rising behind, fronted with calm, pristine cobalt waters. The strikingly white sands stretch for 2.5 miles, making it ideal for tranquil strolls, sunbathing or getting active by swimming, snorkelling, or canoeing, with equipment rentals nearby. With the water so clear you can look down while paddling a canoe and see many species of fish. You’ll find a wide range of restaurants to enjoy for dinner this evening.

With the magnificent Gili Islands just a short boat ride away, consider a trip on a dragon boat to enjoy this world-class snorkelling and diving destination. Made up of Gili Meno, Gili Air and Gili Trawangan islands, there’s a great coral reef offshore and local cafes for enjoying reggae music. At the smallest island, Gili Meno, sea turtles swim at Turtle Point. Gili Trawangan, the largest, has a sunken ship just offshore at Wreck Point near Mentigi Beach. Other activities include standup paddling, canoeing, kayaking, wakeboarding and kite-surfing. There are a few surf spots, mainly in the southeast of Gili Trawangan.

With departure day here, you might want to rise early this morning to soak up the awe-inspiring island scenery one more time before checking out of your hotel. Your private guide/driver will transfer to Lombok’s international airport afterwards so you can catch your onward flight home, taking your many wonderful memories of Indonesia with you.