Midlife-Moon in Bali

📍 Ngurah Rai International Airport of Bali – Ubud (40 km): 1 hour 15 minutes

Arrive this afternoon at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar and be greeted by a local guide for transfer to the hotel in Ubud, in central Bali.

Check in to your hotel and set off to a recommended local spa in the centre of Ubud to enjoy 1-hour Balinese massage – the best welcome and introduction to Bali after a long flight.

Overnight in Ubud.

Inclusions:

After breakfast at hotel, spend the day discovering Ubud’s abundant charm. Start with a visit to Ubud Market for a cultural encounter while watching local people buying and selling everything from exotic fruits to traditional handicrafts. Then, continue to Monkey Forest. While taking a walk around this beautiful and verdant stretch of jungle, come face to face with the cheeky inhabitants it’s named after -but take care of any food or drinks, as they’re likely to try to steal them!

Continue the tour with a visit ARMA Museum (Agung Rai Museum of Art) and enjoy one of the best permanent collections of Balinese and Indonesian paintings & sculptures. A visit to ARMA provides a great overview of the island’s rich artistic traditions.

Lunch is served in Indus Restaurant, with beautiful views over Tjampuhan Valley.

In the afternoon, prepare a few utensils that will be useful for the next few days. Then, go on a 90-minute walk through the backyard of Ubud while learning from a specialist guide how to identify plants and natural ingredients used for a class afterwards. A young coconut will be served during the walk.

After the walk, take part in a hands-on workshop and learn how to create beauty products with natural ingredients (natural hair conditioner, body scrub, face mask, skin moisturizer/sun block). The recipes will be provided at the end as well. Also, the products, can be taken along for immediate use.

Afterwards, return to the hotel to freshen before witnessing a traditional dance performance and and enjoying a late set-menu dinner in one of Ubud’s most reputable restaurants.

Overnight at at the hotel in Ubud.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Mambal, Ubud – Mas Village (9 km): 15 minutes Mas Village – Rafting Start Point (17 km): 30 minutes Rafting Finish Point – Mambal, Ubud (9 km): 15 minutes

After breakfast in the morning, meet with the guide and driver and head on a short drive to Mas. This small village is known for its traditional wood carving tradition. Here, you have a chance to take part in activities that are ‘uniquely Bali’.

Meet an astrologer and receive a blessing; using ancient methods he’ll peer into your soul to foresee what will happen in the future, which will then be translated by the local guide.

Continue to a workshop to learn traditional wood-carving methods used in creating gorgeous wooden handicrafts. This is also a great opportunity to be immersed in local culture.

Lunch will be served in the workshop’s restaurant.

In the afternoon, paddle through stunning scenery and over cascading rapids on an exciting white-water rafting adventure covering 10 km (approximately 90 minutes) on the Ayung River. The trip is divided into two parts, with a rest stop on the riverbanks at the halfway point. After reaching the take out point, be treated to a buffet lunch of Indonesian specialties in a restaurant with stunning views. There are shower and toilet facilities available here.

Return to the hotel afterwards and spend the rest of the evening at leisure.

Overnight at the hotel.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Mambal, Ubud – Gunung Kawi – Tampaksiring and v.v. (20 km): 45 minutes

After breakfast in the morning, at 09:00, depart from the hotel with the guide and driver and head out for a full-day excursion.

The first stop will be at the unique temple of Gunung Kawi. Set amidst lush rice terraces, these 11th century temples feature 10 rock-cut candi (shrines) carved into the cliff face. They stand at seven metres tall and combine ancient Hindu and Buddhist temple attributes. There are numerous stairs leading down to the temple, so good walking shoes are recommended.

Continue to the nearby village of Tampaksiring to explore Tirta Empul, a temple famous for its sacred spring water. All Balinese bathe here at least once a year for a ritual cleaning.

Return to the hotel and take part in a wellness activity. Experience a 90-minute Awakening Inner Power session which will awaken newfound trust, freedom, and joy. There will also be a choice of one private sacred arts session including yoga, aikido, and soma; followed by a 3-course gourmet lunch or dinner and fire ceremony.

Overnight at the hotel. Be sure to tuck into bed early tonight, as there will be a very early wake up on the next day. 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Mambal, Ubud – Kintamani (41 km): 1 hour 30 minutes Kintamani – Pemuteran (124 km): 4 hours

Check out from the hotel early in the morning and depart around 02:30 to the starting point of a hike at the base of Mount Batur.

Upon arrival, receive a full safety briefing from the local guide. After all preparations have been checked (a flashlight included), embark on the journey up the mountain. The first section is through a section of volcanic ash, sand and small rocks. The pathway is mostly uphill, but there are several opportunities to stop and rest. After approximately two hours of climbing and 2km, reach the top of the trail and the rim of the volcanic crater.

Around 06:00, while sitting at the top (1,717 meters) of the massive volcano, witness the long awaited stunning sunrise over Mount Abang and Mount Agung. On clear days it is even possible to view Lombok’s Mount Rinjani in the distance across the Lombok Strait.

While soaking up the spectacular views, enjoy a simple breakfast with coffee or tea.

Next, continue on foot to another crater rim and descend from the crater along the same paththat was climbed in the dark. Descending in daylight allows for spectacular views of the surrounding landscape, lava flows and Lake Batur in the distance.

Upon reaching the bottom, be taken to a local restaurant in Kintamani for an early lunch. If by then the clouds are not covering the caldera, enjoy lunch with a magnificent view over the summit that was just climbed!

Continue to the hotel in West Bali for check-in and the remainder of the day is at leisure.

Overnight in Pemuteran.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Boat ride (4.5 km): 30 minutes

This morning after breakfast, embark on a local boat from the resort’s jetty to nearby Menjangan Island for a snorkelling trip. The island boasts some of the best snorkelling and diving in Bali, with a colourful reef and a multitude fish species just below the surface. Equipment and a lunchbox are provided by the resort.

Return to your hotel and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight at the hotel.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, experience the beauty of West Bali National Park on horseback. Take in the views of the jungle and beach, guided by the resort’s trained staff who tailor the trek to suit riding abilities.

Afterwards, enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Lounge the day away at the beach, do some independent exploration, or just relax at the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Pemuteran – Banjar Hot Spring (55 km): 2 hours Brahma Vihara Arama – Banjar Hot Spring (3 km): 10 minutes Banjar Hot Spring – Kayuputih Village (13 km): 30 minutes

Breakfast at hotel.

Midday, check out and depart to West Bali. Drive along the North coast to Banjar and make a stop to visit Brahma Vihara Arama, the only Buddhist Monastery in Bali with stunning views over the North coast of Bali. Then, continue to a nearby hot spring with hot milky sulfuric water, which is said to have healing powers. Enjoy a hot bath in the lush tropical forests while soaking up both the healing waters and the magical surroundings.

Note: basic changing facilities available.

Arrive at the resort in Kayuputih Village and, after freshening up, head out in the afternoon to learn how to weave pandanus leaves and make floral temple offerings.

Overnight in Kayuputih.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Kayuputih Village – Bedugul (25 km): 1 hour Bedugul – Jatiluwih – Tanah Lot (65 km): 2 hours Tanah Lot – Canggu (12 km): 30 minutes Canggu – Sanur (21 km): 40 minutes

Breakfast at the hotel before a morning activity. Go with the hotel’s concierge to nearby local house and learn how to cook traditional Balinese dishes. Learn how to identify and pick the freshest produce, how to balance spices for the perfect curry, and then take home recipes that have been handed down through the ages.

Sit down at the end and enjoy the self-cooked meals ‘local style’.

In the afternoon, check out from the resort and drive through Bedugul, passing viewpoints overlooking the ‘Twin Lakes’ of Tamblingan and Buyan, then continue to Lake Bratan for a look at the incredibly scenic Ulun Danu Temple. The temple is set in the lake’s calm waters on several small islands giving the impression that it is ‘floating’. It’s one of Bali’s most iconic and photogenic temples -so be sure to take lots of photos!

Continue driving, passing Bali’s UNESCO listed Jatiluwih, the widest panoramic view of Bali’s iconic rice terraces. Located on a slope near the holy mountain of Batukaru, this area is known as the ‘Rice Granary of Bali’ and is one of the best examples of subak-style rice farming in Bali. This is a great opportunity for a photo stop and coffee break.  

Later in the afternoon, arrive at Tanah Lot, one of Bali’s most famous temples set dramatically on a small island just off the coast. As the sun begins to set behind the horizon, the area becomes bathed in a fantastic golden light. Combined with the ocean spray from waves crashing over the temple, it’s another one of Bali’s most photogenic spots. From here, around sunset time, continue to Tugu Bali Hotel in Canggu where a royal Tugudom dinner will be served in the antique-filled halls of the heritage hotel.

Following dinner, overnight at the Tugu Bali or, alternatively, transfer to a hotel in Sanur*.

Overnight in Canggu or Sanur*.

*Note: if on the next day you prefer a Standup-Paddle-Lesson, Sanur Bay with its calm water qualifies best. If you prefer a surfing lesson, then the beach break at Batu Bolong just in front of the Tugu Bali hotel is the best spot. 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

Breakfast is served at the hotel.

*Be picked-up in a joined transfer for today’s highlight: a stand-up paddleboarding lesson or surfing lesson. Choose either of these activities.

Stand-up paddleboarding or "SUP", is a sport trend originating from Hawaii which combines physical fitness with a love of the ocean. It’s suitable for everybody and can be practiced without waves on shallow water -no surfing experience is required! Stand-up paddleboarding is a true alternative to other health-promoting activities such as jogging, hiking or climbing because it trains both strength and endurance and, by exercising on the water, it has a relaxing and almost meditative quality.

Surfing holds a special grip of fascination with anyone who loves the ocean. The feeling of being embraced by the power of nature while gliding down the crest of a wave is one of the most awesome experiences to be had. Although ‘walking on water’ does require a bit of practice and commitment, the experienced instructors will make sure that guests will be able to catch their first waves on the first day.

Following the session, return to the hotel.

Lunch and dinner are at leisure.

Overnight at the selected hotel.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Sanur – Uluwatu (32 km): 1 hour Uluwatu – Jimbaran (15 km): 30 minutes Jimbaran – Canggu (21 km): 40 minutes Jimbaran – Sanur (18 km): 40 minutes

Breakfast at your hotel and enjoy the morning at leisure.

In the afternoon, visit one of Bali’s most impressive temples; Uluwatu Temple, which is majestically perched on the edge of a steep cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean. At sunset, witness a dramatic kecak dance performance at the temple, which is not accompanied by music but the steady chant of the male performers who percussively chanting "cak" while throwing up their arms.

After an unbelievable experience at Uluwatu, head to the nearby town of Jimbaran for a BBQ seafood dinner under the stars on one of Bali’s more expansive beaches. The seafood warung will serve an enticing platter accompanied by rice, vegetables (Indonesian spinach), and sambal (spicy Indonesian sauce).

Overnight at a selected hotel.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Canggu – Ngurah Rai International Airport of Bali (20 km): 40 minutes Sanur – Ngurah Rai International Airport of Bali (18 km): 40 minutes

Breakfast is served at the hotel. This morning is free at leisure until departure to the airport for a flight home.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast