Bali is your island for everything! In between world class beaches, scenic hills, postcard worthy volcanoes and jungles are humble villages and residents who’ll welcome you with open arms while they perform their daily routines. And you’ll also join in these activities, a great way to learn about the lifestyle of Bali’s countryside folk.

Your rural experience starts in the town of Tabanan, a town located in Central Bali. Attractions here include Batukaru Temple, a major Hindu pilgrimage site and Mount Batukaru, an extinct volcano filled with forested trees right up to its 2276 meter peak (and of course, home to the aforementioned temple). There’s time for all that later. What we’re here for is the rural experience. And with that in mind, we’ll take you out there.

Spend the morning in a nearby village compound. Get to know the friendly and welcoming people and join in on their activities. An extra hand or two always helps. Plus, educating the world about what they do is always a pleasure for them. Learn how to make traditional temple offerings, ranging from fruits, neatly shaped rice and a whole bunch of other things. Learn a little bit about the culture with a lesson on traditional gamelan music instruments. Prepare lunch with them and enjoy an authentic Balinese meal.  You will certainly discover more about the culture and lifestyle of the rural Balinese throughout this morning experience.

Now comes the hard part on this Bali Countryside daytrip; it is time to say good-bye. Will you be back again? If you do come back, you now know where to find your new pals.

Let’s check out those beautiful rice terraces you’ve seen in pictures and guidebooks. We’ll drive you to Jatiluwih, an inland area with panoramic views of the rice fields. They are uniquely position along the slopes of the green and fertile Mount Batukaru we talked about earlier. After enjoying the views, continue on to Batukaru Temple. This is a holy site, so please be at your utmost respectful behavior and follow the rules that is posted in front. Don’t worry, it’s easy to follow. And to add to the mystique and intrigue to the site, mist usually welcomes itself in.

www.exotravel.com/