Bali Custom

After enjoying a breakfast featuring fresh island fruits and a spectacular view of the river valley, gardens and Mount Agung, it's time to prepare for a rafting adventure on Ayung River. You will cover 10 kilometers of the river over approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. The trip is divided into two parts with a rest stop on the riverbanks at the halfway point. Along the way you will be treated to a spectacular jungle forest, towering cliffs, and staggeringly crystal-clear water, followed by a buffet-style Indonesian lunch at a quaint restaurant with stunning views of the river and surrounding hills. In the afternoon we'll explore the rice paddies and off-road trails around Ubud, with a stop at Tirta Empul, a holy hot springs temple located near Tampaksiring. We'll return to the hotel to freshen up before meeting up for an evening in Ubud. Take time to stop at the Monkey forest to watch its cheeky inhabitants fool around. Plan to attend a traditional Balinese performance at a local temple before enjoying a delicious dinner at the upscale Bridges restaurant in downtown Ubud overlooking the Tjampuhan River.

After breakfast, our long riders will depart, while the short and medium riders can take time to relax at the hotel and enjoy the spa facilities including pool, hot jaccuzi and steam sauna. Perhaps you'll choose to experience traditional Balinese massage, or join on a daily morning yoga session (not included in trip price). Then, we start cycling up to Kintamni caldeira, stopping along the way to take some photos of the Batur volcano and lake, the largest in all of Bali. Then, we continue over some hilly terrain, through small villages and plantations, and stopping for lunch at Bagus Agro Pelaga plantation. Here, we'll learn about farming from seeding to harvest and observe traditional production of coconut oil, coffee roasting, Balinese cake and palm sugar. After the lunch we will continue down to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Jatiluwih rice terraces. Tonight, gather with the group and toast to another gorgeous day on the Island of the Gods.

If you're up early, take time this morning to walk in the Jatiluwih rice fields until our meeting time in the lobby. Today's challenging first ascent is up to Lake Bratan, where we will pass the strawberry plantation of Bedugul, with a short stop at the Bedugul market. We'll take a break at the lake to visit the Ulun Danu temple. Here, you'll have the option to ascend to Lake Tamblingan and Buayan before cycling down to our day's destination, the village of Munduk. Here, lunch will be served at Sanak Retreat restaurant. This afternoon you can adventure through the rice fields to a sacred waterfall in banyuatis and its holy waters. On your way down to the waterfall you can purchase local spices from huts along the path. This is a truly unique location to reinvigorate the senses, get to know the locals, and rediscover a connection with nature. Continue to Ibu Jero's house for a cooking class where our friend will welcome you into her home to cook up a feast of local delicacies. Learn about local produce, the perfect spice for curry and take home ancient cooking wisdom and recipes that have been handed down through the ages. This is the most authentic way to learn traditional Balinese cooking and to feel deeply rooted into village life. Sit down at the end and enjoy your meal ‘local style’.

Today after a leisurely breakfast, take a stroll through the surrounding plantations or attend a class on Balinese offerings. Ceremonial offerings are an integral part of Balinese daily life. You will also learn the traditional art of canang decoration, and you may want to offer yours to one of the many Balinese gods. Following an educational morning, we'll bike from Munduk down the Northern coast of Bali and reach Brahma Arama Vihara, Bali’s only Buddhist monastery located on a hill overlooking the northern coast. After a brief stop at the monastery and Banjar Hot Spring for a bathing ritual, we'll continue down the coast and by the small town of Seririt, to Kalisada Beach a for lunch at Kali Manik Eco restaurant. You'll marvel at the breathtaking black sand beach before we set off once again to the village of Pemuteran. Rest, relax and recover at our hotel here, before gathering for dinner with the group.

Today we indulge in the famous beaches of Bali! Choose to stay at the black sand beach and enjoy the spa and amenities at the hotel, or challenge yourself with a snorkeling experience on nearby Menjangan Island, where snorkeling and diving are practically a second religion. Here, you can get up close and personal with a living, breathing coral reef before we enjoy a lavish picnic lunch on the island. Tonight, the Matahari Beach Resort & Spa provides the indulgent cuisine from GM Jany-Michel Fourré and Chef Komang Sujana who are renowned for using local, organic Balinese fruits, vegetables, fish and spices in their European-inspired menu.

If you wish to schedule a yoga session this morning after breakfast, this property is known for its wellness instructors and philosophy. Today, we will ride to West Bali through the countryside passing by the villages of Pupuan and Belimbing which feature some of the best rice paddies. We will stop for lunch at Sanda Boutique restaurant in Sanda village on the way. Then we will continue downhill to the West coast then ride or shuttle on the South coast to the famous temple Tanah Lot. Those that ride the entire way will complete a metric century ride of 100k.Tonight we stay at the award winning Tugu Bali Hotel. Dining is not to be missed here, as the chef offers by far the most comforting yet truly innovative cuisine in all of Bali.

Spend you day at leisure at Tugu Bali set on the quiet surf beach of Canggu and enjoy the hotel facilities. Choose to add morning yoga with a variety of classes for different levels, or book a cooking class for a hands-on experience to learn about the centuries-old traditions of Indonesian gastronomy (not included in trip price). This evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner together with a traditional Megibung. Megibung is an exotic occasion of ancient Balinese dining, usually made for family gatherings, meeting or functions. In Megibung, the hair-less sitting arrangements are made from the north-end of the table, starting with the oldest member and ending with the youngest member at the other end of the long table. Each member of the gathering wears traditional Balinese clothing. Originally this traditional dining was held for every Balinese gathering, however these days this way of dining can only be found in few isolated villages in Bali.We will celebrate the trip of a lifetime together.

You've had an amazing trip and learned so much about the food, culture and terrain of this corner of the world, but it's sadly time to say goodbye to the tropical wonderland of Bali. Enjoy a last leisurely morning at Tugu Bali Hotel then meet your guide and driver for a private transfer to the airport for your international flight. You will say farewell to your guides at 10:30 AM at Tugu Bali Hotel. From there, you will transfer back to the airport in a private coach arriving around 11:30 AM. Upon arrival you can transfer to the international terminal and prepare for your departure out of Indonesia.

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