ISLANDS OF THE GODS: BALI

JANUARY 3-19, 2010, June 3-18, 2010

SIGN-UP DEADLINE MARCH 1, 2010 FOR JULY TRIP

PRICE IS $3100 PER PERSON ($ 2750 FOR A THIRD PERSON IN THE ROOM.) SINGLE SUPPLEMENT CHARGE OF $400 APPLIES.

ABOUT OUR COMPANY	downloadable brochure

We are very excited to offer an exciting program to one of our favorite destinations, Bali! One of your tour guides for this trip, Mellissa Withers, has spent many months in Bali and knows the culture and language well. You will get to see the real Bali-not just the best tourist sites but also to experience more of the culture that tourists never get to see.  Innovative Immersion Tour Programs is dedicated to providing opportunities for people of all ages to travel and study abroad. Through our escorted programs, we provide the opportunity for our clients to participate in another culture, whether it is in one of our many language immersion programs or a travel program that offers a unique glimpse into another culture.

On our cultural tours, we aim to provide our clients with more than just a bus tour by spending more time in one destination and incorporating more than just the standard tourist destinations. We offer the opportunity to attend local festivals, interact with local people and participate in cultural workshops or classes. Our clients are also provided informational packets on the trip that include background data about the history and culture of the destination.
We also use local guides and locally-owned hotels whenever possible. With an average of 15 travelers, our trips are designed for small, intimate groups and plan adequate free time for participants to venture off on your own while still providing the convenience & fun of an organized tour.  As always, one of our staff will escort the group to guarantee that everything runs as smoothly as possible.

WHAT THIS TRIP INCLUDES:

• Roundtrip airfare from San Francisco (other cities available) on Singapore Airlines. Stopover in Singapore allowed on the way home for $50 more. 
• Private airport transfers
• American trip escort and bilingual local guides
• Private air-conditioned bus transportation
• 13 nights in Bali in mid-range hotels-based on double occupancy (9 nights in Ubud & 4 nights at Legian)
• 24 meals (13 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 8 dinners)
• 1 ½ hour spa treatment, such as massage, manicure/pedicure (one per room)
• Island cruise with all water-sports included
• Tours to temples, lake, volcano, markets, local villages, etc.
• 5 free days to relax, shop, hit one of the fabulous day spas or participate in an optional activity, such as rafting, birdwatching or taking a class in silver jewelry making, cooking, batik, etc.
• 3 cultural shows

BALI ITINERARY:

DAY 1: Please arrive at the San Francisco airport by 10pm. DAY 2: Day in travel. DAY 3: Arrive in Bali at 7pm after 1 hour layover in Hong Kong and 3 ½ layover in Singapore and transfer to Ubud to hotel. DAY 4: Free day to rest or visit the spa after travel. Meet in the hotel lobby at 12pm if you want to change money and join us for lunch at Three Monkeys Café. At 5pm we will have an orientation in the hotel restaurant. (B)

DAY 6: After breakfast, meet in the lobby at 9:30am. Get to know the charming town of Ubud! We will take a 1 hour walking tour & visit the monkey forest & local market. We will stop for lunch. Free time in the afternoon to visit the Ubud Botanical Gardens. At 5:30pm, we will head by cars to the nearby scenic village of Petulu to see the thousands of White Herons that mysteriously flock here. Then, we will go to dinner at Nomad.  (B, D)

DAY 7: Free day for optional activity or class (see list below.) Meet in the hotel lobby at 6pm to go to dinner at Lotus Café. There is a dance show there at 7pm. (B, D)

DAY 8: After breakfast, be in the lobby at 8:30am. We will head to Bedugul, located 1 ½ hours from Ubud. We will stop for lunch and to see the local market. Then, we will visit the temple at the lake. We will also stop at Mas, a local woodcarving village. Return about 4pm. Visit one of the fabulous Ubud restaurants on your own this evening. After dinner, see the famous Legong-Barong dance at 7:30pm. (B, L)

DAY 9: Another free day in Ubud. Meet in the hotel lobby at 6pm for our dinner at Casa Luna. (B, D) DAY 10: Breakfast at 8am and then go to the holy Bat Cave near Candidasa Beach. Then we will drive another 45 minutes to the traditional Tanganan to see the original Balinese peoples, called the Bali Aga. We will spend two hours visiting their village and watching demonstrations of their impressive textile and basket weaving skills, as well as sanscrit drawings. Then we will stop before we arrive at the holy water palace of Tirta Gangga to admire some of the most gorgeous scenery on the island. Then, we will visit the water palace before returning to the oceanside town of Candisasa for lunch. Return to Ubud around 5pm. (B, L)

DAY 11: Another free day in Ubud. Meet at the hotel lobby at 6:30pm for dinner. (B, D)

DAY 12: Checkout at noon. We will go to Legian/Seminyak, on the coast. Check into Hotel Kumala Pantai. After lunch at our hotel, free time to rest. Then at 4:30pm head to Tanah Lot, the famous sea temple perched on a rock that becomes an island at high tide. Watch the spectacular sunset, touch a seasnake for good luck & receive a blessing from a Hindu priest. Back to Seminyak for dinner at Rumors. (B, D)

DAY 13: We leave at 8am to board our island cruise to the beautiful island of Nusa Lembongan. After 1 ½ hours, arrive & snorkel, swim, kayak or take a fun banana boat &/or glass bottom boat ride. Enjoy the resort’s facilities & BBQ. All food, non-alcoholic drinks and water sports are included! Return to hotel at 5pm. (B, L, D)

DAY 14: Free day at beach to relax, shop or do a spa trip. Meet in the hotel lobby at 4:30 for the visit to one of Bali’s most scenic and most famous temples at Uluwatu. We will havea  quick visit of the temple before sitting down in the open-air amphitheater to watch the Kecak dance. This dance, often called the Monkey Dance or the Fire Dance, incorporates about one hundred dancers and fire! Dinner with be fresh seafood on the beach at Jimbaran Bay. Return to the hotel around 11pm. (B, D)

DAY 15: Free day at the beach or for more shopping! Meet for dinner in the lobby to go to nearby Zanzibar restaurant! (B, D)

DAY 16: Be ready in the lobby at 10am to go to the airport. Flight is at 1pm. Arrive in SF at 5:30pm after short layovers in Singapore and Hong Kong. (B)

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:

EXAMPLE OF HOTELS:

REGISTRATION PROCEDURES:

We are taking sign ups now! Register with a $1000 non-refundable deposit. Final payment is due 75 days prior to departure. Late payments are charged a $50 late fee. Space is limited.

Cancellations received more than 45 days prior to trip departure will be refunded except for airline ticket (if already purchased), $500 deposit, $300 hotel pre-payment and a $100 processing fee. Full payment is non-refundable within 45 days prior to trip departure. Contact us for more information on our terms and conditions.

We highly recommend trip cancellation and medical insurance. The company we use is called Access America. Please contact us for a brochure.

OPTIONALS:

OPTIONAL CLASSES/WORKSHOPS IN BALI:

SILVER JEWELRY MAKING: Make a unique piece of silver jewelry in this 3-hour class at Studio Perak. You will receive 5 grams of silver in order to make a ring, pendant, etc. You can purchase stones or more silver. The class has a maximum of 4 people so you will receive a lot of personalized instruction. Morning or afternoon classes available. Cost is $20. Visit the website at www.studioperak.com for details.

BALINESE COOKING: Begin with an interesting market tour to learn about important spices and ingredients. Learn how to cook several traditional Balinese dishes, such as sate with peanut sauce, gado-gado salad, fried rice and black rice pudding. Then sample all the dishes you have made! Morning classes available, lasting 4-5 hours. Cost is $30. visit the website at: www.casalunabali.com for menus and dates

BATIK: Learn the beautiful art of making batik in this 4-hour introductory course with Nirvana Studio and well-known Ubud artist Nyoman Suradyna! You will take home your colorful creation. Cost is $38. Courses offered Mondays, Wednesdays & Saturdays from about 10am to 2pm.

OPTIONAL TOURS/ACTIVITIES IN BALI:

BALI BIRD PARK: See the many species of birds native to this region of the world. This large park offers shows and beautiful views. Cost is $30.

BIRDWATCHING: Hike through the nearby rice paddies with naturalist Victor Mason. Victor is the author of several important birding textbooks and local guides. He will enthrall you with his interesting explanations of the local flora and fauna. Morning tour available from 8am to 1pm, including lunch. Cost is $35.

WHITEWATER RAFTING:  Head to the water for a fun-filled morning of rafting on the nearby Ayung River. View spectacular rice paddy scenery and paddle by 2 waterfalls. Includes lunch. Class 2. Cost is $65 for a day from 9am to 2pm with lunch. Visit the website at www.99bali.com/adventure/sobek/rafting.cfm for details...

BIKING: This is an easy, downhill bike ride! You will not only witness the beauty of the island and the area by Kintamani Volcano, but you will make several stops to experience the local culture. Watch women harvesting rice in the paddies, see how coffee is grown, etc. All-day tour from 8am to 3pm with lunch. Cost is $40.

TULAMBEN WRECK DIVING OR SNORKELING: Tulamben is located on the Eastern side of the island. The U.S. Liberty, a ship from World War 2 that was sunk off the coast of Lombok, is located right off shore, in front of our hotel. This site is known to be one of the best sites in Bali for diving and snorkeling because of the amazing variety of fish and wildlife. You can walk right from the beach into the water to see the wreck. Dives cost $50 with equipment & dive guide. You can opt for a day or night dive-or both! Rent snorkeling equipment for $10 per day. Private transportation back to Ubud the following day costs $10 each. Visit http://www.atlantis-bali-diving.com/bali_dive_sites.html for additional information.

RICE PADDY WALK: Walk through some of the most beautiful rice paddies in the surrounding areas of Ubud with one of Ubud’s icons-Darta. Darta is a lawyer and village leader and will explain Balinese traditions, agricultural systems and other interesting information about the local culture. After the 3-hour walk, have breakfast at his nearby guesthouse. From 7am to 11am. Cost is $20 per person.

HIRE A CAR & DRIVER: For $45 per day or $25 per half-day, you can hire an English-speaking driver with an air-conditioned car that seats up to 6 people to take you to some of the other delightful places around Ubud. For example, you may want to visit the Mother Temple at Besakih. Or, visit some of the charming arts and crafts villages, such as those known for batik, silver or carvings. Or, make a stop at the BALI BIRD PARK (entrance of $13.75 per person not included) or the well-done UBUD BOTANICAL GARDENS (entrance of $5.50 per person not included.)

YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO SCHEDULE:

BODY MASSAGE: Massage with the world-famous masseur and healer Sri Guru Mahatma. He is normally booked up for 3-4 months in advance so we recommend that you email him to make an appointment at least 3 months in advance. The cost is $55 for a one-hour, deep-tissue massage. The studio is called Bodyworks in Ubud. Their website is www.ubudbodyworkscentre.com