BALI & BEYOND
OCTOBER 13-27, 2012
THE HIGHLIGHTS OF BALI plus world-famous Borobodur Temple in Java & optional overnight tour to see Komodo Dragon Islands.
15 DAY ESCORTED PROGRAM FOR $3,350 includes:
- Roundtrip Air from SFO on Singapore Airlines (price $1800 without air)
- 13 nights in mid-range hotels (7 nts. in Ubud, 1 nt. in Tulamben & 5 nts. in Seminyak/Kuta)
- 22 Meals (13 breakfasts,3 lunches & 6 dinners)
- Full-day tour of the beautiful Borobodur Temple & historic Yogyjakarta on the island of Java- with domestic flights, tours & meals
- Tours of: Mother Temple, Goa Gajah, Rice Paddy Walk, Monkey Forest Temple, Ubud Market, Tulamben Beach, Island Cruise, Uluwatu Temple, Jimbaran Beach, 3 cultural dance shows & more
- 4 Free Days for Optional Tours, Classes, Spa visits, sunrise volcano tour, etc.
- Optional Overnight to see Komodo Dragons and/or optional extension in Singapore on return
One of the thousands of islands that make up the Indonesian archipelago, Bali is a relatively small island with an area of only 2147 square miles. Today, the island is the only remaining stronghold of Hinduism in the archipelago, and Balinese religion is a fascinating mix of Hinduism, Buddhism, Malay ancestor cults, and animistic and magical beliefs and practices. A range of towering volcanic mountains divides the island into northern and southern portions. For the Balinese these mountains are the homes of the gods. Of these, Gunung Agung, Bali's highest mountain at 10,308 feet (3142 meters), is the most sacred to the island's Hindus. Bali is an island of temples. The Department of Religion has cataloged at least eleven thousand temples - small and large, local and regional.
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We are very excited to offer an exciting program to one of our favorite destinations, Bali! Because we have spent many months in Bali and know the culture well, we offer our clients the opportunity to see the real Bali-the stunning sights and local culture that tourists rarely see! Sample the most authentic, freshest cuisine bursting with local flavors! See why Bali was named one of the top 10 shopping destinations in the world! Witness enchanting temple ceremonies at one of the island’s 11,000 temples. Watch mesmerizing religious dances, visit traditional villages and enjoy spectacular rice paddy scenery on this fantastic trip to the “Island of the Gods”. |
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Our base is Ubud-the arts and crafts capital of Bali. Ubud is home of expert artists who have perfected the arts of wood-carving, traditional masks, and silver jewelry through generations of family-owned workshops. Not only famous for its elaborate temple ceremonies and religious dances, Ubud is also a center for spiritual healing and gorgeous landscapes. Ubud offers an array of fantastic delights for visitors, including world-class restaurants and shopping, while still maintaining its small-town charm. Take a cultural workshop, such as Balinese cooking, “batik”, or silver-jewelry making! Pamper yourself at one of the luxurious spas for a full-body treatment with Javanese spices or flower petals! Visit one of Ubud’s many famous spiritual healers-made famous in the book Eat, Pray, Love.
We aim to provide our clients with much more than just the average bus tour. With about 15 travelers per group, our trips are designed for intimate groups, with adequate free time to venture off on your own while still providing the convenience & fun of an organized tour. Because of our local connections, we can offer very reasonably-priced packages that include all the tourist highlights but also provide the opportunity to interact with the local people. We use local guides and locally-owned, charming small hotels and provide background data about the history and culture of this incredible destination to help prepare you for the trip of a lifetime!.
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BALI ITINERARY:
Day 1: Leave from SFO in Singapore Airlines at approx. 1am. Day in route (have to be at airport around 11pm the night before.)
Day 2: Arrive in Bali via short stopover in Singapore. Transfer to Ubud to the charming Biyukukung Hotel in the evening. (website: http://biyukukung.net)
(View from the balcony of the rooms at Biyukukung Hotel)
Day 3: CITY ORIENTATION/PETULU VILLAGE. Breakfast is served from 8am to 9am in the hotel. The hotel has two-story rooms with outdoor showers and balconies with unobstructed rice paddy views. Enjoy the sounds of the frogs and crickets from the hotel’s infinity pool or day spa.
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After our morning orientation, time to change money, have lunch and walk around the charming streets of Ubud. At 5pm, meet in the lobby to go to the nearby village of Petulu to see the thousands of white herons that flock there every evening and hear the special story of this village. Dinner as a group at Café Wayan. (B, D) (click here for more info on restaurant: http://alamindahbali.com/cafe_wayan.htm)
Day 4: RICE PADDY WALK/UBUD MARKET/MONKEY FOREST TEMPLE. At 8am, we will go on a fun walk through the rice paddies to see the beautiful surrounding scenery. One of Ubud’ most famous icons, Darta, featured in the book A Little Bit One O’Clock, will be our guide and will give us some fascinating stories about the local history and culture. A traditional breakfast is served after the walk at his house. Then, he will take us to the Ubud market to see the local arts and crafts, and various ingredients used in Balinese cuisine. From there, we will make our way through the streets of Ubud to the Monkey Forest Temple. He will give us a short tour of the grounds. Afterwards, free time to enjoy Ubud-relax at the hotel, visit a spa, etc. Dinner at Nomad Restaurant, often named one of Ubud’s best restaurants. (B, D) (Visit this website for more info on this restaurant: http://nomad-bali.com/)
(Rice Paddy Walk with Darta-a local celebrity)
Day 5: DAY TOUR OF MOTHER TEMPLE, GOA GAJAH, TAMPAK SIRING & LOCAL TEMPLES. Breakfast served from 8am to 9am. Then we head to the largest and holiest temple, the Mother Temple ( Pura Besakih), located near Bali’s sacred Mt. Agung. Our tour guide will explain the importance of the mountain, as well as the rituals that take place at this temple, which means “the Temple of Spiritual Happiness.” Have a buffet lunch in a traditional Balinese restaurant. Then, stop at the ancient Goa Gajah Elephant Cave to see the elaborate stone carvings dating back to the 9th century. Then, time to shop at two nearby arts and crafts villages, Celuk, world-famous for silver jewelry, and Mas, famous for wood carvings. Return to the hotel around 4pm. You might want to see a Wayan Kulit (puppet show) this evening, or visit Mozaic Restaurant, consistently named one of Asia’s top 5 restaurants. (B, L) (Click here for more info on Mozaic: http://www.mozaic-bali.com/)
(Views of Besakih, Bali’s Mother Temple)
Day 6: FREE DAY & CULTURAL SHOW. Breakfast 7:30am-8:30am at the hotel restaurant. Free day to take an optional class or tour, visit a museum or spa, or visit one of Ubud’s famous healers, Ketut Arsana, owner of Bodyworks or Ketut Liyer, featured in the book and movie Eat, Pray, Love (all of these must be booked 2-3 months in advance.) This evening, we will see one of Bali’s most famous dances-the Legong & Barong, which originated in the 19th century as royal entertainment and features beautiful costumes and a gamelan orchestra. Dinner on your own before or after show-I recommend Batan Waru, Three Monkeys Art Café or Nuri’s Warung. (B) (Click here for more info on Ketut Arsana and Bodyworks: http://ubudbodyworkscentre.com/)
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Day 7: FREE DAY/OPTIONAL SUNRISE VOLCANO TOUR.Optional tour at sunrise to see the Kintamani Volcano, located about an hour north of Ubud. Leave the hotel at 5am. After sunrise, we will have breakfast afterwards and travel through the some of the most beautiful rice paddy scenery in the country returning to Ubud around 12pm. I suggest visiting the very authentic Ibu Oka’s restaurant for lunch to try some real home-cooking, including the traditional roast suckling pig. Free time to get a hot-stone massage at the hotel, visit the Bird Park or Botanical Gardens or take a yoga class. This evening, we will head to dinner at Indus, owned by Janet De Neefe-Ubud resident and author of several cookbooks , including Fragrant Rice. Enjoy live music after dinner. (B, D) (Visit this website for more info on this restaurant: http://www.casalunabali.com/)
(Gorgeous Rice Paddies near Kintamani Volcano)
Day 8: FREE DAY FOR CLASSES, TOURS, SPA, ETC. Free day to take a class, do some shopping or take an optional tour. Group dinner at Lotus Café, another one of Ubud’s most celebrated restaurants. In front of the restaurant is the beautiful Saraswati Temple, dedicated to the Goddess of Knowledge. We will enjoy traditional gamelan music during dinner. (B, D) (Click here for more info on this restaurant: http://www.lotus-restaurants.com/cafe-lotus-ubud)
Day 9: TULAMBEN BEACH. After breakfast & check out, head to the Eastern side of Bali, known for excellent snorkeling and diving. Along the way, we will stop for lunch at a scenic restaurant by Candidasa Beach and a stop at Tirta Gangga, the Holy Water Palace. After seeing some spectacular rice terraces, arrive in Tulamben and check into the Hotel Tauch Terminal (or similar). Free time here to snorkel, swim in the ocean or go night-diving at the shipwreck U.S. Liberty from World War 2, located just a few feet from shore. Overnight here. (B)
(Tirta Gangga, Holy Water Palace)
Day 10: VISIT TO LOCAL VILLAGE/SEMINYAK. After breakfast, we will visit a local village to see the traditional way of life in a rural village. Return to the hotel for lunch and checkout. Then, head to the coastal towns of Kuta & Seminyak. Arrive and check into hotel Kuta Puri (or similar) around 4pm. Free time. (B) (Visit the hotel’s website at: http://www.kutapuri.com/)
DAY 11: YOGYAKARTA & BOROBODUR. Head to the Denpasar airport at 5am for our short flight to Yogyajakarta on the island of Java to visit one of the most famous temples in the world, Borobudur. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating from the 8th century with more than 500 Buddhist statues and spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. After our guided temple visit, we will see some of the main highlights of the city of Yogyajakarta to see the Sultan Palace and Water Castle before returning to Bali by flight around 11pm (B, L, D) (Click here for info on Borobudur: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borobudur
Day 12: FREE DAY. Breakfast served from 7-10am. Free day at beach to relax, shop or do a spa trip. (B)
DAY 13: OPTIONAL TOUR OF FLORES/KOMODO DRAGONS OR NUSA LEMBONGAN ISLAND CATAMARAN CRUISE
OPTION #1-OVERNIGHT TOUR TO FLORES: Meet in the lobby at 8am for our flight to the island of Flores. Upon arrival, we will board the boat for the cruise to Rinca, the main island inhabited by the fierce Komodo Dragons. These islands are the only place in the world where you can see these amazing creatures in the wild! After lunch on board, time to tour the Rinca National Park with our guide. Return to the town of Labuhan Bajo, Flores for one night at a budget hotel. Cost is approx. $350 with domestic flights included. Return to Bali the next day around noon. (B, L) (The Komodo Dragon)
OPTION #2-NUSA LEMBONGAN ISLAND CRUISE: Meet in the lobby at 8am for transfer to the Benoa Pier, where the fast-boat awaits the group. After a 1 ½ hour ride, arrive at Nusa Lembongan. Have time for snorkeling, kayaking, banana boat &/or glass bottom boat rides. Or, enjoy the nearby resort’s pool. A BBQ is served on board. All food, non-alcoholic drinks & water sports are included! Return to hotel at 5pm. (B, L) (See details at: http://www.bali-cruise.com/funship.html)
(Nusa Lembongan)
DAY 14: FREE MORNING/ULUWATU TEMPLE & JIMABARAN BEACH. Breakfast served 7-10am. Free time for shopping, a surfing lesson or relaxing. Meet in the hotel lobby at 3pm for the visit the scenic temple of Uluwatu, perched over a seaside cliff. We will have a short guided visit of the temple before going to the open-air amphitheater to watch Bali’s most famous dance-the Kecak Dance. Often called the Monkey Dance or Fire Dance, this incredible dance incorporates about one hundred participants and fire! Our farewell dinner is a fresh seafood BBQ on the beach at Jimbaran Bay. Return to the hotel around 10:30pm. (B, D) (Visit this website for more info on the kecak dance: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kecak)
DAY 15: FLIGHT HOME. Breakfast is served from 7-10am. Checkout at 10am to go to the airport for the 1pm flight. Arrive in SF at 5:30pm after short layovers in Singapore and Hong Kong. (B)
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SPACE IS LIMITED.
TRIP DEPOSIT OF $1,000 DUE BY APRIL 1, 2012. FINAL BALANCE DUE BY AUGUST 1, 2012
CONTACT US FOR REGISTRATION FORMS OR DETAILS
SAMPLE OF OPTIONAL TOURS/ACTIVITIES:
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! Classes begin in the morning and last 4-5 hours on Mon-Fri. (Fri is the beginner class with Balinese classics.) Cost is approx. $35. Visit: www.casalunabali.com for menus/dates.
BATIK: Learn the beautiful art of making batik in this 5 hour introductory course with Nirvana Studio and well-known Ubud artist Nyoman Suradyna! You will take home your colorful creation. Cost is $40 for a one-day course. Courses offered Mondays, Wednesdays & Saturdays from about 10am to 3pm.
BIRDWATCHING: Hike through the nearby rice paddies with famous 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 9am to 1pm on Tues, Fri, Sat and Sun, including lunch. Cost is $35US. Website is: www.balibirdwalk.com
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 $69 for adults and $50 for kids up to 15 years old for a day from 8am to 3pm with lunch. Website: www
BIKING: This is an easy, downhill bike ride and one of everyone’s favorite tours! 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 350,000 , approx $35. Website: www.balibike.com
HIRE A DRIVER: Hire a private English-speaking driver with a comfortable, air-conditioned car to take you to one of the other sights around Ubud. You can visit the Bali Bird Park, the Mother Temple at Besakih, local woodcarving or silver villages, art galleries, local tailors, or several other interesting spots around town. Price is $30 for half-day or $45 for full-day. Car seats 5 comfortably. Check out Agung’s website at: www.balibestdriver.com
OTHER OPTIONS IN UBUD: BALI BIRD PARK, BALI BOTANICAL GARDENS, NEKA ART MUSEUM, YOGA CLASSES, SILVER JEWELRY MAKING AND MORE!
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