Tour 12 – Round trip with cultural programme
Our most comprehensive round trip combines Bali's most interesting sights with extra time in and around Ubud – the centre of Balinese craftsmanship. Even the daily offerings are true works of art.
Day 1 – Tanah Lot and the west
Pick-up from your hotel. This extensive round trip begins at the famous Tanah Lot sea temple on its small rocky island. We continue west to the potters' village of Pejaten, drive along the west coast to the rice terraces of Belimbing with a lunch stop, then visit Bali's only Buddhist monastery and continue via Seririt to Pemuteran for the night.
Day 2 – Snorkelling and mountain lakes
After breakfast there is time for snorkelling on the hotel reef – the colours of the coral fish are overwhelming. We then visit the monkey temple Pulaki, drive past clove and coffee plantations via Pupuan to the Munduk waterfall and on to the crater lakes Tamblingan and Buyan. Lunch stop and a visit to the vegetable, fruit and spice market near Bedugul. Overnight in the highlands.
Day 3 – From Lake Bratan to Ubud
A short drive takes us to the Pura Ulun Danu temple on Lake Bratan, then to the former capital Singaraja with its Chinese temple at the old harbour. Along the north coast we reach the rice goddess temple Pura Beji in Sangsit, then climb into the highlands of Kintamani with wonderful views of Lake Batur and its volcano (1,717 m). After the lunch stop we descend past fruit plantations to the artists' village of Ubud for the night.
Day 4 – Craftsmanship and the sacred east
First on the programme is Bali's craftsmanship: the woodcarvers' village of Kemenuh near Mas and the gold- and silversmiths of Celuk, where you can watch the gifted Balinese at work. We continue to Bangli and the unique Pura Kehen temple; lunch in the hills of East Bali with a wonderful view. We then visit the Besakih mother temple on the slopes of Gunung Agung and continue via Selat and Bebandem to the east coast for the night.
Day 5 – Tenganan and return
After breakfast a short drive takes us to the Bali Aga village of Tenganan, where a pre-Hindu tradition of Bali survives in a very original form. We then visit the bat cave temple Goa Lawah and the traditional salt-making on the black sand beach of Kusamba. Then return to your hotel.