Intimate Bali, between serenity & authenticity

Welcome at Denpasar airport and transfer to Tanah Lot, by the sea.

The rest of the day is free.

This morning, you discover the Temple Tanah Lot, which means "Land of the Sea" in Balinese. It stands on an islet battered by ocean waves, and is a pilgrimage site highly prized by tourists and photographers. The Tanah Lot temple was built in the 16th century on the advice of the famous Javanese priest Danghyang Nirartha to pay homage to the guardian spirits of the sea.

Note: This famous temple is much less visited in the early hours of the day.

Then, you head towards Pemuteran, a small coastal resort located on the northwest coast of Bali, far from tourist crowds, making a few stops along the way.

You stop at Medewi beach, in the western part of the island, where you meet Sudana, a Balinese farmer, who is the proud owner of the last three albino buffaloes on the island. This is an opportunity for a ride through beaches and rice fields in their company and to learn more about agricultural techniques and traditions.

Further on, in the small village of Perancak, you will meet the fishing community, whose beautifully decorated boats can carry up to twenty crew members.

Arrival in Pemuteran in the middle or late afternoon.

Short transfer to Munduk, located in a region of Bali steeped in history, considered the cradle of Balinese culture. The old Dutch colonists loved to stay here as a retreat, from the former colonial capital of Singaraja (on the north coast).

You stroll around the village to discover the beauty of the surrounding nature. The surroundings of Munduk indeed form a picturesque scene with its coffee and clove plantations near forests and waterfalls.

Then, you continue your journey towards Candi Kuning, along the volcanic lakes Tamblingan and Buyan. These two lakes were in the past a single body of water until the enormous landslide of 1818, permanently separating them. This magnificent hike is an opportunity to discover the local agricultural and cultural life, skirting and crossing the beautiful tropical forests of the island.

You visit the superb Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, one of Bali's wonders. This place is enchanting, with its immense banyan tree at the entrance and its superb gardens. One of the temples is nestled on a small island, and its 11-level roof elegantly reflects in the waters of the lake.

You then take the pulse of the picturesque market of Bedugul, before heading to the small village of Plaga, in the center of the island.

Excursion: 2 hours

Morning transfer to east Bali. On the way, you first visit the Kehen Temple in Bangli. This temple is one of the most venerated in Bali. Its vegetable garden and its temple with eleven "meru" make it a place filled with spirituality and traditions.

You also make a stop at the stunning Goa Raja waterfalls, a mystical place and relatively unknown to travelers. Nestled in the heart of the jungle, creating an enchanting setting where lush vegetation blends with crystal-clear waters, these waterfalls cascade with force into natural pools, surrounded by moss-covered rocks and ferns, creating a peaceful and almost sacred environment.

You also visit the Besakih Temple. Located on the misty slopes of Mount Agung, at 1,000 meters altitude, it is the most important temple on the island and includes a religious complex of 22 separate temples, spread over seven terraces. Between its 11-story "meru" roofs, the near-constant religious ceremonies and its viewpoint "between sea and mountains," this temple is surely one of the most spiritual. It is also the oldest and most venerated temple in Bali.

Afternoon transfer to Sidemen, one of Bali's most beautiful valleys (numerous rice fields, salak plantations and weaving workshop-houses for the famous ikats…).

Morning transfer to the Bali Aga village of Tenganan, which has preserved Balinese culture predating the Javanese influence of the Hindu Majapahit dynasty. To preserve their village from the harmful effects of intrusion by those uninitiated in the cult of Batara Indra, every visitor is welcomed from noon until nightfall, after which each is asked to continue on their way. There was a time when the villagers of Tenganan would even sweep away the footprints of visitors to completely erase any trace of their visit.

After the visit, you embark on a lovely hike through fields and rice paddies toward The royal baths of Tirtagangga (whose exact translation is "The waters of the Ganges"), on the southeastern slopes of Agung.

Walk: 3-4h

Free morning.

Officially known as Tirta Ayu, the freshwater basin complex of Tirtagangga was one of many aquatic palaces built by a king of Karangasem. This place surrounded by a beautiful display of terraced rice paddies is the ideal place to relax. Early afternoon, departure for Pura Lempuyan. An incredibly steep road leads to the start of what can be considered a pilgrimage. 7 temples, 1,500 steps connecting them and a plunging view of the sea: a majestic setting. Then, visit Tirtagangga, the royal palace with incredible decor, classical statues in original postures and countless basins and water jets.

Transfer to Amed late afternoon.

Excursion: 3-4 hours

Free time until the transfer to the airport.