The journey
Eleven days of Balinese culture and coastline for the whole family, from kite-making and a volcano lava field to island snorkeling, highland treks and a Kecak sunset at Uluwatu.
Bali: A Family Journey is an easy-paced introduction to the Island of the Gods, built for families with children of all ages. Learn to make and fly a traditional kite alongside a local craftsman in Sanur, then sail by catamaran to the white sand beaches of Nusa Lembongan for a day of swimming and snorkeling. Ride a 4WD across the lava field of Mount Batur, soak in the sacred spring waters of Tirta Empul, and spend a morning in a Balinese family compound learning the island's traditional Subak irrigation system. Trek through the misty highlands of Munduk to a hidden waterfall, take a family surf lesson on the beach at Kuta, and close the journey with a Kecak fire dance at Uluwatu and a seafood barbecue on the sand at Jimbaran.
Highlights
- Learn traditional Balinese kite-making from a local craftsman in Sanur, then fly your own creation on the beach
- Cruise by catamaran to Nusa Lembongan Island for a day of snorkeling and white sand beaches
- Ride a custom 4WD across Mount Batur's lava field, a vantage point few visitors reach
- Visit a Balinese family compound and learn the island's traditional Subak irrigation system on a village trek near Munduk
- Trek through the highlands of Munduk to Red Coral Waterfall, one of North Bali's most photogenic falls
- Take a family surf lesson at Kuta Beach, then watch the Kecak fire dance at Uluwatu Temple over the Indian Ocean
Included
Accommodation
10 nights across Southern Bali Beaches, Ubud, Munduk and Southern Bali Beaches
Activities
Balinese kite-making with a local craftsman in Sanur · Nusa Lembongan Island day cruise and snorkeling · Mount Batur and Kintamani 4WD lava field crossing · Tirta Empul water temple · Optional Ayung River Rafting or Village Cycling in Ubud · Marga Village family compound visit and Subak irrigation farm trek · Munduk highland trek to Red Coral Waterfall · Ulun Danu Temple at Lake Bratan · Taman Ayun Temple, Mengwi · family surfing lesson at Kuta Beach · Uluwatu Temple and Kecak fire dance · Jimbaran seafood barbecue dinner
Also included
Private air-conditioned vehicle transfers with English-speaking guide throughout · all entrance fees and activities as indicated · breakfast daily from Day 2 (10 total), plus 5 lunches and 2 dinners
The route
Eleven days across Indonesia
4 stops · Southern Bali Beaches to Munduk and back
Southern Bali Beaches
Ubud
Munduk
Stop 1 of 4
Journey's end
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Stop 1 of 4
Day by day
The route in detail
Day 1
Arrival in Bali
Arrive at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar in the afternoon, where a local guide and driver will be waiting for the private transfer to the hotel. After checking in, take some time to relax, freshen up or explore independently. Dinner is at leisure this evening. Overnight in Southern Bali Beaches.
Day 2
Balinese Kite Making in Sanur
After breakfast, transfer a short distance to the home of Mr. Made Dika, a Balinese kite maker in Sanur, to learn the craft of building a traditional kite from bamboo, string and cloth. Owl and butterfly shapes are among the easiest to assemble and pack away for the trip home, and Mr. Dika shares the science behind each design's flight, along with stories of Sanur village's own kite-making traditions and its annual festival. Once assembled, walk to the beach to launch the finished kite with Mr. Dika's help, before continuing along a small pedestrian promenade to a seaside eatery for lunch among a row of colourful outrigger boats. The afternoon is free to relax at the hotel. Overnight in Southern Bali Beaches.
Day 3
Cruise to Nusa Lembongan
Board a catamaran at Benoa Harbour in the morning for a scenic 90-minute sail to the island of Nusa Lembongan, enjoying tea, coffee and light snacks on board as the Bali coastline fades from view. Arrive at a quiet stretch of white sand beach for a free day to relax, swim or snorkel over the colourful reefs just offshore. A buffet lunch of grilled fish, satay and salads is served at a beachfront club overlooking the turquoise bay, before the return sail to Benoa Harbour in the late afternoon and a transfer back to the hotel. Dinner is at leisure this evening. Overnight in Southern Bali Beaches.
Day 4
To Ubud via Kintamani & Tirta Empul
Check out after breakfast and set off on a scenic drive north, winding through rice fields and small villages towards the volcanic caldera of Kintamani, around two hours from the coast. Stop for lunch overlooking Mount Batur and the crescent-shaped Batur Lake, both still ringed by the towering walls of an ancient crater. Continue into the caldera to board a custom 4WD vehicle for a drive along Mount Batur's lava field, a vantage point few visitors reach. Back on the road to Ubud, stop at Tirta Empul, a holy spring temple where the Balinese come for ritual purification; guests are welcome to join in the cleansing bathing ritual themselves. Overnight in Ubud.
Day 5
Free Day in Ubud (Optional Tour Available)
Spend the day at leisure in Ubud, with the option to arrange one of two half-day adventures in advance with your guide. Raft a 10-kilometre stretch of the Ayung River's gentle rapids over around 90 minutes, complete with a safety briefing, dry bag and a stop at the halfway point, finishing with a buffet lunch of Indonesian food; suitable for children aged 7 and older. Alternatively, cycle around 17 kilometres through the rice terraces and villages of Carang Sari, passing through the Sangeh Monkey Forest, before a buffet lunch at a local restaurant. Without an optional activity, the day is free to explore Ubud independently or relax at the hotel. Overnight in Ubud.
Day 6
A Balinese Village & Munduk
After breakfast, travel to Marga, a rural village in the Tabanan regency, for an insight into everyday Balinese life. Be welcomed into a family compound with a traditional drink, learning about the household's daily farming routine, herbal remedies and inscribed palm-leaf manuscripts. Join a farmer for an easy walk through the surrounding countryside to learn about the centuries-old Subak irrigation system, passing through vivid rice fields with the chance to lend a hand at certain times of year. Return to the family compound for a home-style lunch before continuing to Kayuputih Village in Munduk. Overnight in Munduk.
Day 7
Munduk Highland Trek
After breakfast, set off on a gentle trek through Munduk's highlands, following the riverbank past working plantations with a stop at a local house for coffee or tea along the way. Continue to Red Coral Waterfall, one of North Bali's most photogenic and easily accessible falls, before the walk back to the hotel. Overnight in Munduk.
Day 8
To Southern Bali via Bedugul
Check out after breakfast and head towards the central highlands of Bedugul, known for its cool climate and trio of crater lakes. Climb further into the hills to Ulun Danu Temple, set on a small island in Lake Bratan and one of Bali's most photographed sights. Continue south, stopping in Mengwi to visit Taman Ayun Temple, before arriving at the hotel for a change of scenery on a different stretch of Southern Bali's coast to close out the trip. Overnight in Southern Bali Beaches.
Day 9
Family Surfing Lesson at Kuta Beach
Transfer to Kuta Beach in the morning to meet a personal surf instructor, starting with rash guards and a safety briefing before learning the fundamentals of paddling and balance in a pool. Once ready, head out to the ocean to put the basics into practice under the instructor's guidance, over a session lasting around two and a half hours. Enjoy free time to explore the Kuta area afterwards before returning to the hotel, with the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Southern Bali Beaches.
Day 10
Uluwatu, Kecak Dance & Jimbaran
The morning is free at leisure before setting off in the afternoon for Uluwatu, a temple perched dramatically on a clifftop above the Indian Ocean and home to a large population of sacred monkeys. Watch a traditional Kecak fire dance there as the sun sets, its all-male chorus narrating the story of the Ramayana. Continue to Jimbaran for a seafood barbecue dinner on the beach beneath the stars, before returning to the hotel. Overnight in Southern Bali Beaches.
Day 11
Departure
Enjoy a morning at leisure before transferring to the airport for the return flight home.
Moments
Along the way
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