Bali & Lombok: Nature & Islands

Arrive at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, where an English-speaking guide will be waiting for the private transfer to the hotel in Ubud. Check in and spend the rest of the day at leisure, adjusting to the tropical climate. Overnight in Ubud.

Head into central Bali for a hands-on look at regenerative farming practices at a farm north of Ubud, walking through a working Subak irrigation system and its local temple before exploring the permaculture garden. Continue to Tampak Siring, to the private house of a former museum curator and leading expert on the Pakerisan river area, a recently listed UNESCO World Heritage site of ancient temples and monuments. His successor shares his research into preserving the area's temples for future generations, with a delightful lunch served in the house, seated amid rice fields on a ridge above the sacred Pakerisan River. In the afternoon, visit Mengening Temple, an ancient sanctuary dating to the reign of King Marakata in 1022 AD, with fascinating relics and sacred springs. Take part in a self-purification ritual, cleansing body and soul with sacred water in the Balinese tradition. Overnight in Ubud.

Head to central-western Bali, beginning at Batukaru Temple, known locally as Pura Luhur Batukaru, one of Bali's most significant temples. Set at the base of Mount Batukaru and wrapped in cool, mossy forest, the temple is a serene retreat, its mystical atmosphere heightened by mist rolling across the mountain's forested slopes. Continue for an hour-long e-bike tour through Jatiluwih, riding through the heart of over 300 hectares of UNESCO-listed rice terraces with a professional guide sharing the history and significance of the landscape. Enjoy lunch at a bamboo forest restaurant set 900 metres above sea level on the slopes of Mount Batukaru. Finish the day at Tanah Lot, one of Bali's most photographed sea temples, its name meaning 'Land in the Sea' for its dramatic offshore setting atop a rocky outcrop. Watch the sky shift through the colours of dusk before returning to the hotel. Overnight in Ubud.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport with the assistance of an English-speaking guide for the flight to Lombok. On arrival, meet a local English-speaking guide and transfer to the hotel in Kuta. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Kuta, Lombok.

Head to Tanjung Luar Harbor for a day of island hopping by small fishing boat around Lombok's secluded southern islands. Begin at Segui Beach, its soft pink hue drawn from tiny coral particles blended with sand, closely resembling Lombok's famous Pink Beach. Continue to Gili Petelu to snorkel in crystal-clear waters alive with marine life, then arrive at Tangui Pink Beach for a traditional lunch and time to unwind on its distinctive rose-tinted sand. On the return journey, stop at Gili Pasir, a sandbank that emerges only at low tide, surrounded by turquoise water, conditions permitting. Overnight in Kuta, Lombok.

Enjoy a day at leisure to relax at the hotel or explore the surrounding area independently. Optional excursions can be arranged locally, including a full-day trip to Aik Berik Village in the Rinjani Geopark to see the twin Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu waterfalls, followed by visits to Sukarara, a village known for traditional Songket weaving, and Penujak, the island's oldest pottery centre. Overnight in Kuta, Lombok.

Late in the morning, transfer to Teluk Nare Harbor for a speedboat crossing to Gili Meno, the quietest of the three Gili Islands, known for its serene, sparsely inhabited shores of white sand and shady palms interspersed with grassland where cattle graze. Arrive at Gili Meno and spend the rest of the day at leisure on the beach. Overnight in Gili Meno.

Enjoy a full day at leisure, taking in the resort's facilities or exploring the island's quiet surroundings independently. Overnight in Gili Meno.

In the morning, transfer by traditional boat to Bangsal Harbor, then continue on a join-speedboat transfer back to Bali, with a stopover at Gili Trawangan along the way. Arrive at Sanur Harbor, where an English-speaking guide will assist with the transfer to the hotel in Tanjung Benoa. Overnight in Tanjung Benoa.

Spend the day at leisure, enjoying the resort's facilities or exploring the surrounding area independently. Overnight in Tanjung Benoa.

Enjoy the morning at leisure at the resort. In the late afternoon, drive up to Uluwatu Temple, perched dramatically atop a cliff around 70 metres above the waves, one of Bali's finest spots to watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean, its traditional gateways and ancient sculptures adding to the temple's appeal. Stay on for one of Bali's most iconic performances, a Kecak dance at the clifftop amphitheater beside the temple. Watch a troupe of 75 male dancers depict the story of Sri Rama, chanting in unison with outstretched arms as the sun sets, the performance building to a dramatic close lit by torches. Conclude the evening with an elaborate dinner of authentic Indonesian dishes. Overnight in Tanjung Benoa.

Enjoy breakfast and the morning at leisure at the resort, before the transfer to Denpasar Airport for the onward flight home.