Excursions by PRIVATE VEHICULE with English-speaking driver / guide
• Centre West : Lake Bratan & Jatiluwith
Duration: Approximately 9 hours - Departure around 08:30 - Lunch included
Visit the Temple of Taman Ayun, built in the mid seventeenth century by the royal family of Mengwi. Then drive to the temple of Ulun Danu located on the banks of Lake Bratan and dedicated to the goddess of the waters. Walk around the lake of Tamblingan where you will take a pirogue for a crossing of about 30 minutes to the Pura Dalem and return on foot (about 1 hour) or take a 45-minute crossing to Pura Ulun Danu and return on foot (about 2 hours). You will be able to have lunch with a family of local fishermen (included) before continuing towards Jatiluwith, one of the most beautiful valleys of Bali, with its splendid terraced rice paddies. Take a half-hour walk in this fabulous landscape to Pura Besi Kalung Utu or an hour’s walk to the village of Utu. If time permits before your return, visit the Munduk waterfalls.
Other possible options, allowing for greater freedom, time permitting :
- Vegetable Market at Baturiti
- Traditional market at Bedugul
- Botanical Gardens (Tree Top trail – a fun and challenging circuit through the trees for those aged 4 – over 70)
- You can take lunch or coffee at the summit between the two lakes at the Puncak Bagus Café.
• Centre-East : Kintamani & Ubud
Duration: Approximately 9 hours – Departure around 08:30 - Lunch included
Visit the Gunung Kawi Tampak Siring Temple (funerary Temple), go down 300 steps to the rice paddies (10 minutes down, 30 minutes back up). Continue to the village of Kintamani which offers spectacular views of Lake Batur ; the volcano is the starting point of a walk on the ancient lava flows. Lunch can be taken at the Apung restaurant at the edge of the lake (included). Then head for Ubud via Tegallalang - an artists’ village, where you will learn about woodcarving. On arrival in Ubud, take a 45 minute walk through the Monkey Forest. The guide will pick you up at Keliki outside Ubud. Return to the hotel. Other possible options, allowing for greater freedom, time permitting:
- Visit museums in Ubud: Neka, Antonio Blanco, Arma, Puri Lukisan, Rudana.
- The Ubud market and/or the traditional market of Sukawati, a good place for shopping
• Central area : Ubud and Surroundings
Duration: Approximately 9 hours – Departure around 08:30 - Lunch included
Visit the traditional market at Sukawati. Take a two and a half hour walk from the market of Ubud to the village of Payogan, a small village surrounded by paddy fields. Lunch included in Ubud, at the home of a Balinese family. Visit the Temple of Goa Lunch included in Ubud, at the home of a Balinese family. Visit the Temple of Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave), Yeh Pulu (a temple with bas reliefs depicting animals and scenes of daily Balinese life), then the temple Penataran Sasih Pejeng, famous for the legend of "the Pejeng Moon", a huge copper drum which fell from the sky ... Opportunity also to visit the temple of Gunung Kawi Sebatu. Late afternoon visit to the village of Petulu where you will see the magnificent spectacle of thousands of herons gathering together.
Other possible options, allowing for greater freedom, time permitting:
- Visit museums in Ubud: Neka, Antonio Blanco, Arma, Puri Lukisan, Rudana.
- Lunch in Ubud; Aris Small Warung, Cafe Wayan and Lotus Café (surcharge).
• Eastern Region : The Mother Temple and Sidemen
Duration: Approximately 9 hours – Departure around 08:30 - Lunch included
Visit the former Palace of Justice of Klungkung and its floating pavilions. Continue to the Mother Temple of Besakih, on the slopes of Mount Agung, the highest and therefore the most sacred of the volcanoes. Besakih is a complex of some thirty temples dedicated to all the gods honoured in Bali and to all deified royal ancestors.
Lunch in a small warung in the village of Sidemen (famous for its superb scenery of rice fields), then you will have the opportunity to take a walk in this magnificent environment (1-2 hours). Visit a factory producing Ikat (special woven fabric), arak and coffee. Meet a Balinese family in their traditional house where they make coconut oil.
• South-East Region : Penglipuran & the Beach of Pasir Putih
Duration: Approximately 9 hours – Departure around 08:30 - Lunch included
Leave the Villa Mathis and drive for about 1 ½ hours through traditional Balinese villages and rice fields. Arrival in and visit of the village of Penglipuran (a bamboo village) ; take a 30 minute walk around the village and through the bamboo forest. Continue to the Temple of Kehen; lunch included at a local home ("Chez Made") in Bakas - she will give you a short lesson in local cooking and culinary offerings. Continue eastwards for a relaxing stop on the beautiful white sand beach of Pasir Putih, visit the traditional pottery factory in Perasi and the village of Tenganan, populated by the Bali Aga, descendants of the original inhabitants of Bali before the arrival of the Majapahits.
Other possible options, allowing for greater freedom, time permitting: Possibility of hiking from Bebandem to Tenganan (approximately 2 ½ hours) off the usual tourist paths. Surrounded by mountains and sea, the terraced rice paddies spread out on a gentle slope. You will go down from the mountains to the plains, passing through small traditional villages lost between the rice fields where life moves at a leisurely pace. You will end your visit by exploring one of the oldest villages in Bali - this option does not allow you to go to Pasir Putih.
