Activities
A unique blend of experiences to nurture your soul
Please click on the photos to watch a video where applicable
Accommodation
Days 1-6
Hotel Tjamphuan will be your base for the first 6 nights and is a perfect mix of old and new. Comfortable Twin Share Superior Agung Rooms with air conditioning, Wifi and all amenities are included as part of our package. Single rooms are available at an extra cost. Owned by the Indonesian royal family, this stunning hotel is the perfect spot to relax and access all that Ubud has to offer. Located on the outskirts of Ubud's centre, it is the ideal location from which to access all activities and away from the hustle and bustle of the main strip. Breakfast is included and the hotel provides a relaxing spa for those special massages. Enjoy the pool or a drink in the bar or on your balcony. This is so much more than a Western style hotel.
Accommodation
Days 7-8
You will spend your last night and final day based at Arya Arkananta Resort and Spa. This out of the way hotel/spa is set amongst the rice fields near Sayan and is home to a truly unique experience that will leave you feeling relaxed and at peace. On the last day of your stay, after your complimentary breakfast, you will be treated to a yoga session at the spa. After checking out you will have the option of staying at the hotel and partaking of the other wellness activities on offer. This will be at your own expense. For those interested, we will take you to the Antonio Blanco Museum for a guided tour of the artist's home. Please refer to the information below. Alternatively you can make use of the free shuttle to take you into Ubud for some last minute shopping. Or you may just like to lie around the peaceful pools. It's up to you. After an early dinner we will head to the airport for our flight home. For more information on the Spa's activities please click the button.
Batik
There is no more quintessential Balinese art form than that of Batik. We undertake a half day course in the home of famous Batik artist Nyoman Suradnya (recently deceased) under the guidance of local artists and Nyoman's son. Learn the exquisite process from start to finish and end the session enjoying a traditional meal with the family. Your artwork will be left with the artists to be dyed, washed, and finalised, ready to take home.
Lobong Cooking School
Most cooking schools are held in hotels or cluttered restaurant kitchens. Not this one! We want you to experience the 'Real Bali'. This family run class, based in their beautiful home is more often than not rated the number one activity by our tour groups. Picked up early in the morning, you are taken higher up into the hills to a local village. Here you will be guided around the local market, where it is likely you will be the only English speaking people. Your guide, Sunday, will show you all the local produce and identify and explain those items that you will use in your cooking class. Then it's back to the family compound where you spend a fascinating time learning about the Balinese family culture and religion. The customs surrounding the family group are explained in detail and give you a real insight into the gentle and complex Hindu religion and the Balinese way of life. There is no substitute for hearing it from a local and having the chance to ask questions, and learn in quiet, safe and comfortable surroundings.
Afterwards you will head to the kitchen area. This is where the magic happens. The instructor's patient, informed approach, makes the experience memorable. You will prepare your entire lunch from scratch, consisting of a range of traditional dishes, using fresh local produce. It's a full hands on experience and something that will cater for all, regardless of their culinary skill set. Once cooked, the group will sit down in the beautiful garden pavilion and eat the lunch that they have cooked. A booklet detailing the recipes that you have prepared will be given to each person. All food preferences and handling requirements are easily catered for.
Traditional Mask Painting
Working alongside local artists at the beautiful Purilukisan Museum, you will be provided with a traditional, hand carved mask, typical of those used during ceremonies and dance performances. You will be instructed on how to paint your mask using traditional designs, techniques and paints. As always Barry, Marc and Dudug will be on hand to assist you and ensure a stunning outcome. Your mask will be varnished and delivered to your hotel, ready to take home. A light Balinese lunch will be provided. Following the session, you will have time to view the museum gallery that houses a vast collection of fascinating historic photos and artworks.
Stone Panel Sculpture
We are so lucky to have Dudug as part of our team. Living between Adelaide and Ubud he is an essential cultural liaison. But his skills don't stop there. Trained from a very early age as a sculptor, Dudug is a highly regarded and widely collected stone sculptor.
The session is held in the beautiful garden surrounds of your hotel, where he will assist you in learning the fundamentals of stone carving using traditional tools. From the initial design using traditional forms and subjects, to the basic techniques associated with the carving, he will walk you through the process, and along with other assistants, guarantee a successful outcome. His patient, careful approach, ensures that you will produce a stunning tile carved from local sandstone, to pack into your bag and hang with pride when you return home.
Cultural Tour
We have designed this tour to allow you to take in a mixture of must see sites and cultural places of interest. After breakfast at the hotel you will be collected and driven North East through the mountains. Bali is famous the world over for its coffee and you will visit Segara Windu Coffee Plantation, home to the famous Lewak Coffee. If you don't know what this is, Google it!!! Here you can learn about the coffee making process and sample a range of coffees and explore the beautiful surroundings. Tirta Empul Temple considered sacred by Balinese Hindu community. The temple has several holy springs which are said to have been created by The God Indra and believed to contain blessed water that purifies those who bathe there. Stunning surroundings and a chance to bathe in the springs makes this stop, special indeed. We take you to Penglipura Village. The village is famous as one of the top tourist destinations in Bali because its inhabitants still preserve their traditional culture in their daily lives. The architecture of buildings and land management approach still follows the concept of Tri Hita Karana, the philosophy of Balinese society regarding the balance of relations between God, humans and their environment. A step back in time makes this a truly memorable experience. A trip into the mountains around Ubud would not be complete without a visit to one of the beautiful waterfalls. Tibumana waterfall is breathtaking and chosen for its easy access. This is the spot for the perfect Insta photo!
Lunch will be provided along the way and you will be back at the hotel for a rest at about 3:00pm.
Watercolours in the Rice Terraces of Jatiluwih
This full day activity is a feast for the senses and takes you to arguably the most stunning example of rice terraces anywhere in Bali. The UNESCO world heritage site of Jatiluwih is a comfortable drive from your hotel, passing through the beautiful local countryside. More peaceful and striking than the madness of Tegalalang with its hoards of jostling tourists, this spot gives you time to breathe and take in the stunning vista. Here in a comfortable shelter, we will help you to learn the basics of watercolour painting and guide you towards creating your own artwork, that reflects the breathtaking scenery. The ideal spot to take the perfect photo, this is a day that is sure to stay firmly in your special memories. You will have an opportunity to wander around the terraces before enjoying lunch at one of the local restaurants. Then back to the hotel for some down time before the evening adventures.
Restaurants and Food
The traditional food in Bali is famous the world over. Yet so often, traveller's find themselves choosing from a menu essentially designed for the tourist. We love the local food and know where to get it! Over the course of the tour, you will be taken to a range of restaurants and Warungs, where you will get to sample the flavours of Bali, as they should be. These venues range from fine dining, to small, quaint, yet amazing restaurants that cater for all food preferences. Whether you are a meat eater, vegetarian or vegan, you will be well looked after. Imagine sitting in the' Coconut Shop' trying the amazing coconut ice-cream or a coconut pancake to die for. The delicious traditional food at the famous 'Cafe Wayan', Ubud's oldest restaurant, is a dream on a plate. This meal is included in your package. All you pay for is your drinks. And remember Julia Roberts in the movie 'Eat Pray Love'? On the first night we take you to 'Casa Luna' where the movie was filmed! What a culinary and visual treat to start your tour!! Dinners at Sayan point and Tamandedari will take your breath away with the views and sunsets.
But best of all are the times that you sit with the families that have lovingly prepared local foods for you as part of your experience. That is where you learn about the 'Real Bali'. Be confident that the food has been prepared with an attention to hygiene and is perfectly safe to eat.
Many of your meals are included in the program, but there is ample opportunity to find your own hidden gems. Of course, we will be very happy to guide you in the right direction.
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Be sure to note any dietary requirements when booking.
Antonio Blanco Museum
Ubud has always been the destination for artists, the world over. Yet one artist remains the most famous of all.
Sitting on the hilltop, a short walk from your hotel, is the stunning Antonio Blanco Museum. Blanco, born in Manilla to Spanish parents, was a celebrated artist, who lived in Bali for most of his adult life. Captivated by the beauty of the island and the people, he was gifted the land by the king of Ubud. He married a famous local dancer Ni Ronji and set about building his home atop the hill. After travelling the world and his artwork becoming highly sought after, he settled in Ubud around 1952, rarely to leave again.
Fascinated by the female form, much of his artwork centred around this theme. Today, after his death in 1999, we can visit the museum that is home to numerous artworks that canvas his individual and somewhat eccentric style. Walking in the gallery is s feast for the senses. The home still houses his original studio space and the eclectic beauty of the building and surrounds has to be seen to be believed. And if you are lucky, you may get a chance to have your photo taken with the gorgeous, friendly macaws and birds that love to sit on your shoulder out in the gardens. This activity is optional on the last day and entry included in your package.
Cultural Performance
Dance and music are a major part of the Balinese culture and religion. Children learn the art of dance and play in the local Gamelan band from a young age. A trip to Ubud is not complete without seeing one of these amazing performances. On the last evening of your stay we will take you to the stunning Laka Leke Restaurant where your meal is accompanied by a breathtaking Kecak Fire Dance. This powerful and emotional performance is one of Bali's most famous artforms and will certainly be something to remember.
The meal and performance is included in your package. All you pay for is your drinks.
What a way to spend your last night in Ubud!
A Bit Of Bartering
Shopping in Bali is something that must be experienced. Bartering is a part of the daily culture and haggling for the best price is half the fun. We will show you how best to do this and head you in the right direction to buy the perfect gift or memory to take home. Ubud has one of Bali's most famous market districts where you can buy almost anything, ranging from clothing to arts and crafts, as well as stunning silverware and wood items. The main street is alive with all manner of shops to suit every taste and budget.
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Quality Transport
We ensure that you are always comfortable and safe when travelling. Jana and his team of drivers from 'Alih Bali Transport and Tours' are on hand to get you to your destination in well maintained, air conditioned cars . Should you need transport to somewhere outside of the itinerary we can organise Jana to get you there safely.
