Spiritual Bali

Arriving at your first hotel, it won’t be difficult to sink into that ‘holiday feeling’. Spilling back from the golden sands of Legian Beach; Away Bali Legian Camakila is your 4-star base for some post-flight recovery (a choice of two pools and endless spa treatments should do it) as well as an ideal spot to ease yourself into vibrant coastal Bali. Take some time to get to know your group as each of you arrives onto the island, before your official Flash Pack meet-up in the lush gardens of the hotel. With introductions over, you’ll feast on your first of many Balinese meals and, with cocktail in hand, toast to 11 more days of adventure.

After a slow morning you’ll journey inland to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces. On route, you’ll stop to have lunch with a Balinese family away in the remote village of Pinge.  As picturesque as you’d expect an isolated Balinese village to be, Pinge is surrounded by idyllic rice fields. Help prepare a seasonal lunch, then sit down to dine with family members that span generations. Now for some UNESCO sights. Jatiluwih Rice Terraces are, in a word, breathtaking. These vast and undulating rice fields with their mirror pools of water offer a view that feels inherently Balinese. Just remember to bring appropriate footwear for exploring – it’s bound to get a bit wet. Tonight, there’ll be a surprise in store, but we’ll keep this under wraps.

Today you’ll be heading to Bali’s most picturesque ‘floating’ temple: Pura Ulun Danu. Located on the shores of Lake Bratan and surrounded by rolling mountains, the temple was built in the 17th Century in dedication to Dewi Danu, the goddess of water. Upon arrival, you’ll board a canoe and coast through the mist to view the temples from the water. After, you’ll be taken through a private meditation in view of this spiritual wonder – a completely unique experience. After, you’ll be hiking 500m downhill to reach the cascading Banyu Wana Waterfall. Here you’ll get a chance to cool off in the natural pool before feasting on a traditional lunch of Nasi Bungkus (a rice dish wrapped in banana leaves). The rest of the day is yours to do as you please at your gorgeous wellness abode.

Today you’ll move on to Ubud. So loved by travellers the world over, we’ve set aside plenty of free time for you to explore at your own pace, but first, another spiritual moment awaits. Dating back to 926 AD, Tirta Empul Temple is famed for its holy spring water source, and it’s here that Balinese Hindus come for ritual purification. It’s a ritual you’ll have the chance to partake in – immersing yourself in the bathing waters and following the lead of your guide. You’ll then be taken to a private meditation with a local Hindu worshipper in a beautiful secluded garden. You’ll have the rest of the day to do as you please. A sunset e-bike ride amongst the rice terraces is a real highlight – so just let your guide know if you’d like them to arrange this for you.

This morning you’ll rise early with your group for a lesson in flying yoga. In a private studio overlooking a river and lush rice paddies, find yourself suspended above ground by slings and hammocks as you (try) to get yourself into a number of yoga poses. This one’s a challenging and often hilarious group experience.  From mid-afternoon onwards you’ll be in the rural farming village of Subak Guliang. Led by your private chef, you’ll be taken on an immersive tour, during which you can chat to and connect with the locals. Work with them as they pick and sort rice and absorb generations-old culinary tips before sitting down to your most atmospheric dinner yet. At a table set up in an isolated rice field, you’ll eat various local dishes whilst listening to an exclusive performance by Rindik musicians. 

After an early night last night, it’s a 2am start for your sunrise trek up Mount Batur – one of Bali’s most sacred mountains. The cool mountain air and starlit skies will help you shake off any tiredness as you ascend over 1,700 meters in the pre-dawn light. Cheering each other on as you climb, it will take you around three hours to reach the volcanic summit, where you’ll arrive in time to celebrate together beneath a sky alight with orange, pink and lavender streaks. Back down at ground level, an exclusive prosecco breakfast awaits your group – some guilt-free indulgence is in order. There’s no doubt you’ll need time to relax after such a mega feat, so you have the rest of the day free to unwind at your next four-star, beach-side hotel.  

No 2am starts today. Enjoy a lie in, a slow breakfast and bask in your beach-side position.  Later, you’ll be given the option to see the highly-instagrammed Lempuyang Temple, otherwise known as the Heaven’s Gate Temple. It’s optional because it’s a huge tourist spot, the kind of place we tend to keep away from. That said, it is beautiful and very photogenic, so you can vote with your group as to whether you go or not. From your hotel or Heaven’s Gate, it’ll be on to the ornate gardens of Tirta Gangga. Almost three acres of giant fountains, mythical sculptures and a giant pond flecked with the sparkle of golden carp swimming beneath the surface; this might just be the most lavish estate you’ll ever visit. 

It’s finally time for the Gili Isles. Board your speedboat and begin your fast ride to the white sands and crystal waters of Gili Air.  You’ll be settled into your beach-front hotel before midday, meaning you have the rest of the afternoon to sink into island life – but not without a list of recommended ways to make the most of your time here. They say some of the best things in life are free, and that’s certainly the case on Gili Air – where you can simply step into the shallows in front of your hotel and witness some of the best snorkelling in the world. It won’t be long before you spot turtles gliding towards you as they dip and nibble on the coral below. Back on dry land, why not book a yoga and meditation session with your group – keeping your practice up on this wellness adventure.

Today you’ll get to explore the Gili Islands by private boat. With snacks and drinks on board, you’ll spend a whole day on the water – with an exclusive beach picnic at lunchtime to keep you fuelled.  The waters that lap the Gili Islands are renowned for their clarity and wildlife, but also their eerie underwater sculptures. You’ll see turtles aplenty, that’s guaranteed, and a hauntingly beautiful scene of human sculptures embracing in a circle, the dappled light of the water almost bringing them to life. If you’re lucky, you might even see and swim alongside the local dolphins that frequent the waters here.  Tonight, yet another culinary surprise awaits, and this one’s on the beach – but that’s all we’ll say for now.

When the time comes to leave the Gili Islands, no one ever feels as though they’ve had quite enough, so it’ll no doubt be a sad goodbye. You’ll get to enjoy one last private yoga session on the sand before you go, and then it’s on to the speedboat to begin the long journey back to where it all started: Legian and Bali’s dramatic west coast. You’ll arrive back at the beautiful 4-star Away resort by mid-afternoon, giving you plenty of time to recharge after the journey and make the most of your penultimate day on the Island of the Gods. As before, you’ll be perfectly located to spend time on the beach, as well as the bustling shopping street situated on the other side of the hotel.

It might be your last day in Bali, but there’ll be no winding down this morning. After a quick breakfast, you’ll wander as a group along the beach to the iconic Rip Curl School of Surf. Here you’ll meet a surfing legend for your private group surf lesson. Then, after a long afternoon recovering, you’ll be picked up in none other than VW open-topped safari vehicles for an expedition to meet a Balinese priest. You’ll be met at a secluded temple by the sea, and it’s here you’ll receive your traditional blessing in an authentic ceremony usually only reserved for local worshippers.  Tonight it’s a farewell dinner and, if you’d like to celebrate for a bit longer, a chance to sample the nightlife Bali’s West Coast is famed for. 

It’s time to say your goodbyes – and so begins your lifetime affair with Bali. We’ve no doubt you’ll make it back one day – but first, why not discover somewhere else, with the new friends you’ve made here?