Escape to mind-blowing Bali
Climb a live volcano at sunrise, try anti-gravity yoga in jungle hills of Ubud and live your tropical dreams on a traffic-free coral island
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Trip Highlights
Sunrise summit
Climb to the summit of Mount Batur at dawn, and watch a spectacular Balinese sunrise
Highlands and waterfalls
Trek through misty peaks in the lush valleys of Ubud and wild swim in a waterfall
Island dream
Unwind on the powdery white beaches of Gili Air, a tiny coral island with no cars
Shipwreck, ahoy
Snorkel around a World War Two shipwreck, amid tropical fish and dazzling coral reef
Balinese cuisine
Learn how to conjure up local delicacies in a community-led cooking class
Bar-hop by VW van
Jump aboard a fleet of VW vans to hop between Legian’s hippest beach bars
What's included
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11 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
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11 nights’ accommodation in twin room hotels, including a riverside wellness retreat
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All activities, from snorkelling to local cooking, included. Local Flash Pack guide and driver
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Max 14 Flashpackers
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Private airport transfers anytime on Day 1, country travel in private minibus, island ferries
About the trip
Ready for blazing Bali adventure?
Our 12-day escape to the Island of the Gods features a stunning sunrise trek to the summit of a live volcano and a VW van ride around the rooftop bars of Legian. Along the way, we’ll hike the evocative jungle hillsides of Ubud, swim at a secret waterfall and visit the legendary Tirta Empul Water Temple.
This is your chance to snorkel around a World War II shipwreck with incredible marine life and bathe in the bubbling beauty of Toya Devasya Natural Hot Springs. To learn to cook the Balinese way and try anti-gravity yoga in a riverside wellness retreat. And to unplug on the powdery white beaches of Gili Air, a tiny traffic-free island where the sun shines bright and the living is deliciously easy.
From beautiful boutique hotels to mist-clad jungle terrain and rousing Balinese sunsets: jump aboard to light up your soul.
Where you will stay
Away Bali Legian Camakila
Modern beach-side resort with sweeping views of the coast
Boasting exclusive access to the beach, wake up to incredible views. This is the perfect paradise retreat after a day of exploring.
Why we stay here
This stylish hotel is equipped with two swimming pools, a spa and fitness room – as well as comfortable spacious rooms decorated in an elegant Balinese style.
Svarga Loka Resort, Ubud
Tropical spa retreat in Ubud
Peaceful Balinese-themed rooms with comfy beds, mosquito nets and balconies overlooking abundant, vivid green forest, just a short walk from Ubud’s Campuhan river.
Why we stay here
From swimming in one of the two swimming pools and daily yoga classes, to mastering martial arts and embracing meditation, this is a restorative oasis for relaxing and reconnecting.
Villa Karang Hotel
Beach hotel opening onto the seafront
Located at a stone’s throw from Gili Air Harbour, this tropical resort boasts an outdoor pool and direct access to Gili Air Beach.
Why we stay here
Enjoy comfortable, spacious rooms equipped with air-conditioning, as well as a variety of activities on offer ranging from snorkelling and diving.
The Flash Pack Promise
Here at Flash Pack, we’re committed to unique adventures that deliver great value for money. We pack our trips with epic experiences (unlike other companies, all activities are included), hand-pick stylish hotels and match you with like-minded people.
Itinerary
Day 1
A new dawn in Bali
Welcome to Bali, an island so idyllic that even the airport comes framed in tropical foliage. Please touch down before 3pm, where you’ll be whisked off by private transfer to your hotel in Legian. This chic beach haven is quietly fostering a reputation as Bali’s unsung rock star. More serene than neighbouring Kuta, it’s home to designer boutiques, eclectic galleries and a growing clutch of internationally renowned restaurants. Today is all about getting to know your fellow Flashpackers, so settle in before joining your new group at one of Legian’s hip hangouts, with a front-row seat to the Indian Ocean. Grab a cocktail – signature drinks are made with local starfruit and citrus – before soaking in your very first Balinese sunset. As the sky turns to a blaze of fiery orange, get chatting to your newly-formed squad of adventurers and soak in the Ibiza vibes of this stylish beach metropolis.
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Day 2
Fly-high yoga and a local cooking class
Today we’ll travel an hour north to Ubud, Bali’s thrumming cultural heart. This idyllic hillside town has become more popular since its star turn in the novel Eat, Pray, Love but it’s still a draw for free-spirit explorers. Artists and traditional tukang (craftspeople) are everywhere, trading their skills against a backdrop of lush valley scenery. Settle in by flexing your yoga skills at a beginner’s Fly High yoga class. Suspended in hanging belts, your instructor will lead you through a series of stretches as you dangle from the ceiling. Or if yoga’s not your thing, there’s a great café nearby. Later on, you’ll make your own dinner with a Balinese cooking class in a community village kitchen. Learn how to transform the region’s rich local ingredients – think fragrant spices and an abundance of super-fresh veg – into tasty dishes, then savour the fruits of your labour. Who has the best culinary prowess?
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Day 3
Local traditions and temple bathing
First stop today is the magical Tirta Empul Water Temple, where Ubud’s legendary healing waters flow. Bear witness to a tradition that has been observed since the Middle Ages, where locals take a ritual bathe in one of Bali’s most sacred garden temples. The water here is thought to cleanse your karma, so make a wish in your tranquil surroundings framed by ancient stonework and greenery. Then we’re off to the Tegallalang Rice Terraces, where we’ll learn about the unique Subak farming traditions. After lunch, the afternoon is yours to do as you please. Whether you fancy a relaxing massage or a spot of whitewater rafting – it’s over to you.
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Day 4
Wonderment and waterfalls
This morning we’re heading up into the Bedugul Highlands, where it’s time for the time-honoured rite of a waterfall swim. After a two-hour drive, we’ll reach this slice of serenity and veer a little off the beaten path to reach its plunging beauty. There’s a short descent for 500 metres through lush foliage, before the trees part to reveal Banywana. The cascading waters are the perfect spot for a refreshing plunge. We’ll roll out mats for a waterfall picnic, tucking into local naki bungkus served on banana leaves. The afternoon is then yours to spend bathing and relaxing with your Flash Pack gang, before we head onwards to a boutique mountain resort.
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Day 5
Hooray for hot springs
Begin today with a visit Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, a 17th Century Hindu water temple that was built in honour of a lake goddess. It spreads across a series of small islands and appears to float on the water of the Danau Bratan, a dramatic volcanic lake. Afterwards, we’ll travel a few hours northeast to the heart of Mount Batur caldera, making a beeline for the Toya Devasya Natural Hot Springs. Set against the backdrop of Lake Batur, the infinity pool here is heated to a balmy 40°C, with a rich mineral content that’s believed to have therapeutic powers. Let the bubbles work their magic before grabbing a beer back at your hotel with sunset views of Mount Batur. Your hotel for the night is a touch more basic than our usual standards, but we’ll only be staying here a short while before embarking on a (very) early morning trek.
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Day 6
A volcanic sunrise trek
Rise and shine for a 2am start as we take a sunrise trek up Mount Batur, regarded as one of Bali’s most sacred mountains. It takes around three hours to reach the summit of this active volcano, looming at 1700 metres. With clear mountain air, the rustle of the jungle and a starlit sky on clear nights, the pre-dawn walk is a special experience. You’ll need a fair amount of stamina to tackle the rocky alpine paths that spiral upwards, becoming progressively steeper. The summit will be worth it, though, as you watch the sky alight in a cacophony of orange, pink and lavender streaks in a spectacular Balinese sunrise. Afterwards, you can peer in the steaming crater, and you may also spot resident macaques nearby. Then it’s back down the volcano, where a Prosecco breakfast awaits. In the afternoon we’ll depart for Amed, a series of charming fishing villages tucked away on Bali’s east coast.
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Day 7
Snorkel a shipwreck
After the predawn wake-up call yesterday, today you can savour a lazy lie-in at your beach-facing villa. An easygoing coastal oasis, Amed really is a relaxed destination; people come here for yoga, hiking and swimming. Later, we’ll be making the most of the incredible marine life with a spot of snorkelling around the world-famous SS USAT Liberty. The ship has been beached off Bali ever since it was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in 1942, and its shell has been transformed into an underwater haven. Snorkel your way around the warm, clear waters to admire the beautiful coral reef and schools of tropical fish that cluster around the ship’s remains. Look out for big-eyed trevally, lizardfish, barracuda and eels, all of whom call the shipwreck home. Grab time to wallow in a poolside hammock before cheering your Flashpackers with a mango smoothie or two in one of Amed’s laid-back beach bars.
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Day 8
An island escape
Today, we’ll hop on a fast boat across to Gili Air: one of three tiny coral isles on an archipelago off the northwest coast of Lombok.The pace of life here is slow and relaxed. There are no cars; instead, you can rent a bike, travel by a “cidomo” horse cart or simply walk – the entire island takes half a day to stroll around. With a friendly, tight-knit community and a slightly hippy vibe, you’ll feel a million miles away from the hubbub of mainland Bali. Spend the afternoon getting into the groove of island life on powdery white beaches, flip-flops in hand. As the sun heads west, join your Flashpacker crew on the island’s southeast hub, and get familiar with the island’s beloved bar culture. Grab an ice-cold beer in one of the thatched beachfront huts and soak in those awe-inspiring sunset views. This is the life.
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Day 9
Play at desert islands
This is the day where you get to play Robinson Crusoe: no activities, no agenda, just delicious free time to explore your very own island paradise. After all your adventuring so far, you deserve a little R&R. For a true escape, hunt down a hammock on the beaches of Gili Air’s remote northern coastline. While away the hours in the company of a good book and a refreshing dragon fruit smoothie. Want a bit more stimulation? Hire a paddle board from your hotel, and set sail on the turquoise waters. Or you could book in for snorkelling, horse riding or a horse cart drive around the coast. Island-hopping also calls for those of who you fancy checking out nearby Gili Meno or Gili Trawangan via a quick ferry ride. Whatever you choose to do, make sure you unplug, unwind and savour the downtime of some serious island chilling.
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Day 10
Bright lights and boutiques
On the penultimate day of our trip, we return to the mainland via ferry. From here, it’s back to the starting point of your Bali adventure – Legian. The rest of the day here is free to do as you please. Given Legian is a shopping mecca, you could follow the trendsetters to a host of eclectic boutiques. Stock up on goodies from vintage surfer stores or fill your suitcase with floaty dresses and floral shirts that capture Bali’s bohemian spirit. For a cultural fix, pop by one of Legian’s many contemporary art and fine art galleries. Or you could book in for some chill time at a local spa, or head to a popular yoga hangout. After a sun-dappled day, return to the hotel for a sunset drink. It’s a tough life…
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Day 11
One last adventure in a VW van
Top up on your last precious hours of sunshine and warm sea this morning at the nearby Double Six or Petitenget beaches. In the late afternoon, we’ll jump aboard a fleet of VW campervans and drive to a remote riverside temple for a Balinese blessing. Adorn yourself with a sash and sarong and embrace this spiritual foray, as you reflect on your whirlwind escape. After, we’ll take a short sunset stroll to Il Lido, a sumptuous restaurant along the beach-front where you can tuck into a farewell dinner under a canopy of palm trees, fairy lights and purple bougainvillea.. As the evening draws in, salute your final Balinese sunset and reflect on your adventure under a blanket of stars. We’ll then hop back in the VW vans – LED lighting and drinks ice box at the ready – to kick on to a few more beach bars.
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Day 12
Farewell Bali
Fellow Flashpackers, it’s time to close the chapter on a brilliant Bali jaunt. It’s over to you to organise your taxi to the airport and depart in your own time. Wherever your next stop, fly high from your exhilarating foray through the Island of the Gods. You’ve sampled the cosmopolitan delights of Legian and marvelled at the lush jungle valleys of Ubud. You’ve trekked through paddy fields and up a live volcano in the pre-dawn light. You’ve been spiritually enlightened at a string of ancient and beautiful temples, with yoga classes thrown in along the way. You’ve picnicked and bathed at a gorgeous waterfall, and you’ve snorkelled a WW2 shipwreck. You’ve savoured golden sands and palm trees at every turn. All this, with a side serving of fruit cocktails, new friends and magnificent Balinese sunsets. We call that a win.
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On the map
Important notes
- Fly into and out of Denpasar International Airport.
- Please try to arrive before 4pm on Day 1 if you can, and you’re free to leave anytime you want to on Day 12.
- The hotel at Mount Batur is basic and not up to usual Flash Pack standards. However it’s the only option in the area and we stay there for a very short time before the sunrise trek.
- Please be aware that the itinerary, activities and hotels are subject to change. These changes can happen with little notice due to availability, poor weather, seasonal changes, or other circumstances beyond our control. From time to time we may also make changes to your itinerary to try out new ideas and keep things fresh.
- We take safety very seriously on Flash Pack adventures, click here to learn more.
