Bali & The Gilis: Island Adventures

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, it’s an ideal spot for some post-flight recovery and to ease yourself into vibrant coastal Bali. Take some time to get to know your group 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 relaxed morning, you’ll journey inland to the remote village of Pinge nestled in the lofty Tabanan hinterlands. Surrounded by idyllic rice fields and backed by Mount Batukaru – Bali’s second highest mountain – Pinge is as picturesque as you’d expect an isolated Balinese village to be. Here, you can see traditional rural life playing out: buffalo ploughing the terraced green fields, farmers planting rice or villagers preparing seeds. On arrival, you’ll visit a local home where you’ll have lunch with a Balinese family. Together, you’ll help prepare a seasonal lunch, then sit down to dine with family members that span generations.

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. Next, you’ll be hiking 500 metres 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 have the chance to explore Ubud. So loved by travellers the world over, we’ve set aside plenty of free time for you to wander 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 very early 2am start for your intrepid 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 metres in the pre-dawn light. Cheering each other on as you tackle the (at times challenging) 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, some guilt-free indulgence is in order. You’ll drive to a restaurant in Kintamani where a family-style Prosecco brunch awaits your group. There’s no doubt you’ll need to relax after such a mega feat, so after checking in at your waterfront hotel you’ll have the whole day free to unwind.  

No 2 am starts today. Enjoy a lie-in, a slow breakfast and a refreshing dip in the pool. 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 Trawangan. From here, you’ll take a gentle one-hour walk across the island to your beachfront hotel. Arriving before midday, you’ll have the rest of the afternoon to sink into island life. They say some of the best things in life are free, and that’s certainly the case on Gili Trawangan – where you can simply step into the shallows in front of your hotel and witness some of the best snorkeling 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 sunset yoga and meditation session with your group, to keep your practice up?

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 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 it comes to leaving the Gili Islands, no one ever feels as though they’ve had quite enough. It’ll no doubt be a sad goodbye, but it’s time to head to the harbour to catch your speedboat and begin the long journey home – back to where it all started: Legian and Bali’s dramatic west coast. You’ll arrive back at your beautiful four-star 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 the adventure’s not over yet. Before breakfast, you’ll head to a secluded temple by the sea where you’ll meet a Balinese priest and receive a traditional blessing usually reserved for local worshippers. There’ll be time for a bite to eat back at the hotel before wandering 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 a fleet of VW open-topped safari vehicles for a door-to-door tour, ending at a local restaurant. Tonight it’s your 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?