14D/13N Bali Journeys: Culture, Mountains & Coast
Bali
Duration
Fitness Level
Languages
Tour Overview
This 14-day itinerary is designed for those who want a genuine feel for Bali’s diverse landscapes without being constantly on the move. Instead of a rushed checklist, the trip moves like a gentle wave, alternating active days out in nature with quiet days to rest and breathe. You will start by shaking off jetlag on the quiet black-sand coast of Tabanan, head up into the cool, misty mountains of Munduk, settle into the cultural valleys of Ubud, and finish with a relaxing seaside stay in Nusa Dua.
Highlights
- A Gentle Start: Resting by the sea and rice fields of Tabanan to find your rhythm.
- Mountain Air: Walking through old-growth rainforests and swimming in quiet, uncrowded waterfalls.
- Home Cooking: Harvesting organic ingredients for a private, traditional lunch at a quiet farm estate.
- Sunrise from a Jeep: Watching the dawn break over the volcanic landscape of Mount Batur without a strenuous climb.
- An Artist’s Perspective: Sitting down for a chat inside the private studio of a contemporary Balinese painter.
- Time on the Water: Sailing on a classic wooden Phinisi boat as the sun sets over the southern coast.
Itinerary
Your guide will meet you at the airport arrival hall and transfer you to your resort on the outskirts of north Canggu. You will check into an eco-resort featuring authentic, restored wooden bungalows set within tropical gardens. The rest of the day is free for you to unpack and rest. A welcome dinner is provided at the resort restaurant tonight.
This day is kept completely open for you to rest after your flight and adjust to the local time zone. You can spend the day using the resort facilities, swimming in the pool, booking an optional yoga session at the pavilion, or relaxing at the spa. Meals today are at your own convenience.
Set out mid-morning for your first day trip. First, visit Taman Ayun temple, a historic royal site surrounded by large gardens and water moats. Next, drive to the Sangeh monkey forest, a quiet nutmeg grove known for its calmer atmosphere. Afterward, visit Tirta Taman Mumbul temple for a private melukat (water purification) ritual led by a local priest, followed by lunch at a local restaurant. After the ritual, you will drive straight back to the resort to enjoy a free afternoon.
Check out of your resort after breakfast and head toward the central highlands. Your first stop is the seaside Tanah Lot temple to view the shrines on the rock formation. From there, drive up to the UNESCO-listed Jatiluwih rice terraces and visit the quiet Besi Kalung temple located at the edge of the fields. After lunch, continue driving north and hike down to the Twin Banyumala waterfalls for a swim. In the late afternoon, check into your villa in Munduk and enjoy dinner on-site.
Wake up to the crisp mountain air. A local guide will take you on a gentle morning walk through the ancient, mossy rainforest surrounding lake Tamblingan. You will discover small jungle temples hidden in the trees and cross the quiet lake in a traditional wooden dugout canoe. Continue on to explore the beautiful Munduk waterfall, then enjoy a relaxed lunch at an authentic local restaurant before heading back to the villa to rest. The remainder of the afternoon is completely yours to enjoy the slow mountain pace—watch the fog roll across the ridges, read a book, or sit by the fire pit as the evening cools down.
Leave Munduk after breakfast and drive toward Ubud. On the way, you will stop at lake Beratan to see the iconic Ulun Danu temple sitting right on the water's edge. Next, take a walk down the stone steps into a scenic valley to visit Nungnung waterfall—it is one of the tallest and most powerful falls on the island, but stays remarkably uncrowded. Afterward, continue downhill into the outskirts of Ubud and check into your room at a lovely, quiet boutique resort. Tucked away from the busy streets in the peaceful village of Sayan, this property blends traditional Balinese wooden charm with absolute comfort, completely surrounded by quiet, rolling green rice paddies.
Today is focused on good food and relaxation. You will visit a beautiful, quiet eco-estate hidden in the countryside that focuses on organic farming. You can walk through the gardens to pick fresh herbs and vegetables, then experience a private cooking lesson over an open fire to learn how local spice pastes are made. After enjoying the lunch you helped prepare, head back to the resort for a quiet afternoon and a traditional Balinese massage in your villa area.
An early start today brings a really special experience. At 2:30 AM, your driver will escort you up to the Kintamani highlands to the Jeep meeting point. From there, you will step into a private 4x4 Jeep, accompanied by your tour guide, to explore the vast, quiet black lava fields and the unique middle area of the volcanic mount Batur in the dark. Find a beautiful spot to watch the sunrise over the mountains while enjoying a light breakfast served directly on the jeep. On the way back down, stop at a peaceful valley cafe (like Tis Cafe or Cretya) to sit by the pool and look out over the Tegallalang rice terraces before returning to the resort to rest and sleep.
This day is completely yours to spend however you like. You can stay in and enjoy the peaceful resort grounds, or take the hotel’s complimentary scheduled shuttle into the center of Ubud. It’s a great chance to stroll the side streets, browse the handicrafts at the local art market, or try out one of Ubud's many excellent cafes and restaurants at your own pace.
Check out of Ubud and head south toward the beaches. Your first stop is a morning performance of the Barong and Keris dance, which tells a classic story from Balinese mythology. Afterward, visit the artisan village of Celuk to see how local silversmiths work. Next is a very special stop: a private visit to the home studio of Putu Bonuz, a well-known contemporary Balinese painter. You can chat with him, see his workspace, and learn how his modern abstract art is inspired by local traditions. After a local lunch, drive to the exclusive southern peninsula of Nusa Dua and check into your beachfront resort. This classic luxury estate is famous for its timeless Balinese palace architecture, beautifully manicured tropical gardens, and pristine white sands, offering a peaceful and highly polished seaside escape for your final days.
Enjoy a slow, lazy morning walking along the pristine white sands or swimming in the calm ocean lagoon. In the late afternoon, our driver will pick you up directly from your resort lobby for a comfortable transfer to the harbor. Today is kept completely simple and relaxed, so a tour guide will not accompany you, as the cruise staff and your driver will look after everything seamlessly. You will board a classic wooden Phinisi sailing boat and cruise along the southern coastline as the sky changes color, enjoying a relaxed dinner and drinks on deck as the stars come out, before your driver meets you at the pier to bring you safely back to the hotel.
A day with absolutely no plans or schedules. This is your time to fully recharge your energy before heading home. You can stroll along the paved beach boardwalk, read under an umbrella, take a dip in the calm waters, or treat yourself to a treatment at the hotel spa.
Dedicate your last full day to exploring the dramatic Bukit peninsula. Start by visiting the massive GWK Cultural Park to see the iconic giant statue that overlooks the island. From there, head to the edge of the cliffs at Uluwatu temple, which sits 70 meters above the roaring Indian ocean. Afterward, head down to the white sands of Padang Padang beach for a casual lunch and a relaxed afternoon by the water before heading back to the hotel.
Enjoy a final breakfast by the beach and make the most of the resort facilities until it is time to check out. To bring your journey to a beautiful and seamless close, both your private driver and your tour guide will meet you in the lobby to look after your luggage and comfortably escort you back to the international airport, giving you a warm, final goodbye from our team before you catch your flight home.
What's included / excluded
Hotels accommodation on twin share basis at boutique hotel
Private air-conditioned transport on transfers and tours as specified in the itinerary.
English-speaking guide (other language subject to availability with extra cost)
Meals as specified in the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).
Tickets & Entry Fees: All admission tickets for temples, dance performances, and natural sites.
Dedicated local guides for the Tamblingan rainforest trek and Munduk waterfalls.
Complimentary bottled water provided in the car during tours.
Signature Activities:
Organic farm-to-table cooking class and lunch.
Traditional Balinese massage in your Ubud villa area.
Private 4x4 mount Batur sunrise Jeep safari with light breakfast.
Sunset dinner cruise on a traditional wooden Phinisi boat.
Visa arrangements.
International and domestic flights.
Meals other than specified in the itinerary.
Other personal expenses.
Personal Travel insurance.
Tips for guide and driver.
Other services not clearly specified in the itinerary or package inclusions.
You might also like...
Continue planning your holiday with Indonesia private tours, top Indonesia destinations, and our custom trip Indonesia planner.