Indonesia
Eighteen thousand islands under a balmy tropical sun. Dense jungles where leopards, sun bears and orangutans roam, where clearings reveal carved stone stupas whose spires reach entreatingly towards the sky. Snow-rimmed volcanoes cradling icy turquoise lakes. Rows of tea bushes in near-military precision, marching down the hill slopes. Indonesia is a country that has managed to avoid being overrun by tourists. Yet, for all its lush natural beauty, its cities offer every decadent pleasure imaginable. While Jakarta and Bali are popular halts for travellers, smaller towns like Yogyakarta, Semarang and Bunaken have their own unique charm. As the world’s largest archipelago, the country has more than its fair share of dazzlingly white beaches and secluded azure lagoons. Once here, you will very likely find several excuses not to leave.
Bali:
Here a surfer’s paradise and a beach full of friendly locals. There a misty mountain stands alone. Sybaritic spas tempt with exotic therapies. Elephants and national parks also find their place. And of course, the pleasures of the big city: malls and nightclubs galore. All neatly packed into a tiny island (you could drive around its entire coast in a day). Bali gives its guests the rare opportunity to flit from one world to another.
Ubud
One usually visits Ubud — Bali’s cultural and artistic capital - expecting only dour museums and abstruse recitals. But the charming town offers a very different fare. Here, culture is not limited to the confines of a museum. Artists seek inspiration in colourful market streets. Devout locals make offerings on street corners to ward off evil. And somewhere in the background you will discern the resonant tunes of a gamelan. No, Ubud certainly isn’t a centre for the pretentious. But for those who seek culture that’s more earthy, this is the place to be.
Denpasar
It’s Bali’s capital, and its gateway. Which is why the absence of throngs comes as a pleasant surprise. Most visitors tend to head straight to the beach destinations, without stopping to explore the city’s charms. Here you will find the majestic Jagat Natha temple. Taman Budaya (the Bali Arts Centre), is where you might chance upon a traditional theatrical production or an art exhibition. Here, colourful markets sell everything from reptiles to vibrant fabrics. These and a dozen other gems await those who care to explore.
Kuta
An unending stretch of white sand. Unassuming little bars. Hawkers with the most bewildering array of wares. And an infectious spirit of joie de vivre. Kuta has been called both a very charming and a very commercial beach resort. But it’s hardly fair to judge a place that so magnanimously offers its shores to the entire globe. Enter Kuta with an open heart. Enjoy the sun and surf. You’ll find it a most delightful, if extremely enthusiastic, host.
Jimbaran & Seminyak
Seminyak and Jimbaran both lie a short distance from Kuta. Both are favourites of those visiting Kuta. But here their similarities end. While Seminyak is a bustling centre for shoppers, Jimbaran is a placid fishing village. While diners flock to the first for everything from French to Thai cuisine; it’s Jimbaran’s quaint seafood grills that beckon its guests. Both are so diverse, so endlessly promising, that it’s a difficult task to pick one over the other. Our advice: explore both.
Balinese Spell (4D/3N)
Indonesia’s most irresistible charms are neatly tied up in this four day holiday, where you will explore villages, visit a volcano, shop for traditional Balinese gold and silver, and, should you choose to do so, pamper yourself with a massage or a delicious meal at a restaurant.
Your Itinerary
- Bali 3 nights
Day 1
When you reach Bali International Airport, our representative will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore on your own.
Day 2
After breakfast, prepare for a day of adventure in the countryside. Head to the Batik Centre in Tohpati, recognised by UNESCO as a fine example of Indonesia’s cultural heritage. Continue to the villages of Mas and Celuk, famous for their beautiful silver and gold work, and from here to the Goa Gajah temple, where you will learn about Hinduism in Bali. Head to the rim of the active Batur volcano for a breathtaking view of its lake. Later in the afternoon, stop at Ubud village, where you can do some shopping. After a last halt at Puri Ubud, return to your hotel and spend the rest of the day as you please.
Day 3
After breakfast, the day is yours to do with exactly as you like, or you may choose to indulge in one of three activities: a one-hour traditional Balinese massage, a day at the Waterbom Park, or a meal at the Queens Tandoor Restaurant.
Day 4
After breakfast, set off to the airport to catch your flight home.