Tropical Excursion: History, Culture & Beauty of Bali Vacation (10 Days Tour)

Candidasa – Visit Local Villages and Historical Temples en route to Candidasa

In the morning, the aroma of fresh coconut blends with the fragrant scent of jasmine swirling through the air. You can hear the waves lapping at the shore inside the open-air dining room. After breakfast, your guide will meet you in your hotel lobby and lead you on a full day tour out of Nusa Dua en route to the beachside community of Candidasa. Stone sculptures decorate the roadside and become more prominent the closer you get to Batubulan Village. Artists produce incredibly detailed statues in their studios and workshops found along the road to Tegaltamu. Batubulan Village crafted the guardians of the gates that decorate countless temples around the island.

Your guide will lead you along the main road to view the distinct studios in which artisans create stunning textiles, woodwork, and stonework.

You will take a seat in front of a small stage, and a drum will begin to beat. The sparse rhythm echoes through town as the Barong and Kris Dance performance begins.

The play represents the endless fight between the spirits of good and evil with tangible characters. A rattling sound pours out of the lion mask as he moves around the stage. Dancers accentuate the movements of the spirit and help bring the audience into a captivated trance. As the performance ends, you will continue to Celuk Village and Kertha Goasa, a temple connected to the Puri Semarapura Royal Palace. The 16th-century main structure features ceilings adorned with Wayang style paintings. 

What’s Included: accommodation, transfer, tour, breakfast.

Lovina – Enjoy a Sunrise Dolphin Cruise and Visit to Buddha Temple

Rise before dawn and step aboard a traditional jukung fishing boat to set out into the calm waters of the Indian Ocean on Bali’s north shore. Your boat will traverse the gentle wake as the protruding edges of the coastline fade.

The sun begins to rise along the eastern horizon as the light layers the sky with fuchsia and orange. You will dip your fingers into the water to feel its warmth against the morning’s tropical, cool air. Water spouts up in the distance as dolphins reach the ocean surface and show their dorsal fin amidst the spreading daylight. The playful nature of the dolphins soon shows as they jump out of the water.

You will return to shore with the aroma of fresh coffee brewing in the seaside cafes, which will help to rejuvenate you after your early morning and the exciting interaction with the passing dolphins. After breakfast, you will make your way to Buddha Temple, which was erected in the 1960s as the largest Buddhist temple on the island. The hillside location sets the structure apart from the surrounding tree as the roof glows like the sun with bright orange tiles. Two guarding statues flank the entrance gate while Wisdom of the Buddha enhances the walls along the steps that lead into the gallery where carved stone plaques highlight scenes of Buddha’s life.

What’s Included: accommodation, tour, breakfast.

Ubud – Explore Gitgit Waterfall, Rice Terraces, Temples, and a Fruit Market

In the morning, you will find orchids growing near the canopy of the rainforest hiding in the dim niches. The sunlight washes over the black sand beaches that edge the water. Your guide will meet you at your hotel and escort you south towards Ubud, the cultural capital of Bali, stopping first beneath the jungle trees at a trail that leads to Gitgit Waterfall. The warm air wraps around you as the treetops shade the pathway. Barking deer graze in seclusion on the underbrush and bats dangle from the trees resting in the daylight.

The cascade of water pours over the cliff causing a rolling thunder to emanate from the waiting pool. The waterfall reaches a height of nearly 115 feet tall, and after heavy rains, it looks as though two waterfalls converge before dropping into the turquoise pool. The emerald vines and jade trees encircle the cliff, adding the luster of the natural landscape. The water begins in the mountains, making it cool and refreshing in the tropical warmth. You dip your toes into the water to feel the contrast of its cold on your skin in comparison to the warmth of the air.

After visiting Lulun Danu Bratan Temple, you can visit Candikuning Fruit Market for insight into the fresh produce grown and harvested on the island. Durian and rambutan shimmer with bright hues, accentuated by the aromas of mango and passion fruit. Orchids and frangipanis fill stalls, and the vibrant hues of paprika and turmeric decorate the spice stands. Upon reaching Tanah Lot Temple, the sun begins to set against the western horizon. The rich orange and crimson colors cast the temple situated upon a large rock in shadows for a unique view of the Balinese shoreline and 15th-century history.

What’s Included: accommodation, transfer, tour, breakfast.

Nusa Dua – Tour Garuda Wisnu Kencana Culture Park and Uluwatu Temple

In the morning, wake to surfers paddling out to the waves past the reef returns along the shores of Nusa Dua. The beachside cafes open their doors to the aroma of fresh pastries and rich coffee. Enjoy a morning at the beach before taking to Garuda Wisnu Kencana Culture Park, located on a limestone plateau at nearly 1,000 feet above sea level. The views of the island shore accentuate the majesty of the soaring summits of Mount Agung and Mount Batur to the north. The park features a stunning statue of Lord Vishnu mounting his Garuda bird and weighs 3,000 tons, standing nearly 415 feet tall.

The copper and brass of the statue glint beneath drifting sunlight. You have seen depictions of Vishnu and Garuda in temples across Bali, but never to such an awe-inspiring magnitude. After visiting Dreamland Beach, you will make your way to Uluwatu Temple, situated on a limestone cliff that overlooks the edges of the southern peninsula. The temple is one of the islands six important temples associated with the spiritual pillars of Bali and the traditional multi-tiered shrine rises above the 230-foot tall precipice. Monkeys reside in the trees and lounge on the walkway.

The 10th-century edifice continues to stand tall and opulent in the gentle breeze. You can hear the waves crashing against the basin below. As the sun begins to set, you will watch the beginnings of the Kecak and Fire Dance. The leader starts the tone, and the other performers will follow. The music soon fills the breeze with soft voices that grow louder and stronger with the choir situated in concentric circles swaying as one. Sit back and listen as they tell a tale from the Hindu epic of Ramayana, when Prince Rama was tricked.

What’s Included: accommodation, tour, breakfast.

Nusa Dua – Depart for Home

The cafes open their doors each morning as the waves splash in the distance. The coffee that the locals use is grown and cultivated on the island and adds to the layers of sweet and decadent aromas that fill the air. Outside of Nusa Dua, visitors and locals alike venture into the mangrove forest to stroll around the boardwalk.

The calm waters reflect the encircling canopy as the forest encompasses nearly 3,400 acres of land. The boardwalk winds alongside and beneath the canopy, bringing moments of seclusion amongst the dense trees and glistening waters. After breakfast, your private transfer will meet you at your hotel. You will make your way past the beautiful bougainvillea and blossoming oleanders in the countryside to reach Ngurah Rai International Airport for your flight home.

What’s Included: breakfast, transfer.