Bali discovery tour - Indonesia

Morning departure towards Lovina.

The first stop is scheduled at Para Luhur Batukaru, one of the six most important temples of the island, built in the 13th century and located at the foothills of a volcano. Its beauty is breath-taking, completely sorrounded by nature, in the middle of a forest full of many diverse kinds of plants and flowers.

The journey continues to Jatiluwih where you can admire the beautiful terraced ricefileds which are typical of the inland and where you'll have lunch at Saranan Eco restaurant.

In the afternoon you will proceed to Candikuning to visit the local market, full of spices and tropical fruits and then on to Pura Ulu Danu Beratan temple, set on the shores of Bedugul lake. Stop at Munduk waterfalls and the traditional hot springs in Pansa Banjar.

End of the day in Lovina with its lavic black sand beaches.

Breakfast and day dedicated to the journey to Candidasa. Stop at Pura Beji and Pura Meduwe Karang, temples dedicated to the deities protecting the land: continue to Kintamani to admire the view odf the crater overlooking Batur mountain.

Lunch at Gunawan restaurant, in the afternoon you'll visit the complex of Besakih temples, the most important on the entire island, built in the 11th century B.C. at 100 meters at the foothills of Agung mountain (the sacred volcano of Bali).

The main core is formed by three main temples; the central one is called Pura Panataran, the second temple was built in the first half of the 11th century and to the east lies the third temple. The three places are dedicated to the Hindu trinity: the northern black one to Visnu, the central white one to Shiva and the southern re done to Brahma. From the highest level you can enjoy an excellent view of the entire island. The last stop is due at the panoramic point in Putung, before reaching Candidasa.

Breakfast and departure towards Ubud mountain area. Stop over at Goa Lawah, the bat cave, and then near Sedemen, Tebola and Rendang for enjoying a nice view of the ricefields and the terraces of the area.

Lunch at Puri Boga restaurant, in the afternoon sightseeing will start with the beautiful Kehen Hindu temple, situated on the slopes of a hill; the stairway to reach it is flanked by statues which have been shaped according to Wayang style, just as the stylized puppets of the shadow theater.

The "great door" bears the image of the monster Kala Makasara, which keeps evil spirits away from the temple; in the main yard, shaded by a splendid banyan tree, a wall is decorated with Chinese porcelain plates. The last stop is at the typical village of Penglipuran before reaching Ubud.

The city of Ubud, situated on the hills 20 km north of Denpasar, is the quiet cultural center of Bali. The strong development of recent years has brought it to include several nearby villages which have maintained their identity anyway.

Leaving Ubud, in any direction, you will find yourself strolling leisurely in an intimate village inhabited by artisans, along ricefields or deep in the thick Moneky Forest, just south of the city center.

Puri Lukisan Museum in Ubud houses beautiful works from all Balinese artistic schools in a marvellous garden. You can also visit the houses of Walter Spies and Rudolf Bonnet, important western artists who played a key role in Balinese art.

Also for dancing, Balinese music and eating in the best resaturants of the island, Ubud is also one of the best destinations.

Breakfast and departure to Batubalan to view world-famous Barong dance.

Barong is a dance with a very ancient origin, inspired by the endless fight between Good (Barong) and Evil (Rangda), the entire village takes part in the dance. It actually is a magical ritual to free the village from the evil which pervades it.

Then it's on to the three main artist centers in Bali: Ubud, with its art and paint galleries, Celuk, famous for its goldsmiths and silversmiths and Mas, famous for wood carvers. Lunch in a restaurant in Tanah Lot and continuation to the southern area of the island.