Essential Bali & Gili Islands
Essential Bali & Gili Islands
Essential Bali & Gili Islands
10 Days Starting in Ubud and ending in Seminyak
Visiting: Ubud, Mt Batur, Candidasa, Gili Trawangan, Seminyak
Tour operator:
Tour code:
TIYB
Specialist Group:
18-30 Somethings
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 16
Age range:
18-35 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
Find peace, relaxation and adventure with a trip around Bali. Starting in the patchouli-infused Ubud, you can explore the jungle or cycle around rice paddies before ascending Mt Batur at sunrise and creating epic memories. Kick back on Gili T and soak up island life as you enjoy loads of free time to snorkel over reefs, snap a few sunsets and throw down some beers. End it all in Seminyak with some of the best beachy nightlife you’ll ever find, even more sunsets (the colours!) and a massage (or three).
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Ubud
Location: Ubud
Accommodation: Hotel
Salamat Datang! Welcome to Bali. Your adventure begins in the rice paddy-lined oasis of Ubud, in the mountains of Bali. You're free to arrive whenever you like before your welcome meeting this evening at 6 pm. If you do arrive early, maybe stroll around town, soak up the vibe and immerse yourself in all that leafy Ubud has to offer. After the meeting, go out for an optional group dinner and feast on delicious local cuisine.
Day 2: Ubud
Location: Ubud
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today is a free day to explore the temples, wander through the rice paddy fields or visit the famous art and craft markets in the town centre. Maybe get up early and start your day with a yoga class, then use your free time to join in on some fun optional activities like a cycling tour, white-water rafting or a cooking class. If you'd prefer to freewheel it, you can just hire a bike and ride around Ubud's lush countryside. For lunch, maybe seek out some of the Balinese specialty – Babi Guling (the Indonesian version of roast pork).
Optional Activities:
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Day 3: Mt Batur
Location: Mt Batur
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Depart Ubud for Batur this morning, visiting the Tirta Empul Water Temple along the way. Tirta Empul, translating to holy water spring, was built in the 10th century as a place of ritual purification for Balinese Hindus and is still very much in use. This is the real deal, and you’ll see the local Balinese come here to bathe in the pools and purify themselves under the waterspouts. Next, head to the stunning rice terraces at Tegalalang to take a stroll. This is a great spot to take that perfect photo of beautiful Bali. When you arrive in Batur, you might want to rest, relax and recharge, ready for a jam-packed day tomorrow.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Candidasa
Location: Candidasa
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: breaksfast
Rise and shine early birds (at 3 am) – it's time for a good ol' fashioned crater hike. At 1717 m high, Mt Batur sits inside a spectacular caldera along with Lake Batur. The lake supports the local fishing industry, while many villagers work as guides for the volcano climb. You'll be just in time to witness the sunrise over the valleys of Bali! On a clear morning, it's possible to see all the way across the Lombok Strait to the peaks of Mt Rinjani. After descending the volcano, there may be an option to soak in hot springs with great views over the lake and caldera. Later in the afternoon, head southwest to beachside Candidasa. When you arrive, maybe chill out by the beach and let your muscles rest after your glorious hike.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 5: Gili Trawangan
Location: Gili Trawangan
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Drive to Padangbai this morning and jump on a speedboat to Gili Trawangan, or Gili T – the Goldilocks of the three Gili islands, striking the perfect balance between Gili Air's hippie vibe and Gili Meno’s low-key honeymoon atmosphere. Check in to your resort, then begin exploring on two wheels during a cycling orientation tour with your leader. Get insider island info on the best places to watch the sunset and the best beaches to soak up the salt air. Luckily for you, you’ll get access to the resort’s bicycles for the duration of your stay, so getting from A to B will be a peddle-powered breeze. After your cycling tour, spend the rest of the night however you like, just remember that bare feet are the basis of the dress code.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Gili Trawangan
Location: Gili Trawangan
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Enjoy a free day on Gili T. Why not join an optional cooking or yoga class or go snorkelling in the unbelievably clear waters. You could even head out on a motorised wooden boat around the Gili Islands, jumping straight off the boat and coming face-to-face with marine life, including colourful fish, coral reefs and of course, sea turtles. The Gili Islands are a famous snorkelling destination and probably the best spot in South East Asia for turtle-spotting. If you’d prefer, just kick back with a cocktail and do nothing!
Optional Activities:
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Day 7: Gili Trawangan
Location: Gili Trawangan
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today is just another day in paradise. Maybe jump on another boat for more snorkelling or take it super easy and set up on the beach with a book, a coconut and a cocktail. You could also grab a bike and go for another ride – all three of the Gili Islands are tiny, but it’ll still sound pretty cool when you tell your friends that you circumnavigated an island on wheels.
Day 8: Seminyak
Location: Seminyak
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Have a leisurely breakfast and one last swim on Gili T before walking back to the port and taking a speedboat to Padangbai. From here, you’ll drive to upmarket Seminyak, where the sunsets are legendary, the beaches are plentiful, the nightlife is lively, and there are more spas, bars, massages and treatments than you can poke at. When you arrive, step out with your leader on an included food tasting. Your leader knows all the best dishes, so unbuckle your belt and try some nasi campur (a mixed plate of rice, veggies and meats) and other local street foods. Continue to a beach club tonight, where you can beat the heat with an included drink.
Included Activities:
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Day 9: Seminyak
Location: Seminyak
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Give today a real Semin-crack with a range of optional activities to fill up your blissful free time. Maybe café hop (the colourful cafes in Seminyak are endless), laze by the beach or get active and take a surf lesson. You can’t hit Seminyak without soaking up the sun at another beach club in the afternoon. Ever heard of Potato Head? Cocoon? Ku de Ta? Sit back, listen to the tunes, splash around in the pool and watch the sun go down with a cocktail or coconut in hand. Toast to the final full day of the trip with your newfound travel companions and dance the night away.
Optional Activities:
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Day 10: Seminyak
Location: Seminyak
Meals Included: breaksfast
Your Bali adventure comes to an end today, but that doesn’t mean you can’t continue to swim, snorkel, sleep and tan – if you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Guesthouse (1 nights), Hotel (8 nights) -
Ubud - Tirta Empul Water Temple
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Tegalalang - Rice Terraces
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Mt Batur - Sunrise volcano climb
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Gili Trawangan - Leader-Led Orientation Cycling Trip
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Gili Trawangan – Bike Hire (3 Days)
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Seminyak – Street Food Tasting
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Seminyak - Beach Club Visit
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Meals
9 breakfasts, 1 dinners
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
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Airport Transfers at Destination
Transport
- TRANSPORT IN BALI:
- In Bali we travel by private minivan in order to access more remote areas such as Bedugul, and for safety on the busy and narrow Balinese roads. Depending on the size of your group you may be split over multiple vans and your leader will alternate between the vehicles throughout the journey.
- On Gili Trawangan there is no motorised transport, only Cidomos (horse drawn carts). Your luggage will be transported by Cidomo between the port and our accommodation.
- BOATS between Bali & Lombok
- Please note that from time to time due to strong winds the fast boat services might be cancelled between Bali and Lombok – in this case we will take a larger slow ferry. The ferry can take upto 8 hours and will arrive in Lembar on Lombok mainland we will then drive a further 2 hours across Lombok mainland to Teluk Kode to take a boat to Gili Trawangan (20mins). Note if the fast boats are cancelled on the day we are due to travel back to Bali we will also need to take the Slow ferry service
Accommodation
- Guesthouse (1 nights), Hotel (8 nights)
Included Activities
- Ubud - Tirta Empul Water Temple
- Tegalalang - rice terraces
- Mt Batur - Sunrise volcano climb
- Gili Trawangan - leader led orientation cycling trip
- Seminyak - Beach club visit
Important Information
- 1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 4 (Candidasa) where there is no availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Mode of Transport
- TRANSPORT IN BALI:
- In Bali we travel by private minivan in order to access more remote areas such as Bedugul, and for safety on the busy and narrow Balinese roads. Depending on the size of your group you may be split over multiple vans and your leader will alternate between the vehicles throughout the journey.
- On Gili Trawangan there is no motorised transport, only Cidemo’s (horse drawn carts). Your luggage will be transported by Cidemo between the port and our accommodation.
- BOATS between Bali & Lombok
- Please note that from time to time due to strong winds the fast boat services might be cancelled between Bali and Lombok – in this case we will take a larger slow ferry. The ferry can take upto 8 hours and will arrive in Lembar on Lombok mainland we will then drive a further 2 hours across Lombok mainland to Teluk Kode to take a boat to Gili Trawangan (20mins). Note if the fast boats are cancelled on the day we are due to travel back to Bali we will also need to take the Slow ferry service
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
Part of what makes this part of the world so appealing is the warm weather, so it probably won’t come as a surprise that Bali can be extremely hot and humid. It’s also important to note that the temperature can drop in the evening. Layers are the best way to tackle this disparity in weather.
Climbing Mt Batur on Day 4 to watch the sunrise from the top of the volcano is one of the highlights of this trip, just be aware that this will involve starting the hike at 3 am. The climb takes around 2 hours and requires a good level of fitness.
This trip affords lots of free time so that you can experience Bali the way you imagined. If you need activity options, your leader will be on hand to help. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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