The Real Soul Of Bali

A short drive past the tourist center of Tuban-Kuta-Legian-Seminyak, brings you from the airport in the south straight to West Bali. You will either stay at the Pan Pacific, located near the sacred temple of Tanah Lot, the iconic temple of West Bali, or in a smaller boutique hotel amidst beautiful rice fields. Rest of the day & evening free at leisure.

Leave the hotel and visit nearby Tanah Lot before heading to the north. Located on the western part of the island, it is a remarkable landmark for the Balinese people. This is where the first Hindu priest from Java set foot on their island. Just North of Tabanan you'll take a hike in the heartland of Bali's Rice Bowl. Walking from village to village, strolling past beautiful rice terraces, all set in a picture perfect environment. Observe households during their daily activities. Visit village community halls and temples. See how rice is sown, transferred from one to another field or harvested, depending on the season or level of rainfall. Miniature shrines randomly dot the fields, honoring Dewi Sri, the powerful Goddess of Rice & Fertility. Get deep knowledge of the ways of life in the Balinese country side. Your day will end in Blimbing, a fairytale like village, surrounded by rice fields that seem to stretch out forever. Quietly you will slip into another age and state of mind.

Take a short or long hike out in the Shangri-like surroundings of Blimbing, past isolated villages. The panoramic views are simply breathtaking. Once in a while you'll see a farmer plowing his field or a group of children on their way to school. Continue along a lonely road towards the north. You'll cross the central highlands, dividing the island into two distinct halves. The hills descending to the northern coast are covered by the most beautiful rice fields in Bali. Clove and coffee gardens are patched together lines of coconut palm trees. Cool waterfalls and peaceful villages make out for pleasant stops on your trip. Lovina is a beach resort next to Singaraja, the former capital of Bali province. Spend two days at the black sandy beach of Lovina.

Enjoy the incredible beauty of the north Balinese country side, with rice fields rolling down from heaven to sea. An ideal location for scenic and easy walks through coffee and clove plantations. Higher up in the mountains, you'll find sacred Ulun Danu at the shores of Lake Bratan. The temple combines Hindu and Buddhist architectural elements. Dedicated to the Goddess of the Lake, it spiritually protects the source of water for a large part of Bali. The lake side is dotted with strawberry farms. Return to the hotel in Lovina via another road, descending quickly past steep ravines and breathtaking views.

Today you'll drive on a scenic road to East Bali, leading past the most beautiful landscapes of Bali. Just outside Singaraja, a subak temple offers a humorous perspective on colonial times. In Penelokan, you'll have a spectacular view on the lake and a smoldering cone. Next stop is Besakih, a sprawling complex of shrines and temples, dedicated to the thousands of Hindu deities. On auspicious dates, this massive temple draws tens of thousands of pilgrims. Your journey will end in Candi Dasa, the perfect spot to explore the eastern hinterland of Bali.

Candi Dasa is an excellent base to explore East Bali. Drive to Amlapura and drop by in the royal palace. Anak Agung Gede Jelantik, the first king of Karangasem Kingdom, built the Puri Agung Karangasem or Karangasem Palace in the 19th Century.It is located in the center of Amlapura, a friendly midsized provincial town and a lot less hectic than Denpasar. Recently renovated, it reveals a unique architecture. A charming combination of Balinese, Chinese and European styles, make it a pleasant and interesting place to visit. Through an impressive three-tiered entry gate carrying beautifully sculpted panels, you'll reach an entry courtyard which leads to the Bale London. The main building is known as the Maskerdam, after Amsterdam in the Netherlands. On the other side, the Bali Kambang or floating pavilion bears witness to typical architectural elements of the old-style East Balinese palaces. Then it is off to another palace, yet from an entirely different style and misdemeanor. Tirtagangga is a royal watergarden, composed mainly by water, plants and sculptures. It is situated in the middle of rice fields around the natural springs and belongs to the same royal family that owns the palace you just visited ! The water from one of the natural springs of Tirtagangga has always been regarded as holy. Tirta means blessed water, gangga cames from Ganges, the holy river in India. The holy water is required for ceremonies of the temples in the surrounding area.

First it is off for a visit to Tenganan, a fascinating place. It is thought to be the home of the original Balinese, the Bali-Aga, who adhere to a secluded life style, different from the other Balinese. Village life plays out in a walled community, separated from the rest of Bali. Up to this day, they are masters of ikat, an extremely difficult method of weaving, producing magnificent results. Grinsing, their sacred cloth, is supposed to magically protect the owners form disease. The Kerta Gosa in Klungkung is a beautifully renovated 17th century hall for the administration of traditional justice by the royal court. The ceiling has some striking examples of classical Balinese paintings, in true wayang style. Make a detour into Bangli and visit the renowned Pura Kehen temple, a great example of classical Balinese temple architecture. End the day in Ubud, Bali's cultural heart. Balinese kings, benevolent to the arts, transformed their former court seat of into a true global village. Ubud shops, galleries and art shops blend traditional crafts with modern design. Visiting European artists, attracted by the lure of an untouched tropical paradise, were encouraged to stay. They gave new impetus to existing, local arts, while creating some exciting new forms in the process. This atmosphere reverbs to this day. A visit to Ubud means indulging in local arts, visiting temples and enjoying the archetypical Balinese surroundings of steep gorges and sculpted rice fields.

Today you'll spend leisurely time on the arts and crafts of Ubud. There are numerous villages around Ubud, each one specialized in a typical handicraft. There are wood and stone carvers, silver smiths and painters. On some off-the-beaten track location people pursue the little known craft of egg painting ! Visit one of the famous museums of Ubud. They have a great sample of paintings of artists that called Ubud their home, on display. Finally, stroll over the local market and shop for some locally produced handicrafts. Observe Balinese women graciously balancing their merchandise on their heads or watch traders make an offering at the market temple for yet another auspicious day.Main street is lined with antique and curiosa shops, selling every conceivable item, even from the far flung corners of the Indonesian archipelago.

Onwards to your next destination. This trip ends at 12 noon when checking out of your hotel.