Bali and Komodo: Dragons, Rice Terraces & Cultural Ceremonies

As a center of traditional healing, where the rich knowledge of medicinal herbs and plants has been passed down through generations, Bali, especially Ubud, is now a vibrant hub of culture and spirituality. Lush jungle landscapes, once tended by healers and herbalists, now cradle serene retreats and wellness sanctuaries, where ancient remedies intertwine with modern practices to restore body and soul. Welcome to Bali, and to Indonesia. We invite you to embrace not only Bali's heritage of healing and nature but also the island's natural beauty and adventurous side.

Arrive at any time and choose to join your CEO on a brief walk to get to know Ubud. Join your group for a welcome dinner at the hotel.

ACTIVITY: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Just beyond Ubud's busy city life is where you can embrace the tranquil hidden gem of Desa Wisata Kenderan Village. Where nature and Balinese traditions blend so time seems to slow down and you may relax into Bali's cultural richness, sacred temples, emerald green rice terraces and peaceful village life. A morning of cultural immersion turns to an afternoon of free adventure to explore Ubud how you please.

Enjoy a tour of traditional Kendran Village through rice paddies, temples and a waterfall led by a local guide. After a morning in the community, return to the center of Ubud for a free afternoon. As Bali's cultural capital, there is no shortage of amazing things to do. Opt to visit the famous Monkey Forrest, browse through the Ubud Market or admire the Ubud Palace and many temples.

ACTIVITY: Just outside the city of Ubud, tucked within lush rice paddies, lies the picturesque village of Desa Wisata Kenderan. With your local community guide, tour of the ancient heritage village, see the beautiful Balinese waterfall and restore yourself with local holy water.

FREE TIME: Spend the afternoon adventuring through enchanting Ubud. Opt to visit the famous Monkey Forest or the Ubud Market and Palace.

To raft or to eat? That is today's question! Your OMG Day is all about choices and lucky for you, you get to choose! Looking for a bit of an adrenaline rush? Grab a paddle and head down the river on a white water rafting adventure with a local guide! Looking to venture down Bali's culinary side? Join a cooking class that will have you hands on in a Balinese market and in the kitchen. However you'd prefer to spend your day, you are sure to have some stories to share over dinner. In the evening, come back together as a group for an epic firefly experience. Enjoy dinner together in the rice paddies before heading out in the night to see the fireflies light up the sky. A pretty magical evening!

Your day will be epic no matter which way you spend it on your OMG Day. Fill in your fellow travellers on what the day held over a delicious dinner in Taro Village.

ACTIVITY: Option 1: Rush through the Balinese jungle on an epic white water rafting adventure. After getting picked up from the hotel, you'll met your rafting guides at the Ayung River, then head off down the white caps of the class 2 and 3 rapids. After the adventure, enjoy lunch before heading back to the hotel in the afternoon.
Option 2: Start with a visit to the local market, filled of spices, fresh fruits and vegetables. Pick up a few of the items you need for the cooking class, then head to where you'll cook the meal. After working together with your local host and fellow travelers, dig into your delicious and fresh home cooked Balinese meal.

ACTIVITY: Take a short drive to Taro Village, on the outskirts of Ubud, and arrive to the Firefly Study and Breeding Centre. Learn about the different stages of a firefly before embarking on a short trek through the rice paddies to a living area. Fill up on a local dinner as we wait for night to fall outside. Once it's completely dark, witness the sky illuminate as fireflies emerge and light up the night sky.

Verdant Bali is dotted with terraced fields that cascade down hillsides, their lush greens shimmering in the sunlight. As you pass through small villages, you’ll often catch the scent of incense wafting from temples and offerings placed along roadsides. Friendly locals greet you with warm smiles, and the sound of traditional gamelan music drifts from community gatherings, immersing you in the rich culture and tranquil beauty of inland Bali.

Drive northwest from Ubud to Munduk and make some amazing pitstops today. The first stop is at Sangeh Monkey Forest, a slightly crowded but equally as beautiful monkey forest. Watch the macaques play and admire the ancient Balinese architecture. The next stop is the famous Jatiluwih Rice Terrace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we can enjoy a short walk through the rice fields. The last stop is at the breathtaking Ulun Danu Beratan Temple. Admire the floating temple with the stunning mountainous backdrop before driving to Munduk and checking into your OMG Stay.

ACTIVITY: Visit Sangeh Monkey Forest and explore under the ancient trees and mystical temples. Watch as the macaques play and swing off the century old temples.

ACTIVITY: Follow your CEO down narrow paths as you explore the UNESCO-protected Jatiluwih Rice Terraces. Stop to enjoy the view as you trek around the area.

ACTIVITY: Bring your camera for this floating temple visit; the captivating Ulun Danu Temple, founded by the King of Mengwi in the 17th century, is one of Bali’s most important and most photographed temples.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

The beautiful region of Munduk in Northern Bali is known to be greener, cooler and much less touristy than other parts of the island. With blue lakes, misty mountains, historic puras, Balinese Temples, and incredible hiking, take the opportunity to immerse yourself in all that Munduk has to offer today. And today you'll experience just that. After an invigorating east trek to temples and waterfalls, get settled into your Munduk OMG stay.

Trek through the tropical Balinese jungle, along beautiful lakes and passed historic temples. In the afternoon, enjoy the many amazing activities at your OMG Stay. Tour the coffee plantation, build your own Balinese kite, join a yoga class or even make homemade soap.

ACTIVITY: Start from Wanagiri Trekking point and hike to the mysterious Ulun Danu Tamblingan on Tamblingan Lake. Explore the temple before continuing the trek along the lake to Pura Dalem Tamblingan temple. Admire the incredible views and stop at some beautiful photo spots. Then hop into a canoe and paddle to the other side of the lake to meet your transportation. This trek is mostly flat and easy-moderate level.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Spend a free afternoon in Munduk and enjoy some of the amazing activities at your OMG Stay.

Imagine a lizard so big they call it a dragon. What sounds like a legend is actually real, endemic to Komodo National Park. The Komodo dragon is of course not an actual dragon, but as the biggest and heaviest lizard in the world, this great reptile has quite the global reputation. This large beast can only be found on five tiny islands in the center of the Indonesian Archipelago, with only about 3500 remaining in the wild. Over the next few days, take the unique opportunity to explore some of the tropical islands where these rare, endangered lizards live.

Leave the lakeside mountains of Munduk this morning and drive back to Denpasar Airport. A trip back toward the city is deserving of a stop in one of Bali's most famous temples, Taman Ayun. With dark pagodas that stand out against a bright green forrest backdrop, this is the perfect stop off before arriving to the airport. An afternoon flight brings us to the island of Flores. We'll meet our private transfer at the airport and they'll bring us to our hotel for a restful evening before our Komodo adventure begins!

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Halfway between Ubud and Denpasar lives the beautiful Taman Ayun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Built in the 17th century, this temple and garden is considered one of Bali's cultural gems.

TRANSPORT: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Traveling in Komodo is a rare and extraordinary adventure, where rugged landscapes meet vibrant coral reefs and unique wildlife, including the legendary Komodo dragons. The islands offer an unparalleled mix of natural wonders, from pink sand beaches to crystal-clear waters perfect for snorkelling among seemingly untouched marine ecosystems. Today explore Komodo Island and other small, neighboring islands on an unforgettable boating trip and a chance to see the infamous Komodo Dragon. Enjoy lunch on the beach, snorkel in the perfect water and soak up the sun before returning to Labuan Bajo for the evening.

ACTIVITY: An epic adventure through the amazing island of Komodo awaits! Climb aboard a speed boat to visit the best of Komodo Island. Take a walking tour of the island in search of Komodo Dragons, spend time on magical Pink Beach, snorkel in the turquoise water of Taka Makassar, and look out for giant reef manta rays at Manta Point. Then adventure beyond Komodo to the tiny island of Kanawa before heading back to Labuan Bajo for the night.

The largest lizard in the world, the Komodo Dragon weigh as much, or more as most adult humans. Spotting these ancient predators in their natural habitat, with their slow, powerful movements and intense gaze, is both thrilling and humbling, offering a rare glimpse into a prehistoric world. Enjoy the encounter as much as the adventure through Komodo National Park!

After rushing over the crystal blue water, arrive to rugged savannas and dense forests, where we'll meet a local ranger. Trek through Rinca Island in Komodo National Park to see the largest lizard in the world, the Komodo Dragon. After the opportunity to see them in the wild, snorkel through some of Indonesia's most incredible coral reefs at Manjarite and Kelor Island.

ACTIVITY: Spend a day exploring a couple of the many islands that make up Komodo National Park by boat. Enjoy an easy hike on Padar Island. Then cruise to Rinca Island for an easy trek to see the famous Komodo Dragon. After the trek continue to Manjarite island, considered just as beautiful on land as its reefs are below the sea. Enjoy some snorkeling there before heading to the final island of the day, Kelor Island, another incredible snorkeling spot.

A morning flight brings us back safely to Bali. We'll drive to the northeastern coast, stopping at the amazing Bat Cave Temple, Goa Lawah Temple, along the way. This afternoon we will arrive to Candidasa beach, one of Bali's best hidden gems. With one main road that connects the whole beachside town, you'll escape the busy, touristy towns for this quaint and picturesque fishing village. There's no place better to wrap up your trip than here.

ACTIVITY: Visit the Goa Lawah Temple, known as the Bat Cave Temple. Witness hundred of bats living in the rear of the temple.

TRANSPORT: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

When the active volcano Gunung Agung erupted in 1963, the farms and rice paddies of Sibetan Village were all but covered in ash and magma. Only one plant seemed to survive the tragedy, the Salak Palm and its sweet snake fruit. The villagers collected the Salak seeds and have since discovered 14 different species of snake fruit, 10 of which are considered extremely rare. On a bicycle tour through this village, have a chance to try the unique snake fruit and maybe even their snake fruit wine.

ACTIVITY: Nestled at the foot of Gunung Agung active volcano is beautiful Sibetan Village. Take a tour of this traditional village by bicycle, passing by the lush green rice paddies, deep green jungle and distinct salak palms. Have a chance to try this unique fruit during the ride.

FREE TIME: Spend the afternoon free in Candi Dasa.

One last day in paradise means another opportunity to lay on the Candi Dasa golden sand and watch the brightly colored fisherman boats drift along the horizon. It gives you one more day to take a dip in the turquoise sea and snorkel through the rainbow reef. One day more to hear the waves crash, to smell the frangipani blossoms in the air and to see the historic Balinese temples backed by lush green jungle. Explore or relax, it's however you want to spend your final day in paradise.

With a free day ahead of you, opt to spend the day however you'd like. Feel free to plan your own adventure. Or opt to snorkel through the turquoise Candi Dasa water.

FREE TIME: FULL DAY Enjoy your last day in Bali however you'd like.

After breakfast at the hotel, and maybe one last dip in the Balinese sea, your morning airport transfer will bring you to the Denpasar Airport in the early afternoon. Your Geluxe adventures ends upon arrival at the airport.

ACTIVITY: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.