Example Itinerary

Rice Paddies and Culture in Bali

Duration
5 days / 4 nights
Price Per Person
Interests
Heritage
Destinations
Bali

This quick and easy 5-day getaway to the lush island of Bali takes you to its verdent rice paddies and ends on the beach. Bicycle through the paddies, admire stunning valley vistas on a sunset walk, meet locals at the market, get acquainted with the active local art scene, explore temples, and relax beachside.

This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.

Highlights

  • Hilltop Sunset Hike: Set off on a sunset hike along Campuhan Ridge and admire the stunning vistas of the valley and rice fields.
  • Balinese Cuisine: Learn to cook Balinese dishes over a traditional wood-fired oven with friendly local hosts.
  • Rice Paddies by Bike: Bike through verdant rice paddies and visit rural communities, seeing authentic Balinese lifestyles.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Ubud

Upon arrival at Denpasar airport on Bali, a private transfer will whisk you north into the green rice-terraced countryside. Once a small village, Ubud has grown into a thriving yet laid-back community that offers world-class restaurants, yoga and vegan eateries, temples and spirituality, silversmiths and painters, and remarkable traditional architecture amidst a serene and lush landscape. Check into your hotel and settle in. Take it slow by unwinding at the spa or enjoying a book while overlooking the jungles. In the late afternoon, set off on a scenic sunset walk along Campuhan Ridge. Although it is long at 9km, this easy nature walk offers a stunning vista of the hillside and valley which are dotted with small village houses and rice fields.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: One of Ubud’s finest views of the strikingly green Ayung River Gorge and terraced rice fields

Tradition: A magical property laid out in the style of a Balinese village

Service: Attentive service from a very friendly, well-trained staff

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Amandari Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: Set in the lush rainforests of Ubud, this property allows guests to truly connect with nature.

History: Ubud has a long history of helping provide mental, physical and spiritual balance to visitors.

Service: The Como name and classic Balinese hospitality combine to make this resort top-notch for service.

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COMO Shambhala Estate Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Surroundings: Savor your favorite drink in the open-air bar over looking the floating lily pond and verdant Ayung River Valley below.

Décor: A combination of tasteful Balinese décor, a neutral paint palate and original sculpture and artwork.

Food: A choice of local specialties and western favorites, fine wines, exotic cocktails and a kids menu.

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Four Seasons Sayan Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

History: Set in Bali’s cultural heartland, Mandapa is named for the ancient temples that surround it and draws on a long history of tradition and heritage.

Location:Nestled in the hills of central Bali, Mandapa enjoys the beautiful surroundings of Ubud.

Service: From the gong signalling guests’ arrival to every whim during their stay, staff attend to the tiniest details, and each room’s personal butler is on hand day and night.

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Mandapa, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Access to Experience: The island of Bali abounds in history, both in terms of the Dutch colonial past and the more traditional, native culture. Awe-inspiring temples, rituals and ceremonies, exhilarating waterfalls, rice terraces and lush walking trails are among just a few attractions guests may experience and explore.

Weekly Activity Schedule: The selection of classes and activities available at the Capella Ubud, Bali, is second-to-none. On a single given day, for example, guests might find themselves with a tough decision between Aqua Pilates, Meditation and Purification, and a Farming Class. Other, more immersive, options range from a 24-hour tented wellness retreat to a “tropical island castaway” experience in which guests are heli-dropped on an exclusive private beach for a lazy day complete with a picnic lunch and wine.

A Unique Approach to Lodging: Most of the tented retreats are perched on the valley slopes and accessible via a suspension bridge constructed with painstaking care for the surrounding forested environment. Large outdoor decks further add to the one-of-a-kind ambience and provide the perfect setting for a candlelit dinner or al-fresco breakfast.

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The Capella Ubud Preferred Hotel

Day 2

Ubud

Start the day with a refreshing bike ride through verdant green rice paddies, visiting rural communities, and seeing a side of Balinese life most tourists never get to see. Begin your journey at the top of a hill, coasting down at an easy pace through the countryside of Ubud, passing by green expanses of rice paddies. Along the way, stop at ancient temples as well as rural villages. Arrive at the sacred temple where a priest will take you to a natural holy water spring for a Balinese blessing. In the afternoon, visit the markets of Ubud where locals sell street food, fruits, and handicrafts and folk art. Afterwards, venture into the famous Monkey Forest, a sacred jungle home to mischievous Balinese long-tailed macaques. Make your way into the forest and you'll find the Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal, an ancient temple dedicated to worship of the dead.

Ubud
Ubud

Day 3

Ubud

Visit the Agung Rai Museum of Art, a traditional Balinese house filled with a private collection of works by local and foreign artists. Here, learn the Balinese art of batik-making, and try your hand at the dyeing technique that makes the process so special. Then, meet a pair of local chefs for a private cooking lesson at their Balinese home. Guided by the chefs, pick vegetables and spices from the organic garden and create a range of Balinese dishes over a traditional wood-fired oven. After lunch, stop by Puri Lukisan Museum, established by the King of Ubud, which houses an extensive collection of of paintings and woodcarvings. The museum's well-manicured and lush gardens replete with fountains and pools make it a lovely place to stroll.

Day 4

Southern Beaches

Today, transfer to southern Bali to enjoy your penultimate day by the beach. Unlike the peaceful greenery of Ubud, southern villages like Seminyak offer beachfronts. Some are flanked with long promenades dotted with cafes, boutiques, restaurants, and nightlife scene while less touristed ones are quiet and local. Whether shopping, surfing, or enjoying a Balinese massage, there is a wealth of activities to fill up your day of leisure.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

History: The proud recipient of numerous travel awards and accolades, this modern, elegant resort has already made its mark.

Location: Right on the oceanfront, Seminyak is one of the most sought-after holiday destinations in Bali.

Services: From professional babysitters to a dedicated concierge, the staff are well-versed, efficient and friendly.

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Alila Seminyak Beach Resort Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: Located in what is often known as the "Beverly Hills of Bali," the resort sits on a wide stretch of Jimbaran’s white sand beachfront.

History: Though it enjoys all the comforts of a top-notch luxury hotel, the Four Seasons Jimbaran has been designed in the form of a traditional Balinese village.

Wellness: The addition of the 21,500-square-foot Healing Village Spa in October 2020 took Four Seasons' wellness offerings to a uniquely higher level. The contemporary two-storey building holds 10 all-suite spa rooms, a private steam room, a longevity garden, waterfall shower, ice bath, fitness center with yoga studio, Southeast Asia's first Rossano Ferretti Hair Spa, and more.

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Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Superlative Service: The name Raffles evokes images of old-world charm, history and heritage, as well as legendary luxury service. Though the Raffles Bali is a new addition to the family, the exceptional level of service is a still a prime staple of the brand.

Location: Nicknamed the 'Beverly Hills of Bali,' Jimbaran Bay is a relaxed, crescent-shaped, white-sand bay with an authentic Balinese vibe, in part due to the traditional fishing village here.

The Bali Sling: Raffles Singapore is the originator of the classic cocktail, the Singapore Sling, and true to the original hotel's legacy, an incarnation of the famous Writers Bar has been included in Raffles Bali, with the addition of a new signature "Bali Sling."

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Raffles Bali Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: Perched on the cliffs of Uluwatu, on the southernmost tip of the island, Six Senses Bali brags uninterrupted ocean views from every angle, and a spiritual location next to the sacred Pura Uluwatu.

History: As with other Six Senses properties, the resort's carbon footprint is kept to a minimum in every aspect, from architecture to day-to-day ongoing green initiaves.

Service: Renowned throughout the world for its first-class service, the Six Senses brand brings their attention to detail and personable approach to laid-back Bali.

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Six Senses Uluwatu Bali Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: The Oberoi is located on the stunning and serene Seminyak beach on the west coast of Bali, where the sunsets draw crowds, amidst 15 acres of peaceful natural gardens.

History: Bali is one of over 17,000 islands in Indonesia, and has attained the moniker of “Isle of the Gods”, stemming from its complex and fascinating history.

Service: This hotel is ranked as the 4th best hotel in Indonesia, and as such, guests can expect nothing less than impeccable service.

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The Oberoi Beach Resort, Bali Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: Set on Seminyak’s enviable coastline, W Retreat and Spa is conveniently poised to offer stunning and unspoilt ocean views, yet is just a short walk away from Bali’s most decadent restaurants and clubs and elegant boutiques and galleries.

History: This relatively new hotel represents one of W’s first moves into Southeast Asia, and a successful move it has been to date.

Service: With a 24-hour “Whatever/ Whenever” concierge service, nothing is too much to ask in the W Hotel.

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W Retreat and Spa - Seminyak Preferred Hotel
Southern Beaches
Southern Beaches

Day 5

Departure

After a quick transfer back to the airport, you’ll be on your way back home.

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