Balinese discovery in 15 days – Sanur - Munduk - Pemuteran - Amed - Ubud - Jimbaran

Discover Bali with our Platinum Agency AMANASKA BALI

The first French-speaking event agency in Bali and the QuotaTrip reference agency in the region, the AMANASKA BALI agency offers you a circuit of about fifteen days to discover the treasures of Bali, including: Sanur – Munduk – Pemuteran – Amed – Ubud – Jimbaran. Remember that this tour is given as an example but remains customizable according to your wishes, so do not hesitate to get in touch with Amanaska!

Day 1: Arrival in Bali and night in Sanur

You have finally arrived at Bali airport, in Denpasar. After collecting your luggage, you will be greeted at the exit by a French-speaking member of the Amanaska Bali team who will be holding a sign with your name. Once in good hands, we will head together to Sanur.

The agency has chosen this first stop for two reasons: Sanur is about 40 minutes from the airport, which will save you from having to drive in very heavy traffic on the first day, especially towards Mengwi or Ubud (about 1h30/2 hours depending on the time), and you will be by the sea, in a pleasant environment, offering the possibility to exchange money, easily have a meal in local restaurants, and recover from jet lag.

Sanur is a pleasant first page for your program, an introduction to a journey that will take you to the north of Bali, more local, with regions off the beaten track and far from the hustle and bustle of the south.

Located in the southeast of Bali, Sanur was the first seaside resort in Bali which, unlike Kuta, Legian or Seminyak, has managed to keep its charm to become a welcoming, family-friendly and warm place. Over time, the Balinese have transformed this coast into a welcoming, clean beach, with a seaside path over 5 km long. Here, the sun shines all year round and swimming is dictated by the tides. You will find both modern shops, souvenir "stalls" and high-end restaurants alongside typically Balinese "warungs".

In the evening, you can discover the "Night Market" of Sanur (closes at 9pm), where you will have the opportunity to eat local specialties such as nasi goreng, gado-gado and Ayam (chicken) skewers.

Day 2: Free day in Sanur and activities as you wish

Nothing like a little rest in Sanur to recover from your trip and jet lag. There is no shortage of entertainment: massage parlors, shops, international restaurants or Indonesian warungs.

Sanur is a village that has certainly become a seaside resort, but has managed to keep its Balinese soul. During your walks, you will be able to have your first encounters with always welcoming locals. Let yourself be guided by the music of a gamelan (Balinese orchestra) and attend a rehearsal of a show.

Start tasting local specialties such as satays or gado-gado and take the time to discover the beaches of Matahari Terbit and its black sand, famous for its sunrise over Mount Agung, or the Merthasari beach, typically Balinese.

But this moment just for you will also be an opportunity to try your hand at the Indonesian language. With just a few words, smiles and kindness will naturally appear on the faces of your interlocutors.

Day 3: Walk between Belimbing and Jatiluwih, Ulun Danu Bratan Temple and night in Munduk

You will go for a walk of about 2 hours in the heart of Balinese nature, between the village of Belimbing and Jatiluwih. This region is classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. In the midst of this incredible landscape, immerse yourself by imagining the first explorers a few centuries ago, also discovering this same panorama, preserved by the will of the population. More than a walk, it is a journey through time that we offer you.

You will walk through magnificent rice fields, clove fields and your guide will take the opportunity to reveal all the secrets of rice, this plant that plays a major role in the economy, gastronomy, but also Balinese culture.

You will then go to Pura Ulun Danu Bratan. Built in 1663, this temple, composed of 4 sacred buildings, is located about 1500 meters above sea level, on Lake Beratan, the second largest lake in Bali, inside the high mountain plateaus of Bedugul. Dedicated to the goddess of the lake, sovereign of the waters of Bali, who allied herself with the deity of Mount Agung to make the island fertile, it is said that the goddess Danu is a manifestation of the great god Vishnu, protector of the universe. This temple is, of course, the object of very present tourism, whether local or international, but the cultural and historical interest of this site, which also includes a sarcophagus and a tombstone dated around 500 BC, makes it, in our opinion, a place to discover as part of your program.

You will then head directly to Munduk, which means "between plain and mountain", a small typically Balinese village built about 800 m above sea level in the north of the island. Built in a serpentine on a ridge, this village will offer you extraordinary views of the mountains of this region as well as breathtaking sunsets.

Credit: Amanaska Bali

Day 4: Walk in the Tamblingan jungle, late afternoon Balinese cooking class and night in Munduk

You will leave in the middle of the morning to discover the region with a walk in the heart of the primary forest bordering Lake Tamblingan. This lake (in Balinese: Danu Tamblingan) is located in the Buleleng regency in Bali. It is located at the foot of Mount Lesung in the administrative village of Munduk and is one of the three lakes that were formed inside an ancient caldera. The lakes located east of Lake Tamblingan are Lakes Buyan and Bratan. Lake Tamblingan is a virgin lake surrounded by dense tropical forest and archaeological remains of the Tamblingan civilization of the 10th century. The lake and the surrounding settlements are designated by the government as a spiritual tourism area protected from modern development.

This site is not only protected by the Indonesian government, but also sacred to the locals who believe the lake is inhabited by spirits. During these 3 hours of walking, you will come across huge banyan trees several centuries old, giant ferns, wild ginger and other spices. On the way back, you will cross the sacred waters of Lake Tamblingan aboard a traditional canoe. An authentic adventure!

To end this day, you will be offered an immersion in Balinese culture through a traditional cooking class. The chef will share his culinary secrets with us. Dishes prepared with rice, tofu and vegetables such as nasi kuning or gado-gado (vegetarian dish). All ingredients are sourced from local agriculture.

Day 5: Luwak coffee cooperative, swimming in hot springs and night in Pemuteran

After your breakfast, where you may have had coffee, it is time to go back to the source to discover its origin. We will therefore visit a Kopi Luwak cooperative, a coffee factory where the Luwak, a kind of large civet, are the main actors. This local initiative responds to an organization set up by other Indonesians who, themselves, keep the Luwak in unacceptable conditions, mainly to satisfy the curiosity of tourists. Here, the animals are free and you can discover the most expensive coffee in the world while participating in an exemplary action that allows the poorest villages to live better and the Luwak to no longer be exploited for profit.

Then you will take the road to the north coast of Bali to reach the sacred hot springs of Banjar, coming from the volcanic rocks of the mountain. They are called “Air Panas” by the locals, which simply translates to “hot water”. The Balinese have been bathing for generations in these slightly sulfurous waters which are said to have the virtue of healing "small ailments" and promoting meditation.

Day 6: Free day and night in Pemuteran

Here you are in Menjagan and Pemuteran, the two villages being located next to each other, with a road along the sea connecting them. We are far from the tourist hustle and bustle of southern Bali, here everything is conducive to walking, discovering the seabed, a walk in the Bali Barat National Park, where more than 19,000 hectares of jungle and mangroves stretch and 160 species of different animals live, including the leopard cat, different varieties of monitor lizards and many exotic birds.

The region is a call to "let go", enjoy Balinese massages on the beach or in a SPA, immerse yourself in a novel, swim in the sea, ask your hotel to go for a ride in a traditional boat. This day is all about relaxation, where the Balinese expression "Jam Karet", time is elastic, takes on its full meaning. For the locals, in Bali, there is no need to have a program to be reassured not to miss anything but rather to let life offer us simple choices that all have in common pleasure, curiosity and meeting people.

Day 7: Visit to the Brahma Arama Vihara monastery and night in Amed

This morning, you will still have some time to enjoy the hotel before departure.

At the end of the morning, you will leave to discover the Amed region. On the way, we will take the time to visit the Brahma Arama Vihara, the Buddhist monastery of Bali, built in 1970 with local funding and aid from the Thai government. This temple is not, originally, intended to be visited but the monks allow travelers who wish to come to meditate and enjoy the different spaces for meditation. Many practitioners from all over the world come to soak up the peaceful place through mindful walking or sitting in the shade of a frangipani tree.

An interesting place from a religious, historical but also architectural point of view. This monastery indeed mixes Buddhist and Hindu symbols. And no one here seems surprised by the presence of a statue of Brahma at the foot of the statue of Buddha, proof of the spirit of tolerance that reigns on the island of the Gods. Part of the site will also allow you to recognize a small temple inspired by the great temple of Borobudur, which is located in Java.

After this meditative break, it will be time to resume our journey to reach Amed.

Day 8: Free day with optional activities: scuba diving / snorkeling or Balinese massage

The village of Amed is first known for its exceptional seabed composed of rocks, corals and sandbanks conducive to the multiplication of fish of all shapes and colors. You can discover them simply with fins, a mask and a snorkel or let yourself be tempted by a dive organized by us with our Padi Five Stars diving center (introductory or leisure dives possible with advance booking).

At the end of the day, we offer you (optional) to discover the real Balinese massage, know-how passed down from generation to generation. This ancestral practice allowing the body to reconnect to energy points is above all a social link that is part of the daily life of the Balinese people. Massages are for both adults and children, who, from experience with our travelers, enjoy it very much!

Day 9: Traditional Balinese day, meeting and immersion in the life of a local family and night in Ubud

You will go to the Gianyar region to discover local life inside a traditional house that has seen many generations born. We will meet several families who very naturally live together in the same place. The construction of the house, its positioning, its size, everything has a very particular meaning. Each space has a name and its own function such as the Sanggah or merajan: the family temple, the Bale tiang sanga: the guest pavilion, the Bale dangin: the space that allows the preparation of important ceremonies, each pavilion has an importance and respects particular geographical positions.

Through this day of Balinese immersion, you will also understand the close ties that unite each member of the family. So many customs that you will be able to better understand, such as the birth of a child and the many rituals associated with it, the 3-month ceremony, then 210 days after birth (i.e. 6 Balinese months) for their 1st birthday. Balinese culture and traditions are rich, sometimes mysterious, often linked to life and death, with a deep respect for the gods and ancestors. This day will allow you to lift the Balinese veil that still hides stories and legends.

But this day is above all the authentic meeting with men and women who will teach you how to make canang sari, the daily offerings used in Hindu ceremonies. If you wish, you can participate in a real Balinese ceremony, an essential moment of life on the island where the sacred takes on its full meaning to thank and ask for help from the Gods. Just before lunch, you will discover the daily gestures of meal preparation where each ingredient of the island takes its place in typical recipes, then you will share the dishes with the Balinese family.

We will continue this traditional day, always with the family members, by discovering authentic agricultural life. We will go to the rice fields to learn about the different stages of rice cultivation, the main food of Balinese cuisine, which will also offer us a walk in the Balinese countryside to change perspective and follow in the footsteps of men and women who are said to have the eternal smile.

Day 10: Walk in the rice fields of Tegal Lalang, discovery of the Tirta Empul temple, visit to sculptor workshops and night in Ubud

We suggest you join the Tegal Lalang region and its millennial rice fields. This site symbolizes the passion and will of the Balinese who have sculpted the mountain to give it another purpose, while respecting Dewi Sri (goddess of agriculture). A compromise between respect for the Gods and the need to provide for daily life for a result of great beauty.

It is time to discover one of the most sacred sites in Bali, Tirta Empul, built in 926 under the Warmadwa dynasty. This temple is above all a place of pilgrimage that houses baths fed by a sacred spring. At all times, the Balinese have crossed the island to attend ceremonies, be blessed and perform ablutions. Note that this temple is one of the major sites on the island of Bali and is therefore very popular with both locals and outside visitors.

At the beginning of the afternoon, you will take the time to visit one of the oldest woodcarving galleries in Ubud. This one exhibits works that, for some, have taken years of work and faithfully represent the work of the artists, their mastery and their fertile imagination. This know-how is a specialty in Bali and you will surely want to bring back one or two gifts/souvenirs.

Day 11: Walk around Mount Batur, swimming in hot springs, discovery of the village of Penglipuran and night in Ubud

You will head to the Kintamani region to get a closer look at Mount Batur, the second highest active volcano on the island, which rises to over 1,700 m. Far from being a simple volcano, Mount Batur is the object of intense veneration by the Balinese. This magnificent panorama also gives you the opportunity to take in the full dimension of the island, to better understand the history of the local people, separated between the jungle, Lake Batur, the steep mountains, the differences in traditions and to glimpse part of the 5 kingdoms that have ruled Bali. If you wish, we will make a detour to the natural hot springs of the lake. Several pools, more or less hot, between 30 and 40 degrees, are available to you, as well as swimming pools, with a view of the lake.

You will then take the road to reach the village of Penglipuran, an authentic Banjar (village). The inhabitants of Penglipuran are the direct descendants of the soldiers of the king of Bangli, who, according to legend, used to rest in this region. The originality of this site lies in the fact that the Balinese themselves have fiercely kept their independence and preserve their traditional way of life. This village therefore receives foreigners but ensures not to modernize the place and has created a collegial organization that benefits everyone. The main street allows access to traditional houses and to better understand the organization in Banjar and the daily life of the locals.

Day 12: Free day and activities as you wish in Ubud

This day is dedicated to relaxation, whether in a cultural or more playful approach. Everything is possible in Ubud, so enjoy! If you wish, they will offer you optional activities (minimum 2 people):

Balinese dance show: in the evening, we offer you to discover the epic of the Ramayana or the march of Rama, a show that is part of the fundamentals of Balinese culture.

Kelili Panting School: Of the Keliki style, a variant of the traditional miniature, heir to the old Batuan school, still retains the rules of authenticity and has not given in to the influence of the more abstract movement. Many students and travelers from all over the world come to learn this very particular art which is now passed down from generation to generation. We offer you to discover this school and participate in the creation of a work, a drawing, which will require patience, listening, to try the shading technique or the application of colors.

Traditional Indonesian Batik workshop: Originating from Java, it was inscribed in 2009 by UNESCO on the list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. This printing technique on fabric is obtained by applying wax to the cloth, each pattern having a particular meaning. Elevated to an art, it represents a unique form of expression that varies according to the regions or islands where it is practiced. You will be able to try to create a work or participate in its creation.

Day 13: Visit to the village of Tenganan, discovery of the Goa Lawah temple and night in Jimbaran

Departure at the end of the morning to visit one of the oldest villages on the island, located in the Tenganan region. The Bali Aga, descendants of the original inhabitants of Bali, still populate some villages in Bali, such as around Mount Batur. They retain rites and customs dating from the pre-Hindu era. The village of Tenganan, in the southeast, is considered the oldest. Its longevity probably comes from its particularly fertile lands which have allowed its inhabitants to live in near self-sufficiency and to be particularly respected by the traditional kingdoms for centuries.

Before the 70s, this region was very isolated and was the subject of specific traditions and social organization. With the development of tourism, the village has opened up to the outside, but keeping its own culture and age-old customs. This site will allow you to better understand local crafts, daily life, the organization of the village and the place of spirits within the community. Living in self-sufficiency, the Bali Aga have not changed their way of life for centuries. Animists, they worship ancestors and Hinduism which ultimately has little influence on their daily lives.

Then we will discover the Goa Lawah cave, its temple being one of the sites that protect Bali from evil forces. This site, which is home to thousands of bats that are said to serve as food for the giant snake Naga Basuki, is the subject of many legends, such as that of a secret passage that would cross the island to reach the Mother Temple of Besakih. Not far from the temple, on the beach, salt is collected with sand, then decanted in thatched huts by a Balinese community from the region. You will then head to the south of Bali for the Jimbaran region.

Day 14: Free day and night in Jimbaran

As you wished and in the spirit of this program, we suggest you end your stay in relaxation. We can provide a driver to allow you to discover the most beautiful surf beaches in Bali: Padang-Padang and Uluwatu. The idea is not to surf but to watch the greatest surfers in the world tame the Balinese waves.

If you prefer, and as an option, your driver can also take you to the bustling seaside resort of Seminyak, the St. Tropez of Bali, with its countless restaurants and shops. Unless you prefer to stay by the pool or treat yourself to a Balinese massage: it's up to you!

Another possibility is to discover: the Mother Temple Pura Uluwatu, in the locality of Pecatu, which is said to have been founded in the 11th century by Mpu Kuturan, a Javanese priest who played an important role in the Balinese religion. This famous temple in Bali is known for its monkeys and its unbeatable location offering the most beautiful sunsets. To end this day, you will attend a Kecak dance show, a traditional dance derived from the Sanghyang, which takes up part of the Ramayana, a famous epic that punctuates the lives of the Balinese, telling the love story between Rama and Sita. Without musicians, the Kecak is punctuated by the haunting cries of men and the storyteller's tale.

Day 15: Transfer to the airport

It is now time to leave the island of the Gods and head to Bali airport in Denpasar with wonderful memories both in your luggage and in your mind and most certainly thousands of photos. The whole team is at your disposal if you have any questions regarding your return or your transfer.

Your driver will pick you up 3 hours before your flight time, to be reconfirmed the day before.

Stay idea proposed by our Platinum Agency AMANASKA BALI and customizable according to your wishes!

Credit: Amanaska Bali