BALI, FLORES AND SUMATRA: THE GREAT JOURNEY

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Arrival at Bali airport. Transfer to your accommodation.

  

  This program, written by our Platinum agency, begins upon your arrival in Bali. Here, we are in adventure mode where encounters are at the heart of the journey. This is how your driver or guide will pick you up at the airport and accompany you to your first hotel, where you will be given the necessary documents for your trip as well as the first tips to ensure a successful immersion.

• day 2

  Free day in Sanur

  

  A small day of rest in Sanur to recover from your trip and the time difference. There is no shortage of distractions: massage parlors, shops, local or international restaurants, seaside walks…

• day 3

  Sanur Munduk

  Start at the end of the morning to discover the Tanah Lot temple, which is said to have been integrated by Nirartha, a priest from the 15th century. Certainly a tourist site, but it remains an important place of pilgrimage for the Balinese. We will then head towards Munduk, which means "between plain and mountain", a small Balinese village located at about 800 m altitude in the north of the island.

• day 4

  Jungle crossing - Natural waterfalls

  

  Today, we set off in the middle of the morning to discover the region with a walk in the heart of the primary forest bordering Lake Tamblingan. On the way back, you will cross the sacred waters of the lake aboard a traditional canoe. An authentic adventure! After lunch, we get back on the road to discover the twin waterfalls of Banyumala, ranked among the 8 most beautiful waterfalls on the Island of the Gods. Once you reach the bottom of the waterfalls, if you wish, it will be possible for you to swim there.

• day 5

  Jungle crossing - Natural waterfalls

  

  In the late morning, we leave for Pura Ulun Danu Bratan. Built in 1663, this temple, composed of 4 sacred buildings, is located at about 1500 meters altitude, on Lake Beratan, the second largest lake in Bali. A site much appreciated by Indonesian tourists, but which remains an important stop to better understand the Balinese religion. We then take a secondary road to reach a region suspended in time, Jatiluwih, where rice fields classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site stretch as far as the eye can see. We will arrive in Ubud in the middle of the afternoon.

• day 6

  Balinese immersion - Tirta Empul Temple and Tegalalang rice fields

  

  We will meet today several families who live together very naturally in the same place. Your hosts will teach you how to make "canang sari", the daily offerings used in Hindu ceremonies, and will allow you to better understand their daily life. We head towards the famous Tirta Empul temple, dedicated to the gods Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, and Indra, a major pilgrimage site for Balinese Hindus. We then suggest you head to the Tegal Lalang region and its ancient rice fields. This site symbolizes the passion and determination of the Balinese who have sculpted the mountain to give it a new purpose, while respecting Dewi Sri (goddess of agriculture).

• day 7

  Relaxation day in Ubud

  

  This day is dedicated to relaxation, whether in a cultural approach or a more playful one. Taking the time to discover Ubud is above all about taking pleasure in searching for a pretty souvenir or the most original one, enjoying a massage, tasting a new Balinese dish, visiting a painting or jewelry gallery, attending a show... and so many other moments to share. If you wish, we will suggest optional activities (minimum 2 people).

• day 8

  Departure for Flores, the island of flowers.

  

  Your driver will pick you up at your hotel, in Bali, according to your flight schedule for Denpasar airport, at the domestic terminal, in order to take your flight to Flores. We will join the start of your program on Flores.

• day 9

  Mount Kelimutu and the 3 multicolored lakes

  

  Kelimutu consists of 3 crater lakes, each with a different color. This hike, which takes 40 to 50 minutes depending on your pace, will take you to the center of this volcanic region, at an altitude of about 1,630 meters, to enjoy an exceptional panorama, weather permitting, where the different greens blend with the red sky of the Flores sun.

• day 10

  Riung and the Taman Laut Marine Park

  

  Riung is a modest fishing village that is unique in being located in the Riung marine park, called Taman Laut, which means "Sea Park or Garden". After breakfast, you will leave by traditional boat for a snorkeling activity around these paradisiacal islets in the marine park: Riung Marine Garden.

• day 11

  Discovery of Ngadha culture

  

  At an altitude of 1100 meters, Bajuan is the capital of the Ngadha country, also known as Rokka. The whole region hides villages that are both traditional and at the heart of nature. Here we are in cultural exceptions where each community has its own language to translate ancestral knowledge based on human relationships, respect for family and ancestors. We will start the morning by discovering the natural hot springs of Soa, a preserved site to "return to the sources" and let go. We will then leave for the traditional villages of Bena and then Aimere.

• day 12

  The rice fields of Cancar and the village of Wae Rebo

  

  We leave today for Cancar to admire the magnificent circular rice fields called "lodok." You will then head towards the village of Narang and then Denge, from where the hike to Wae Rebo, a traditional village listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, will begin. There you will discover the ancestral culture of a tribe isolated in the mountains. Listen carefully to hear the very unique songs of the local birds. You will spend the night in the village of Wae Rebo.

• day 13

  Ruteng to Labuan Bajo

  

  Ruteng is a small town that ultimately has few establishments dedicated to accommodating travelers. The main interest of the region consists of the quite atypical rice fields, divided into plots and shaped like large spider webs, some of which are arranged on the slopes of the hill of Golo Curu, a mountain located north of Ruteng. We will then descend the mountain to take the road to Labuan Bajo, passing through the villages of Narang and Lembor, where we will take the time to stop if you wish.

• day 14

  Day 13-14: Mini-cruise in Komodo National Park

  

  The program continues with a private mini-cruise by boat. It should be noted that the boat is still a fisherman's vessel, so not all comforts are necessarily provided. Above all, it is an adventure to encounter the region's endemic dragons. The cruise director decides which sites to choose from: Sebayor Kecil, Tatawa Besar, Castle Rock, Gili Lawa Laut, Wainilu, Manta Point, Siba Besar, Batu Bolong, The Cauldron… Walks on the beaches and hills of the park's islands. At the end of the afternoon on the 2nd day, you will be back in Labuan Bajo.

• day 15

  Relaxation day in Labuan Bajo

  

  Take the time to rest before the last part of your program: Sumatra. Enjoy the beach, the local restaurants offering grilled fish and seafood, or stroll around to discover the many shops in the city. In short, during this free day, it's up to you to write your own program.

• day 16

  Transfer to the island of Sumatra

  

  We leave early in the morning for Sumatra. After the flights, a stopover in Bali may be necessary; it's part of the adventure. Arrival at the international airport of Kuala Namu. Meet your guide, your driver, and the representative of our agency. Transfer to Bukit Lawang. The orangutan conservation center is located in the Gunung Leuser National Park.

• day 17

  Trekking day in the national park

  

  After breakfast at the hotel, we will leave for a 6-hour trek in the heart of the Gunung Leuser jungle in the National Park. We will discover the richness of the tropical vegetation in the Sumatran forest. You will certainly encounter birds, butterflies, Siamangs (monkeys with very long arms) and different types of reptiles. At the end of the morning, a local picnic will be served in the middle of nature. For the rest of the day, we can swim or take a nice walk in the small village located in the Park.

• day 18

  2nd day of trekking in the national park

  In order to optimize our chances of seeing orangutans who, let us remember, are wild, we have planned a second day of exploration. This will enable us to go to another site, to organize the discovery differently and to double your chances of having this incredible encounter.

• day 19

  Transfer between Gunung Leuser and Tangkahan

  

  After breakfast at the hotel, transfer of about 2h30 by local jeep to the small community of Tangkahan, taking bumpy roads. We will pass through rubber plantations and exotic landscapes of jungle and mountains. Upon arrival in Tangkahan, we will cross the Batang river using a local raft to reach the lodge.

• day 20

  Trekking day in the national park

  

  After breakfast, we meet Sumatran elephants in a sanctuary dedicated to them. Possibility to help them take a shower. Then, we would go for a walk with them, depending on availability, the keepers' permission, and the elephants' willingness. Free time for the rest of the day. According to your wishes, you can walk along the Buluh river to admire millions of butterflies under the Sumatran sun. You can also visit and swim in the small waterfall near the river.

• day 21

  Trekking day in the national park

  After breakfast, we take the road to reach Kuala Namu airport in Medan. (Please note that the transfer can be arranged the day before, depending on the departure time of your return flight). During the journey, relive this magnificent adventure between Bali, Flores, and Sumatra, which remains an off-the-beaten-path experience. You have just made some of the most beautiful discoveries in Indonesia, which, for many travelers, remain an unforgettable memory, in the heart of a wild nature that still shelters many species, whether plant or animal, to discover, as well as peoples who have managed to preserve their cultures and traditions.