Off the Beaten Track Bali Tour: Uncovering Hidden Marvels

In the morning, the aroma of delicious coconut fills the dining room as the aroma of freshly brewed coffee blends with the fragrance of hyacinth. Succulent mangoes glow yellow in the sweeping morning light, and your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and escort you through the countryside with your first stop at the iconic Tegalalang Rice Terraces. The tiers texture the hillsides, rising upwards from the valley floor and edging the upper ridges of the jungle. Sporadic palm trees shade the rice paddies as farmers with woven conical hats cultivate the landscape and balance harvested crops in baskets that dangle from bamboo poles strung over their shoulders. The image of Bali comes to life in the presence of the lush emerald terraces.

After visiting a local plantation to sample the varieties of coffee grown on the island, you will reach the first of the Sekumpul waterfalls, a combination of seven cascades hidden in the jungle terrain. Jade leaves line the trails that cling to the mountain slopes. You can hear the river rushing over the rocks below as the trail ends at the base of the falls where the clapping sound of water spilling into the waiting pool echoes through the trees. Sekumpul means “group” in Indonesian, which accounts for the seven waterfalls you will see before they spill over the cliffs. The tallest cascade reaches a height of nearly 165 feet, and a gentle mist will wash over the lowlands. The waterfalls tumble like veils, streaming elegantly down onto smoothed boulders, protruding cliff tableaus, and eventually reaching the rushing river below.

Farmers return to the rice fields in the morning to tend their crops as locals harvest fallen coconuts and climb the soaring palms to reach ripened fruits before taking their haul to the market. At breakfast, you will find the refreshing aroma of freshly brewed coffee accompanied by the sweet scent of juicy pineapple. Your guide will greet you in the hotel lobby after your meal and lead you to Tabanan Regency to begin your immersion into the culture and lifestyle of contemporary Balinese villages. The Penebel Village Butterfly Park encompasses nearly 32,300 square feet and contains hundreds of butterflies that span the 15 known species found around the Indonesian archipelago.

The Balinese peacock butterfly has an iridescent green that spreads across its wings, contrasting with the emerald hues of the leaves on which the butterfly rests. After visiting Bedugul Village, you will make your way to the ancient trails of Trunyan Village. Cobblestone walkways line the edges of the turquoise lake as sloped, red tile roofs crown the remaining houses. The village emits a majestic ambiance that stems from the highland jungle terrain and the unique culture of the historical peoples that differ from the island’s Hindu traditions. The cemetery across the water displays the way villagers received a cleansing ritual before being placed into a bamboo cage set beneath the Taru Menyan tree.

You will make your way north after breakfast with your guide eager to show you the stunning display of nature at Git Git Falls in northern Bali. The predictable water flow makes the falls a compelling site all year round, reaching a height of 115 feet. The water pours over the cliff from two points, connecting in a single stream before entering the rippling azure pool. You will hear the rushing water as you make your way into Kalimudah Canyon for your adventure into the thrilling terrain. Your guide will help you to repel down the many cliffs with the tallest reaching a height of 26 feet above the ground.

Waterfalls drip around you and splash on the jungle floor. Your heart will beat with excitement as you sit on a smooth rock wet from the river’s moisture. You will slide down the rock, using it like a waterslide to reach the lower tiers of the jungle terrain. After returning to Ubud for a relaxing afternoon, your guide will take you into the rice fields that edge Ubud and away from the crowds. The night sky fills with the glimmering fireflies as frogs croak and geckos chirp in the unfettered landscape. The silhouettes of the nearby rice terraces flicker with light before fading back to shadows.

The aroma of hyacinth and orchids spreads through the central highlands in the morning breeze. The long-tailed macaques of the Sacred Monkey Forest linger in the sunlight that pierces the canopy. Your private transfer will lead you to the airstrip to board a helicopter for an hour-long scenic flight over the island. The rumbling propellers cast a dramatic wind as the chopper will ascend into the air, leaving the stretches of coastal plain below. From the sky, you will have an unfettered view of the stunning landscape and seaside. The sands around Kuta Beach shimmer with white hues beneath shading umbrellas and palm trees. Tanah Lot Temple stands atop a secluded boulder surrounded by water on the west coast.

You will circle the crater of Mount Batur, which stands at a height of more than 5,600 feet above sea level. The cobalt waters of Lake Batur encompass nearly two-thirds of the lush caldera. The pilot will point to steam rising from active fumaroles of the composite volcano rising along the caldera rim. The island looks completely different from the air, offering panoramic views of the jungle canopy and rice terraces. The helicopter will return to the landing pad, and you will make your way to Ubud to continue exploring the Sacred Monkey Forest and the cultural Art Market before transferring to a gorgeous resort-style hotel on the shores of Nusa Dua.

In the morning, surfers will take to the water and move past the reefs to catch the cresting waves as seaweed farmers will tend to their crops along the shallows. Your guide will greet you in the early morning and escort you to Benoa Harbour. The scent of mango and coconut will blend with the sea breeze as you step aboard a rafting vessel, passing the fishermen as they return from earlier hours on the open water. Droplets of refreshing salt water will brush your cheeks as your skipper will point to visible dorsal fin as they rise out of the water. More fins will follow with dolphin pods as you bounce through the current.

The bottlenose dolphin can grow longer than 13 feet and is known for its playful behavior. The dolphins can jump up to 20 feet in the air and often arch above the water in an act of elegant liveliness. You will continue out to a pontoon nursery that offers visitors and marine biologists a chance to view black tip reef sharks up close. The conservationists have saved more than 70 sharks since 2013, and the Indonesian archipelago houses an estimated 250 different shark species. You can don your snorkel and mask, submerge yourself into the water, and watch the reef sharks as they circle the fringing reefs of Serangan Island.

Two islands off of the coast of Nusa Dua rise out of the water decorated with fringing coral reefs. The sea breeze carries the aroma of banana pancakes across the beaches as fishers return to the waters on traditional boats from which they can cast their nets. After breakfast, you will make your way to the shores of Nusa Penida to snorkel around Manta Point. The water is inviting in its warmth and crystal clarity, and you will have visibility up to 15 feet in every direction. The current will move you along the waters above the staghorn and tabletop coral as sea grass and sea fans wave in the movement of the sea.

Cleaner fish position themselves among the reef situated nearly 10 feet below the water’s surface as manta rays circle the mounds of coral to allow for cleaner fish to cleanse the manta rays’ skin. The rays are curious around humans and effortlessly glide through the water. Their wingspan averages lengths up to 18 feet, with the larger manta rays growing up to 23 feet wide. Their bodies resemble winged disks with sleek black tops adorning pale underbellies. You will make your way to the next snorkel destination at Mangrove Point off Nusa Lembongan, which features a natural aquatic nursery.  Drift seamlessly through the current to view an abundance of Gold Saddle Rabbitfish.

In the morning, the Blow Hole erupts with seawater as waves press against the rugged shoreline at the edge of Nusa Dua beach, putting pressure in the subterranean tunnel. Upon reaching its fill, the water will gush from the rocks like a volcano, splashing down over the viewing walkway and protruding coral coastline before joining the sea. At breakfast, you will sip a rejuvenating cup of Balinese coffee as you savor the flavor you discovered on a tropical plantation. Your private transfer will greet you after the meal and escort you to Ngurah Rai International Airport for your flight home.