Bali Family Time | 11 Days & 10 Nights

DAY 1 

Arrive in the afternoon at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar. Be greeted by the local guide and driver for a private transfer to Sanur. 

After checking into the hotel, take some time to relax and freshen up, or do a bit of exploring independently.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight in Sanur, for this sample itinerary, we’ve picked InterContinental Bali Sanur. 

Distance and journey time:

Denpasar Airport – Sanur (19km): 40 min. 

DAY 2  

After breakfast in the morning, be picked up by the driver and tour guide for the short transfer to visit the house of Balinese kite maker Mr. Made Dika and learn how to make a kite from materials such as bamboo, strings, and cloth.

Owl and butterfly-shaped kites can easily be knocked down and reassembled back home. Learn all about the science behind the shapes and flying capability from Mr. Dika. Listen to the stories about kites from Sanur village and the history of the anticipated festival of the kite-making community. 

Once the kite is assembled and stable, leave the house and continue on a short drive to the beach. Mr. Dika will assist in launching the kite on the beautiful shoreline.

Once done with kite flying, it is time for a delicious meal. Walk along the small pedestrian promenade to a little eatery with a view of the sea with colorful outriggers lining the shoreline.  

Following lunch, return to the hotel for an afternoon of leisure.

Optional: Jewellery-making can be chosen to replace the kite-making workshop

Overnight in Sanur.

Distance and journey time:

Hotel – Kite maker house (6 km): 15 minutes

Kite maker house – Mertasari beach (6 km): 15 minutes

Mertasari beach – local restaurant (2 km): 20 minutes on foot

Local restaurant – hotel (2 km): 5 minutes 

DAY 3

In the morning, be picked up from the hotel around 07:30 and transferred (join-in transfer) to Benoa Harbour.

Arrive at the harbor where a motor catamaran awaits and depart for a fun day trip to the nearby islet of Nusa Lembongan (1.5h cruise per way). 

Take a trip to tropical paradise on this Nusa Lembongan day cruise, leaving Bali behind and sailing to Lembongan Island for a day of sea and sun. Transfer to Benoa harbor and board the luxury sailing catamaran for a 1.5 to 2-hour cruise. Watch as the shores of Bali fade away and the open sea comes into view. Sail across the turquoise waters, enjoying tea and coffee and light snacks on board.

Arrive at a quiet stretch of beach on Nusa Lembongan, an island oasis of white beaches and clear waters. The day is free to enjoy this blissful paradise. Relax on the soft sands underneath a swaying palm tree, listening to the waves lapping against the shores. Alternatively, grab a snorkel to explore the colorful marine life and coral reefs found off the shores of Lembongan. 

At midday, a buffet lunch will be served at the Beach Club. Feast on a selection of freshly grilled fish, tasty satays, salads, and much more all the while enjoying views of the turquoise bay.

Around 16:00, the boat will depart for the journey back to Benoa Harbour. Light snacks and drinks will be served on board. Upon reaching the shores of Bali, receive a transfer back to the hotel. 

Note: 

• This tour will only be available on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday; the itinerary can be adjusted according to travel dates. 
• We recommend wearing shorts and swimming gear, a towel, sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen. Bring a change of clothes for after the activities. Showers and toilets are available. 

Dinner is spent at leisure.

Overnight in Sanur.

Distance and journey time:

Hotel – Benoa Harbour (9.5 km): 20 minutes

Benoa Harbour – Hotel (9.5 km): 20 minutes

DAY 4

After breakfast, check out and be picked up by the driver and tour guide for some interesting sightseeing en route to Ubud. 

The route to the volcanic Batur Lake and the small village of Kintamani on the rim of the caldera leads via small scenic roads offering amazing panoramas over the beautiful rice fields and landscape (around 2 hours from Sanur). 

About two hours into the journey, arrive at Kintamani where the still active Mount Batur stands with breathtaking views. Adjacent to the volcano is the large crescent-shaped Batur Lake, all surrounded by the high walls of the crater rim. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant here, with all-encompassing views over Lake Batur and the jaw-dropping scenery. 

After lunch, continue into the large caldera and at the edge of the lava field climb aboard one of the custom-made 4WD tour vehicles then drive along the lava field of Mt Batur which is something that most visitors don’t get the chance to experience. 

Get back in a normal vehicle and drive to Ubud before arriving in Ubud, visit the holy spring temple of Tirta Empul for a look at ponds with sacred cleansing water. The Balinese visit this spring for ritual purification, which guests are encouraged to do as well!

Note: There is an opportunity to bathe here. The water can be quite chilly. Changing facilities are extremely basic and offer little privacy. It is required to wear a decent dress, such as a sarong, when entering the ponds.

Overnight in Ubud.

Distance and journey time:

Sanur – Kintamani (63 km): 2 hours 

Kintamani – Tirta Empul (21 km): 42 minutes

Tirta Empul – Ubud (15 km): 30 minutes

DAY 5

Breakfast at the hotel and enjoy today at leisure with a choice of optional activities as follows:

1. OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Ayung River Rafting

After breakfast at the hotel, depart on a join-in transfer for today’s activity at Ayung River.

Upon arrival at the starting point, the rafting guides provide a helmet, lifejacket, and paddle; and then provide a safety briefing and also explain and demonstrate paddling techniques. A ‘dry bag’ will be provided to protect valuables and keep clothes dry. 

Then it’s time to start paddling! (max. 4 passengers + 1 guide per raft). Cover 10 kilometres on the Ayung River over approximately 90 minutes. The trip is divided into two parts, with a rest stop on the riverbanks at the halfway point. 

After reaching the ending point of the rafting journey, receive a cup of tea. There are showers, towels, and toilet facilities available. Then, be treated to a late buffet of Indonesian food for lunch. 

Note: This rafting is a soft-rafting (level 2-3) and is possible for children from 7 years and older. We recommend wearing shorts and swimming gear, hats and sunscreen. Bring a change of clothes for after the rafting journey.

2. OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Village Cycling

In the morning, be picked up from the hotel lobby at 07:30 and transfer to Carang Sari. This traditional Balinese Village is located in the island’s interior, Badung Regency.

Upon arrival, relax with morning tea in the tranquil local surroundings. The cycling guides will provide a safety briefing, describe the route, and demonstrate how to use the bike’s gears and brakes. 

Set off on a 2-hour cycling adventure covering approximately 17 kilometers, with several stops along the way. Cruise through untouched rice terraces and villages dotted with traditional houses and temples. Stop to meet friendly locals, take photos of scenic spots, and learn about the local culture. Pass through Sangeh, a monkey forest, and meet its cheeky inhabitants.

Vehicles will be waiting at the endpoint to provide transport to a local restaurant for an Indonesian buffet lunch. Afterwards, transfer back to the hotel.

3. OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Pondok Pekak Library & Learning Centre

Pondok Pekak is a small local library and community centre offering lessons and classes, which was founded by an expat American lady Laurie Billington, who loved to read and believed every town should have a library. Along with her Balinese husband Made, they built Pondok Pekak in 1995 and named it after Made’s Grandfather who also had a great passion for reading, learning, and helping others. “Pondok Pekak” means “Grandfathers little resting house in the rice fields”.

The lessons on offer are for both adults and children, some lessons can be chosen such as Balinese Offering Making and Gamelan Lesson which lasts around 1.5 – 3 hours for each class.

Note: The minimum age for optional tours is 7 years old.

Overnight in Ubud.

DAY 6

After breakfast, get a taste of authentic local culture with an insightful Bali village tour. Transfer to Marga, a typical rural village in the Tabanan Regency. Surrounded by stunning landscapes, this is the perfect place to experience an authentic countryside lifestyle. 

Be welcomed with a healthy drink in a family’s compound. The hosts will introduce themselves and explain their daily activities on the farm. Learn about their traditional herbal remedies, see remarkable inscribed palm leaves, and discover other aspects of typical Balinese life. 

After exploring the family compound, join a farmer for an easy trek through the surroundings. Learn about the Balinese Subak irrigation system, a unique and effective method used by generations of local farmers. Pass through vibrant rice fields where, depending on the time of year, there may be a chance to assist the local farmers. Loop back to the house compound in time for a delicious, family-style lunch.

After lunch continue to Kayuputih Village in Munduk via Belimbing. Check in to the hotel 

Overnight in Munduk.

Distance and journey time:

Ubud – Baru Village, Marga (30 km): 1 hour

Baru Village, Marga – Munduk via Belimbing (77 km): 2 hours 30 minutes

DAY 7

Breakfast at the hotel and enjoy today at leisure.

Overnight in Munduk.

DAY 8

After breakfast at the hotel, check out and depart with the guide and driver.

Proceed to Bedugul, an area of the central highlands that is famous for its stunning natural beauty and three lakes. Ascend further to the north into the hills for a visit to the famous Ulun Danu Temple. Set on an island on the peaceful waters of Lake Bratan, this temple is one of Bali’s most iconic and photogenic sites.

Proceed to the hotel in South Bali stopping en route at Mengwi to visit Taman Ayun Temple.

Check into the hotel and overnight in Seminyak.

Distance and journey time:

Munduk – Bedugul (20 km): 40 minutes

Bedugul – Mengwi (34 km): 1 hour

Mengwi – Seminyak (20 km): 40 minutes

DAY 9

Be picked up from the hotel around 08:30 and transfer to Kuta Beach (join-in transfer). 

Be welcomed by a personal surf instructor and receive rash guards to protect against the sun while receiving a safety briefing. After this, the teacher will demonstrate and explain some techniques. The well-trained instructors show and teach the basics of surfing, how to balance, how to paddle, etc. – first in a pool and after, once the basic skills of surfing are handled, head out with the instructors to the beach and try out some of the surfing techniques in the ocean. 

The entire session lasts about 2.5 hours and is fully accompanied by an instructor. 

There is 2 hours of free time after the session to wander the Kuta area before returning to the hotel for the evening.

The remainder of the day is at leisure

Overnight at the hotel in Seminyak.

DAY 10

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning is free at leisure and, in the afternoon, depart at 16:00 to visit Uluwatu, a beautiful temple set on cliffs overlooking the Indian Ocean with a big sacred monkey population. There, witness a traditional ‘kecak’ dance, a Balinese “fire” dance, which is certainly one of the island’s most spectacular things to see. Watch the story of the legendary Ramayana while the sun sets over the Indian Ocean. 

Following this spectacular start to the evening, head to Jimbaran and enjoy a seafood barbecue dinner on the beach.

Return to the hotel after dinner and overnight in Seminyak.

Distance and journey time:

Seminyak – Uluwatu (27 km): 1 hour

Uluwatu – Jimbaran (17 km): 30 minutes

Jimbaran – Seminyak (11 km): 20 minutes

DAY 11

The morning is spent free at leisure until pick-up time for a transfer to the airport for a return flight home.

Distance and journey time:

Seminyak – Ngurah Rai airport (10 km): 45 minutes