Segment One of Southeast Asia Immersion
September 19-29, 2023
Sample Day
- Daily mindful movement and meditation (all levels)
- Breakfast, discussion & information for what’s ahead
- Daily tours and excursions
- Supper and communing, with debriefing from the day and information for the day ahead
- Evening R&R
Day 1 : WELCOME! (Dinner)
Rahajeng rauh ring Bali — Welcome to Bali!
Ubud is a thriving village in central Bali that is considered the cultural capital of this tiny island. It is a hub of art and traditional crafts, and much of the village and nearby areas consist of artists’ workshops and galleries. Here you find remarkable architecture as well as historical museums, artists, and an array of interesting cafes, local foods, and ceremonies. The word Ubud comes from the Balinese word for medicine, so it is here that people flock for healing energies, good spirits, meditation, yoga, artistry, and indigenous knowledge.
- Arrive in Denpasar City in the early afternoon
- Transfer to Ubud village
- Settle into the hotel, freshen up, and relax
- Enjoy your first taste of Balinese cuisine at our welcome dinner, then off to a good night’s sleep
Overnight in Ubud.
Day 2 : UBUD (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- Morning yoga and meditation session
- Orientation to Bali, focusing on practical, helpful tips for your time on the island as well as an introduction to Balinese culture and philosophy
- Lunch together at a local Balinese restaurant
- Private tour and coffee with Agung Rai, the founder and visionary behind the world-renowned ARMA Museum, home to an outstanding collection of traditional Balinese art
- Dinner in town together
Overnight in Ubud.
Day 3 : UBUD (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- Stroll through winding paths in the lush jungle and through terraced rice paddies on an herbal walk to learn about Bali’s native plants and how they’re used for traditional medicine, food, and body care products
- Yoga and meditation session
- Lunch together at a local restaurant in town
- Join a fun introductory cultural workshop in a village banjar, or community center
The banjar is where villagers prepare offerings and foods for ceremonies, meet and discuss village affairs, practice music and dance, and just hang out and chat with each other. We invite teachers of traditional Balinese gamelan music, Legong dance, woodcarving, and offering-making to give participants an introduction to each of these disciplines. You’ll quickly learn that the intricate finger and eye movements of Legong dance only look easy and that keeping a steady hand while woodcarving is no easy feat! All of the activities you’ll try are central to Balinese culture, and there is no better place to experience them than right in the banjar.
- Put on your special Balinese outfit to attend an exclusive Royal Palace tour & dinner at the Peliatan Palace
- Prince Cokorda Agung Krisna Dalem, one of the young Royal Family Balinese Princes located in Peliatan Palace, will meet personally with your group and spend an evening in fascinating discussions about issues facing Bali and its culture in the 21st century
- Evening performance of traditional Balinese Legong dance
Overnight in Ubud.
Day 4 : UBUD (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- Morning yoga and meditation session
- Tour and presentation at Bumi Sehat, a natural birth clinic and non-profit foundation that has a mission of reducing maternal and child mortality in Indonesia. The clinic’s founder, Robyn Lim, was recognized in 2011 as CNN’s Hero of the Year.
- Lunch together at a delicious local restaurant
- Afternoon at a local Women’s Center, where you’ll hear the founder’s story and learn about her dream to create a space where Balinese women can support each other and learn new skills
- Dinner catered by the women’s center, featuring their amazing range of traditional vegetarian Balinese dishes and fusion cuisine
Overnight in Ubud.
Day 5 : UBUD (Breakfast, Lunch)
- Morning yoga and meditation session
- Head to Cantika, a serene spa in the jungle that overlooks a rushing river valley. Here you’ll experience a workshop on how to make skincare products from natural ingredients. At the end of the workshop enjoy a facial or massage using products created on-site using ingredients from their garden.
- Visit to Tirta Empul holy spring temple, considered a sacred site by the Balinese people to purify the soul and mind
- Dinner on your own, to try out any of the many amazing restaurants in Ubud that catches your eye!
- Enjoy your final evening in Ubud to explore, shop, or relax
Overnight in Ubud.
Day 6 : UBUD – PEMUTERAN (Breakfast, Lunch)
Pemuteran is a small fishing village on the northwest coast of Bali. It lies between a gorgeous mountainous region to the south and Menjangan Island in the north, an area considered one of the top dive sites in the world. Pemuteran has the largest area of shallow coral reefs in Bali and is easily accessible, free of strong currents and waves, making it perfect for swimming, snorkeling and diving. Pemuteran is home to the largest artificial coral reef project in the world, and the village’s model of community-based tourism and conservation has been recognized by the United Nations.
- Morning yoga and meditation session
- Head to Pemuteran, sightseeing along the way
- Visit the historical Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, renowned for its appearance of floating atop Lake Beratan
- Lunch together in Bedugul, a cool, mountainous region
- Feel the cool misty air or take a dip at a rushing waterfall en route to Pemuteran
- Settle into your accommodations and enjoy dinner on your own
Overnight in Pemuteran.
Day 7 : PEMUTERAN (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- Morning yoga and meditation session
- Experience a presentation on the Biorock Coral Restoration Project, an amazing initiative using technology to speed the growth of coral reefs
- Snorkel over the coral restoration project
- Lunch together at a local restaurant
- Visit a local turtle hatchery where they are working toward increasing the number of sea turtles in Bali’s oceans
- Enjoy a special dinner with a local Balinese family at their home
- Go on a special night trip to Melanting Temple, Bali’s temple for prosperity
Overnight in Pemuteran.
Day 8 : PEMUTERAN (Breakfast, Lunch)
- Head out on a boat trip to Menjangan Island, a small island that is home to one of the world’s most biodiverse arrays of coral reefs and marine life in the world
- Spend the morning snorkeling over the reefs
- Lunch on the island
- Head to a different side of the island for another opportunity to snorkel over another diverse coral site
- Visit a traditional healer who specializes in channeling spirits
- Dinner on your own
Overnight in Pemuteran.
Day 9 : PEMUTERAN – SANUR (Breakfast, Lunch)
Sanur is a seaside town in southeast Bali made up of a long stretch of beach with calm, shallow waters. Colorful jukung fishing boats rest on the sand and a paved path snakes along the beach for several kilometers. Sanur is home to great restaurants (many with live music), a wide variety of shops, and a relaxed atmosphere despite being closer to the major cities of south Bali. It’s a perfect spot to pick up last-minute gifts, lounge by the beach or the pool, explore sights along the beach walkway, and enjoy a final sunset dinner in Bali.
- Morning yoga and meditation session in Pemuteran
- Head to Sanur, stopping along the way
- Take a break along the drive at a coffee plantation, and try many unique varieties of coffees and teas grown there
- Stop for lunch at a restaurant tucked among the rice paddies
- Arrive in Sanur and settle into your beachfront hotel
- Dinner on your own
Overnight in Sanur.
Day 10 : SANUR (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- Go to the morning market to gather ingredients and try your hand at making some delicious traditional Balinese and Indonesian dishes in a cooking class
- Enjoy your culinary creations from the cooking class for lunch
- The afternoon is free to relax, swim, or do some last-minute souvenir shopping in the markets
- Final Balinese sunset dinner together on the beach
Overnight in Sanur.
Day 11: FAREWELL, BALI (Breakfast)
- Prepare for journeys home, or onward to the charms of the Mekong! Exchange contact info with new friends, and reflect on the memories you created in vibrant Bali.
Tyang nglungsur mepamit, Bali — Farewell, Bali!
Continue to Southeast Asia Immersion Segment Two:
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