Discover Indonesia'S Eastern Islands

Arrive in Ubud and check-in at the hotel. Located around 200-300 metres above sea level Ubud is surrounded by terraced paddy fields and is well known as the cultural heart of the island of Bali. The village itself is today a busy hive of artistic activity with many shops selling locally made bamboo furniture, wood and stone carvings, paintings and other arts and crafts. Traditional Hindu-Balinese dance performances take place most evenings.

This morning we make our way to a local project, where we meet the staff who will help us create Balinese temple offerings, typically made up of small palm leaf baskets filled with flowers and rice, which we take with us to Tirta Empul temple. Here we have the opportunity to experience the ritual of entering a temple as a local Balinese would. We change into traditional dress and ask permission to enter by placing our offerings at the entrance. Here we may also bathe in the holy waters. We advise you dress in a white shirt or blouse for this day - you will be loaned a Balinese sarong for the duration of the visit to the temple. From here we continue north to Gunung Kawi, where we walk down towards the Pakarisan River, along around 100 steps, to see beautiful 11th century Royal tombs cut into a sheer cliff face. We then make our way back up the steps to re-join our bus and return to the local project where we can enjoy lunch, before returning to Ubud for some for time in the afternoon - an ideal opportunity to explore the shops and market, or simply relax at the hotel.

Today we fly to Ende on eastern Flores Island. On arrival we embark on a scenic 3 hour drive. Our journey takes us through a picturesque landscape of rice fields, coffee plantations and olive trees as well as small villages. We wind our way to Moni, our base from where we climb Kelimutu volcano, we drive alongside a river and see a beautiful gorge as we climb through the mountains to our destination.