Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Welcome to Indonesia - a land of fire, a journey of flavours, being one of nature – so many metaphors to describe the country.

Arrive in the dynamic & vibrant city Jakarta, one of the world’s greatest megalopolises with its chaotic charm & juxtapositions found on every street.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Jakarta Soekarno Hatta International Airport,  subsequent to Immigration & Customs you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & accompany you to the Domestic Terminal to immediately connect with your afternoon flight to Palangkaraya, Borneo.

Arrive in Borneo the world's third largest island with a rainforest estimated to be about 130 million year old, incredible landscapes (above & below the waves) & rich indigenous culture. The island is politically divided among three countries: Malaysia & Brunei in the north and Indonesia to the south.

Rainforests | Wildlife |Cultural Riches |Culinary Melting Pot

For many visitors to Borneo, their most memorable moment is glimpsing a wild orangutan or proboscis monkey swinging through the jungle canopy, spotting an Irrawaddy dolphin in the shimmering waters of the South China Sea, or locking eyes with a pygmy elephant, clouded leopard or saltwater crocodile. Jungle animals are shy by nature, but a good guide can help you tell the difference between a vine and a vine snake, between a twig and a stick insect, and between the call of a gibbon and the cry of a hornbill.

Borneo brings together an astonishing array of cultures & languages, and age-old traditions of hospitality mean visitors are welcomed. Borneo's Dayak groups stopped headhunting long ago, but ancient customs & ceremonies live on in longhouse communities.

The varied ethnic and cultural backgrounds of Borneo's people means the island's cuisines are as wide-ranging as they are delicious.

On arrival, after you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Borneo Palangka Raya Kalimantan Tengah Tjilik Riwut Airport, you will be again welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer to the hotel.

Check-in & relax.

Palangka Raya (translating to Honoured & Sacred Great Place) is the capital of the province of Central Kalimantan, also famously known as Central Borneo situated between the Kahayan & the Sabangau rivers.

Palangka Raya started its evolution from a small stilt village on the banks of the Kahayan River, when the first President of Indonesia, Sukarno decided that it would become the next site of Indonesia’s capital. The new city was completely designed from scratch & built in grand proportions in the 1960’s. That reflects in the refreshingly ordered streets & wide boulevards. However, while Sukarno's dream died, the city remains progressive, with a youthful nightlife that transcends karaoke, some quality restaurants & upmarket river cruising. The market & old town are east, while government buildings & the sprawl lie in the west.

Central Kalimantan is  known as the ‘lung of the world’ for its vast & fertile tropical jungles & so Palanka Raya has its own eco-tourism where you will find comfortably remodeled traditional ‘rangkan’ river boats which cruise past natural beauty & magnificent fauna, particularly the orangutans of Borneo. 

Palangka Raya is a base to to explore many great places, inside & outside the city,  like Balanga Museum that containts many artifacts of Dayak people, Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation’s Education Centre at Nyaru Menteng & Taman Alam, near Bukit Tangkiling, - a wildlife park with Crocodiles as the  main attractions. You can also hike up to Bukit Tangkiling and Bukit Rawi,  that will give you a wonderful vista of vast flat flood plains & peat swamp forests, with the rare rocky outcrops or magmatic extrusions in the flat peat swamps.

Later in the evening, meet the Journeys Rep & proceed on a short walking ‘orientation’ tour prior to gong to a traditional Dayak restaurant for dinner.

Come back to the hotel.

Early morning, Check-out & meet the Tour-guide in the lobby at 07.00 am for an exciting day in the jungle.

Drive outside the city to the boarding point on the shore of Lake Sebangau where you will board a long wooden canoe, travel across the glistening pure black waters of the lake & on reaching the other end, set off into the real Bornean flooded forest. Here is your opportunity to track a wild orangutan! You can help paddle the canoe, or simply relax & take in the magnificent scenery.

Enjoy a picnic lunch in the simple Park Center, then climb the lookout tower for a view over the park & lake.  

Return back the boarding point to disembark & drive to the picturesque village of Bukit Rawi, where you will visit the homes of rattan weavers & admire their intricate creations. If time permits, you will visit some of the colorful second burial boxes, or “dayak sandungs,” in a nearby village.

Return back to the Pier in Palangka Raya & Check-in to your charming cabins aboard a traditional 22 meter long Kalimantan river boat, your hotel for the next 3 nights.

Cruise upstream into the sunset past the stilted & floating houses of the capital city, to a quiet location for evening rest. On this relaxing jungle river journey, you will enjoy delicious food made on board as you travel through magical reflections, see orangutans on forested islands, and stop to visit traditional Dayak villages to experience their riverside lifestyle.

Keep an eye out for some amazing wild-life: proboscis monkeys, hornbills, Brahmini kites & possibly wild orangutans!

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax & watch the scenery as the boat continues upstream to a beautiful black water lake system & finds a quiet location to moor for the night.

Morning continue along the forest-lined river, past unique villages as you enjoy breakfast & stop at the tiny hamlet of Petuk Katimpun.

Here you will walk along boardwalks to visit an NGO Ransel Buku, a local foundation that provides books & other cultural activities for the village children. You will meet with a representative & have the opportunity to donate books or money to their program (a donation will be made by us on your behalf in any case, but feel free to make any additional donation if you wish!).

The boat continues upstream on the Rungan River. Arrive at Palas Island, a pre-release island operated by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, get on to a motorized canoe to observe the playful orangutans.

Getting off from the canoe, visit the BOS Education Centre where orangutans await live in socialization cages, awaiting their release in the wilds. Learn about the BOS history & rehabilitation programs.

Return to the boat & enjoy a leisurely lunch while cruising to Sei Gohong village. The boat will continue upstream, passing Kaja & Bangamat islands, which are also Orangutan pre-release islands.

Stop here & transfer to small canoes again to have another closer look at the Orangutans, before heading for a refreshing swim in the black water lake, if river water level is sufficient.

Returning to the village of Sei Gohong, you may partake in a sunset hike to the hill, where you can see Dayak spirit houses and learn more about the rich Dayak culture.

Arriving in the village of Sei Gohong, you will feel the rustic culture as you see the locals selling fresh vegetables like eggplant, beans, cassava leaves, onion lemba & dragon fruit etc stacked neatly on the edge of the road. It is also possible to visit a local’s home where you can pick your own vegetables from the garden / farm amidst a panoramic setting of Central Kalimantan. Local residents of this riverside village work mostly as farmers or fishermen.

Return to the boat & to relax & watch the scenery as the boat continues upstream to another mooring point near the village.

After breakfast, depart for Kanarakan, passing by the Orangutan islands.

In Kanarakan, you will be met welcomed by a Dayak Ngaju welcoming ceremony conducted by a village elder. And then, stroll around with him to see the village home gardens, rubber field & rubber tapping demonstration & other village livelihoods. You may also visit Dayak cultural spirit houses & make the climb to the top of the hill.

Finally, you will visit the elder’s house & enjoy the traditional spices coffee while sharing stories.

Return to boat for lunch and cruise downstream.

Balance of the day is free to relax.

After breakfast, depart towards Palangka Raya & the experience comes to an end when you reach Rambhang Harbour, by afternoon.

Enjoy lunch on board & disembark.

You will be met by a Journeys Rep who would transfer you to Borneo Palangka Raya Kalimantan Tengah Tjilik Riwut Airport for your flight to Labuhan Bajo Flores via Jakarta.

Arrive in Terminal? - Jakarta Soekarno Hatta International Airport & immediately proceed to connect (on your own) for your onward flight.

Arrive in the town of Labuhan Bajo on the island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara province in Indonesia.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Labuhan Bajo Flores Bandara Komodo Airport, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer to your floating hotel.

The dusty enchanting harbour town Labuan Bajo is a launching point to explore the island’s interior & visit the prehistoric giant dragons at Komodo National Park on Rinca Island. But, it is almost a must-do for visitors to hike to one of the surrounding hills or mountains to enjoy a perfect panoramic view over the harbor and the innumerable coastal islets with their strips of white-sand beaches.

Everything you need is located on one-way Jl Soekarno Hatta, which is crammed with Western restaurants, local rumah makans and plenty of accommodation, travel agents & dive shops. Its 3000 residents mostly make their living on the water & this is reflected by the busy bay fully laden with spider-like trimarans, canoes of different sizes, sailing vessels & motorized boats.

The waterfront bustles with daily life for those who wish to glimpse it, while connections to other parts of Indonesia are effortless. The town is perpetually being upgraded to cope with more travellers & a healthy expat community.

It is officially no longer a low-key fishing town. As one local said when referring to a popular bar, "It is getting busy in Paradise."

Reach the Pier & Check-in at the Houseboat which would be your hotel for the next 3 nights.

In time, depart for Rinca Island. 

Rinca Island is one of the 29 islands off the coast of Flores which make up Komodo National Park, the home of the mighty Komodo dragon. Rinca & Komodo are the biggest & most visited islands in the Park.

Rinca Island is the best place to see Komodo dragons in the wild. You are pretty much guaranteed to see the dragons here because of the density of the population. There is also less cover for them to hide under compared to Komodo Island. But be on the lookout for wild pigs, buffalos & exotic birds as well!

The Komodo National Park is home to some of the most pristine & abundant marine life - the currents can be strong, bringing in plankton that feed the many manta rays & sharks that love finding themselves amid the powerful water movement.

Reach Rinca after about 2 hours of sailing.

Step ashore & meet an island ranger who will lead you on a leisurely 1 hour walk to see these magnificent lizards skittering around in their natural environment.

Come back to the boat & relax.

Evening, the boat will anchor in nearby Warloka - a laid-back fishing village where you can enjoy a light trek on its beautiful, secluded shoreline while taking in the Florinese history & its treasures of the distant past. Bask in the mystical energy of this unforgettable place.

Enjoy a relaxing dinner on the boat. .

Early morning, proceed to visit one of the unique traditional markets of Warloka where people still practice the barter system. Want to take part? Well, you will want items to trade, of course. Good bartering tools include clothing (medium-sized t-shirts are popular) & metal accessories, like earrings. If necessary, you can buy things in the supermarket to barter, such as ‘ready’ food like noodles.

Return to the boat in time for a hearty breakfast as the boat navigates to Komodo Island.

The other spectacular island of Komodo, with its steep hillsides. is the largest island in Komodo National Park. The terrain on Komodo Island is flat & the flora changes with the seasons. In the dry season, it becomes dusty, with thin vegetation, while in the wet season the land is lush & green, and the scent of wild basil hangs in the air. A succession of peninsulas spread east, each providing a different perspective with some fringed in pink sand due to red coral offshore.

Beside the dragons, the island is also excellent for bird watching, with cockatoos, gosong birds & giant pigeons flitting about.

On Komodo, you will embark on a 6 km hike on varying terrain with a gentle elevation of 200m, to Banunggulung, a river bed where the dragons used to be fed fresh goats. The Ranger will split people into smaller groups in order to quietly move through the forest. It should take around 4 hours & pass through some truly spectacular scenery, all of which is filled with fascinating vegetation & animals.

Komodos are the largest lizards in the world, growing up to 3 meters in length & weighing up to 65 kg. It is estimated that there are around 2,000 dragons on the island, as well as a wide variety of other wildlife, like wild boar, deer & buffalo.

Come back to the boat & sail to Padar Island to enjoy a secluded ‘pink’ beach - where the sand takes on a rosy, pastel glow. Relax on the shore or pop into the water for some snorkeling

Later in the afternoon, sail to Kalong Island - a small island with a huge mangrove forest. Enjoy the glorious panoramic views, then sit back & watch the dazzling nature show at dusk - when the skies are filled with thousands of bats leaving their nests to forage for fruit on surrounding islands.

 Enjoy a relaxing dinner on the boat. .

Awaken early & after breakfast on board, sail on to Manta Point. Here, you can enjoy some snorkeling & may be meet some giant, majestic Manta Rays!  

Later, sail on to Sebayur Island or Kelor Island, depending on the weather.

Head down to the pristine white beach & enjoy a 1 hour guided kayak excursion in the protected bay. Feel free to lounge on the sand, go for a refreshing swim, or snorkel & observe the marvelous sea life.

Finally, the experience comes to an end & t is time to disembark when the boat docks in Labuhan Bajo.

You will be met on the Pier by a Journeys Rep & transferred to the lovely beachfront hotel.

Check-in & relax.

Evening, accompanied by the Rep, walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner.

Return to the hotel.

Today, wake up at dawn & hike up the hill to a nearby resort, where you will enjoy a special picnic breakfast, as the sun climbs its way into the sky.

Return to the hotel by 7.00 am

Balance of the day is at leisure to explore independently or for optional activities (we will be happy to offer suggestions & arrange).

Early morning, you will be met by the Journeys Rep & transferred to Labuhan Bajo Flores Bandara Komodo Airport Komodo Airport for your flight to Bali.

Welcome to Bali – its mere mention evokes thoughts of a paradise. It is more than a place - a mood, an aspiration, a tropical state of mind.

Arrive at Denpasar, Bali's capital. It might not be a tropical paradise, but it is as much a part of 'the real Bali' as the rice paddies & clifftop temples.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? -  Bali Denpasar I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort, transfer you to the hotel, help you settle in & also provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next few days.

The mere mention of Bali evokes thoughts of a paradise. It is more than a place - a mood, an aspiration, a tropical state of mind.

Island of the Gods | One Island, many Destinations

Bali is an Indonesian island known for its forested volcanic mountains, iconic rice paddies, beaches & coral reefs. The rich & diverse culture of Bali plays out at all levels of life, from the exquisite flower-petal offerings placed everywhere, to the processions of joyfully garbed locals shutting down major roads as they march to one of the myriad temple ceremonies, to the otherworldly traditional music & dance performed island-wide. Almost everything has spiritual meaning. The middle of Bali is dominated by the dramatic volcanoes of the central mountains & hillside temples such as Pura Luhur Batukau (one of the island's estimated 10,000 temples), while the tallest peak, Gunung Agung, is the island's spiritual centre.

On Bali you can lose yourself in the chaos of Kuta or sybaritic pleasures of Seminyak & Kerobokan, surf wild beaches in the south or just hang out on Nusa Lembongan. You can go family-friendly in Sanur or savour a lavish getaway on the Bukit Peninsula. Ubud is the heart of Bali, a place where the culture of the island is most accessible, and it shares the island's most beautiful rice fields & ancient monuments with east & west Bali. North & west Bali are thinly populated but have the kind of diving and surfing that make any journey worthwhile.

Yes, Bali has beaches, surfing, diving & resorts big & small, but it is the essence of Bali - & the Balinese - that makes it so much more than just a fun-in-the-sun retreat. It is possible to take the cliche of the smiling Balinese too far, but in reality, the inhabitants of this small island are indeed a generous, genuinely warm people. There is also a fun, sly sense of humour. Upon seeing a bald tourist, many locals exclaim 'bung ujan', which means today's rain is cancelled - it is their way of saying that the hairless head is like a clear sky.

At the end of the day (which is the start of the day for some visitors), Bali's rich culture, many amazing sights & truly lovely people are what takes Bali's sheer delight to another level. Because Bali is fun, no matter what you want or who you are. Seminyak has shops & designers, Kerobokan has luxe beachside resorts & superb eating, Kuta & Legian have the nightlife, and Canggu wraps it all into one irresistible package. Plunge deep into Bali's spirit while renewing your own in Ubud or catching the perfect wave in Bingin. You name it, it is here.

You will be staying in the town of Ubud on the outskirts of Bali. 

On arrival, Check-in at the hotel.

Ubud, in the cool mountains just an hour's drive north of the airports, in many ways Bali's cultural heart.

This traditional country town is home to home to one of Bali's royal families. You can even visit the majestic palace in the centre of town.

The town in the uplands of Bali, is known as a center for traditional crafts & dance. The surrounding rainforest & the island's most beautiful terraced rice paddies, dotted with Hindu temples & shrines, are among Bali’s most famous landscapes. It is one of those places where a holiday of a few days can easily turn into a stay of weeks, months or even years. The size of the town's expat community attests to this, and so do the many novels & films that have been set here, creative responses to the seductive nature of this most cultured of all Balinese towns. It is also somewhere that is relentlessly on trend - a showcase of sustainable design, mindfulness, culinary inventiveness and the very best that global tourism has to offer.

Ubud is also well known as a flourishing crafts centre. Around Ubud, there are the surrounding villages of Campuhan, Penestanan, Peliatan & Batuan whose communities specialise in crafts & woodcarving which are sold all over the island. There are hundreds of shops selling antiques, woodcarvings, crafts, textiles, paintings & jewellery in Ubud.

This is a place where traditional Balinese culture imbues every waking moment, where colourful offerings adorn the streets and where the hypnotic strains of gamelan are an ever-present soundtrack to everyday life. Ancient holy sites include the intricately carved Goa Gajah (“Elephant Cave”) & Gunung Kawi, with its rock-cut shrines. You will also find some of the best art museums in the country here. Along Ubud's main street are dozens of art studios, an excellent local craft market & galleries.

Come here for relaxation, for rejuvenation and to have what may well be the most magical holiday of your life.

Immerse yourself in the colour & sound of a traditional festival, dine on local specialities, snorkel beautiful reefs, watch craftspeople at work, wander through lush rice fields, or just relax & be pampered at a Balinese spa. There is an awful lot to do in paradise & it is not all about the beaches.

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax or explore independently or for optional activities (we are happy to offer suggestions & arrange).

May be, you want to head out to get a first glimpse of the Ubud. Visit a local market, perhaps to buy some Balinese attire (sarong or kebaya) or some other local handicrafts.

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 07.00 am & proceed for a full day excursion to explore the rural landscape.

Visit a village located on the outskirts of Ubud. Here, you will meet with a traditional Balinese healer called ‘Balian’ who lives in the temple & practices traditional medicine. Many worshippers come to visit her & to observe her methods. Experience a blessing ceremony at the temple, led by a local priest.

Continue on Singapadu village to visit a Balinese family home & participate will invite us to join them in sampling some of their traditional food dishes.

Later, embark on a moderate trek to an active volcano.

This walk takes us through the astounding moon-scape of various lava flows and ash-cones, which were created by more than twelve eruptions of Mount Batur from 1963 to 1999. The hike begins on a path formed between mounds of frozen lava rock & newly grown scrubland. We will traverse an expanse of volcanic ash that eventually leads up an ash-cone to the rim of the volcano. From this vantage point, you will experience a dazzling view of the caldera, as well as the 270-degree vistas of Lake Batur, Mount Abang & Mount Agung. On a clear day, the imposing Mount Batukaru and Mangu Peak, part of Bali’s Western Mountain range, are also visible.

Further up the ridge, you can explore various fumaroles, with their billowing steam & mini stalactites formed from multi-colored mineral deposits. While we explore the craters, the Tour-guide will prepare a meal heated in one of the “volcano ovens.” These ovens are made from special steam vents that can be used to pressure to cook a meal. After this special lunch, you will traverse back down the mountain, where a waiting vehicle will transfer you back to the hotel.

Balance of the evening at leisure (we would be happy to offer suggestions)

Morning, meet the Journeys Driver in the Lobby at 07.00 am & depart for Bedugal, part of the island’s central highlands region renowned for the stunning beauty of the Beratan Lake & the iconic ‘floating temple’ of Ulun Danu.   

Reach Pura Ulun Danu Beratan (Pura Bratan) - a famous picturesque landmark & a significant & truly spectacular Shaivite water temple complex located on a small jut of land within the calm the waters near the shores of Lake Bratan in the mountains near Bedugul, with beautiful views of the hills as a backdrop.

An iconic image of Bali, depicted on the 50,000Rp note, this important Hindu-Buddhist temple was founded in the 17^th century, dedicated to Dewi Danu, the goddess of the waters & built on small islands. Pilgrimages & ceremonies are held here to ensure that there is a supply of water for farmers all over Bali as part of the UNESCO Heritage listed Subak irrigation system. The tableau includes classical Hindu thatch-roofed meru (multi-tiered shrines) reflected in the water & silhouetted against the often cloudy mountain backdrop.

Ulun Danu Beratan, literally ‘the source temple of Lake Beratan’, is easily the island’s most iconic sanctuary sharing the scenic qualities with the seaside temples of Uluwatu & Tanah Lot. The smooth reflective surface of the lake surrounding most of the temple’s base creates a unique floating impression, while the mountain range encircling the lake provides the temple with a scenic backdrop. If the water level is high (which is normally only during the rainy season) it gives the illusion that this temple is ‘floating’ on the lake.

You will visit the temple via canoe, rowing across the water in traditional outriggers. The experience will take around 2 hours when you return back to shore.

Embark on another gentle Trek in the area, through the tropical rainforest of Bedugul. The Tour-guide will give you insights into the flora & fauna. Learn about the traditional herbs & survival plants used as medicine. Maybe you will taste some begonia flower? The Trek ends at a scenic temple & waterfall situated amidst the lush, ancient forest

Rendezvous with the waiting vehicle & travel to a cafe in the hills for lunch.

Immediately after lunch, you will be transferred to the Eco Lodge in the Batukaru jungle.

Later, visit Bali Bedugal Botanical Garden which is a place for botanical research, conservations, recreation, & educations and it provide a place where you can relax in beautiful & peaceful surrounds while learning about the function of plants in the daily life of Balinese as well as some interesting rain forest plantations & birdlife.

Bali Botanical Garden was originally established as collection of species of coniters (non-lowering seeds plants or gymnosperma) from throughout the world and as a place for recreation, It was also equipped for scientific, cultural & technical activities. Development stopped around 1965 because of the insecurity of the period & it was not until 1970 that the garden began to be gradually rehabilitated.  

Balance of the evening is at leisure.

Tonight’s dinner will be at the lodge, and the menu is predominantly vegetarian.

Morning, meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby at 07.00 am & head out for a beautiful morning bike ride where you will explore the rice paddies of Ubud.  

You will recognise the gorgeous scenery of the beautiful Jatiluwih Rice Terraces the immortalised in so many films.

Travelling in the highlands of Bali, you cannot but be amazed by the beauty of the thousands of hectares of lush green paddy fields that cascade in terraces from the upper reaches of volcanoes down to the deep valleys below as if sculpted from the mountain side. Among the many fields that stretch almost all across the island, the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces in the heart of Tabanan Regency is the best example of Bali's outstanding picturesque rice fields & represent the Subak system as Bali's Cultural Landscape which has been inscribed a UNESCO's World Heritage Site..

Jatiluwih in the Balinese language translated means Beautiful Teak. Here, one can marvel at the vast expanses of terraced, green rice paddies stepped along an entire mountain, from its peak to where its foot meets the sea. Aside from its agricultural development, this panoramic landscape has also established itself as a tourist destination & is among the top 10 visited places on the island.

The fields that make up this area are inseparable from the traditional Subak irrigation system - a traditional method preserved for centuries & passed down through generations. Here is local water year round to irrigate this most important staple. Nonetheless, irrigation rice fields would not be successful unless man also has a hand in it. Uniquely, Bali's complex irrigation system has its roots not by order of kings, but its management is very much in the hands of the villagers through village cooperatives.

Since the farmers depend on the successful irrigation of the fields, the different Subaks form an inseparable bond that unites into a single system. At the lowest level, each farmer is a member of a subak, whose rice fields are fed from a single dam. The head of the Subak, called the Klian Subak is elected by its members. In the larger Subak that are fed by a canal, the lowest level is called the tempek. The Subaks, in turn are linked to mountain temples or Pura Masceti, which come under the sway of one of two lake temples, these are the Pura Batu Kau which coordinates irrigation in West Bali & Pura Ulun Danu on Lake Beratan, which coordinates the north, east & south of Bali. 

At the nearby Gunungsari Orchard, located near the coast at an altitude of 640 meters above sea level, the cool mountain air merges with the warm sea breeze. From atop the hill, visitors can take in the fresh air, appreciate the scenic views & embrace its peaceful atmosphere. Each of Jatiluwih's carefully carved terraces can be seen from here together with the intricate system of irrigation paths that run in between them.

You will pass cafes with tables overlooking the terraces, which make the perfect place to enjoy magnificent sceneries. Stop for lunch at one of the organic restaurant in the middle of a rice field.

Later, leave the bikes at the designated drop off point & get on to the vehicle to visit explore some more.

Visit some artisan villages to check out the local handicrafts, including batik in Batubulan, gold and silver jewelry in Celuk & wood sculptures in Mas.

Next stop is the 9^th century Goa Gajaw (Elephant Caves). There are menacing creatures & demons carved into the rock facade. The images of elephants dominate, hence the name of the site. There is one cave which is carved deep into the rock & has rooms where offerings are made each day.

Last stop (if time permits) will be to one of Bali’s renowned Luwak Coffee Plantation located in a lush jungle setting. Take a guided walk around the jungle plantation to learn more about the unusual production process. You will be offered a sampling of 8 teas & coffees for free or 1 cup of Luwak coffee for $5.00 which you can enjoy in a beautiful lounge overlooking the mesmerizing rice fields. Delight in the stimulating array of ‘exotic’ coffee beans on offer at the Plantation, from Robusta, Arabica, Liberica, Excelsa, to the Balinese homegrown Luwak beans.

Kopi Luwak is the most expensive coffee in the world, selling in New York and London for up to $100.00 a cup! 1kg of roasted civet beans may be sold for more than $600! Luwak coffee is sold at Harrods of London……. at the eye watering price of £200 for 100 grams.

In the early 1700’s, the Indonesian workers on Dutch coffee plantations were forbidden to collect any coffee berries for themselves. So they collected the beans from the civet cat droppings & roasted them to make their own coffee. The civet cat is a nocturnal tree cat in Indonesia which snacks on the ripest coffee beans in the field. The civet cat eats the coffee berry but doesn’t digest the hard stone, which is the coffee bean, which is then excreted in it’s poop.

The story is that the process “lowers the bitterness of the coffee imparting a musky smoothness”. The poop is collected, the beans are washed, roasted & then ground up. Apparently it has a smooth & distinctive taste which made it very popular. The Dutch followed suit & started making it themselves.

Despite or because of this undeniably unappealing production method, kopi luwak remains among the most expensive coffees on the planet.

But collecting the droppings from wild cats is time-consuming & costly, contributing to making it the most expensive coffee in the world. Whether it is the novelty or whether the coffee is truly superior, this coffee caught on & now commands very high prices.

In their greed to harvest as many beans as possible, many if not most have trapped civet cats, caged the poor animals in abysmal conditions & feed it only coffee beans, which is not its complete diet. But there are some companies that are ethically collecting the beans by paying villagers to collect the droppings in the wild.  The farmers collect the droppings & bring them in while they are still fresh.  At this stage, it is possible to distinguish between the poop of wild & caged civets.  Any farmer caught trying to pass off caged animal poop is dropped from their list. 

One more stop for you to enjoy before returning to the hotel.

Stop at Mandala Suci Wenara Wana or better known as Monkey Forest, a sanctuary or natural habitat of Balinese long tailed Monkey. Located within the village of Padangtegal, whose villages own the Monkey Forest. The village's residents view the Monkey Forest as an important spiritual, economic, educational, & conservation center for the village and it currently holds 749 macaques. You can also see 186 species of trees in the 12.5 hectares of forest.

Return to the hotel.

Balance of the evening is at leisure to relax or walk around (we would be happy to offer suggestions).

Today is a leisure day - to do as you wish.

Go for a swim at the natural pool, unwind in the spa & enjoy a soothing Balinese massage (included) or simply relax.  You can also join the morning or afternoon yoga classes (extra payment, not included).

Evening, get ready for another ethereal Balinese experience.

Meet the Journeys Driver at 06.00 pm & proceed to Ubud Palace (venue can be changed) for a vibrant 2 hour Balinese dance performance & a farewell dinner.

Balinese dance culture incorporates ancient Hindu traditions with drama that tell stories through dance & music. Dances can represent how the character from Hindu scripture fights demons & evil spirits.

The Bali dance is religious in nature and full of drama where the dancers move their bodies on the pace of Gamelan music. Every movement of fingers, hands, head, body, feet & even eyes is important and tells the story of the Balinese vision of life. This art form plays an important part in the life of the Balinese & from an early age dance & music are taught at every village.

The dances are learned from a very early age on & a special committee chooses which child has the most talent to perform a certain dance. Until the 1920's dances were performed by male dancers only. Young girls were selected & danced the Legong by the age of 5 years. However once they reached puberty their 'career' as dancer ended. Today things have changed....

Watch various traditional dances such as the famous Kecak, Barong, Legong or the Wayang Kulit, shadow puppet play. Keep in mind that these dances & performances were initially made for the Gods but have now found a new audience in tourism so some might feel less authentic.

Come back to the hotel.

Finally, the experience comes to an end and it is time to say good-bye to the region’s warm hospitality & heritage.

Check-out of the hotel by 12:00 noon (if the departure time is later in the evening, you are allowed to use the hotel facilities and leave the luggage at the Bell Desk). 

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to Terminal? -  Bali Denpasar I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, for your onward journey.  B

***        End of Services      ***