Bali's Wild Heart: Soul, Surf & Spirit — Self-Launched

Fly into Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS). Take a pre-booked Grab (rideshare app) or the fixed-price Blue Bird taxi to Canggu — around £8–12. Check into a well-rated surf hostel on Batu Bolong or Berawa Beach. Most hostels in Canggu have communal areas and organise nightly socials — a great way to meet fellow travellers. Head out to explore Canggu's beach bars and warungs (local restaurants) in the evening. Try a Bintang beer and a plate of nasi goreng at Echo Beach.

🚌Grab/Blue Bird taxi from airport to Canggu (~£10)

🛏Hostel dorm in Canggu — e.g. Nude Canggu or The Lawn Hostel (~£10–14/night)

• →Arrive at Ngurah Rai Airport and take Grab or Blue Bird taxi to Canggu (~£10)
• →Check into a surf hostel on Batu Bolong Road
• →Evening wander through Canggu's beach bar scene — Echo Beach, Old Man's bar

Canggu is one of Bali's best surf spots for all levels. Book a group surf lesson directly on the beach at Echo Beach or Batu Bolong — many schools offer 2-hour beginner lessons including board and rash vest for around £15–20. After the lesson, rent a board for the rest of the afternoon (£5–8/day) and keep practising, or relax at a beachside warung. In the evening, explore Canggu's famous street food scene — Jl. Batu Bolong is packed with cheap local warungs.

🚌Walk or rent a scooter locally (~£4/day)

🛏Hostel dorm in Canggu (~£10–14/night)

• →2-hour group surf lesson at Echo Beach or Batu Bolong (~£15–20, book directly on the beach or via GetYourGuide)
• →Afternoon board rental and free surf or beach relaxation (~£5–8)
• →Evening street food on Jl. Batu Bolong — nasi goreng, satay, fresh coconut

Head north from Canggu towards the village of Bulian in Bali's highlands. The most budget-friendly option is to hire a private driver for the day (split between travel companions, or book via GetYourGuide as a shared transfer) for around £20–25. En route, stop at the stunning Pura Ulun Danu Beratan Temple on Lake Beratan — entrance fee around £2. Continue to Bulian and check into a local homestay. Homestays in the Munduk/Bulian area typically include a welcome drink and a simple lunch. Spend the afternoon exploring the surrounding rice terraces on foot.

🚌Private driver day hire Canggu–Bulian (~£20–25, split if travelling with others) or tourist shuttle to Munduk then local ojek (~£12)

🛏Local homestay in Bulian (~£12–18/night, typically includes breakfast)

• →Stop at Pura Ulun Danu Beratan Temple on Lake Beratan (~£2 entrance)
• →Scenic drive through Bali's central highlands
• →Arrive at Bulian homestay — welcome drink and lunch included
• →Afternoon walk through rice terraces and village

A full day immersed in Bali's traditional village life. Join a locally guided trek through the rice paddies and jungle trails around Bulian — ask your homestay to arrange a local guide (£8–12). Visit a local temple and watch or participate in a Balinese offering-making (canang sari) session, which you can arrange through your homestay or via a local guide. Alternatively, visit nearby Munduk Waterfall or Twin Lakes (Buyan and Tamblingan) — both stunning and easy to reach by scooter or ojek. Enjoy a home-cooked dinner at your homestay in the evening.

🚌Scooter rental or ojek for local trips (~£4–6)

🛏Local homestay in Bulian (~£12–18/night)

• →Morning guided trek through rice paddies and jungle (~£8–12 for local guide)
• →Visit a local temple and learn about Balinese offerings
• →Optional: Munduk Waterfall hike (~£1 entrance)
• →Optional: Twin Lakes Buyan & Tamblingan viewpoint by scooter

Today features two optional experiences worth doing. Rise before dawn for a sunrise fishing trip out of Lovina or a nearby north coast village — local fishing boats take tourists out for a couple of hours (£10–15, arrange through your homestay or locally at the harbour). Back on shore, enjoy a breakfast of fresh catch. In the afternoon, take part in a Balinese cooking class at the homestay or through a local operator — you'll learn to prepare traditional dishes like lawar, satay lilit and black rice pudding, then eat what you cook (£15–20). Both experiences are easy to self-arrange through your homestay host.

🚌Ojek or local driver to fishing harbour if needed (~£3–5)

🛏Local homestay in Bulian (~£12–18/night)

• →Optional: Sunrise fishing trip from north coast (~£10–15, arrange via homestay)
• →Optional: Balinese cooking class at homestay (~£15–20, includes dinner)
• →Afternoon free — explore village market or relax in the rice fields

Travel by hired driver or tourist shuttle east to the Mount Batur area (~£10–15). En route or upon arrival, visit the Pusat Kegiatan Perempuan (PKP) Community — a women's social enterprise supported by G Adventures' Planeterra foundation. You can visit independently and enjoy a delicious local lunch prepared by the women of the community (£5–8 for lunch). This is a genuine community tourism experience you can book directly. In the afternoon, set up at a guesthouse or simple camp near the Batur caldera. Watch the sunset over the volcano and Lake Batur. Prepare for an early start tomorrow.

🚌Tourist shuttle or hired driver from Bulian to Batur (~£10–15)

🛏Basic guesthouse or camping near Mount Batur crater rim (~£8–14/night)

• →Travel to Mount Batur area via tourist shuttle or hired driver (~£10–15)
• →Visit PKP Community for local lunch prepared by women's enterprise (~£5–8)
• →Sunset views over Mount Batur caldera and Lake Batur
• →Early night to prepare for 2am volcano wake-up

Wake at 2am for the iconic Mount Batur sunrise hike. You must hike with a licensed guide — this is both a local regulation and genuinely useful on the dark volcanic trails. Book through your guesthouse or direct with the local Batur Trekking Association (~£25–35 including guide, typically 4–5 hours return). Reach the summit (1,717m) before dawn and watch the sun rise over Mount Agung and Lake Batur — one of Bali's most spectacular sights. Back at base by mid-morning, rest and refuel. In the afternoon, transfer to Ubud (~£10–15 by tourist shuttle). Optional: detour to Medahan Village for a walking tour of temples, rice paddies and a traditional market (self-bookable via GetYourGuide, ~£15–20).

🚌Tourist shuttle Batur to Ubud (~£5–10)

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in Ubud (~£14–20/night)

• →2am wake-up and Mount Batur sunrise trek with licensed guide (~£25–35, book via guesthouse or Batur Trekking Association)
• →Summit sunrise views over Lake Batur and Mount Agung
• →Return descent and late breakfast
• →Afternoon tourist shuttle transfer to Ubud (~£5–10)
• →Optional: Medahan Village walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£15–20)

Ubud is Bali's cultural heartland. Start the morning with a visit to the Widya Guna Foundation to learn to make traditional Balinese prayer offerings (canang sari) — bookable directly or via GetYourGuide (~£10–15). Walk to the iconic Ubud Monkey Forest (£3 entrance). Grab lunch at a local warung on Jl. Dewi Sita. In the afternoon, visit Pura Taman Saraswati (the water temple, free) and explore Ubud's art market for handicrafts. Optional evening: join the PKP Community cooking class (£15–20, book directly through the PKP Community or G Adventures' local contacts). Catch a traditional Kecak fire dance performance at Pura Dalem Ubud at sunset (£8–10).

🚌Walking and scooter rental in Ubud (~£4/day)

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in Ubud (~£14–20/night)

• →Balinese offering-making class at Widya Guna Foundation (~£10–15, via GetYourGuide)
• →Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (~£3 entrance)
• →Pura Taman Saraswati water temple (free)
• →Ubud Art Market browse and handicraft shopping
• →Optional: PKP Community cooking class (~£15–20)
• →Evening Kecak fire dance at Pura Dalem Ubud (~£8–10)

Final day in Ubud — make the most of it. Rent a scooter or join a local cycling tour to explore the famous Tegallalang Rice Terraces north of Ubud (£1–2 entrance, cycle tour ~£15 via GetYourGuide or local operators). Visit Tegenungan Waterfall (~£1.50 entrance), a short scooter ride south of Ubud. Return to town for a final lunch at a Ubud warung — try bebek betutu (slow-cooked duck) or fresh jamu (herbal drink). Depart for Ngurah Rai Airport via Grab or pre-booked driver (~£15–20 from Ubud). Fly home with full Bali soul restored.

🚌Scooter rental in Ubud (~£4), Grab to airport (~£15–20)

🛏Check out — transfer to airport

• →Tegallalang Rice Terraces — scooter or cycling tour (~£1–2 entrance, cycle tour ~£15 optional)
• →Tegenungan Waterfall (~£1.50 entrance)
• →Final warung lunch in Ubud — try bebek betutu
• →Transfer to Ngurah Rai Airport via Grab (~£15–20)