- Tour code
IDNADV01
- Start
Denpasar
- End
Denpasar
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Comfort
- Trip pace
Relaxed
- Language
English
This is a Bali trip built around people rather than sights. Ubud comes first: a guided look at its temples, galleries and royal palace, and time with a master mask-carver who explains what each carved face means in Balinese ritual.
A water purification ritual then marks the move east to Manggis, where village traditions are still strong and you'll spend three nights near an eco-farm. Out here you'll plant rice, learn how farming ties into Balinese Hindu belief, cook with a local women's farming group and make your own coconut oil.
The last stretch is on the coast in Kuta Legian, with a speedboat trip to Nusa Penida to see seaweed farming and weaving, an afternoon at a beach club with an infinity pool and a farewell dinner by the sea.
Your Soca Islands Host is with the group throughout, and transfers between each base are arranged, so you can settle into Bali's rhythm without worrying about the details. Groups are kept to between 6 and 16 travelers.
Why This Journey
Most visitors see Bali from a beach lounger or a tour bus. This trip takes you into the island's working life: the rice fields, the kitchens, the carving workshops and the rituals that still shape daily routines in the east. You come away understanding why Balinese culture feels so distinct, not just having photographed it.
It suits curious travelers who enjoy hands-on experiences and food, and anyone who wants a mix of culture, countryside and a few slow days by the sea at the end.
Where You'll Stay
Ubud (2 nights): Alaya Resort Ubud, a boutique resort near the center of Ubud. Manggis (3 nights): Alila Manggis, on the coast in east Bali, near the eco-farm. Legian (3 nights): Padma Resort Legian, on the beach in Kuta Legian. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Rooms are based on two people sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Fly into and out of Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in Denpasar; arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
Take part in a traditional Balinese water purification ritual
Cook a traditional Balinese meal alongside a local women's farming group
Speed across to Nusa Penida and unwind at a beach club
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Max 16 travellers per group
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travelers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities, such as the Day 6 outing to Pura Lempuyang and Tirta Gangga, snorkeling and spa treatments
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Land at Denpasar Airport, where a private transfer takes you up into the hills to a boutique resort in Ubud. Take the afternoon to rest or wander the town's lanes of cafés and craft shops.
Tonight you'll meet your Soca Islands Host and the group over drinks, followed by a traditional Indonesian dinner.
A guided walk around Ubud takes in its temples, art galleries and the old royal palace, with its carved gateways and water gardens.
Later, step into the workshop of a master mask-maker to learn how each hand-carved mask is made and what it represents in Balinese dance and ritual.
Begin with a water purification ritual, a long-held Balinese practice believed to wash away negative energy.
Then drive east to Manggis, a quieter part of the island where traditional ways of life hold strong. For the next three nights you'll be based on the coast near an eco-farm that produces its own food and energy.
Spend the morning at the eco-farm learning how sustainable agriculture connects to Balinese Hindu values, then roll up your sleeves to plant rice and harvest crops. Lunch comes straight from the fields.
Afterward, head back to your coastal accommodation to relax or book a spa treatment.
Join a local women's farming group to gather fresh ingredients, then cook a three-course Balinese feast together and sit down to eat what you've made.
Later, you'll learn the traditional way of making coconut oil and bottle some to take home.
The morning is open: go snorkeling, or visit sacred sites such as Pura Lempuyang and the water palace at Tirta Gangga on an optional outing.
In the afternoon you'll move to the coast, checking in to a beachfront hotel in Kuta Legian for your last three nights.
Cross to Nusa Penida by speedboat and visit island villages to see seaweed farming and weaving up close.
The afternoon is for lounging: a beach club with daybeds, ocean views and an infinity pool.
Your last full day is for doing as little as you like: beach time, a Balinese massage, a final swim.
As the sun goes down, the group comes together for one last dinner beside the sea.
The trip ends after breakfast today. Your departure transfer takes you to Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) for your flight home.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
Alaya Resort Ubud
A resort on Jalan Hanoman, one of central Ubud's main streets, with rooms set back from the road around gardens and rice fields. The Ubud Palace, the market and the Sacred Monkey Forest are all within walking distance, so evenings in town are easy without transport.
It has a swimming pool and on-site dining, and its central location suits a four-night stay with day trips out to the countryside.
Hotel websiteAlila Manggis
A low-rise resort on a quiet stretch of coast at Buitan, in the Manggis area of east Bali, with coconut groves around it and Mount Agung inland. Candidasa and the water palaces of Karangasem are a short drive away.
The rooms are set in two-storey thatched pavilions facing the sea or the gardens, around a large pool and a beachfront restaurant.
Rooms are 34 m² (366 ft²), with a king-size bed or two single beds.
Hotel websitePadma Resort Legian
A five-star beachfront resort in the heart of Legian, on Bali's west coast between Kuta and Seminyak. The sand is right outside, and Legian's restaurants, shops and sunset bars are within easy reach.
The resort is set in tropical gardens with several pools, including a lagoon pool, an infinity pool and a family pool, which makes it an easy place to slow down for the last days of the trip.
Hotel websiteRooms
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- Extra cost
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into and out of Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in Denpasar.
Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation: Alaya Resort Ubud in Ubud (2 nights), Alila Manggis in Manggis, east Bali (3 nights) and Padma Resort Legian in Kuta Legian (3 nights).
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers between Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) and the group's hotels are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
8 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 5 dinners, including the welcome dinner in Ubud on Day 1, lunch at the eco-farm on Day 4, the Balinese feast you cook on Day 5 and the farewell dinner by the sea on Day 8. Any other meals are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our Bali Immersion trip?
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