• Barong & Kris Dance - Experience the Barong and Kris dance in Batubulan.

Batubulan is renowned for its trance performances, held every morning at 9:30 sharp. Here, witness the timeless battle between Ratu Barong, the loyal protector of the community, resembling a lavishly adorned mix of a lion and a Pekinese dog, and Rangda, the demonic mistress of the graveyard. At the peak of the drama, Barong’s entranced followers turn their krises, with serpentine blades, upon themselves, usually without harm. Even the Balinese, who easily enter trance states, refrain from doing so daily, instead employing clever techniques to avoid injury from their sharp blades. Recently renamed for accuracy, the Barong dance remains a captivating spectacle, and occasionally, one or two performers may unexpectedly enter a genuine trance. Three highly professional groups perform the Barong Dance each morning. The Barong and Kris dance is included in the Bali nature holiday package offered.

• Puseh Batuan Temple - Visit the Trinity temple in Batuan Village.

The Bali nature holiday package includes a visit to this temple, as Batuan Village hosts a diverse population of religious sects and castes, each with its own set of temples. Batuan boasts more intriguing temples than many larger villages. The most impressive is likely the Pura Puseh Batuan (the Temple of Origin, or “Navel Temple”), located a short distance down a secondary road heading west from the crossroads, where the main road sharply turns north. Opposite a large meeting hall, the temple is hard to miss, guarded by six-foot stone raksasa (guardian giants) on either side of the road. The temple’s sculptures, whether ancient or from the 1992 restoration, showcase excellent craftsmanship and imaginative character. The newly rebuilt gedong rum, a three-tiered rectangular shrine on the east side of the inner courtyard, and the meru alit, the shrine next to it, both feature traditional murals of the gods beneath their eaves, exemplifying the potential of sacred Balinese architecture. The lively stone faces emerging from a floral scroll at the base of the meru alit are particularly striking. Scholars can benefit from small signs naming each shrine in both Balinese and modern Indonesian text, aiding worshippers in placing their offerings correctly. A doorway through the west wall, flanked by two reclining rams, leads to an unusual water garden with a massive gate reminiscent of Javanese Hindu temples. The pond, freshly restored since its collapse in the 1917 earthquake, features Bedawang, the cosmic turtle upon whom the universe rests. In a peaceful corner, an orderly array of broken statues and architectural details, casualties of the earthquake, await incorporation into future pavilion restorations.

• Elephant Cave - Explore the Goa Gajah Temple.

The Bali nature holiday package includes a visit to the renowned Elephant Cave Temple in Bali. Located about a mile east of southern Peliatan, the road crosses a stone bridge over the long-cursed Petanu River, leading to a vast bus park and a gauntlet of souvenir stalls before descending to the great head carved from living rock at Goa Gajah. The figure’s identity is uncertain, but the monstrous face, with its fanged mouth as the entrance to a man-made cave, seems to depict an earth spirit emerging from a cosmic array of animals and phantoms. According to 14th-century Javanese scribes, this was a principal Buddhist sanctuary in Bali. Yet, within its dark tunnels, Hindu linggas and a statue of Siwa’s son Ganesha, the elephant God of Hinduism, are found. Elements of both religions, dating from the 8th to 14th centuries, are present, indicating Bali’s long-standing religious syncretism. To the left of the cave is a small shrine housing a 1000-year-old statue of the Buddhist goddess Hariti, protector of children, surrounded by her young charges. Hariti was once a notorious baby-eating ogress until Buddhism reformed her ways. At the bottom of the ravine, unusual broken fragments of collapsed cliff have been found with rare relief carvings of delicate stupas in the style of 8th-century Java. Further along are two small Buddhas in the lotus position, tentatively dated to the time of the great Javanese monument, Borobudur. Beyond the Buddhas lies the entrance to what may have been a hermit’s cave, excavated to a depth of only 30 feet; its mysteries remain.

Elephant Cave
In the 1920s, the first Westerner to see the head carved at Goa Gajah thought it resembled an elephant’s face. This led to the site being named “Elephant Cave,” although the name Lwa Gajah, meaning “Elephant Water,” is much older. Many Balinese believe the carving is a self-portrait of the giant, Kebo Iwa.

Bathing Pool
The top halves of several life-sized nymphs, clearly water spouts, once guarded the mouth of the Goa Gajah cave. A 1954 excavation revealed the rest of their bodies some distance away in a large sunken bathing area that had been buried for centuries.

• Mount Kawi - Discover Gunung Kawi.

These 11th-century tombs, carved into the rock face of the Pakerisan River gorge, are accessed by a steep descent through breathtaking rice terrace scenery. Historically, the tombs likely have connections to King Anak Wungsu. Across the gorge are more impressive tombs that served as meditation caves for the holy men who were the tomb’s keepers.

• Mount Batur - Explore the coffee plantation and Batur volcano in Kintamani.

Kintamani and Batur Volcano
This village is included in the daily Bali nature holiday package. Kintamani Village is home to Batur Volcano and its crater lake. At 1500 meters high, Kintamani has a cool, damp climate ideal for growing oranges and passion fruit. On market day, which occurs every third day, the main street becomes a bustling hub of vendors, some traveling from afar, carrying their goods on horseback.

Batur
In 1926, during a violent eruption of Mt. Batur, the original village of Batur, at the southern foot of the mountain, was completely destroyed. The villagers, unharmed but homeless, relocated to the high ridge overlooking their original home and began rebuilding their temple, Pura Ulun Danu. Work on this temple continues, creating one of the island’s most impressive temples. Its stark meru towers stand out against the backdrop of the smoking volcano.

Temen Village of Coffee Plantation
This village is renowned for producing Bali coffee and Luwak coffee. Initially, the civets in this village were hunted by residents for satay, as they were considered pests. However, after learning from laboratory tests that coffee from civet droppings was the best and beneficial to health, the civets are now preserved in Bali. The benefits of civet coffee include improved stamina, lower cholesterol, and enhanced sexual health. Civet coffee is sold at a premium, with a glass priced at Rp 50,000 and a kilogram around Rp 1,000,000. In addition to civet coffee, the village also produces traditional coffees such as Coffee Ginseng, Bali Coffee, and Coconut Coffee. The coffee processing in this village remains traditional and is guaranteed 100% free of preservatives or chemicals. The tour schedule includes a visit to this coffee garden to observe the process and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Visitors can try all homemade coffees for free, with a fee of IDR 65,000 per cup for Luwak coffee.

• Besakih Temple - Visit the Besakih Mother Temple, the largest temple in Bali.

Bali’s largest and most renowned temple, Pura Besakih, is located high on the slopes of Mount Agung. Established around 1007 A.D., it has been the island’s major temple and the focal point of the Hindu religion since the 15th century. Each regency of Bali has its own sub-temple within the Besakih complex, and all Balinese pay homage here. There are 18 separate sanctuaries, each belonging to different affiliations and caste groups. The three major temples are Pura Penataran Agung, once belonging to the royal family of Klungkung and dedicated to the Supreme God Sang Hyang Widi Wasa, Pura Kiduling Kreteg, dedicated to Brahma, and Pura Batu Medog, dedicated to Wisnu. Each temple celebrates a regular six-monthly anniversary or odalan, and on the full moon of the tenth month, “Kedasa,” the entire temple celebrates a visitation of the gods, “Bhatara Turun Kabeh.” During this period, the roads are filled with busloads, bemoloads, and even truckloads of worshippers bearing offerings from afar. The ceremonies last for over a week, during which the temple is adorned with magnificent offerings.

• English-speaking driver or tour guide
• Lunch included
• Entrance fees to all tourist destinations covered
• Travel in a private, full AC car

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.