East Bali Delights

Located in Karangasem regency, Sidemen is a perfect place to relax, get away from the hustle and bustle of southern Bali and to appreciate the beauty of nature. You will be picked up at the airport or from your hotel in south Bali at the designated time for a private transfer to your resort of choice in Sidemen.

Surrounded by rice paddies and agricultural land, Sidemen is an ideal starting point from which you can hike to the summit of Mount Agung or visit cultural sights in east Bali. Check-in at your hotel of choice, then enjoy the rest of your first day in Sidemen free at leisure with dinner served at the main restaurant.

Enjoy breakfast overlooking serene rice terraces and majestic Mount Agung. The whole day is free at your own leisure. Hiking trails and walking paths take you along rice fields, mountains, through the valleys of the Unda River and many plantations in the area. You may also opt to relax at the resort, take a dip in the pool or be pampered with a massage treatment at the hotel.

Check out today and our assigned guide will pick you up at the resort’s lobby at the designated time to transfer you in a chaffeured vehicle to Candidasa with several stops along the way to visit a few highlights of eastern Bali.

From the resort, drive to the most important, largest and holiest Hindu temple in Bali, Besakih Temple. Known as Bali’s ‘Mother Temple’, Besakih sits on the southwestern slopes of Mount Agung and is actually a temple complex of 23 separate but related temples with the largest and most important being Pura Penataran Agung.

After exploring the Mother Temple, proceed to Tirta Gangga Water Palace. Built in 1946 by the late King of Karangasem, it has a maze of pools and fountains surrounded by a lush garden, stone carvings and statues. It was almost entirely destroyed by the eruption of nearby Mount Agung in 1963 but has since been rebuilt and restored. The name itself, Tirta Gangga literally means holy water of the Ganges; referring to the waters of the holy spring which is renowned for healing and believed to have youth-giving powers. It is said that if one bathes in the waters of Tirtagangga on the full moon, they will be blessed with lasting youth and illness will be healed.

Stroll around the water palace and feed the koi fishes while taking in the beautiful scenery or bathe in the public pool with the holy spring water (additional charge applies at guests’ own expense. A change of clothes is also required).

Your next and penultimate stop before Candidasa is Taman Ujung; a former palace built in 1909 by the late King of Karangasem. Combining Balinese with European architecture, it is one of the island’s largest historical landmarks, with superb mountainous backdrop to the north and ocean to the southwest.

Check in at a resort located in Candidasa and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Enjoy breakfast at the resort’s restaurant then get ready to embark on a true Bali experience today. Pick up by our guide is at 7:30 and then it’s a drive to Gelumpang Village in the northeast of Bali to arrive at a cooking school nestled in the foothills of Mount Agung. Embracing the local community and using an authentic Balinese style kitchen (wood-fired and mud brick stoves), the cooking school promotes Balinese cuisine and culture in harmony with local people and their traditions.

After a short briefing, trek up into the village of Pangi accompanied by a professional trekking guide. Here at the village you will have the opportunity to peek into the daily life of the Balinese. Sample the local tuak palm wine straight from the tree and learn more about the making process; enjoy stunning views over rice fields and a volcano; bathe in the springs of the valley of Tauke before wandering through the rice fields, then back to the cooking school to start your cooking class (Class size is limited to minimum 2 persons and maximum 10 persons per class).

After enjoying the real flavours of Bali for lunch (food only), you will be transferred to Perasi Beach. Also known as Virgin Beach, spend a pleasant afternoon on the beach, which is less crowded than those in the south of Bali. Soak up the sun while sipping on fresh coconut water (included) or opt for snorkling (at own personal expense). Drive back to the resort in the late afternoon and evening is at your own leisure.

Today is your last day in beautiful eastern Bali. Enjoy breakfast at the resort’s main restaurant, then the morning is free at your own leisure.

Depending on your flight schedule for your onward flight, you will be picked up at the resort’s lobby at the designated time.

On the way to the airport, your guide will escort you to visit a sacred cave temple established in the 11th century and home to thousands of bats - Goa Lawah Temple - as well as Kertagosa Complex which dates back to 1686, forming part of Puri Semarapura Royal Palace and featuring two main structures – a grand ‘hall of justice’ with ceilings filled by kamasan (wayang-style painting) inspired by the notable Hindu epics such as Mahabharata and Ramayana; and the Bale Kambang floating hall.