PROGRAM ITINERARY
FIRST WEEK
Tues./Wed. July 15/16: Transit Depart USA from NYC, San Francisco or LAX. Cross International dateline and lose one day, which is made up on return.
Thur. July 17: Ubud Arrive in Bali, where you are met by your guides and whisked away to Ubud, Bali’s cultural center for a good night’s sleep.
Fri. July 18: Ubud First language class and orientation session (on manners and customs). Then a walking tour of Ubud, cultural center of Bali, to familiarize you with the local amenities: money changers, postal pick-up, community organizations, clinic and market, followed by optional group lunch at one of our favorite restaurants. Afternoon and evening are free to relax or experience a traditional massage. At 7:30, your first experience of traditional classical dance and Gamelan music.
Sat. July 19: Ubud Depart for a 1/2 day walk to Pengosekan village, home of basket makers, painters, and carvers. Lunch with a second orientation session (on social structure and caste system) & language class at our lunch-time restaurant.
Sun. July 20: Ubud Meet for third language and orientation session (on history), followed by excursion to Mas and Singapadu, home of Bali’s famed wood and mask carvers. Lunch at a favorite Cafe and guided tour of the Neka museum to observe the evolution of Balinese visual art, followed by a workshop in bamboo Gamelan music. Evening performance of the Kecak dance held by torchlite, and the Fire Trance Dance.
Mon. July 21: Ubud Classes begin. You have your choice of Gamelan music, batik painting, basket weaving, puppet or mask carving, women’s dance or mask dance. All instructors are wonderful human beings, as well as respected, English speaking Balinese working artists. You get 9 classes with your trip package and can take more or less as you wish for a small supplement. Afternoon visit to the Gallery of Balinese Women Artists (Seni Wati) for a guided tour of the gallery.
SECOND WEEK
Tues July 22: Ubud Classes continue. Evening performance of Legong classical dance by the islands best dancers.
Wed. July 23: Ubud First day of island tour. We leave at 9:00 am for the state temple of Mengwi, surrounded by a beautiful moat. Following this, we wind our way through the volcanoes to Bedugul where we visit the fruit and flower market and Ulu Danu, Bali’s most beautiful temple dedicated to the Goddess of Lakes and Streams. Evening performance of Frog mask dance entertainment.
Thur. July 24: Ubud Classes cont.. Optional 3 mile sunset hike through small villages and undulating rice fields from the heron preserve at Petulu village. Late afternoon lecture/demo on the differences between western and Balinese dance.
Fri. July 25: Ubud Classes cont.
Sat. July 26: Ubud Classes cont. Afternoon excursion to the lush terraced rice fields of Tampaksiring and the ancient stone monuments at Gunung Kawi, as well as Goa Gadjah (the “Elephant Cave”) an ancient Hindu/Buddhist temple at Bedulu.
Sun. July 27: Ubud Classes cont. Evening performance of the Women’s Gamelan Group, with children dancing.
Mon. July 28: Ubud/Candi Dasa Tour ends for two-week tour. Transfer to airport.
For three week tour its the second day of island tour. We wind our way through Bali’s eastern district, stopping to observe the double ikat weaving demonstration and the making of traditional palm-leaf books at the aboriginal village of Tenganan. After lunch in Candi Dasa, we travel on to Amlapura and visit the Dutch-colonial style Raja’s palace. Back to Candi Dasa for dinner and spend the night in our beach bungalows.
THIRD WEEK
Tues. July 29: Ubud Morning free to enjoy Candi Dasa beach, or take an optional snorkeling excursion to the near-by Blue Lagoon. After lunch, we proceed on the third day of our island tour through the back roads and rice fields, finally stop in Klungkung at the old Hall of Justice to view the traditional ceiling paintings. Then we visit the home of an artist who paints in the “Old Style,” pre-western influence.
Wed. July 30: Ubud Free day.
Thur. July 31: Ubud Classes cont. Afternoon visit to the home factories and workshops of a weaver, factory of silversmiths, and clothing production, followed by seminar on sacred and traditional masks at the home of your guide and Happy Hour.
Fri. Aug. 1: Ubud Classes cont. Workshop in learning to construct palm-leaf offerings.
Sat. Aug. 2: Ubud Last day of classes. Show of batiks, water colors, and masks. Evening feast of Balinese food (ristaffel).
Sun. Aug. 3: Sanur Fourth day of island tour. Depart for the capitol city of Denpasar, stopping along the way to see the lively Barong Dance in Batubulan, village of stone carvers, followed by a demonstration of stone carving. Next a guided tour of the Art Center. A special visit to a traditional family home includes a lunch of traditional food, prepared by the family and a tour of the compound. The day concludes with sunset on one of Bali’s famed beaches in Bali. Evening at Sanur.
Mon. Aug. 4: Transit/USA Your plane leaves mid-day and your open-ended return ticket allows you to stay in Bali, to travel around Asia, or enjoy one of our stopovers in Asia. Arrive back in USA the same calender day.
Other situations will arise that cannot be predicted until we are in Bali. It is likely that you will also visit a cremation, and a temple festival. There is a very slight possibility that flight schedules might change. You may attend whichever tour activities you wish, however there will be no refunds for missed tour activities. Anyone who leaves the tour for any reason is on their own. Visits to the studios and homes of artists and crafts people enable participants to observe and photograph the creative process as well as purchasing art directly from the creator, usually at considerable savings.
Bali Main Page
|
Itinerary
|
Program Fees
|
Program Info
Tour Slide Show
|
More Information
|
Bali FAQs
|
