An Indonesian Paradise Adventure

Day 1 London - In flight Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home, for your journey to London Heathrow Airport for a scheduled Cathay Pacific flight to Bali via Hong Kong. Day 2 Denpasar - Ubud Upon arrival on the Island of the Gods, we transfer to the Komaneka Rasa Sayang Hotel Ubud (4T) and dinner is included tonight with the accompaniment of traditional Balinese dancers. Day 3 Ubud Early this morning, we meet a local chef who takes us to a traditional food market full of exotic fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, to learn about the intricacies of regional cuisines. Then, after a tour of the rice paddies, we return to a traditional Balinese kitchen to prepare signature Balinese dishes with time-honoured techniques, under the guidance of our expert chef. After making a simple offering, we enjoy a delicious lunch of our creations. This afternoon, we discover the many charms of Ubud on a tour that takes us to Agung Rai Museum of Art. The large collection of Balinese paintings offers a great overview of the island’s artistic traditions. We also visit Sacred Monkey Forest, where greedy long-tailed Balinese macaques play around beautiful, ancient Hindu temples. Day 4 Gunung Kawi - Tirta Empul - Mount Batur Today’s excursion takes us to Gunung Kawi. Descend over 300 steps into the river valley where ten shrines, each standing over 8m high, have been sculpted into the rock face. These monuments are thought to be the resting place of King Anak Wungsu, his wives and concubines. We continue to the equally impressive Hindu temple complex of Tirta Empul. Famous for its holy water, Balinese Hindus travel to the temple annually for purification in its bathing areas. We then travel to Kintamani, a beautiful volcanic region with the breathtaking Mount Batur, the island's most active volcano, at its centre. Day 5 Ubud - Bali’s Lake and Hills - Sanur Bedugul is an outstandingly beautiful area of the central highlands. We visit the moated Royal Temple of Mengwi, built in 1634 to serve as the family temple of the Mengwi dynasty, with multi-roofed meru shrines and intricately-carved wooden gates. We then visit the traditional market of Bedugul, where stalls offer exotic spices, orchids and souvenirs, before heading to tranquil Lake Bratan, where we see one of Bali’s most iconic and photogenic sites - Ulun Danu temple. A delicious Balinese lunch will be served on the slopes of Mount Batukaru, before we head to the UNESCO-listed rice fields of Jatiluwih for a leisurely hour-long trek through the terraced rice fields, learning about the subak style of rice production. We check in to the Maya Sanur Resort & Spa (5T) for three nights. Day 6 Sanur A free day to explore or be pampered; or book an optional city tour of Denpasar, taking in the famous Badung market, tasting coffee in a typical Chinese coffee shop, seeing the wide selection of archaeological finds, paintings, instruments and theatrical masks on display at the Bali Museum, and exploring the Bajra Sandi. This museum shows several exhibits about the wars during Indonesia’s fight for independence. Day 7 Sanur Enjoy a second day at leisure, or take an optional excursion to discover Bali’s best beaches on the Bukit Peninsula and dine in stunning meal locations, as well as visiting one of Bali’s most impressive temples, Uluwatu Temple, perched on the edge of a steep cliff and, at sunset, a dramatic kecak performance at the temple accompanied by the steady chant of the male performers. Day 8 Sanur - Benoa Today we depart for Benoa, Bali’s main port, where we board the beautiful Star Clipper (4T) and settle in, before we sail this evening. Day 9 Gili Kondo, Lombok Uninhabited Gili Kondo is one of 33 small, idyllic islands in Eastern Lombok. Spend your time in paradise snorkelling amongst colourful fish and corals in the calm waters and relaxing on the white sand beaches, tainted only by a handful of colourful wooden beach shacks. Day 10 At sea Day 11 Komodo Komodo National Park was founded in 1980 with the aim of preserving the unique Komodo dragon and its habitat. The world’s largest lizard (growing up to 3m) now only survives on a handful of islands, and this morning we visit their desolate domain to learn more of these astounding, powerful and endangered creatures. We spend this afternoon at beautiful Pink Beach, one of only seven pink beaches on the planet and said to be the best spot for snorkelling in Komodo National Park, with excellent corals and thousands of kinds of fish to find. Day 12 Satonda Island The local people believe tiny, uninhabited Satonda Island is sacred. Satonda is surrounded by beautiful coral reefs with a large variety of tropical fish; a unique underwater paradise declared a Marine Nature Park in 1999. Take a walk inland and you may find the lake which fills much of this crater island, and plentiful wildlife, including barking deer, geckos, fruit bats, butterflies and birds. Day 13 Gili Islands, Lombok We cruise past Lombok to the exquisite Gili Islands. At Gili Meno, snorkelers may find themselves swimming with turtles, or head to the Turtle Sanctuary to discover the essential work being done to save this ancient species. Gili Trawangan is the most cosmopolitan and popular island. During the day you can explore the island, snorkel and sunbathe, or join a dive trip, rent a bike or take a horse carriage ride with a local company. Day 14 Gili Nanggu, Lombok Gili Nanggu is the third Gili Island. Still relatively undeveloped, it offers a pristine natural region to explore and enjoy the serene sounds of singing birds and sea lapping on sand. The beaches are powder white and the water crystal clear and teaming with thousands of tropical fish and some sea turtles, making it an ideal destination for snorkelling. Day 15 Benoa, Bali - Denpasar - In flight We disembark this morning in Benoa and transfer to the Hilton Garden Inn at Ngurah Rai International Airport, Denpasar. There will be time to relax with access to a day room, before we make the short walk to the airport for a scheduled Cathay Pacific flight to London via Hong Kong. Day 16 London Arrival at London Heathrow or Gatwick Airport where you will be met and guided to your Titan vehicle, for the journey home.