Delve Deep: Bali & the Gili Islands

Rise and shine! Kick-start your free day with an optional hike to Mt Batur. Setting off in the dark, we’ll reach the top just in time to watch the sun rise behind Mt Agung – Bali’s notoriously temperamental active volcano. Cue: all the goosebumps. Unpredictable volcanos not really your bag? DW: we’ve got options. Learn to carve like a pro on an optional surfing lesson. Join an e-bike tour around the stunning Jatiluwih area’s lush valleys and thick forest. Re-enact those sibling wrestling matches in a muddy rice field with a traditional Mepantigan experience – a Balinese martial art. Those new skills bouta come in handy at the next family reunion.

Time for one last swim before we set our sights on the tropical rainforests of Ubud. There’s more here than #Insta swings – trust us. Bit of a nature buff? You’ve come to the right place. First up: our fact-filled Trip Leader will give us a whip around the area, passing Ubud Palace (for allll the carvings), the traditional craft market and the Monkey Forest (hold onto your iPhone – they WILL steal it and use all your data FaceTiming their nan). After a pit stop at a local café where your drink’s on us, the evening’s all yours. Need some recs for dinner? Head to Sage for one of the best vegetarian burgers you’ve ever had. Even the carnivores will be drooling.

Today’s 100% yours to delve deeper into this culturally rich gem-of-a-place. But we’ve got allll the local suggestions, obvs. Opt for a day trip to Manggis, where tropical landscapes, a palm winemaking experience, and a picnic lunch beside a natural pool await. Bliss. Learn some skills in the kitchen with an optional cooking class – the sate lilit recipe is sure to impress the Tinder matches back home. Align your chakras during an optional yoga class, then enjoy a relaxing massage – it's a hard life but someone’s gotta do it. Opt to unleash your inner adventurer and jump on a quad bike. Lara Croft, eat your heart out. Or take to the waves and feel that RUSH on an epic white water rafting experience. Later, you could even hike along the Campuhan Ridge for some unbelievable views of the valley. And tonight? Head to a local restaurant and get your fill of gado-gado, babi guling and mie goreng.

Wave goodbye to Bali as we speedboat our way to Gili. We’re heading north to the biggest of the Gili archipelago trio: Gili Trawangan. Insert: sun-bleached sandy beaches, shimmering turquoise water and sipping fresh coconuts under palm trees. Get your bearings with an orientation bike ride around the island. Then: the rest is up to you. Do the obvious and get horizontal on one of Gili’s gorgeous beaches. Relax and unwind with a beachfront massage. Hunt down Pituq Cafe for a refreshing fresh-fruit smoothie. Or pull up a pew at a local cocktail bar – you won’t have to venture far. Tonight, head to Trawangan night market for a feed. Here you can try everything from nasi gorang and bakso meatball soup to fresh lobster, squid, king prawns and snapper. Basically? You want it, they’ll grill it.

Today, you’ve got 24 hrs to do you. Need some suggestions? Step into a glass bottom boat to see which awesome creatures live *in Sebastian’s voice* under the sea on a guided tour. Or do your good deed for the day and help clear the ocean of rubbish on a stand-up paddleboarding session (the sea turtles salute you). Prefer to keep your feet on solid ground? Easy. Practice mindfulness at one of the islands many yoga studios. Go for a pedal and cafe-hop your way around the island. Or park up at a beach club that suits your vibe. Later: catch up with the gang at our final group dinner, and watch the sun set in paradise one last time.

A week’s worth of incred Indonesian adventures? Completed. But now it’s time to say goodbye. Heading back to Bali? Your Trip Leader will help sort your boat ride. Staying on? Some people have all the luck. Swap those Insta handles – you’ll need them for next year’s reunion trip. Where to next? Thailand. Vietnam. Cambodia. All the above?