Delve Deep: Bali & the Gili Islands

On your bike! First up today we’ve got an included e-bike tour around the stunning Jatiluwih area. Think lush valleys, thick forest and Hulk-green rice fields galore – plus lunch with a view at an organic café. Bliss. Back in Canggu, our Trip Leader’s primed to introduce us to all the best local bars, including hippy-vibe beachfront spots and cooler-than-cool cocktail venues. There may well be dancing – time to bust out those TikTok moves in front of actual humans (*terror fills eyes*).

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.

You don’t want to skim the surface. You want to delve deeper. So we’ve got a one-of-a-kind authentic experience lined up today at a sustainable community project in the beaut Manggis district. Here we’ll get the inside info from a Balinese farmer and practise our (beginner level) rice-growing skills at an organic paddy field. Tum grumbling from all the food chat? There’s a traditional Balinese lunch on the cards to sort that. Later: keep the food theme rolling with an optional cooking class. Delve into the spiritual world of traditional tattoos with a local walking tour. Or take a hike up Mt Batur and reach the top just in time to watch the sun set over the island. Cue: all the goosebumps.

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?