Delve Deep: Bali & the Gili Islands

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 lushhh af rice paddies. After a pit stop at a local café where your drink’s on us, the evening’s all yours.

An early riser? If you can drag yourself out of bed, there's an optional trek up Mount Batur on the cards. You'll reach the top just in time to see the sunrise over the island. Cue: all the goosebumps. Return to the hotel in time for an included brekkie. Then, you'll have an entire day to explore more of Ubud. Browse for souvenirs among its many boutiques and then cool off at an Insta-perfect café (try an iced Balinese coffee - you won't regret it). Later: keep the food theme rolling with an optional Indonesian cooking class.

You don’t want to skim the surface. You want to delve deeper. So today, we’ll be heading for the unspoilt village of Manggis. First up, an orientation tour. Meet the locals and find out about their numerous development initiatives. Learn how traditional palm wine is made and how to craft a canang sari: a Balinese Hindu temple offering. And later? There’s a traditional Balinese dinner on the cards. Delish!

Pack an overnight bag (we'll store your suitcase) and wave goodbye to Bali as we speedboat our way to the Gili Islands. 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 T’s gorgeous beaches. Relax and unwind with a beachfront massage. 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.

Not an early bird? You’ll wanna wake up for today’s dreamy sunrise beach picnic. Once your belly’s stuffed and your camera roll is full, you’ve got the rest of the day to do you. Need some suggestions? Snap on a snorkel or step into a glass bottom boat to see which awesome creatures live *in Sebastian’s voice* under the sea. Or do your good deed for the day and help clear the ocean of rubbish on a stand-up paddleboard (the sea turtles salute you). Prefer to keep your feet on solid ground? Easy. Practice mindfulness at one of Gili T's many yoga studios. Go for a pedal and café-hop your way around the island. Or park up at a beach club that suits your vibe. Dinner’s on you but your Trip Leader has the recs.

Today’s a travel day. After an included brekkie, you’ll make tracks back to Bali via speedboat. If it’s sunny, claim a spot on the top deck, grab a cold one and soak up those rays. When you reach Canggu (your final stop *tries not to cry*), they’ll be time to chill or take a last stroll along the sand. 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. Staying on in Bali? 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?