The trails of the gods | REFERENCE - AZD201

There are no words beside ‘paradise’ to depict Bali – an island blessed by the gods, according to Balinese, at the very least by nature, according to travellers. Walking on the trails of the gods, you will discover landscapes with nothing to envy the masterpieces of impressionist painters: terraced rice fields, volcanoes towering above clouds and dense tropical forests, an island of great contrast...

Bali is more than a marvel of nature! Spiritual development is also a major part of its inhabitants’ life. Centuries of practically uninterrupted cultural continuity have preserved Hindu beliefs, therefore a unique organization of daily life where everybody, from young children to elder people, has a role to play. Naturally gracious, their religious rites and traditional customs emphasize Bali’s beauties. Ceremonies, dances, processions to temples and other daily activities reinforce this unique culture.

Though jealously preserving most of their past, Balinese have always welcomed new and innovative elements, brought up by changing times or borrowed from abroad, thus creating a unique paradox and an open-minded community, which you are to join for a 13 day discovery journey. 

D/1- Denpasar – Ubud
Upon arrival at Denpasar International Airport, transfer to Ubud, a small town amidst emerald green rice paddies and steep ravines in the stunning Central Balinese foothills. Ubud is known as the cultural centre of the island. Despite tourist expansion, this town has preserved its peacefulness and beauty. Free afternoon. Overnight at a hotel.
1 hour transfer
Meals: Dinner

D/2 – Ubud
Day free to discover Ubud and to stroll in its surroundings. In Ubud, elegantly carved temples and palaces flourished in the past. Walking down its streets, you discover Puri Saren and its richly carved doorways, the superbly chiselled Pura Saraswati, the delightful sculptures of Pura Puseh, and numerous museums and galleries… Another major sight of Ubud is the so-called Monkey Forest Temple. Around Ubud, you are surrounded by breathtaking vistas and surprising glimpses of unspoilt rural landscape. Overnight at the same hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The development of Ubud: the city of art

A prince of Gianyar (Cokorda Gede Sukawati) invited artists from all parts of Bali and those seeking refuge from other kingdoms, to settle in this town and develop their art. Ubud slowly gained specialists of various arts and evolved into a cultural centre. Palaces and temples are now adorned with the works of Bali’s master artisans as a result. In gratitude for their refuge, high-skilled artisans helped decorate the possessions of the noble family.

D/3 - Ubud- Tampaksiring – Ubud
Warm-up walk through the rice fields of Tampaksiring. There, a family of Balinese artists welcomes us, serving a delicious typical lunch in their traditional home. They later perform typical Balinese dances. Back to Ubud in the afternoon. Overnight at hotel.
1 hour transfer - 4 hours walk
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

D/4 - Ubud – Belimbing
Transfer to Belimbing, a small village among paddy fields. On this trip, we discover the most beautiful terraced rice fields on the island. We also meet with local people to get better acquainted with their culture. Overnight at a village house.
2 hours transfer - 3 hours walk
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

D/5 - Belimbing – Pemuteran
After a night in a typical local accommodation, we travel to a seaside resort on the northeast coast of Bali, far from crowded tourist areas. We enjoy wonderful beaches, marine wildlife and underwater coralline landscapes, surrounding the Mejangan Island. You may also rent a boat for further exploration. Overnight at a hotel.
2 hours transfer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

D/6 - Pemuteran – Munduk
Afternoon transfer to Munduk, where we are accommodated in beautifully restored colonial houses. The day ends with a gorgeous walk discovering local flora in full bloom around the town. This area is a picturesque region of coffee and clove plantations, nearby forests, waterfalls and some of the most beautiful views of the island. Overnight at a local inn (losmen).
2 hours transfer - 3 hours walk
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

D/7 - Munduk – Tamblingan and Buyan Lakes – Ulun Danau Buddhist temple – Catur
The Munduk region is the cradle of primeval Balinese culture. Dutch settlers in the old colonial capital of Singaraja, on the north coast, enjoyed spending holidays in this region. We continue walking to Bedugul, along the volcanic lakes of Tamblingan and Buyan. These lakes were a single body of water until a landslide divided it into two in 1818. We proceed to the placid lake of Bratan, source of life-giving water for springs, rivers and rice fields below. In delightful scenery and surrounded by spectacular mountains, we stop at the marvellous Ulun Danu Bratan Hindu-Buddhist temple. We later on cross the picturesque market of Bedugul, before setting off again to Catur, located halfway between the Bratan lake and Mt. Batur’s caldera. Overnight at guesthouse.
1 hour transfer - 5 hours walk
Positive difference in height: 500m - Negative difference in height: 100m
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

D/8 - Catur – Penelokan – Toyabungkah (Mt. Batur)
Our day starts with a short stroll around Catur, through orange and coffee plantations. Early afternoon, we head back to the slopes of the Batur volcano (1,717 m) and enjoy from Penelokan (literally meaning ‘look-out’) a superb view over the lake lying at its foot. The large size of its crater (14 km across) implies that Mt. Batur used to be a much larger mountain (certainly as tall as Mt. Agung), which blew its top thousands of years ago. Now, this old crater is half-filled with a huge lake, the largest of Bali. Its other half is cultivated and covered with lava fields. The blackened cone of Mt. Batur sits in the middle of this stunning panorama. We carry out our ascent of Mt. Batur through its old lava flows, and skirt around its four craters. Overnight at a local inn (losmen).
45 minutes transfer - 4 hours walk
Negative difference in height: 300m
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

D/9 - Toyabungkah – Mt. Batur – Toyabungkah – Kehen temple – Tirtagangga
We start our ascent of Mt. Batur before dawn, reaching the top of the oldest crater before sunrise. We walk down to the youngest and most active crater, keeping at a safe distance. The afternoon, we visit the second temple, Kehen (often considered to be the most attractive temple in Bali), in the vicinity of Bangli. Then, we set off to Tirtagangga, officially known as Tirta Ayu (‘lovely waters’). We discover its cool, spring-fed pools (which literally means ‘Ganges’ water’) pleasure palace of a former king of Karangasem. These dip pools, surrounded by captivating terraced rice fields, are particularly refreshing after our long drive in. Overnight at a local inn (losmen).
2 hours transfer - 5 hours walk
Positive difference in height: 600m - Negative difference in height: 600m
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

D/10 - Tirtagangga – Tenganan – Sidemen
We walk through fields until the Bali Aga (or ‘original Balinese’) village of Tenganan. This village has preserved its traditional Balinese culture as it was prior to the influence of the Majapahit Hindu kingdom. It is also famous throughout Bali for the magical textiles its artists produce (including the famous double ikat cloths, which rank among the masterworks of Southeast Asia), which are also used by other Balinese communities in their worship. The concept of territorial and bodily purity and integrity plays a main role in the culture of this village. For this reason, outsiders are welcome from noon until evening, at what point they are kindly asked to leave. Some say that footprints of visitors are literally erased after they leave. Our next stop is Sidemen. You are free to enjoy by yourself the afternoon. Traditional varieties of Balinese rice are grown in Sidemen and the scenery is indeed gorgeous. Overnight in bungalows.
1 hour transfer - 4 hours walk
Positive difference in height: 200m - Negative difference in height: 200m
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The ‘Chosen People’

Unlike other Balinese villages, Tenganan traces its origin back to the Usana Bali (a chronicle of Bali). According to this written source, the Tengananese are chosen by their creator, Batara Indra, to administer and consecrate this place to devotion and ritual. As a result of this divinely ordained scheme, nothing can be either changed or removed. Breaking this rule would bring upon the village the curse of the gods and all villagers would perish. Indeed, those breaking these rules as well as Javanized Hindu Balinese are banished from the village’s spiritual life and territory.

D/11 – Sidemen – Jimbaran
The ultimate hike of our trip: walk on a track with stunning views over both Mt. Agung and the Indian Ocean. In the afternoon, transfer to Jimbaran's heavenly beaches (South Bali). Most of Bali’s soil is volcanic and covered with tropical vegetation and watered year-round by various huge mountain lakes. Jimbaran and Bukit Badung constitute in contrast a non-volcanic limestone plateau with a unique ecology. Overnight at a hotel near the beach.
2 hours transfer - 3 hours walk
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

D/12 - Jimbaran
Day free (walks on beach, snorkelling…).
Meals: Breakfast

D/13 – Jimbaran – Next destination
Free morning until your transfer to the airport. Flight to your next destination.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

End of our services

Inclusions

• Services of an Azimuth English speaking (or French speaking) local guide.
• Land & sea transfers needed for the circuit
• Accommodation
• Meals as indicated in the description day by day
• Entrance fees for touristic sites and museums
• Mineral water and snacks (fruit, biscuits ...) during the days of walking

* In high season, our tour guides can be already busy. If you want a guarantee of supervision by one of them, we recommend an early booking of this tour.

Exclusions

• International and domestic airfare
• Airport taxes & visa fees
• Drinks, personal expenses and tips
• Travel Insurance & Assistance
• Anything that is not listed in "Inclusions"

What to bring?

• Good walking shoes
• Headlamp
• Flask (for water)
• Hat or cap, light clothing & replacement clothes
• Raincoat (for the rainy season, from October to April)
• Small backpack & camera
• Mosquito repellent (lotion / cream)
• Sunscreen, sunglasses & your good mood!

• Description: ’Easy’ trips require a certain level of fitness,  with some walking (2 to 4 hours) on generally well-marked tracks. They include some ascent and descent without major difficulties.
• Individuals who enjoy going for walks on a regular basis will be delighted on these trips and on short sightseeing tours. If you are new to this, you will soon notice their benefit on your body and soul. 
• Preparation: A weekly two-hour long walk is recommended! An excellent exercise.

• Description: Both long and short trips require a longer personal investment than trips graded ‘easy’. You trek half or full days (between 4 and 6 hours). Ascents and descents  are regular in terms of effort (variation in height ranging from 400 m to 700 m, with the exception of  hikes to reach volcanoe summits). 
• If you enjoy all-morning or full-day hikes, or if you have enjoyed mountain hiking in the past, you will truly love our short or long moderate trips.
• Preparation: Whatever your profile, you should take long walks (four hours) once a week starting two months prior to departure, and practice another physical activity on a regular basis (swimming, biking…).

• Description: These trips include  practically full-day walks (six hours, with successive ascents and descents and a variation in height ranging from 700 m to 1000 m). Some trekking on wild unmarked tracks, an exclusivity of Azimuth adventure Travel Ltd.
• If you enjoy trekking over several days in challenging natural surround or if you practice a sport on a regular basis, you already meet the requirements for this type of trips. If you have enjoyed and have had no difficulty on trips rated ‘moderate,’ you will know what to expect.
• Preparation: Experienced trekkers and novices need to be in good shape. Two months before departure, start to exercise on a weekly basis: long-distance jogging and swimming and/or biking.

• Description: These include challenging full-day treks (averaging a minimum of six hours) on sometimes unmarked tracks. Variation in height may reach 1000 m, and even more on the final ascent of volcanoes.
• If you find long adventurous hikes in the heart of nature exciting and if you enjoy physically testing environments, you will definitely be enthused by these treks. If in the past you have enjoyed hikes graded ‘strenuous’ and have experienced no difficulty, you have an edge on these treks.
• Preparation: To benefit the most from your trip, exercise rigorously! Two to three months before leaving, start joggin (10 km per week). We also recommend an additional regular exercise, including long-distance swimming (1 km) and biking (40 km).

• Description and preparation: These are challenging treks, within the sphere of high-level mountaineering expeditions. Solid experience and the steady practice of an intensive physical activity over a very long period of time are an absolute a must..

• A daypack: Ideally large enough to pack all you need for a day’s walk (rain gear, water bottle, sunglasses, camera, packed food, warm clothes…). You will need at least a 25litres  pack for a full day, but a 30 to 40 -litre pack is preferable. Our experience shows that a larger pack is more comfortable.
• Trek bag/travel bag, both with padlocks: Our porters and vehicles bring daily your luggage to our overnight accommodations.
• Headgear: A sun hat and a scarf or bandana will efficiently protect you against dust and an irritant sulphuric atmosphere (they also protect your neck from sunburns).
• Clothes: Long hiking shorts (for mountain climbing), lightsweat pants, T-shirts, a warm sweater (also in cool weather in mountainous regions), a raincoat.
• Footwear: Hiking boots  and light shoes to wear indoors (sneakers or sandals).
• Other useful items include: spare shoe laces, needles and thread, a towel, night clothes, spare clothes, swimming trunk/bathing suit, toilet paper, a lighter, wet wipes and/or antibacterial gel, biodegradable soap/shampoo, lip balm, sunscreen, sunglasses, a water bottle, a small knife, plastic bags (to pack and protect some of your belongings), sleeping bag and a bedsheet. 
• First aid kit: throat lozenges, medication, insect and mosquito repellent, anti-diarrhoeal treatment (Imodium, Oralite). Your guide will carry along a sterile medical kit including a range of useful drugs. 
• In a small envelope or a pouch hanging around your neck or hidden under your clothes, carry a photocopy of your identity papers, your insurance contract, and your credit cards