Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Bali, Lombok and the Gili Islands
12 days from Bali to Lombok: Ubud, a Mount Batur sunrise, the rice terraces of Jatiluwih and Sidemen, two nights on Gili Air and the quiet south coast of Lombok.
12 days · Denpasar to Lombok · up to 12 guests
Morning over Kuta, Lombok, from Bukit Merese. Photo: Focusfeel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Selamat_Pagi,_Kuta_Lombok.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 12 days, 11 nights
- Start and end
- Denpasar to Lombok
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Moderate
You are happy with a night-time climb of about 2 hours up loose volcanic gravel for the Batur sunrise (or the easy rim alternative), rice field walks of 2 to 3 hours, snorkelling from a boat and an hour or two on a bicycle.
- Meals included
- 11 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 575
- Season
- Dry season
Highlights
Why this trip
- Sunrise from the summit of Mount Batur, with Rinjani on Lombok across the sea on clear mornings, then a hot spring and a free afternoon
- The UNESCO-listed rice terraces of Jatiluwih in the morning light, and Tegalalang before the crowds
- Ulun Danu Beratan when the gates open, while the lake is still
- Two nights in the Sidemen valley under Mount Agung, with a cooking class
- Two nights on Gili Air: snorkel with turtles off Gili Meno and cycle the island at sunset
- Rice fields at the foot of Rinjani, and the west-facing bay of Selong Belanak at sunset
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 575.
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Bali, on to Ubud
Denpasar Airport to Ubud
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Ubud
- Drive about 1.5 h
Your trip starts at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) near Denpasar, where we meet you whatever time your flight lands. The drive north to Ubud is about 35 km and takes an hour to an hour and a half, past stone carvers' yards and family temples with offerings on the doorsteps. Ubud sits in the green foothills of central Bali and has long been the island's home of painting, dance and gamelan music. Your hotel is within walking distance of the royal palace and the market, your base for three nights.
Evening
In the evening your guide meets everyone for a welcome dinner of Balinese dishes and talks you through the days ahead, including the early start for Mount Batur on day 3.
Included
- Pick-up at Denpasar Airport (DPS) at any time
- Welcome dinner with your guide
Free time: Free until the welcome dinner
Ubud: terraces, a water temple and dance
Tegalalang and Tirta Empul, back to Ubud
- Breakfast
- Stay in Ubud
- Drive about 1.5 h
We leave the hotel at about 7 am to reach the Tegalalang rice terraces while the light is soft and the paths are quiet. The terraces are watered by subak, the shared irrigation system that Balinese farmers have run through temples and village councils for about a thousand years. We walk the terrace paths and skip the paid swings that now line the valley. Next is Tirta Empul, a water temple near Tampaksiring said to date from 962, where Balinese families bathe under the spouts of its spring-fed pools to purify themselves; you can join them in a sarong if you wish.
Afternoon
Back in Ubud the afternoon is free for the market, the Monkey Forest or a massage. After dark we go to a traditional dance performance with a live gamelan orchestra.
Included
- Early walk at the Tegalalang rice terraces
- Tirta Empul temple entry, sarong included
- Evening Balinese dance performance in Ubud
Free time: Afternoon free in Ubud
Sunrise on Mount Batur
Ubud to Mount Batur and back
- Breakfast
- Stay in Ubud
- Drive about 2 h
A very early start: the van collects you at about 3 am for the hour's drive to the foot of Mount Batur, an active volcano of 1,717 metres inside a huge caldera.
Morning
With head torches and a local Batur mountain guide, whose fee and climbing permit we pay, you walk up for about 2 hours on loose volcanic gravel to be at the top before sunrise. As the sky lightens, Lake Batur appears below, Mount Abang and Mount Agung rise to the east and, on clear mornings, Rinjani on Lombok shows across the sea. Breakfast is cooked in the steam vents near the crater.
Afternoon
After the descent we soak in a natural hot spring on the shore of the lake, then drive back to Ubud by early afternoon. The rest of the day is yours to sleep or wander.
Included
- Mount Batur sunrise trek with a local mountain guide, permit included
- Breakfast on the summit
- Natural hot spring on Lake Batur
Your choice: Sunrise trek to the summit of Mount Batur, about 2 hours up / Sunrise from the crater rim viewpoint at Kintamani, no climb Included in the price.
Easier option: Drive to the crater rim at Kintamani instead and watch the sunrise over the lake and the volcano from a viewpoint, with breakfast, then meet the group at the hot spring.
Free time: Afternoon free in Ubud to rest
Activity: The climb is steep and loose underfoot, and the top is cold before dawn. Bring a warm layer and shoes with grip.
Jatiluwih and the highlands of Munduk
Ubud to Munduk via the Jatiluwih rice terraces
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Munduk
- Drive about 3 h
Evening
After a full night's sleep we drive west for about an hour and a half to Jatiluwih, on the slopes of Mount Batukaru. Its rice terraces are part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing for Bali's subak system and are far larger and quieter than Tegalalang. We walk a loop through the paddies in the morning light, past the small shrines where farmers leave offerings to the rice goddess Dewi Sri, then sit down to lunch with a view over the terraces. In the afternoon the road climbs to Munduk, a cool highland village of clove and coffee gardens and old Dutch-era houses. A short forest walk takes us to a waterfall, and late in the day we stop on the ridge above the twin lakes of Buyan and Tamblingan.
Included
- Guided walk at the Jatiluwih rice terraces, entry included
- Lunch at Jatiluwih
- Waterfall walk in Munduk
- Twin lakes viewpoint above Buyan and Tamblingan
Free time: Evening free in Munduk
Ulun Danu Beratan, then east to Sidemen
Munduk to Sidemen via Lake Beratan and Semarapura
- Breakfast and dinner
- Stay in Sidemen
- Drive about 3 h
We leave Munduk early to be at Pura Ulun Danu Beratan when its gates open, about half an hour's drive away.
Morning
The temple, founded in the 17th century, honours Dewi Danu, the goddess of the lake, and its tiered shrines seem to float on Lake Beratan at about 1,200 metres; in the still morning the water mirrors them before the tour coaches arrive. From the highlands we drive south and east across Bali for about two and a half to three hours, with a stop in Semarapura at the Kerta Gosa, the old royal hall of justice of Klungkung, whose ceilings are painted in the Kamasan wayang style with scenes of heaven and hell.
Evening
We reach the Sidemen valley by mid-afternoon, with Mount Agung above the rice fields, and have dinner together tonight.
Included
- Pura Ulun Danu Beratan at opening, entry included
- Kerta Gosa in Semarapura, entry included
- Dinner in Sidemen
Free time: Late afternoon free in Sidemen
Sidemen: a valley walk and a cooking class
Walks and cooking in the Sidemen valley
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Sidemen
Sidemen is the east Bali most visitors never see: a long green valley of rice terraces, rivers and villages under Mount Agung, at 3,031 metres the island's highest volcano and its most sacred.
Morning
Early in the morning, when the summit is most often clear of cloud, a local guide walks with us along the field paths and irrigation channels, past farmers at work and family compounds. We call at a weaving house, where women make songket and ikat cloth on hand looms.
Afternoon
Then we cook lunch with a local family: you shop for spices, grind a base paste on a stone, wrap fish or chicken in banana leaf and learn what goes into a daily offering. The afternoon is free to read on your terrace, swim or walk again in the golden light.
Included
- Morning walk through the Sidemen valley with a local guide
- Visit to a weaving house
- Balinese cooking class and lunch with a local family
Optional experiences
- Early trip to Pura Lempuyang and the water palace of Tirta Gangga, about an hour's drive each way. The queue for the photo at the Lempuyang gate can be long.
Free time: Afternoon free
Fast boat to Gili Air
Sidemen to Padang Bai, then by fast boat to Gili Air
- Breakfast
- Stay in Gili Air
- Drive about 45 min
Morning
After breakfast our own van takes you the 45 minutes down to the harbour at Padang Bai, so there is no waiting for a shared shuttle. Your guide checks the group and the luggage onto a morning fast boat we book in advance with an operator we have vetted, with seats inside a covered cabin. The crossing of the Lombok Strait takes about an hour and a half to two hours, depending on the sea and the stops at Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno. If the sea is too rough to sail, we fly you from Denpasar to Lombok instead and take a short boat to Gili Air from Bangsal. Gili Air has no cars or motorbikes, only bicycles and sandy lanes.
Evening
We cycle round the island in the late afternoon and stop on the west coast for sunset, with Bali's volcanoes across the water.
Included
- Transfer from Sidemen to Padang Bai harbour
- Fast boat from Padang Bai to Gili Air, luggage included
- Porter from the Gili Air jetty to your hotel
- Bicycle on Gili Air
- Sunset on the west coast of Gili Air
Free time: Evening free on Gili Air
Turtles off Gili Meno
Snorkel boat around the Gili Islands
- Breakfast
- Stay in Gili Air
- By boat
Morning
This morning we take a boat of our own to snorkel round the three Gili Islands, with masks, fins and life jackets on board. We go mid-morning, when the sun is high enough to light the water. At Turtle Point off Gili Meno green turtles graze on the sea grass and coral in a few metres of clear water, and often swim right past you. Nearby lies Nest, a ring of life-size human figures sculpted by Jason deCaires Taylor and sunk off Gili Meno in 2017, now slowly turning into reef. A third stop is chosen by the captain on the day for the clearest water.
Afternoon
We are back on Gili Air by early afternoon, and the rest of the day is yours: a swim off the beach, a yoga class, a nap in the shade or another bicycle ride.
Included
- Snorkelling boat trip round the Gili Islands, mask, fins and life jacket included
- Turtle Point off Gili Meno
- The Nest underwater sculptures off Gili Meno
Optional experiences
- Yoga class on Gili Air
- Try-dive with a dive school
Easier option: Stay on the boat and watch through the clear water; the turtles are often visible from the surface.
Free time: Afternoon free on Gili Air
To Lombok and the rice fields of Tetebatu
Gili Air to Bangsal by boat, then to Tetebatu
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Tetebatu
- Drive about 2 h
A short boat ride of about 15 minutes brings us from Gili Air to Bangsal on the Lombok mainland, where the van and driver wait. We drive about two hours, past Mataram and through the farmland of central Lombok, to Tetebatu, a village of rice fields and tobacco on the southern slopes of Mount Rinjani, at 3,726 metres the second-highest volcano in Indonesia.
Afternoon
After lunch at the guesthouse a local guide walks with us through the paddies and into the forest, where black ebony leaf monkeys live in the trees, to a waterfall where you can cool off. Tetebatu is a farming village rather than a resort, and life here follows the rice and the mosque.
Evening
We have dinner together at the guesthouse, under a sky with very little light at night.
Included
- Boat from Gili Air to Bangsal, luggage included
- Lunch and dinner in Tetebatu
- Guided rice field and forest walk to a waterfall
Easier option: Walk the rice field paths near the village only and skip the forest section.
Weavers of Pringgasela, sunset at Selong Belanak
Tetebatu to Kuta Lombok via Pringgasela
- Breakfast
- Stay in Kuta Lombok
- Drive about 3 h
Morning
Get up early for the view: in the first light the cone of Rinjani often stands clear above the Tetebatu rice fields before the cloud builds. After breakfast we drive a short way to Pringgasela, a Sasak village known for weaving on back-strap looms, where a family shows how cotton is dyed and woven into the patterned cloth worn at ceremonies. Then we head south for about an hour and a half to Kuta Lombok, a small surf town on a coast of bays and green headlands, your base for the last two nights.
Afternoon
Late in the afternoon we drive about 40 minutes west to Selong Belanak, a long curve of pale sand where fishermen draw up their outrigger boats. The bay faces west, so we stay until the sun goes down behind the headland.
Included
- Sunrise view of Rinjani from the Tetebatu rice fields
- Visit to a weaving family in Pringgasela
- Sunset at Selong Belanak beach
Free time: Early afternoon free in Kuta
South Lombok at your own pace
Free day in Kuta Lombok
- Breakfast and dinner
- Stay in Kuta Lombok
Morning
For those who want one more sunrise, your guide leads a short walk before dawn up Bukit Merese, a grassy hill about 10 minutes from Kuta, where the light comes up over the bays of Tanjung Aan and, on clear mornings, Rinjani far to the north. The rest of the day has nothing planned. Learn to surf on the gentle beginner waves at Selong Belanak, swim at Tanjung Aan, ride a bicycle along the coast road, have a massage, or simply read by the pool.
Evening
Your guide can book any of these and help with lunch ideas, but there is no group programme until the evening. Tonight we meet for a farewell dinner together, with grilled fish and Sasak dishes such as ayam taliwang, the spicy grilled chicken Lombok is known for.
Included
- Sunrise walk up Bukit Merese with your guide
- Farewell dinner
Optional experiences
- Surf lesson at Selong Belanak
- Massage or spa treatment
Free time: Whole day free
Fly home from Lombok
Kuta Lombok to Lombok International Airport
- Breakfast
- Drive about 30 min
Morning
The last morning is free. Have a slow breakfast, swim once more or walk along the beach in Kuta before you pack. Lombok International Airport (LOP) at Praya is only about 30 minutes from Kuta, which makes this an easy last day, and we drive you there whatever time your flight leaves. From Lombok there are frequent flights to Denpasar and Jakarta and onward connections across Asia, so ask us if you would like help choosing a route home or a few more nights on Bali. If you want to stay longer in Kuta or go back to the Gilis on your own, we can book the extra nights and transfers for you. Your guide says goodbye at the airport.
Included
- Drop-off at Lombok International Airport (LOP) at any time
Free time: Morning free
- Denpasarstart
- Ubud3 nights
- Munduk1 night
- Sidemen2 nights
- Gili Air2 nights
- Tetebatu1 night
- Kuta Lombok2 nights
- Lombokend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: Green turtles feed off Gili Meno most days, but we cannot promise them. Mornings on Batur are cold, often around 10 to 15 °C at the top, and the summit can be in cloud. The Lombok Strait is choppier from about July to September, when the trade winds are strongest.
Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- A first trip to Bali that goes beyond the south
- Early starts for sunrise, with time to rest after
- Snorkelling and easy cycling
- Travellers who want three islands without changing hotels every night
Not for you if you want
- Nightlife and beach clubs
- Step-free access
- Every hour planned
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
11 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Ubud3 nights
- Munduk1 night
- Sidemen2 nights
- Gili Air2 nights
- Tetebatu1 night
- Kuta Lombok2 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 11 nights: Ubud (3), Munduk (1), the Sidemen valley (2), a beach hotel on Gili Air (2), a guesthouse in Tetebatu (1) and Kuta Lombok (2)
Transport
- Pick-up at Denpasar Airport (DPS)
- A private air-conditioned minivan with driver on Bali and on Lombok
- Transfer to Padang Bai and a fast boat to Gili Air, with luggage
- Flight from Denpasar to Lombok instead if the sea is too rough to cross
- Boat from Gili Air to Bangsal on Lombok
- Bicycles on Gili Air
- Drop-off at Lombok International Airport (LOP)
Activities
- Tegalalang rice terraces early in the morning
- Tirta Empul temple, with a sarong
- Balinese dance performance in Ubud
- Mount Batur sunrise trek with a local mountain guide and permit, or the crater rim viewpoint
- Hot spring on Lake Batur
- Guided walk at the Jatiluwih rice terraces
- Waterfall walk and the twin lakes viewpoint in Munduk
- Pura Ulun Danu Beratan at opening and the Kerta Gosa in Semarapura
- Sidemen valley walk, a weaving house and a Balinese cooking class
- Snorkelling boat trip to Turtle Point and Nest off Gili Meno, with gear
- Rice field and forest walk in Tetebatu
- Weaving family in Pringgasela
- Sunset at Selong Belanak and sunrise on Bukit Merese
Meals
- 11 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 dinners
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide for the whole trip
- Local guides on Mount Batur, in Sidemen and in Tetebatu
Not included
- Flights to Denpasar and from Lombok
- Travel insurance
- Indonesia visa on arrival, if your passport needs one
- Bali tourism levy (IDR 150,000 per person)
- Lunches and dinners not listed
- Drinks
- Optional activities such as surf lessons, yoga, diving and the Lempuyang trip
- Tips for drivers, boat crews and local guides
- Nights before day 1 or after day 12
Local fees
- Bali tourism levy of IDR 150,000 per foreign visitor, paid online before you arrive or at the airport; Indonesia visa on arrival if your passport needs one.
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 575
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We confirm your departure within 24 hours.
Want your own dates? We can book the same hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your confirmation.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the trip include?
11 nights in hotels and guesthouses, 11 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 dinners, a private minivan and driver on each island, the fast boat to Gili Air and the boat to Lombok, airport transfers at both ends, a See Sight Tours guide throughout, and the Batur sunrise trek, hot spring, snorkel boat, bicycles, cooking class, dance performance and every entry named in the day plan.
How early is the Mount Batur sunrise, and do I have to climb?
We leave Ubud at about 3 am to be on the summit before sunrise, a climb of about 2 hours on loose gravel. If you would rather not climb, you can watch the sunrise from the crater rim at Kintamani and meet the group at the hot spring. Either way the afternoon is free to rest.
How do we get from Bali to the Gili Islands?
Our van takes you to Padang Bai, where you board a morning fast boat we book with a vetted operator; the crossing takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. If the sea is too rough, we fly you from Denpasar to Lombok and take you to Gili Air by short boat from Bangsal, at no extra cost.
Why Gili Air and not Gili Trawangan?
Gili Air is quieter than Gili Trawangan, which is known for its parties, and livelier than tiny Gili Meno. It has good beaches, places to eat and easy snorkelling, and the snorkel boat visits the reefs off all three islands.
How long are the drives?
No day has more than about 3 hours in the van, and long legs are broken with stops. The longest are Munduk to Sidemen on day 5 and Tetebatu to Kuta Lombok on day 10. On days 6, 8 and 11 there is no driving.
Are there shopping stops?
No. We do not stop at shops, galleries or restaurants that pay commission. The weaving visits are to working families, where you can buy if you want to, and your guide will happily take you shopping in Ubud if you ask.
When is the best time to go?
April to October, the dry season, when skies on Batur are clearer and the seas are usually calmer. The wet season runs from about November to March, with heavy afternoon showers. We avoid Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence in March or April, when the airport closes.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. Besides the small group, the trip comes as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose. If you would rather travel on your own on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we will quote the same route with drivers, boats and the same stays.
How much does it cost?
Prices are per person sharing a room, with taxes, and differ by style: small group or private. The small group starts from CAD 2,305 per person, and a room of your own is from CAD 575 more. Pick your start date when you request to book, and we confirm your trip within 24 hours. Nothing is charged until then.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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