Friendly Adventures


Bali & Komodo Islands June 8-24, 2023 Friendly Adventures happily presents Bali & the Komodo Islands 2023. If you believe travel is about experience, then this is the trip for you! We will hike, bike, paddle and swim through the best of Bali & then spend some time in the Komodo NP Islands. We will immerse ourselves in the culture, enjoy the people, delight in the dining, appreciate the outdoors and absorb the adventure. During this trip to the Island of the Gods we will visit a few of Bali’s 20,000 Hindu temples, explore its picturesque rice paddies, paddle & trek through tropical jungles, take in a sunrise over a volcano, snorkel in some of the world’s most beautiful coral reefs and relax in our hotel grounds looking out at beaches that people only dream about. Join us for this 17 day / 14-night Adventure in paradise. Price of $2700 includes inter island airfare, private coach transportation, tour guides, hotel-double occupancy, daily breakfast, a handful of scheduled group meals, entrance fees and most activities. HighlightsGeneral ItineraryFlight InfoCancellation Policy Ubud Monkey Forest Campuhan Ridge Walk Tirta Empul Holy Water Gunung Kawi Temple Goa Gajah Ulun Danu Bratan Pulau Menjangan Air Panas Banjar Kastala Trekking Komodo National Park Flores Diving/Snorkeling Uluwatu Temple June 8, Thursday: Arrive at LAX for departure to Denpasar, Bali. June 9, Friday: AM/PM flight to DPS(Denpasar). June 10, Saturday: During your flight you crossed the International Dateline. After arrival at Bali's Denpasar Airport, go through customs, pick up your luggage, and purchase your Indonesian visa ($35), You will depart for Ubud, the cultural center of Bali. After checking into our hotel, look for our group near one of the two swimming pools beyond a beautiful stream that crosses the property. If you want a fun activity, then a short walk away is the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (about $5 entrance fee) with three temples and inhabited by a greedy band of Balinese long-tailed macaques. Caution is advised - do not feed or tease the monkeys-read the signs! If you are looking for something else then try a short stroll along the Campuhan Ridge Walk, it is free and enjoyable for locals & tourists alike. You will thank me later! Maybe, take a venture up the street to see Ubud Palace across from the Pasar Seni outdoor market where you can get supplies. Get some good rest! Meals: B (on plane) Accommodations: Deluxe rooms, Pertiwi Resort and Spa, Ubud June 11, Sunday: After breakfast we have a coach and walking tour of Tirta Empul Holy Water temple where a spring bubbles up inside a pool in the temple to become the main source of the Pakerisan River. Next a short distance away is the1,000-year-old Gunung Kawi temple, where you'll see 10 large monuments carved from the cliff face. Next an included lunch. After lunch we will go to Goa Gajah -Elephant Cave. Inside the sacred cave you'll see remnants of carvings and the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha. When we return to Pertiwi, you'll have time to refresh and have dinner before an evening performance of Balinese dance theatre at the Ubud Palace. Meals: B, L. Accommodations: Deluxe rooms, Pertiwi Resort and Spa, Ubud June 12, Monday: After breakfast we will enjoy the Balinese countryside on an unforgettable 1/2-day gently downhill guided cycling tour from Kintamani to Ubud where you will be surrounded by fresh air, greenery, rice terraces, a coffee plantation stop, temples and beautiful panoramas along the way. It’s a relatively easy ride through traditional villages and along quiet roads and trails to expose you to the rural side of Bali. Experience an exhilarating ride and be welcomed by many friendly locals along the way! Meals: B, L. Accommodations: Deluxe rooms, Pertiwi Resort and Spa, Ubud June 13, Tuesday: 3am, early morning departure to climb Mount Batur before sunrise if interested, the rest of us will meet up with you after breakfast to embark on a white-water rafting adventure. Paddle down a 6mi. long river stretch, navigating through class II and III rapids set to a backdrop of pristine rainforest, shadowy gorges and picturesque rice paddies (approximately 2 hours). Finish up with a hot shower – clean towels and changing rooms are available. For lunch, enjoy a buffet feast before continuing on this afternoon to visit a series of handicraft villages specializing in carving, silversmith & textiles Meals: B, L. Accommodations: Deluxe rooms, Pertiwi Resort and Spa, Ubud June 14, Wednesday: After breakfast we will depart for Lovina. Enroute we will stop for a short hike through the World Heritage site of the Jatiluwih rice terraces, next we will visit the picturesque lakeside temple of Ulun Danu Bratan. Lunch stop on own. Then after lunch we will visit a waterfall or two in the Monduk area depending on time. Dinner on own in hotel restaurant or walk towards the ocean and turn right to walk along the sea wall, there are many restaurants along route & on main road in this direction Meals: B, Accommodations: Deluxe rooms, Sunari Villas & Spa Resort, Lovina June 15, Thursday: After breakfast our coach will take us westward along the northern coast to West Bali National Park from which we will take small boats to snorkel at Pelau Menjangan island. Definitely, one of the best areas that you will ever see for snorkeling across the globe. If you are not into snorkeling, try a guided hike or you can visit the beach and swim while the others snorkel. On our return to Sunari, we stop at Air Panas Banjar. "Eight fierce-faced carved stone naga pour water from a natural hot spring..."-Lonely Planet. There are three pools with different temperatures. Shopping opportunities during short walk to and from the hot springs. There is also a restaurant. Next, we return to Sunari with its restaurant or enjoy a walk along the sand to other options. Meals: B, L Accommodations: Deluxe rooms, Sunari Villas & Spa Resort, Lovina June 16, Friday: After breakfast we depart for Candidasa (4hr direct) We may stop for snorkeling & lunch in Amed area or other sights along the way. Meals: B, Accommodations: Garden Bungalow, Candi Beach Resort June 17, Saturday: Free Day – try a shipwreck dive or snorkel back in Amed, take a day trip to the Gili Islands or just relax in the resort pool or private beach. Meals: B, Accommodations: Candi Beach Resort June 18, Sunday: After breakfast we will take a trek from Kastala through misty rainforest and hills graced with emerald-green rice terrace to the Bali Aga village of Tenganan to visit one of the oldest villages in Bali and see the ancient culture and traditions of the Bali Aga people. After, our visit in Tenganon village we will take a nostalgic flashback to the Bali of yesteryear with a stop for lunch in the town of Sideman, where the sacred Mount Agung looms in the background. Here you can wander through town, walk even more amazing rice paddies, shop textiles or just enjoy the view. plantation stop on return. Meals: B, Accommodations: Candi Beach Resort June 19, Monday: After breakfast we will have free time to explore before we depart to the airport for our 3PM flight to Labuan Bajo on the island of Flores. Have you found the secret beach? checked out the water lilies in the lagoon? seen the temple on the hill? Anyway, Indonesia is the fourth most populous country and predominately Muslim, you have seen an exception with Hindu Bali. Labuan Bajo is another exception and has a large population of Catholics from its Portuguese discovery. Until recently it was difficult to get to Labuan Bajo and the Komodo islands, but with improved air connections, tourists are coming. The main street in town has been paved. Our hotel is rated 5-star and is about 6 kilometers (3 miles) outside Labuan Bajo. Meals: B, D. Accommodations: Deluxe rooms, Flores Hotel, Labuan Bajo, Flores Island. June 20, Tuesday: After an early breakfast we will head out to the harbor for a full day boat tour of Komodo NP – bring snorkel gear, towel, hiking shoes. See Manta Point, Padar Island, Pink Beach, & Komodo Island. Meals: B, L. Accommodations: Deluxe rooms, Flores Hotel, Labuan Bajo, Flores Island. June 21, Wednesday: Free day to relax in hotel resort or pick an adventure that interests you – Dive, snorkel, hike? You decide! Optional $200/$100 Komodo islands dive/snorkel boat tour adventure to Manta point, Turtle Point & Coral Garden. Let us know in advance if you are interested! Meals B Accommodations: Deluxe rooms, Flores Hotel, Labuan Bajo, Flores Island. June 22, Thursday: After breakfast we will be out for a long day to explore the culture, nature and sights offered by the island of Flores with stops at Cunca Wulang waterfall, Melo top viewpoint, Rangko Cave, Batu Cermin cave and a sunset view at Sylvia hill. Meals B, L, D Accommodations: Deluxe rooms, Flores Hotel, Labuan Bajo, Flores Island. June 23, Friday: After breakfast, we have a 10am flight back to Denpasar, Bali. Transfers to our beach front 5-star hotel in a prestigious resort enclave. This day is yours to enjoy as you see fit. Relax, have a spa, take a tour, Enjoy! Recommended is a tour of Uluwatu Temple for stunning views of the Indian Ocean and a look at Hindu culture. Meals: B Accommodations: Deluxe rooms, Melia Bali Resort, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia. June 24, Saturday: After breakfast, you have some free time to enjoy before transfer to the airport for your flight back home or you can travel a few miles west to see where all the tourists go in the towns of Kuta, Legan, and Seminyak or maybe uber over to the Tohpati batik village, Batuan painting village, Mas woodcarving village or the silversmithing village of Celuk for that last minute shopping before departure. Don't miss your flight! Meals: B, (D+B on planes). TBD! Not Included Below are best flights I see now. Several of our group booked the EVA flight departing Sat 9th returning Saturday 24^th or Sunday 25^th depending on plans - some are staying an extra day in Melia. China is less expensive under $1300 at Cheapo air, Kayak & Justfly. These flights leave daily & some offer layover so pay attention! 12:50 am – 3:15 pm ⁺¹ EVA Air 1 stop TPE 23h 25m LAX ‐ DPS 4:15 pm – 8:55 pm EVA Air 1 stop TPE 19h 40m DPS ‐ LAX 12:05 am – 2:40 pm ⁺¹ China Airlines 1 stop TPE 23h 35m LAX ‐ DPS 3:40 pm – 8:50 pm China Airlines 1 stop TPE 20h 10m DPS ‐ LAX Good Luck, John Payment of $500 nonrefundable deposit or $2700 full payment is required to hold a space on this Bali trip. After full payment is made you will have 15 days to change your mind without question then no refund unless we can find a suitable replacement. Absolutely, no refunds after April 10, 2023. We strongly encourage that you look into trip insurance (cancel for any reason) before making payment for this trip!		Make Reservation Land package: $2,700 Departing from LAX Trip Includes price of $2700 includes inter island airfare, private coach transportation, tour guides, hotel-Double occupancy, daily breakfast, a handful of scheduled group meals, entrance fees and most activities. Excluded from trip cost is international airfare, luggage handling, tips for guides, meals not included in itinerary, activities on free days and any individual purchases or upgrades you choose along the way Have a Question? Send an e-mail to the organizers. John Corcoran Main Coordinator Ron Domash Assistant Coordinator 62 Participants