Tours
Take the opportunity to explore beautiful Bali during your stay with us. We can help you arrange external tours with any of the following elements :
|
Alternatively, Gaia can help you organize a driver from our nearest village cooperative for your own day trip. Drivers from the Tejakula Transport Cooperative speak English and are familiar with the major sights in Bali. You can discuss your preferred itinerary with them beforehand and plot a route together. The following are examples of day trips you could take from Gaia.
Bedugul (sample itinerary)
We begin the day with a visit to Ponjok Batu, a major Sea Temple established by the great priest, Dang Hyang Nirartha. We drive on to Candikuning’s colourful and bustling fruit-flower-spice market. Enjoy the buzz as customers bargain with shopkeepers, or join in, and stock up on some fresh cinnamon, saffron and juicy mangoes.
Continue to misty Bedugul, site of the famous Ulun Danu water temple, built on Lake Bratan in the 17th century. After lunch, we visit the Buyan and Tamblingan lakes. If you keep quiet enough, you will spot monkeys, many varieties of local birds, squirrels and other small creatures along the way. We go past Munduk Village with its magnificent views and cool waterfalls, and end at the Hot Springs in Banjar, where we can soak our tired muscles alongside friendly locals.
Volcano Sunrise (external tour)
Take in the breathtaking sight of the morning sun breaking through the clouds from the top of Mount Batur, Bali’s only live volcano. After the hike, relax by taking in the scenery of the lake and greenery below. Cook your own hardboiled eggs in the hot soil around the volcano rim and sip coffee from your thermos flask as the valley below becomes awashed with golden sunlight.
On your way down, you can take a shorter or longer route depending on your interest and stamina. Finally, top up with a hearty breakfast in a restaurant with spectacular views of the mountain.
Dolphin watching
Leave at 6am to enjoy breathtaking views of the sunrise, as we search for wild dolphins in the ocean at Gaia. Unlike more aggressive tours which ‘chase’ dolphins using noisy powerboats, our dolphin-friendly tours are run by local fishermen who take you in traditional fishing vessels to view the dolphins as they search for food. Hold your breath at a spectacular ‘dancing’ display or watch individual dolphins as they frolic in the ocean. Or merely relax on your boat, as you commune with sun, sea and sky.
*Please note: sightings not guaranteed.
Besakih Mother Temple (sample itinerary)
This temple tour brings us to the sacred Besakih, widely considered to be Bali’s “Mother Temple”. Comprising a complex of 22 temples, Besakih is perched approximately 1000 meters above sea level on the volcanic slopes of Gunung Agung. It is believed to have been built in the 10th century and currently serves as the heart of Hinduism in Bali.
After lunch we proceed to Tirtagangga, a beautiful water palace built in the mid 20th century by the late Raja of Karangasem. Influenced by Balinese and Chinese architecture, the three tier water gardens spread out over 4 acres of grounds interspersed with ponds and sculptures of extraordinary beauty.
Whitewater Rafting! (external tour)
Ready to experience rapids against a backdrop of ancient rainforests? You may also find yourself wending through waterfalls and picturesque countryside dotted with temples and paddy terraces.
Whether you’re a beginner, an occasional rafter or a professional, join us on some of the best river runs in Bali.
Your experienced and professionally trained guides put safety first and you will not only have a breathtaking experience, but one that is comfortable and safe.
Most tours depart first thing in the morning and end with a lunch. You can expect to be back in Gaia by mid afternoon in time to share your adventures with other travelers over tea time.