Bali Vacation Tour for Solo-Travelers

In the morning, fishers walk into the waters of Geger Beach carrying a traditional rod while wearing the iconic conical hat to shade them from the sun. The white sand beach glistens beneath the spreading sunlight as the waves lap against the shoreline with whitewater before returning to the calmer indigo hues. At breakfast, will you find the seductive aromas of exotic fruits, from rambutan to custard apple. Your guide will meet you at your hotel eager to show you the gorgeous countryside that has influenced the culture over more than half a millennium.

You will pass by villages where frangipani flowers bloom across the walls and rooftops to bring a fragrance that carries hints of sweetness and spice. Continue until you reach the remarkable temple of Tanah Lot, which is famous for its position atop a monolith that rises out of the sea. At high tide, the temple is unreachable while at low tide, you can find locals and visitors alike walking along the wavy sand to reach the stairway that circumvents the rock. The temple was erected in the 16th century, and the traditional thatched-roof shines over the emerald-colored trees that adorn the monolith’s northern shore. The seaside aroma fills the air, accompanied by the drifting spice of burning incense that emanates from the temple grounds.

In the morning, the exotic aromas of Bali’s fresh fruit will fill the open-air dining room. Coconut and pineapple take center stage with a luscious mixture of sweet and creamy fragrance. Hibiscus flowers grow in the trees that frame your luxurious hotel, and you can hear the waves splashing against the coastline. After breakfast, you will venture to the beach to enjoy the waves under the guidance of a private surf instructor, eager to introduce you to the movements of the sea.

With eyes on the water but your surfboard on the sand, you will learn how to properly “pop-up” on the board. Your guide will explain the importance of balance as you jump to your feet and land with the soles of your feet at the same time. After you find a comfortable pace, you will enter the water. The gentle waves will lap at the sand and wrap around your toes as the Indian Ocean will feel warm and comfortable on your skin. Your instructor will guide your movements at first, helping to lead the board along the gentler waves.

The moment you catch a wave on your own, elation will flood your entire body. After you wash away the lingering sand and saltwater, you will venture next to the Balinese temple of Uluwatu, one of the nine directional temples in Bali. You can see the tiered shrine rising above the craggy cliff that overlooks Uluwatu Beach. The precipice rises nearly 230 feet above sea level, accentuating the dedication of those who built the structure, believing in the power of the temple as a spiritual pillar in the 11th century.

In the morning, you will delight in the spectacular colors of the dragon fruit and the enrapturing allure of the blossoming bougainvillea. The aroma of poinsettias overtakes the seductive scent of the roasted coffee beans that fill the outdoor dining room at the hotel. Your private transfer will meet you at your hotel ready to escort you north to Bali’s cultural capital. The city of Ubud stands an average of 820 feet above sea level, surrounding by emerald rice fields and dense tropical rainforest. En route to Ubud, you will stop at Tegenungan Waterfall where the rain of the highlands feeds into the river, eventually spilling over into the waiting pool beneath the cascade. Lush greenery frames the heavy flowing water and you can hear the cascade thundering before the trees open to reveal the staggering beauty of the cliffs.

Emerald moss clings to the rocks beneath the trees and colorful striations decorate the rock face. The mist drifts upwards from the splashing water and cools the tropical air. Once in Ubud, you will follow the trails into Monkey Forest, home to more than 700 monkeys that live in the more than 30 acres of forest. Long-tailed macaques skitter along the footpaths and lounge on the antique stone statues. Troops dangle in the trees and call out to one another with playful tones in the cool evening air. Beneath the forest canopy, you will discover the 14th-century temple of Dalem Agung. The sacred shrine fills with the aroma of spice that emanates from the burning incense as images of Shiva adorn the structure, personifying the deity’s spirit.

In the morning, the artist market on the edges of the city opens with an array of swirling colors and marvelous representations of local life. Painters capture the jade hues of the rice terraces as sculptors embody the importance of heritage in woodwork depicting spirits and traditional warriors. After breakfast, you will step out into the countryside to discover local life at a primary school before reaching the grounds of a coffee planation. You will follow a meandering path down the hillside where coffee plants grow in the rich soil as the red berries dangle from the bushes.

The plantation is popular across the world for its unparalleled coffee and unusual harvesting technique. Civet cats cultivate the berries at peak ripeness, feeding on the plants and discarding the beans. You will find workers harvesting the grains, washing them, and roasting the beans to produce the texture and color of which you are familiar. Roasting the beans also releases the natural oils coffee lovers enjoy. You will help to ground the beans inside a bamboo hut that is filled with the aroma of roasted coffee. You will sit at the edge of the tasting room overlooking the verdant hillside and enjoy a sampling of coffees produced on the plantation, including a cup of the world’s most expensive coffee. Farmers sow the rice fields in the distance, and the smooth flavor of the coffee adds another unique memory to your time in Bali.

In the morning, the sunlight will spread across the countryside outside of Ubud and showcase the emerald sheen of the enchanting rice terraces. The picturesque hills are blanketed with growing rice paddies that surpass the beauty of the iconic image you may have had in mind before reaching the island’s shores. After breakfast, you have a private transfer to Padang Bai, and you will pass white oleanders and fragrant magnolias on your way. In the trees, you can spot the delicate petals of orchids as you enjoy the dissipating moisture. You will reach the seaside huts and quiet waters of Padang Bai, and then step out onto a boat bound for Gili Meno.

The smooth sea shimmers turquoise and sapphire as the jade canopy of Bali fades to the west, and the quiet white-sand shores of Gili Meno grow in the west. Coral reefs cast silhouettes in the clear water as villages, huts, and villas hide beneath the rainforest canopy. Colorful fishing boats moor against the shoreline alongside quiet cafes that overlook the water. The beauty of the secluded ambiance creates a perfect escape encircled by powdery sand beaches with a saltwater lake that hides amongst the trees.

The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy the serene atmosphere on the island. The bird park hosts more than 300 birds endemic to the islands that roam free amongst the canopy and underbrush. Macaws snack on nuts and berries while hornbills peck at the wide branches. You can relax in the comforts of your luxury hotel as you listen to water lap at the shore, accompanied by the casual acoustics of a local band serenading the night.

Wake the next morning and indulge in the aromas of coconut and star fruit at breakfast. The familiar scent of coffee fades beneath the relaxing fragrance of the sea. After your meal, you will set out into the water for a day of discovery around the fascinating coral reefs that grow around the island. You will begin your day at the Turtle Sanctuary as an assortment of tubs and small pools overlook the shore. Filters cause the water to bubble in the pools where baby green and loggerhead turtles rest.

Your guide will explain how the sanctuary helps the hatchlings and nurtures the baby turtles until they are eight months old and released. The hatchery has aided the turtle population around the islands immensely. You will then don your snorkel and fins and head to the reef system along the east coast. Before you even see the vibrant colors of the coral, you can spot a loggerhead turtle grazing on sea grass. The loggerhead can grow up to 110 inches long and weigh an average of 300 pounds with a shell of large plates that remind you of body armor.

You will reach the reef to find more than 100 types of hard and soft coral rising out of the seafloor. The hard coral branches out like cactus above various plates of hiding mollusks. The loggerhead turtle glides away, using its fins like wings to propel itself forward. Sea fans billow in the current, and you can see a moray eel peeking its head out from a small niche, grasping at passing fish. An anemone flitters against the moving water and a stunning manta ray floats past.

Wake the next morning and wander down to the seaside hammocks that dangle between the trees. The aroma of coconut fills the air, blending sweetly with briny fragrance of the saltwater. Quiet cafes on the shoreline fill their open dining rooms with the scent of freshly roasted coffee beans. You will bask in the morning light that glints off of the sapphire colors of the water. After breakfast, you will board your ferry bound for Lombok Island. The scenic journey will take you to Senggigi where your private transfer will be there to meet you. The shores of Lombok bring you back into the beauty of the islands and the faster pace of city life as you will reach Lombok International Airport with plenty of time to check in for your flight. You could always extend your time in Southeast Asia, continuing onward to Thailand and Cambodia to blend the tropical atmosphere with more regional history.