Signature Indonesia - The Sacred Wild Isles

Welcome to Ubud, where our journey begins among terraced greenery, artisan workshops, and temple courtyards alive with daily rituals. Your complimentary arrival transfer brings you to Komaneka at Bisma, our Signature Stay, a refined boutique resort with views of a tropical forest valley and the estate's rice fields. Those arriving early may join a deeply immersive cultural encounter led by a local guide: a blessing with a traditional shaman, a consultation with an astrologer, and quiet meditation in a temple garden before a water ceremony at a secluded shrine (available to prebook on request).

As evening gathers, meet your Signature Guide for a welcome reception before travelling to a private royal residence for dinner hosted by the family patriarch, Anak Agung Gde. Over the course of the evening, he shares personal reflections on the royal lineage and Bali's courtly history. Dinner is accompanied by a solo Legong performance by Cokorda Istri Rukmini, one of Bali's most revered dancers, whose artistry has been presented on stages around the world.

Greet the day with an early morning private yoga session, if you'd like, or enjoy a more relaxed start. Signature Experience: Then travel to the traditional farming village of Subak Guliang, where we visit the local temple for a private blessing conducted by a female priest. To add even more depth to the experience, your Signature Guide shares context on the priest's lineage and the meaning woven through each ritual gesture. After, we enjoy an immersive dive into Balinese cuisine.

We first walk with farmers to their sawah (rice fields) to learn first-hand about seasonal planting or harvesting. Then head to a community kitchen to uncover the secrets of authentic Balinese cooking using traditional ingredients and preparation methods. A local historian joins over lunch for an insightful introduction to Bali's past. Return to the hotel to unwind before a plant-based dinner at Moksa accompanied by the resonant tones of Rindik, a traditional Balinese performance.

Signature Experience: Rise early for a remarkable morning on Mount Batur volcano with one of Bali's female mountaineers. We travel to our start point before first light, reaching a secluded viewpoint to witness dawn break: the caldera and lake emerging through shifting morning light. We visit a side of the caldera not usually accessible to tourists – this involves a 2km walk and a special vehicle to traverse this unique route. A simple picnic of local foods is served on the ridge.

Continue by 4×4 across the Black Lava and Black Sand fields, tracing the contours shaped by past eruptions. A relaxed family-style lunch overlooking the lake provides space to reflect on the morning. Those who prefer a later start may instead join a private Balinese offering-making class. Held in a dedicated workshop space within the hotel, the session is led by a local practitioner who guides you in creating canang sari using palm leaves, flowers, and other natural materials.

As you work, she explains the symbolism and cultural meaning behind each offering, offering a thoughtful, hands-on insight into daily Balinese ritual practice. By afternoon, travel to the east coast for check-in at Candi Beach Resort, with dinner arranged in a private area.

Today is your Signature Day, inviting you to connect deeply with Bali. You could: Hike with local mountaineers along a trail once used by village families to collect water, reaching an elevated rest point for coffee, tropical fruit and views shaped by the island's deepest gorge. Meet residents of Munti hamlets and learn about their craft traditions before a relaxed beachfront lunch.

Visit Besakih Temple, Bali's most revered complex, for insight into its layered history. After lunch overlooking rice terraces, take a private Balinese dance or gamelan workshop, gaining a deeper understanding of this symbolic art form. Snorkel from a traditional wooden boat, guided by a licensed instructor through clear eastern waters, including the Blue Lagoon. Learn the ancient art of Aksara Bali, carving letters into lontar leaves under the guidance of a script expert.

This evening, travel to Tenganan for a private rijsttafel dinner prepared by a local family.

Begin the day with a short visit to the Ocean Gardener coral project to learn how restoration work is carried out in partnership with local communities. After returning to the hotel to refresh, regroup for your flight to Labuan Bajo, gateway to the Flores archipelago. A private transfer brings you to Sudamala Resort Komodo, where time to settle allows the shift into a quieter coastal rhythm. After dusk, gather for dinner at a nearby restaurant featuring seafood and Flores specialities, with a briefing on the following day's journey through the national park.

Signature Experience: Set out in a modern private speedboat for Komodo National Park. Accompanied by a ranger and conservation expert from a local NGO, walk across the open terrain of Rinca island – the wildest place to spot Komodo dragons, observe their behaviour, and understand ongoing protection efforts. Return to the boat for a gentle cruise to Pink Beach, its blush-toned sand created by fragments of broken coral. Snorkel over reefs frequented by parrotfish, clownfish and, with luck, sea turtles. A private picnic of is arranged on a quiet stretch of shore. Weather permitting, continue to Taka Makassar for unhurried time in its luminous shallows before returning to the resort for a relaxed evening.

Signature Experience: Travel inland to Todo village, where the culture of the Indigenous Manggarai group is expressed through circular houses and the steady rhythm of daily life. Walking through the village, meet local residents, sample traditional cakes, and gain insight into lineage, craft traditions, and the meaning of the nearby spider-web rice fields.

Continue by wooden motorboat to the entrance of Rangko Cave. Inside, a clear tidal pool glows in reflected light, creating a quiet place to swim beneath dramatic limestone formations. Return to Labuan Bajo for an evening lecture by a local NGO expert, followed by a beachfront barbecue where the boat crew share stories of their maritime heritage.

Fly back to Bali this morning and transfer to Merusaka Nusa Dua, a contemporary beachfront retreat. After settling in, meet for an afternoon cycling excursion in Petang. Ride quiet village lanes, pausing at layered rice fields and encountering farmers and schoolchildren along the way. The route concludes at a Hindu temple, where a local family introduces you to a weaving craft passed down through generations. Return to the hotel to refresh before our farewell dinner. Set on a quiet stretch of beach near Seger Village, our traditional Balinese feast unfolds beside the sea, marking a thoughtful close to our journey.

After a final breakfast, pause to take in the shoreline once more. Those with later flights may wish to linger at the resort, savouring the gentler pace of the morning. Your complimentary transfer to the airport brings this chapter to a close, though memories of Indonesia's layers of craft, ceremony and coastal life will remain with you. If you wish to extend your stay, our Signature Collection specialists can arrange a continuation of your journey.