Highlights of Bali and Java

'Om suastiastu' and welcome to beautiful Bali, a place that makes you think of paradise after only hearing the name. If you're a beach loving, culture seeking traveller, you've got the right place! After arriving today, you'll transfer to your hotel in Ubud, a haven for yoga enthusiasts, artists and foodies, surrounded by lush green rice fields and magical waterfalls. Get settled into your hotel, then meet up with your Travel Director and fellow travellers this evening to learn the lay of the land, before getting to know each other a little better over your first dinner of your Bali and Java value tour.

Be sure to fuel up at breakfast this morning because today will be packed with adventure. Kick things off with a visit to Mas Village and a traditional wood carving workshop, before heading off to explore the emerald rice terraces of Tegallalang, one of the most iconic spots in Bali. Continuing on, we'll visit a coffee plantation to learn how to make that delicious morning beverage, enjoying tastings along the way, of course! Next up, we'll stop for lunch with quite the impressive view. Tuck into a traditional Balinese meal and gaze out at the beautiful scenes of a sacred volcano mountain rising in the distance. The Bali highlights just keep on coming and next we'll head back to Ubud to visit 'Puri Saren Agung', or Ubud Palace, the former residence of the royal family of Ubud. Next we'll take a trip to Ubud Market where you can shop for local art and handicrafts, to top off an incredible first day.

Today is yours to get out there and explore Ubud your way. You could choose to visit the famous monkey forest, where over 700 long-tailed grey macaques run free amongst the temple ruins. Or you could head out on one of our optional experiences to get to the true heart of Ubud. In the morning, perhaps join our cooking class to learn how to whip up traditional Balinese food, then in the afternoon, get in touch with your inner yogi with a spiritual yoga session, where all experience levels are welcome.

Today will be full of action packed sightseeing as we make the journey towards the blissful beaches of Sanur. The first stop of the day will be the tranquil 17th century Ulun Danu, a temple dedicated to the Goddess of the Waters, built on the small islands of Lake Bratan. Next up, we'll head to Mengwi and the temple of Taman Ayun, built in 1634. The temple is famed for its wide moat and a series of courtyards where you'll find a number of Meru (multi tiered shrines). We're not templed out yet, with our last stop of the day to Tanah Lot, Bali's most photographed temple. You'll quickly see why this 16th century temple attracts all the snaps, as it's perched on top of a wind whipped rock and becomes beautifully silhouetted by the blazing setting sun. After taking it all in, the beaches of Sanur will be calling and we'll make our way to our new seaside home for the next three nights.

There are few things better than waking up with the ocean on your doorstep and having the morning entirely free to do as much, or as little, as you like! Maybe you'd like to soak up some rays and take a dip in the sea, or perhaps opt to join our optional tour where we take you touring around Denpasar, Bali's capital city, in a vintage VW Open Roof vehicle. After a morning of fun, we'll head to Uluwatu this afternoon. It's a beautiful stretch of coastline and we'll stop by the Pura Uluwatu temple, set high above the ocean, before enjoying a dinner right on Jimbaran beach. As you tuck into fresh seafood, you'll be treated to a traditional Balinese Kecak dance performance, with the sounds of the ocean just steps away. Perfection.

Today you'll have the whole day free in Sanur to explore how you like, or you could choose to tailor your way with plenty of optional experiences. Perhaps you'd like to get your sea legs with our optional full day catamaran and snorkelling cruise to the nearby island of Nusa Lembongan, or maybe you'd like to dive into local life with our Balinese Daily Life experience. You'll get to visit a market, trek through lush green rice fields and visit an ancient fertility temple, and it all offers a special insight into Bali's beautiful culture. If you're after some down time this afternoon, head to Sanur's gorgeous beaches to claim your own little patch of golden sand. This evening, as a way of saying goodbye to your fellow travellers not continuing on to Java with us tomorrow, why not head out to an optional farewell dinner at the gorgeous Tandjung Sari Hotel.

Another day, another Indonesian island! On touchdown after our short flight from Bali, you'll soon appreciate that no two islands are the same. As the most populated island on earth and with more than half of Indonesia's people, the next part of our adventure in Java provides quite the change of scene. We'll make a quick stop to drop off our bags, then get our bearings just like the locals do on a Becak tour (Javanese rickshaw), where you'll be left in awe, wondering how your driver can navigate the buzzing streets so effortlessly. Arriving at dinner fresh from this thrilling ride, you're in for a treat with tables laden with local specialities before the main event, a stunning dance performance. Telling the story through movement, you'll learn about the great Javanese mythological love story, the 'Ramayana'. A tale of good versus evil, you'll be nothing less than enchanted by the beautiful dancing, ornate costumes and unique musical instruments.

You'll soon fall in love with Java's charms. What a day it will be, with all the essential sightseeing on the cards for today, focused around the city's beautiful temples. Photography lovers will be eager to get started at our first stop, the famous icon of Java, Borobudur temple. Renowned as the largest Buddhist sanctuary in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you'll be thrilled to tick this one off your bucket list. The best part? You can even climb to the top, with incredible views over Java as your reward for reaching the summit. We'll keep our culture fix going with some more temple complexes, starting with the Mendut, home to a great statue of the Buddha, before our final stop at the solitary Pawon Temple, with its ornate roof standing on a simple square base. We'll take a break over lunch, no doubt comparing photos with your fellow travellers from yet another incredible morning before finishing our day with our last stop, Prambanan temple. Here, you'll get an insight into Hinduism with a bas-relief depicting the famous Ramayana story and you'll also get a glimpse of a different style of architecture. With winding paths and gorgeous grounds, you'll instantly understand why it's recognised as one of the world's most beautiful Hindu shrines. At the end of the day, we'll head back to the hotel where you can relax, go for a swim, or kick back with a cocktail after a busy yet unforgettable day.

Adventure awaits today and it's the last full day of your Bali and Java tour package, so be sure to make the most of it! Up for grabs is a full day Batik and Wayang Kulit Experience, perfect for those looking to uncover the local crafts with some of Java's talented artisans. Batik, a form of painting, is incredibly intricate and you'll observe it up close, before trying it out for yourself under the guidance of a talented expert. You'll even get to take home your creation as a special reminder of the day. Up next is an insight into the craft known as Wayang Kulit or Leather Puppetry. You'll soon learn how this is so much more than the description and regarded as one of the highest artforms in Javanese culture. You'll love seeing the artisans at work in their studio, while learning about the philosophy behind their creations. Next up is a tasty lunch where you can swap stories and photos about the morning with your fellow travellers, then back in the city, you can choose to spend your afternoon exploring your way. The last night of our trip deserves a celebration of everything we've seen and done, and we can't think of a better way to toast it than through taste. You could go in search of your favourite Indonesian foods or join your travel companions on an optional Javanese Culinary Adventure where you'll get your last fix of a variety of tasty local dishes.

It's hard to believe that the last 10 days are already over. Saying 'Rahajeng memargi' (goodbye) this morning, you'll no doubt smile at everything you've seen and done, from exploring rice fields and beaches to discovering beautiful temples and you'll be coming away with special memories and new travel friends. Transferring to the airport for your onward flight, we'll look forward to welcoming you back on your next Costsaver trip somewhere wonderful soon.