BALI & KOMODO EXPLORER

Arriving in Ubud, you will be met and transferred to your hotel beautifully set amidst the island’s lush rice fields and verdant hillsides.

Considered the spiritual heart of Bali, Ubud is an absorbing place and you’ll have ample time to explore its lakes and hills, sacred Hindu temples and traditional villages, art galleries and bustling side streets.

You’ll delve deeper into Bali’s scenic countryside on both driving and cycling tours, interacting with the local farmers and climbing up into the hills where fantastic panoramas await. Highlights include visits to the 11th century temples of Gunung Kawi, the sacred water temple of Tirta Empul and the volcanic region of Kintamani – home of the majestic Mount Batur. Inside the caldera of this once giant volcano is now a calm, clear lake.

Stay: Four nights in a Hill View Villa at the Samaya Ubud – including breakfast

This morning, you will be transferred to the airport for your domestic flight to Labuan Bajo. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed and escorted to the harbour for the 45 minute speedboat ride to your idyllic island resort.

At your feet, you’ll find white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters and a vibrant underwater life brimming with a technicolor array of coral, angelfish, eagle rays and sea urchins. Snorkelling gear, kayaks and paddleboards are available, but you can always laze away with a book on the resort’s private beach.

Rising early on day seven, you will board a boat to Padar Island (a journey of around 1.5 hours). Enjoy a short trek to a scenic viewpoint, before rejoining the boat and sailing on to Komodo Island – one of the best places in the world to see the world’s largest lizards in their natural habitat. A local ranger will lead you through the mangroves and forests, spotting dragons (alongside wild boar, deer, birds and buffalo) and soaking up the natural scenery. You’ll have time to visit Pink Beach (which gets its name and colour from crushed red coral) and Manta Point, where you can swim and snorkel (if you’re lucky) surrounded by manta rays.

Stay: Three nights in a Beach Bungalow at Sudamala Seraya Resort – including breakfast

Sail in a private boat back to the mainland, before hopping on a flight back to Bali and transferring the short distance to your hotel situated on the long white sands of upmarket Jimbaran Bay.

From the Balinese guest cottages to the muslin-swathed beds, marbled bathrooms and tropical gardens, Belmond Jimbaran Puri has all the necessary ingredients for a relaxing break at the end of your Indonesian adventure. Its impressive lake-sized pool created using Javanese stone is hard to match, and from here you can step right onto the beach. You can also take a short stroll along the shore to find bustling fish markets and local beachside restaurants.

Stay: Five nights in a Garden View Cottage Suite at Belmond Jimbaran Puri – including breakfast

This afternoon you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the airport to begin your return journey home.