I’ve just returned from a 10-day visit to Bali, Indonesia which included a 7-day tour with G-Adventures on their Classic Bali itinerary. As my first vacation with G-Adventures, and my first visit to Bali, I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, I had an amazing time and met some new friends along the way. Here is my experience in Bali with G-Adventures.
Classic Bali in Indonesia, Asia – G Adventures
Arriving in Bali
Originally, we were a larger group travelling together but in the end there were just 3 of us. We decided to arrive a couple days in advance to rest and deal with any jet-lag. The bustling area of Kuta is where we began our journey.
I highly recommend usinng Jay-Ride for your airport transfer. Our driver was waiting for us and stayed in communication with me via Whats-App, ensuring we knew where to find him.
The Kuta Paradiso hotel is centrally located and only a 15-minute drive from the airport. They had a full buffet breakfast available for only $125,000 IDR (roughly $12 CAD). The pool was on 2 levels with a pool bar and small kids wading pool as well.
The beach is a short walk away and there are some markets and air-conditioned shopping malls close by as well. If you are traveling with kids, Waterbom is a fun waterslide park very close to the hotel. For shopping, the local markets are a great place to find souveniers but if you don’t enjoy bartering, you can get market pricing at Krisna, a 3-level store filled with everything you can imagine from clothes to art and other souveniers. There is also a pool and restaurant on the top level.
Be sure to check out Mr. Coffee at Coffee Paradise. He makes a perfect cup of java with great prices on beer and food too.
G-Adventures: Classic Bali
Our tour with G-Adventures started at the Swastica Bunglalows in Sanur. “Swastica” symbolizes good luck, peace and harmony in the Hindu culture. We had some time to enjoy the pool before our meet & greet group dinner. The diversity of our group was wonderful and included a wide age range of positive and friendly people. Our guide was Gede and he immediately helped us all feel comfortable and included. When visiting Bali, if you are not part of a tour group, Sanur is a wonderful “homebase” as it is quite central to many of the popular attractions. Sanur beach is gorgeous as well. Make sure to get up early and watch the stunning sunrise!
Our next stop was a traditional homestay with sweeping views in Munduk. Accomodations were comfortable and the food was excellent.
Our tour included many stops all over the island of Bali, so it was quite fast-paced. Packing light would be my suggestion as lugging my large suitcase around got to be a bit cumbersome. We visited many of the popular tourist locations such as the Jatiluwih Rice Fields, Ulan Danu Temple Complex, Mount Batur (opt for the sunrise hike for breathtaking views!) and the Monkey Forest. On our free time, we also checked out Real Bali Swings, a popular spot for Instagram photos.
Check out my inclusive guide to Bali – HERE
Ubud is a great place for exploring. The market here was my favourite to shop in as there were a lot of vendors and variety. Ubud Palace is a majestic venue to check out a Kecak performance, a Balinese Hindu dance & music act. Be sure to get there early for a good spot. Our hotel, Champlung Sari, was well situated near the action, yet had a serene feel to it inside the resort. Be careful though as sometimes the monkeys will visit you at your room, and you may need to call for an escort to help you out!
Our last stop was Candidasa. The perfect place to end our tour. It is a small, but beautiful spot to take in some spa and relax time. My mom and I opted for a 3-hour oceanfront package at the Aquatica Beach Resort (Just down the road from our hotel, Ashyana Candidasa). At a local bar across the street, we listened to live music as a group and danced the night away. There may have been a few shots of Arak (traditional Balinese spirit) taken as well. As we said good-bye to our new found friends, I was a little sad about the tour coming to an end but delighted to have experienced so much of this stunning island.
Post Tour: Jimbaran Bay
Following our inclusive tour of Bali with G-Adventures, we opted to stay a few more nights before heading home. The Jimbaran Bay Beach Resort was the perfect choice. If you want fresh seafood, this is the spot to have an amazing dinner on the beach. Not all restaurants are created equal however. You will spend a premium here as it is very popular with tourists, but heading a bit down the road will provide multiple options. Having tried a few of the restaurants, my favourite by far was Cafe Jukung. We were offered a 20% discount as we walked along the beach and decided to give it a try. Service was fast and friendly and the food tasted fresh and flavourful. I especially loved the clams. My friend and I shared one of the pre-fixe platters.
And that’s a wrap! I was excited to return home and see my daughter but will always cherish the memories of new and old friends as we traveled around Bali. I hope to see this mesmorizing island again one day.
