Bali & Sumatra Adventure - 18 Day Trip

We hope you’re bright eyed and bushy tailed because we’re up early for our first full day! We’re off to the vibrant wilderness of Bukit Lawang, a beautiful spot nestled in the heart of Sumatra. Prepare to be captivated by the untamed beauty of nature as you set foot in this breath-taking paradise. Once we’re there, we’ll chill and grab a bite to eat before we head into the infamous Bat Caves (and we’re not talking the Christian Bale kind of bat either). You can watch in awe as the bats flutter and dance above your head and reveal their night-time rituals, it’s tru-ly an incredible experience. Get ready to start your own night-time ritual because after a full day, we’re going back to the accommodation for dinner and starting our first local night out!

Hopefully you’re not feeling too rough this morning because it’s an early start! Once we’ve had breakfast and fuelled up for the day, we’re going out to spot the local wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for orangutans, monkeys, tropical birds and more as we venture deep into the rainforest. You’ll work up an appetite from all this walking, as your local guide has prepared a delicious lunch for you to chow down on. We’re then switching up walking for boats! We’re then rubber tubing down the river straight to the hotel doorstep - try and tell us that that isn’t cool?!

After eating breakfast we’re catching an afternoon flight to Padang City. It’s a coastal location facing the Indian Ocean and is surrounded by lush green hills -it’s simply stunning. There’s beautiful beaches and incredible views to soak in, so take advantage of some free time in the afternoon once we’ve arrived. This evening is a slightly slower pace as we appreciate the most beautiful sunset and get plenty of rest before a busy day tomorrow!

Rise and shine! We’re making our way to our very own TruExclusive today! Deep in the jungle lies the Mentawai village to spend time with the local people of Sumatra, whose warm hospitality and traditions are tru-ly incredible. This is one of those moments that you’ll cherish forever. We take a fast boat to Siberut and the heart of the village for an authentic rural experience. You’ll have a lunch prepared for the locals before exploring the surrounding farm, where our host family will welcome us with open arms and stay in huts. You can’t do this anywhere else, but you know by now that here at Tru, we don’t do things by halves. We’ll then take a trip to the market, a hub for local handicrafts, textiles, and souvenirs. We end the night with a wholesome night of playing games, chatting to the host family, and hearing their stories, sipping ice-cold beers, and falling asleep to the mesmerising sounds of the birds around us.

Find out more about this epic experience here!🌴🇮🇩

It’s a very early start so make the most of the rest of your morning here before jumping into a crazy jungle adventure! It promises to awaken your senses and ignite your sense of adventure. When the clock hits 06:30 AM, get ready to dive deep into Mentawai culture as you spend your day in a traditional house called a “Uma”. This isn’t your typical visit, you’ll make genuine connections, learn foraging and hunting skills, and get to know the village’s Shaman. In the heart of nature, we’ll get to learn the wisdom of the indigenous tribe, from crafting their traditional threads, to mastering survival skills, your time in the jungle will be educational and life changing.

Play Starships by Nicki Minaj because ‘let’s go the beach-beach, let’s go get a wave!’ Get packed up because it’s time to swap trees for sand. In the afternoon, we mosey down to Padang Harbour, and check out Nagari Sungai Pinang, the traditional fishing village that hugs the southern coast of Padang. We’ll spend our last few days in beach huts that are only a stone's throw away from crystal clear waters surrounded by nature -did someone say paradise?! Spend the morning however you want before we travel to our end destination. We arrive late evening, grab some dinner and listen to some live music. Sit back, sip a cocktail and soak up the magic of our last few days in Sumatra.

It’s time to say goodbye to the stunning island of Sumatra. We’ve had some amazing experiences so far and we can’t wait to continue our journey. Have a chilled check out and make the most of your final moments on this beautiful island before we head to the airport and make our way to Bali! The past 9 days were Suma'thing special but the next part of the trip will be even more epic - you better Bali-eve it!

What’s a better introduction to Bali’s culture and history than visiting two of its most famous temples? (Make sure you pack something to cover your shoulders) We’ll make our way to the Royal Temple of Taman Ayun! It translates as ‘beautiful garden’ and it’s easy to see why. It's filled with gorgeous architecture, ponds full of exotic fish and lush greenery. Then we’ll head over to Tanah Lot, which is set on a rock formation and is so fun to explore. After a day of culture, get your dancing shoes on because we’re going OUT OUT. We’ll watch the sunset on one of the most picturesque beaches, before a big night out in Canggu. You may thank us, but your liver definitely won’t (Pretty Poison is also a cool club to check out, it’s essentially a giant skatepark indoors with bars and a dancefloor.)

We hope you’ve recovered from last night's boozing because we’re gonna go catch some bitchin’ waves. Get your board and your swimsuits because it’s time for your very own surf lesson on Kuta Beach, one of the best places to surf in Asia. Here, one of the best local Kuta instructors will teach you the basics of surfing, starting with how to stand up because trust us, it’s bloody hard. After a day on the crystal-clear waters, we’re going to head back and chill. Relax at the rooftop pool, or the beach, or the bar -we know we’ll definitely be at the bar.

Make sure you’re up and packed because today we’re going to Ubud. Ubud is famous for its terraced rice paddies, temples, shrines, and yes, monkeys. We’ll stop off on the way to cool off in the most famous waterfall, Tegenungan waterfall, so make sure your cameras are charged and ready to snap some pics. If you can get a good picture of you emerging from the water flicking your hair, we’ll be impressed because we tried it and it’s not giving Little Mermaid at all. Once we’ve checked into the hotel, you’ll have time to do whatever you want whether you want to explore, chat to local people, or eat delicious food, before we go to one of Bali’s coolest live music destinations -it’s going to be a fun evening!

Fun fact: Half of the world’s population's daily diet is 20% rice! Get ready for one of the most famous and exciting things to do in Bali -wander through the stunning rice terraces of Tegalalang. Trek through the Ubud valleys, drink from a fresh coconut, and get the Insta worthy pic of you on a swing flying over the terraces that everyone recognises and will be jealous over! Whilst taking in the sites, you’ll also learn the importance of the grains of rice in the Balinese, and world, economy. After all of this, we’ll take you to Kintamani for some lunch overlooking the active volcano Mount Batur. The evening is all yours, spend it topping up your tan, picking up souvenirs at the vibrant, thriving markets, or drinking even more beer!

After a week of exploring and culture, we think it’s time we hit the beaches b*tchessss! We’re jumping on a bus before boarding on a ferry to the stunning Gili Trawangan (locally known as Gili T). We’ll check into our tropical accommodation in the heart of the island, where we’ll spend our final free days. Kick your feet back, paddle in the sparkling waters or sunbathe on the pristine, sandy beaches. There’s an incredible night life on this island, so get that bucket in hand and get ready to live it up!

It’s called ‘island hopping’, we call it sitting on a boat, feeling the sea breeze in your hair, and laying in the sun, aka bliss! We’ll hop around three islands, Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air, home to some of the most incredible snorkel spots. Get those snorkels on because you’ll see turtles (did someone saw aw?), stunning coral, and diverse marine life.

Today we’re exploring the whole island on Gili T’s only mode of transport, pushbike! Think Ariana Grande Side to Side because we’re going to cycle around this beautiful island and explore all of the nooks and crannies, before taking a small trek uphill to the best viewpoint Gili T has to offer. You’ll then get the chance to enjoy one final sunset with your TruFam and reminisce about your epic time in Bali. You’ll have a farewell dinner (no tears allowed!) before finishing off with a small party to celebrate the best 18 days of your life.

Well, the final day has arrived. We know, it’s sad, but on the bright side you’ve had a memorable experience and met some friends for life! You’ll have a chilled check out, but if you’ve caught the travel bug and don’t want this to be the end, your Travel Ninja is on hand to help you on to your next adventure. Guys, it’s been a wild one. Whatever you do next, go home, and tell all your friends what you did on tour, or jet set elsewhere, keep in touch!