Batur Bali Land Tour
This exciting Bali tour will introduce you to the Balinese culture, rituals, dance and other traditional arts. We will leave at 08:30am from our hotel in Padangbai and our first stop will be the village of Batubulan, known thanks to the stone carving handicrafts. An interesting fact is that the grey volcanic stone called “paras” that is used for statues and artworks is very soft and light, giving the final products ancient look even though they are not old at all.
Here we will also attend a traditional Barong dance performance. The dance is based on a character that is a combination of dragon, lion, tiger and cow, covered with a fur, small sparkly mirror glass, and the traditional carvings made from animal skin. This Bali dance is usually performed during religious ceremonies and the Barong itself presents the lord of the forest protecting Balinese villages. We will explain to you the basic principles of the Balinese faith – the constant battle between the good and the evil.
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Afterwards, we will continue to Mas, a small village where the beautiful craft of woodcarving flourishes. Next stop on our way will be the rich gardens of Seribatu village with tropical trees and plants such as jackfruit, chocolate, durian, chocolate, cloves, vanilla or coffee. We will tickle your senses with a small coffee and tea tasting. You will also meet the famous civet, a cute animal that produces popular Bali civet coffee. After the busy morning, we will continue to the Batur area.
Refreshed and rested we will slowly start heading back to our diving resort in Padangbai with the last stop in the beautiful temple of Gunung Kawi – Sebatu. This temple hidden between the lush vegetation is one of the oldest in Bali and certainly unique thanks to ancient reliefs carved into the rock cliff. Balinese Hindus come here mostly during the full moon and festive days to take a purification bath that will clean their souls from sins.
Mount Batur is one of the most active volcanos in Bali, proudly standing in the altitude of 1.717 meters. It is not the biggest one in Indonesia, but definitely an interesting natural wonder. Adjoining the volcano is the large crescent-shaped lake Batur, all surrounded by the high walls of the crater rim. We will have the chance to marvel at the view of this mountain and of the lake while enjoying the lunch.
- Balinese people are still divided in the caste system. Most of them fall into the lowest one called Shudra, then there are priests, merchants, military and royalty.
- It is not unusual that dancers during the Barong performance fall into trance and try to stab themselves.
- Balinese woodcarvers create their artworks while sitting down on the floor and holding the wood between their feet which is different from the way wood is carved in Europe.
- The world’s most expensive coffee comes from Bali.
- There is a “volcanic” kitchen in Batur, meaning that if you put eggs into the ground in the summit of the volcano it will be cooked within 10 minutes.
- Batur lake is the biggest one in Bali and it is forbidden to swim in it because it is perceived as holy.
- Village Trunyan located across the edge of the lake Batur is only accessible by boat and known for ancient Hindu tradition of openly placing dead people on the ground instead of burying them.
- Gunung Kawi temple was visited by Barrack Obama during his holiday in 2017.
- Small stone caves in Gunung Kawi used to be occupied by meditating monks.
- Women during their periods are not permitted to enter any Hindu temple.
