Shore Excursion: Best of Bali Tour

Oka from Bali Sun Tours was our driver for the day and he was waiting for us when our cruise ship docked. We discussed what we wanted to see he took us to a wonderful wood carving place and a Batik shop where we got to see the cloth being made. We also went to a temple where we had to wear sarongs. While we were not too excited about the coffee operation he suggested we visit, we finally agreed. It was actually quite interesting and not like any coffee plantation we had ever seen or been to. We sampled many, many different types of tea and coffee and actually bought some for holiday gifts. As we are both seniors, my brother and I really just wanted to spend a couple of hours seeing some of the sights and not the entire day being out and about. Oka was very attentive and drove very well as we traversed the highways. It was interesting seeing the Balinese culture and also discussing many of the facts about the country and culture. Oka's command of English was excellent! All in all, the excursion was excellent and certainly offered more flexibility than the ship tours at a considerable cost savings!

Great tour guide, comfortable airconditioned vehicle, all round great experience

When we had got ashore, we were met at the dockside by our friendly guide. After a brief discussion on what it was possible to see in one day, we decided to follow the guides pre-planned itinery. We first went to the easy-to-remember Pura Desa Adat Cila Murti Batuan temple, which was very grand and impressive, with attractive gardens. The only down side was having to wear a matching sarong with my wife. Next we went to the waterfall at Tegenungan, which again was very impressive, although hard work if you wanted to walk down to get a closer look, and then back up the steep hill. On then to the rice terraces at Tegalalang, where the workers were out in the fields, and some even posing for photographs. The scenery was beautiful, and nearby were numerous shops and cafes. We then drove through Ubud, where you could see mile upon mile of shops selling stone and wooden carvings. We turned down the offer of visiting a wood carvers, and instead carried on to a coffee plantation. Here we had an explanation of how coffee beans are farmed, and then tried samples of various coffees, teas and cocoas. We then went to a Gold and silver Jewellery factory, with an explanation of how it is made. We were then ahead of schedule for our return to the cruise ship, so we then spent an hour or so at the beach resort of Sanur. Here was a long golden sandy beach, with numerous bars and markets stalls along the promenade. Our driver was excellent throughout, giving explanations and offering advice, as well as stopping for us to take photos., or get a drink. The whole trip was an excellent insight into the culture and Bali way of life, as well as seeing some of the islands natural beauty.