Bali And Beyond With Contiki

Indonesia’s most famous island, Bali is a twinkling diamond of volcanoes, rice paddies and beaches surrounded by azure waters that lay home to similarly striking atolls. By island hopping from one to another, you come to realise that while Bali has been the star for decades, it’s only the beginning.

Bali

Bali is a bit of a dream, but when you wake up, it’s just as you imagined – if not better. With unspoilt and remote areas as well as resort towns and tourist traps, it has something for everyone. Due to an abundance of nature and calming atmosphere, Bali’s become the place to escape on a yoga or meditation retreat, while the lively coast is a haven for surfers. There are also numerous religious sites that have silently sat for hundreds of years, including Uluwatu Temple, which resides on a cliffside. Surrounded by coral reefs in warm tropical water (and the odd shipwreck), Bali also attracts an array of marine life, making it one of the top snorkelling and diving locations in the world.

Gili Trawangan

Arguably the most beautiful of all the Gili Islands, Gili Trawangan is a paradise. The largest of the three, you can expect powdery white sand and clear blue water as far as the eye can see. You can walk around the edge of the island in around two hours by foot (a no-motor-vehicles rule means that this is the most popular mode of transport), including passing through the popular beaches of Goodheart and North Beach. Along these beaches you can find many shacks renting out snorkel equipment so you can take to the waters and explore the coral reefs – of which there are over 25 surrounding the Gili Islands. There are plenty of other distractions including horse riding, kayaking, fishing, golf or simply bathing beneath the beating sun.

Lombok

This laidback and mountainous island is much like Bali some 20 or 30 years ago, and despite an increase in popularity, has undergone little development. Famous for its surf breaks and picturesque beaches, it’s the interior of Lombok that really entices. Hiking trails through lush forest, cascading waterfalls and tobacco and rice fields are overshadowed by the mighty Gunung Rinjani, the second highest volcano in Indonesia, which boasts hot springs and a crater lake at its summit. The closest Lombok has to a resort town is Senggigi, and even this is nothing like the happy hours and bikini competitions of Bali’s livelier towns, with seafood restaurants, karaoke bars and very new hotels.

Due to their individual offerings and experiences, Bali, Gili Trawangan and Lombok are the three destinations chosen for the Contiki Bali Island Hopper. Contiki’s only tour of Bali, the Bali Island Hopper is eight days of exploration, relaxation and discovery from just $900pp. The easy pace goes hand-in-hand with the ambience of the three islands; to keep stress levels at a minimum, you’ll stay in four-star hotels, enjoy private beaches, sip cocktails by the pool and dine on Indonesian cuisine. You’ll also receive all local transport and have the company and knowledge of a Contiki Trip Manager. And, as with other Contiki trips, you can add on Me Time activities such as a diving day course and surf lesson, to make your Bali Island Hopper the holiday you want.

Bali Island Hopper is one of many Contiki Holidays Asia trips from 9-25 days. If you’ve only got a few weeks to travel or if you’re looking to experience Asia and make new friends along the way, definitely consider organised group travel as an option. It’s great to share your experiences with like-minded people, and even better if they’re with you for the ride. Give Contiki a call on 1300-266-845, head to Contiki.com or visit your local travel agent.

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Terms & Conditions
Bali Island Hopper competition closes 31st January 2016 11.59GMT. The prize is valid for two passengers only. Winner will be chosen at random by 10th February 2016 and contacted via email. If we do not receive a response within 72 hours of the email being sent the prize will be re-drawn and a new winner selected so please enter with an email that you have access to 24/7 and please check your junk folder. The trip must be booked before 30th April 2016. Failure to book before this time will result in forfeiture of the prize. Prize is subject to availability and Contiki reserves the right to substitute for another product of equal or greater value if the trip is booked out. The prize is not transferrable or redeemable in cash. All additional costs associated with the trip are the responsibility of the winner including but not limited to travel to and from the trip start and end points, pre or post trip accommodation and travel insurance. The winner must hold a valid passport, be eligible for travel to Indonesia and hold a valid visa for the entire trip. Winner must be over the age of 18. If the winner is over the age of 35, Contiki reserve the right to replace the prize of the Bali Island Hopper with another prize of equal or greater value. By entering this competition you agree to receive promotional content including newsletters from What Media Pty Ltd, What Media Ltd and their affiliate partners by email. If you wish to stop receiving our emails or change your subscription options please follow the prompts on the email correspondence. Entry to the competition is conditional on acceptance of these terms.