Cycling tour of Bali – 07N/08Days

Om Swastiastu. Welcome to Ubud, the art and cultural center of Bali. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting in the evening at the hotel. Afterward, perhaps head out to Gianyar night market. It’s an informal setup, but a great way to get a taste of the local culture and cuisine. Overnight.

Our first ride takes you to the Ubud Royal Palace (Puri Saren Agung) then cycles an undulating 10 km along quiet roads through Ubud’s rice paddies and an insight into local life, including a rest stop at the surreal Tegallalang Rice terraces.

Continue through Bali’s verdant countryside before experiencing our first taste of traditional Balinese cuisine at a local family-run warung (Indonesian cafe) From here we cycle on a further 10kms to the thousand-year-old Tirta Empul temple. Dedicated to Vishnu, the Hindu God of water, this one of the largest water temples in Indonesia.

As a holy site, only local Balinese can bathe in the waters but you are free to explore the temple grounds, including the peaceful Jeroan section or the calm waters of the Koi Pool. After visiting Tirta Empul we slowly make our way back to Ubud, (approx. 16 km, mostly downhill) taking quiet roads back past lush rice fields. This evening why not enjoy all that laid-back Ubud has to offer, from a traditional Balinese Kecak dance to sampling local delicacies at the Night Market. Ride distance: approx. 38 km / 24 miles on mostly undulating roads, with an elevation gain of approx. 580m / 1900ft. Overnight.

Start the day early, driving (approx. 1hr) from Ubud to Penelokan in the shadows of Bali’s mighty volcano, Mount Batur. Cycle around the undulating caldera of the mountain past black lava fields still evident from the 1968 eruption (with around 2km of cycling on a lava road) before returning to the quiet asphalt road then stopping for lunch.

From here you can see glorious Mt Batur, as well as the shimmering Lake Batur at its base. In the afternoon, you can laze at the hotel or take the option of hopping into a boat for a quick visit to a most unique local village, Trunyan.

What sets this village apart from others is its fascinating way of dealing with the deceased; instead of the conventional Hindu tradition of cremation, bodies are put under the ‘Kayu Menyan’ tree which is said to absorb the odor. Be warned though, this can be a challenging experience. Ride distance: approx. 44 km / 27 miles on mostly undulating roads, with an elevation gain of approx. 1040m / 3410 ft. Overnight.

Cycle from Kintamani to Bedugul today (approximately 55 km). There’s the option of climbing Mt Batur beforehand. Those that choose this optional activity will get up in the very early morning (3 am) for the climb, which reaches 1717 meters above sea level. It’s quite chilly at this early hour – usually somewhere between 8°C and 12°C, so dressing in layers is essential to deal with the sharp temperature rise later on. A 15-minute drive leads to the starting point, and the climb itself takes around two hours, with an additional 30 minutes to get to the summit if you choose (refreshments are available at the top).

The sunrise rears its head at around 6:15 am, after which many cheeky monkeys show up in search of food. You can also visit the nearby cave, where the Balinese come to worship twice a year. From here you can see the steam of the crater rise.

For those not doing the optional climb, you can sleep in a little before the ride to Bedugul begins. Today’s ride starts flat before a slight uphill but it’s worth it! From here you enjoy over 30kms of mostly downhill, cycling past orange and coffee plantations all the way to our lunch stop.

After lunch, it’s an uphill ride to Bedugul, a sleepy village at the edge of the crater lake of Bratan (Lake of Holy Mountain). An area of great natural beauty, at 700m above sea level it makes for a refreshing change from Bali’s constant humidity. Ride distance: approx. 44 km / 27 miles, with a mixture of uphill and downhill roads, with an elevation gain of approx. 550m / 1820ft. Overnight.

Cycle from Bedugul to beachside Lovina today (approximately 52km). The roads are mostly downhill and have some beautiful views to enjoy. Along the way visit one of the main temples in Bali, Ulun Danu Baratan.

Appearing to ‘float’ on the lake, the 500-year-old temple is dedicated to Dewi Danu, the water goddess, and ceremonies are held here in the name of water supply to Central Balinese farmers. Spend around an hour checking out the temple, then ride on the traditional market– a good place to pick up mangosteen to snack on (or a durian, for those who can handle the aroma!).

Continue cycling through this beautiful countryside, stopping to admire the other two crater lakes of Buyan and Tamblingan before stopping at the most scenic waterfall in Bali – Munduk waterfall. Set among lush forest it is a wonderful place to cool off before cycling onwards through cloves plantations all the way down to the unique black volcanic sand shores of the Bali Sea and laidback Lovina. Ride distance: approx. 42 km / 26 miles, with a mixture of uphill and downhill roads, with an elevation gain of approx. 450m / 1475ft. Overnight.

Avoid the long uphill from the coast to the center of the island by starting with a short drive (approx. 1hr) to Pupuan Village. From here jump on your bike and ride (approx. 17 km) the undulating roads to the beautiful Belimbing Rice Terrace, possibly the most photogenic rice terrace in Bali.

Coast downhill (approx. 10kms) before joining a busy road to the small village of Melling (approx. 11kms) before continuing south a further 18kms to Tanah Lot, and a visit to the legendary Tanah Lot Temple (which translates literally ‘island on the sea’).

It’s a popular but beautiful spot to see the sunset. Your accommodation tonight is a short drive from Tanah Lot and a short walk to nearby Canggu and Batu Bolong surf beaches. Ride distance: approx. 45 km / 28 miles, with a mixture of uphill and downhill roads, with an elevation gain of approx. 400m / 1310ft. Overnight.

Leaving the coast and avoiding the congested and dangerous roads that lead to nearby Denpasar we drive north and up (approx. 1hr) to Luhur Batukaru temple, the start of your ride today and the last ride we do in beautiful Bali. Once again cycling through the beautiful landscape of rice terraces, palm trees, and lush green forest we make our way to the small village of Jatiluwih, home of the UNESCO-listed Jatiluwih Rice Terrace, for a short rest stop before continuing downhill for lunch and our final stop for the day, Marga village.

From here we bid farewell to our bikes and support crew and drive the final leg to sleepy Sanur (approx. 1.5hrs) The afternoon is at your leisure in Sanur. Stroll along the beach, take a dip in the calm waters, or grab a well-earned drink in one of the small local bars.

Ride distance: approx. 30 km / 19 miles, mostly downhill roads, with an elevation gain of approx. 330m / 1090ft. Overnight.

The trip comes to an end today, with no further activities planned. Sanur is a convenient place from which to embark on further travel. Perhaps head east and get off the beaten track on our Bali & Lombok: Hiking, Biking & Rafting trips. Overnight.