The Magic of New Years Festival in Bali
Bali Hinduism is the predominant local religion and one that nurtures and encourages the arts.
Bali, the justly renowned diamond in the necklace of islands that makes up the world’s largest archipelago, is well-known for its inner and outer beauty. Bali Hinduism is the predominant local religion and one that nurtures and encourages the arts. Bali’s stunning geographical beauty includes majestic volcanoes surrounded by terraced rice fields that gently spill into an azure sea.
Thur. March 20: USA Departure The journey begins. Depart USA around midnight, groggy but excited. Cross international dateline and lose an entire calendar day, which is made up on your return and which, if you¹ve never experienced this phenomenon, is sort of cool.
Fri. March 21: Munduk BL Arrive at Bali¹s Denpasar airport mid-afternoon, and hop our friendly minibus to Munduk mountain village and check into our beautiful eco-friendly hotel, perched on rice fields. After a chance to wash up, we’ll enjoy the first of our family-style delicious group dinners together. Fall asleep to the sound of chirping frogs and gurglingwater ponds
Sat. March 22: Munduk BD Breakfast, then we take a short hike to one of Bali's most breathtaking waterfalls through cocoa, vanilla, and banana plantations. If you’re brave, you can climb underneath the Falls. Return to hotel for lunch and the a review of the first orientation session focusing on basic Indonesian manners & customs, including a demonstration of how to wrap your traditional sarong because that’s important. At 3PM watch the children’s dance class in Victoria Hall, and then at gather at the sunset bar foratalk with Made Surya about Bali-Hinduism, followed by the second family-style meal together.
Sun. March 23: Munduk BD Breakfast, then the first orientation session focusing on basic Indonesian manners & customs, including a demonstration of how to wrap your traditional sarong because that’s sort of important. Then we gather at the hotel herbal garden to discover medicinal plants growing there. We take a short hike to one of Bali's most breathtaking waterfalls through cocoa, vanilla, and banana plantations. If you’re brave, you can climb underneath the Falls. Return to hotel for lunch and down-time. At 5:30 gather at the sunset bar fora talk with Made Surya about Rites of Passage in Bali. Second family-style meal together.
Mon.March 24 : Breakfast, Then we’ll go on a trek through the neighboring countryside: small villages, rice fields, culminating at the magical Growing Stone. Back to the hotel for lunch and and our second orientation/language session focusing on Bali’s unique caste system, and during which Judy teaches everyone how to barter in Balinese, with appropriate amounts of drama. Down time. 5:30 Gather at the sunset bar for an overview of Bali’s history, followed by our group dinner,
Tues. March 25 Munduk BD Beakfast. Morningfinal language session and talk with Surya on the Balian, Balinese traditional healers.The morning is free for those who might want to take a more rigorous trek, take a traditional cooking, dance or offering making class. Happy Hour gathering at the sunset bar where Made Surya will explain purification ceremonies. Final dinner together in Munduk, followed by evening performance of traditional dance by the local village dance company.
Wed. March 26: Ubud B Melasti (purification with water) 9:00 Depart Munduk for Ubud, Bali's "cultural center," stopping at the spice market. Then we’ll wind our way through stunning landscapes and Bali’s fruit and vegetable basket. Our next stop will be the Ogoh Ogoh Museum in Mengwi, a collection of the best creations from previous years Nyepi. Arrive in Ubud and check into our hotel and prepare to travel to Sanur beach to watch hundreds of Balinese in their finest apparel and with their sacred objects march in procession to the sea where they pray for the new year and a trance ritual is held.
Return to Ubud and dinner on your own.
Thur. March 27: Ubud B After breakfast, proceed south, stopping first for a performance of the Barong dance at Batubulan village. Then we back-track slightly, to the home/studio of one of the few master carvers of sacred masks, to watch the process and hear about their role in Balinese society. Then to the home of a family of shadow puppet makers to observe the construction process. Onward to the nearby village of Pejeng, and a visit to a traditional batik factory. Amazing evening performance of Kecak (Ramayana) dance and fire trance dance. Dinner on your own, out and about in wonderful Ubud.
Fri. March 28:Ubud. B Macaru (purification with fire) Breakfast,then we travel to the village of Petulu by mini bus, where we are dropped off, and walk back to Ubud, traveling through small villages, terraced rice fields, community halls, and Hindu temples, observing and discovering everyday village life in Bali and learning further about social organization. Late afternoon gather at the soccer field for the raucus torch-lite parade of Ogoh Ogoh, giant demonic images created to chase the low spirits from the island and purify it for New Years Day.
Sat. March 29: Ubud B Hari Raya Nyepi. BL New Years Day. A day for meditation and contemplation. No one is allowed to work or cook or leave their compound (in your case, the spacious hotel grounds). Small meals will be served. It will be a wonderful day to submerse ourselves in Yoga, swim in the pool, read, listen to nature.
Sun. March 30: Travel Day to Candi Dasa B Final breakfast in Ubud and then transfer9: to our amazing beachfront bungalows at Candi (pronounced Chaan-dee) Dasa in east Bali. On the way, we stop at Goa Gadjah temple for a visit and then a& lunch at one of the local non-profits we support: Bhakti Senang Hati, an educational and recreational collective for physically challenged Balinese adults. Then onward to explore beautiful East Bali. Check in to our ocean-front hotel and free afternoon to enjoy your first swim in hotel¹s glorious infinity pool because obviously. Happy hour video before dinner at the hotel.
Mon. April1: Candi Dasa B Venture off by minibus to our waiting boats and enjoy a snorkelingexcursion in a nearby coral reef preserve with views of Bali¹s stunning and most sacred volcano Mount Agung. Back to Lotus Bungalows for lunch, Happy Hour seminar at the Sunset Bar and talk with Made Surya on Bali-Hindu concepts to Yoga. Evening ethnographic film about a very controversial Balinese healer.
Tues. April 2: Candi Dasa B After breakfast, 9:00, we take off to visit the Ujung Water Palace, created by the last Raja of Kerangesem district. Travel on to Tirtagangga, a stunning “water palace” built by the region's last Raja (king). Swim in the crystal clear, olympic-sized freshwater pool, followed by lunch in the gourmet restaurant overlooking the palace grounds. Return to hotel and afternoon down-time. 5PM Happy hour meeting with Surya, by the pool, before 6:30 returning to Vincent for jazz night dinner together. Bring umbrella and bathing suit/towel if you wish to swim in the pool.
Wed. April 3: Candi Dasa B Today we will drive to neighboring Tenganan, an aboriginal walled village with differing customs than most of Bali. We visit some homes of artists, calligraphers and weavers who reside there. Back to Candi Dasa for lunch and free afternoon before a 5 PM sunset talk with Made Surya on the challenges faced by Balinese to retain their culture in a time of mass-tourism. Final 5PM gathering open for questions and comments. Final dinner together at the hotel.
Thur. April 4: B Breakfast, then an easy-going morning,before we head for the airport or stay on, or travel further in Indonesia..
Please note: Our daily schedule might shift and change as other unexpected opportunities arise cremation festivities or other rites of passage, temple festival and purification ceremonies. You just never know what might be happening depending on the season, the village, or the people we meet. In case any activity must be canceled, another similar activity will be substituted. Sorry, no refunds on any activities you decide not to attend, and anyone who leaves the tour itinerary at any time for any reason is on their own.
Balinese worship their deities at ceremonial festivals, held every 210 days according to the Balinese lunar calendar system. Our time in Bali is organized to attend rituals connected with Nyepi, the Balinese New Years, and one of the most important festivals in the Bali Hindu calendar year where the entire island undergoes purification.
Purification ceremonies are an important part of Bali Hindu religious cycles. Usually held during times of stress or plague, these ceremonies many times involve sacred objects and masks, and most are held within the village temples. During the rituals, those who fall into trance communicate the wishes of the high and low spirits to their attentive observers. Our trip will includes attending an authentic trance ceremony.
Melasti Festival Day (Purification with water) On this day Balinese island-wide march in procession to the sea, purifying themselves and their sacred objects—sacred masks and giant puppets. We travel to a beach where an impressive number of villagers gather, to watch the procession of hundreds worshippers, culminating with the Priests and Priestesses in trance. Those who wish may join the Balinese at prayer.
Mecaru Festival Day: (Purification with fire). The daytime is spent in the family home, with preparation of non-perishable foods that will be consumed on the following day, when cooking is not permitted. As the afternoon wears on, young people congregate in the community halls to prepare for the torchlit processions with percussive Gamelan instruments and carrying giant demonic images, whose purpose is to frighten away pesky low spirits that might interrupt the tranquility of the island on the first day of the New Year (Nyepi). The dummies, called Ogoh Ogoh, are created by the Youth organizations and are quite impressive, as there is a competition to see which is the most creative. Home-made fireworks are also set off, hoping the noise will scare off demons.
Hari Raya Nyepi. A day for self-examination, meditation and contemplation. Everything must be still. Bali-Hindu’s cannot work, light a fire, cook, or leave their home. There will be limited food available at your comfortable, quiet accommodation, but you are free to use the grounds.
Our trip will bring you into three distinct regions of Bali. We will stay in small, locally owned hotels—away from the tourist scene—so you can fully immerse ourselves in this unique, evocative culture. Our excursions will include rice field hikes, treks in rain forests, snorkeling expeditions among tropical coral gardens, walks through coffee and clove plantations, and lush waterfalls. Each day, your tour guides will give you an insider’s view of Balinese dance, music, art and sacred ceremonies.
For the beginning of our trip, we will leave the energy of western culture behind and travel north to Munduk and the cool volcanic mountains of North Bali– stunning region of rice fields, coffee and cocoa plantations, where myriad tropical fruits, vegetables and spices are grown. You will experience first-hand the unspoiled agricultural and village life that Bali has to offer. This is where you will begin to learn about the Balinese people—their language, their culture, and their way of life.
During the middle portion of our trip, we will move to Ubud, the cultural center of Bali, where we will experience “urban” life and a faster pace. You will drink in many cultural riches and experience a variety of solo and group adventures. Ubud is also the place where you will be able to buy stunning artwork and other gifts to bring back home.
We will conclude our journey at the peaceful, pristinely beautiful Lotus Bungalows resort, perched right at the edge of the Indian Ocean. This small East Bali hotel is the perfect place to decompress, and prepare for your journey home. We will spend four nights in Candi Dasa, concluding our explorations of Bali, and our life together as a traveling community.
Itinerary March 20 - April 4, 2025
Included:
Airport transfers
A snorkeling excursion excluding mask and fins.
Attendance at 4 traditional dance & music performances
Tour of Tenganan aboriginal village, Puri Amalpura royal palace, Tirtagangga Water Palace, tour home/studio’s of artists and craftspeople, Ulun Danu temple, fruit and flower market, Ogoh Ogoh Museum.
3 Treks: neighbouring countryside, small villages, rice fields, coffee and clove plantations, & waterfall
Breakfast each day, lunch on Nyepi day, and four, family style dinners in Munduk.
Seminars on rites of passage, bargaining, history and politics, trance and sacred masks, local customs and culture, language, Hindu religion & caste system, rites of passage, etc.
Field trip to the massive purification and trance ritual at Sanur Beach.
Services of Judy Slattum & Madé Surya, professional Bali specialists.
Informational booklet.
4 nights at Candi Dasa Beach.
4 nights in Ubud, Bali’s cultural center.
4 Nights in Munduk Mountain Village.
RT Air, meals except where noted in itinerary (expect $6.-$12. per meal), laundry, overweight baggage fees, additional sightseeing, and snorkellng equipment rental. “Optional “ activities such as another snorkelingexcursion are not covered
Trip Cost and Fees: $3150.00. The price is based on two people sharing a twin or double-bedded room with private bath (all hotels have western amenities). Two have swimming pools. Full breakfast, excursions listed in the itinerary, classes, services of Judy and Surya (Bali guides/experts), along with several orientation and language sessions. The price includes hotel transfers, land arrangements, but an unexpected devaluation of the US dollar may influence the final price. t Minimum 8, maximum 16 participants.
Deposit: A deposit of $500.00 per person is required at the time of booking. Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure. Minimum 6 and maximum 16 participants.
Cancellations and Refunds: For the flight portion, cancellation will be governed by the rules and regulations as listed in the flight contract by the participating airline. For the land portion, a cancellation fee of $300.00 will be collected up to 60 days prior to departure, after which half the ground portion of the final payment will be refunded. No refunds will be made from one month before departure. Trip cancellation and medical evacuation insurance is highly recommended.
Accommodations: All accommodations are based on two persons sharing a double or twin bedded room with private, western-style bath. Single supplement available for $426.00
Roommates: Single people may sign up for accommodations desired on a share basis and will be assigned a roommate as circumstances permit. If a roommate is unavailable, the participant will be notified of the adjusted price for a SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $426.00
Passports, Visa & Health: A passport, valid six months from date of entry with proof of onward transportation. Indonesian visa for 30 days granted on arrival to US citizens. No inoculations are suggested or required.
NOT Included:
Trip Organizers/Leaders:
Judy Slattum MFA and Made Surya B.S. are professional tour organizers who have been leading study tours in Bali since 1985. Made has translated and worked with scholars and educational film and video crews, including National Geographic, and lives in Bali half the year. He was senior research assistant for several scholarly books relating to the Balinese view of the After Death. He is on the advisory board for Sacred Sites International, and has been a contributor to Hinduism Today. He has lectured frequently at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco and performs traditional mask dance in both Bali and the US
Judy Slattum has been organizing and leading study tours to Bali continuously after first visiting the island on sabbatical to study mask dance in 1978. Six months later she returned with the first of many unique travel/learning experiences. Judy has published many articles on Balinese culture and her book, Masks of Bali; Spirits of an Ancient Drama was released by Chronicle Books in 1992, was featured in Time Magazine and sold over 17,000 copies, and was reprinted by Periplus Editions in Sept. 2003. Her museum exhibition on Balinese Masks toured the USA as part of the Festival of Indonesia for 5 years and has now relocated to Bali.