Welcome! I’m so very glad you landed on this page and are considering this special trip. In general, every trip we lead is focused on two main experiences: the best sightseeing in the country and connecting with women. (And in this unique case, we’re including the romantic partners of our women! xoxo)
Our love of sightseeing means an itinerary that is as full of local culture as we can fit into an intimate, fun, and experiential trip. We want to see everything that is well known in that country, when we can, and we also want to make sure there are some small and special experiences that leave us touched and connected with that country in surprising ways! We want to see the “must-sees,” but it’s also crucial to us to get off the beaten track and really connect with locals and their lives. To support that, we want all of our travel to live up to the highest standards of sustainability and ethical travel, so we place special emphasis on meeting the locals, supporting their causes, and making sure we frequent their businesses/hotels/restaurants to ensure our money is reinvested back into those who live wherever we visit. Plus, we've got our eye on adding the "little things" that really make a trip feel special: making your own perfume scent at a perfumeria, visiting a local spa, arranging for beautiful walks and hikes, attending rooftop concerts, sampling artisan chocolate, etc.
And when it comes to connecting with women, we’re expanding this trip to not only be about friendship, but also about love! This particular trip is super special as we’re opening it up to be for couples—which means it’s a trip for women and the people they love. So while we want to connect with, and support, women in every country we visit, in this case, we’ll expand our focus to loosely look at gender roles, romance, marriage, and love! I will be accompanied by my husband Greg Nelson (see more below) and together we’ll also facilitate occasional experiences that invite us to intentionally self-reflect, build friendships with the other couples, and deepen our own romantic relationships.
So if you love travel and want an incredibly special curated trip with a group of amazing women and their lovers you're invited to join us! xoxo
While there are over 17,000 islands in Indonesia, none is more famous than Bali! Of course it is known for its stunning beaches, but it’s for the rich culture that visitors flock here—to experience the warmth of the people, the nourishing food, the deep religious traditions, the creativity and arts, and the stunning beauty. Powerful conversations, memorable experiences, and transformational insights and healing can come from the ceremonies, temples, and spectacular nature, including breathtaking mountainous areas with lush greenery, gorgeous waterfalls, scenic rice fields, splendid flower gardens, sacred rivers, and misty lakes. And we want to see and experience it all!
We start our 10-day trip with 5 days in Ubud, the cultural capital of Bali, before we take a 4-hour road trip (with fun stops!) across the island over to Pemuteran for a couple of days filled with iconic beaches and snorkeling at one of the best reefs in the country, then we end at a beachfront hotel in the seaside town of Sanur.
Health Note: The participants who will enjoy this trip the most will be those who feel comfortable with moderate activity (i.e. being able to walk a couple of miles) and who are prepared to be in heat (average 80 degrees, but could be hotter).
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:
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Stays in 3 different cities to minimize moving and maximize experiencing different places: Ubud, the cultural and arts hub of the island; Pemuteran, the fishing village with world-class dive sites; and Sanur, a seaside town with a long beach and great shopping!
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Enjoy 2 scenic drives with frequent stops that will show us around much of the island, giving us the opportunity to experience the beauty of the mainland.
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Go on a private tour of the renowned ARMA Art Museum with the founder Agung Rai.
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Walk through the lush jungle and terraced rice paddies to learn about native healing plants.
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Attend an exclusive Royal Palace tour and dinner at the Peliatan Palace.
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Enjoy performances of traditional Balinese Legong dance and music.
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Join in meaningful and fun ceremonies and rituals for our love at various temples (including an optional fire ceremony)!
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Try your hand at traditional wax drawing and dyeing, dance, and cooking at a variety of workshops designed to help us experience local culture and play together as couples (including a very fun couples cooking class!).
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Enjoy a couples' massage at a beautiful spa in the jungle.
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Experiment with a laughing yoga and meditation session led by Kadek Suambara, one of the youngest people in Balinese history to be selected as a high priest.
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2 days of snorkeling and/or enjoying beaches in Pemuteran with world-class reefs—including a boat day to Manjangan Island which is home to one of the world’s most biodiverse array of coral reefs and marine life in the world!
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Plus, lots of dinners on beaches, visits with special people doing awesome things, and plenty of downtime to restore your soul(s).
We are a proud partner of Altruvistas, the socially responsible and philanthropic travel company that is organizing all our details. We are thrilled to have Malia and her team overseeing our trips to ensure that our itinerary is as authentic of an experience as possible while making sure that our money is spent in an eco and socially-conscious way. Malia and her team will work with you one-on-one to make sure you are all ready for our amazing adventures.
If you have questions about this trip, please email malia@altruvistas.com