I could not have gone on a better tour! There was a perfect balance of activities and relaxation and I felt like I got to truly experience the culture of Indonesia. A lot of the activities took us off the beaten path away from other tourists like hiking mount Bromo and surfing on Red Island where we had a private lesson and the whole break to ourselves! I thought most of the hotels we stayed at were fabulous! We moved around quite a bit but none of them disappointed (except maybe the one at Gili T that wasn’t the cleanest and didn’t have WiFi). From our names spelled out in flower petals on our beds to incredible rooftop views, I don’t know how the other accommodations could have been better. The travel portion of the trip was quite a bit, but I thought it was completely worth it considering how much of Indonesia we saw. I do think it would be worthwhile to say in the itinerary that there are a few long bus rides (7 hours) and trains so that people get motion sickness and car sickness can plan accordingly. I think the food on this trip was really yummy, and even if you aren’t into trying the local foods or had Bali Belly there were always plenty of options. I loved our group dinner at Clear in Ubud and the food at Gili T was awesome too! Last but not least, I want to talk about my tour guide. She was incredible!! By the second day she already felt like an old friend who I could tell anything to, and I saw each and every day the little things she went out of her way to do, to make us feel comfortable and to suite all of our individual needs. She was knowledgeable, kind and it was so evident how much she cares about this tour company and taking care of our beautiful planet. I already had a great appreciation for nature and trying my best to reduce my waste, but seeing the trash on some of the beaches and participating in beach clean ups with the locals strongly reinforced what I already knew and made me want to do even better. This trip truly was a once in a lifetime adventure and I am so grateful for the amazing people I met along the way. It was an all girls trip and I really feel like I gained 8 more sisters by the end of it. I will definitely be back for another tour!
June
My trip to Indonesia was an unforgettable experience! I was super nervous before going on it as it was my first time out of the country but our tour guide kate made sure everything ran smoothly and was always more than happy to fix any problem you came to her with. She felt like a sister away from home. It was great to explore more of Indonesia than just Bali and experience activities that are often not done by tourists when they visit. Our tour guide was as excited about every activity that we did as we were, which made me feel comfortable trying new things. At every meal we were given suggestions of the best things to get on the menu. The food was good for the most part considering the areas we were in. Each hotel experience was incredible with friendly staff. Transportation at times was long but worth it for each of the locations we went to. I could not have asked for a better group of travelers or a better tour guide to lead us on this trip through Indonesia. I have made friends and memories with people all over the world. Kate did an excellent job to making sure everyone had the best time possible which is what truly made this trip unforgettable. Through this tour I have learned a great deal about the culture of Indonesia and have fostered a greater appreciation for responsible tourism and the importance of caring for the environment. It was evident that this is an issue that kate cares about deeply and it showed throughout the tour as we met with locals. I am ending this tour with nothing but good memories.
Emma
Best 12 days ever. I have never been on a better tour with better people, and Kate could not have been more incredible. I’m so grateful that our tour guide felt more like a friend but was also there for you for anything. I really enjoyed trying new/traditional Indonesian food, but it was also nice to go to restaurants that felt more like home at times. The food everywhere was honestly better than I had anticipated coming into this trip. Although there were long days of travel, every destination was absolutely worth it (especially Java). My favorite part of the tour was that it was more off the beaten path and wasn’t a classic Bali beach resort tour. I thoroughly enjoyed every activity and appreciated that we didn’t feel forced to participate if we didn’t want to. Every day and every activity impressed me further than the day before. My only suggestion is that the hotel in Gili T was a little tough, but every other accommodation blew me away. I’m so appreciative for this tour and Kate and I could not have asked for a better two weeks. Thank you so much!
James