Kintamani - Monkey Forest Tour
Your first stop is at Mas, which is renowned for its intricate wood carvings.
Next visit the village of Celuk, a centre for Balinese silver and goldsmiths where both traditional and modern methods of crafting ornaments and jewellery can be observed. Then continue to Tohpati, where the batik fabrics for which Bali is famous are painstakingly created by hand using traditional techniques. Visit Gunung Kawi, a fascinating Hindu temple complex north-east of Ubud which comprises of ten rock-cut shrines (candi) carved into the cliff face.
The surrounding countryside is extremely lush and the footpath leading down to the temple passes through some beautifully terraced rice fields. Then proceed to the village of Kintamani, the best spot, weather permitting, for views of Mount Batur, an active volcano which sits alongside Lake Batur. Scanning the horizon from left to right, you will observe that Kintamani sits on the caldera rim of a huge volcano, and Mount Batur, directly in front of you, is merely a ‘small’ mountain that has been created by thousands of years of volcanic activity.
Enjoy a buffet lunch served in a local restaurant overlooking the volcano while you ponder on the mighty forces of Mother Nature that created this vista. On the return journey, stop at Goa Gajah in Bedulu near Ubud. Often referred to as the Elephant Cave, it was established in the 9th century as a sanctuary for Buddhist monks. The facade of the cave is noted for its interesting carvings and ornate relief.
The last stop today is Ubud Monkey Forest, a lush nature reserve and temple complex on the outskirts of Ubud. The forest is home to more than one hundred species of trees, a number of interesting temples and hundreds of crab-eating macaque monkeys (*). Spend a while observing their characteristics and mannerisms before heading back to your island accommodation.