Here’s what you can expect to be doing during your free time at our program and during weekends:

Our reef restoration activities run from Monday to Thursday and so there are long weekends to explore and discover the beautiful locations around Bali.

The mornings before breakfast are the best time to go snorkelling to take advantage of the flat and calm water. We have plenty of snorkelling equipment available but also feel free to bring your own for the comfort of using familiar equipment.

The first activities session starts at 09:00 and is usually involves constructing or deploying artificial reef structures. We usually finish by 11:00 in time for lunch. After lunch we take a siesta to avoid the hottest part of the day and start again at 14:00 to continue the progress we started in the morning. The afternoon session finishes around 16:00 and from here you’ll able to spend your free time as you wish. Dinner is served at 19:00.

What activities are available nearby during the week?

Snorkelling at the reef just 30 meters away from your door. Snorkelling equipment is available at the accommodation to explore the natural and artificial reef. It’s a great way to see for yourself how successful the structures have been and a good source of inspiration for the designs of the reef structures you will make.

Snorkelling or diving in Tulamben at the famous USAT Liberty Wreck. This WWII shipwreck has been situated at a perfect depth just off the coast of Tulamben where it has been acting as a giant artificial reef for the past 50+ years. The wreck is easily accessible for both snorkelers and divers.

Learning to dive or advancing your dive skills by progressing through the PADI certifications. We have PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors on staff at our project who are more than happy to teach PADI courses during the week. Learning to dive in both Tianyar and Tulamben will let you experience what both sites have to offer.

Early morning sunrise boat trip with the fishermen. Every morning before the sun rises fishermen go out of their boats to earn their catch. You can join them on the trip and witness a breathtaking sunrise to start their day. While out at sea it is also common to see dolphins or a whale if you are lucky.

Hiking Mt Batur. An early morning hike to the top of Mt Batur means you can witness the breathtaking sunrise with an unparalleled view of the Balinese countryside.

Take part in a Balinese Hindu ceremony. Local people are very religious and spiritual, often making ceremonies for various life events or special occasions. Dressing in the traditional ceremonial attire and praying alongside the local people is a deeply emotional, enriching experience unlike anything else in the world.

Visit the local market. The Tianyar market is rich with the scents and tastes of Balinese cooking with vendors selling their herbs and spices. You can taste the fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables and try some delicious foods completely new to you.

What activities are available on weekends?

Gili Islands is a tropical paradise where you can snorkel with turtles or travel around in horse drawn carriages. This island group is close to Lombok Island, and it is made up of Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Memo. The main tourist activity is on Trawangan, but if you prefer to experience a more peaceful existence, they can stay on Gili Air.

Bali has amazing marine life, fascinating shipwrecks, and stunning coral. This island is one of the top dive destinations in the world, but it is not necessary to go deep underwater in order to see some amazing things. Some good locations for snorkeling are: Padang Bai, (Blue Lagoon Beach), Tulamben (most popular dive sites in Bali because the wreck of the US Liberty), Menjangan Island (Bali Barat National Park), Lovina (northern coast of Bali), Amed and the Gill islands near Lombok.

Rice is considered to be the most important crop for the Balinese and traditionally it has been viewed as a gift from the gods that needs to be honored as such. It is a key ingredient of the local cuisine. The value of this crop to the local population is demonstrated by the fact that the villages surrounding the rice fields will have shrines devoted to it.

For the more adventurous type, hiking volcanoes Mt.Batur or Mt Agung is a great way to push the boundaries. Some people believe that holidays are purely for relaxing are sure to surprise themselves with just how enjoyable and rewarding the experince. There are hiking options to suit hikers of almost any ability so it’s a must when staying in Bali.

Some of the best waterfalls in Bali are to be found in the north of Bali and like the Git Git Waterfall, Les Waterfalls, and Sekupul Waterfalls. There are also beatiful waterfalls in central and southern Bali which will be easier for people staying in some of the most popular tourist areas to reach.

Bali is known as the island of ten thousand temples and these holy places offer some of the best examples of local Balinese architecture. The must see temples include Besakih, Tanah Lot, Uluwatu and Tirta Gangga water palace. The Mother Temple of Besakih, or Pura Besakih, in the village of Besakih on the slopes of Mount Agung (1,000m above sea level) in eastern Bali, Indonesia, is the most important, the largest and holiest temple of Hindu religion in Bali and one of a number of Balinese temples.