Bali has a reputation as one of the most spectacular island paradises in the world. But there’s more to Bali than water sports and fun-in-the-sun and people are quickly discovering that this wonderful destination has a little something for everyone, including mountain biking enthusiasts!
Excellent combination of biking on small trails through rice fields, downhill and visiting sites. Excellent local food. Our guide Athan has an extremely good knowledge of plants, nature, sites and explained very good. Everything was perfect!
Very nice, good information from the Tour Guide - very nice hotels and good food.
DestinationsIndonesia
Tour MeetsSanur
Fly in toNgurah Rai International Airport (DPS)
Group Size2-16 riders
SpiceRoads jerseyWater bottleSupport vehicleGuide(s)Meals (as indicated)Airport pick upAirport drop offAccommodationSnacks and drinks
International flightsVisa feesAlcoholTips
Starting from the beach resort of Sanur, we will explore the famous Batur Crater. We will also visit the island's two highest volcanoes and various canyons, taking in breath-taking coastal views from the rims of craters and cycle on small trails through forests, coconut groves, and rice paddy fields that Bali is famous for. During what can only be described as an epic trip, you can also unwind at the swimming pools of Balinese hotels.
Suitability: This trip is recommended for riders who enjoy and have some off-road experience, but you don’t have to be an expert to get the best out of this trip. This tour is mainly on jeep trails and single track. While the off-road riding is not that technical, some experience is highly recommended. The support vehicle cannot always follow but will meet the group at certain points along the trail.
Biking Conditions: Although this tour only covers around 170 km in 4 full cycling days and one half day, it is still quite challenging. Because flat land in Bail is almost non-existent, the experience is almost entirely off-road on a series of challenging surfaces, including forest trails, red mud hard-pack, volcanic sand, lava cobbles, gravel, and broken tarmac roads. There are sections of single-track in every ride, but no long rocky or rooty sections or big drops. As far as gradients are concerned, all the trails except one have an overall down-hill element to them (in other words they finish at a lower altitude than the start). A few steep ascents and descents are also part of the program, but these are normally short and sharp.
A SpiceRoads team member will pick you up from the Denpasar airport (Ngurah Rai International Airport) and transfer to our hotel on the east coast village of Sanur (around 1 hour). Once there, you can relax by the pool, or, if you’re very anxious (and we’re sure you will be), you can start assembling your bike and get into the mountain-biking mindset. We meet up for a trip briefing and then head to a nearby restaurant for dinner.
Sri Phala Hotel
DinnerWe head up to Penulisan on the rim of the Batur crater for the start of our first ride. The first part of the trail is on a broken tarmac road with spectacular views of the Batur Volcanic cone and, on a clear day, Mt. Abang and Mt. Agung in the distacnce. We turn onto jeep tracks and easy single track to the village of Pinggan, where we have a well-earned lunch. A short, sharp descent takes us to the base of the volcanic cone, and we spend the afternoon riding around the base of the volcano on narrow sandy trails. With the last part of the trail crossing a lava field, there is ample opportunity to get a close up of the volcano and the strange moon-like landscape that it creates.
Pramana Zahill KintamaniBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 35km
+233m
-1249mThis day is your chance to see what few have seen! First, we ride from Abang to the east coast starting at the edge of the Batur Crater. From there, you head downhill on jeep tracks for 8 km before turning east and climbing steadily through 10 km of pine forests to the top of a mountain pass between Mt. Abang and Mt. Agung. At this point, lunch is served. Please be aware that this part of the island is extremely remote, and vehicle support will not be available for long stretches of the ride. The exhilarating descent to the east coast finds us cruising by dry river beds and through cashew nut plantations.
Uyah AmedBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 35km+580m-1212mThe start of the ride manages to steer a reasonably flat route around the side of Mt. Agung via a network of single track paths which weave their way through shady coconut and bamboo groves. We continue through stone cutting and carving villages and rock quarries until we reach the ruins of a water palace at Jungutan. With incredible views over the rice paddies and a beautiful white beach (so bring along your swimming suit), we enjoy our packed lunch. The afternoon ride runs down through some of the finest rice paddy scenery in Bali ending on the stunning coastline near Perasi Beach where a cool refreshing drink awaits.
Rama Shinta CandidasaBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 35km+480m-1820mToday’s ride starts high up on the slopes of Mt. Agung and descends along a tarmac ridge with, on a clear day, spectacular views along the south coast. We then enter a large Salak fruit growing area where we weave our way through plantations and stone carving villages until we reach Muncan. We have lunch and then transfer to Ubud. The late afternoon is free to stroll around this artistic town. Dinner is on your own as there are many fine restaurants to choose from in Ubud.
Anumana HotelBreakfast, Lunch
Ride 35km+438m-886mIn the morning, we explore the rice paddies and off-road trails around Ubud. We stop for a local lunch and return to Ubud in time for an optional rafting trip or to relax by the pool. Rafting is an extra charge but can be arranged through your guide, just let the guide know the day before. We meet up for dinner in town.
Anumana HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 30km+265m-1048mWe transfer to Kuta for extra nights or to the airport to catch your departing flight.
BreakfastDisclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.
Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section. The bikes are well-known makes of mountain bikes with lightweight alloy frames, 24- to 27-speed gearing, disc/v-brakes, and Shimano components and front suspension. If you bring your own bike, please make sure it is a mountain bike, preferably with front suspension, in good mechanical order.
Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.
Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.
You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.
Visa-on-Arrival can be procured upon arrival in Indonesia but if you would like to save time then you can apply for and receive your visa by doing it online ahead of your departure. Here is the official website to do so. We suggest doing this as you will save time on arrival.
Here and here are useful links that summarizes the information on visas to Indonesia.
Recommended vaccinations include typhoid, polio, tetanus and Hepatitis A. A certificate for Yellow Fever is required if arriving from an infected area within the prior six days. The more remote areas may be considered malarial areas. Please check with your doctor prior to departure for the most recent information.
Indonesia is a vast archipelago affected by a series of weather patterns, and depending on which island you are on, the weather can be hot and wet or hot and dry. Indonesia's monsoonal climate usually means short heavy downpours rather than all-day, never-ending rain.
Located 8 degrees south of the equator, Bali is home to a tropical climate with constant temperatures during the day ranging from 28 C to 30 C at sea level, although the humidity varies throughout the year. It is highest during the rainy season which is from December to March and gradually reduces to its lowest level from May to September, when a beautiful dry cooling breeze blows across from Australia.
Lombok also has a tropical climate similar to Bali's, with the only variation being the rainy season starting earlier, and is from October to April.
Sulawesi has a warm tropical climate with wet and dry seasons lasting approximately six months each. The dry season is from April to October and the wet season is from November to May. Sulawesi enjoys year-round temperatures averaging at least 30 C.
Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Most meals are local Indonesian dishes and feature noodles, rice, curries, and soups. Any special dietary requirements can also be catered for as well. Please let us know at the time of booking.
Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Cold water, some energy-restoring local fruit and soft drinks are included in the tour price. We are riding in a Muslim country and though beer is available, it might not be served in some restaurants. If you choose to purchase some beer please note it is NOT included in the price.
SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for traveling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveler of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.
We recommend that you tuck away a few extra dollars, perhaps US$10, for incidentals. It is customary to tip local tour guides and drivers, however, the amount you give should be dependent on the level of service you receive. As a general guide we suggest US$3-4 per person per day is appropriate.
The official currency in Indonesia is the rupiah (Rp). Foreign currencies are not generally accepted. ATMs are widely available in cities and towns and touristy places have lots of moneychangers as well as banks. Banks usually have better exchange rates, though moneychangers may offer the best rates for cash. Credit cards can be used for larger purchases, in international hotels.
If this is the tour for you here's what you need to do to confirm your place:
Just complete our online booking form or send your booking details offline (email or post), and we will confirm your participation. No deposit is needed to confirm your place on a SpiceRoads tour.
You are advised to read our Booking Conditions in full before you make your payment and should you require further clarifications of any of the conditions below, please email us or call our office.
There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please email us or call our office.
From the tour page, click the 'Book Now' link. All departures for this tour will appear, just select the date you'd like to travel. For the next steps, you'll need to know the names of the people travelling. If you wish you can also provide extra details such as passport numbers, height (for bike hire), or you can add that later by logging into Manage My Trip (we'll set up an account for you automatically if you don't already have one). Our system will contact you from time to time to fill in the missing information, as it will be required before departure. However, if the trip that you are booking offers a child discount, you will have to fill out the date of birth of each rider (so we can calculate the appropriate discount).
If you are having any problems please send us an email, or give us a call (+66 026 3295) and one of our travel specialists will assist you with your booking.
Just call us or send an email indicating which trip you want to join and we will happily send you a list of questions and process your booking for you.
We do not require a deposit or full payment to book a place for you on a tour.
The balance of the tour’s cost (final invoice) will need to be paid 60 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights.
In the case where a booking is made when there are less than 60 days until the tour departure date, the tour’s cost should be paid in full within 72 hours of receiving an invoice from SpiceRoads. Payment can be made by credit card using our online payment gateway or by bank transfer. When making payment online you will need to confirm that you have read these booking conditions during the "checkout" process, which equates to agreeing to the terms of services and stipulations as indicated in this document.
In all cases, tour fees need to be paid “in full” before participation in a tour. No person(s) will be allowed to join a tour without fully settling their invoice and receiving a confirmation number from SpiceRoads.
The exception can be made for last-minute miscellaneous fees that can be paid locally (visas, additional local hotel bookings, etc.) can be settled on the day of arrival.
If the tour is cancelled or postponed by SpiceRoads because we didn't make the trip numbers and the tour can’t run, we will make a full cash refund (by bank transfer or on your credit card).
If the tour is cancelled for any other reason, including due to Covid related travel restrictions, we will give you a full credit (with no deductions for admin or any other small-print item) to use on any SpiceRoads tour with no time limit. (Exceptions being flights, special permits and other non-refundable items and these will be advised when booking the trip).
Before paying for your tour, you can cancel your booking with no charge and up until 40 days before departure, you can change your booking to another travel date or move your booking onto another SpiceRoads tour with no charges.
If you need to cancel after you have made full payment, please see our cancellation policy.
The information in this document is given in good faith, and covers the average range of conditions likely to be found on this trip. Please note that the itinerary is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, however, we will always do our best to adhere to this original itinerary
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Good biking terrain, interesting sites, and the guide worked hard to manage the cycling to meet our wishes (more cycling than actually scheduled).