Luxury Bali, Lombok and Java Explorer

Bumbu Bali has been a culinary institution since Heinz von Holzen first opened its doors in 1997. After studying the local cuisine for 15 years, while working as a chef in top resorts, Heinz pioneered Bumbu Bali as a cooking school.

Your day starts with a visit to the local market to source the freshest ingredients. Here you’ll find an abundance of vegetables and spices. You’ll then proceed to the famous fish market of Kedonganan, at the northern end of Jimbaran bay. The catch comes in at dawn every morning and this is where you may run into the chefs of Bali’s fine dining restaurants. From here you will drive to Cape Benoa where a healthy breakfast of Balinese cakes, fruits and black rice pudding awaits at Bumbu Bali.

Following breakfast you will spend four entertaining hours in a wide open Balinese kitchen, learning how to create authentic, tasty local dishes. The morning culminates in a celebratory lunch during which you’ll taste the dishes you have helped to prepare.

Drive north, enjoying the beautiful landscape of rice terraces and peaceful villages as you go. Pura Luhur Batukau is a temple complex from the 12th century that is located on the southern slope of Mount Batukaru, Bali’s second highest peak. It is one of nine ‘cardinal’ temples meant to protect Bali from evil spirits and is an extremely sacred site for the Hindu population. You will then visit the Jatiluwih Valley, one of the most astonishing examples of terraced agriculture in the world. In Jatiluwih, the landscape is a sculpture that has been meticulously perfected over some 500 years by many generations of farmers who collectively created an intricate infrastructure of dams, canals and aqueducts to irrigate their individual rice fields most efficiently.

Wake up early at 4.30 to witness the sun rise on the world-famous Borobudur temple. Without a doubt this is the best time of the day to explore this massive Buddhist temple – the largest in the world – and discover its magic. It was the Sailendra dynasty that embraced Mahayana Buddhism in the early 9th century and the temple took almost 100 years to be completed. Borobudur is a massive pyramid that rises up from the green plains like the neighboring volcanoes. From its 150,000-square-foot base, you’ll climb up six tiers to the top. The top level is dotted with 72 small, latticework stupas, each with a statue of Buddha inside, visible through the grates. Your knowledgeable tour guide will explain the history of Buddhism and the site as you enjoy the incredible views and atmosphere. You will also be able to see the majestic Merapi Mountain.

After the tour you’ll take a private exit leading to Dagi Hill where you’ll enjoy views of the temple while enjoying a warming cup of coffee. Head back to your hotel in time for breakfast.

A short drive will bring you to Candi Rejo village, from where you will start hiking to Menoreh Hill. It takes around an hour to walk to the top, and once there you will enjoy stunning views of the Borobudur Temple, surrounded by the four mountains of Merapi, Merbabu, Sumbing and Sindoro. Descend back to Candi Rejo village where you’ll have the chance to visit a local house and enjoy coffee and cake.