Balifornian Tours announces amazing new tours

Exciting new tours announced from Balifornian Tours- Go to http://www.balifornian.com/destinations/  for more information. 

The new tours include...

Kalimantan and Borneo- Including the Orangutans!

Discover Central Kalimantan, visit the Orangutan National Park / Tanjung Puting National Park. See the Orang Utan ( Pongo pygmeus ) and other wildlife; agile gibbons, black handed gibbons (hylobates agilis), gray gibbons, proboscis monkeys, crab-eating macagues, larges dragonflies, a several large birds such as hornbilis, eagles & kingfishers

Tana Toraja - Experience increadible culture and mindblowing rituals.  

This unique tour to one of Indonesia most mysterious places can also be combined with any Bali tour. 

Bright green rice terraces, tall limestone outcrops and bamboo graves are set against a backdrop of blue misty mountains. Traditional Tongkonan houses stand proudly in this setting. These intricately decorated houses with upward-sloping roofs are the center of all Aluktodolo ( Torajan religion before the coming of missionaries; the ancestors belief ) rites; from storing the harvest in the carved rice barns, "alang", to slaughtering sacred water buffaloes at a week or more-funeral ceremonies. Tana Toraja's beauty is also reflected in its people. Although they are devoutly Christian ( there are small number of Moslems especially in the southern area), they combine this religious belief with magic and mysticism. Secure in their ethnic identity, they welcome visitors to witness their ceremonies.

The land of the Toraja people, many notionally Christian but most in practice animist, is above all famed for their spectacular (and rather gruesome) burial rites. After a person's death, the body is kept — often for several years — while money is saved to pay for the actual funeral ceremony, known as tomate. During the festival, which may last up to a week, ritual dances and buffalo fights are held, and buffaloes and pigs are slaughtered to ferry the soul of the deceased to the afterlife (puya). The deceased is then finally buried either in a small cave, often with a tau-tau effigy placed in front, inside a hollow tree or even left exposed to the elements in a bamboo frame hanging from a cliff.

Tana Toraja has unique culture set in stunning scenery. Globalisation and tourism may have impact, but if you venture away from the tarmac roads you will find soon a way of life that has not changed much in the last 100 years.(Wiki)

Komodo- This boat tours stops at some remote islands with great opportunities for snorkling and diving and culminates with an up close and personal trek with The Komodo Dragons.  The tour starts from Lombok with a half-day tour to visit traditional Lombok villages and it’s peoples’ daily life.  We will also stop in Lombok’s main pottery making village on the way to the harbor. With a newly designed boat, we will explore the beauty of The amazing Sumbawa coast with its beautiful small islands including the well known Komodo Island.  Then we are off to Labuan Bajo in Flores. On the way back, we will have a chance to visit Rinca, Moyo, and Keramat Island. We will then make our return to Lombok.

Yogyakarta 

Yogyakarta is one of the last intact Javanese Empires in all of Indonesia, with the Sultanate still holds jurisdiction. The Sultan's Palace is the hub of Yogyakarta's traditional life and, despite the advance of modernity, still emanates the spirit of refinement, which has been the hallmark of Yogya's culture for centuries. Yogya is center of Javanese arts and culture, as well as a historically rich and important city.

Yogyakarta is the gateway to reach the world famous "Borobudur" Buddhist temple, which is considered as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Borobudur was built by Sanmaratungga in the 8th century, and was revealed by Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles in 1814. The temple was found in ruined condition and was buried. After the independent (1945), the Indonesian Government gave the restoration of Borobudur high priority, invited archaeological mission and in 1955 requested UNESCO's assistance.

Papua New Guinea (formely Irian Jaya)

Papua New Guinea or Irian Jaya is one of the world's most remote regions and contains some of the most interesting and protected cultures one can find.  Balifornian Tours unique access to this region will make your trip infinitely easier and more rewarding.

West Papua Package Tours (Formerly Irian Jaya)

The cultures of the Papua tribes are fascinating. The island's terrain is rough, mountainous, and covered by rain forest. Communications between villages are by narrow foot paths.  Nowadays Irian Jaya is divided into 2 Provinces: Papua Barat and Papua Timur. Sorong is the capital city of Papua Barat, while Jayapura, the capital of East Papua province, is five hours by plane from Bali. Daily flights connect these two cities via Ujungpandang or Biak. From Jayapura or Sentani, a tour to the hinterland is possible. A police permit is required in order to visit Irian Jaya. We can arrange this for you in Jayapura.

Other tours include Sulawesi, Lombok, Sumatra and many other exotic locations.

Tenganan and The Bali Aga- The real old school Bali

This blog post on Tenganan has been moved.  Please click here to see

The Bali Aga of Tenganan ~ A Photo Essay

A true surfers paradise. Bali's new luxury vacation trips

Riding Bali's new wave of luxury

Balifornian Tours can include an epic surfing adventure and depending on what level of accomodations, we can arrainge anything from the ultimate deluxe luxury on down.  Let us help you design the ultimate surfing trip.  Other passions?  We can do that too!

• Peter Hall National Features The Hearald Sun Australia

 

The oceanfront pool villa at Bali's Alila Villas Soori resort. Source: Supplied

AN exclusive new Bali resort creates a surf trip of liquid gold, writes Peter Hall.

For a surfer this is the ultimate "if my friends could see me now" moment.

You emerge elated and exhausted after riding the longest, smoothest and most exotic waves of your life and there stands your beach butler.

Impeccably dressed in white linen, silver tongs in hand, he presents you with a citrus-infused refresher towel.

"How was your surf, Mr Peter?" he inquires. "Would you care for some fresh fruit and then perhaps we can explore another location?"

Bali may be renowned as a budget beach paradise but it also can deliver a surf experience that makes you feel like chairman of the board.

We are at Medewi on the Indonesian island's west coast, having been chauffeured here in a four-wheel-drive provided by our host, Alila Villas Soori.

The tiny fishing village is home to Bali's longest left-hand point break, where dreamy double overhead walls peel endlessly for up to 400m over smooth boulders and black sand.

Astoundingly, there are only a dozen surfers in the line-up a mixture of Japanese, American, Australian and a beaming New Zealand longboarder fleeing the icy waters of Gisborne.

We are three hours' drive from the madness of Kuta and two from our resort, Alila Villas Soori, an exclusive new property that overlooks the azure Indian Ocean in the Tabanan Regency, near the famous Tanah Lot Temple.

It is not a surf resort, but one that creates unique experiences for guests. In Alila Villas Soori speak, these tailored adventures of mind, body and spirit are called journeys.

Of course, you are free to laze about in a private Eden, sip cocktails, tantalise your tastebuds with authentic and continental cuisine, watch fishing boats chug past, or be pampered in one of the best spas in Bali. But if it's cultural exploration you're after, this is the place.

MasterChef fans won't be able to resist a Journey of Culinary Delight, where you visit village markets accompanied by the resort's chef, select fresh ingredients and join in a Balinese kitchen masterclass.

There's something for all the family. Spend a day learning from an artisan, go temple-hopping on a Journey of the Gods, or saddle up for an unforgettable horseriding experience on the Journey of the Balinese Knights.

And if you want to mix all of this with some of the best waves on the planet, they are not too far away. Just south of Alila Villas Soori is Canggu. It's a regional classic that many of Bali's hottest surfers head to when other spots are too small and crowded.

The rocky reef break offers a solid, winding left that presents a series of power changes and leaves the best to last with a sand-spitting barrel close to shore.

A right-hander that spills into deeper water is a much mellower proposition.

In the resort's comfortable vehicle, it's also a breeze to shoot down to world-famous Uluwatu for the morning and when arms become paddle-weary you can drop into Kuta for some fun, easy-access peaks.

There are waves most of the year in Bali, but the west coast captures the southerly swells of the Indonesian dry season from April to October.

There is much to love about this tranquil island and it's only about a six-hour flight away.

Pacific Blue flies direct from most Australian capitals to Denpasar.

Seating is comfortable, the service cheery and all passengers have their own TV/DVD screens.

The 5-star accommodation at Alila Villas Soori is breathtaking. There are 47 spacious and luxurious villas, each with a private pool, dedicated hosts, gourmet bar, espresso coffee machine, 24-hour in-villa dining and LCD televisions.

The property is an inspired expression of contemporary Asian architecture and there is a wonderful flow from interior to exterior spaces. It is so well designed you rarely see other guests and the only sounds are the waves thundering on the beach or friendly greetings of staff.

Food is another highlight and visitors can enjoy the many flavours of the region served on their own private deck, in casually elegant Cotta restaurant or at a Japanese-inspired beachfront grill called Coast, where seafood sizzles through the evening and wine and beer glasses clink to celebrate another day in paradise.

>>The writer was a guest of Alila Villas Soori and Pacific Blue.

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Wish you were here

Getting there: Pacific Blue flies direct to Denpasar (Bali) from Sydney. Flying time is six hours and 25 minutes. Upgrade to premium economy for 50 per cent more room and a fully inclusive food, beverage and entertainment package.

Staying there: Alila Villas Soori is a luxury beachfront property in the Tabanan Regency in West Bali, about an hour's drive north of the airport. A Pool Villa Indulgence package costs $500 a person a night, including daily breakfast, signature spa treatments and round-trip transport (minimum three-night stay).

See www.alilahotels.com/soori/rates

Doing there: Surf Bali's name breaks, immerse yourself in culture by taking a Journey by Alila, including Journey of Culinary Delight, The Gods (temple tour), Discovery (all-terrain-vehicle ride, whitewater rafting), Balinese Knights (equestrian), Dance or Art.

Tips: There are always waves somewhere in Bali but the west coast works best from April to October. If tackling Canggu, Balian or Medewi, get up early for the cleanest conditions.