See also : Tandem Paragliding in Bali & 2 day paragliding instruction

Are you a paragliding enthusiast? Bali has some of them most  stunning coastal scenery and cliffs in Asia making it great for paragliding. Go on a 1 week paragliding tour around Bali and take off from coastal cliffs and volcanic craters.  Minimum persons required is 2 and tours only depart between April and November.

Day 1 :
Arrive in Bali and transfer to your hotel.
You will be briefed on the week’s tour and meet your paraglide instructor cum guide.
Spend the day getting over your jet lag or if you have the energy, spend the afternoon exploring Kuta.

Day 2 :
Visit Uluwatu Temple this morning and then head for casual lunch. After lunch we drive up to the famous Timbis flying site nearby where your instructor guide will brief you on the flying rules and area.  Enjoy an afternoon of flying before returning to your hotel in the evening.

Day 3 :
This morning you will visit the famous Tanah Lot Temple, a holy temple set on a rock off the West Coast of Bali. After lunch, more flying at the Timbis flying site as well as enjoy the beach there where you can swim in the lagoon before returning to your hotel at about 7pm.

Day 4 :
This morning, you will drive up the East Coast of Bali via Sanur town to Candidasa where your next spectacular flying site is. Stop over to see the Goa Lawah temple (Bat caves).  Arrive in Candidasa and check into your hotel. Lunch at the Café Lotus Candidasa. In the afternoon,  a short trek takes you up to Bugbuk hill at 240m altitude. You will have a short briefing of the flying condition in this area. Then take off for a beautiful flight with stunning views of the ocean,  coconut trees and rice fields with Mount Agung volcano in the back ground.  Enjoy the breath taking sunset before heading back to the hotel where you might like to indulge in a relaxing massage or take a swim in the lovely ocean waters.

Day 5 :
This morning you will visit the oldest and ancient traditional village of Tenganan where you will see how the Balinese Ikat cloth is made by hand. Then visit to the Water palace pool at Tirta Gangga, crossing rice fields. Lunch at Candidsa. In the afternoon, you will have more flights in Candidasa.

Day 6 :

Today you will head to Kintamani town stopping over at Besakih Temple, Bali’s most sacred temple. After a tour of the temple, you will proceed to Kintamani for lunch before driving into the Mt Batur caldera to the hot spring village and checking into your hotel.  After a briefing on the landing area and flying condition in this area, you will have the afternoon free to soak in the traditional hot spring pools. Then an early night to get ready to the early morning trek up Mount Batur.

Day 7 :

Rise and shine early at 4 am for the trek up to Mount Batur to catch the sun rise . Back to the hotel for a traditional boiled egg,  steamed from the natural volcanic heat. Around 9 am take off for a unbelievable flight over Batur landing next to the lake .

In the afternon, you will head down to Ubud for lunch, stopping along the way at Tegallalang where you will see some of the most beautiful rice terraces in Bali. Visit stone and wood carving villages along the way down to your hotel in South Bali.

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Good news for travelers to Bali as the weather will be cooler starting December right through to February.  According to the Agency of Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG), the temperatures will gradually decrease as the rainy season will be here and the sun will shift from its current path which is directly above Bali island right now causing the high temperatures of up to 34 degrees Celsius.

According to the climate agency, the temperature in Bali is currently ranges between 22 and 34 degreee Celsius (71 – 93 Fahrenheit).

The areas that will get a respite from the scorching temperatures sooner are those in the higher grounds such as Bedugul, Tabanan and Kintamani.

According to the BMKD Bali Office, November is the transitional period from dry season to rainy season and  the sun will be heading south away from its current position above Bali. The sun will return to its current position round about February although it will not be as hot as now due to the rain.

So if you prefer the warmer temperatures, stay south of Bali but if you are looking for cooler temperatures, head to the hills and visit Ubud on your trip to Bali.

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JIMBARAN – BALI, 8  November 2009

AYANA Resort and Spa Bali is honored to announce that it has been awarded Asia’s Leading Luxury Resort in the World Travel Awards 2009, during a Gala Ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House.

AYANA’s General Manager Charles de Foucault received the prestigious award on behalf of the property, at the star-studded Asia Grand Final last night. The regional award automatically qualified AYANA’s for the ultimate accolade, the World’s Leading Luxury Resort, at the World Grand Final the following night.

Tagged ‘The Oscars of the travel industry’ by the Wall Street Journal, the World Travel Awards acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global tourism and travel industry. This year’s Grand Final was attended by more than 500 people from 37 countries, including some of the biggest names in the global tourism industry.

“This is a great honor, to be recognized as Asia’s best luxury resort, especially when you look at the stiff competition around us in today’s luxury market,” said Charles de Foucault after taking the stage to receive the award. “There is no shortage of beautifully designed or luxuriously-appointed resorts, and the opening of the Rock Bar has put AYANA on the map for every visitor to Bali. But we aim to go beyond the ‘hardware’ of our facilities, to welcome our guests with a unique experience firmly grounded in the warm hospitality, dedicated yet discreet service, and friendliness of our ‘software’, our people.”

The coveted award comes just months after AYANA’s owners initiated the property’s rebranding to an independent hotel managed by US-based West Paces Hotel Group. It also follows several other awards bestowed on the property in recent months. Among others, AYANA was the only hotel in Bali – and Indonesia – to make the list of Asia’s Top 15 Resorts in the Travel + Leisure 2009 World’’s Best Awards readers’ survey, was ranked Bali’s #1 resort by leading Japanese travel magazine AB-Road, and was voted Asia’s #3 Spa Resort by SmartTravelAsia readers.

Enhancements at the property since the rebranding include the opening of the Rock Bar perched on natural rocks directly over the ocean, the renovation of Padi restaurant into an ‘Asian Spice’ concept, the renovation of AYANA Ballroom, and the appointment of William Gumport as Chef de Cuisine at Dava restaurant.

While AYANA retained the vast majority of its 950 staff following the rebranding, it appointed a new senior management team from West Paces, which was founded by legendary hotelier Horst Schulze. Charles de Foucault is a veteran hotelier with more than 30 years’ experience, including 17 years with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. Most recently, he opened the Leela Kempinski in New Delhi, India before serving as General Manager of the Leela Palace Kempinski in Bangalore.

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KLM will once again fly to Bali starting 6th December 2009. The flights which last operated on 15 October 1997 will resume from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Denpasar Bali with an intermediate landing in Singapore.

The service will operate 3 times a week with a Boeing 777-300. Reservations can be made from 3rd October 2009. Flight KLM 835 departs from Amsterdam at 9 pm every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, arriving in Denpasar Bali airport at 8.10 pm the following day.  The return flight KLM 836 departs Bali at 9.30pm every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday arriving Amsterdam at 8 am.

Book before 15th November 2000 to receive a special fare of EUR 599 per person.

More information on the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines website.

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Pamper yourself like a royal princess with this Royal Romance Ritual spa treatment at the Kamandalu Spa this month.
This signature royal Javanese romance ritual was traditionally given to princesses on the day of marriage. A special slimming massage is followed by a freshly prepared lulur scrub, yogurt rub, and rinse. Enjoy the amazing sensation of a traditional herbal steam for cleansing and balancing the body, along with a cooling facial mask. Soak in a tub of frangipani flowers and rose petals with herbs and essential oils as you sip a cleansing Jamu. A final beauty rinse over the entire body completes this royal beautifying ritual. Pure indulgence for the princess in all of us.

The 150 minute Royal Romance Ritual spa treatment is available for the month of October 2009 at US$91 ++ per person.

Click here for bookings and more information on Kamandalu Resort & Spa, Bali.

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