TOURS AND EXPERIENCES

Lovina is known for its many dolphins which our guests are able to see by taking a traditional boat ride in the early morning, during and after sunrise. The large dolphin population is due to the abundance of shrimp in the area.  

With the large number of dolphins in the Bali Sea near Lovina, you are almost assured a fantastic experience viewing these magnificent and playful creatures.  But by chance there are none to be found on a particular day, don’t worry, the following day will more than likely yield success.

Three species of dolphins have been identified off the Lovina coast; Spinner Dolphins, Spotted Dolphins and the more common Bottlenose Dolphins.  Your boat may be surrounded by dozens of playful dolphins. 

One can also go snorkeling following the dolphin viewing to see the many varieties of beautiful fish. Each Dolphin Tour lasts roughly two hours.

Located in the hills of Banjar Village, about 30 minutes from Villa Patria is the Buddhist Monastery, Brahma Vihara Arama. 

The monastery is perched on the hillside overlooking the blue waters of the Bali Sea.  It has been built on the slopes at multiple elevations with many beautifully painted exterior and interior walls and rooms. The impressive features include a huge temple bell donated by Thailand, panels depicting Buddha fables, many Buddha sculptures as well as beautifully maintained grounds.  Be assured, the photographs will be be discussion points for years to come.

Please kindly wear a long skirt or Sarong when visiting. Sarongs are available for use by giving a donation to the monastery. 

A visit to the famous Hot Springs of Air Panas Banjar is a well combined experience given its close proximity to the Buddhist Monastery. 

The springs are surrounded by beautiful nature while having three baths with water at roughly 37 Degrees Celsius.  The hot Sulphureous spring water flows out of eight carved stone dragon heads into the upper bath. 

The springs are separated into three areas, the upper area containing the hottest spring water while the next two baths are progressively lower in elevation and cooler. 

The hot springs are open daily, 8.00 to 18.00 except Nyepi Day. It is recommended to visit in the morning or afternoon. 

The use of the Changing Room and accompanying lockers under the restaurant is recommended.  Guests should bring towels and swimming attire with them. There is an adjacent outdoor shower facility provided.

The city of Singaraja within the Buleleng Regency and only 25 minutes from Villa Patria, was once the capital of Bali. Throughout its rich and interesting history, Buleleng has been more open than other parts of Bali in accepting the influence of world maritime trade.

A province before and sustained after the Majapahit Conquest, it rose to prominence at the end of the 16th Century under Raja Pandji Sakti, who had added to his success the expansion of the province to the eastern tip of Java. In 1604, he built a new community called Singaraja on the fields where Balinese men grew grain known as Buleleng. Gradually, the Buleleng name would be used to identify much of the northern coast of Bali. 

Singaraja mean a resting place for the King or some people said a mighty King like a Lion, a beautiful and scenic city nestled along the coastline and at the base of the northern mountains of Bali, remains busy today. The official day marking Singaraja’s formation is 30 March 1604.

The tour includes visiting the following locations;Gedong Kirtya, Museum Buleleng, Puri Agung Singaraja ,  Tugu Singa Ambara Raja , Peken Buleleng, Klenteng Ling Gwan Kiong and  Ex Harbour Singaraja.

The Pura Ulun Danu Beratan - Bedugul Temple is a magnificent temple which displays traditional Balinese architecture and is surrounded by beautiful lush and colorful gardens.  The temple appears as though it is floating on Beratan Lake. It is a very popular temple due to its many ceremonies.

Beratan Lake is a shallow lake located in Bedugul, atop the Bali northern mountains, about 1,231 meters above sea level. The lake is 3.8 Km long and has a maximum depth of 20+ meters. Tourists may access the lake by one of the area docks to enjoy a boat ride.

Traditional markets are worth the visit as they offer a vast variety of locally grown fruits, vegetables and flowers. Many varieties of spices can also be found in the market area.

The Bali Botanical Gardens are located near the temple in the village of Candi Kuning.  They are only a short walk away from nearby Bukit Mangu Market.  The entrance to the gardens cannot be missed as there is a giant corn cob statue marking the way.

The Botanical Gardens are located on the slope of Gunung Pohon, giving them a very scenic and beautiful atmosphere. The gardens were built in 1959 and have been expanded upon and well maintained since that time.  There are over 800 species of trees from around the world within the complex. Also, there are over 400 species of orchids as well as the many varieties of other flowers.  One can enjoy the flowers blooming throughout the year.

Sekumpul Waterfalls are a hidden treasure and not well known amongst the tourist community.  The waterfalls are located approximately 1.5 hours from Villa Patria. The fresh waters flow over a high escarpment and fall from 5-7 locations.  The falls are beautiful with there dense jungle backdrop while the air is filled with the smell of flowers, fruits and spices.

The trekking is not for all as it encompasses a 1 Km trek along a concrete path and then descends roughly 350 steps to the river below.  Once reaching the river, the hikers make their way across and then continue onward to the series of beautiful waterfalls.

Local 3rd party guides are available and are recommended as they are extremely knowledgeable and helpful navigating the terrain.

On the way back to Villa Patria, you will visit Jagaraga Temple which is a 400 year old temple with interesting relief sculptures, some of which were very advanced for their time.

Aling Aling Waterfalls are located in Sambangan Village, which is known as the secret garden. The falls are located just under a one hour drive from Villa Patria, 15-minute drive from the southern side of Singaraja. 

There are many exciting destinations within the Sambangan Village / Aling Aling Waterfall area such as the waterfall’s themselves, rice terrace walks, and the blue lagoon/river.  Other Aling Aling Waterfall activities include a natural waterslide, jumping into the water from different elevations as well as swimming in the lagoon and river.

The Villa Patria guide will accompany you on the short trekking trip to explore the four main waterfalls along the Banyumala River.   

The main waterfalls include:

• Aling Aling Waterfalls (30 meter height),
• Kroya Waterfalls (12 meters),
• Twin Waterfalls (10 meters),
• Pucuk Waterfalls (15 meters)

The short trekking to the Aling Aling Waterfalls takes roughly 15 minutes while an additional 10 minutes is necessary to reach the other waterfalls.