I have recently returned from 20 wonderful days in Bali, where the "Highlight" of my holiday was the Mountain Cycle Tour run by Steve from Bali Budaya Tours. Phone no. 0361 975557 HP:081 833 6580
Email: bulanindah@dps.centrin.net.id
In a word - "FANTASTIC"!! Value for Money - "THE BEST! Would I do it again - "YOU BETCHA"!
I pre-arranged this for my family and some other friends (we all live in Perth) through Nicki at Allround Travel in QLD.
Ph (07) 5530 3555.Mob. 0404 881 501
Email: alltrav@bigpond.net.au .
You can pay her in AUD$, so it is easier to pre-arrange here in Australia. We gave a date for our booking, then re-confirmed it in Bali a couple of days before the actual tour date.
This is the trip that Nicki did last year, and I have to say that it was everything and more, that she wrote about in one of her 2004 JBR's.
We were picked up fom our Hotel at 6.45am, and driven 1.5 hours to a common destination where we met up with 2 other vans carrying American and European tourists. After a photo stop enroute, where I bought a beautifully carved box containing 4 sets of wooden chop sticks, we arrived at the Lake View Restaurant & Hotel in Kintamani, where we enjoyed a light breakfast of pancakes, fresh fruits, tea and coffee. The view was wonderful, looking over towards the volcano and lake, and the day was fine and sunny with a light cloud over the mountain top.
From here, we were taken to the set-off point where we each chose a suitable bike, had the seats adjusted to our height, learnt which brakes to apply on the mainly downhill run,and some basic safety points. For some reason I had anticipated that we would be biking on narrow hillside tracks perhaps used by people, dogs and the odd farm animal, so I was quite surprised to discover that we would be using small roads which run through the local villages in the area, and would be encountering trucks, vans, motorcycles,and numerous dogs(which don't budge from their warm spot on the roadway) as well as many pot holes and rutted surfaces!
I haven't been on a bike for several years, so it took me a few minutes to feel "in control", although I must admit, that I used both brakes on all the downhill sections. One US couple had foolhardedly booked their small son on the tour, but he was still using trainer wheels at home, and thus had to do the trip in the van with his Nana. I recall that Steve said something about children needing to be over 7 years of age and reasonably good riders. I am not sure if you could take a child on a child's seat attached to the bike, but would suggest that this would need to be previously arranged, as the bikes are taken to the start off point before you arrive there.(I am sure that Nicki could advise you about this.)
We were advised to wear the provided helmets, and there were medical supplies carried in the vans which accompanied us throughout the trip. Also available was a continuous supply of Aqua and fresh bananas, and we could ask for those as we needed them. At the end of the cycling part, we were provided with icy cold flannels to wash hands and necks, or wherever else you thought needed a freshen up.
The biking was pretty effortless, as we only encountered a couple of small inclines along the way, except for those on the harder route, which some of our group chose to do for the last 10 minutes of the cycling. I took the easier route along with the younger kids and other middle aged women!I think there was more braking involved than actually pedalling, which was just as well, as somehow, I never did quite get the hang of the gears!! The bikes seemed to be in good order, although the chain came off my husband's one, and "barked" his heel a little.
One of the best aspects of the trip was being able to stop wherever you spied a photo opportunity - and there were many along the way.Whenever you stopped, a van would stay behind with you, so there was no chance of getting lost. We also stopped at a plantation, a temple, a village compound, a local farm, and to watch some wood carving and bamboo plaiting, and our guide would explain all facets about the Balinese way of life.
Many of the school children were leaving schools as we rode through, and they were really excited to see us, running alongside and giving "High 5's" to anyone who responded to them. Me, I could hardly prise my hands off the handlebars for fear of falling off my bike, but did manage to lift a few fingers and wave. There were also lots of the local villagers waiting to see us ride through, all calling out "Hello Hello". In fact, our family thought this trip should be renamed the HELLO HELLO! Tour.This aspect was one of the highlights for my teenage daughter and her friend, and we took several photos of them with the local students.
The only thing that was missing from our trip was the "Village Idiot" as mentioned by both Nicno and Tina G. We did enquire about him and were told that he was probably temporarily locked up for his own good. We hadn't old our 2 girls about him, as thought it would be a "surprise" on the day, so it was really only Vicki and I who were disappointed. However, I am not sure whether I could've taken his photo and rode my bike at the same time anyway!
Lunch was a delicious buffet of Balinese foods, and the restaurant was a delightful,quiet spot owned by a Japanese man, although we did not get to meet him. Aqua and soft drinks were included in our tour price, with only the Bintang needing to be paid for, and we were well replete by the time we finished lunch.
A trip to the Monkey Forest was on offer on the way home, but our group decided to head straight back to Kuta, which was still a 1.5 hour drive away, and it was 5.30pm by the time we got to our hotel.
We arrived back quite weary and tired after a very long day out, and we learnt so much along the way, that my brain felt it had reached saturation point. Vicki and I decided we needed a relaxing hair cream bath, and booked into Body Relax ( previously Lemon Tree) in Tuban, and that was a wonderful way to finish off a great day out. It wasn't until the next day, that I fully remembered all the interesting things we'd learnt on the tour.
This is certainly a tour which offers excellent value for money, and I would do it again. We were lucky that we had Steve as our guide for the day, as he was short of a guide, and from him we learnt so much even as we were driving in the van to have breakfast.The other Balinese tour guide Wayan, also provided an interesting insight into local Balinese life. We were more than happy to leave him a good tip, which I understand is shared amongst all the guides and drivers on the day.