Kingdoms & Dragons: Singapore to Bali

Tour begins: 5:00 PM. A transfer is included from Singapore’s Changi International Airport to the historic Raffles Singapore, a landmark of colonial elegance since it opened in 1887; declared a National Monument by the Singapore government, the hotel has just reopened after a meticulous restoration worthy of its iconic reputation as one of the city’s most luxurious retreats. During its 130-year reign, it has witnessed Singapore's early colonial era, the Japanese Occupation in World War II, and its independence. Join us for a private welcome reception and dinner in this legendary setting tonight with a taste of the hotel’s famous Singapore Sling.

Always a surprise to first time visitors, Singapore blends tradition with technology, evoking images of a futuristic and efficient Jetson-style setting with a nostalgic nod to its storied past. Start your morning off with a walking tour of Singapore's colonial district, before embarking on a bumboat ride back in time along the Singapore River. Explore the incredible architectural sights, both past and present, on a drive through the city, stopping at a private house for lunch with your local host. Learn what it’s like to live in this modern city-state, governed by rules and regulations that make this one of the lowest crime, scrupulously run destinations in the world. This evening is yours to experience a taste of Singapore.

Start the day with a lecture by a local expert before embarking on a visit to themed gardens “where wonder blooms” in a 250-acre fantasyland of space age biodomes, high-tech Supertrees and whimsical sculptures. Your guided tour includes time to wander amidst flowers that thrive in dry Mediterranean climates around the world in the Garden Dome and through rainforest vegetation in its tropical Cloud Forest complete with a waterfall. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Easy to navigate, Singapore is a compact city with an array of fascinating ethnic neighborhoods, designer boutiques and a legendary street food and restaurant scene tempting with culinary creations difficult to resist.

A morning flight brings you to another world when you land in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Step off the plane in a cultural hub of puppetry, arts, sandstone temples and jeweled palaces that speak volumes about the soul city of Indonesia. After lunch at a local restaurant, ride a rickshaw to the Taman Sari Water Palace, meaning perfumed garden. The site of an 18th century royal garden and bathing complex built to please the Sultan. The 12,600 acre grounds include water gardens, polls and artificial lakes, along with some 59 different buildings, some connected by underground tunnels. Then drive through the countryside to the town of Magelang in central Java, where your hotel is near the world’s largest Buddhist temple.

Sunrise is an extraordinary time to take in the 1,200-year grandeur of Borobudur, a colossal Buddhist temple whose resilience equals its long-standing legacy as a mountain of a thousand statues. Join us at dawn as we visit this 9th-century wonder, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for treasures untold. Its sculpted bas-relief panels depict the teachings of the Buddha and are allegedly designed to guide “the faithful” on a journey of spiritual enlightenment. Return to the hotel for breakfast then climb aboard a horse cart as you explore the Candi Rijo village, stopping to meet the locals. Spend the afternoon as you wish, before joining us for a lecture about the historic kingdoms of Java. Dinner tonight is at your hotel.

Enjoy a leisurely morning before driving to your hotel in Yogyakarta, renowned as a center of traditional arts and cultural heritage. Visit the royal Sultan Palace in the Kraton, effectively a walled city with shops, cottage industries and mosques, and where the sultan and his family live today. Continue to Prambanan Temple, built in the 10th century; a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is the largest temple compound dedicated to Shiva in Indonesia. Your visit sparkles with a special dinner at a local restaurant followed by a private ballet show that comes to life through more than 200 professional dancers and musicians who perform on an open-air stage with the temples as a backdrop.

Fly early this morning to the capital city of Bali, Denpasar. Touch down for a drive to Ubud in the middle of the island, stopping for lunch in a local restaurant and a visit to the Monkey Forest; home to over 700 monkeys and 186 species of trees, in the village of Padangtegal. Arrive at your resort late afternoon and enjoy dinner at your leisure.

Experience a taste of daily life in one of the prettiest places on Earth as you embark on a walking tour of the Subak Guliang Village. See how its residents live as your guide shares anecdotes about the local customs and culture. Lunch in the village is overlooking the rice fields that blanket the landscapes here and is followed by a blessing and rituals performed by the priest of the temple you’ll visit. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you wish. You have the option this evening to go on a hike through the Bali Rice fields led by your local guide.

Accompany a local on a visit to the village market this morning, before your choice of activities. Learn how to cook traditional Balinese recipes during a cooking class or visit an art museum and attend a talk on Balinese art. The evening is at leisure at your resort.

Spend the morning on a kite flying excursion before having lunch at a local restaurant in Bali. An afternoon flight brings you to the island of Flores for a two-night stay at a secluded seaside resort nestled in a quiet cove on Waecicu Beach and a boat ride away from the island in Komodo National Park where the famous dragons roam. This evening, meet up for a sundowner and barbecue dinner on the beach where you will be introduced to traditional music and dance.

Hop aboard a motorboat for a ride across the bay to Komodo National Park and the island home of the giant Komodo dragons. Your local guide will lead you down paths to see these rare lizards in their natural habitat, providing insights about their behavior and pointing out the wildlife that share the landscapes with them. You may spot horses, buffalo, deer, wild boar, snakes and monkeys along the way. Board your boat again for a ride to an isolated tropical island for a picnic lunch and time at leisure for swimming and snorkeling. The evening is free to enjoy a leisurely dinner at your resort.

Fly back to Bali for a two-night stay at a Four Seasons Resort in Jimbaran Bay. For many, this part of Bali is paradise found. It’s a land of jeweled beaches, sun-kissed and shimmering in white, black and gold, and necklaced by crystalline waves, aqua-tinted and ocean fresh, forested mountain slopes, emerald hued, mangroved bays and tiered terraces adorned with rice and flowers as far as the eye can see. Visitors long to lose themselves in its ethereal embrace, savoring a treasure trove of natural riches and spiritual gifts impossible to resist. Enjoy some time at your hotel this afternoon to relax. This evening, join us for Sundowner cocktails and dance. Sundowners are also a favorite way to end the day for locals and visitors alike and when sunset provides the setting for a traditional Balinese Kecak dance performance, the day and place become more magical still.

Temples play an important role in life on Bali and this morning’s visit to Uluwatu Temple, perched on the top of a steep cliff overlooking the sea, helps you understand why. Still functioning today, Uluwatu is one of six key temples believed to be Bali’s spiritual pillars and one of nine temples believed to keep evil away from the island. Watch out for the monkeys as you gaze out at the stunning views 230 feet above the sea. Later this morning, visit Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, home of the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue. Standing at 394 feet, the statue portrays the Hindu God, Vishnu, riding on his trusted companion, Garuda and is made of 24 segments held together by 754 modules made of copper and brass. Return to your beachfront resort for an afternoon of bliss and join us tonight for our farewell reception and dinner.

Tour ends: Bali. Fly home anytime. An airport transfer is included to Ngurah Rai, Denpasar Bali airport from the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport.