Taking Bali for a Test Drive
When preparing the perfect incentive travel experience, no company wants to plunk down money on the unknown, especially if what they are after is a truly unique destination like Bali. That’s why we coordinate site inspection trips to select resorts and finalize plans for reception venues and group excursions. These trips are always a whirlwind of incredible sights, but the temples, jungles, and beaches of Bali are truly jaw-dropping. If you are new to incentive travel planning, here’s a peek into the process.
Zeroing in on a destination like Bali is no mystery. This Indonesian island paradise sits north of Australia in the Indian Ocean and is home to tiered temples, jungle monkeys, rich culture, and breathtaking beaches—an absolutely motivating destination for an incentive experience. It also boasts some fantastic resorts, so choosing the right one for a company can be a challenge if you’ve never set foot in a location. At the beginning of 2019, we escorted our clients on a selection trip to choose the perfect resorts. After seeing 8 incredible resorts, they decided that the Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay and the Four Seasons Sayan would be their luxurious accommodations.
Uncompromized Luxury
Really, you can’t go wrong with the Four Seasons. Their level of service, stunning settings, and attention to cultural details make them an incredible travel partner. The Bali at Jimbaran Bay rests along a three-mile stretch of a gentle bay and channels an authentic Balinese village. Like the tiered levels of a rice paddy or Hindu temple, the resort steps down the hill above the beach, creating secret pools to discover and courtyards that seem almost sacred with their lush gardens and beautiful stonework. Its sister resort, the Bali at Sayan, is equally stunning but so different in setting. Perched in a jungle next to a river, this resort lives within the cultural heart of Bali. Encircled by the arms of the jungle, you may find yourself doing yoga on a platform surrounded by floating lily pads, the sound of a small waterfall creating that tranquility you were searching for. Or maybe you’ll discover what it is like to be knee-deep in a rice paddy learning the ancient process of growing this grain. Or maybe you’ll be schooled in the art of Balinese cooking with an expert chef. Anything is possible at these incredible resorts.
Once the resorts were selected, we went to work researching the best options for venues and excursions and prepared for the next phase: the planning site visit. We recently returned to Bali with our clients to make our final picks for adventures and venues. If you’re looking for WOW, this destination delivers!
Not Just for the Birds
From our luxurious basecamp at the Four Seasons Jimbaran, we ventured out to explore exciting options with our clients. We began at the Bali Bird Park, home to 250 different species of exotic birds. This was a great place to warm up our cameras for a fabulous day ahead by snagging photos holding some amazing birds. From there we visited the majestic Mandapa Reserve Ritz-Carlton with its exquisite Indonesian architecture, picturesque setting, and enchanting dining and meeting spaces. Next we moved on the truly jaw-dropping Royal Pita Maha which looks like an ancient hindu temple. Imagine round tables draped in white linens arranged in front of an intricately carved stone edifice, beautiful lighting creating a glow on the trees and elaborate Balinese statues. Such an incredible setting for a potential group gala dinner!
Elephant Caves & Stunning Gardens
But the real stunners were yet to come. What could be more culturally immersive and extraordinary than hosting a group event at a Balinese palace or temple? We visited three exceptional places in our quest to craft the perfect experience with our clients. We began at the Ubud Royal Palace, Puri Saren Agung. Red sandstone rises geometrically creating perfectly rectangular doorways, yet draped above in exquisite symmetry are curls of delicately carved stone. The gardens surrounding the palace feature stone walkways through lily-filled ponds. From there we traveled to amazing Goa Gajah or Elephant Caves, an incredible option for an unforgettable group tour. A huge stone face with rolling wide eyes opens its mouth for people to enter inside and perhaps leave an offering. But that is only part of this unbelievable complex which was built in the 800’s. Mossy steps lead to ponds, waterfalls, and ruins while the jungle makes a bid to hide it all from view. Finally, we visited one of the largest temple complexes in the region—Gunung Kawi. Carved into sheer rock faces are ten intricate fertility symbols towering an amazing 26 feet tall each. The surrounding area is a lush landscape of every shade of green, streams and rivers, rocks and flowers. This gorgeous, quintessentially Bali location was superb punctuation to a day full of amazing sites.
Ancient Cliffside Temples & Crashing Waves
The next morning we departed early for Benoa Harbor to explore some potential sea excursions with several different companies. We headed over to Nusa Dua to see the famed blowhole rising above black volcanic rocks. Then with great anticipation, we headed to Garuda Wisnu Kencana to explore a potential location for our client’s final evening event. This cultural park is home to enormous statues of the Hindu god Vishnu and Garuda, his eagle companion, making for an impressive venue for a group farewell. From there we traveled to the incredible Uluwatu Temple which is perched cliffside an impressive 230 feet above the crashing waves of the Indian Ocean. Uluwatu is considered one of the guardian temples of Bali, protecting the island from evil spirits, and its stunning location overlooking the sea is truly inspiring. Every evening a traditional dance is performed and visitors anxiously await the setting of the sun in this particularly beautiful location. And what would a trip to Bali be without seeing perhaps its most photographed temple—Tanah Lot? Situated on a stone island that can be reached on foot during low tide, the grass spires of the temple rise from picturesque vegetation, the carved stone steps leading to its ancient interior. This location also has great shopping and dining options nearby.
After seeing so much in such a short amount of time, we returned to the Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay and enjoyed their rejuvenating 90-minute Balinese massage in their elegant spa. Asking each guest to choose one of four restorative massage oils, and then using the techniques passed down through generations, they worked out sore muscles and tension in a perfectly peaceful setting. Spa treatments are a fabulous addition to any incentive travel experience.
Valuable Research to Take Home
Yes, it was a whirlwind two days of site inspection in Bali—ancient temples, unparalleled views, lush jungles, delicious food, and mind-blowing venues. And through this trip, our clients were able to make some final decisions for each day of their company’s six-day adventure. Depending on our clients’ needs and experience, we adapt our site inspection trips, so we can customize the perfect incentive trip. So stay tuned in the coming year to find out which sites our clients picked and how their once-in-a-lifetime trip to Bali came together.
