EDUCATION & MARINE ADVENTURE

Fly into Denpasar (DPS), Bali’s main airport, where GLA staff will be waiting to greet you. After picking up your luggage, we’ll head to the arrivals area where the team will guide you to our Home Base in Ubud. The drive to Ubud takes about an hour, where we’ll settle into our new home, meet fellow GLA students, and get ready for an exciting adventure ahead. Once everyone has arrived, we’ll kick things off with an orientation and enjoy our first delicious Balinese dinner together!

Om Swastiastu! In Bali, this greeting means, “May you be in the best of health: spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally.” Over the next few weeks, you’ll immerse yourself in Balinese culture and traditions. After everyone has arrived, we’ll begin our programming with a special blessing ceremony. The ceremony, known as Sisya (students) and Upanayana (a ceremony to bless), is designed to prepare you for the learning ahead, offering blessings for growth and knowledge. To finish, each participant will receive a Karawista placed on their head, symbolizing clarity and focus for the learning journey.

In the afternoon, we’ll dive into a scavenger hunt around Ubud to familiarize ourselves with the local culture and surroundings. It’s the perfect way to start exploring the vibrant community and bond with your fellow students!

On Day 3, stroll through the lush jungle and terraced rice paddies on an herbal walk, learning about Bali’s native plants used in medicine, food, and body care. Afterward, visit Magi Farm, a social enterprise focused on sustainable, high-protein feed for farm animals. In the evening, explore the Royal Palace and enjoy a rare opportunity to speak with a member of the royal family, followed by a delicious local dinner!

On Day 4, visit a local banjar (community center) to explore traditional arts like woodcarving, offering making, gamelan crafting, and legong dance. In the afternoon, learn about female empowerment at an NGO and discover different styles of yoga and meditation practiced in Bali!

Over the next few days, as part of the Food Fighter project, we’ll help prepare 300 nasi campur (mixed rice) packets for a Balinese community near a landfill. Students will learn about nutrition and food waste. In partnership with Rip Curl School of Surf Bali, we’ll also explore mangroves and their environmental challenges. We’ll paddleboard through the mangrove area to clean up, then sort and clean the trash we collect onshore.

Today, we head to Pemuteran, a remote part of Bali known for its exceptional snorkeling and diving. In the morning, we’ll enjoy some beach time with stunning views. In the afternoon, we’ll begin our Children’s Education workshops, where we’ll design and deliver lessons to local 4th to 6th graders on sustainability, the environment, and more. This service will have a lasting impact, as educating youth is key to driving change in rural communities. We’ll learn, play, and share together!

Students will continue their NGO service with the Biosphere Foundation, supporting a coral restoration project and snorkeling in beautiful waters. In the afternoon, we’ll return to the local school to continue teaching our lessons, fostering connections with the Balinese students as we share and learn together! Then we’ll say our goodbyes and creating more memories to walk away
with!

Today, we’ll explore Bali from beneath its crystal-clear waters! Students will first learn basic dive theory and essential skills in shallow water before embarking on a guided underwater tour. This is a fantastic opportunity to discover Bali’s vibrant coral reefs. A swim test is required for participation in this activity.

We’ll begin our journey back to Ubud, stopping to admire a beautiful waterfall along the way. We’ll arrive back at our main Home Base in the island’s urban center and settle in for the evening.

The next day we’ll head south for a day of surfing in some of Bali’s most beautiful waters. With world-class instructors, you’ll get the chance to learn in an area perfect for beginners. South Bali is renowned for its surfing, making this a truly unforgettable adventure!

As we don’t say “Goodbye” in Indonesian, we’ll say, “See you later” to our 14-Day students! Enjoy your final Balinese breakfast before heading to the airport to start your journey home. GLA staff will assist you with check-in and see you off as you head back.

21-Day students will continue on with our community service at the PKP Community Center supporting Balinese women to be empowered and independent in their communities.

We’ll visit to a local coffee plantation where students will try many local teas and coffees! The next day, we’ll embark on a scenic 3-hour trek through the Bali jungle, starting from a beautiful river, crossing through the jungle, and ending in Tenganan, a Bali Aga village. Along the way, we’ll enjoy views of Mt. Agung and lush rice paddies. Midway, we’ll stop at a local house to taste honey harvested by the family and enjoy some red tea.

We’ll take a short 35-minute boat ride to Nusa Penida, our final destination. In the afternoon, we’ll snorkel in stunning locations around the island, with a chance to see manta rays! We’ll also visit the famous Goa Giri Putri Cave Temple, a unique temple built inside a cave on a hill. Despite the seemingly impossible entrance, we’ll explore the temple and experience the magic of its spiritual atmosphere. Finally, we’ll watch a beautiful sunset at Green Kubu.

Today, we’ll do some service work on Nusa Penida and relax on the beach, reflecting on the incredible memories we’ve made over the past 19 days. The next day, we’ll head back to the Sanur area in Bali for our final dinner together, followed by closing leadership activities with GLA.

Enjoy your last Balinese breakfast and head to the airport to begin your journey back. At the airport, GLA staff will help you check in for your flight and see you off on your trip home!