BALI
ISLAND HEALTH EXPEDITION
Paired with Bali: Education & Marine Adventure – Shared Group
Explore the intersection of modern medicine and traditional wisdom as you support community health projects.
Program Overview
On this program, you’ll experience a side of Bali few travelers ever get to see. Study public health through two perspectives: Western practices and the traditional wisdom of the East. Deepen your understanding of global health with a visit to a natural birth clinic and see how cultural competence can be just as vital to wellness as medical resources or technology and a comprehensive tour of a Balinese hospital to to observe emergency response, surgical standards and inpatient care in a regional context.
This Medicine & Public Health program blends meaningful community service with immersive learning and adventure for a truly enriching stay on the island. Outside of your service work, enjoy Bali’s uplifting culture through live music, dance and memorable meals. This is an adventure-filled program on the Balinese coast and a journey you’ll never forget.
Note: The 21-Day service-learning track is combined with our 21-Day Bali: Education & Marine Adventure™ track. All students share the same Home Base, cultural immersion and adventure activities. However, service-specific experiences such as service work, hands-on projects and site visits are tailored to each track, ensuring you gain focused learning within your chosen academic theme.
On GLA’s Bali: Island Health Expedition™ program you will:
- Observe how public health systems are implemented in developing communities
- Visit a natural birth clinic that works to reduce maternal and child mortality
- Have dinner at the Royal Palace
- Design and deliver health education workshops for local youth
- Snorkel over coral reefs
- Surf with locals on world-renowned waves in southern Bali
- Go behind the scenes of a Balinese hospital to learn about regional healthcare systems and emergency management
- Explore Bali’s jungles on a whitewater rafting adventure (21-day program only)
Program Menu
BALI
ISLAND HEALTH EXPEDITION
Sample Itinerary
Let’s take a sneak peek at what your program experience might look like this summer! Please note that the order of activities may differ for each program session. The details provided here represent a general outline of what you can anticipate, though community service projects and activities are subject to change based on the needs of our local community partners, cultural celebrations and traditions, weather conditions and the specific requirements of the student group.
Day 1: Arrival
Arrive in Denpasar and meet your GLA staff for the scenic drive to our Home Base in Ubud. Settle in, meet your cohort, and enjoy your first authentic Balinese dinner as we kick off orientation.
Day 2: Orientation, Sisya Upanayana (Welcoming Ceremony) & Banjar Workshop
Embrace the holistic Balinese greeting, Om Swastiastu, with a morning orientation and an Ubud scavenger hunt. In the afternoon, visit a local banjar (community center) for a hands-on workshop in traditional woodcarving, offering making, and Legong dance.
Day 3: Herbal Walk, Coffee Plantation & Tour Of Royal Palace
Stroll through lush jungle and rice paddies on an herbal walk to learn about native plants used in traditional medicine and food. Later, enjoy a rare private tour of the Royal Palace and a traditional dinner with a member of the royal family to discuss modern Balinese culture.
Day 4: Visit To Local Bajar & Service Intros
Return to the community center to further explore world-famous Balinese arts like gamelan and woodcarving. In the afternoon, groups split for service introductions: Health students meet their local medical student partners, while Education and Marine students connect with their NGO leads.
Day 5: Service & Site Visits
Service projects officially begin. Health students will visit the world-renowned Bumi Sehat clinic to observe natural midwifery and a unique healthcare model that balances traditional Balinese perspectives with Western medical standards.
Day 6: Service & Getting To Know The Island
Thematic groups dive into community service to address environmental or health needs. Health students explore women’s health and go behind the scenes of a local hospital to observe emergency, surgical, and inpatient care. Education & Marine students study mangrove ecosystems and the impacts of pollution.
Days 7-8: Culinary Arts & The North Coast
Master the flavors of Balinese cuisine in a morning cooking class before immersive thematic site visits. We then head north to the remote village of Pemuteran, famous for its vibrant marine life, concluding the day with a sunset boat ride.
Days 9-11: Conservation & School Service
Spend your mornings supporting sea turtle hatcheries, exploring Biorock coral restoration projects, and learning traditional salt farming. Each afternoon is dedicated to teaching health and environmental lessons at a local elementary school, culminating in a heartfelt farewell to your students.
Day 12: National Park Trekking
Immerse yourself in Bali’s diverse landscapes with a trek through the National Park. Learn about the island’s unique biodiversity firsthand and contribute to local conservation efforts by planting seedlings within the park.
Days 13-14: Underwater Exploration & Waterfalls
Explore Bali from beneath the surface! After learning dive theory and vital skills, embark on a guided scuba tour of stunning coral reefs. Afterward, journey back toward Ubud, stopping to explore a hidden waterfall before settling back into our original Home Base.
Days 15-16: Healing Traditions & Indigenous Exploration
Meet a local Balian (traditional healer) to learn about herbal medicine and energy work. Then, head off the beaten path to Amed. Along the way, trek through the jungle to the ancient Bali Aga village of Tenganan, stopping for local honey and tea with views of Mt. Agung.
Days 17-18: Coastal Wonders & Water Palaces
Spend the morning snorkeling among vibrant coral reefs and the afternoon practicing the art of glass sanding. On the return to Ubud, visit Tirta Gangga Water Palace to admire royal Balinese architecture and enjoy a final chance for souvenir shopping.
Days 19-20: River Rafting & Southern Surf
Experience Bali’s adrenaline-pumping side! Navigate the jungle river on a white-water rafting expedition, followed by a leadership session. Then, head to the southern coast for surfing lessons from world-class instructors in one of the world’s premier surf destinations.
Day 21: Departure
Enjoy one last Balinese breakfast and reflect on your journey. GLA staff will accompany you to the airport, assisting with check-in and wishing you a fond “See you later!” as you begin your journey home.
Program Map
BALI
ISLAND HEALTH EXPEDITION
Community Service
Support medical students, NGOs and community leaders in a local village. You’ll work alongside a local medical university that offers free health services to Balinese people who cannot afford treatment or live in remote areas with limited access to care. Join local medical students in a rural village to observe as they conduct free health checks and provide basic treatments. Complete your experience by helping to design and deliver a health education workshop for local youth.
For students on the 21-day program, take an excursion to the coast for a presentation on the Coral Reef Restoration Project at the Coral Triangle Centre, a local environmental health initiative.
Hands-on Learning
Bali is a cultural treasure, home to welcoming communities and architectural wonders you’ll explore throughout the island. You’ll be immersed in diverse healthcare settings, from health workshops with children to exploring the intersection of traditional and modern medicine. To better understand the local philosophy of holistic wellness, you’ll visit a natural birth clinic and take an herbal walk to see where natural remedies are grown and tour a modern medical facility to observe emergency response, surgical standards and inpatient care in a regional context.
Beyond the theme of Public Health & Medicine, experience traditional Balinese culture through full sensory immersion: temple visits, a rice paddy walk, live gamelan music, legong dance performances and dinner at the Royal Palace. Both programs offer the chance to gain insight into the practice of a traditional healer.
Adventure
With its pounding surf, emerald rice terraces and vibrant arts scene, Bali is adventure, creativity and spirituality all in one. Visit Amed, a quiet fishing village off the beaten path with charm and natural beauty to explore. You’ll take a spectacular sunrise boat ride off the coast to snorkel over coral reefs and spot marine wildlife.
Near Home Base, adventure is always close. You’ll also have the chance to surf alongside locals on world-class waves. If you’re on the 21-day program, explore Bali’s lush jungle habitats through trekking and whitewater rafting.
Lodging & Meals
On the 21-day program, your Home Base will be in Ubud, with excursions to Amed and Pemuteran. On the 14-day program, you’ll also stay in Ubud, with an excursion to Amed. Ubud, Bali’s cultural hub, offers the comforts of home along with a serene and creative energy that draws people from around the world.
You’ll stay in a variety of accommodations, from an authentic family home to a beach bungalow. Students share comfortable, gender-segregated rooms and have access to bathrooms with Western-style toilets and showers.
Balinese staples include rice, rice-based noodles, chicken, fish, tofu, veggies and tropical fruits. Cooks at Home Base serve a variety of Balinese dishes and can accommodate vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets.
BALI
ISLAND HEALTH EXPEDITION
Dates & Tuition
21-Day Program
2026 Session Dates
June 30 – July 20, 2026
Program Details
More Information
Program Location: Indonesia (Bali)
Program Theme: Medicine & Public Health
Tuition Includes All In-Country Expenses
Airport pick-up/drop-off
In-country transportation
Lodging
3 meals per day
Professional full-time staff and experts
24/7 parent support hotline during program
Secondary medical and evacuation insurance
Cultural activities, lectures and excursions
Pre-departure materials and support
Educational materials
An application fee and $600 deposit are required
to hold your spot on-program.
Backed by our 5-Point Safety System™
GLA HOME BASE:
SAFE & SECURE LODGING
CARING SUPERVISION &
EXPERT LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
SAFE
TRANSPORTATION
HEALTHY FOOD
& PURE WATER
24/7 SUPPORT &
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Recommended by Students and Parents
“My GLA trip was life-changing because it changed my perspective on another culture and was an introspective journey on my own character. I formed a family with my peers and mentors valuing the Balinese phrase “time is relationships.” This saying has taught me that each individual is important and the relationships you create should be treated with respect, care, and love. At home I live by this mantra, putting emphasis on the value of community and making others aware of their beneficial influence in my life. I am thankful for the unforgettable memories and teachings Bali has given me.”
Ariana C. | Student | 2023
BALI
ISLAND HEALTH EXPEDITION
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