Bali & Java: Culture & Landscapes of Indonesia with Patsy Gaut

• In order to enter Indonesia, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of return.
• We recommend having at least three blank passport pages for entry stamps.
• U.S. and Canadian passport holders must obtain a visa in order to enter Indonesia. You can purchase your visa at the airport upon arrival for $35 using either USD or credit card. Alternatively, you can apply for an eVisa or traditional visa in advance. To do so, visit Indonesia Immigration and follow our walkthrough guide. For additional assistance, you may use a third-party provider like VisaCentral—however, these services charge a fee in addition to the cost of your visa.
• In addition to the Indonesia visa, all foreigners entering Bali need to pay a Tourism Levy of about $10. We recommend paying for yours in advance through the Love Bali website or mobile app (Apple, Android).
• Additionally, all foreigners entering Indonesia must fill out an electronic Customs Declaration form (e-CD) within 72 hours prior to arrival. You receive a QR code which must be presented after collecting your luggage upon arrival.
• In response to the declaration of Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, Bali has implemented the following screening measures for all arriving travelers. All travelers are required to complete the SATUSEHAT Health Pass prior to departure, and receive a QR code which must be presented to the Health Quarantine Officers upon arrival. You will also be required to pass through a thermal screen designed to detect elevated body temperature of 37.5°C (99.5°F) or higher. Should you have an elevated body temperature, additional screening/testing will take place.
• If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
• You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code JAB.

• Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in and depart from Denpasar.
• Transfers to and from the airport at the beginning and end of the tour are included for travelers who purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who booked their own flights are responsible for securing their own airport transfers.
• When you arrive in Denpasar, a Go Ahead representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a Go Ahead sign or a sign with your name(s). If you don’t see a representative immediately, please be patient and stay in the arrivals area. They may be assisting another traveler who has also just arrived and will be back shortly.

Physical Activity Level

This is a very high physical activity-level tour. You can expect vigorous activity throughout the course of the tour.

Tour Pacing

This is a brisk-paced tour. The pace of a tour itinerary considers how often you’ll switch hotels, the amount of planned daily activities, and how you’ll get from place to place. You can expect:

• Most days full of included activities (more if you add excursions)
• Most transportation by motor coach, some by train and flight
• About 3 hours of bus time daily

Walking, Terrain & Physical Requirements

• Travelers should be prepared to walk 3-5 miles per day—this includes city streets, dirt paths, stairs, and hills.
• Stone walkways may be slippery even when dry.
• Tour includes a yoga class.
• Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance.
• Please Note: Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on tour.

Climate Considerations

• Travelers can expect, hot, humid days throughout the year, typically with a high temperature in the mid-80sF.
• Dry season is typically from April through October in most regions.

Physical Activity & Tour Pace Questions

• Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special mobility or luggage handling assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group enjoys a smooth and informative journey, and they can’t be relied on to provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
• This tour moves at a reasonable pace to avoid missing scheduled stops. The rest of the group cannot miss any scheduled activities because of the needs of an individual.
• Due to the pace and physical activity level of this tour, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers will be difficult to use and are not recommended. Please notify Go Ahead Tours before your departure if you plan to bring these on tour with you.
• If you have mobility concerns or tour pacing questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team.

• This tour includes various modes of transportation, including planes, trains and private motor coach. Some modes of transportation will have raised platforms or steps and often not provide access to ramps or lifts.
• Flights from Denpasar to Yogyakarta and Surabaya to Denpasar, as well as a train from Yogyakarta to Mojokerto are included in the price of your tour.
• The tour extension also includes flights between Denpasar (on the island of Bali) and Komodo.
• All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
• Train stations typically operate similarly to airports: Security measures, such as baggage and body scanners, are common. Additionally, platforms are often spread across large distances and require travelers to carry their luggage up and down escalators or stairs. Porterage services aren’t offered and storage space is extremely limited. Please keep in mind that trains may only stop at each station for a few minutes; quick boarding and deboarding may be imperative.

• Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one personal item per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which includes a flight.
• Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
• Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights.
• Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
• Travelers must be able to manage their luggage throughout tour; porters aren’t guaranteed at hotels or airports.
• Luggage storage on trains is extremely limited, and often requires travelers to lift their suitcases onto storage racks, sometimes above the seats.

• We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
• A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
• Waterproof shoes or sandals, a swimsuit, reef-safe sunscreen, and a hat are recommended for outdoor activities. You may also want to bring insect repellent and sunglasses.
• Binoculars can come in handy if you’d like to take a closer look at local wildlife and scenery.
• You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
• It’s preferable not to visit temples or other holy places with bare legs or shoulders—entrance may be denied on this basis.
• We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
• In case of emergencies, we also recommend packing your medical insurance card in your carry-on.

• Go Ahead handpicks every hotel you’ll stay at, striking a balance between comfort, location, and local charm.
• Specific properties will vary based on your departure date, but are typically three-to-four-star hotels; always include private bathrooms; and usually have in-room safes for valuables. Additionally, your hotels will have Wi-Fi, but access may be limited to common areas. There may also not be elevators.
• Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that your accommodations will have laundry services or facilities. We recommend checking directly with your hotels once they’ve been confirmed, about 30 days prior to departure.
• Some hotels on this tour are situated on narrow streets; as such, our buses can’t drop you off right out front. In these instances, you’ll have to walk your luggage to the property, no more than a few blocks.
• Please be advised that the air conditioning in Asian hotels and buildings is often not as strong or cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada.
• Indonesia operates on 230 volts and use Types C and F plugs with two small, round pins.
• Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date.

• Excursions are available for purchase prior to departure, and most excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour directly through your mobile app for an additional $10 USD.
• We recommend purchasing excursions at least 3 days prior to your tour departure. Please note some excursions have advance booking deadlines. Check your tour itinerary for more information to ensure you don’t miss the deadline to add them.
• Optional excursions may be canceled on tour due to reasons like low enrollment, weather or unexpected closures. If an excursion you signed up for is canceled by Go Ahead Tours, you will be refunded the full cost of the excursion. Please note it may take up to 60 days for your refund to be processed.
• Your Tour Director may offer their own optional excursions which can only be purchased on tour via cash (in local currency).

• At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
• If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies, please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
• If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour, as well as any possible delays encountered.
• Certain over-the-counter and prescription medications may be banned in Indonesia. Importing these drugs can carry severe consequences, including imprisonment. Please consult your healthcare provider prior to departure to ensure that any drugs you may want to bring with you are legal in Indonesia.
• If you choose to go swimming, be careful of powerful surf. Make sure to obey signs and lifeguards’ orders, and always swim between the marked flags.
• Drink bottled water only. Refrain from drinking tap water, including when brushing your teeth.
• Avoid eating fresh fruits and vegetables unless they are cooked or washed in clean water and peeled.
• You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code JAB.

• This tour includes 4 lunches and 4 dinners: They may be set menus, buffets, or family-style meals, depending on the location. Dinners also include one glass of beer, wine, or a soft drink, as well as water, coffee, and tea.
• Breakfast each morning is also included at the hotel and is typically buffet style with hot and cold options.
• Indonesian cuisine gets its rich flavor from local herbs and spices, and it relies heavily on the island’s most abundant crop: rice. Popular local dishes include ayam pelalah (shredded chicken cooked in spices, lime, and chili), nasi rawon (beef stew made using the keluak nut), and nasi uduk (rice cooked in coconut milk served with fried chicken, shredded omelette, anchovies, soybean cake, and sambal).

• At the conclusion of your tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in USD.
• We recommend tipping $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and $3USD per person per day for your driver.
• If applicable, we also recommend $2USD per local guide.
• Tips can only be paid in cash.
• If you are traveling to multiple countries with different currencies and the same Tour Director, ask them what currency they prefer for their tip.
• The cost of porterage is included in your tour price, and it is not necessary to tip baggage handlers.

• You will use the the Indonesian rupiah on tour.
• Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
• We strongly advise that you take debit and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
• You can use most cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
• International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you don’t already have at least one card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
• Please note that counterfeiting can be an issue on the island of Bali.
• Plan ahead and bring cash to tip your Tour Director, local guides, and bus drivers. We also recommend keeping coins in the local currency on hand, as some public bathrooms may charge a fee for use.

• To help you feel prepared before traveling on tour, we strongly recommend downloading the EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app. It’s free and provides information about important deadlines and entry requirements, as well as your detailed itinerary, packing tips, and more. You can also connect with fellow travelers through the app’s chat feature.
• Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
• There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
• Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

• Your Tour Director will be leading your group throughout your journey. You will have the same Tour Director throughout your tour.
• The role of the Tour Director is not only to provide information and context on the destinations you visit, but also to confirm services, coordinate inclusions, prepare each days’ activities and support travelers while on tour. As such, they must focus on the success of the group, and cannot provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.

• One of the benefits of traveling with EF Go Ahead Tours is our on tour emergency support team.
• Our extensive network of offices around the world, and our integration of ISO 31000: Risk Management Guidelines, help our dedicated 24/7 Emergency Service teams anticipate and address on-tour challenges in a flexible and iterative way.
• This team supports travelers and Tour Directors using a combination of extensive training, simulations, incident response planning, and decades of experience to help manage emergencies if they arise, ranging from personal health concerns or injuries to major world events.
• As needed, On Tour Support can facilitate additional support for travelers on tour, arrange assistance from outside specialists, and liaise with local and international authorities to help solve on-the-ground issues. In addition, the team is dedicated to supporting and facilitating communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency while on the road or at home.

• The island of Java is seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and 12 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST).
• Bali and Komodo are eight hours ahead of GMT and 13 hours ahead of EST.
• When it’s 9 am in New York, it’s 9 pm on the island of Java and 10 pm on the islands of Bali and Komodo.

• When you travel with Go Ahead Tours, you’ll make a positive impact on the places you visit and the people and animals you meet along the way. That’s because our three core Responsible Travel commitments—protecting the environment, supporting local communities, and promoting animal welfare—are at the heart of every tour we offer.
• Travel, when done responsibly, can have an enormous socioeconomic impact on communities. To maximize your impact, eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at small businesses. Ask your Tour Director to point out restaurants they recommend.
• Prepare for your trip: Be aware of monetary norms such as tipping and negotiating in a market; learn about the destination’s forms of etiquette; and take some time to learn a few words in the local language.
• When interacting with locals, make sure to ask people for permission before you take their picture, and approach cultural differences with empathy and an open mind.
• Go Ahead Tours encourages travelers to limit their waste while on the road, especially single-use plastics. You can cut back on generating plastic waste by packing your own toiletries, using electronic documents, and bringing a reusable water bottle and shopping bag. If you need to use plastics or paper, please recycle.
• When you come across wild animals on tour, take the philosophies of World Animal Protection to heart: Don’t touch or feed them, and maintain a respectful distance. The animals you encounter on your trip should be able to exhibit natural forms of behavior.
• Furthermore, avoid buying exploitative animal products, like crafts made from tortoiseshell or meals such as shark fin soup.
• If you feel we aren’t meeting any of these commitments, please let us know.