Introduction
Hey! I’m Harry, senior marketing exec within the Camp brands, & I’ve just returned from the most unreal week in Bali on our brand new Bali Experience tour. Granted, the customer tour is 15 days, & mine was condensed to 7 days, but I got to experience so, so much. From trekking a volcano at sunrise, to learning to surf for the very first time, I can’t wait to tell you all what I got up to.
The Camp Bali Vibe
Firstly, can I be 100% honest with you? Yes? Great… Even though I’ve worked within the tour industry for over a year, I still was wary about the thought of paying for one… Are they really good value for money? Can I do it all myself for cheaper? These thoughts were completely & utterly blown away when I joined the trip. When I tell you I didn’t have to lift a finger or even have thought about anything for 99% of the trip, I’m being serious. Mini bus to a temple in Ubud, walk around, shop, mini bus to a waterfall, get some pics, mini bus, repeat - it was all planned so well. No waiting around, no getting annoyed or stressed, it was honestly bliss compared to life at home!
I think the thing that sets aside a Camp Bali trip from other companies is the true feeling of community when on the trip. Of course when a trip first starts, no-one knows each other & it can be a smidge awkward, but our guide nipped that in the bud straight away. I felt like my guide was my older sister - caring for me, laughing with me, even partying with me - it was the perfect mix. A great guide + a great, like-minded group of travellers = the best trip ever.
Favourite Moments
Okay, let’s dive into some of the activities (literally 🤿). Starting off with the much anticipated volcano trek - who can say they’ve done this!? Imagine it, 1:30am wake up knowing that in a few hours you’re going to be at the top of a volcano, watching the sunrise, & having a cup of coffee. Wow! Going up Mount Batur was actually the easy part; we had hiking sticks & head torches, meaning we could traverse quite well up the dirt & rock paths to the peak. It took us about 90 minutes before we reached the summit, & then it was simply time to wait for the sun to make an appearance. After we experienced the best sunrise of our lifetimes, nibbled on a cheese sandwich, & caffeinated ourselves with coffee, it was time for the downwards hike. Now on paper, this sounds easy, however my feet would say otherwise. I slipped a few times due to the loose sand & volcanic rock being spread across the downwards trail, but hey, it was a part of the experience. After my hands were in bits & a little traumatised from publicly slipping down a volcano, our onward journey to the natural hot springs were a god send. These springs are just what you need after trekking a volcano. Gorgeous views, warm water, & even cocktails if you fancy. Oh, & FYI, this was all before 9am!
Moving onto a topic that a lot of people have either experienced or is on their bucket list… Snorkelling! Bali is a fantastic place for first time snorkelers, with crystal clear water, & a plethora of underwater fishies to swim past & observe. We had the pleasure of snorkelling the Gili Islands & Nusa Pendia which was one of the best snorkeling excursions I’ve done! We saw gentle turtles graze the sea floor & give us a wave as we watched them from the surface. Honestly, nothing really prepares you to see your first wild turtle - it’s quite surreal. Around Nusa Penida, the schools of fish were humongous & really did not care that you were swimming with them. We even fed them bread, which resulted in some sick Instagram pics. Top tip - bring travel sickness tablets if boat rides make you nauseous as the little boats can be quite rocky! Or, if you’re an adrenaline junkie like me, you can scream to “go faster”.
Behind the Scenes / Funny Moments
What makes a group trip so memorable aren’t the experiences in my opinion - it’s the small moments you have with your new found friends that stick with you forever. From small inside jokes to group wide pranks, the fun never stops. One moment that sticks with my group is actually at the expense of my ego - falling off my bike multiple times in Gili T. Let’s set the scene quickly - the Gili Islands have illegalised motorised vehicles, so horses & bicycles are the only way of transport, & if you haven’t ridden a bike in 16 years like myself, it feels pretty foreign. Mix that with the busy coastline of Gili T, & it’s a shaky ride for sure. Even though I decked it a few times after one too many try-hard maneuvers, I look back at it & laugh.
On a Camp trip, all the guides are local, which means they speak the home language & can finesse things that I believe English guides wouldn’t be able to do. Having my guide speak perfect English & Balinese meant I learned so many phrases I could use in bars, restaurants, & markets. Of course, as well, we taught our guide some local lingo from back home that she now can use for future tours to come. For my job's sake… Don’t ask her what we taught her. Lol.
What I Learned
I think one thing on social media that annoys people in relation to Bali is the phrase ‘I found myself’ & I’m guilty of feeling the same way before I visited. However, I do relate to that phrase even just a little since coming home. It’s an island that harbours such kindness & spirituality, which makes it the perfect destination for a young solo traveller… And that was me! Even just a week in Bali has made me realise that there is so much out there for us to explore & now more than ever, it’s so accessible. Even if you have the smallest inkling that you want to travel somewhere, just do it. ‘What if’s’ become more frequent as you get older & it’s a phrase I don’t want to carry into my 30s! So now, I’m committing myself to travelling more, & experiencing new aspects of life I haven’t even thought about. Six years to 30, hopefully 6 new countries!
Final Thoughts
If you’re thinking about joining Camp Bali, or any Camp trip for that matter - do it. You’ll come home with memories, opinions, & beliefs, to last a lifetime. My Camp Bali chapter is now complete… It’s time to start yours.
Quick Q+A
What surprised you the most?
Listen… People have opinions on Bali that range from ‘it’s dirty’ to ‘it’s too westernised’ so I went into this trip with an open mind & actually not knowing what to expect. What I can tell you is that I felt safe every single second of the trip, I didn’t get poorly once, & I never looked at any street thinking it was ‘dirty’. It’s Asia, not Europe, & there are going to be differences. Just be respectful & realise you were around the other side of the world.
One thing you would pack next time?
OK - this isn’t something I would pack, but something I wouldn’t! Don’t pack bug spray. Yes, that sounds crazy, because you will need it, but trust me. Bali supermarkets & mini marts will have the best bug spray ever. It’s pink & smells unreal.
How much money should I bring?
To keep this short & sweet, in 7 days, I spent £190 on food, snacks, drinks, & souvenirs.. That’s around £27 a day. Food is cheap over there so don’t stress.