Bali: Culture and Adventure (Older Teens)

How do flights work?

Everyone meets the group at Denpasar (DPS). There is no group flight: all students book their own flights, arrive within the published arrival window, and are met at the airport by Program Leaders. Rustic Pathways students travel to Bali from all over the world, and no route is the standard one.

Coming from the United States there is no nonstop, so expect one or two connections through an Asian hub and roughly 22 to 28 hours in transit. Coming home you cross the date line the other way and land the same calendar day you leave Bali. From Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong or the Gulf the trip is far shorter and often nonstop.

International airfare is not included in program tuition. After enrollment, our Personal Travel Advisors can help with booking and logistics wherever you are flying from.

What are the arrival and departure dates in Bali?

Dates on this page run from the day students leave the U.S. to the day the group leaves Bali. Students land in Denpasar two days after they leave the U.S.

All students fly independently, so book flights that arrive and leave on these dates. Flight times can change, so contact your Personal Travel Advisor before you book.

What's included in the price?

Included: All lodging including the village night at Rumah Desa, all meals, guided snorkeling at Jepun, scheduled activities, entrance fees and donations, ground transport and airport transfers, English-speaking local guides, Program Leaders housed on site and available overnight, and a 24/7 emergency support line for families.
Not included: International airfare, medical insurance with coverage in Indonesia (required), travel insurance (strongly recommended, not required), personal spending money.

Do you offer financial aid or scholarships?

Yes. Monthly payment plans are open to every family, and Rustic Pathways offers both need-based financial aid and merit scholarships. Explore scholarships and financial aid.

Is travel insurance required?

No. Rustic Pathways requires every participant to carry medical insurance with coverage in the destination country. Travel insurance is separate, is not included in Program Tuition, and is strongly recommended rather than required. Rustic Pathways recommends Arch RoamRight.

What is the enrollment fee?

A one-time enrollment fee is charged when you enroll, separate from the program tuition. It covers enrollment processing, pre-departure advising and trip planning.

The fee is non-refundable after the first 24 hours.

What if my family has an emergency and we have to cancel?

Some things are outside anyone’s control. If your family faces a serious documented emergency, contact us. We review these individually and will do what we reasonably can.

Separately, the published refund schedule for summer programs is:

Within 24 hours of enrolling: everything you have paid is refunded.
Up to 31 March: the program price is refunded, less the non-refundable enrollment fee and any airfare already booked.
1 to 30 April: the same, less a further 50% of the total program price.
From 1 May: no refund.

31 March is the date that matters most. Up to it you can cancel and lose only the enrollment fee and any airfare. Read the full terms.

Who supervises the group?

New Rustic Pathways Program Leaders go through a four-month selection process that includes vetting, training, evaluation and candidate winnowing. Rustic Pathways maintains a median of one staff member per 4.37 students (4.37:1), with no program exceeding 7 students per staff member (7:1).

100% of Rustic Pathways Program Leaders hold current CPR and First Aid certification, every program includes at least one leader with 3 or more years of field experience, and Program Leaders range in age from 22 to 45. On this session they travel with the group throughout, alongside the Adventure Indonesia team and English-speaking local guides; snorkeling at Jepun is led by experienced local guides.

Are rooms gender-separated, and can friends room together?

Rooms are gender-separated and every student gets an individual bed. Friends of the same gender can room together in Sanur, Ubud and Kuta; roommate requests are taken at enrollment. At Rumah Desa in Tabanan the sleeping areas are the compound’s own, simpler than a hotel and also separated by gender. Rustic Pathways Program Leaders are housed on site and available overnight.

What about medical emergencies?

Denpasar has international-standard hospitals, including BIMC and Siloam, roughly 30 minutes from Sanur and under two hours from Ubud. All Program Leaders hold current CPR and First Aid certification and the nearest clinic and hospital are mapped for every location, including the village night in Tabanan and the Mount Batur climb.

How can I reach my student, and how will Rustic Pathways update me?

Parents receive daily photo updates by email; Bali is 12 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time, so they may arrive overnight. For routine questions, call the Rustic Pathways office at +1 440-975-9691. For anything urgent, use the 24/7 emergency number in the pre-departure materials.

I'm 17 or 18. Which Bali session should I join?

Both sessions are open to you. Choose the July 5 – 14 session (ages 14 to 18) if you want to travel with high school students; see Bali: Culture and Adventure. Choose this June 28 – July 7 session if you are graduating or already in college, or if you have traveled with Rustic Pathways before and want a group at your stage. Our admissions team can help you decide.

How big is the group, and do students come on their own?

This session is capped at 22 students, all ages 17 to 20. Rustic Pathways maintains a median of one staff member per 4.37 students (4.37:1), with no program exceeding 7 students per staff member (7:1).

Most students come on their own: about 94% of Rustic Pathways students travel solo. Icebreakers on Sanur Beach on the first full day get introductions going, and friends in the age range are welcome to enroll together.

Can students from outside the U.S. join this session?

Yes, if they are 17 to 20. Rustic Pathways alumni come from 53 countries. Like every student on this program, they book their own flights to Denpasar (DPS) and are met there by Program Leaders. Visa requirements vary by passport, so contact a travel advisor for guidance.

What is the accommodation like?

Hotels in Sanur, Ubud and Kuta, plus one night at Rumah Desa in Tabanan, a working Balinese house compound where the group stays with host families. That night is the simplest lodging of the trip.

Can the program itinerary change?

This itinerary is what we intend to deliver and we work hard to deliver it. Programs run in real conditions, so activities can move for weather, health and safety, transport, site availability or local circumstances.

If plans change, the team adjusts the schedule around student safety and the purpose of the program. We will tell you what changed and why.

Can you accommodate dietary needs & food allergies?

Vegetarian and vegan are easy in Bali; much of Balinese cooking is already plant-based. Needs are collected at enrollment and shared with hotels and the village family.

Two honest caveats: shrimp paste (terasi) and peanuts are common in Indonesian cooking, and the village meal is cooked by a host family in a home kitchen rather than a commercial one. Serious nut or shellfish allergies need to be flagged early so the family can plan a separate dish.

How much spending money?

$150 to $200 per week is recommended for souvenirs and incidentals. Tipping is included in the program fee. Indonesian rupiah is the local currency and cards are accepted in Sanur and Ubud but not in the village.

Do we need a visa?

US citizens need a visa on arrival for Indonesia, bought at Denpasar or online beforehand. Passports must have at least six months validity. Requirements vary by passport, so contact a Rustic Pathways travel advisor.