Five Pillar Experiences runs three kinds of trip, and from the outside the names do not make the difference obvious. A Curated Tour, a Heroes Journey and a 2 Days 1 Night journey can all involve a village, a local host and a good lunch. What separates them is time, group size, how the price works and who you spend the day with.
This guide is built to get you to the right one quickly. Start with the short version and the chooser below, then read the section for the format that fits.
The short version
The three formats in one minute
- 2 Days 1 Night. Private overnight journeys to 23 places around Bali, from Negara in the far west to Amed in the east and out to Nusa Penida. Fixed per-person prices, with transport, a guide and the listed meals included, and an optional hotel room. Book and pay online.
- Curated Tours. Shorter programs, mostly two to four hours, all in the Ubud and Gianyar area and most within 15 to 20 minutes of Ubud. Built for groups. Priced on request.
- Heroes Journey. Time with a named Local Hero, a person running a project in their own community, in places from Jembrana and Buleleng to Klungkung, Tabanan and Badung. Mostly three to four hours, by arrangement, priced on request.
A quick chooser
- You have one free morning near Ubud: a Curated Tour. Most take two to three hours.
- You have two days and do not want to organize anything: a 2 Days 1 Night journey. Driver, guide and meals are handled, and you can add the hotel room when you book.
- You are a group of 10 or more: a Curated Tour. The Royal Palace Heritage Walk takes 5 to 50 people.
- You are traveling alone: a 2 Days 1 Night journey, which is priced for a single guest too, or Waste to Wisdom, the one Curated Tour that runs from one person.
- You are two people who want depth: a Heroes Journey. Most start from two guests, and a few keep numbers deliberately low, such as Healing the Balinese Way at a maximum of five.
- You want to learn a craft: mask carving with Komang Mega or wayang kulit puppet making with Pak Jero Sudira (Heroes Journey), Threads of Tradition or Bamboo Weaving with Artisans (Curated Tour), or Kamasan painting on the Klungkung journey.
- You are staying far from Ubud: a Heroes Journey near you, such as Ketut Danu’s coral restoration near Pemuteran or Meet the Prince of Trash near Negara, or a 2 Days 1 Night journey with pickup from your hotel.
- You need to know the price today: 2 Days 1 Night. Prices are published; the other two formats are quoted.
- You are booking less than three days out: online booking for 2 Days 1 Night needs three days’ notice, so send a request and ask what is possible.
2 Days 1 Night: when an overnight makes sense
Choose this when the place is far enough, or good enough, that a day trip would waste it. Sleeping in Jatiluwih, Munduk or Sidemen means you see it in the early morning, before the day-trippers, and you do not spend half of a single day in a car.
Each journey has a fixed per-person price that drops as your group grows, and the journey page shows the price for your group size before you book. Transport for both days, a guide and the activities are included, along with the meals listed: two lunches on most journeys, plus a dinner on the island trips and Kintamani. The hotel night with breakfast is an optional add-on you can choose when you book. Most dinners, travel insurance, flights and fast-boat tickets unless stated, personal spending and tips are not included.
Two good starting points: the Ubud journey for first-timers, with Balinese dress and canang-making at Puri Peliatan, the Sacred Monkey Forest, an evening dance and an art museum; and the Sanur journey for an easy pace, with a mangrove walk, ecoprint and natural incense making, morning yoga and a coastal cycle. For early risers, Kintamani puts you in a lakeside glamping tent inside the Batur caldera before a 4×4 sunrise.
Curated Tours: a few hours, close to Ubud
Choose a Curated Tour when you are based in or near Ubud and want a focused few hours on one subject: a village, a market, a craft, a ritual. They are designed for groups, most for five to 30 people, which makes them a natural fit for families, friends traveling together, schools and companies. Prices depend on group size and date, so each tour page has a Check availability button instead of a price.
Two to look at first: the Living Heritage Village Walking Tour in Bedulu, two to three hours among temples, family compounds and the banjar system that runs village life; and the Royal Palace Heritage Walk in Peliatan, two to three hours of palace history, architecture and royal stories for 5 to 50 people. For early risers, the Traditional Market Adventure runs within a 6 AM to 11 AM window.
The trade-off: most Curated Tours have a minimum of five guests, so a couple should ask before planning a day around one. Waste to Wisdom is the exception, running from a single guest.
Heroes Journey: an afternoon with the person doing the work
Choose a Heroes Journey when who you meet matters most. Each is built around a Local Hero: a coral restorer, a mask carver, a firefly conservationist, a waste campaigner, a healer. You spend a few hours inside their project, at their pace, and the conversation is as much the point as the activity.
Two examples from different corners of the island: Where Masks Tell Stories of Heritage with Komang Mega in Mas, where you explore a small mask museum, watch a live mask performance and carve and paint your own; and the Coral Restoration Project with Ketut Danu in Pejarakan, 15 minutes from Pemuteran, with a short traditional boat ride to the restoration area, snorkeling over the reef and a look at the mangroves.
The trade-off: these are real people with real work, so dates depend on their schedules. Ask early, especially for small programs such as Healing the Balinese Way (two to five people) or Living with Nature Experience (two to 10).
Combining formats
The formats combine well. One pattern that works:
- Base yourself in Ubud and book a Curated Tour on your first morning, while you are still getting your bearings.
- Add a Heroes Journey later in the week, with the person you most want to meet.
- Finish with a 2 Days 1 Night journey somewhere you would not reach on a day trip, such as Negara, Pemuteran or Nusa Penida.
If you are heading west anyway, note that the Negara journey starts in Negara itself and Meet the Prince of Trash is about 15 minutes from the center of town, so ask whether both can fit around your dates.
How to book or ask
- 2 Days 1 Night: choose the journey, your date and the number of guests. Book online at least three days ahead and pay by bank transfer or card, or send a request and pay later.
- Curated Tours and Heroes Journeys: press Check availability on the program page and send your preferred date, group size and where you are staying.
- Any format: mention children’s ages, dietary needs and any mobility limits up front, since they shape the day.
Questions travelers ask
Are the 2 Days 1 Night journeys private?
Yes. They are private overnight trips, so your group travels on its own with a guide rather than joining strangers.
Can we bring children?
Yes, and some journeys suit families particularly well: Bedugul, Lovina, Kedungu and Nusa Dua are the ones marked best for families. Our guide to two-day trips with kids goes through the options.
What is not included?
On 2 Days 1 Night journeys: most dinners, flights and fast-boat tickets unless stated, personal spending and gratuities. For Curated Tours and Heroes Journeys, ask when you request availability.
