Forget the tourist trails — Four Seasons has the inside scoop on Bali’s true heart. Think a hush-hush list of local gems and tucked-away corners, where culture unfolds in moments that feel deeply personal. The resort has curated a special peek at the island’s best-kept secrets — places steeped in local life and ripe for genuine connection. The tour is so secret that we were asked to refrain from geotagging the locations on social media, keeping it an exclusive experience for guests only.
You feel like a real VIP driving around in colourful, vintage Volkswagen convertibles, music blaring as the wind blows through your hair. With a personal driver and tour guide, we cruised around and visited three hidden gems about a 30-minute drive from the Four Seasons Resort Bali in Sayan.
What To Do In Ubud, Bali: ‘Can You Keep A Secret?’ Tour
The first destination was a Hindu temple in a local village. We were dressed with traditional Balinese wear — a beautiful handmade sarong and sash — which we were even gifted afterwards to take home. Our tour guide shared the significance of the architecture; the stories and meaning behind what goes on inside the temple. Often, tourist hotspots in Bali are crowded with people waiting to take photos. However, at these locations, we didn’t see any other tourists — let alone many other people — which provided a welcome sense of peace.
Visiting a Real Balinese Family Home in Ubud, Bali
You can see and feel firsthand the beautiful connection the Four Seasons has with their team and the local community; it’s woven into the very fabric of this experience. For instance, being invited into the heart of a real Balinese family home and witnessing the gentle unfolding of their everyday lives is so unique. This isn’t something you’d find in a lobby brochure. After a tour of the home, which has housed five generations of a family, we made offerings (also known as “canang sari”) with the grandmas to take to our next destination.
Creating Connection to Balinese Traditions at a Temple
The last gem on our journey was a water temple, a vibrant hub for locals and a beautiful contrast to the well-trodden path of Tirta Empul. We received instructions on how to navigate the various water spouts and participated in the ceremony with respect. We then made our wishes and finished the holy experience off by making an offering and receiving a blessing from the temple’s priest.
The “Can You Keep a Secret?” tour is available to resort guests only, with prices ranging from $382 – $532 AUD per pair with a duration of 3 hours.
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