Arrive at Ngurah Rai International Airport, where our team will meet you at scheduled arrival times and transfer you to your briefing hotel in Ubud.

Set among rice fields, temples, cafés, galleries and creative spaces, Ubud is one of Bali’s best-known cultural centres and an ideal place to begin your Global Futures journey. After checking in, you’ll have time to settle into your room, recover from the flight and get your first feel for the local area.

Throughout the afternoon, you’ll meet the Think Pacific team and fellow participants as the group comes together. Depending on your arrival time, there may be time to relax by the hotel, explore nearby cafés and streets, or simply take things slowly before the programme begins in full.

In the evening, come together for your first included welcome dinner. It’s a relaxed chance to get to know your teammates, meet your Programme Leaders, hear more about what lies ahead and celebrate the start of your 18-day experience in Bali.

Kick off the programme with your full Global Futures briefing and get ready for the journey ahead. Meet the team, explore how the programme works and learn more about Balinese culture, customs and responsible travel. We’ll introduce the key themes that will run throughout your time in Bali — from community and sustainability to culture, enterprise and the changing pressures facing the island.

You’ll also look at how to approach the programme with curiosity and respect, what to expect from community life and how to make the most of the organisations, people and experiences you’ll encounter along the way.

In the afternoon visit a local coffee plantation to discover some of the crops grown across the island and sample local products. Finish by  exploring the iconic Tegallalang Rice Terraces, where you’ll get your first glimpse of Bali’s famous agricultural landscape and the traditional relationship between farming, community and the environment.

In the evening, return to the hotel for an included group dinner and a chance to relax, catch up with your team and reflect on your first full day in Bali.

Spend a relaxed morning with your team in Ubud before leaving the city behind and travelling into more rural areas of Bali for the next stage of the programme and our rural team building base.

Our main team-building base is Bali Kuno, although we also work with similar community owned properties.  These settings are intentionally rustic and back-to-basics, with shared rooms, simple facilities and outdoor shared showers. The contrast with your hotel stay is all part of the experience.

This part of Bali feels very different from Ubud, think lush jungle, rice fields, small villages, winding rural roads and green hills, with a quieter pace and a much closer connection to the landscape.

The simple setting encourages everyone to switch off from everyday routines and city life, spend time outdoors as a team, get to know one another and embrace the experience together. It’s a chance to step outside your comfort zone, build confidence and create the kind of shared memories that help bring the group together for the rest of the programme.

In the evening, settle into camp life with a shared meal and relaxed team time.

Spend the day taking on a mix of outdoor challenges and cultural activities designed to bring the group together and prepare you for the next stage of the programme.

Activities vary between groups, but may include team hikes, mud games, problem-solving tasks and other shared challenges that build confidence, communication and trust.

The camp is run by a local village team, giving you a unique introduction to Balinese culture before you move into the community. You may learn how to make traditional offerings, sample local foods and explore customs, traditions and everyday practices with local staff.

It’s a fun, hands-on day that combines teamwork with cultural learning, helping you step outside your comfort zone, connect with your group and arrive in the village with more confidence and understanding.

In the evening, wind down with shared food, games, conversation or a campfire.

Enjoy a slower morning at the team-building camp, with a final cultural activity such as yoga, river blessing  or chocolate making before lunch.

In the afternoon, travel to a traditional community just south of Ubud known for its strong artistic heritage, village temples, family compounds and long-established woodcarving traditions. You’ll begin with a homestay family welcome and introduction, giving you a first sense of how daily life, culture and family are woven together in the village.

You’ll then settle into your locally owned accommodation, set within or alongside traditional family compounds. Participants stay in their own shared rooms with teammates, while still being surrounded by everyday village life.

Meet your local hosts, explore the surrounding streets and get comfortable in your new setting before coming together for your first evening meal in the homestay . It’s a gentle introduction to community life and the start of one of the most immersive parts of the programme.

Begin your community stay with a guided Village Discovery Walk through Mas, exploring the places and traditions that shape everyday life. Visit the local Banjar Hall, learn about the role of the village temple, discover Bali’s traditional Subak irrigation system and meet local artisans in a community renowned for its creative heritage

Later, visit a family-run art studio for a hands-on batik painting workshop. Learn about traditional techniques, patterns and meanings before creating your own piece to take home.

Throughout the day, you’ll begin your Global Futures Cultural Reflection. Rather than simply observing what is different, you’ll be encouraged to notice, ask questions and reflect on what you are experiencing. You might consider how community, culture, spirituality, creativity and everyday life connect, and how your own assumptions or perspectives may be challenged.

This reflection will continue throughout the programme. You’ll collect thoughts, observations and personal insights that will help you prepare for a short Cultural Reflection sharing during the Farewell Ceremony towards the end of your journey.

Travel to Sanur for a hands-on coastal conservation experience with a local conservation organisation working to restore and protect mangrove ecosystems while supporting coastal communities. Their work combines environmental restoration, community empowerment, local livelihoods and education around the importance of healthy coastlines.

Learn why mangroves matter from protecting coastlines and supporting biodiversity to helping communities adapt to climate change and see how restoration is carried out in practice.

Depending on local conditions, you may take part in activities such as preparing seedlings, planting mangroves or learning about how young plants are nurtured before being introduced into the ecosystem.

It’s a chance to get hands-on, ask questions and understand how conservation connects with livelihoods, tourism and community life in Bali.

After lunch, slow the pace with a relaxed afternoon at Sanur Beach. Swim, explore the beachfront or simply enjoy some downtime by the coast and have a group dinner at Sanur before returning to the village later in the day.

Visit one of our inspiring Bali-based partner organisations for an interactive Global Futures Sprint, a light introduction to design thinking and a warm-up for your larger Action Project later in the programme.

You’ll meet the people behind the organisation, learn about their work and explore a real question linked to themes such as sustainability, climate action, biodiversity, community development or responsible enterprise.

After time to ask questions and understand the context, enjoy lunch before working in small teams to explore the challenge, consider different perspectives and generate ideas.

You’ll then come back together to share your thinking in a relaxed, informal way. The aim isn’t to find the perfect answer, it’s to practise listening, questioning, collaborating and approaching a real-world challenge before taking on your bigger Global Futures Action Project.

The aim is to learn and understand how local organisations are approaching change in Bali and to take those ideas and perspectives with you as the programme continues. This is great practice ahead of your Global Futures Action Project.

Travel around 2 hours east from Ubud into Karangasem, a quieter and more rural part of Bali shaped by rice fields, forested hills, traditional villages and the slopes of Mount Agung.

Tenganan sits inland near the coastal town of Candidasa and is one of Bali’s best-known Bali Aga communities, with traditions that pre-date many of the cultural influences seen elsewhere on the island.

Spend the morning exploring Tenganan Pegringsingan, learning about its distinctive village layout, community traditions and architecture.

After lunch, switch culture for adventure with a visit to one of East Bali’s waterfalls, selected depending on the route and local conditions. This may include locations around Karangasem or the lush Sidemen area, where Goa Raja Waterfall cascades through dramatic rock formations into natural pools, surrounded by lush tropical forest and the striking entrance of a natural cave

Take time to explore, cool off and enjoy the landscape before returning for dinner after a full day experiencing a quieter, more traditional side of Bali.

Today you’ll meet the organisation behind your Global Futures Action Project and begin exploring a genuine challenge connected to their work.

Hear directly from the founder, leadership team or project staff about how the organisation began, what they are trying to achieve and the realities they face on the ground.

You’ll have time to ask questions, understand the local context and explore the wider social, environmental or business issues connected to the challenge.

The focus is on listening first and asking questions. Consider different perspectives and identify the part of the challenge you want to explore further.

In the afternoon, head to a co-working space in Ubud where you’ll break into small teams and begin shaping your response. Discuss ideas, test assumptions and think about questions such as sustainability, potential impact and what might work realistically in the local context.

You’ll continue developing your ideas over the following days before sharing your response directly with the partner later in the programme.

Finish the day with time to have dinner in Ubud as a team.

Take on the Ayung River, one of  Bali’s longest river and one of the island’s most spectacular natural settings, for a white-water rafting experience through the jungle valleys surrounding Ubud.

With experienced rafting guides leading the way, spend around two hours navigating a mix of gentle and more energetic rapids as the river winds between steep rock walls, tropical forest, waterfalls and dramatic riverside scenery.

Along the route, you’ll also pass quieter stretches where you can take in the landscape and, depending on conditions, pause for a swim or cool off beneath a waterfall.

The rafting is designed to be fun and accessible rather than extreme, making it a great shared challenge for the whole group. You’ll need to communicate, paddle together and support your teammates as you make your way downstream.

It’s one of the programme’s standout adventure experiences and a completely different way to experience Bali.

In the afternoon, enjoy some free time in Ubud to explore independently, enjoying Ubud’s markets, cafés and local streets and a chance to switch off, reflect on the day and enjoy the city at your own pace.

Spend the morning joining local youth community for a Dance and Gamelan Workshop, providing the opportunity to learn traditional Balinese dance and music firsthand. Rather than simply watching a performance, participants are invited to experience the discipline, teamwork and cultural significance behind these traditions. 

In the afternoon Head north from Ubud to Taro Village and meet the team behind Bring Back The Light, a community-led conservation initiative working to protect Bali’s disappearing firefly populations and restore the habitats they depend on.

Learn why fireflies are much more than a beautiful evening sight. Their presence can be a sign of a healthy ecosystem, and their decline is closely linked to changes in farming, pesticide use, water quality, light pollution and habitat loss.

Meet the people behind the project, hear how they work alongside local farmers and discover the practical steps being taken to create healthier conditions for fireflies to return.

You’ll explore the relationship between agriculture, biodiversity and community life, learn more about the firefly life cycle and see how conservation can be built into everyday farming practices.

Then, as daylight fades, head out into the rice fields for the highlight of the experience, watching the landscape come alive as fireflies begin to glow across the fields.

It’s a peaceful and memorable way to experience conservation in action and to see Bali’s rural environment from a completely different perspective.

Finish the evening with dinner in the village, rounding off one of the programme’s most distinctive and atmospheric experiences.

The aim of today is to slow things down and experience Bali differently, not just as a visitor, but through the routines, conversations and small moments that make up daily community life.

Prepare Indonesian dishes together with the local elementary student and community, learn about local ingredients, support English practice for the elementary student and share stories and sit down to enjoy the meal as a group. It’s a relaxed chance to connect, ask questions and understand more about the people and traditions behind the food.

In the afternoon, take time to reset with a guided yoga session for wellbeing before enjoying dinner in Ubud, then watch a traditional Balinese dance performance, bringing together movement, music, storytelling and spirituality to end a day centred on culture, connection and reflection.

Bring together everything you’ve learned so far and spend the morning developing your Global Futures Action Project.

Work with your team to refine your ideas, strengthen your response and decide how best to share your thinking with the partner.

This is where the programme starts to come together. You’ll draw on what you’ve learned from local organisations, community life and different perspectives across Bali, while strengthening skills in teamwork, communication, problem-solving, critical thinking and sharing ideas clearly.

In the afternoon, visit the Bali Wildlife Rescue Centre to learn more about wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation in Bali. The visit offers an opportunity to understand the challenges faced by rescued animals and the importance of protecting Bali’s wildlife.

After the visit, slow down with a swimming session before returning to the homestay. End the day with dinner at your homestay and time to relax with your host family.

Return to your Action Project partner and bring the project to a close by sharing your team’s ideas directly with the organisation.

Talk through your thinking, explain how you approached the challenge and hear feedback from the people who know the issue best.

This is a chance to bring together everything you’ve explored across the programme, from sustainability, culture and responsible enterprise to teamwork, problem-solving and different ways of seeing a challenge.

The focus is not on having the “right” answer or solving a challenge, but on showing that you have listened, thought carefully and developed a considered response as a team.

Afterwards, celebrate the experience with lunch before switching pace completely.

Head to a pool overlooking rice terraces for a relaxed afternoon of swimming, tropical views and well-earned downtime with your group.

It’s a great way to mark the end of the Action Project, finishing on a high, taking time to reflect and enjoying one of Bali’s more luxurious sides.

Start early and head north towards Kintamani, one of Bali’s most dramatic highland regions.

As the sun rises, take in sweeping views across Mount Batur, Lake Batur and the surrounding volcanic landscape and a completely different side of Bali from Ubud and the coast.

Enjoy breakfast with the mountains in front of you and take some time to soak up the scenery as the day begins.

Afterwards, relax at a natural hot spring, with warm volcanic waters and views across the lake and highlands.

It’s a slower, restorative morning and a chance to enjoy one of Bali’s most beautiful natural settings after a busy programme.

Later, return to the village and take some time to reflect on your journey — the people you’ve met, the places you’ve experienced and the moments that have challenged or changed your perspective.

In the evening, come together with local hosts and community members to reflect. Share a few thoughts, lessons or memories from your time in Bali, thank the people who have welcomed you and celebrate the connections built throughout your stay.

It’s a meaningful way to close your time in the community, combining gratitude, reflection and one final evening together before the programme moves into its final stage.

Enjoy a slow final morning in the village, with time to pack, spend a little longer with your local hosts and take in the surroundings that have become familiar during your stay.

In the afternoon, travel south to Sanur, a relaxed coastal town known for its calm waters, long beachfront, cafés and easy-going atmosphere.

Settle into your final hotel and enjoy some free time to explore at your own pace.

Optional activities include swimming, snorkelling, paddle boarding, cycling along the beachfront, or simply unwind by the beach or hotel pool.

In the evening, come together for your final group dinner.

Look back on the places you’ve explored, the people you’ve met, the challenges you’ve taken on and the friendships built along the way.

It’s a chance to celebrate the end of the journey, share favourite memories and enjoy one last evening together before heading home.

After 18 days of adventure, culture, connection and professional discovery, it’s time to say goodbye to Bali.

Today is the close of the programme. Our team can arrange transport to the airport or you may choose to extend your stay and explore Bali and Indonesia independently.

After sharing meals, community life, challenges and unforgettable experiences together, leaving can be a surprisingly emotional moment.

Our aim is for every participant to return home with new friendships, greater confidence, fresh perspectives and memories that last, along with experiences and skills you can carry into your future studies, career and travels.

Included:

Welcome & Orientation

• Airport pickup when arriving within our recommended arrival times
• Two-day briefing and orientation
• Two nights at a rural team-building camp, including structured activities and all meals

Accommodation

• Comfortable hotels for briefing and debrief, usually twin-share
• Rustic team-building camp with shared accommodation
• Community accommodation within a traditional Balinese village, with rooms of up to six participants

Meals

• Two meals per day as standard, usually breakfast plus lunch or dinner
• Please budget around £2–£5 for meals not included

Culture, Adventure & Wellbeing

• White-water rafting
• Kintamani sunrise experience
• Rice terraces and coffee plantation
• Natural hot springs
• Yoga and wellbeing activities
• Ubud markets, cafés and independent exploration
• Sanur beach time
• Cultural performances and workshops
• Team challenges and outdoor activities

Learning & Development

• Visits and experiences with local partner organisations
• Global Futures Sprint
• Global Futures Action Project

Support & Safety

• 24/7 support from Think Pacific Programme Leaders
• Local guides and Bali-based staff
• In-country management and pastoral support
• Risk assessments, briefings, debriefs and regular check-ins

In-Country Travel

• Private air-conditioned transport throughout
• Airport pickup at scheduled times
• Transfers between accommodation, activities and programme locations

Pre-Departure Support

• Email and telephone support
• Dedicated UK Programme Coordinator
• Comprehensive online preparation portal
• Live pre-departure webinars
• Cultural and programme preparation
• Certificate of Completion

The following items are not included in your programme fee, but our team will provide guidance and support before you travel:

• International Flights — typically around £700–£1,000, depending on when and where you book.
• Travel Insurance — typically around £50–£100. We’ll provide guidance on the cover required.
• Tourist Visa — approximately £30, depending on nationality and current entry requirements.
• Vaccinations — costs vary depending on your circumstances and the advice you receive from a healthcare professional.

Spending Money

You’ll mainly need spending money for a small number of meals, drinks, snacks, a local SIM card, souvenirs and other personal purchases.

As a guide, we recommend budgeting around £200–£300 for the full 18-day programme.

This programme is open to anyone aged 18+, with most participants aged 18–24.

The majority of our participants are university students, but we also welcome graduates, gap year students or anyone looking for a meaningful summer experience.

It’s a team experience and we want you to collaborate and get to know new people, strong friendships often form during and after our programmes.

Global Futures is designed as a university global mobility programme and the aims meet the requirements of personal and professional development to increase employability.  Consequently our programme is often eligible for funding through our large network of long term university partners. See our Funding Guide for more information on available grants and support for your university.

The programme is particularly suited to students who want to:

• Experience another culture more deeply & authentically.
• Build confidence travelling internationally
• Explore sustainability and global issues
• Develop employability and interpersonal skills
• Meet local organisations and changemakers
• Challenge themselves through adventure
• Become more globally aware
• Add meaningful international experience to their CV
• Meet new people and experience Bali as part of a team

Three Different Ways To Experience Bali

Your accommodation is intentionally varied because each setting forms part of the learning experience. Standards vary by location, but all accommodation is selected for safety and suitability for the programme activity.

Hotels

At the beginning and end of the programme, you’ll stay in comfortable hotels, giving you time to settle in, relax and prepare for the journey ahead or wind down before departure.

Students will usually share twin rooms, with modern facilities, Wi-Fi, air-conditioning and access to hotel amenities. These stays provide a comfortable contrast to the more immersive village and team-building accommodation used during the programme.

Team Building Camp

Spend 2 nights of the programme at a rustic team-building camp in the Balinese countryside. Accommodation is very simple and back-to-basics, with shared dorm rooms, basic bathroom facilities and outdoor-style living. The back-to-basics setting is all part of the experience, helping your team connect, take on challenges and enjoy a shared sense of adventure.

Village Accommodation

For the majority of the programme, you’ll stay within a traditional Balinese community in locally owned accommodation set within family compounds (one example room is pictured above).

You’ll stay in private participant rooms with your teammates, while still being surrounded by the rhythms of everyday village life. Properties vary, with some offering twin rooms and larger shared rooms for up to six participants, usually with shared modern bathrooms. Accommodations are located within a short walk of one another and typically combine traditional Balinese architecture with simple comforts such as Wi-Fi and communal spaces.

Living within the village means temples, ceremonies, local families and daily community activity are all part of the experience. It’s a more culturally immersive way to stay than a conventional hotel, whilst still giving your group its own space and privacy.

Throughout your stay, you’ll regularly come together as a team for meals, activities and social time, often moving between the different family compounds and shared spaces around the village.

Breakfast is included every day, along with one additional meal depending on the itinerary; usually evening dinner.

While staying in the village, many evening meals are prepared by your local hosts, giving you a taste of everyday Balinese food and hospitality. Expect dishes based around rice or noodles, vegetables, chicken or fish, with fresh herbs, spices and seasonal ingredients. Some flavours may be new and, as with everyday home cooking, you may see some familiar dishes more than once.

When meals aren’t included, we’ll guide you towards local cafés, restaurants and warungs, giving you the chance to explore more of Bali’s food scene. Eating out is generally affordable, with many local meals costing around £2–£4.

Please advise Think Pacific during pre-departure of any dietary requirements and allergies so we may plan ahead of departure with our Bali team and accommodation partners.

Think Pacific collaborates with numerous universities around the globe to deliver student mobility and enhance employability opportunities. There are various scholarships and grants for students through partnerships with individual university departments and governments. Students are encouraged to explore the possibility of scholarships and bursaries for our projects.

To discover if funding is available at your university or in your region, please reach out to us at info@thinkpacific.com for personalised assistance and information.

Our programmes can often be used as a formal placement or contribute towards academic credit as part of your degree.

If you’d like to explore this, contact info@thinkpacific.com. We’ll be happy to discuss the programme with your university, confirm any existing partnerships we have in place, and provide the information your institution may require.

From the moment you join, we’ll help you feel prepared, informed and excited for the journey ahead.

Pre-Departure Portal

Access your step-by-step preparation hub, including flight and visa guidance, packing lists, accommodation information, health and safety advice, cultural preparation and your final travel guidance. You can also watch videos from our overseas teams.

Speak to Our Team

Our team is here to support you throughout your preparation. Call us on 0113 335 9919 or email info@thinkpacific.com during office hours with any questions.

Meet Your Team

Connect with fellow participants before you travel as we add add you to a private group with your teammates.

Live Pre-Departure Webinars

Join live sessions with the Think Pacific team to ask questions, understand what to expect and get ready for your programme.

Global Skills Programme

Complete short online modules in areas such as culture, sustainable travel and global leadership, helping you arrive with the mindset and knowledge to make the most of your experience.

Here To Help You Prepare

You’ll receive clear guidance on accommodation and facilities, packing, food and dietary requirements, cultural expectations, programme structure, health and safety, money, independent time, the Action Project and your final itinerary.

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Your safety and wellbeing are at the heart of every Think Pacific programme. Each experience is carefully planned with comprehensive risk assessments, crisis management procedures, pre-departure preparation and detailed in-country briefings.

Throughout your programme, you’ll be supported by experienced local and international staff, with 24/7 guidance and pastoral support available from arrival through to departure. Our teams also work closely with local partners and management staff to ensure programmes are delivered safely, responsibly and to recognised industry standards.

Bali is a welcoming, popular and well-established destination for international travellers and students. As with any overseas experience, there are local risks and cultural differences to be aware of, which is why we provide clear guidance, local knowledge and ongoing support throughout the programme to support you.

Learn more about our Health, Safety & Support approach →

Global Futures is designed to be exciting, immersive and rewarding, but part of the experience is also adapting to a way of life that may feel very different from home.

You’ll travel as part of a team, share rooms and bathrooms, experience simpler accommodation in the village and at the team-building camp, try unfamiliar foods and adjust to Bali’s tropical climate and daily routines. Some facilities may be more basic than you are used to, with occasional limited Wi-Fi or hot water, insects and early-morning village sounds all part of the experience.

Busy days, heat, humidity and changes in diet can sometimes lead to tiredness or feeling unwell, so know your own needs, stay hydrated and ask for support when you need it.

Daily life may also feel unfamiliar at first, with different customs, traditions, ceremonies and ways of communicating. Around the village or when visiting partner organisations and cultural or religious sites, you’ll also be asked to follow local dress guidance, usually including modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees. Plans can sometimes change around weather, local events or community priorities, so flexibility is important.

The best mindset is to arrive curious, respectful and open-minded. Listen, try new things, support your teammates and give yourself time to adjust.

For many students, these moments of challenge become some of the most valuable parts of the programme as you build confidence, independence and a deeper understanding of another culture. You’ll also strengthen qualities such as resilience, adaptability and resourcefulness, skills highly valued by employers and useful long after you return home.

The 18-day Global Futures itinerary shown on this page is our planned itinerary for summer 2027 and gives you a great idea of what to expect.

Occasionally, activities, partners or timings may change due to weather, local events, community ceremonies or availability, but we’ll always maintain the overall quality, experience and learning journey.

Global Futures is about experiencing Bali with curiosity, respect and an open mind. We ask everyone to take responsibility for themselves, look out for their teammates and respect the communities and organisations that welcome us.

That means following local cultural guidance, listening to programme leaders and making positive choices throughout the experience. Global Futures is also a zero-alcohol programme, helping us create a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for everyone.

We encourage every participant to:

1. Approach unfamiliar situations with curiosity
2. Value different cultures, experiences and perspectives.
3. Communicate respectfully across cultural boundaries.
4. Recognise that complex global challenges rarely have simple answers.
5. Work collaboratively and contribute positively to a team.
6. Reflect on experiences and learn from them.
7. Act responsibly within the communities they visit.
8. Consider sustainability and ethics when exploring new ideas.
9. Build the confidence to keep learning, questioning and growing.

Through authentic community experiences, cultural immersion, critical thinking, and reflective learning, participants leave Bali with more than memories. They leave with greater confidence. Greater understanding. Greater curiosity. And a stronger appreciation that the most valuable lessons are often learned not in classrooms, but through the people we meet, the communities we join, and the perspectives we gain along the way.