Ubud is in many ways Bali's cultural heart. It's in the cool mountains, just an hour's drive north of the airport. This traditional country town is home to one of Bali's royal families. You can even visit the majestic palace in the centre of town. Ubud is also well known as a flourishing crafts centre. Around Ubud, there are the surrounding villages of Campuhan, Penestanan, Peliatan and Batuan. These communities specialise in crafts and woodcarving which are sold all over the island. There are hundreds of shops selling antiques, woodcarvings, crafts, textiles, paintings and jewellery in Ubud. You'll also find some of the best art museums in the country here. Along Ubud's main street are dozens of art studios, an excellent local craft market and galleries. There’s much you can see and do on your first visit to Ubud. This is often considered Bali’s artistic and cultural heartland, popular for it lush upland nature scenes. Valleys covered in green rice terraces serve as a backdrop to many art galleries and old temples and palaces. Most of the popular spots are within easy walking distance of the town hub, which allows for a quick and memorable day trip. In Ubud town centre there’s the Puri Saren Royal Palace. By day, you can visit and admire its Balinese architecture from up close. In the evenings, you can watch traditional Balinese dances on its open stage. Just across the road from the palace is the souvenir shopping haven that is the Ubud Art Market. A walk down the boutique-lined Jalan Hanoman leads you to the famous Ubud Monkey Forest. With so many things to see and do, this Ubud survival guide can help you make a manageable plan by narrowing the selection down to just the must-sees.

PARADISE FOUND: GUIDED TOURS OF HAWAII’S BIG ISLAND

The Big Island of Hawaii is one of the most picturesque and unique islands in the Hawaiian Island chain. Because it is so big, however, many visitors take guided tours of the island in order to see as much of its fantastic sites as possible. It could easily become a trip you’ll take over.

A TASTE OF AUSSIE LIFE ON GUIDED TOURS OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA Australia is a huge and diverse land of beauty and wonder. Guided tours of several areas of this vast continent are available, including guided tours of Northern Australia, which take you into the interior of this wonderful and fascinating place. Many guided tours of Northern Australia will take you first to the ocean on a luxury sailing tour of the Great Barrier Reef, one of Australia’s most popular natural wonders. Through crystal clear ocean waters, you can snorkel or scuba dive among the amazing sea life that lives among the lovely coral reefs. After a day on the ocean, you’ll travel west through some changing landscapes and into the Australian outback. The next stop on most guided tours of Northern Australia is a trip to Mount Isa, a lovely mining town and then through Queensland and Carnooweal on your way to the flat and interesting Northern Territory. Perhaps you’ll take a refreshing swim in the aqua-colored waters of the Mataranka’s thermal pool, hidden within a grove of tall, shady palm trees. Following this stop, you’ll head back up north. As you travel, many guided tours of this area will take you on a cruise through the spectacular gorge systems of the Katherine Gorge and then it’s on to the fascinating Magnetic termite mounds, visible in the Litchfield National Park. Visitors can swim at the lovely Florence Falls before going back to civilization in the city of Darwin in Northern Australia. In Darwin, guided tours will often have you stay at a luxury hotel and will show you the areas for shopping, dining and enjoying the nightlife at one of Darwin’s famous nightclubs. Visit the museums and the historic early settlement in this Australian frontier city. Guided tours by open top bus of the city are available for those who wish to see what Darwin is all about. Next, guided tours will head east to the famous Kakadu National Park, truly one of Australia’s most lovely wilderness refuges. In the park, you’ll see the Nourlangie Rock which reveals original aboriginal art from thousands of years ago and you’ll be visiting an aboriginal site where these people have lived for more than 40,000 years. To really “see” Australia’s finest, many Northern Australia guided tours will take you on a Yellow Water Billabong Cruise, where you can snap pictures and catch sight of Australia’s many crocodiles, snakes, dingos and other water life easily found in the Kakadu region. Another favorite spot for guided tours of Northern Australia is the Manyallaluk Aboriginal Cultural Center where you’ll see how the native peoples lived and continue to live today. Demonstrations show you how to throw a spear and create fire the natural way. This center is run by the aborigines themselves so you’ll get a really authentic experience. There are places to shop for aboriginal souvenirs. Guided tours of the area rarely fail to stop at Alice Springs—often for a couple of days. One can visit the Western MacDonnell mountain ranges, where one can see the Ochre Pits, Simpson’s Gap or hike the Ormiston Gorge. There are many places to eat authentic Australian food. Guided tours of Northern Australia take you back to the aboriginal life and help you explore the Australian Outback in ways few people have been able to do. The sights and attractions are many and it’s a great trip for the whole family.