For as long as I can remember, Bali has always been a popular destination to visit. I recall seeing my friends’ Instagram Stories and feeling envious. One day, I told myself. After all, the island situated in between Lombok and Java is renowned for its enchanting beaches, serene rice terraces and of course, variety of delicious local delicacies. Fast forward to September 2025, I finally visited Bali for the very first time and to say that my expectations were met would be an understatement. In fact, my experience wasn’t just met, it was exceeded by miles.
Whether it’s the hustle of Seminyak, laid-back vibe of Canggu or the art-driven character of Ubud, Bali has so much to offer. While I was there, I was able to immerse myself in some of the island’s best offerings, be it the beach clubs, the “bebek” (or duck) or the many tourist spots such as Tanah Lot and Tegenungan Waterfall. But of course, once is never enough for Bali. And that’s why I was extra excited to head to Bali one more time. Well, this time, it’s with none other than Airbnb!
Airbnb needs no introduction. Since its founding, the brand has been a go-to for travellers all around the world looking for one-of-a-kind places to stay in. Personally, Airbnb has been a really good companion during my travels including during my visits to places such as Stockholm, Istanbul, Paris and Lisbon. Hence, I understand what to expect from staying at the Airbnb homes. In fact, many of the stays I chose in the past included staying with the hosts with the opportunities to learn about the cities through their very own lens.
This time, I had the chance to check out Bali with Airbnb and Airbnb Experiences as part of the Culture & Culinary Trail trip alongside fellow content creators and media — with Villa Myosotis in Ubud being the ideal base for my entire trip in Indonesia. Connected to Veni Vidi Vici as a dual villa that comprises 12 bedrooms in total, the Airbnb home was luxurious, spacious and filled with all the right amenities. Even upon checking in, I knew things were about to get exciting. And with so many programmes by Airbnb Experiences scheduled, there’s definitely something to anticipate each day.
For the uninitiated, Airbnb Experiences, an extension of Airbnb, is a platform where you can find a wide variety of workshops and activities created by local hosts and brands in the destination you are in. With Airbnb Experiences, engaging programmes allow guests to experience the location’s culture in unique and exciting ways. And with Bali, Airbnb Experiences offer so many opportunities to uncover a different side of the island. It’s also unveiled that, in Indonesia, the third-most-popular category for Airbnb Experiences is Food & Drink. And based on Airbnb internal data of Experience categories across Indonesia, the category follows Nature & Outdoors as well as History & Culture.
“Through Airbnb Experiences, we’re proud to help travelers discover Indonesia in a way that feels more personal, immersive, and connected to local culture,” said Airbnb’s Country Head for Southeast Asia & India, Amanpreet Bajaj. And that’s what makes this trip with Airbnb Experiences extra meaningful and memorable. From learning about firefly conservation and exploring the John Hardy grounds (and trying out silver chain weaving) to experiencing a 15-course menu at Room4Dessert, my most recent time in Bali was filled with some of the most distinctive pursuits — things I didn’t know can be booked here in Bali. And no, we’re definitely not forgetting the special luncheon by Chefs Arnold and Reynold Poernomo.
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And without further ado, here’s a glimpse of what went down in Bali during the Culture & Culinary Trail trip, starting with a guided 15-course tasting menu at Room4Dessert. The one-of-a-kind experience features Head Chef Will Goldfarb, which you might recognise from ‘Chef’s Table: Pastry’ on Netflix. Meeting at Powder Room right next to Room4Dessert, also helmed by Chef Goldfarb and his team, the experience (which is bookable every evening for the 6.00PM to 8.45PM slot) takes guests on an intimate tour of the restaurant space. From its garden and Trash Gallery to the kitchen where the culinary team examines with a wide variety of flavours, we get to see the experts in their element.
One of the most exciting parts of the experience was being able to taste some of the experimentative flavours that go into the dishes offered at the establishment. For example, Miso Bomboloni, Miso Sorgum and Tuna Garum. But of course, the even more exciting part: the portion where we get to savour the culinary creations by Chef Will Goldfarb and his team, comprising both savoury and sweet treats. The meal began in L’Hort where we were treated to first five courses including ‘Mapo’ with silken tofu, braised pork ribs and a “truffle” born from black jicama and ‘Nobu’ with locally-sourced silver cod that’s marinated in house-made white miso and tamarind.
After that, we were escorted to the main dining room for the next portion of the evening — the signature desserts. Here, five iconic creations were presented with an open area where the dishes were being served. Some of my favourites from this segment were ‘Porridge’ (barley pudding with milk foam and barley sorbet) and ‘Chocolate’ (a combination of tamarind, chantilly and chocolate gelato). The latter also stands out for its boldness and rich flavours. Next, we headed outdoors to end the evening on an even sweeter note as we enjoyed petit fours fireside.
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Another exciting activity that’s bookable via Airbnb Experiences is tracking fireflies with conservationist Wayan Wardika. It goes without saying that this was one of the programmes I was most intrigued about on the itinerary. While Malaysians get to see fireflies in Sekinchan, this conservation laboratory (the only of its kind in Indonesia) is great for learning about fireflies and their growth. Located at the Tekal Dukuh Campsite in Ubud’s Tegallalang area, the lab is about an hour’s drive from our Airbnb home (with minimal traffic, of course). Upon arrival, we noticed how dimly lit the compound was, finding out later that disruption to the natural behaviours of fireflies happen with bright artificial lights.
Just for context, Wayan Wardika is a Bali-born conservationist looking at regeneration of fireflies which he has been focused on for the past few years. With #BringBackTheLight, Wardika aims to do his part in keeping fireflies from extinction. Not only are they indicators of a healthy environment, we were also told that we might be the last generation to see fireflies.
After a quick tour of the area, Wardika took us into the laboratory where his team of scientists were stationed. Together, they explained to us about the different species available here in the lab as well as showed us the various stages of growth including the eggs under a microsope and the larvae. It was definitely an eye-opening experience and if it wasn’t for Airbnb, I probably wouldn’t even have known about this experience.
The tour continued to the dining hall where we were treated to a selection of local dishes prepared by Wardika’s own family. Served buffet style, we enjoyed the likes of ‘Tahu Dadah’ (Balinese-style tofu curry in turmeric sauce), ‘Sayur Urab’ (Mixed steamed wild vegetables) and ‘Timbungan Ayam’ (Marinated chicken cooked in bamboo). Another highlight was the soup starter made with moringa leaves, said to be full of nutrients.
Ending the evening on the perfect high, Wardika and his team then brought out a tray of containers consisting of male and female fireflies. They were bred by the team to be released into the wild. One by one, we were able to choose our very own firefly and also name it. As we made our way to the designated release spot, I had the chance to bond (albeit just for a few minutes) with the firefly, watching it flash with every step. With the open jungle just right in front of us, Wardika signaled for everyone to open the caps and let the fireflies be free. And in a way, bringing back the light to nature.
A key highlight of our time in Bali has definitely got to be the special luncheon at Nari, hosted by the Poernomo brothers, Arnold and Reynold. Both maestros in their own right, the session was an Airbnb culinary experience like no other. While it’s not an official Airbnb Experience that can be booked, it illustrated the gastronomic prowess that Bali and Indonesia have to offer through the magical touches of the chefs.
Of course, when it comes to spectacular and singular experiences, Airbnb sure knows what they are doing. The luncheon was a celebration of local ingredients and food culture – featuring star produce such as ‘Kecap Manis’, ‘Kluwek’ and ‘Gula Semut’. Moderated by Mei Batubara of Nusa Gastronomi, we were taken on a little adventure around Indonesia for the meal.
Similar to the two experiences mentioned above, this intimate get-together overlooking Gunung Lebah Temple is nothing short of mesmerising. Getting to connect with the community, be it the chefs, the restaurant team and even, my fellow trip buddies, really helped to pull the curtain on a side of Bali many wouldn’t experience.
The luncheon comprised three courses, with the first two savoury dishes by Chef Arnold, a former judge on ‘MasterChef Indonesia’, and the dessert by Chef Poernomo, known all over the world for his whimsical creations. Together with their teams, they prepared a fantastic meal anchored on Indonesian flavours.
For example, the first dish, ‘Jimbaran Coconut’, was inspired by Jimbaran Bay’s famous seafood grills. Part spicy, part smoky, the course was a decadent and appetising start filled with crisp young coconut jelly.
“The first dish was the coconut with Jimbaran spice. In Indonesia, we use coconut daily in our lives and we use everything, every bit of the coconut,” shared Arnold.
The mains came in the form of ‘Steak Jawa’, an interpretation of East Java flavours featuring ‘kluwek’ and coconut rice. Whether beef or grilled breadfruit, the base was complemented by the nutty and earthy undertones of ‘kluwek’ (also known as ‘buah keluak’ in Malaysia).
“The second course, where I live in Jawa, where we use a lot of soy sauce – the sweeter note of the dish. We interpreted it in a different way that is not too unique or too far off but it’s just nice to consume every bit. So everyone, who comes and tries, they can have a bit of this and that, and they understand more of the flavours and ingredients of Indonesia,” adds Arnold.
Last but not least was Chef Reynold’s dessert, of course. ‘Mangrove’ is a concoction made using Balinese milk chocolate, ‘pisang goreng’, coconut vanilla sorbet and matcha pandan. Beautiful on the eyes, delicious on the palate. What’s not to love?
“What I’ve made – it’s called ‘Mangrove’. And it’s using as much knowledge as I possibly can from what I’m familiar with and the unique ingredients of what Bali has to offer as well and kind of encapsulate that in the presentation,” expresses Reynold.
With Airbnb Experiences, we get to see and feel the locations with travel to in one-of-a-kind perspectives. More than just the touristy spots or the cafes, Airbnb Experiences offer a wide selection of activities for travellers to immerse themselves – where they can learn a little more about the local culture and be one with the community. It’s all about experiencing the destination with more depth, whether it’s learning about topics that matter to the locals or uncovering whole new ways to make art and crafts.
This trip to Bali showed me that there’s more than meets the eye (or the itinerary), especially with Airbnb Experiences. And the next time I visit the island again, I know where to look for things to do beyond the usual.
So, the important questions for you are: how do you like to travel and what do you look for to up the ante on your travel experience?
Learn more about Airbnb Experiences HERE.
Note : The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
