Review Author: BryceAlcock, Australia

Review Date: 11 Oct 2015

Review Body: I enjoyed two JED day tours ? to Kiadan Pelaga and Dukuh Sibetan. These peaceful villages provide an insight into Balinese life before the tourist boom. Kiadan Pelaga is a charming village in the cool, lush mountains of central Bali. My guide Gede spoke fluent English and was knowledgeable and entertaining. I learnt a lot from Gede about village life and culture. I loved the local coffee and the home-cooked meal of vegetables and chicken ? all organically grown. The highlight was a walk through the land around the village, where forests alternated with rice terraces, coffee fields, gardens and mountain vistas.At Dukuh Sibetan there is an even more spectacular walking trail, with views of Gunung Agung to the north, down to Padangbai and Penida Island to the south or across to Lombok to the east. Sibetan is famous for growing salak, the tasty snakeskin fruit, and it was interesting to learn about the production of salak and see the unusual trees on which it grows.In both villages I was warmly welcomed by friendly people. I had a great time, and I recommend both day tours.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: 808waveshreddah, Hawaii

Review Date: 04 Nov 2015

Review Body: I had the opportunity to do the Pelaga village tour and was able to see and experience the dynamic of the village as it relates to coffee production and agriculture. It was incredibly insightful and offered up an authentic Balinese cultural experience. The village was peaceful and the cooler mountain temperatures definitely contributed to what I think was the best night's sleep I've ever had. On top of that I was blown away by how good the coffee was. Almost more importantly - I was not expecting the food to be as amazing as it was. I have been to Bali a few times now and I can safely say that the meals we had in the village were the best I've ever had on the island. I would definitely return to Pelaga but would want to make sure I check off the other villages in the JED network for my next visit.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Gin_and_Nick, Cambodia

Review Date: 13 Oct 2015

Review Body: JED Ecotours are such a lovely way to see a part of Bali not many people travel to. The people in the JED villages are not the tourism-weary people you meet in the hubs of Bali, but farmers leading normal village lives, who spend some of their time on the side sharing this with visitors. I have been on all of the JED trips, and each of the villages is different. The food is AMAZING, so fresh and tasty, and the scenery so peaceful and quiet, such a great change from the tourist centers. Staying overnight is an adventure. Would highly recommend these trip to anyone who is interested in Balinese life and people (ie more than just bars and beaches and tourist infrastructure). A great eye-opener for the rest of this truly beautiful island!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: hannahsutton9335, Turkey

Review Date: 22 Jan 2018

Review Body: JED was an enriching experience that gave me great insight into the Balinese culture. I went on two JED tours Pelaga and Tenganan and I would highly recommend both tours. The guides were friendly and had an extensive knowledge which they were more than happy to share. The food is incredible as well!! Worth the visit to Pelaga and the homestay visit to try the delicious Balinese delicacies. But the best thing about the tours is knowing that it helps the local families through their eco tourism model so you know that the money you pay is not going to a foreign agency. Looking forward to the next tour with JED! Also fun tip: when on the Tenganan tour ask to see the honey- it is delicious!!!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Ksenia

Review Date: 05 Feb 2024

Review Body: I booked the trip last minute but nevertheless all the booking went smoothly. I received the message from the manager who confirmed my booking and helped me to arrange the pick up. The next day my husband and I went to the village, where we met local people. Our guide was a very pleasant man, who told us a lot not only about coffee but about local traditions, different plants, etc. We had a very tasty lunch made from locally grown veggies. After that we went to the beautiful waterfall. I would like to thank all the people who took part in organising this time for us. It was amazing and I have a lot of memories and emotions. Will recommend this experience to my friends for sure.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Sue Teh

Review Date: 22 Dec 2023

Review Body: We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of the coffee farm and village. It was lovely to drive north and be free of the crazy traffic in the tourist towns. The guide, Guday, was informative and gave many interesting stories about the various species of coffee plants and also about the abundant local flora and their uses in daily life. Take lots of mosquito repellent though! We had a very enjoyable lunch prepared by a local which included young fern shoots and fried chicken. Then we were taken to a local barista who runs the coffee shop in Kiadan Pelaga village and got to try different coffees put through different processing eg honey washed. Delicious! Highly recommended.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Karis E

Review Date: 10 Jan 2018

Review Body: I was lucky enough to take part in two JED tours in both in Pelaga and Tenganan. Both experiences left me with invauable insight into the lives of the Balinese outside of the hustle and bustle of mass tourism in the south. Everything about JED tours are kept local and community based, from the knowledgeable tour guides who are locals themselves, to the locally sourced lunches cooked within the village. Could not recommend this organisation enough and it is definitely worth paying the extra and getting the real Balinese experience through JED. I hope to take part in their other tours down the track. Thanks for everything guys!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: TAACAT, Bundaberg

Review Date: 04 Jun 2017

Review Body: This is a must for those seeking a cultural experience. It is worthwhile paying the extra and having JED as your guide. Many tourists just touch the surface of this attraction, not really be informed in depth. One can easily spend over five hours in this village and the guides are so knowledgeable. It was a privilege to enter into the homes and to be able to dine in the village. The lunch was superb. I have experienced just turning up at the village and only seeing what is put out for tourists but it is best to book with JED and being educated in this amazing place.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Tshering D Sherpa

Review Date: 19 Jan 2026

Review Body: This was one of the most authentic organized activities of our trip. Our guide Gede was very knowledgeable not only about all things coffee but also about myriad of other cultivated and wild plants growing in the lush village of Kiadan Pelaga. We thoroughly enjoyed the walk through the coffee plantation and farms growing all kinds of fruits, vegetables and herbs, despite the rain. And the lunch prepared by our driver, (also named Gede) mother was one of the best meals we had in Bali. It was a simple home cooked meal but was full of flavor.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: evarV851YM, Sweden

Review Date: 22 Nov 2016

Review Body: If you want to see how daylylife are in a village far from the tourismzones, I can highly recommend JED's tours. They let us meet people in the village and our local guide told so much about culture and economics. The walk through the forrest were delayed of heavy rains, but umprellas and shelters on the road and our guides made this to a very nice experience.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Theresa

Review Date: 26 Aug 2024

Review Body: I really liked the experience. Our Guide was super informative and we learnt so much about the culture, village life and people in Bali. I would 100% recommend this trip to everyone that wants to do something "not-touristy-like". The food was traditional and very good. I learnt a lot! Would do it again :)

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Cultural village tour.

Itinerary Description: - A guided stroll around the village - Sit down with a Tenganan woman or man and learn the craft of weaving. - Forest trekking. - For the more intrepid, a 4-5 hour trek from the border of the village to the village of Tenganan is also possible. - A tasty Balinese lunch is provided