Travelling with multi-generational families anywhere in the world poses its challenges, add in a teenager, combined with their first visit to the destination and the pressure is on to ensure everyone has a trip to remember. 

Returning with my parents to Bali, this time taking along my 19-year-old niece Mia on her first trip to the Island of the Gods – this was a trip we’d all been looking forward to.  Staying in the fun, touristy Seminyak there was plenty of beach & pool time, shopping and dining to keep us all happy.  My challenge was how to showcase some of the beautiful and uniquely Balinese culture in a way that would speak to a young adult and help her see there’s more to this place that calls me back time after time. 

Discova’s Instagram tour seemed like the perfect option – until I realised the pick-up time is 3 am!  As neither of us are remotely morning people, I negotiated this back to 4 am and after prepping our outfits, setting multiple alarms and going to bed early we hoped for the best. 

Under the cover of darkness we departed our resort, travelling through the almost unrecognisable, deserted streets of Seminyak and deep into the countryside heading to the north of the island for our first destination Lempuyang Temple. 

Arriving two hours later as the sun was coming up, our tickets were purchased by our fabulous guide Rani, and we selected sarongs to ensure we were suitably dressed to enter the temple.  Jumping on one of the many buses that ferry visitors up the hill we took the opportunity to have some photos taken on the rooftop of an enterprising restaurant overlooking the valley across to Mount Agung, the active volcano that was just peeking through the early morning mist.