Rest, relaxation, and recharging: a trip to the island of the Gods can be as good for your soul as it is for your tan. There are enough health, wellness, and meditation retreats in Bali to shake an incredibly chilled stick at, so it can be hard to know which ones offer a slice of heaven, and which ones don’t quite make the cut. Luckily, we’re here to sort the wheat from the chaff so you don’t have to stress about destressing.
Bali Wellness Retreats
Five Elements Retreat
Located a short drive from the rustic town of Ubud, this wellness retreat in Bali overlooks the Ayung River. Five Elements have a strong focus on being eco conscious, and their programmes and activities are based on authentic Balinese methods and traditions. They take a holistic view of wellness, offering a number of programmes that focus on healing, cuisine, and the sacred arts. Healing includes meditation, bodywork, and chakra balancing, as well as massages. Cuisine is all plant based and using fresh, local, and sustainable ingredients. The Sacred arts include yoga, somatic therapy, and dance, so you can begin to reconnect with your body in a physical sense.
The resort itself is surrounded by lush greenery. There is a resort pool as well as several private pools for certain rooms, and they organise daily trips to all over the island, including the beaches. The rooms are all of the highest standard, with private huts available overlooking the gorgeous resort gardens or the river. A weeklong retreat in a standard room will cost around IDR 48,000,000.
Escape Haven
This Bali wellness retreat is in the vibrant town of Canggu, and they focus on nurturing all aspects of you during your stay. Run by women, for women, they have a whole host of wellness packages available, all of which can be tailored to your specific needs. The main packages focus on detoxing and healing, although the more active can choose to add surfing and yoga to their stay. There is a strong bend towards Ayurvedic methods and thought, although this is mixed with more modern techniques.
Activities include yoga, Pilates, mediation, and even hiking up Mount Batur to see the sunrise. The resort is set in a vibrant forested area and has a spa on site. What you end up doing will depend largely on what package you choose, but there is always room for extra activities that catch your eye. The accommodation varies but is all the height of luxury, whether you get a twin room or a private villa with a jacuzzi. A weeklong retreat costs around IDR 44,000,000, and most packages include all three meals, although Canggu has plenty of excellent cafes and restaurants to check out anyway.
Bali Meditation Retreats
One World
Although just outside of Ubud, this meditation retreat in Bali feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere. With a focus on yoga as well as meditation, you can supplement your relaxation with great views of the jungle and rice fields. There are fourteen rooms at the resort, all of which have a private balcony, alongside two pools and a spa.
There are a variety of retreats here depending on the time of year you choose to visit, but they usually include morning and evening yoga sessions, spa treatments, a ‘day of silence’, and most meals. Airport transfers are also included. In addition to the meditation retreats, you can get a glimpse of the best of Bali with several tours and days out run by the resort. Costs vary, but for a standard programme with a private room you’ll be spending around IDR 33,500,000.
Bali Silent Retreat
If you’re looking for the ultimate escape, this stunning sanctuary is the Bali meditation retreat for you. Self-sustaining, semi isolated, and all around inspiring, this might not be as fancy as some other retreats, but that’s because all of the effort is put towards nourishing your wellness. The food is locally sourced and organic, and there are healing hot springs fed by the sacred volcanic waters of Mount Batu nearby. There are morning and afternoon yoga and meditation classes, and daily trips to temples and the aforementioned hot springs. You are also encouraged to explore the grounds, which include a jungle path and overlook vast rice fields.
Prices vary heavily depending on the room you choose, but the deluxe single rooms start at IDR 1,100,000 per night, with private bungalows going up to IDR 1,300,000. Activities are not included in the room cost, but it’s IDR 550,000 per day for access to everything. The cost of this is added on to your booking, although the first and last day of your stay are only charged at a half day rate.
Bali Health Retreats
The Chillhouse
This Canggu institution was one of the earliest retreats established in the new bustling tourist town. The Chillhouse offers chic accommodation alongside yoga, surfing, and massage. They pride themselves on their excellent service, and they offer tasty, organic food on site as well. All bookings get access to breakfast and brunch, as well as free use of their bodyweight gym, and you can choose to include dinner and yoga sessions too. Unlike a lot of health retreats in Bali, the more strenuous activities here aren’t just an afterthought: the surf aspect of the resort is integral to how it runs.
When you’re not practicing yoga or riding the waves, you can wander into Canggu and take advantage of the glut of stylish bars and cafes in the town, or you can hop on a moped for a short ride to the beach. The grounds have a swimming pool and tonnes of spaces for socialising, as well as beautiful gardens. Costs will vary, but a standard room comes in at around IDR 1,250.000 per night, including a yoga session. Two on one surf lessons are available for approximately IDR 550,000, and massages are about IDR 170,000 per session, although with both of these you can bulk buy.
Como Shambhala
This unique resort is one of the most stunning health retreats in Bali. Located right in the jungle and alongside the Ayung river, they offer holistic treatments that, when combined with your natural surroundings, will recharge even the most overworked of batteries. A week here is a truly immersive experience, and the wonderful staff at Como Shambhala seek to have a lasting impact on your life with their programmes. Massage care, body therapy, hydrotherapy and beauty care packages are all available, as are combinations of the above. There’s also a focus on Ayurvedic care and fitness training for those who want it, although these come in at an extra cost.
Room types vary, although each of them come with a personal assistant and gorgeous views of the resort gardens or the surrounding jungle. Some of the villas have private infinity pools and hot tubs, and there’s a shared pool area for those in standard rooms. If you want to indulge in some activities, you can hire bikes or go on guided hikes through the rice field. Rooms start at IDR 7,100,000 per night.
Like the idea of wellness in Bali but with a little more action? Take a look at our breakdown of the best gyms in Bali to find the perfect workout space for you.
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