Retreats and Bali go hand in hand like ice cream and waffles (or if you insist on being healthier, berries and yogurt).
The explosion and trendiness of the retreat craze in Bali has given rise to retreats catering for all sorts of purposes, hobbies, and personalities. Not to mention taste buds and budgets. From the standard cleansing-detox-rejuvenating programs to more random type retreats, Bali’s got a lot of options.
Here are 12 noteworthy retreats you can experience while enjoying some time on the Island of the Gods:
1. General health & wellness retreat
This is probably one of Bali’s most popular retreat options. Part-physical, part-spiritual, part-indulgence, part-learning, health and wellness retreat goers have gushed about how their experiences gave them a newfound appreciation for healthy living.
You will likely eat delicious raw food or go on a juice-only diet. Sometimes you fast. Activities that you can do range from indulging yourself in facials or various beauty treatments to yoga, trekking, and cycling volcanoes. Sometimes you can pick and choose. As far as “all-encompassing retreats” go, this is probably the one that aims to provide something for everyone — great if you’re new to the retreat craze and want to sample various retreat activities without committing yourself to just one.
There is an abundance of health and wellness retreats in Bali to suit various budgets and location preferences. At the pricier and more luxurious end, check out options by COMO Shambhala and Fivelements, while OneWorld Retreats and Ubud Sari Health Resort provide more affordable packages.
2. Fitness retreat
This is for all the gym-junkies and fitness-fanatics whose idea of bliss is getting fit and toning up in a tropical island, all while a top-notch personal trainer with enviable guns and killer abs tells you to keep going and push harder. Activities range from running, boot camp-type exercises, yoga, pilates and CrossFit. Sometimes the package includes more “leisurely activities” like trekking and tubing.
There is also a plethora of options for fitness retreats available in Bali depending on your budget, intensity and your goals for the retreats. Ayung Sari Indah provides a range of fitness retreat packages and Ninja Camp runs tailored fitness retreats to accommodate your preferences.
3. Yoga retreat
India is no longer the only place that yogis flock to when in need of some chakra balancing. Bali is now an equally legit destination. Just have a look at these bend-worthy images for proof.
It’s no surprise then, that yoga retreats are also in abundance in Bali, particularly in and around Ubud. The most prominent retreat is probably The Yoga Barn — which includes shamanic Balinese healing ceremonies and aryurvedic spa in its package. Oh and a juice-cleanse. Obviously. Naya Ubud also runs various yoga retreats throughout the year and provides private retreat packages if you don’t fancy practicing your chaturangas with a bunch of strangers.
4. Meditation retreat
Often combined with yoga practice, yogis who want to take self and body awareness to a whole new level may want to opt for a meditation retreat.
And if you want to take that to up a notch — you can opt for a silent meditation retreat at Bali Silent Retreat. Located in Tabanan facing the majestic Mt. Batu Karu, this “green-to-the-extreme” ultra-eco retreat lets you restore some zen-ness in your life as you do nothing but eat, pray, do yoga, meditate and sleep for as many days as you want. In complete silence.
5. Art retreat
Do you have an itch to work on a creative project but find that life’s day-to-day demands has put that project in the “not urgent, I’ll do it when I get time” category, only to find that you NEVER seem to find the time?
By signing up for an art retreat in Bali — you can finally move that long awaited project out of the “I’ll do it someday” pile into the “I’ll do it now” pile!
You can also learn a range of things, from linocut printing, photography, to traditional Balinese art. With Bali being a popular place for artists to run away to, they’ve started cashing on the retreat trend and now teach visitors how to unleash their inner creativity, whether for fun or as a stress-relieving activity.
Bali Art Retreats runs “week-long painting and drawing retreats” at three locations. Australian artist Christine Hingston also runs regular painting retreats in Ubud.
6. Surfing retreat
Being home to some pretty mean-ass waves has led surfing to be a top focus for retreat-seekers in Bali.
Surfing is often an “optional” activity at fitness and yoga retreats, but there are a number retreats dedicated solely to surfing. A popular option for women is the Surf Goddess Retreats, an all-women adventure that combines catching waves with decadent spa treatments. Surf Life Bali Yoga & Surf Retreats also runs a surfing-fuelled retreats targeted at the adventure/excellence/inspirational seeking “high performers.” On the laid back side, look no further than The Chillhouse, a lifestyle retreat dedicated to surfing and mountain biking.
7. Music retreat
If you enjoyed playing around with instruments as a kid, or have secret ambitions to be a songwriter, opt for a music-filled retreat.
Bali Mountain Retreat runs a music retreat, where anyone who has any appreciation for music can pick up “mojo guitar tips” from a g-maestro, try their hands at some traditional Balinese instruments or just participate in a good old jam session with other musos, with massages and treks through coffee and cacao plantations in between.
8. Dance retreat
One word of warning though, dance retreats in Bali tend to incorporate traditional Eastern customs and are generally grounded on spiritual practices, which means that sometimes chants are involved (just so you don’t get freaked out). Belly-dancing guru Colleena Shakti holds annual “Indian Fusion Belly Dance” retreats at Desa Seni resort, which also includes lessons in Balinese dancing. Bali Sacred Dance Retreat is a very spiritually based dance retreat that encourages guests to use movements to express and get in touch with their “inner-self”.
9. Couples retreat
Okay, it’s not exactly breaking news that a trip to the Island of the Gods can rekindle romances that might have been deteriorating from the sparks that were once there.
But sometimes when the escape is temporary and you return to the real world, all of the old habits may come back and the sparks turn off as fast as they got turned on.
There are retreats in Bali which allow couples to not only revel in the beauty of the island, but are designed with exercises and tools so that you and your luvvah can go back and continue to light those sparks when you leave your holiday. Mindful Couples is one and Alive Wellness Retreats also has a relationship retreat where you and your partner can design your own experiences. If you are looking for something that’s more (ahem) passionate, check out Oztantra.
10. Weight loss retreat
If you’ve been struggling with weight-loss and are feeling uninspired to tackle the challenge at home, going away on a retreat focused on this goal may just be the dose of motivation that you need. You’re away from your daily stresses and pressures, and you’ll be in a supportive environment where everyone is working towards a similar goal.
Nuala Retreat provides a weightloss detox cleanse focusing on restoring your body’s “pH balance.” Bali Wellness Retreats also has a 10-Day Weight Loss program with the aim of equipping individuals with the tools and mindset that they can take back with them, including one-on-one consultation with a nutritionist and a personalized fitness program devised from a test of your heart rate, blood pressure, body composition and strength.
With digital nomadism on the rise — Bali has become a bit of a hotpot for entrepreneurs due to its affordability and the increasing numbers of co-working spaces available.
With many stunning backdrops that give you the “I’m on top of the world and can conquer anything” feeling, the digital nomadism trend has also made Bali a popular place for entrepreneurs to “retreat” and connect with each other — sharing lessons on world domination and growing their businesses.
iLab Accelerator provides a 30-day jam-packed program of “mentorship, adventures and powerful business acceleration.” Accommodation and organic food is also included, in traditional retreat fashion. Fearless Bali Retreats also runs a women-only program, aimed at the ambitious and passionate female.
12. Writing retreat
There’s a reason why Elizabeth Gilbert chose to end her travels in Bali. It’s a great place to cure writer’s block.
HarperCollins author Laura Davis is planning to hold a writer’s retreat in Bali in 2016 and Writer’s Journey also has plans to hold one in 2016 (unfortunately the retreat planned for this year, scheduled for 11-18 June, was postponed).
Photo: Flickr
