The Best Bali Retreats to Add to Your Bucket List

Whether you’re looking for a mind, body and soul reboot, or are in the market for an escape that will keep you feeling fit and fabulous, these are the world-class Bali Retreats that need to be on your radar.

Naomi Chadderton

An experienced editor and journalist specialising in news and lifestyle.

With its diverse cultural landscape dominated by dramatic volcanoes and hillside temples to its welcoming locals, healthy cuisine and year-round sunshine, Bali is one of Mother Nature’s greatest hits. It’s also popular with travellers looking to try something new, be it a hiking holiday with friends or a luxury wellness break where all you have to worry about is which massage to indulge in next.

Designed to rejuvenate you both physically and mentally, these top Bali retreats need to be moved to the top of your bucket list ASAP.

Active Bali Escapes

Be it a sunrise hike up Mt Batur or a full-on week of bootcamp training with Wanderlust Fitness Retreats, Bali is awash with transformative travel experiences designed to knock you into shape. Starting in Ubud, ease yourself in with Get Your Guide’s Half-day Bayad Eco Hike which will take you up through Bayad village and into the beautiful Balinese countryside where you’ll trek through caves and waterfalls before visiting Goa Maya, home to a number of sacred Hindu statues, a spice centre, and a herb and vegetable farm.

An escape to the COMO Shambala Estate is a feast for the mind, body and soul

Bali Wellness Retreats

From Six Senses to the Four Seasons, the world’s biggest wellness resorts have found a home in Bali, making it a dream holiday destination for those looking to relax and reset with a little R&R. Our pick of the bunch? COMO Shambala Estate’s targeted wellness programmes are perfect for guests looking to make a long-lasting commitment to change, offering everything from workshops and spa treatments to hydrotherapy and Pilates with a health-conscious menu to boot.

Cultural Experiences in Bali

One of the best ways to experience Bali is through an itinerary of its captivating cultural experiences, of which there are many. Whether or not you believe in such things, visiting a traditional shaman is an eye-opening experience designed to help enrich your perspective on both life and Balinese traditions, while the Saraswati Place, Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Ubud Palace and Uluwatu Temple are all at the heart of the country’s cultural epicentre.

Pura Saraswati Hindu temple in Ubud

Stone faces at Puri Saren Ubud Palace

Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple at sunrise

Bali Foodie Experiences

With its wholesome ingredients, local farms and renowned restaurants and cafes, Bali has long been leading the charge in a global trend towards foodie retreats. If you fancy getting your hands dirty, check out Get Your Guide’s Authentic Cooking Class – not only will you visit a local market to select fresh ingredients and enjoy picturesque views from a local rice plantation, you’ll even help prepare an authentic Balinese meal in a beautiful outdoor garden with your fellow cooks.

Villas available on a rental basis are great for bigger groups

Bali Family Getaways

Perhaps the most-family friendly destination in Indonesia thanks to its friendly locals, relaxed vibe and activities on tap, Bali is the perfect place to take the children and grandkids for that annual family retreat. Operating an online marketplace for holiday rentals, you can find the perfect villa at Vrbo, from a two-bedroom villa on the outskirts of Ubud complete with fully-equipped kitchen, plush private pool and Balinese staff, to a luxury five-bed, five-bath beachfront bolt hole in Dencarik with a private infinity pool that gazes out directly onto the Balinese sea.

Bali Couple’s Retreats

There’s a saying that goes something like this: couples who holiday together, stay together. And whether you’ve been married for 40 years or are in the throes of a new romance, there’s nothing quite like a tropical getaway to ignite the spark. Luckily Bali is full of premium resorts that are perfect for a couple’s retreat, including the Anantara Uluwatu Resort which will lure you in with its multi-layered oceanfront swimming pool, a couple’s treatment suite at the spa and its cliffside Splash restaurant which defines dinner with a view.

Bali for Solo Travellers

From having full say on where you eat to simply enjoying life at your own pace, everyone should enjoy a solo retreat in Bali at least once in their lives. Let’s face it, there’s no better way to rely on your instincts and connect with locals that just wouldn’t happen with friends or family in tow. If the thought of trekking around temples alone is just too intimidating, there are plenty of luxury travel groups who can provide both logistical support and company, ranging from the likes of Responsible Travel to the ultra-luxe Pelorus.

The gorgeous oceanfront swimming pool at Anantara Uluwatu Resort

The rooms are so lovely at Anantara it makes it a tough choice where to relax

Anantara Uluwatu Resort offers the perfect dinner views too

Balinese Yoga Escapes

Indonesia’s ‘Island of the Gods’ has become synonymous with yoga, so it’s no surprise that dedicated retreats have popped up everywhere from the buzzing beach town of Canggu to the slower-paced region of Uluwatu. Combining vinyasa flow with cooking classes, sunrise sessions and even the odd surf trip, you’ll be sure to find something to suit your mood.

Can you think of anything more indulgent than a sleep retreat?

Bali Sleep Retreats

Ever flown home from a holiday feeling more depleted than when you left? A sleep retreat in Bali could be just what you need. The Sleep Well retreat at sustainable wellness resort REVĪVŌ combines mindful meditation, exercise classes, spa treatments and nutritious meals designed to address your current sleeping patterns and send you off into the land of nod in no time.

Bali Detox Stays

While a week of massages and pool action is all well and good, if you’re really looking to see visible results, Bali’s numerous detox retreats are both strict in nature and high in demand. Our top pick is Fivelements’s Signature Detox Retreat which includes traditional Balinese healing therapies aimed at detoxifying and purifying both the body and mind alongside a menu of plant-based cuisine and sacred arts.

The Best Time of Year to Book a Bali Retreat

Bali is one of those glorious destinations that’s great to visit almost any month, boasting a tropical and hot climate that sees temperatures averaging around 30°C throughout the year. The dry season is April to September, however between October to March you’ll likely only experience brief showers followed by sunny days with bright blue skies. You might want to time your trip to avoid peak season, however – families descend on Bali during all school holidays.

Getting to Bali

Return flights from London to Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport, more commonly known as Denpasar Airport, start from £580. For more details, visit Skyscanner.