By Bec Milligan.

Photo credit: Escape Haven
Stressed or rundown by the everyday pressures of life? Head to Bali, AKA one of the best places in the world to properly reset. The whole island has a relaxing, spiritual energy about it, and retreats are abundant.
Seriously, Bali has everything from mental wellbeing retreats to yoga retreats to surfing retreats. And before you ask ‘what’s the difference between a retreat and a resort?,’ a retreat comes with a programme (think classes, treatments, workshops, a meal plan) designed to help you achieve a specific goal. A resort, on the other hand, is just accommodation.
Read on for everything you need to know about Bali retreats, from typical costs to the best 11 the island has to offer.
The best retreat depends on what you want to get out of it. So, if you want to relax and improve your mental wellbeing, a yoga retreat might be best. But if you want to push your body physically, a fitness bootcamp-style retreat would be the better option for you.
The good news is that Bali literally has it all when it comes to retreats: yoga, women-only, surfing, fitness, digital detoxes… we could go on. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed making a decision, we’ve listed our favourite retreats below (and don’t worry, there’s something for everyone).
Photo credit: COMO Shambhala Estate
Set on 22 acres of riverine forest just beyond Ubud, COMO Shambhala Estate sits above the Ayung River on a site that has long been considered sacred in Balinese culture, with a natural spring at its heart.
The luxury wellness retreat offers bespoke multi-day wellness programmes including Detox to Restore, Fit to Perform, Nourish to Glow and Ayurveda. Each begins with a personal wellness consultation so the experience is tailored specifically to you. Daily inclusions for all guests cover yoga, Qi Gong, circuit training, mindfulness walks, access to the vitality pool, fitness centre, steam rooms and sauna.
Photo credit: Escape Haven
Located in Canggu, about 500 metres from Echo Beach, Escape Haven is Bali’s most awarded women’s retreat. They offer a wide range of packages including yoga, fitness, pilates, surf, ayurveda, healing, detox, menopause, longevity and mother-daughter retreats.
All meals are included, prepared by therapeutic chefs using organic locally sourced ingredients, and are primarily free from dairy, gluten, refined sugars and preservatives. As for the facilities, Escape Haven has two pools, a fire pit, Jacuzzi suites, ice plunge pools, indoor spa treatment rooms and lush, tropical gardens.
Photo credit: Sukhavati
Sukhavati is a boutique, all-inclusive Ayurvedic retreat set in a quiet Balinese village in the Mengwi area of Badung. Surrounded by rice paddies, a flowing river and open skies, Sukhavati’s whole philosophy is rooted in Ayurveda: the ancient Indian system of medicine that approaches health as a balance of body, mind and spirit.
Two main programmes are on offer: a Rejuvenation Stay (available in 3, 5 or 7-day formats, perfect for those new to Ayurveda) and the Panchakarma Program, a signature 7-day Ayurvedic detox and transformation experience guided by expert practitioners. The all-inclusive covers everything from accommodation in private villas and nourishing meals to a restorative magnesium mineral pool.
Photo credit: REVIVO
REVIVO is a Michelin Key-recognised wellness resort located in Nusa Dua, in the south of Bali. They take a science-backed, integrative approach to wellness, built around six core pillars: rest, movement, nutrition, sleep, vitality and mental wellbeing.
REVIVO’s signature programmes include Foundations for Vitality, Precision Longevity Optimisation, Sleep Recovery and Renewal, Weight Optimisation and Metabolic Health, Detox and Cellular Renewal, and Wellness Your Way. Plus, Full Moon, Cacao and Sound Healing ceremonies are held on-site monthly.
Photo credit: Bagus Jati
Bagus Jati is a hillside wellness retreat, located in the tropical forest above Ubud and known for its serene surroundings. They offer several programmes including Balinese Sejati, Yoga and Ayurveda, Rejuvenation Spa, Detox (guided by a specialist doctor and including acupuncture), Spiritual Healing, and Couple Wellness.
You can expect daily yoga and meditation, Balinese cooking classes, jungle trekking, and spa treatments, but the specifics will depend on the programme you book. Nature walks, aqua aerobics, jamu (traditional herbal medicine) introduction, and afternoon herb tea are available to all guests though.
Photo credit: Villa Moksha
Villa Moksha is an eco-friendly boutique retreat located near Canggu. Set among beautiful gardens and rice paddies, they specialise in yoga-focused programmes.
Aside from yoga, offerings include meditation, spa treatments, Balinese cultural experiences, Ayurveda and, if you opt for the Nature & Adventure retreat, hiking, surfing and horseback riding.
Photo credit: Power of Now Oasis
Power of Now Oasis has been operating in Sanur since 2010, making it one of the longest-established wellness centres in Bali. Their signature retreat is a 7-day programme that includes daily breakfast and lunch, return airport transfers, unlimited group yoga classes, one private yoga class, one private meditation class and four spa or holistic treatments (you can choose whatever you like out of therapeutic massage, Ayurveda treatments, beauty treatments, sauna, or an ice bath).
The signature retreat also includes accommodation at Mercure Resort Sanur (which is just a short walk away) as there’s nowhere to stay onsite. Not to mention, the programme is fully customisable with add-ons spanning surf and stand-up paddleboard lessons, volcano treks, Balinese cooking classes, horse riding and more.
Photo credit: Ocean Soul Retreat
Ocean Soul Retreat is a women’s wellness retreat that promises to help you achieve “next-level nirvana” (a Buddhist concept that means a state of complete peace and wellbeing). The programmes include Pilates, Surf, Yoga, Wellness and Freediving. But, no matter which you choose, all have a focus on clean eating, holistic treatments, and restoring your body’s natural circadian rhythms.
Workshops on various topics, spanning nutrition to mindfulness, are also available so you can learn and (hopefully) continue a healthy, mindful routine once you return home.
Photo credit: Wanderlust
Wanderlust is a bit different to the other retreats on this list; it’s built for gym junkies. The 8-day programme includes daily training at the fitness village, two private coaching sessions, a surf lesson, an ATV rainforest adventure, beachfront 5-star accommodation and the Finns Beach Club closing party.
The aforementioned fitness village (which is the largest fitness village in the world) offers more than 60 classes, including CrossFit, Hyrox, Booty Builder, weightlifting, and boxing.
As for recovery facilities, you’ll have access to sauna, Jacuzzi and ice baths (perfect for hot/cold contrast therapy).
Photo credit: Bali Silent Retreat
Bali Silent Retreat sits on 6 hectares of nature surrounded by UNESCO-protected Jatiluwih rice fields, jungle and mountains. And yes, it is exactly what the name suggests: a place of genuine silence. No social talking and no devices are allowed (unless you utilise the office and co-work space). There’s also no caffeine, alcohol, meat or dairy onsite.
The retreat includes movement and meditation sessions with Balinese practitioners, access to hot springs, sound baths, food demonstrations and sustainability tours. We need to stress that the Bali Silent Retreat is not for everyone, but guests willing to embrace the silence tend to describe it as life-changing.
Photo credit: Fivelements
Located along the sacred Ayung River near Ubud, Fivelements Retreat Bali is rooted in the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana (the harmonious connection between spirit, humanity and nature) and all five programmes are built around this principle.
At Fivelements – depending on which programme you choose – you can experience yoga, facials, massages, a Balinese Boreh Ritual, an Agni Hotra Fire Blessing Ritual, a Melukat Water Blessing Ritual and a hypnotherapy healing session. Plus, all meals are included and entirely nourishing and plant-based.
It really does depend on the type of retreat, the level of accommodation, and whether you’re travelling solo or have someone to split costs with.
Low to mid-range retreats (like Power of Now Oasis, Bali Silent Retreat and Bagus Jati) sit in the AUD $2,000-$4,000 range for a week stay that includes accommodation, meals and activities.
Premium retreats (like Escape Haven, REVIVO and Fivelements) can cost upwards of AUD $4,500 for a week, but it’ll all depend on the programme and room type you pick.
As a rough guide, if you’re planning a week-long all-inclusive retreat in Bali, you should budget somewhere between AUD $2,500 and $6,000 for the retreat itself. And just remember, you’ll have to budget for flights, any other travel costs and spending money too.
For a standard holiday in Bali, AUD $1,000 can stretch quite far. Especially if you are staying in mid-range guesthouses and eating at local warungs.
But chances are if you’re reading this, you’re probably looking at booking a Bali retreat and sorry to be the bearer of bad news but $1,000 is not enough for a full week with all-inclusive accommodation and programming.
If $1000 is all you’ve got and you’re determined to go to a retreat, some shorter experiences (think 3-night programmes, day passes, or budget-end retreat centres) would fall within that budget.
Bali’s dry season runs from approximately April to October, with July and August being the most popular months. During this time, the weather is reliably sunny, humidity is lower and conditions for outdoor activities are excellent. If you want the most predictable weather for your retreat, or you’re looking at a programme with a strong outdoor or surf component, this is the best time to go.
The wet season runs from November to March. And to be clear, it does not rain constantly; a typical day during Bali’s wet season is sunny and humid, and there’s an afternoon downpour before it clears up again. For retreat experiences that are primarily indoors (yoga, spa treatments, meditation), the wet season won’t make much difference to your experience but prices will be less and crowds will be smaller!
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