The Best Meditation Retreats and Centres in Bali

Interested in a trip? You can now travel with Culture Trip to Bali on an immersive 12-day adventure around the island – think snorkelling with sea turtles, sunrise hikes and FlyHigh Yoga.

An oasis of calm at the heart of the island, the Yoga Barn is more than a simple studio: it’s a holistic healing, wellness and community experience. In central Ubud, the barn has seven yoga studios and more than 130 yoga, meditation and dance classes per week, together with healing and Ayurvedic treatments. And there’s more: Tibetan bowls, sound baths and ecstatic dance sessions are bolstered by delicious raw vegan food from the Garden Kafe. Paradise on earth.

Stunning, luxurious accommodation aside, Fivelements offers more than meets the eye. The retreat programme here provides a healing journey Balinese-style, with all its rituals, cultures and traditions. Choose your package: rejuvenation, detox, culinary or wellness – each has its own focus, but all are geared towards transformation, and the goal of a balanced life. Better still, you’ll get a glimpse into local healing rituals, making Fivelements a cultural and spiritual experience all in one.

Imagine a road winding through emerald rice fields leading to a place of calm surrounded by nothing but nature. On the slopes of the Tabanan mountains, Bali Eco Stay is a magical oasis of meditation, silence and health. The rooms complement the landscape of the valley and the views are phenomenal. The yoga shala is equipped for retreats and seminars and most of the food is sourced from the surrounding gardens. Here you’ll have the chance to switch off fully and find time for yourself, surrounded by the soothing sounds of waterfalls, birds and the river.

At Samadi your instructor is also your life coach, chakra balancer, craniosacral therapist, body mechanic and soul food artist. In the heart of the popular surf spot Canggu, near Echo Beach, this yoga centre offers classes for all abilities and focuses on healing and renewal. There are two shalas available for hire and 10 comfortable rooms for guests; choose from many styles of yoga and follow your own path to restoration.

Desa Seni is a village resort with a dreamy, open-air, tropical yoga studio. The teachers here are passionate about their practice and offer a variety of yoga styles including vinyasa, hatha, restorative and yin, as well as alignment and meditation classes. Local culture, traditions and art are fostered through workshops and events and there’s also the holistic spa, organic farm and restaurant for guests. In short, everything you need for a restful, sustainable stay in Bali.

Bali Silent Retreat is an eco-sanctuary for meditation and prayer. Surrounded by green rice fields and protected by the sacred Mount Batu Karu and caressed by natural hot springs, this is the ideal place to start an inner journey of quiet contemplation. You can choose how long you stay and what you spend your time here doing, so long as you follow the mandate to respect the art of doing nothing. Breathe deep and relax.

For soul-seeking adventurous types and ocean lovers, Shambala Oceanside Retreat and Spa is the ideal spot. Found in the far north of the island, the centre overlooks the gentle waves of the northern shore. Your daily yoga and meditation practices are complemented by trekking to waterfalls, exploring local reefs and swimming with dolphins.

North of Ubud, on the Penestanan Kaja hill, Intuitive Flow is an intimate, airy shala overlooking the lush Balinese jungle and volcanic peaks. The quality of the teaching here is remarkable and the views are unique. Here you can try Yoga Pranala, a special blend of traditional yoga and ancient Balinese teachings and practice your morning yoga with the sun rising and bathing your skin.

If you’re looking for a mixture of mountains and sea as the backdrop for your personal development, East Bali is where to go and Nirarta is the place to stay. Half an hour from both Mount Agung and the ocean, this dreamy centre offers one-to-one work, retreats and seminars aimed at unfolding physical and psychological renewal. Come here to unwind and experience the healing power of nature, and to enact some deep transformation work.

Prana Dewi is another jewel cloistered in the mountainous Tabanan region, one of the wildest areas in Bali. Wake in the morning and start your day meditating on the sacred Mount Batu Karu. The restaurant, stocked with organic, locally-sourced food, will feed your body, while the natural water swimming pool and local trekking trails will nourish your soul – for a well-rounded mindful experience of self-exploration and beauty.

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