Bali's Spiritual Heart: A Week in Ubud

Arriving in Ubud

Ubud is about 90 minutes from Ngurah Rai airport by private transfer (negotiate in advance, roughly 350,000 IDR). The town itself is walkable, though you will want a scooter or driver for the outlying rice terraces and temples.

The Yoga Scene

Ubud has dozens of yoga studios. The Yoga Barn is the most established — classes from 6am to 8pm, multiple styles, visiting teachers from around the world. Radiantly Alive is more intimate. A drop-in class costs around 120,000 IDR.

Tegallalang Rice Terraces

The UNESCO-listed rice terraces of Tegallalang, 10km north of Ubud, are best visited early (before 8am) or late afternoon when the light is golden and the tour groups have thinned. The Campuhan Ridge Walk — a 9km trail from central Ubud through rice paddies — is free, beautiful and best done at sunrise.

Healing Traditions

Traditional Balinese healing (balian) is still practised in Ubud. A session with a reputable healer involves diagnosis, massage, and sometimes plant medicine. Your hotel can recommend a genuine practitioner. The Four Seasons Sayan also offers traditional Balinese healing within its spa.

Where to Stay

For the full experience, a villa with a private pool in the rice fields is the way to go — many excellent options exist at reasonable prices through Airbnb. Alternatively, the Como Shambhala Estate offers full-service wellness retreats including nutrition programmes and fitness assessments.