9-Day Balinese Village Yoga & Meditation Retreat with Temple Visits

Bali Garden Retreats runs out of Bali Sesandan Garden, a small property in Tabanan's countryside. The nearest main road is far enough away that you hear birds and gamelan music instead of traffic. The bungalows are built in traditional Balinese style with thatched roofs and wooden verandas overlooking the garden. There's a pool, a yoga shala, a spa, and a restaurant where everyone eats together.

The yoga programme suits beginners and intermediates. Teddi, the main teacher, came to yoga after a stressful banking career and now teaches light-hearted Vinyasa and Hatha classes with plenty of jokes. Adi specialises in Watukaru yoga, a Balinese tradition he's practised for three decades as a disciple of Perguruan Seruling Dewata, one of Bali's oldest spiritual ashrams. Between them, you get both familiar Western-style flow classes and something you won't find at a studio back home.

The cultural programme is what sets this retreat apart from a typical yoga holiday. You visit Watukaru Temple — one of Bali's largest, surrounded by big trees and a small lake — and the Jatiluwih rice terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You learn to make traditional offerings, cook nasi goreng from scratch, and play the gamelan. One afternoon includes a waterfall visit with a purification ceremony. If you want, you can book a session with a local shaman.

Meals are served family-style. Breakfast might be tropical fruit, fresh juice, and Indonesian pastries; lunch and dinner feature dishes like gado-gado, tempeh satay, or grilled fish with sambal, depending on your diet preference. The portions are generous, and the staff remember your preferences after the first day.

The group size caps at 15, but most weeks there are fewer. Reviews mention the calm atmosphere, the friendliness of the staff, and how easy it is to relax. One recent guest wrote: 'This retreat is so calm, far away from the main road and traffic. I could finally have this time just for myself.'

What's included

- 8 nights accommodation in shared or private bungalow - 3 daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Water, tea, and coffee throughout the day - Welcome drink - Daily yoga classes - Daily meditation classes - Daily pranayama classes - Specialised workshops (cooking, dance, music, offerings) - Nature hikes with a trusted guide - 1-hour spa treatment - Transportation during the retreat - Waterfall excursion - Watukaru Temple and Jatiluwih rice terrace tour - Village cultural activities - Free parking - WiFi connection

What's not included

- Airport transfers - International flights - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Additional spa treatments beyond the included session - Credit card payment fees - Personal expenses