By Rebecca Boteler
For many West Australians, a holiday in Bali has mainly been about laying by the pool, drinking cocktails and eating massive amounts of nasi goreng. But in recent years, some people have begun to see a trip to Bali as something else: a chance to work on their health as well as their tan. An increasing number of health and wellness retreats have popped up, catering to people who want to kickstart their fitness regime, detox and de-stress, or just want to make sure they don’t come home from holiday with, ahem, ‘excess baggage’.
So if you think it’s time to swap the Bintangs for a green juice, here are seven healthy holiday options in Bali.
Como Shambhala Estate, Payangan
Ricefield trek Como.Credit: Rebecca Boteler
If you want to improve your health while staying in absolute mind-blowing luxury, then Como Shambhala Estate near Ubud is the place to do it. The spectacular property sits on a peninsular, surrounded by dense jungle overlooking the Ayung River.
Como Shambhala takes a holistic approach to wellness, and your stay is tailored to suit your idea of a healthy holiday. If getting in shape is your main goal, you can do what I did and sign up for a fitness package, which offers a huge list of activities ranging from easy hikes to full-on mountain climbing. I opted for something in between; a two-and-a-half hour trek through the rice fields followed by an uphill mountain bike ride (aka The Biathlon).
The Como Shambhala.Credit: Rebecca Boteler
If you don’t want to venture outside the resort, there are heaps of fitness options on site at Como. There’s a well-equipped gym with stunning jungle views, and a personal trainer is available if you need some extra motivation. If you prefer exercising outdoors, there’s the Estate Walk, which ends with a ‘natural stairmaster’ (a climb up 200 stairs), or you can test yourself on the climbing wall and circuit equipment.
Aside from the hardcore workouts, there are a few more gentle options as well. One is an aqua therapy class, which is part aqua aerobics, part underwater massage (and ends with you being wrapped up in warm towels like a mummy). Another is a gentle yoga class in the estate’s beautiful open yoga studio, which finishes with a rejuvenating meditation.
The Samata, Sanur
The pool at the Samata.Credit: Rebecca Boteler
The Samata is a modern, chic, luxurious lifestyle retreat with stunning views over the rice fields to the ocean. The resort only has five private pool villas and five enormous suites, which means a whole lot of personalised service and privacy.
Sunsets at the Samata.Credit: Rebecca Boteler
Despite the fact I can’t remember ever setting foot in a hotel gym before, the Samata has one of the biggest and best I’ve ever seen, and actually inspired me to work out. As well as cardio equipment and weights, there’s also a full sized boxing ring and punching bags, which are a great way to work out some stress.
The gym at the Samata.Credit: Rebecca Boteler
The Samata also has a full tennis court on site (they’ll even rope in a staff member to play with you if no one else will!), and after chasing a ball around in the Bali heat, you can cool down in one of the resort’s three lap pools. The pools are surrounded by stunning gardens and have rice field views, which I found were a welcome distraction in between laps.
When you want to have a good stretch after all that activity, the Samata also has a yoga room for private or group classes, or there’s a day spa on site which offers a relaxing range of treatments, including massages, body scrubs and facials.
Desa Seni, Canggu
The Desi seni in Canggu.Credit: Rebecca Boteler
Desa Seni is the perfect option if you want to detox and de-stress. The little eco village features traditional refurbished farm houses, dotted around a central salt water pool and immersed in lush gardens. There are organic vege patches throughout the property, and the produce is picked fresh and served up in your meals.
The resort has an incredible yoga timetable, and unlimited classes are included in your room price. Teachers from both Bali and all over the world offer a wide range of classes, from Kundalini (working with energy) to Hatha (slow). Classes are in a simple but beautiful open air pavilion, and I found it particularly inspiring to do my sun salutations surrounded by greenery. As well as the daily classes, there are also heaps of different workshops and retreats throughout the year focusing on everything from the chakras (energy points) to barre (a cross between pilates, yoga and ballet).
Desa Seni also has a day spa on site, which offers a variety of wellness treatments ranging from acupuncture to chiropractic, as well as the standard manicures, pedicures and facials (using organic products). Or for something more traditional, you can do what I did and have a chakra balancing session with a Balinese healer, which included chanting, meditation, massage and being sprinkled with holy water to bring mind and body back into balance.
Bagus Jati wellbeing retreat, Sebatu
Bagus JatiCredit: Rebecca Boteler
Set on five hectares of lush grounds facing a wall of jungle, Bagus Jati is the place to go if you want some peace and quiet and to spend some time in nature. Just walking up and down the hills of the massive property to get to and from your room is a workout!
Other than walking around the property, you can also sign up for the nature walk (tip: it was a bit more ‘nature’ than I’d bargained for, so bring closed-in shoes). The walk takes you to a neighbouring farm where you learn all about the produce, then to several woodworking shops in the nearby village before ending at the house of a local family to learn about their way of life.
The resort offers guests a daily schedule of activities, including Balinese Dance lessons (which can be great for a laugh if you’re as uncoordinated as me), aqua aerobics and yoga and meditation. The property has two yoga rooms which both overlook the stunning pool area, the sound of falling water filtering up the hillside, ensuring a very peaceful svasana (rest at the end of the yoga class).
Fivelements, Mambal
Yoga at FivelementsCredit: Rebecca Boteler
If you want to really immerse yourself in ancient Balinese healing practices, then Fivelements is the place to do it. The resort is the ultimate in private luxury – just nine gorgeous villas sitting right on the banks of the Ayung River. Fivelements is the only resort I’ve stayed at that has a view of a waterfall from the room, and the sound of flowing water resonates throughout the property.
Fivelements has an emphasis on traditional Balinese healing, and you can book a session with healers offering incredible experiences, from water therapy to blessing ceremonies. We chose the Sakti ritual, which included a sensational deep massage, sea salt body scrub and relaxing flower bath in the rustic but lovely treatment rooms overlooking the river.
At the heart of the property sits the jaw-dropping yoga pavilion, its enormous cone-shaped thatched roof seemingly rising out of the ground. From inside, the roof offers a circular view of the sky, 21 metres above. The impressive structure is surrounded by smaller replicas, immersed in idyllic gardens.
Another highlight of a stay at Fivelements is the food, which is a masterclass in vegan and raw cuisine (and so delicious, it would inspire even the greatest of meat eaters to consider going vegetarian!). Even sitting in the restaurant was a spiritual experience, with the river roaring on one side, and the sound of chanting coming from the fire ceremony being held on the other.
Saranam Resort, Baturiti
Sanaram Resort has a large timetable of activities.Credit: Rebecca Boteler
If you’re not quite ready to give up cocktails by the pool altogether, but still want to incorporate some health and fitness into your holiday, then the Saranam resort is a good starting point. Based in the central highlands, even just breathing in the cool mountain air makes you feel healthier.
The Saranam has a huge timetable of activities for guests to take part in. You can start your day with a simple stretching class and end it with a roof top yoga session, with nature walks, meditation and cultural experiences in between. The nature walk takes you around the property, through the rice fields (like, literally through – pack your sneakers!) and down to the river, learning about farming practices and local produce all the way.
If you’re a runner, the resort has a jogging track, or for a real challenge, there are about 300 stairs to climb (full disclosure: we opted for the inclinator half way up). If you’d rather do your exercise in air-conditioned comfort, there’s a small gym overlooking the stunning pool with rice field views (which are inspiring enough to keep you going on the treadmill).
DIY, Canggu
Put together your own healthy holiday in Canggu.Credit: Rebecca Boteler
If resorts are not your thing, then organising your own DIY healthy holiday might be the way to go. One idea is to base yourself in Canggu, where everything from surfing to yoga to horse riding is on your doorstep.
Canggu is well known for its surf spots, and consistently good waves can be found at breaks like Old Man’s, Echo beach and Berawa. You can rent a board off the beach for about $6, or opt for a surf lesson from one of the dozens of shacks dotted along the coast. A warning for novices though: the word is well and truly out on how good the conditions are, so the waves can get pretty crowded.
If you want some fun with your fitness, you might want to check out Finns Recreation Club. It has a big fitness centre (thankfully with air-con), with group fitness classes, personal training and group workouts. And if the kids have tagged along on your healthy holiday (or if you’re a big kid at heart), there are water slides, trampolines and bowling as well. There’s also a 25 metre pool with timing clock if you want to bust out some laps.
Finn's recreation club.Credit: Rebecca Boteler
A much cheaper option if you’re serious about your swimming is the Olympic size pool, Teman Segara Madu, which costs less than $4 to use for as long as you like. (I’ve even heard a former Olympian swims here when in Bali). It also has also a smaller pool with some water slides for the kids.
If you’re looking for somewhere to get your yoga on, there are heaps of great options in Canggu. In my opinion, the best is The Practice, a purpose-built bamboo building with a huge upstairs studio and rice field views. The Yin and Restorative classes at the end of the day are the perfect way to unwind after all your other activities, but get there early; it’s often wall to wall yoga mats.
Where to stay in Canggu: If you’re happy to stay in shared accommodation, the beautiful five bedroom villa, the Pineapple House, is right next door to Desa Seni. It’s halfway between a retreat and an independent holiday – you can do your own thing or they can organise everything for you, including private yoga sessions, massages and surf lessons.
If you’re looking for privacy, there are hundreds of private villas in Canggu. We chose the Echo Beach townhouses, which are only a five minute walk to Echo beach, as well as some great restaurants and shops. Our villa had three levels, three bedrooms with bathrooms, and a lounge, pool table, full kitchen and private swimming pool.
Echo beach offers a whole range of healthy activities.Credit: Rebecca Boteler
Rebecca Boteler is a freelance travel writer and was a guest at the properties mentioned in this article. You can read more of her travel tales at www.waandfaraway.com.au