Blissful Bali: Yoga in the Mountains with Jill Maria Jorgensen

Welcome to Bali, an Indonesian island renowned around the world for its natural beauty and rich culture! Your journey is filled with equal parts luxury and adventure, and it starts by arriving at the wellness retreat that you will call home for the next six days. Nestled comfortably in the countryside outside of the town of Ubud, you’ll immediately feel your spirit begin to regenerate thanks to the lush, fertile surroundings of the retreat. After you check in, you’ll have time for a blessing before heading to a welcome dinner provided free-of-charge by the retreat. Eat up and then retire to your room whenever you feel like it. Your trip has only just begun!

As the sun rises on your first morning at the retreat, wake up and participate in your new routine. Each day will start with yoga in one of the gorgeous nearby shalas. Those who are more experienced might opt for unguided sessions while those who want a bit more assistance can elect to hire their own instructors. Once your body is properly stretched out, head to breakfast to indulge in a delicious meal. After you’re fed, the rest of the day is yours to do as you please. If you want to just chill and get a massage at the retreat, you’re more than welcome to do so. If you’re feeling a bit restless, though, you can attend an optional cooking class where an expert chef will introduce you to Balinese cuisine. Oh, and you’ll get to eat the tasty food that you prepare. Yummy!

Today presents two equally appealing options: you can either enjoy a blissful day of doing nothing, or you can head into Ubud to explore in the afternoon with an optional walking tour centered around local culture. Talk about a hard decision! The walking tour does end with a traditional Balinese massage, though, so that may help sway your choice. Either way, you’ll wake up with yoga and breakfast, and you’ll have plenty of time to yourself no matter what you end up doing in the afternoon. At a beautiful retreat in Bali, it’s hard to make a bad decision about how to spend your time.

Bali has a reputation for being one of the most relaxing destinations in the world, but it also offers many incredible opportunities for exciting adventures. Today will be a complete change in pace as you exchange the lackadaisical setting of the retreat for the rugged terrain of the nearby Mt. Batur, a dormant volcano that is more than 5000 feet tall! You’ll be waking up early (like, very early) to catch the sunrise from the summit, but believe us when we say it’s worth it. After catching a ride to the trailhead at 2 AM, you’ll begin a trek to the top of the mountain that will see you traversing near ash, solidified lava flows, and rocky trails. The reward at the top, though, will make you wonder why you don’t do this every day. As the sun rises, you’ll realize that you have climbed above the clouds, and the entire world will be illuminated. Off in the distance, you’ll see Mt. Abang and Mt. Agung, the latter of which is Bali’s highest peak at nearly 10,000 feet tall. Your summit views will be complemented by a breakfast with hot coffee or tea. After you hike down, you’ll get the chance to relax your tired muscles in a nearby hot spring before heading back to the retreat for lunch. Then you will be able to relax and get an even deeper connection within and out with a sound-meditation journey session.

Feeling a little stiff? That’s understandable. Yesterday was a life-changing adventure, but it was probably a bit tiring! Good thing, then, that you’ll have access to a yoga studio in the morning to work out all the kinks. After yoga and breakfast, you’ll once again have tons of free time that you can use for hanging out at the retreat or an optional activity in the town of Ubud. If you opt for the excursion, you’ll be treated to an authentic culinary experience that includes drinks, a three-course meal, dessert, and the chance to watch traditional dancers do their thing in Ubud. When the sun sets on your 5th day in Bali, fall asleep with your head filled with new, exciting memories and your body feeling recharged and refreshed.

Time really flies when you’re having fun, and you’ve done nothing but have fun since arriving in paradisiacal Bali. Sadly, today is the end of your trip. Enjoy one final breakfast before checking out and heading to the airport to catch a flight back home.