Restorative Retreat in Bali, Indonesia

9 days/8 nights at a 5-star resort

All meals during the retreat (breakfast, lunch, & dinner)

Pick-up and drop-off at Denpasar airport (DPS)

All transportation during the retreat

Gratuities for tour guides, restaurant staff, and drivers

1-hour Balinese massage

Authentic Balinese cooking class

Small-group excursions as listed on the itinerary

Private local driver for our group only

Airfare to and from Denpasar, Bali

Souvenirs, drinks, snacks, additional excursions, or other personal items

Gratuities of a personal nature (hotel staff, spa services, etc.)

Any alcoholic beverages (unless listed on itinerary)

Visa on arrival in to Bali at the airport

Travel insurance and medical insurance (required)

Any travel-related fees (visas, passports, baggage, etc.)

Pick-up and drop-off at Denpasar airport (DPS).

Clothing

While vacationing on an island often encourages skimpy beach attire, the Indonesian locals dress pretty conservatively. You should dress appropriately and cover your knees and shoulders when visiting Hindu temples and sacred sites or when exploring small villages in the island interior. Beach attire is excellent for daily wear other than when dining or clubbing at pricey establishments. 

Plan on bringing light cotton clothing; jeans will be hot and heavy for most circumstances. High-tech, quick-dry garments will work, too, but don't leave them hanging to dry somewhere they could be stolen.

You won't need as much clothing as you would expect; keep your packing simple and purchase items locally if you run out of outfits to wear. If on an extended trip, you'll find plenty of places that do laundry for a fee based on weight.

When packing, separate clothing and other "kits" into sealed modules or cubes in case temperature and pressure changes pop open bottles.

Shoes

As with most of Southeast Asia, typical footwear consists of just a pair of reliable flip-flops. Some shops, temples, bars, and restaurants may ask you to remove your shoes at the door. Flip-flops are more accessible to slide on and off than sandals with straps. I wouldn't recommend bringing expensive footwear. You can purchase cheap flip-flops in shops and stalls all over the island. You'll also need proper hiking shoes or sandals if you want to climb Mount Batur.

First Aid Kit

Don't let an annoying ailment affect your precious time on the island. Fortunately, walk-in pharmacies sell nearly everything that you'll need -- including prescription drugs -- without the need to visit a hospital first. Pack only a tiny, simple travel first aid kit. (Hopefully, you won't need anything more than ibuprofen after too many beach cocktails)

Tip: Every first-aid kit should have anti-diarrhea medicine such as loperamide(Imodium), but don't take it unless getting to a toilet isn't an option (e.g., you'll be on transportation all day). Antimotility drugs may exasperate simple travelers' diarrhea by trapping bacteria inside instead of allowing it to pass.

Money and Documents

Make two copies of your passport. Diversify your travel documents by hiding them in both your money belt/day bag and big luggage to avoid disaster if one or the other gets lost. Bring multiple credit cards, and plan on leaving one in the hotel safe in case of an emergency. I recommend sending your travel itinerary and flight details to someone in your family. Send emergency contact phone numbers in an email to yourself in case you need to contact banks.

Bali has plenty of Western-networked ATMs; however, they bring backup cash just in case the network goes down. Consider bringing $100 in case of an emergency. 

Tip: Keep your passport locked in the hotel safe. Don't carry it around with you out of fear of losing it or theft. 

Electronics

Don't bring too many electronics. I recommend a mobile phone and, optionally, a camera. If you opt to bring fragile electronic devices and know how to protect them in a tropical environment, consider bringing a portable battery charger for your phone. A good rule of thumb is to leave non-essential valuables back in the USA.

Indonesia uses the round, two-pronged CEE7 power outlets that are common in Europe. Voltage is 230 volts / 50 Hz. Unless you intend to carry a hair dryer (don't!), you won't need a step-down power transformer because most modern device chargers (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, etc.) handle the higher voltage automatically. Although many hotels have universal outlets that work with many cord types, you may need a small adapter to accommodate your device.

Tip: Have a plan for your cell phone before you depart. Call your carrier to find out the details and coverage of using your phone while in Bali. Verizon offers it for only $10 a day if you sign up for their international plan in advance.

Other Items 

Along with the obvious stuff, consider bringing along the following:

Hand sanitizer and toilet paper for encounters with public squat toilets. 

Earplugs

Mosquito repellent 

Flashlight for unexpected power outages -- a common occurrence in Southeast Asia.

Plastic bags or cases for waterproofing electronics and valuables.

Souvenirs

Purchasing what you need on a trip after arrival not only helps the local economy, but it's also fun! Make sure you leave room in your luggage for purchases and unique items that are not easy to find at home.

You'll find plenty of shopping in Bali, particularly in Ubud, where lots of boutique shops carry unique clothing perfect for the island. Along with stalls and small shops, you'll find several large shopping malls in Kuta with name-brand items. Outside of malls, you will typically need to barter, particularly in tourist shops, to get acceptable prices.

Rather than leave home with a packed suitcase, consider waiting until you arrive in Bali to purchase some of these everyday items:

Sarongs (some Hindu temples require that men wear one to enter)

Hats

Sunglasses

Beach bags

Swimsuits/beach cover-ups

Evening dresses

Flip-flops/sandals

Handmade Jewelry

Aloe vera / after-sun lotion

Coconut oil (a tremendous after-sun moisturizer that is popular on the island)

Snacks

You'll probably want to bring toiletries, sunscreen, and consumables in case the brands you usually use are not available. Beware of the many local toiletries, particularly soaps and deodorants, that contain whitening agents. 

Although violent crime is not an issue in Bali, the influx of tourists does attract some petty theft. Be mindful when choosing a day bag; backpacks or satchels with famous logos (e.g., IBM, LowePro, GoPro, etc.) announce to would-be thieves that the contents inside are valuable.

Other Items to Bring

COMFORTABLE WALKING SHOES! Don't even think about bringing non-practical shoes. You won't wear them, and they will only take space in your bag.

Portable battery charger for your mobile phone

Empty garbage bag for laundry

Used grocery bags for wet shoes

Day bag for day trips

Poncho or umbrella

tissue pack

Hand sanitizer

Compression socks (for the long flight)

Sunscreen

Extra room in your luggage for bringing home souvenirs

Dramamine and other essential medications

Flip flops for the beach

Modest, temple-appropriate outfits

A Few Tips

Here are a few tips:

Please bring a pen for the forms you will need to fill out when you arrive.

Please bring $40 cash for your Visa on Arrival. You can only stay in Bali for 30 days.

Please bring little packs of tissues to use in the bathroom while we are out and about.

Please bring hand sanitizer, bug spray, sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat.

Please bring a little day pack/ bag.

Do not bring valuables, and for sure do not bring anything that could be taken from a monkey when around monkeys such as Uluwatu Temple and Monkey Forest ( i.e., sunglasses on your head, jewelry, hold your phone tight when taking pictures, have a cross body bag, no food around monkeys)

Watch where you are walking, the side walks are uneven.

Traffic is BAD. If you get car sick, please plan accordingly. One of the changes I made was not having us in a vehicle for so long each day.

Mosquitos are no joke, and we will be staying in Ubud, which is in the jungle.

When using your credit card, they will ask you if you want IDR or USD- It doesn't matter unless your credit card charges foreign transaction fees, which I don't think many do anymore. Just say local currency. They will also ask for a PIN or Sign, sign if it's a credit card. 

Please don't forget your vaccination card, passport, or copy of your passport in case you lose your passport.

If you want to buy in markets or along the streets, you can haggle on the price of things. I can help you with this.

Please download the XE app to convert their currency easily. 100,000 IDR is just under $7

Visa

"Well organized, Amy is a gem to work with. Lucia Yoga not up to expectation, but we managed. the pace of the retreat worked well."

- Gloria D

"The trip was awesome ! I left completely regenerated. The staff were superb, the yoga, the food and the accommodations were grand. The hiking was fantastic. A great retreat for all levels. Thank you so much."

- Karen J

Cancellation Policy

In the event of trip cancellation before the 90-day or 30-day payment deadline, the deposited amount is non-refundable. However, any payments made before these final payment deadlines are fully refundable minus the non-refundable deposit. Trip cancellations requested after the final payment deadlines listed above are non-refundable, and guests are encouraged to file a claim with their travel insurance for reimbursement.

In the unlikely event Activ Retreats cancels the retreat, guests will be provided a full 100% refund of their booking. Lastly, we partner with several third-party booking platforms with separate deposit and cancellation policies. Please refer to their specific cancellation policies if booking through a third-party partner.

Payment Policy

All Activ Retreats retreat require a deposit at the time of booking.