Yoga in Bali

Bali’s Hindu culture, daily temple offerings and lush landscapes make it one of the world’s most popular yoga destinations. Inland Ubud is the island’s yoga heartland, surrounded by jungle and rice terraces, while coastal areas such as Canggu pair yoga with surfing and café culture.

You will find everything from drop-in studios to month-long teacher trainings and wellness retreats. The dry season, roughly April to October, is the most popular time to visit; the wet season (November to March) brings short, heavy downpours and fewer crowds. Dress modestly and cover your shoulders and knees when visiting temples.

Where to practise: Ubud, Canggu, Uluwatu and beyond

• Ubud: the island’s yoga heartland, inland among jungle and rice terraces, with large studios, retreat centres and a strong wellness scene
• Canggu: on the west coast, pairing yoga with surfing, cafés and a younger, livelier crowd
• Uluwatu: on the southern clifftops, with surf breaks, ocean views and smaller boutique retreats
• Sanur: a calmer east-coast beach town, good for families and slower stays
• Sidemen and Amed: quieter, more remote areas in the east for those who want to step away from the crowds

Choosing a yoga retreat

Retreats range from long weekends to several weeks. Compare the daily schedule (how many hours of yoga, and what else), the style of yoga, the group size, the teachers’ experience and what is included: accommodation, meals, airport transfers and excursions. A retreat with plenty of free time suits a holiday; a fuller timetable suits a deeper reset.

Teacher training in Bali

Bali is one of the most popular places in the world for a 200-hour yoga teacher training, usually run as an intensive three to four weeks, often residential. Many schools are registered with Yoga Alliance. As with any training, look at the curriculum, the lead trainers, the daily schedule and the student-to-teacher ratio, and ask to speak to past graduates.

Balinese culture and etiquette

Most Balinese are Hindu, and daily life is woven with ceremonies and small offerings (canang sari) placed on doorsteps and pavements; step around them. To enter a temple you need a sarong and sash, usually lent or rented at the entrance, with shoulders covered. Once a year, on Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence in March, the whole island shuts down for 24 hours, including the airport: no travel, no lights and no going out, even for visitors.

Getting there and around

International flights arrive at Ngurah Rai International Airport near Denpasar. Ubud is about one to one and a half hours away by car, and Canggu and Uluwatu roughly an hour, depending on traffic, which can be heavy. Most visitors use private drivers or ride-hailing apps; renting a scooter is common but risky if you are not experienced. Bali charges a tourism levy for foreign visitors on top of visa requirements, so check the current entry rules before you travel.

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