Bali is usually sold as a beach holiday, but the wellness crowd goes for a different reason: it’s one of the few places where a serious yoga practice, a genuine hike, and a proper beach day all fit into the same morning. The island’s mix of rice-terrace trails, surf breaks, and a deep-rooted yoga culture (Ubud has been a retreat hub for decades, not a recent trend) makes it a rare match of scenery and structure.
Rice terraces, surf, and sunrise hikes
The Tegallalang and Jatiluwih rice terraces outside Ubud offer flat, shaded walking paths that double as an easy daily-movement habit without feeling like exercise. For something steeper, Mount Batur is climbed before dawn by most visitors specifically for the sunrise at the summit — it’s a real hike (roughly two hours up loose volcanic scree), not a stroll, so a reasonable base fitness level matters more than people expect. On the coast, Canggu and Uluwatu are the two areas built around surfing, with board rental and lessons available for beginners at both.
Why a yoga block earns its space in the bag
Studios across Ubud run daily drop-in classes, and most rent props on-site — but travelling with your own block means you’re not dependent on what a particular studio has in stock, and it packs flat against a suitcase wall. It’s also just as useful back home, which makes it one of the few travel items that isn’t dead weight the other 350 days of the year.
Lightweight EVA foam block that adds stability to standing and seated poses — packable enough to bring on a trip without a second thought.
See Full Review →Practical notes
- Best months for drier weather are April–October; the wet season (Nov–Mar) brings short, heavy afternoon downpours rather than all-day rain.
- Mount Batur sunrise treks are typically arranged the night before through a local guide, starting around 2–3am.
- Ubud and the south coast (Canggu/Uluwatu/Seminyak) are roughly 1–1.5 hours apart by car, so most visitors base themselves in one and day-trip to the other.
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