Wander Women Bali:
A Yoga + Adventure Retreat
Ubud, Canggu + Uluwatu
May 17-24, 2025
Join us on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to surf and savasana, temple hop and volcano hike, beach bum and celebratory toast your way around the Island of the Gods. Spend eight days and seven nights in Alex’s beloved new home island of Bali, taking in the highlights of Ubud, Canggu and Uluwatu.
Nowhere on the planet offers the same combination of surfing, spirituality and sun-kissed pleasure as Bali. A glorious cocktail of cultures and influences; ancient wisdom and modern energy meet here to create one of the planet’s most magnetic destinations. Bali is teeming with creative people and inspiring design, filled with delicious healthy food, blessed with stunning natural landscapes and bursting with opportunities for adventure. After years of wanderlust; the pull of this magical place inspired Alex to buy her first home here, overlooking a peaceful rice paddy — and yes, she’ll be hosting you there!
Throughout the week, we’ll rest our heads in swoon-worthy accommodation, ranging from a chic boutique hotel to sleek authentic villas. Balinese hospitality will be in full effect, as we indulge in local cuisine and culture around this stunning island paradise. Bali is no hidden gem. But with Alex’s connections and insider knowledge, we’ve arranged unique experiences you won’t find elsewhere.
A photographer will be behind the lens every step of the way, ensuring everyone leaves with profile-picture worthy shots of themselves. In addition to full access to the hundreds of photos our pro will take throughout the trip, she’ll send a daily selection of highlights for you to post on-the-go.
As with all Wander Women Retreats, we seek to be mindful travelers in our destination by partnering with small, locally-owned businesses and traveling as low-waste as possible.
Still want more? Join us on our Wander Women Komodo retreat to soak up the sea, sand and sun of Komodo National Park for a dive and yoga liveaboard experience!
The Details
This eight day retreat will be held from May 17-24, 2025, and starts at $3,500 for shared accommodation and $4,200 for private accommodation.
What’s Included
• Seven nights of unique private villa accommodation
• Two meals a day
• Daily yoga
• All outlined activities — see below!
• All local transportation + airport transfers
• A custom welcome bag
• Local tipping for activities, meals and drivers (we generously tip on your behalf, removing the stress and anxiety of when and how much to tip in a new culture!)
• Professional photos of the trip
• Donation to local NGOs
What’s Not Included
• Flights
• Additional meals, alcohol or activities not specified in the itinerary
• Mandatory travel insurance
The Itinerary
Subject to change, but you’re going to have a magical time — here’s the general idea!
Day 1: Welcome to Bali! We’ll kick off our retreat with a traditional Balinese offering workshop, manifesting a beautiful week ahead. The bliss begins with a yin massage yoga class with sound bath to unwind post-travels — the perfect way to dive straight into the culture and calming energy of Ubud. Tonight we’ll toast to an exciting week ahead with a welcome dinner at our jaw-drop private villa prepared by Alex’s favorite private chef. Bellies and hearts full after getting to know your fellow Wander Women, we’ll cuddle up for a Bali themed movie screening (okay — we’re watching Eat, Pray, Love!), then early to bed for our beauty sleep tonight as the adventure begins tomorrow.
Day 2: Our alarm clocks will be set early (and loud!) this morning as we hike Mount Batur before dawn so we can revel in a sunrise breakfast at the summit; one of Bali’s most iconic, and well-earned views. On our way back we’ll stop in at Tirta Empul, one of Bali’s holy water temples, and dive in, literally, to the beautiful and mystical culture of this island. Back at our villa, lunch awaits — enjoy it on the deck or in bed (we won’t judge!), or cool off in our private pools or in our secluded stretch of river. This might be our favorite villa in Wander Women history! After some thoroughly earned toes up time we’ll head to the iconic Tegalalang Rice Fields to take in sunset before enjoying dinner poolside at a favorite treetop restaurant.
Day 3: Today we say farewell to Ubud — but not before checking out a few more iconic spots. We’ll hit the heart of town for breakfast, with some free time to stroll the markets and pick up some Bali souvenirs. On our way to Canggu we’ll stop at the Monkey Forest for that photo and go chasing waterfalls for that other one, then enjoy lunch at a hip waterfall day club — Bali truly has everything! Once in Canggu we’ll take in that first breath of beach air as we get a new perspective in with an aerial yoga class at one of Bali’s most stunning studios. Tonight we’ll enjoy the sunset from our instagrammable private villa in the heart of Canggu, followed by dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, serving up fresh and healthy local fare with a side of social enterprise goodness. Keen to carry on? Alex will show you her favorite places for a late night boogie!
Day 4: Rise and shine, it’s party time! Bali’s beach clubs are famed the world over, and today we’ll be hitting up a classic Seminyak spot that’s recently resurrected itself as a mecca of sustainability, design, and good times. To set the mood, we’ll enjoy breakfast by our pool followed by a classic Wander Woman sip + stretch yoga class. Limbered up, we’ll then go lounge in the sun, make new friends with fellow travelers and dance the day away. Sun kissed and silly we’ll head home to Alex’s very own Bali villa for the ultimate girls night — a PJ’s + sushi party.
Day 5: Well rested from our slumber party, we’ll kick off the day dining beachside at Alex’s favorite early morning warung, hit the sand for a shoreline clean-up and then dive right in with a surfing lesson with Alex’s own personal surf instructor + friends. Once we have worked up an appetite we’ll head to a local heritage hotel for a lunchtime Balinese cooking class where you’ll learn the secrets of sambal! This afternoon, we’ve got a yoga class with Alex’s favorite local celebrity instructor — you’re really getting a taste of the Canggu lifestyle. Time to glam up for an elevated Indonesian dining experience in a stunning joglo with a traditional Balinese dance performance and cocktails featuring local flavors. If we’re still raring to go post-dinner, we will party on to the coolest bars + clubs in Berawa, another nearby neighborhood.
Day 6: If a slow flow and some breakfast doesn’t cure you, a morning of indulgence at one of Bali’s most beautiful spas should do the trick! Bali is known for its amazing spas, and we will pamper ourselves with a full body massage, scrub and facial before we bid goodbye to the ‘Gu and continue our journey down to the surfer’s paradise of Uluwatu. We’re taking over a chic boutique hotel and swapping black sand for white, as we stroll to the beach for a casual coconut and sunset swim. Dinner tonight is yours — wander to a walkable warung for something low-key, or join Alex for an optional upgrade to an unforgettable unique dining experience.
Day 7: Floating breakfast baskets and slow flow yoga will ease you into your final day in paradise — and it’s a sweet one. We will start the day by visiting one of the islands best kept secret beaches – think powder white sand, a cool pool overlooking the sea, a dramatic limestone cliff overhead and mellow vibes below. In the afternoon, we’ll flow with a traditional private Balinese dance class before we set off to a farewell performance with an almost surreal setting— Uluwatu Temple. Don sarongs and watch scampering monkeys dart across one of the island’s most precariously perched temples before we settle in for a fire ceremony and dance show that will have you already nostalgic for your trip. Hearts full, we’re off to our closing dinner at Alex’s favorite lush garden-based Uluwatu restaurant, serenaded by live music.
Day 8: Bali has blessed us with lifelong memories — and friendships! It’s time for hugs and fond farewells… unless you’re sticking around for more!
Joining our Komodo Retreat? The fun continues with a week of diving and luxuriating at sea!
The Adventure
Why sightsee when you can sight do! We’re going to enjoy Bali the way Alex fell in love with it — in motion. Here’s what’s included, but of course, expect some surprises.
Daily yoga
Traditional offerings workshop
Mount Batur sunrise hike
Water temple visit
Rice terrace viewpoint
Ubud Monkey Forest visit
Waterfall excursion
Beach club entrances
Surf lesson
Balinese cooking class
Luxury spa experience
Balinese dance lesson + performances
Cliff temple visit
A PJ party at Alex’s villa!
We get that you don’t want to end your trip needing a vacation from a vacation — while we’re offering a lot of fun and activity, always feel free to opt out to rest and recharge.
Where We’ll Stay and What We’ll Eat
We’ll spend two nights at a lush authentic Bali villa in Ubud, complete with a private yoga shala and multiple pools overlooking the jungle in central Ubud. Each room is different but think outdoor showers; cast-iron bathtubs and unique local art set above canopy beds. Our Canggu villa, home for three nights, is picture-perfect — like you walked right into an Instagram grid! Each room, a serene mix of poured concrete, wood accents and calming linens, opens into our private pool, with a second-story cold tub perched overlooking it. For our final two nights in Uluwatu, we’re taking over a stylish boutique hotel with a chic design and — you guessed it — another private pool; this one saltwater. Photos of each specific accommodation are in the itinerary above!
Due to the unique nature of our accommodation in Bali, double rooms will feature shared king or queen sized beds. In some locations, there will be an option for two single beds. Of course you can room with a friend but if you’re traveling solo, fear not, so are most of our Wander Women guests! We’ll do our best to pair you with someone we think you’ll click with based on your intake forms — and we’ll all be besties by the end anyway. Rooms vary slightly by layout and view in some locations and will be assigned based on booking order.
Every day, two meals will be included; typically breakfast and either lunch or dinner. Bali has become an expat destination with people from all around the world bringing their beloved cuisine to the island, expect it not only to be delicious but healthy and balanced. For the non-included meal of the day, we’ll bring you to a favorite spot where you can order at your own expense, or branch off and do your own thing. All diets can be accommodated.
Extend Your Adventure
Not ready to head back yet? Hop from the Island of the Gods to the Land of Dragons for a week of unparalleled diving cruising through the best of the islands on our private charter for Wander Women Komodo. Join us on a beautifully renovated phinisi, a traditional Indonesian sailing vessel turned floating barefoot luxury resort, for a this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip — you deserve it! We’ll head to the gorgeous volcanic archipelago of Komodo National Park, Indonesia for a blissful seven nights exploring the topside and underwater of some of the most beautiful islands on Earth.
Travel With Us
On this trip, you’ll be traveling with Alexandra Baackes as your host, and Rayna O’Nan as your private photographer.
Alexandra Baackes is the founder of Wander Women Retreats and Alex in Wanderland, and will lead your yoga practices throughout this trip. Alex fell in love with Bali’s hospitality, culture, and adventures while completing her PADI Divemaster in the Gili Islands in 2016 after her first visit to Indonesia in 2015, and is now a proud home owner and part-time resident in Bali. She is a PADI Ambassadiver, as well as a RYT 200 Registered Yoga Teacher, a Buti Bands and Sculpt instructor, an aerial vinyasa and yin instructor, and a regular yoga practitioner for over a decade. She can’t wait to travel with you.
Your photographer Rayna is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, owner of Ocean Rays Photography and self-professed shark whisperer who has been working with sharks for nearly 10 years. Rayna has joined us in Key Largo, in the Maldives, Raja Ampat and in her home of West Palm Beach! After becoming a scuba instructor in the Florida Keys, she picked up an underwater camera and fell in love, allowing her to travel the world taking photos of underwater life to inspire marine conservation. While she loves to snap sharks under the sea she can’t wait to capture your best angle amongst the beauty of Bali, which she fell in love with on our inaugural Wander Women Bali!
Getting There and Away
All international flights to Bali arrive and depart from Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS). This is where our retreat will begin.
Upon arrival, a driver will pick you up from the airport and drive you to Ubud to start the retreat. At the end of the retreat there will be a car service arranged to take you back to the airport on the last day of the retreat. If you choose to stay in Bali past the departure date we will be happy to help with transfers at your own expense.
Please feel free to reach out to us for help with flight recommendations — we’re always available at retreats@alexinwanderland.com. We offer an hour of complimentary consultation on booking your trip, after which we will offer our hourly consulting at a special retreat guest rate. You will receive a packet at the time of booking with more details regarding travel.
Join Us
Your deposit will be the first of four total payments for this trip, spread into convenient monthly installments. This trip requires a minimum number of guests to run. We will notify you when it is a guaranteed departure! Until then, please do not book non-refundable airfare.
Can’t make this one? Don’t sweat — sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when enrollment opens on future retreats. Don’t hesitate to email us at retreats@alexinwanderland.com with any and all questions or concerns over if this is the right retreat for you. We’re always here to chat.
Wander Women Bali: A Yoga + Adventure Retreat, 2025
$3,500.00
F.A.Q.
So does non-refundable really mean non-refundable?
Yes, all payments are non-refundable. If the trip must be postponed or canceled due to events beyond our control, you will be offered the choice between a full refund and applying your payments to a future trip.
The reason payments are non-refundable is that we start incurring costs from the moment someone presses “book” — from credit card fees to high hourly wages for our team who correspond with guests, manage trip inventory and our e-commerce platform, analyze forms to create room assignments, coordinate with our local vendors, and beyond.
There’s nothing we want more than for our guests to take and enjoy the travel they have worked hard and paid for. Thank you so much for your understanding and respect of our need to enforce this policy strictly. We want to be here to travel with you for years to come!
Will I need travel insurance?
Yes, it is mandatory for all Wander Women Retreat guests to have personal travel insurance for the duration of the trip. Our affiliate, World Nomads offers coverage at affordable rates. We recommend you book your travel insurance as soon as you make your trip deposit to protect your investment.
What about visas?
Entering Indonesia is a relatively straightforward process as visas are available on arrival for stays of up to 30 days (for most nationalities). To be sure you are eligible for the visa exemption, please double check your nationality requirements before traveling, along with your passport expiration date — you will need at least six months validity from your intended return date and a blank passport page — hurray, another stamp!
Do I need to be good at yoga?
Absolutely not. (And frankly, we don’t believe in the idea of being “good” at yoga!) We have a range of yogis from brand-new beginners to talented instructors join us on our trips. You’ll get the opportunity to sample a wide range of yoga styles, and you can opt in or out of as many classes as you wish.
Will I have time to do my own thing?
This is your retreat and we want you to make it exactly what you want! There’s a lot to see and experience, so we’ve tried to design an itinerary that balances the best of activity and downtime. But any time you want to bow out to have some “me-time” or do your own thing, we’re going to cheer you on.
How much money will I need to bring?
Bali offers a wide variety of meal options for all travelers! For meals at the local spots we’ll bring you to, you can expect to spend a minimum 200,000 Rp ($12USD) for lunch or 400,000 Rp ($25USD) for dinner, depending on where you go and what you order. Alcohol can range from $2 a beer during happy hour to $20 a cocktail at a beach club. Tipping is appreciated but not required in Bali — 10% is common in tourist areas.
I want to extend my trip to explore more of Indonesia. Any suggestions?
Check out our destination page for our posts about the Gili Islands, Lombok, and the Nusa Islands — and feel free to email us for more info and ideas! Alex has traveled Indonesia extensively. We offer an hour of complimentary consultation on expanding your trip, after which we will offer our hourly consulting at a special retreat guest rate.
Is there an age requirement?
You must be 18 years old or older.
Is there a waiting list?
There will be a waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis in case spaces open up. If the retreat is full and you’re still interested, email us at retreats@alexinwanderland.com to be added to the waiting list.
I still have questions, or cute photos of my dog. Can I contact you?
Um, yes please! Our email is retreats@alexinwanderland.com.