Bali Retreats

Ubud 

Nestled into central Bali, Ubud is a vibrant town and district considered the island’s cultural heart. Buried in uplands of rice paddies and dense forests, this thriving but laid-back town has a rich arts, craft, and religious heritage, traditions that have turned it into a popular spiritual and shopping hub.

Its epicentre is its palm-lined Jalan Raya Ubud road, where dozens of art galleries, museums, craft shops, restaurants, spa centres, and the famous Ubud Art Market, fringe the roadside. Here and there, they make way for historic temples, ornate palaces, and parks, including the serene gardens of the Ubud Water Temple, the richly carved shrines of the Royal Palace, and the Ubud Monkey Forest, where cheeky monkeys play in the ancient trees.

The verdant landscapes around Ubud are studded with luxury hotels and eco-retreats; and serve up a plethora of beauty spots and local culture in the shape of the Tegalalang rice terraces, jungle waterfalls, rushing rivers, and traditional villages.