On this page
- In Brief
- Meditation in North Bali at a Glance
- Which Retreat Suits Which Meditator
- The Monastery Above Banjar Welcomes All Faiths
- Four Residential Retreats, From Forest Springs to the Sea
- Three Yoga Stays That Teach Meditation Too
- Balinese Practice Often Sits Alongside Meditation
- How to Fit It In
- Practical Notes
- FAQ
- Sources
In Brief
Meditation retreats in north Bali run from a living Buddhist tradition in the hills to quiet weeks by the sea. Brahmavihara Arama above Banjar is open to visitors daily and hosts half-day meditation gatherings on set dates.
For a residential retreat, choose by what you want alongside the meditation. Zen Resort at Ume Anyar pairs it with Ayurveda and yoga. Santhika in Lovina pairs it with Balinese healing and ceremony.
For a week of yoga, meditation and silence by the sea, go to Prana Veda at Bondalem. For a long, simple stay in the hills, go to the Abasan mountain retreat at Gaia Oasis in Tejakula.
None of the places below advertises a multi-day silent course, and each links to its own page for current dates. For retreats across the whole island, see the guide to meditation retreats in Bali.
Meditation in North Bali at a Glance
- The anchor: Brahmavihara Arama, by its own account Bali's largest Buddhist monastery, in the hills at Banjar Tegeha
- Residential retreats: Zen Resort (Ume Anyar), Santhika (Lovina), Prana Veda (Bondalem), Gaia Oasis (Tejakula)
- Also on offer: meditation within yoga programmes at Alamanda and Puri Bagus in Lovina, and at Sanak in the Munduk hills
- In Indonesian: a local centre in Singaraja runs its classes in Indonesian
- Balinese practice alongside: water blessings at springs, full and new moon rituals, and visits to healers
- Dates and costs: on each place's own page, since they change
Which Retreat Suits Which Meditator
| If you want... | Go to |
|---|---|
| An afternoon in a Buddhist setting, or a half-day retreat with a monk | Brahmavihara Arama, above Banjar |
| A gentle introduction to meditation within an Ayurvedic stay | Zen Resort Bali, Ume Anyar |
| Meditation as part of a guided healing process with Balinese ceremony | Santhika Retreat Center, Lovina |
| A week of stillness by the sea, in a small group | Prana Veda, Bondalem |
| A long, simple stay with space for your own practice | Gaia Oasis, Abasan, above Tejakula |
| Meditation as part of a yoga stay | Alamanda, Puri Bagus or Sanak |
The list starts with the monastery, then the four residential retreats, then the yoga stays. Each entry carries the same notes: setting, what they offer, what to know, contact and best for.
The Monastery Above Banjar Welcomes All Faiths
Brahmavihara Arama
Setting: A Theravada Buddhist monastery on a hillside at Banjar Tegeha, in the hills above Banjar, west of Lovina. The grounds rise through three terraced courtyards with views of the sea and mountains.
Balinese stonework sits alongside Buddhist stupas. At the highest point is a miniature Borobudur, built in 1999 in honour of the founder.
Its history, as the monastery tells it:
- 1958: a small circle of practitioners begins meditating together beside the hot springs at Banjar, on borrowed land. Their leader is Ida Bagus Giri, a Balinese man from a Brahmin family in Banjar.
- 1966: he is ordained in Bangkok as Bhikkhu Girirakkhito, "guardian of the mountain".
- The move: as the crowds around the springs grow, the community moves to quieter ground in the hills.
- November 1970: construction begins.
- 21 May 1971: the monastery opens.
- 1976: an earthquake damages it, and it is rebuilt.
The monastery states its mission as a sacred space for Vipassana meditation and the study of Dharma. A foundation named for its founder cares for it.
For meditators: The monastery says retreats have long been taught in English as well as Indonesian, and visitors of all faiths are welcome. Its events page lists half-day retreats that run through the afternoon:
- two meditation sessions
- gentle yoga
- meditation with a monk
- candle lighting
- a loving-kindness meditation at sunset
These are organised with the Bali Meditation Center, a donation-based centre whose home is in Sukawati, near Ubud. Participants are asked to wear white clothing covering shoulders and knees, and to bring their own mat, cushion or towel.
Register for a retreat at least seven days ahead. Group sittings also take place before the miniature Borobudur.
What to know: Outside the retreat dates you can visit, sit quietly and walk the courtyards. Dress modestly (sarongs are lent at the entrance), keep silence in the meditation areas and the upper courtyards, and be respectful with a camera.
The current event dates and opening hours are on the monastery's events page and about page. The Brahma Vihara Arama guide covers a visit in more detail.
Contact: brahmaviharaarama.org · Map
Best for: Sitting in a Buddhist setting for an afternoon, or joining a half-day retreat with a monk.
A gilded Buddha in a shrine hall at Brahmavihara Arama. Photo: Eric Bajart / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
The Banjar hot springs, where the community first sat, are close by in Banjar village. A soak after an afternoon at the monastery is a natural pairing.
Four Residential Retreats, From Forest Springs to the Sea
Zen Resort Bali
Setting: A hillside resort in the village of Ume Anyar, near Seririt, bordered by forest and fed by natural springs.
What they offer: Meditation is part of every Zen retreat, taught together with yoga and pranayama by a yoga teacher and the resident Ayurvedic doctor. The day opens with Zen Chi, a 45-minute ritual of stretching, breathwork and meditation. The team also lists Yoga Nidra among its practices.
The resort has several places to sit:
- The meditation sanctuary, open to guests at any time. Beside it stands an old pandan tree that Zen says local healers and visiting Buddhist monks both regard as a place of strong energy. Guided meditation at the tree can be arranged.
- A forest pavilion, for silent meditation and mindful walking, which Zen calls forest bathing.
- Natural spring pools, where water purification ceremonies are held.
- The yoga hall, with pyramid structures built for individual meditation.
Guests can join the resort's rituals at the full moon (Purnama) and new moon (Tilem). These bring water blessings and the red, white and black tridatu wrist cord.
What to know: Programmes are personalised in a consultation during your first two days. See Zen's retreats for the current formats.
Contact: zenresortbali.com · Map · Zen Resort Bali on Instagram
Best for: A gentle introduction to meditation within an Ayurvedic stay.
Santhika Retreat Center
Setting: Based at Jl. Kamboja, Kaliasem, in Lovina. Its main retreat house, Dream Hill, sits on a hillside looking over the sea, rice fields and Kaliasem village.
What they offer: Year-round retreats focused on emotional healing. Meditation courses, sound healing and yoga are combined with private sessions with Balinese healers, energy work and fire ceremonies.
Balinese teachers guide temple meditations, and purification takes place at Santhipala, a private waterfall. Its other sessions include self-awareness work, numerology and what it calls aroma psychology.
What to know: Each programme is adapted to the guest. The how our retreats work page sets out the formats and start days.
Contact: santhikaretreatcenter.com · Map · Santhika Retreat Center on Instagram
Best for: Meditation as part of a guided healing process with Balinese ceremony.
Prana Veda Bali Sanctuary
Setting: A small sanctuary on a quiet lava-sand beach at Bondalem, on the east coast, opened in 2010. It describes itself as a place in the midst of nature, community and silence.
What they offer: Weekly retreats of gentle yoga, meditation, massage and Ayurveda, with sound healing. The fullest week adds a session of aqua healing, which is bodywork in warm water. The retreat leader combines yoga, meditation, aquatic bodywork and sound healing in her work.
What to know: Retreats usually start on Saturdays. See the retreats page for current weeks.
Contact: pranavedabali.com · Map · Prana Veda Bali on Instagram
Best for: A week of stillness by the sea, in a small group.
Gaia Oasis, Abasan Mountain Retreat
Setting: Abasan is Gaia Oasis's mountain retreat above Tejakula, which Gaia calls its spiritual core. It sits between a small hamlet and a protected community forest, on four hectares of grounds with walking trails down to the Yeh Lalang river.
Gaia also runs a beach resort, Pantai, and a non-profit foundation.
What they offer: Yoga, meditation and healing sessions in the Mountain Lotus Room, which opens on one side onto a lotus-filled pond. Sessions, paid or by donation, depend on which practitioners are in residence. Visiting seminar leaders run their own courses.
The library offers free Dharma texts, and food at Abasan is vegetarian. The site describes a soundscape of nature and deep stillness, broken now and then by village music.
What to know: Check the seminars and events calendar and contact course leaders directly. Gaia notes that Abasan's hilly, remote site may not suit less mobile guests.
Contact: gaia-oasis.com · Map · Gaia Oasis Bali on Instagram
Best for: A long, simple stay with space for your own practice.
Three Yoga Stays That Teach Meditation Too
A Buddha beneath the replica Bodhi tree at Brahmavihara Arama. Photo: AnnieGreenSprings / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Several places teach meditation as part of a yoga stay. They are listed in full in yoga retreats in north Bali.
- Alamanda Lovina Resort, Kayu Putih, Lovina: a Yin Yang and meditation class in its open-sided shala, and gong and bowl sound sessions after sunset.
- Puri Bagus Lovina, Pemaron: Hatha classes that include pranayama and meditation, and a group-retreat programme that hosts meditation retreats and meditation teacher training courses.
- Sanak Retreat Bali, near Munduk: an energy healing session followed by meditation, and village walks to a holy spring where a Balinese healer gives water blessings.
Balinese Practice Often Sits Alongside Meditation
Meditation retreats here often draw on Balinese Hindu practice. A melukat water purification at a spring is the most common, and several retreats above build one in.
For a consultation with a traditional healer, read traditional healers in north Bali first. For sound baths, see sound healing in north Bali. To learn what sits behind the rituals, start with Balinese Hinduism explained.
How to Fit It In
A half-day retreat at Brahmavihara Arama fits into any stay on the Lovina coast. A residential retreat means staying where you practise, so pick the setting first.
The choice is forest and springs at Ume Anyar, the town and sea at Lovina, or the quiet east coast at Bondalem and Tejakula. The east coast is about 45 minutes to an hour from Lovina.
If you plan to come and go from your own base, Palm Living's villas are around Lovina. They sit about 20 to 30 minutes from the monastery and close to Santhika. Bondalem and Tejakula are too far for a daily run.
For more on the area, see wellness in north Bali and the Lovina guide.
Practical Notes
- At the monastery: cover shoulders and knees, borrow a sarong at the gate if you need one, keep silence in the meditation areas, and register for retreats at least a week ahead.
- Book direct. Every retreat above has its own site. Ask what a day looks like and who teaches.
- Silence and screens: ask whether a retreat keeps silence or asks you to hand in your phone before you arrive.
- Ceremonies: wear a sarong and sash for water blessings and temple visits. Temple etiquette in Bali covers the basics.
- Getting here: see getting to north Bali.
FAQ
Can you meditate at Brahmavihara Arama? Yes. The monastery is open to visitors of all faiths, asks for silence in its meditation areas, and hosts group sittings and half-day meditation retreats on set dates. Registration for retreats is required at least seven days ahead.
Are there silent retreats in north Bali? None of the places on this page advertises a multi-day silent course. Brahmavihara Arama, whose stated mission is Vipassana practice, lists half-day retreats on its events page. Prana Veda and Gaia Oasis offer quiet residential weeks.
When was Brahmavihara Arama founded? Its community began meditating beside the Banjar hot springs in 1958. The present monastery in the hills at Banjar Tegeha opened on 21 May 1971.
Where can I learn meditation near Lovina? Brahmavihara Arama above Banjar, Santhika in Kaliasem, and the yoga shalas at Alamanda and Puri Bagus, which include meditation in their classes.
Is there a meditation retreat with Ayurveda in north Bali? Zen Resort Bali at Ume Anyar combines meditation, yoga and pranayama with Ayurvedic treatment under a resident doctor.
Do I need experience to join? The monastery's half-day retreats say they are open to all. Zen Resort says its daily sessions suit everyone from first-time meditators up.
Sources
- Brahmavihara Arama, home page, about page (history, founder, mission, visitor rules) and events page (half-day retreat format, dress, registration), read September 2026
- Bali Meditation Center, meditation retreats (location in Sukawati), September 2026
- Zen Resort Bali, Yoga, Meditation & Pranayama and Wellness Retreats, September 2026
- Santhika Retreat Center, home page, how our retreats work and accommodation, September 2026
- Prana Veda Bali Sanctuary, home page and about us, September 2026
- Gaia Oasis, Abasan Mountain Retreat, Our Story and seminars calendar, September 2026
- Alamanda Lovina Resort, home page; Puri Bagus Lovina, Yoga & Meditation and Group Retreat; Sanak Retreat Bali, Spa & Yoga and We Care, September 2026
Read next: Brahma Vihara Arama, yoga retreats in north Bali, meditation retreats across Bali.
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