Sacred Ubud Tours

SACRED UBUD TOURSTM

Experience the Power and Beauty of the world-famous unique sacred landscape, architecture and culture of Bali, ancient and mystical places that make Ubud and Bali a global energy center and vortex for those seeking spiritual growth and healing. Bali is a land of over 10,000 temples where many Balinese spend over one-third of their time preparing for and participating in spiritual ceremonies. Our Mission is to provide you with an inside understanding and experience of the mysteries and magic of Balinese spirituality. Far more than the ordinary tourist experience, we don't just visit sites - we seek to understand them from the inside out by learning what's important about them and by interacting with them through ritual, ceremony and meditation.

More than a tour, this is a spiritual experience.

Our tours include:

1. Tampak Siring and the Pakiresan Valley. 1 or 2-day tours of extraordinary sites in this proposed World Heritage Area, with visits to many 1,000-year old sites including -

Tirta Empul, where we will pray at the temple and perform a water purification ritual alongside Balinese at the holy springs
Gunung Kawi, including a meditation in the priest's rock niches at the royal spirit-houses of ancient Balinese kings and queens
Goa Garba, an incredible and little-visited rock temple and holy 'weeping tree' spring
Goa Gajah, a Shiva-Buddha sacred site where we can experience the inside of the 'elephant cave' in reverent Silence, bathe in the springs and meditate at the Buddhist temple ruins

There are many more sites worth visiting in this area, which we can discuss together in more detail.

2. Sebatu and Pura Taman Ayun

Gunung Kawi Spring Temple, a less-touristed beautiful and quiet temple-spring complex, where we will purify ourselves and pray at the holy waters
Sebatu holy springs, a waterfall-spring where mostly only local Balinese go
Taman Ayun, the elegant and exquisite royal Mengwi garden-temple and pools, built to symbolize the mythological home of the gods, Mount Meru, floating in the cosmic ocean

3. Batur Volcano and Lake. This is an extraordinarily shamanic area with many beautiful and important temples and powerful Nature spots, including the still-active Mount Batur. There are 1 or 2 days-worth of visits here, including -

Penelokan, the 'Place for Seeing,' providing a breath-taking view of the range and scope of the holy Batur crater.
Pura Ulun Danu Batur, one of the nine 'directional' temples on Bali (north), honoring goddess of the lake, Dewi Danu, charged with the running of the island's vital ricefield irrigation system
Songan's Pura Ulun Danu Batur, an older temple dedicated to Dewi Danu located inside the Batur crater
Pura Tegeh Kuripan, a quiet ancient temple site and Bali's highest temple, located on Mt. Penulisan, partof the Batur crater rim

4. Ceremonies and Offerings - featuring special Balinese cultural leaders (must be arranged in advance; specific tour components are as available). Includes -

Daily domestic offerings, a guide to the common everyday offerings made by Balinese at their homes and businesses. The sheer quantity of these offerings is incredible.
Temple offerings, dress, etiquette and prayers
Full and New Moon ceremonies - many temples offer regular prayer and purification ceremonies on the full and new moons.
Balinese Rites of Passage ceremonies, including for babies, tooth filings and marriages
Odalans (temple anniveraries) and other special occasions
Various village ceremonies

5. Balinese healing journey - featuring special Balinese cultural and leaders and healers (must be arranged in advance; specific tour components are as available)

Herbal healer
Balians
Pedanda water blessings and karmic purification

Tours start at 9 a.m. and usually finish by 6 p.m. with a lunch break. You can choose one of the tours outlined above, or our knowledgeable staff can help you customize a tour to your interests.

All tours feature in-depth educational presentations on Balinese culture and spirituality as well as the specific activites for the tour, and include take-home hand-out materials. The tour guide will also take photos throughout the day and make these available (typically through email) to participants afterwards. Tours can be combined with lessons and demonstrations on Bali's complex and beautiful rituals and offerings and visits to regional, local, and sometimes family ceremonies (as available), or to traditional Balinese healers (Balians). You can book one day tour, a two day tour, or more. Please book tours 24 hours in advance, especially if you want to include parrticipation in a ceremony. We prefer a minimum of three people, please.

Prices are on a sliding scale depending on number of participants and includes: transport to and from your hotel and to all the sites, english-speaking guides, drinking water, use of sarong and sash, offerings and entrance fees. Up to 4 people: Rp 500 000 per person per day; 5-8 people: Rp 400 000 per person per day; 9+ people: Rp 350 000 per person per day. Fees for a healing and consultation by Balian are separate and vary by Balian; donations for ceremonies are also separate (suggested donation - Rp 100 000).

Bring: a change of clothes or bathing suit (not bikini or speedo, please). You will get wet in the temple water ceremonies), sturdy walking shoes (some short hikes and stairs involved), comfortable clothing, camera, money for lunch. Leave the rest of your valuables at your hotel. Out of respect for local customs, women should not be menstruating when visiting temples.

E-mail us by clicking here to book tour or for more information