14 Unique spas in Bali where you can relax in a cave, above the ocean, by the river, and more!

Written by Nadia Crowe
Co-written by Beverley Lennon
Edited by Beverley Lennon

One of my favourite things to do when I’m in Bali (or any country where I can afford it, really) is head to a spa for the day! It’s something I enjoy doing with my mum, my partner, and even my girlfriends! No one ever says no to the spa!

Something very uniquely Bali, is how many different types of treatments they have there, whether it’s dousing yourself in chocolate, covering your face with goldust, or indulging in an immersive cave healing experience. There’s almost no variation of spa that Bali doesn’t have!

Despite what critics may say about certain strange treatments, what’s important is that they’re outrageously unique, feel incredible, and have even shown improved benefits to those that have been brave enough to try them!

So whether you’re looking for an experience to brag about to friends, or you truly want to rejuvenate your tired body, check out these spas that will take your relaxation in Bali to a whole other level!

Psst.. And regardless of whether you are looking for affordable luxury spas with stunning views, mid-range spas with high quality treatment or simply affordable spas where you can get decent quality massages under USD $10, Bali will definitely have something for you!

1. Personalise your inner healing from within a cave – Visesa Balinese Healing & Spa at Desa Visesa Ubud

Travelling can take a toll on the body, it can worry the mind, and disrupt the balance of the soul. Despite being dubbed a magical island, you may still find yourself at odds with the typical feeling of exhaustion you get whilst overseas. Luckily, you’re in Bali, where the spas are plentiful, and there is opportunity to heal before heading home.

What you shouldn’t do is head to any old spa though, as believe me, it makes a difference! At Visesa Balinese Healing & Spa, you get to tailor your body treatments! A Balinese healer will meet with you prior to your massage to pinpoint the exact type of treatment you need to take care of any ailments that you may have – whether you feel them or not!

For a spa experience you’ll never forget, opt to have your treatment done in one of their natural caves which have surrounding views of the lush, green jungle. Within those you can choose to have one of 5 different experiences, each symbolizing the 5 elements (fire, earth, water, air, and space.) Is there anything better?

Using only authentic Bali Usadha principles, you can be sure that this experience will not be like any of those spas you see on the side of the road.

Usadha is a traditional method which uses ayurvedic medicinal plants, herbs, and spices to rejuvenate the body, calm the mind, and soothe the soul! All of the ingredients at the spa come from Visesa’s very own permaculture garden, or are issued from organic suppliers too, so you can rest well knowing your spa is sustainable.

2. Experience the healing properties of water at a mystical riverside spa – Tjampuhan Spa at Hotel Tjampuhan & Spa

With an air of mystique and a magical outdoor spa setting to rival the most beautiful secret locations in Ubud, the day spa at the Tjampuhan Hotel is positioned at the base of a valley, mere metres away from the natural splendour of one of Ubud’s gently flowing river tributaries.

It is composed of several semi-open treatment pavilions and an extraordinary hot/cold spring water jacuzzi that’s created within an elaborately carved mythical stone cavern. True to its natural setting, Tjampuhan spa is dedicated to the healing properties of water.

It has sourced a collection of traditional Balinese healing and beauty treatments in a setting that evokes the inner peace and overall wellness of an intimate connection with Mother Nature.

You don’t have to be a guest of the hotel to experience the unique riverside hideaway of the Tjampuhan Day Spa. Outside guests can enjoy the spa’s lush river valley surroundings and gorgeous spring grotto for Rp. 110,000 (approximately USD $7.25) per half-day, including access to hot and cold whirlpool baths, a sauna and steam room.

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3. Treat yourself down by the river – Ayusha Wellness Spa at Adiwana Svarga Loka

To the sound of the flowing Campuhan River in Ubud, relax and unwind with your lover by jetting off to Ayusha Wellness Spa. With seriously indulgent couple spa treatments, both of you will be healed as a perfect conclusion to a long day of strolling around Bali.

Favourite pick? Their soothing honeymoon package which is perfect to release all of your wedding planning stress (we know you’ve been there and it is horrible)!

The package covers a welcome drink with refreshing towels, followed by a long list of treatments for a complete remedy (foot bath, sauna, full body massage, rose petal bath) along with sparkling wine and a fruit platter! It involves no detoxing, no fasting – just serious relaxing!

Your quality time together continues as you both soak in the river rock bathtubs that overlook the river – indeed dreamy and memorable.

4. Watch the waves as they come crashing in – AYANA Spa on the Rocks

In this fast-paced world that we live in today, it is next to impossible for couples to make time for magical one-to-one moments but a romantic escape sure calls for a pampering session for two!

In addition to their remarkable sunset spot – Rock Bar Bali, AYANA Resort and Spa BALI also offers a unique muscle-melting experience right above the majestic Indian Ocean! Spa on The Rocks is a bucket-list-worthy retreat that guarantees couples with ultimate relaxation, detox and indulgence.

Head down the 115 steps that lead to the spa pavilions and relish jaw-dropper views of the ocean right from your treatment room that is complemented by floor-to-ceiling windows, as you sink right into your massage bed, with the waves gently crashing around you.

And as if a spa above the sea wasn’t enough, their Diamond Miracle package is sure to make you both feel relaxed in no time at all. Think diamonds, silk, pearls and champagne – a blissful experience as you enjoy the presence of your lover in a bath filled with 500 rose petals. The cherry on top? They serve strawberry and champagne at the end of your luxury treatment!

To get back to reality, head back up to their award-winning Thermes Marins Bali Spa and enjoy an extensive selection of light bites, freshly pressed fruit and vegetable juices and more locally-sourced goodness at their Spa Café!

Frankly speaking, it is a hard-to-beat spa experience where you can soak up all the romance you’ve been missing out on at home!

5. A royal experience like no other – Prana Spa

Always wanted to be pampered like a king or queen? Step into your crowns at Prana Spa, where you’ll be spoiled with luxurious Moroccan-inspired architecture and decadent spa treatments in the Luxurious Private Suite! If you’ve never had 24K Gold and Genuine Pearl Powder applied onto your skin, now’s the time to take the leap into royal luxury.

Don’t worry if you’re not into extravagance – you can still indulge in a milk bath or their signature massage. At Prana Spa, even the simplest treatment can take your breath away.

Once you’re done, take your time to explore the beautiful architecture – and don’t forget to snap away!

Treating your body and mind well often goes hand-in-hand. Yogis, you’ll be happy to know that they have a yoga facility too!

Can’t get enough of the Moroccan Royalty experience? Prana Spa is only a short walk away from Impiana Private Villas Seminyak, the perfect accommodation for Your Majesties. Impiana Seminyak offers everything from 1-bedroom to 8-bedroom connecting villas for big families, and they’re all equipped with a private pool!

P.S. For brides-to-be, you can even hold a lavish Moroccan-inspired Hens Party at Prana Spa!

6. Exotic spa in wonderland – Udara Spa

Ever wonder what’s it like to be Alice in Wonderland? Udara Spa has got it all figured out.

Experience Wonderland in its most relaxing form here, where enormous mystical tree roots and magical animal statues surround the hot and cold plunge pools and relaxation cave. The herbal steam sauna even comes with colourful glass balls gleaming on the wall – how cool is that?

Udara Spa also offers a Water Healing Treatment, where a therapist gently supports and stretches your body while you float in their Warm Water Watsu pool. Can’t wait to try these out? Just remember to make a booking one day prior to your visit!

Psst – if you go on a Sunday, you might even make it to their free Yoga classes!

7. Get your zen at the edge of heaven – Cliff Edge Spa Cabana at Alila Villas Uluwatu

We’ve had the chance to match our romantic spa date with postcard-perfect ocean views at the Cliff Edge Spa Cabana at Alila Villas Uluwatu and god it was an absolute dream! The venue is a destination in itself – one where you’ll be tuned up, or rather transformed!

The cabana only allows two guests at a time,  so if you are on the lookout for something super romantic, as well as soothingly aquatic – this is where you belong!

How the procedure goes is pretty simple, we trekked down the cliff and relished endless killer views of the Indian Ocean before being set for the 120-minute curated body treatment (including a foot treatment, Balinese/Therapeutic Massage, sound healing and relaxing eye ritual) that is complemented with natural sea breeze and the sounds of the waves rolling in offshore. It’s quite a spectacle, I tell you, but make sure you’ve sprayed some insect repellent prior too!

But if you’re more of an indoor person, they also have traditional spa treatment rooms. The couple treatment room features a semi-outdoor area, allowing plenty of natural light in as soothing spa music plays in the background and soon enough you’ll doze off in the hands of some real experts as they work out the Balinese Massage oh-so-perfectly. The spa uses products from their own skin care range (Alila Living), which you can also purchase at the lobby area.

8. Brush your face with gold – Goldust Beauty Lounge

Who says only diamonds are a girl’s best friend?

Next in line would be all that glitters – real gold.

Imagine caking your face in a gold mask – how lavish can it get? (And that can start getting you to think: how many carats?)

At the Goldust Beauty Lounge, you must not miss its signature treatment – the 24-Carat Gold Facial, during which you will have sheets of gold applied on your face, which apparently lowers collagen depletion, stimulates circulation and reduces fine lines and wrinkles.

And surprise – this idea was actually originally mooted 5,000 years ago by the ancient Egyptian queen Cleopatra, who was said to have drifted into sleep in a gold mask almost every night.

So after your very indulgent facial, you can go on to enjoy massages, body treatments, manicures and pedicures after.

And if you bring along the kids, fret not – Goldust also offers mani-and-pedi and massages for the little ones!

9. Soak yourself in red wine, and chocolate – Rumah Spa

Fresh fruits are both good for the inside of your body and the outside! Rumah spa recognises this with their fresh fruit body spa which uses your choice of either strawberries, avocados, or lemon and papaya body scrubs!

You will end off your luxury spa by soaking in a bathtub filled with an array of beautiful flower petals surrounding you!

Apart from its fresh fruit treatment, Rumah Spa is also known for its Chocolate Body Spa. As Indonesia is the third largest cocoa producer in the world, you can be sure some of the best chocolate is used on your skin!

If you’re a chocolate-lover, you probably know that chocolate is rich in high anti-oxidants and vitamins, while the glyceride from the chocolate moisturises and tightens the skin.

And this will surely be your favourite part – your body will be wrapped in a chocolate mask, to polish the skin and tightens the pores, finally ending off with a chocolate bubble bath. Try not to drink from it!

10. Pamper him in coffee – The Balé

Ladies, this is the chance for you to treat your guy to an experience often dominated by women. The Coffee Ritual at The Balé, a villa complex in Nusa Dua, is entirely for men.

This well-recommended spa will both ease your tensions and perk you up – better than just sipping your mocha in a cafe!

Your treatment will begin with a glass of lime & lemongrass iced tea and a foot bath, to ease you into a relaxation mood.

You can then lie back for a soothing massage using espresso oil, enjoy a cappuccino body scrub and end off with delicious latte body lotion on your body.

If you’re considering staying at The Balé though, take note that the premises are only open for adults, and no children under 16 are allowed, to ensure the serenity for couples and close friends to reconnect.

11. Be massaged with bamboo and mango – L’Occitane

Have you heard of L’Occitane’s signature indulgent treatments – the Bamboo Spa and the Mango Tree Spa?

With the Verbena Bamboo Fusion Therapy, your body is massaged with varied lengths of bamboo sticks, using rolling techniques and long deep strokes, combined with the spa’s Verbena blend.

This specialized massage target tense muscles and stimulates the flow of energy within the body – the best therapy if you have sore and tired joints from excessive trekking or work!

You can choose to simply go for the massage, or opt for more indulgent body treatments that include exfoliating, scrubs and polishes with the signature therapy.

At another L’Occitane spa outlet, you get to enjoy mango treatment on the top of a (what else?) mango tree itself.

While you are indulging in your massage in the peaceful Ayung River Valley in Ubud, you are treated to a majestic view from the treetop, serenaded by the song of the birds, music of the flowing river and the soft rustling of leaves.

Definitely a therapeutic haven to soothe your body, mind and soul.

The signature Mango Tango is a relaxing body massage based on Swedish effleurages, combined with Chinese acupressure points and long kneading Balinese movements with L’Occitane’s signature mango massage oil.

The full-body massage relaxes the muscles and enhances circulation, promoting overall health and well-being.

Similar to the Bamboo spa, you can choose to either just enjoy the massage, or get the more indulgent body treatment with mango-juice-infused scrubs and shea butter lotion.

12. Spoil your little ones – Westin Kids Spa

This is the perfect place to spoil your little princes and princesses.

Yes, while Mom and Dad are pampering themselves, the kids can get their fair share of facials, mani-pedi and massages too!

At Westin Kids Spa, one of Bali’s rare children’s spa, both you and your little ones will be delighted at all the cute mini-treatments they can get, from mini facials to nail art to hairstyling for both boys and girls.

Girls can get their hair braided and beaded for the beach, or get a Best Friends Forever girly treatments with their friend.

You can also spend some Mommy-daughter/son time with the ‘Mommy and Me’ spa, where both of you get a massage by the beach!

Parent-child bonding can’t get more fun and relaxing!

13. Enjoy the royal treatment – Taman Sari Royal Heritage Spa

Have you heard of the Javanese pre-marital intimacy care for women?

Traditionally before their weddings, upper class Javanese ladies go through a six-day ritual that involves vaginal smoking and love massages – which form part of an intimacy spa package.

Although such treatments are widely popular in Indonesia, it’s relatively hush-hush in Bali, and only a few spa outlets carry it. One of them is the Taman Sari Royal Heritage Spa.

At Taman Sari Spa, this Royal Marital Happiness package has both men’s and women’s treatments. Both include the Asmaragama massage (known to increase sexual stamina) and Pelvic floor exercise.

In the women’s package, an ‘intimacy care’ portion is also included, which is vaginal smoking in other words – to cleanse and beautify one’s vagina, and to remove unpleasant odour. The procedure is this – you sit on a chair that has a hole in the seat, and fumes from a burner containing scented dried herbs waft up under you.

As a herbal remedy, the treatment is also said to be able to prevent and cure infections, improve blood circulation and even tighten the vagina.

Does it really work? Well, it’s based one of those old sayings and beliefs, so we leave the judgment entirely up to you!

14. Get spiritual healing – Warung Djamoe Spa at Hotel Tugu Bali

Feeling unsatisfied even after going for the typical spa package with just massages, facials and baths? Who says healing is just for the body?

At Hotel Tugu, spa treatments combine spirituality with physical healing, a practice stemming from ancient Indonesian traditions that focus on the holistic well-being of a person.

Apart from traditional massages and beauty treatments, meditations are also incorporated into some of its spa treatments, such as the Kamar Samedhi.

For the Kamar Mantra treatment, the therapist even chants Hindu mantra during the session while using soothing herbal oils, to ease your body, mind and spirit.

If you’re open to having these Hindu-inspired incorporations into your spa, why not give it a try? You may find that it works for you, and emerge more refreshed afterwards.

But if you just want a non-religious therapy, Hotel Tugu has a variety for you to choose from as well.

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