Bali and Healing with Erika James
Rich in dramatic scenery, ancient temples and graceful people, Bali remains one of the few places in the world where the traveler can explore and discover untouched places—and witness religious rituals that have not diminished with the passing of time. Every back road is a gateway to the heart of the Balinese people. During this two-week tour, we will explore both inner and outer landscapes, as we delve into the Balinese spiritual and cultural practices that are seamlessly woven into the fabric of daily life. Under Made Surya’s expert guidance, we will be welcomed into temples as well as the homes and studios of artists and healers.
Over the two weeks, we will be spending four to five nights each at beautiful resorts in three different locations in Bali: first to Candi Dasa on the east coast of Bali on the Indian Ocean; next on to Ubud, the cultural center of Bali, in the central foothills of the Gianyar regency; and finally to the mountain village of Munduk, in Bali’s lush and forested central northern highland region.
In laid-back Candi Dasa, we will have time to recover from jet lag, bond as a group, snorkel, and enjoy the expansive ocean views while learning about the Balinese culture, customs, religion, rites of passage and language. We will visit Tirtagangga, a beautiful water palace, and Tenganan, an aboriginal village, where Bali’s finest baskets and textiles are made—one of the only places in the world where double ikat textiles are woven.
Next, we will spend five nights in Ubud, a central location from where we will travel to temples, attending two purification ceremonies and (hopefully) a cremation. We will each have a session with two local Balinese healers. We will also visit the home studios of a sacred mask maker, puppeteer, and batik textile artists. We will also enjoy an evening Kecak performance at a stunning temple, and shop in downtown Ubud. Under Erika’s gentle guidance, we will take time to begin each day with an inspiring yoga and meditation practice. All we do will help deepen and integrate our experiences in this rich, soulful culture through group discussions, guided meditation and exercises, and periods of silence. Inevitably, the mythological, spiritual and ancestral environment of Bali can stimulate deep psychological insight.
Itinerary
Wednesday, June 17: Departure, Day 1: Most flights to Asia depart around midnight (or a little after) and arrive the next calendar day.
Thursday. June 18: Candi Dasa. L. Day 2: Having arrived in Bali, we will transfer to east Bali and our beachfront bungalows overlooking the azure Indian Ocean. After checking into the hotel and unpacking before our first dinner together, we will share who you are and why you decided to travel with us.
Friday, June 19: Candi Dasa. B. Day 3: Good morning and welcome to Bali! After breakfast, we hop on our waiting mini-bus and drive a few miles to our waiting boat, where we embark on a morning snorkeling excursion to a nearby coral reef preserve with hundreds of tropical fish—a wonderful way to fully arrive in Bali. Then we return to our hotel for a shower and lunch, followed by our first orientation session about basic Indonesian manners and customs. The rest of the afternoon is free and included massages begin. At 5 pm, we meet by the pool where Made Surya will give a background on Bali Hinduism and its relationship to traditional healing, followed by dinner together.
Saturday, June 20: Candi Dasa B. Day 4: Enjoy an early morning for the first (of many) wonderful yoga sessions with Erika in the yoga space. After breakfast, there’s a second orientation and language session focusing on the community organization (banjar) and the caste system. Our morning excursion is to the royal palace of our district in Amlapura, to get a sense of Dutch colonialism and its impact on Bali. Then we venture on to Tirtagangga (the last raja’s water palace) for lunch and an opportunity to dip in the Olympic-size pool. In the late afternoon, watch an ethnographic film: Between the Mountains and the Soul, followed by a seminar on the “Four Spiritual Siblings”—mystical elements that accompany us throughout our lives.
Sunday, June 21: Candi Dasa B. Day 5: Morning yoga with Erika is followed by breakfast and a final language class on bargaining and a demonstration of how to wrap a traditional sarong. Our morning excursion is to nearby Tenganan, an aboriginal village populated by many artists, weavers (of double ikat) and basket makers. We return to Candi Dasa for lunch, followed by a talk on Balians, the traditional healers of Bali. Enjoy dinner and live jazz at Vincent’s, arguably the best restaurant in Candi Dasa.
Monday, June 22: Travel Day to Ubud BL. Day 6: Enjoy morning yoga with Erika, followed by breakfast. Depart for Ubud, stopping on the way at Yayasan Senang Hati, (Happy Hearts), an NGO for disabled Balinese adults, where we will tour the facility and have lunch. Upon arriving in Ubud, we will check into our hotel. A short walking tour will acquaint you with the village. Your welcome to Ubud includes massages at our hotel, followed by an evening performance of traditional dance, for which Ubud is well-known.
Tuesday, June 23: Ubud B. Day 7: After morning yoga with Erika and breakfast, meet Made Surya to visit the first traditional healer, specializing in spiritual and mystical problems, including an opportunity for a spiritual check-up. At noon, we return to Ubud for lunch. In the afternoon, Made Surya discusses the magic of “Left versus Right,” about love potions, black magic and their relationship to illness. In the evening, we will see another local dance performance.
Wednesday, June 24: Ubud B. Day 8: After breakfast and yoga, we travel to the home on our next healer, who specializes in bones, joints and muscles. Around noon, we will visit the Tony Raka modern art gallery and cafe for lunch, followed by a talk with Made Surya on chakras and western misconceptions of tantra. Surya will review the treatments you experienced that morning and explain how the healer works. At 6 pm, we depart the hotel for an evening performance of the Kecak dance
Thursday. June 25: Ubud. Day 9: Enjoy another yoga session with Erika, followed by breakfast. Then join Surya and our drivers in front of the hotel for an excursion to a sacred healing spring and your purification ceremony. Afterward, there will be a visit to a respected healer (who is also a priest) with another opportunity for a check-up.
Friday, June 26: Ubud. Day 10: is a free day for shopping and visiting one of the many superior museums and galleries in Ubud, Bali’s cultural center. Our last evening in Ubud includes an evening dance performance and women’s gamelan at the Saraswati temple.
Saturday. June 27: Travel Day to Munduk BD. Day 11: After our final Ubud yoga session, we’ll have breakfast and then take off for an island tour of volcano country and north Bali. We’ll wind our way through stunning landscapes and Bali’s fruit and vegetable market. Our first stop will be the jaw-dropping Ogoh Ogoh museum in Mengwi, followed by a visit to the fruit and flower market, with fun shopping for fresh spices grown in the area. After arriving in Munduk mountain village, we check into our hotel and have lunch. At 6 pm, meet Made Surya in the Sunset Bar for happy hour, and a talk, followed by the first of our family-style delicious group dinners.
Sunday, June 28: Munduk BD. Day 12: Enjoy morning yoga on our lovely yoga shala. After breakfast, meet with Made Surya for a walk through a coffee and clove plantation to Bali's tallest waterfall (about 1 1/2 miles). If you’re brave (and wore a swimsuit), you can climb underneath. The afternoon is free. Meet in Victoria Hall for an ethnographic video, The Healing of Bali. At 7 pm, we enjoy an evening dinner together.
Monday, June 29: Munduk BD. Day 13: After a morning session in the yoga shala and breakfast, we’ll go on a trek through the neighboring countryside through small villages, rice fields, coffee and clove plantations, culminating at the magical Growing Stone. We return to hotel for lunch and some downtime. Then we gather at the Sunset Bar, before our evening meal together.
Tuesday, June 30: Munduk BD. Day 14: After breakfast, we will examine the medicinal plants growing in the hotel’s garden. Then, take an easy walk to discover wild traditional plants growing in our area and others at the market. Upon our return, we’ll have a class in making traditional medicine. The afternoon is free for another trek or have more spa experiences. Enjoy our farewell gathering at the Sunset Bar before our final dinner, followed by a performance by the village dance company.
Wednesday, July 1: Day 15: Depart Bali and arrive back in the USA on the same calendar day.
Trip Package Includes:
Four nights at a beachfront hotel in Candi Dasa
Five nights in Ubud, Bali’s cultural center.
Four nights in Munduk mountain village.
Breakfast each morning, lunch at an NGO, and four dinners in Munduk.
Snorkeling expedition in East Bali
Visits with three traditional healers and two traditional massage treatments.
Two nature treks in Munduk.
An herb walk and a workshop in creating herbal medicine.
Visits to four important temples: Tirta Empul, Pura Ulun Danu, Pura Samuan Tiga, Tirta Sudamala temple.
Seminars in basic Indonesian manners and customs, Bali-Hinduism, community and caste systems, traditional healers, the Four Spiritual Siblings, black magic, Tantra, Chakras, mudras, western medicine vs. traditional healing.
Daily yoga with Erika
Not Included:
Round trip airfare. Most meals, snorkeling equipment, airport transfers, donations to healers for those who want treatments. And tips.
Details: The cost is $3700 based on two persons sharing a room with private bathroom. A single supplement is available. Minimum of 8, maximum of 14.
Roommates: Single people may sign up for accommodations desired on a shared basis: roommates can be chosen from other tour members. If a roommate is unavailable, the participant will be notified of the adjusted price for a single supplement of $424. The number of single rooms are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Deposit: A deposit of $500 per person is due at the time of booking. Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure. Deposit, minus a $300. cancellation fee, is refundable until 60 days prior to departure, after which 5O% will be charged. No refunds will be made after departure.
Passport, Visa, and Health: A passport, valid six months from date of entry with proof of onward transportation is required for entry into Indonesia. You will need to get visa on arrival for a $35 fee, which is valid for four weeks. If you wish to stay longer, apply to the Indonesian consulate for a two-month visa prior to arrival. Everyone participating in this trip is expected to be in good health and able to walk at least three miles unaided. Anyone testing positive for COVID will be released from the tour.
Yoga Instructor:
Erika James | Yoga Teacher & Energy Healer
With over 23 years of yoga practice and six-plus years teaching at Saha Yoga in Lisle, IL, Erika guides students through Vinnyasa flow, Hatha, Yin, restorative yoga, hot yoga, meditation, and pranayama, while weaving in energy and sound healing to nurture body and soul. Her warm, inclusive teaching style welcomes all levels, helping students leave class feeling renewed. Using clear and concise cues, Erika creates a space for students to release mental chatter, embrace body awareness, and find peace through breath, movement, and energy work.
Join Erika in 2026 for a transformative yoga and healing tour in Bali with Surya and Judy of Danu Enterprises. Immerse yourself in Bali’s sacred energy, rituals, and landscapes alongside mindful yoga, breath work, and meditation sessions. With Surya and Judy’s deep cultural expertise and connections to Balinese healers, this retreat blends daily yoga, meditation, and authentic spiritual experiences for an experience of profound renewal.
Trip Organizer/Leader:
Madé Surya B.S.
Madé Surya B.S. is a professional tour organizer and has been leading study tours in Bali since 1986. He has translated and worked with scholars and educational film and video crews, including National Geographic, The New York Times and CNN. He was senior research assistant for several scholarly books relating to the Balinese view of after death. He is on the advisory board for Sacred Sites International and has been a contributor to Hinduism Today. Surya has continuously led educational tours to Bali since 1986 and is said by Lonely Planet online travel to be the “top authority on Balinese healers.”