Women’s Retreat, Bali – Haven on Earth
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Bali has long been on my bucket list and after realising that I needed some time out of the rat race, I set about researching women’s retreats in Bali. Although an experienced solo traveller, I wanted somewhere to stay where I would feel safe, but also have an element of independence throughout my trip. When researching I found that there are many different women’s retreats in Bali, catering to different practices i.e. yoga, healing, fitness and also to different budgets. However, after recently finishing a job and feeling a little burnout, I decided that I was willing to splurge on the best women’s retreat in Bali and so settled on Escape Haven.
Escape Haven, the name says it all. A place to retreat to when life gets that bit too much and you’re looking for a place where you can indulge, recharge and reset. I had initially booked their sister retreat, the Palm Tree House – which is a smaller retreat option but that still offers an indulgent experience however, after my trip got postponed due to the pandemic I decided to upgrade to Escape Haven and really make the most of some ‘me time’ for the week.
Pre-arrival
When researching this trip I found that stays are generally for 6 nights and 7 days which is the duration I chose, but you can arrange to stay longer if you wish. I booked by emailing the team settling on the fitness package. One of the great things about this retreat is that there are many other options to choose from such as a surf, yoga or healing packages but you can discuss the best option for you during the booking process and once on retreat there is flexibility to amend some of your options.
From before I arrived it was apparent that nothing ever felt like too much trouble for the team and that service really is at the heart of everything they do on retreat. There were some forms to complete before I arrived where I chose any extra activities I wanted to do during retreat and I provided them with my flight details so that they could arrange for my pick up once I landed in Bali. I added a couple of different activities such as the waterfalls trip and tarot card reading but one activity I’d recommend everyone try if they can is to do the Mt Batur morning hike. I had a sore back and so couldn’t make it but I know that it’s highly recommended!
The retreat
I landed in Bali after a 16 hour travel journey but my retreat got off to a bit of a rocky start as my pickup was very delayed and I had wait longer than expected and I believe this was traffic related. An obvious tip here is to always have any phone numbers saved in your phone just in case you need to contact someone at your accommodation. Finding the right contact number when you’re bleary eyed and tired is never ideal! That being said, once the car arrived I was greeted with a smile, cool drink and a nice cold towel. It was just me on the pickup and the journey to the retreat was my first experience of Bali traffic! It took well over an hour and so just be prepared for this. Unfortunately, it’s just a Bali trait we have to deal with.
Tucked away down a Canggu side street, Escape Haven really is a paradise. The photos online just don’t do it justice. On arrival, I was greeted with the warmest welcome by some of the staff members with hugs and a neck flower garland and a nice cool drink. Your bags are taken to your room and then I had a 1on-1 welcome meeting with Dessy (she felt like the mum of the retreat) where you’ll discuss your motivations for coming to the retreat and your schedule for the week. It feels like more of a chat with a friend and sets you up for how well you’ll be treated in the week ahead.
Being on the fitness package I was up early doors at 6am! I hadn’t quite expected such early starts and so at first this was a bit of a shock to the system but once you get going, and as an early riser anyway, it wasn’t too much of an issue. For a couple of days, it was just me on the fitness package but then I was joined by another lady a couple of days in. The exercises weren’t too difficult, and the trainer who was very friendly will adapt as needed. The main thing will be getting used to exercising in the heat! During my stay I found that Yoga and healing were definitely the more popular packages but this may vary throughout the year. I was also able to take part in some of the yoga, especially the evening sessions which was nice. There was never any pressure to join and even as a beginner, everyone was welcome and there was no pressure to be doing anything fancy!
The other main activity that definitely needs a mention are the unlimited spa treatments. They’re incredible! When I arrived as part of my welcome meeting I chose the massages I wanted and any extras. It really is all included and such an incredible part of the week. You can’t help but feel relaxed and each and every therapist is amazing, and I was often snoozing on the massage table.
The rest of the communal areas consist of the pool area, sauna, jacuzzi and massage rooms where you can hang out during the day when you have your free time.
Meals
All meals except for one evening meal were included on the retreat and honestly, you’ll never go hungry. Snacks are provided in your room and the team can always help rustle something up if you’re starving. Most of the meals have a buffet style option and a mix between meat / vegetarian options. You can also get a night time tea to take to bed which was always a welcome touch.
The room
The resort is split into two halves, what I believe was the original Escape Haven and then the newer resort style area. All the rooms and facilities are on one site and only separated by the kitchen area and so whether staying on either side of the resort you won’t feel isolated.
I stayed in one of the pool view suites that overlooked the lagoon style pool (see the video above for the view). It had a really comfy double bed, wardrobe space and a hanging rack, a small fridge and bathroom with a waterfall shower. Every evening there is a turndown service where the team leave a motivational note on your bed which is a nice touch and they’ll leave a diffuser on to give your room a calming scent to sleep in. The bathroom had a rain shower and everything felt like it was brand new.
A note on travelling here solo
Don’t be afraid, just do it! For most people, Bali is a long way to travel alone but I can’t think of a better way to travel solo than to this retreat. On my trip the majority of women there were solo travellers, and everyone was keen to get to know each other over dinner and share experiences. Balancing this, there is also ample time to relax and take time for yourself and with everyone having their own schedules to follow and so there is ample ‘you’ time.
Anything else?
Most of your days will be on resort or on excursions and so a fancy wardrobe isn’t required! Most of the time you’ll be in a bikini and sarong, I was gifted a beautiful sarong on arrival and that I could take home. I barely wore flip flops on the retreat, and everything felt safe and secure. One night there is a meal that you pay for yourself in Canggu that the team arranges and so you may want to bring something nice for that, otherwise the vibe is relatively chill.
Verdict
After waiting over two years for this trip of a lifetime, there was always the risk that I would be looking forward to this trip so much that it would be impossible for it to live up to my expectations. Well I can say that it did live up to my hype and then some. Not only is this resort pure escapism whatever the reason you want to retreat – be it some time away from the daily grind or to heal from something you may be dealing with, Escape Haven is perfectly equipped to deal with your needs.
For me, travelling from London did make this a special treat and it may not be the most affordable option but if you can make it, rest assured it will be worth every penny. It really is Haven on earth.
Watch my video review of my stay at Escape Haven
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