Discovering Traditional Healing Practices in Bali
This trip offers an in-depth excursion into the culture of Bali through the eyes of the Balinese, for those who wish to observe, appreciate, and experience traditional healing methods, at the same time enhancing their own health with traditional massage.
Since the early 1970’s, there has been a dynamic and extended movement in the west to explore traditional medicine from many ancient cultures. The study of Asian medicine has been in the forefront of this movement, particularly Chinese acupuncture, herbal medicine and the practice of Feng Shui. This healing arts trip is conceived as an introduction to the philosophy and use of traditional medicine in Bali: both internal and external, material and spiritual.
In Southeast Asia, local people have long held their traditional healers in high regard. These healers are called Balian or Dukun in Bali. With the advent of western medicine, healers have not been discarded, but are seen as adjunct and complementary to what western medicine offers. Besides visiting a western-style doctor when ill, the Balinese consult a Balian, a traditional healer. These men and women work in different ways: some mix herbal remedies; some create drawings of magical inscriptions and symbols to protect the wearer; and some (while in trance) communicate messages from the Bali Hindu deities who dictate certain offerings and ceremonies.. Tantamount to understanding Balinese medicine is to understand the magic of the Left versus the Right, the Visible and the Invisible.
We will also explore the history of traditional medicine (Usada), the source of information, and where people learn about it. Every Balinese knows how to make the simplest medicines for common colds, flu, headaches and wounds. Made from basic ingredients found on the island, these remedies have been time-proven over the centuries to be effective in any country in the world. Most Balinese grow their own herbs, but they can also be found in the local markets. We will go on a herb walk, learn about mixing herbal medicines, and observe the use of these medicines during visits to Balinese healers. We will also learn the art of making a temple offering.
Purification ceremonies are an important part of Bali Hindu religious cycles. Usually held during times of stress, plague, transgression, or as part of the rites of passage, these ceremonies often involve sacred masks, most of which are held in the village temples. Each member of our group will experience a purification ceremony.
In each location we visit, we include some physical activity, taking advantage of what each area has to offer. We will move three times, spending 4 nights each by the beach in Candi Dasa, in the cultural center of Ubud, and in the mountains of Munduk, so you experience the regional contrasts of Bali.
Itinerary July 15 - 29, 2025
Mon. June 15: Departure Day 1: Most flights to Asia depart around midnight or a little after, and arrive the next calendar day.
Tues. June 17: Candi Dasa. L. Having arriving in Bali, we will transfer to east Bali and our beachfront bungalows overlooking the azure Indian Ocean. Check into the hotel and unpack before our first dinner together, where we share who you are and why you decided to travel with us.
Wed.June 18: Candi Dasa. B. After breakfast, we will venture by minibus to our waiting boat and a morning snorkeling excursion to a nearby coral reef preserve with hundreds of tropical fish—a wonderful way to fully arrive in Bali. Over lunch at the hotel, we will have our first orientation session focusing on basic Indonesian manners and customs, including a demonstration of how to wrap a traditional sarong. After a short break, Made Surya will give a background on Bali Hinduism and its relationship to traditional healing. Afternoon, traditional massages begin, providing some down time before dinner together.
Thur. June 19: Candi Dasa B. After breakfast, 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, to get a sense of Dutch colonialism and its impact on Bali. Afterward, we venture on to Tirtagangga (the last Raja’s water palace) for lunch and an opportunity to dip in the pool. Our late afternoon seminar is on the Four Spiritual Siblings, mystical elements that accompany us throughout our lives. In the evening, an ethnographic film will be shown to those who want to delve more deeply into the culture of the Balinese.
Fri. June 20: Candi Dasa B. After breakfast and a final language class, our morning visit is to nearby Tenganan, an aboriginal village populated by many artists, weavers (double ikat) and basket makers. We return to Candi Dasa for lunch, followed by a late afternoon talk on the Balians, the traditional healers of Bali. Dinner is on your own.
Sat. June 21: Travel Day to Ubud BL. After breakfast, we’ll 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. Arrive in Ubud and check into our hotel. We will see an evening performance of traditional dance for which Ubud is known.
Sun. June 22: Ubud B. After breakfast, we’ll make an excursion to the ancient to temple of Samuan Tiga, where Surya explains Balinese symbolism, and then to the home of a local Balian skilled in working with mental and spiritual crises (with the opportunity for a treatment). In the afternoon, Made Surya discusses he magic of the Left versus the Right: love potions, black magic and their relationship to illness. In the evening, there will be an optional local dance performance.
Mon. June 23: Ubud B. After breakfast, we will proceed west for a very special visit to the family compound of a traditional Balinese healer who specializes in bones, joints and muscles (with an opportunity for treatments). We return to Ubud for lunch, and a talk with Made Surya on the concept of Chakras and western misconceptions of Tantra. He will also review the treatments you experienced that morning, and illustrate how the healer works.
Tues. June 24: Ubud Early departure to beat the crowds to a sacred spring, noted for healing properties, and located near Idyllic Tampaksiring, for a purification ceremony for each trip member. Return to Ubud for lunch, and free time for shopping, or to visit one of the many superior museums and galleries in Ubud—Bali’s center for the the arts. Optional evening dance performance.
Wed. June 25: Travel Day to Munduk BD. We’ll have our final breakfast in Ubud and then depart 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 Ogoh Ogoh museum in Mengwi, and then stop at the fruit and flower market, fun shopping for fresh spices grown in the area. We will arrive in Munduk mountain village and check into our beautiful eco-friendly hotel, perched on the rice fields. After we settle in, ayurvedic healing massages begin. In the evening, enjoy the first of our family-style delicious group dinners, followed by an optional ethnographic film: The Three Worlds of Bali.
Thur. June 26: Munduk BD. After breakfast, Then we will trek to one of Bali's most breathtaking waterfalls, traversing through cocoa, vanilla, and banana plantations. (If you’re brave, you can climb underneath). Massages continue. Happy Hour talk with Made Surya at the Sunset Bar. Then we enjoy an evening dinner together.
Fri . June 27: Munduk BD. After 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. Return to hotel for lunch and downtime. Gathering at the Sunset Bar, before evening meal together.
Sat. June 28: Munduk BD. After breakfast will examine the medicinal plants growing in the hotel’s garden. Then an easy walk to discover wild traditional plants growing in our area and others at the market. On our return, we’ll have a class in making traditional medicine. Afternoon is free to book another trek, sleep in, or have more spa experiences. Final gathering at the Sunset Bar before our final dinner—followed by a performance by the village dance company.
Sun. June 29: Workshop concludes.
Trip Package Includes:
Four nights beachfront hotel in Candi Dasa
Four 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 3 traditional healers and two massage treatments.
Two nature treks in Munduk.
A herb walk and workshop in creating herbal medicine.
Visits to 4 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.
Not Uncluded:
Round trip airfare. Most meals, snorkeling equipment, airport transfers, donations to healers for those who want treatments.
Details:
Cost: $3241.00 based on two persons sharing a room with bathroom. A single supplement is available. Minimum of 6, maximum of 12.
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: $395 extra.
Deposit: A deposit of $500.00 per person is due at the time of booking. Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure. Deposit, minus a $275 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 and vaccinations against COVID is required for entry into Indonesia. You will need to get visa on arrival, with payment of a $35 fee, which is valid for 4 weeks. If you wish to stay longer, apply to the Indonesian Consulate for a 2-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.
Trip Organizer/Leader: 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 afterdeath. 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.“
What People Are Saying
“ would not have missed the trip. I fell absolutely in love the with Balinese. I have been to many places……., and I am most impressed with the Balinese and their culture. I love their particular flavor of Hinduism - somehow they have taken what came from India and made it better! Women seem to be respected as much as men, which I'm always watching out for. I think some of the government and neighborhood systems have some wonderfully community minded policies that the rest of the world could benefit from. I hope and pray that they do everything necessary to prevent wealthy corporations from taking over, and preserve their way of life.”
— Mohini Peters, Santa Cruz CA, June 2023
“Thank you for facilitating a most memorable and transformative Healing and Healers trip. We deeply appreciate the passion and devotion that you bring to sharing Balinese culture and healing arts.”
— Love, Xana and Bill Wulson, Seattle WA - June 2023
“ I had not been to Bali and knew nothing of its history, culture, economy or society. I could barely find Bali on a map!
I now understand how to grow rice, how the society is governed bottom up from Banjar, home temple, community temple, following indigenous Hindu prescripts. I have a sense of how Bali’s history, geography and geology helped to shape the land, economy and culture we see today. And the art! Oh the art! Lordy let there be art!
What will I remember most about this trip?
A gestalt of temple art, artful architecture, graceful dancing, smiles, ubiquitous explosions of flowers in fields, roadsides, gardens, doorways, windshields, altars and sidewalks.
And the morning spent in Munduk library revisiting one of my favorite poets.”