We spent a weekend in Ubud, Bali to experience Fivelement's holistic wellness retreat
Sacred springs, temples, spiritual healers and an abundance of energy—it’s no wonder Bali is called the Island of Gods. For most travellers who find themselves in this Indonesian Island, a wellness getaway comes in the form of spa treatments and yoga by the beach, but for some, Bali is the perfect destination for healing and finding peace.
And peace was what I found after an hour and a half’s drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport when I arrived at Fivelements in Ubud, a sanctuary along Bali’s sacred Ayung River. Granted, finding inner peace wasn’t exactly on my agenda when I first scoped out the retreat’s website. Like most, I was looking forward to endless massages to ease my stress and tension, and Fivelements’ award-winning plant-based cuisine as part of the wellness experience.
But over the short three-day retreat, as spiritually uninitiated as I was, I was beginning to see why Bali, especially Ubud, is hailed as a place of holy inspiration.
First Impressions
Surrounded by paddy fields on one side and the Ayung River on the other, Fivelements is a restful respite from the bustling city life. Seeking to blend into its natural environment rather than stand out, the architecture resembles a village, inspired by organic silhouettes and constructed using sustainable materials like bamboo, wood and straw. Despite its cosy space, Fivelements has everything you need—a reception pavilion, restaurant, pool by the river, healing village, activity centre and nine exclusive suites.
What I first noticed as I explored the landscape was how cool the air felt on my skin despite the strong sun. This, as wellness curator Michael Hallock shares with me, is the result of the cleverly placed streams and ponds which not only soothes you with white noise, but contributes to the passive cooling of the property.
The plants in the retreat are also not merely decoration—they were carefully picked and placed to filter and purify any greywater that flows through them into the water catchments, sustaining the habitat for birds and fishes.