Bali isn’t just about beautiful beaches and colourful smoothie bowls – it’s a soulful island where spirituality is part of everyday life.
Whether it’s through sacred water blessings, full moon ceremonies or grounding yourself in nature, it’s a place where many come to reconnect, reflect and find themselves.
This blog explores five once in a lifetime spiritual experiences that you absolutely need to try during your trip to Bali.
Let’s delve in!
1. Water Purification Ceremony at a Local Temple
One unmissable spiritual experience in Bali is joining a water purification ritual, known as melukat.
This ancient Balinese tradition is rooted in Hindu beliefs and is deeply tied to the island’s connection to nature and spirit. Melukat comes from the word lukat, which means “to purify” in Balinese.
The ritual is believed to cleanse the body, mind, and soul from negative energies, emotional burdens and spiritual blockages. One of the most famous places to experience this is Pura Tirta Empul, a sacred water temple near Ubud that dates back to 962 AD.
Today, locals and visitors line up at the temple’s 13 fountains, each representing a specific kind of blessing – from physical healing to spiritual clarity.
Dressed in traditional sarongs, visitors move from fountain to fountain, bowing their heads under the cool, flowing water in a powerful act of surrender and renewal.
While the experience can be deeply moving, it’s also a popular one.
So, expect crowds and go early if you want a quieter moment.
And don’t forget to wear a sarong and sash, as a sign of respect when entering the temple grounds.
2. Eat Pray Love Palm Reading at Liyer Spirit House
Channel your inner Eat Pray Love moment with a palm reading at Liyer Spirit House in Ubud.
Tucked away in the lush heart of Ubud, this peaceful compound rose to fame after Elizabeth Gilbert’s bestselling memoir – and the Julia Roberts film adaptation – featured her real-life spiritual guide, Ketut Liyer.
Though Ketut passed away in 2016, his family continues his legacy, offering palm readings and spiritual guidance to those who visit seeking clarity or healing.
Sitting cross-legged on the floor of the family’s compound, you’ll meet a local healer who will gently take your hand and read your palm. The reading may include insights into your personality, past, and future—often delivered with a warm smile and uncanny intuition.
3. Purification and Blessing Ceremony at Tri Desna
The Purification Ceremony at Tri Desna is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. In fact, it isn’t just an experience – it’s a spiritual awakening.
The ceremony begins with an intuitive reading, where the healer gently taps into your energy to offer guidance.
You’ll be guided through melukat – a water purification ritual using sacred spring water, incense and chants.
The water is poured over your head and body with purpose, washing away stagnant energy, emotional heaviness, and spiritual blockages.
Afterward, you’ll take part in a blessing ceremony with Helena.
Through Helena’s gentle energy and spiritual wisdom, she helps seal in the healing, offering a grounding moment of peace, renewal and empowerment.
Negative energy is gently released, making space for clarity, peace, and a renewed sense of purpose.
As old emotions, limiting beliefs, and spiritual blockages fall away, you begin to feel a profound sense of lightness and freedom.
Many leave feeling lighter, more aligned, and ready to move forward with positivity and deeper connection to themselves and the world around them.
4. Celebrate a Full Moon in a Local Village
If you’re in Bali during a full moon, Purnama, you’re in for something magical.
In Balinese Hinduism, the full moon is a sacred time when the spiritual energy on the island is believed to be at its peak. It’s thought that on this night, the gods descend to earth to bless the people, the land and their offerings.
Purnama is celebrated every 29.5 days, and temples are adorned with vibrant decorations, incense fills the air, and families prepare elaborate offerings of fruit, flowers, and rice to honour the divine.
In villages across the island, full moon ceremonies are held with chanting, dance, music, and prayer.
As a visitor, joining a full moon ceremony is a rare and humbling opportunity to witness Bali’s spiritual heartbeat. With respect and openness, you can wear a sarong, observe the rituals, and feel the powerful collective energy as the moon rises above the horizon.
5. Balinese Offering Workshop
Ever wondered what those beautiful little flower baskets are all over Bali? These are called canang sari.
Rooted in Balinese Hindu tradition, canang sari are offerings made to the gods as a gesture of gratitude, balance and harmony.
Each part of a Balinese offering holds symbolic meaning, flowers face specific directions to honour different gods, incense carries prayers to the heavens, and items like rice or coins represent abundance.
Placed several times a day in homes, temples, and streets, these offerings help maintain balance between the physical and spiritual worlds.
During your trip, why not take part in a Balinese offering workshop, where local women guide you through the process of weaving palm leaves, selecting symbolic flowers and placing each piece with intention.
Bali’s Best Spiritual Experiences
These spiritual experiences aren’t just photo ops, they’re heart-opening, soul-nourishing and truly unforgettable.
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