Mauna: A luxury Bali wellness retreat

A gentle welcome into stillness

One small but thoughtful detail I loved was the essential packing list shared ahead of the retreat. It took all the mental load out of pre-trip preparation (and as a busy mum, I was super grateful!). It set the tone early: this was a retreat designed to support you before you even arrived.

At the airport pick-up, I was welcomed with a calming smile, a cool towel and a traditional Indonesian herbal elixir - refreshing, grounding and surprisingly delicious.

Arriving at The Apurva Kempinski Bali is an experience in itself. Perched dramatically on the cliffs of Nusa Dua, the resort cascades down towards the ocean. Despite its scale, stunning architecture and grandeur, the energy is warm and welcoming.

Turning inward: Setting an intention

The retreat began with an Opening Circle Ceremony and Mauna Meditation at the hotel's Amala Chapel. Floor-to-ceiling glass framed the ocean beyond, natural light filled the space, and silence became something shared rather than uncomfortable.

Before the meditation, we were invited to draw an intention-setting card - a quiet, symbolic act that felt perfect. Each card carried a word or theme to guide us, encouraging you to arrive not just physically but emotionally.

Phones were put away, journals opened, and attention gently turned inward. Mauna doesn’t frame silence as emptiness; instead, it invites awareness - listening not with your ears, but with presence. From here, the retreat days unfolded around four core pillars: mindfulness, movement, nourishment and rest.

My suite quickly became my personal sanctuary that made stillness feel effortless. Spacious and serene, with a private plunge pool for morning and end of the day dips. Waiting inside the room were my Mauna essentials: a daily journal, mala beads, a set of seven chakra stones and other thoughtful touches to support deeper rest and slowing down.

Movement, breath and the art of sleep

Mornings began with gentle sunrise yoga and breathing practices overlooking the ocean. These sessions weren’t about pushing or perfecting an asana - they were about reconnecting body and breath, waking up slowly and intentionally.

The Sleep Seminar with Olivia Arezzolo, one of Australia’s leading sleep experts, was both practical, relatable and grounded in science with great tips and tools to take home. It reinforced one of Mauna’s strongest themes: wellness shouldn’t end when the retreat does. That evening, a Deep Sleep Meditation led to one of the most delicious nights of sleep I’ve had in a long time.

Nourishment without restriction

Meals were generous and nourishing - wellness food without restriction. Every dish supported the retreat’s intention while celebrating local seasonal flavours and balance.

Menus were flexible and so delicious, supporting the retreat’s intention without ever feeling limiting. It was a reminder that nourishment can be both healing and joyful.

The Apurva Spa experience

The hotel’s stunning spa offers holistic treatments inspired by Javanese traditions using natural ingredients and ancient healing wisdom. My tip – book more than one treatment during your stay!

A sacred ritual by the sea

For me, one of the highlights was the Balinese purification ritual at a nearby beach, guided by a Balinese priest at sunrise. Participating in a ritual practiced for generations was humbling and deeply moving. A moment of gratitude and renewal that captured the spiritual depth at the heart of Balinese wellness.

On the final day, we drew reflection cards - closing the circle and acknowledging what had shifted for each of us. Like Nyepi, Mauna is not about escape but an opportunity to reset.

What impressed me most about Mauna was how intentional every detail was - much of this vision comes from Ira Maharani, Director of the Apurva Spa, to really celebrate and embrace the harmony between inner and outer wellbeing and ancient Indonesian wisdom.

The whole experience felt like a deep exhale - a rare pause that allowed me to reset and reflect on what really matters.

Thankfully, The Apurva Kempinski Bali offers this Mauna retreat package regularly - you can find more information
here