Meditation & Yoga Teacher Training Courses in Bali

As of February 2023, visitors from 140 countries in the world can come to Bali for 30 days for free. A Visa on Arrival costs around 500 IDR (approximately $35 USD) and is valid for 60 days. It must be extended after 30 days, which you can do yourself or hire an agent. Samyama's manager offers VISA extension services also, so you can organize with him upon arrival. If you do it yourself, you must take 3 trips to the immigration office in Denpasar. If you hire an agent, it costs more but you only have to make one trip to Denpasar.

If you are joining a TTC, we can arrange for a car to take you and other participants together, usually early in the morning so you can be back at Samyama by late morning.

Please consult an Indonesian embassy representative in your home country just to double-check. You can also contact a visa agency in Bali to check on the latest policies.

For those who want to stay longer, there are special e-visa procedures operating until further notice from the Indonesian Government. Contact an agency in Bali for more information about the B2-11 visa.

No shots or immunizations are needed for coming to Bali. Ubud is quite cosmopolitan and doesn’t have the tropical diseases that are often found in other parts of SE Asia. There are a handful of reported cases of Dengue fever each year, usually during the rainy season but it is uncommon.

From Europe, the most popular connecting flights go through Doha, Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur. There are non-stop flights from most cities in Australia. From the America’s, flights connect through east Asia - China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea. (Due to Coronavirus double check with your airline carrier if you have a flight that goes through China) You may find more flight paths through Jakarta, and then connect to a domestic flight. There are domestic flights between Jakarta and Denpasar almost hourly.

Most of our retreats and course packages include a pick-up from Denpasar airport. Make sure that you provide us with the flight information (flight number, company, expected arrival time) in detail at least one week before the retreat starts.

If you are coming from elsewhere in Bali, we will also provide a one-way transfer. As above, share details about where you need to be picked up from and when.

If you prefer to use your transfer to take you back to the airport at the end of your stay that is also possible.

Bali’s climate varies from the coast to the mountains. Ubud is 600 meters above sea level and enjoys lower temperatures than the coast. January is often the hottest month with an average temperature of 29 degrees celsius, 84 degrees fahrenheit. July is often the coolest month with an average of 26 degrees celsius, 80 degrees fahrenheit. You will experience lovely “summer temperatures” here year round. Some of our rooms have AC, but generally a fan is enough. In the evenings you may want a light sweater or jacket. From October to March, you might find yourself in a refreshing tropical shower but it will pass. The humidity is higher during those months, however, so plan accordingly. During the dry season between April and September, it is cooler but the sun is strong so don’t forget your sunscreen.

There will be towels available in each room if you are staying onsite. We also provide soap that is refilled regularly. Please bring your required set of personal hygiene items but don’t worry in case you forget something. There are plenty of shops and you can buy almost everything in Ubud, including in our very own onsite Samyama Shop which offers a humble selection of items for sale. Some things are more expensive here, such as feminine hygiene products and sunscreen. It is not hard to find organic products but they are also slightly more expensive. Comfortable and light clothes that are easy to wash and dry will come in handy for your daily practice. Otherwise you won’t need a lot of garments other than t-shirts and shorts, light dresses and skirts, and of course flip-flops. For MYTTC participants, it can be nice to graduate in white clothes but it’s not necessary. It can get cool in the evenings and early mornings, especially on the back of a motorbike so bring a light sweater or long sleeved shirt. Bring sneakers if you want to enjoy the mountain trekking the island has to offer, and don’t forget your bathing suit!

Yes. Prices on your typical groceries including tropical fruits are most likely to be cheaper than back home. There are many local markets as well as some international chains. Some are open 24 hours. For more information on washing your fruit and vegetables please read here. For early risers, there are local open-air markets with local prices. There is a big supermarket about an 8 minute drive, or a 20 minute walk away. It caters more to tourists so the prices are a bit higher but they have everything from groceries to clothing to electronics in case you forgot your phone charger. There are pharmacies, retail stores, organic markets and more.

The Balinese are generally very accepting of foreigners but there are a few important things to be mindful of when visiting Bali. 

• They are very serious about their religion so it is important for men and women to wear a sarong when entering a temple. For women, an additional sash around the waste is encouraged, and please do not enter a temple if menstruating. 
• Use both hands when giving and receiving, or at least use your right hand and not the left. 
• Use your entire hand if you want to point at something instead of your index finger. If you need to call attention to someone, do it by extending your hand and, with palm facing down making a downward wave
• Remove your shoes wherever you see a row of shoes placed outside.
• Do not put your feet on the table or point your feet at another person.
• Please respect the daily offerings of flowers and food that are placed on the street by not kicking or stepping on them.
• In general Balinese do not outwardly express anger or frustration towards strangers. Instead you will be warmly met if you are friendly and smiling.
• Don't touch people's heads. The soul is supposed to reside in one's head, making it off limits for people to touch. Even children (Balinese children that is) should not be touched on their heads.
• Don't step on offerings in the street. Canang sari are offered to the Creator by locals first thing in the morning. When stepping out, you'll find these little packages of woven palm leaf, flowers and herbs everywhere, even on sidewalks and stairs. Stepping on one can be deeply offensive to any Balinese who witnesses your misstep. So watch where you go around Bali, especially in the earlier part of the day.
• Don't interrupt any religious processions. Religious processions in Bali occur fairly regularly so if you're stuck behind a procession on a narrow road, do not honk your horn, or be very obtrusive.

Yoga mats and other supplies are available at our center, though feel free to bring your own. When using the Samyama mats, we recommend bringing a sarong to place on top of the mats for hygiene purposes. Fresh towels are also provided both in your rooms and in the healing center. If you are joining a TTC we will provide you with a sarong that you can use throughout the course and take home with you.

Perhaps because of our location, mosquitos are not a big problem here, but they do live here, yes. There may be more during the rainy season, though they only come out for about an hour around sunset and sunrise. We have extra natural mosquito repellant onsite for morning and evening practice and natural and chemical repellant can be purchased in any pharmacy or market nearby.

You can easily acquire a prepaid local SIM card at the airport or in town. All SIM cards are 4G ready allowing you to browse the Internet at very reasonable speed and rates. There’s also free WiFi at Samyama. The country code of Indonesia is +62 (=0062) and the area code of South Bali is 036. If you call a local Bali number from a foreign phone you add ‘0062 36’ (dropping the initial 0 of the local number). Simple mobile phones are affordable, and Bali SIM cards are cheap. You can buy prepaid top up cards for reasonably priced calls in and out of Indonesia in any phone shop or market (Indomaret, Coco Mart etc). Telkomsel and Simpati are good providers. A sim card with 5-10 GB shouldn’t be more than 100k IDR.

We do not have laundry facilities on site, but there is a reliable laundromat a few steps down the road from Samyama. You can drop off and pick up the next day, or arrange for delivery with our staff onsite. Rates for doing laundry are quite cheap. When using outside service providers, it’s best to avoid bringing expensive clothes just to be on a safe side. If you prefer to hand wash your garments, there are some drying racks in the villa and outside our onsite rooms. 

In case you need medical assistance, there’s some options near Samyama:

Ari Canti hospital and Kenak Medika have an international in-patient service and we’ve received very good feedback from both. 

Hospital Ari Canti

(0361) 974573

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZCCWq8sxDmUPymyP8?g_st=iw

Kenak Medika Hospital

0811-3930-911

https://maps.app.goo.gl/AiyakfejPQyG2SL69?g_st=ic



Also a convenient option for smaller matters is Ubud Care, who also do home visits.

UbudCare Clinic (24 Hours)

0811-3977-911

https://maps.app.goo.gl/WY9wQa1tjaowBZ5c6?g_st=iw

Local currency in Bali is the Indonesian Rupiah. Unless you want to avoid international ATM fees, you don’t need to bring a lot of cash with you. Banking infrastructure is well developed in Bali. Most businesses and restaurants accept credit/debit cards with a minor surcharge. Samyama accepts cash, credit/debit cards with a 3% surcharge, PayPal and TransferWise/Direct Bank Transfer. 

If you are joining our TTC, you will not need much cash as all of your basic needs will be taken care of. You will need to pay for your meals on the 4 off-days, including the evening of the opening circle.

You can choose to live very cheaply here or very lavishly if you want to. As an example, lunch at the local warung (balinese eatery) may cost you $2, while lunch at one of the organic, raw, vegan spots that Ubud is famous for can cost you $7 - $12. If you want to explore you may want to rent a motorbike. This will cost from $40 - $70 per month depending on the model you rent, though gas is quite cheap. If you want to shop, note that imported items will be more expensive than you will find in your home country. Other items made in Bali will often be much cheaper.

There is an ATM at Titi Batu Health Club, just down the road from Samyama. There are many ATMs in town that accept all types of cards, VISA and Mastercard preferred. You can also easily exchange your home currency at the airport or at any bank or money exchange in Ubud.

Our preferred method is Wise. If you are unfamiliar with Wise, it is an App accessible on your phone or web browser that simplifies international bank transfers and has some of the best currency exchange rates. Simply find your preferred currency to transfer money directly from your bank account. If you use a different currency than USD, then Wise is encouraged due to its favorable exchange rates and low fees compared to bank fees.

If needed, we accept PayPal but we charge an additional 5% to cover the high PayPal service fees. Please let us know how you would like to pay and we will send you the corresponding payment details.

All remaining balances need to be paid one week before the course start.

In Indonesia the power plugs and sockets are of type C and F - the two pronged round ones. The standard voltage is 220/230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. If you are coming from Europe, you won’t need an adapter but travelers from the US will need one. Adapters may be available on request and can be purchased in town at a low cost.

We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance before leaving your home country. If you intend to ride a motorbike, you may want to check that the insurance you choose covers motorbike accidents. In order to drive a scooter here you will need to possess an international drivers license, wear a helmet and have a copy of the bike papers on you. Otherwise, you'll find yourself paying fines when stopped by police. If you do get fined, ask for the official catalog of fines and know that there's room for negotiation. I also recommend to only have a limited amount of cash on you or to say so to the police officer. Samyama is not responsible for any loss of belongings or injuries incurred while on-site.

Samyama is the state of absorption into the object of meditation where the three stages of concentration, meditation and samadhi happen at once.

Samyama Eatery will be lovingly providing your meals throughout the duration of the TTC's and retreats. They offer a range of hot and cold dishes prepared with the freshest local ingredients, using organic produce whenever possible. All meals will be 100% vegan to keep you aligned with the yogic principle of Ahimsa: Do no harm. Most meals will be served buffet style and will vary daily. Drinks will also be included. A-la-carte menus are also available. The restaurant is open from 8am - 8pm and you can order additional food, drinks and desserts anytime during open hours.

Our onsite restaurant is plant-based, almost entirely organic, and has gluten free options. We will ask for your dietary restrictions before you arrive and plan an appropriate menu with our kitchen in advance. We do accommodate some basic needs such as gluten-free food but for very specific needs you may need to come prepared bringing your special supplements or food items with you.

Yes. We have a small shared fridge in our lounge area. If you are staying in the Samyama villa, you will have access to the shared kitchen and fridge. Private cottages have small kitchenettes as do many of the neighboring resorts that you may choose to stay at.

Yes, we offer scooter and bicycle rentals for our guests. Scooters are available at IDR 150k per day, and bicycles can be rented for IDR 50k per day. To rent a scooter or bicycle, please visit reception. Guests must leave their passport at reception as a deposit and are also required to read and sign our rental policies and waivers before taking a vehicle. Please note that rentals are subject to availability, as we have 2 scooters and 4 bicycles available.