A spa by the river: Balinese massage in Ubud

Ubud sits in the green centre of Bali, surrounded by rice fields and cut through by rivers. The best way to feel it isn’t a tour. It’s an hour on a massage table, listening to water run below you.

Balinese massage is part of daily life here, not just a tourist add-on. And some of the most peaceful spas on the island are built right above the river valleys.

What a Balinese massage is

A traditional Balinese massage, called pijat, mixes long strokes, pressure on specific points and gentle stretching. Therapists usually use warm, scented oil.

It’s firmer than a Swedish massage and gentler than a Thai one. Most people come out loose and slightly sleepy.

Spa menus in Ubud usually add a few local rituals:

• Boreh: a warming paste of spices, rubbed in for stiff muscles. It’s a traditional village remedy.
• Lulur: a scrub made with turmeric and rice powder, originally a Javanese pre-wedding ritual.
• Flower bath: a soak in warm water covered in petals, usually the last step of a package.

A full package with massage, scrub and flower bath takes two to three hours.

What it costs in 2026

Prices depend mostly on the setting, not the skill of the therapist.

Type of spa	Rough price
Simple local spa, one-hour massage	IDR 100,000 to 250,000
Mid-range day spa, one hour	IDR 250,000 to 600,000
Package with massage, scrub and flower bath	IDR 350,000 to 900,000
Five-star resort spa, per treatment	IDR 900,000 to 2,500,000, plus 15 to 21% tax and service

These are ranges, not fixed prices. Always check whether the price includes tax and service before you book.

Spas by the river

The most dramatic riverside spas are in the Ayung River valley, west of Ubud’s centre around Sayan and Kedewatan. The river cuts a deep gorge here, and resorts step down its sides through the jungle.

Two well-known examples:

• The Sacred River Spa at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan sits in the Ayung valley and is open daily. Treatments use local herbs, and some include traditional blessing rituals.
• Dewi Sri Spa at Ayung Resort Ubud describes itself as a riverside retreat on the Ayung.

Both are resort spas, so expect resort prices. Book ahead, especially in July, August and December.

If a riverside resort is out of budget, don’t worry. Plenty of small spas in central Ubud have garden or rice-field views and excellent therapists, at a fraction of the price.

Etiquette and staying safe

Spas in Ubud are relaxed, but a few habits help.

• Ask for a female or male therapist when you book if you have a preference. It’s a normal request.
• Choose spas with posted prices and good recent reviews. Be wary of anyone offering a massage on the street.
• You’ll usually be given disposable underwear and left alone to change.
• Tell the therapist if the pressure is too strong. “Pelan-pelan” means “slowly” or “gently”.
• Tipping: around IDR 20,000 to 50,000 at local spas, or about 10% at day spas. Resort bills often include a service charge already.

More to do around Ubud

Plan the massage around a few classic Ubud experiences.

• Campuhan Ridge Walk: an easy walk of about 1.2 km along a grassy ridge between two river valleys. It’s free, and best just after sunrise before the heat.
• Sacred Monkey Forest: a temple complex in the forest, home to hundreds of long-tailed macaques. Keep sunglasses and food out of sight.
• Tegallalang rice terraces: north of town, the classic postcard view of Bali’s terraced fields.

Ubud is about one to two hours by road from Ngurah Rai International Airport, depending heavily on traffic.

Food for Muslim travellers

Bali is mostly Hindu, and pork is common in Balinese cooking. But finding halal food in Ubud isn’t hard.

Look for warung (small family restaurants) run by Muslim owners from Java, and Padang restaurants, which serve West Sumatran food and are almost always halal. A few Ubud restaurants also carry halal certification from Indonesia’s council of ulama.

As anywhere, ask before you order.

Indonesia visa for Pakistani passport holders

This is the step many travellers get wrong.

• Pakistan isn’t on Indonesia’s visa on arrival list. You can’t get a visa at Bali airport.
• Apply online, in advance, for a tourist e-visa on Indonesia’s official immigration website, evisa.imigrasi.go.id. Use only the official site. Some agency sites wrongly claim Pakistanis can get a visa on arrival.
• Check the current fee and document list on the official site before you apply.

Bali also charges a tourist levy of IDR 150,000 per foreign visitor. It’s paid once, cashless, through the official Love Bali website before you arrive or at counters on arrival. You’ll get a QR voucher by email.

Slow down

Plenty of remote workers split their year between Bali and northern Thailand. If that’s you, here’s how to meet other nomads in Chiang Mai.

Ubud is at its best when you don’t rush it. Book the massage for late afternoon, walk back through the rice fields, and let the river do the rest.

For other trips that start with the paperwork sorted, browse our checked entry-rule guides by country.