A birding trip, but different.
Join us in Ubud for six days with birds at the heart of a unique and thoughtfully hosted experience bringing together nature, food, conservation, culture, well-being and birding.
Created for people who love birds and nature, and want to experience birding differently
Hosted by LYFER co-founders, Josh and James with dedicated birding experiences led by selected local specialists.
From $3,195 AUD per person, twin share.
*Secure your place with a $600 AUD deposit per person.
LOCATION
Ubud, Bali
DATES
15-20 or 22-27
March, 2027
LENGTH
6 days, 5 nights
GROUP SIZE
up to 12 guests
A different kind of birding experience
Created by LYFER, LYFESTYLE Birding Retreats brings the way we think about birding into travel and shared experience.
In Ubud, that means exploring its landscapes, culture, food and everyday life, with birding running through the week.
The idea is simple: to experience a destination through birds, while embracing everything that makes that place distinctive, its landscapes, food, culture, well-being and people.
In Ubud, birding runs naturally through the week. There are dedicated locally guided birding experiences and hosted walks, but birds are also part of the landscapes we explore, the conservation work we encounter and the everyday moments in between.
The week is fully hosted and carefully curated, bringing each part of the experience together in a way that feels relaxed, engaging and social.
Birds are not the itinerary.
They are part of how we experience the week.
What the experience brings together
Each LYFESTYLE retreat brings different experiences into the week, with birding connecting them all. In Ubud, that looks like this.
Birding
A mix of locally guided and hosted birding experiences in carefully selected spots around Ubud, from enjoying the birds we see each day to seeking out a few lifers.
Food & Drink
From traditional feasts and local favourites to elevated dining experiences, food and drink are central to the week, shared over breakfasts, dinners and at some of Ubud’s most celebrated tables.
Nature
Discover the landscapes of Ubud through rice paddies, hidden gardens, quiet trails and rainforests, from well-known views to places further off the beaten track.
Culture
A rare insight into Balinese life and culture, shaped by local people and shared through customs, traditions andexperiences most visitors would not usually encounter.
Conservation
An immersive & educational experience exploring local conservation efforts, guided by those doing the work and set against one of Ubud’s most unforgettable backdrops.
Creativity & Wellbeing
Creative and wellbeing experiences in peaceful natural settings, giving us space to breathe, reconnect and explore a different side of ourselves.
Who this experience is for
LYFESTYLE is for people who love birds, nature and travel, and who want to experience birding as part of a richer experience of a place.
Birding is an important part of the retreat, woven through a week that also values thoughtful hosting, beautiful settings, local culture, good food and meaningful time shared with others.
LYFESTYLE is also built around bringing people together. Solo travellers, couples and friends are all welcome, along with people from different backgrounds, identities and walks of life.
Diversity makes the group better, and everyone should feel comfortable being part of it.
You do not need to be an expert birder.
You do not need a life list.
You simply need to be open to noticing more.
The birding approach
There is plenty of active birding across the week, including dedicated locally guided experiences, hosted walks and time spent exploring different habitats.
And, as any birder knows, bird-watching never stops when the bird walk finishes. There will be birds around Alaya Resort, greeting us at breakfast, beside the pool, through the rice fields and while we move around Ubud.
We love the thrill of finding a lifer, and there will be plenty of opportunities to add a few to your list, if you have one. But LYFESTYLE is not about chasing the biggest list possible. It is about birding together, travelling together and sharing the wider experience with people who enjoy birds as much as you do.
Some guests may have years of birding experience, while others may be newer to it. Both are equally welcome. Experienced birders will have plenty to engage with, while newer birders will have support from the group, our local specialists and your hosts.
A sanctuary in the heart of Ubud
For five nights, Alaya Resort Ubud will be our home.
Set in the heart of Ubud, Alaya gives us something particularly important for LYFESTYLE: a peaceful place to return to while still being connected to the town around us.
The resort sits within lush tropical grounds, with gardens, pools and rice-field outlooks creating a feeling of space in a wonderfully central location. Step outside and Ubud’s cafés, restaurants, shops and cultural life are close at hand.
We know Alaya well and stay here ourselves when we visit Ubud. Over time, we have come to know the property, its location and the people who make it what it is, making it a natural choice as the base for our first LYFESTYLE retreat.
Rooms are contemporary and beautifully appointed, with generous space, modern comforts and a refined Balinese character that feels sophisticated while remaining grounded in its surroundings.
During the pockets of free time built into the week, you might head to the gym, book a treatment at DaLa Spa, take a swim in one of the two pools, find a quiet place with a book or simply spend some time surrounded by the many gardens that connect the resort.
And importantly for us, you never feel completely removed from nature. Many species move through the grounds and surrounding landscape, so even when the 'birding' finishes, there is still plenty happening around you.
Central, comfortable and connected to nature.
A sanctuary within Ubud town.
A glimpse of the week
Here’s a first look at the itinerary, bringing together a range of unique experiences with birds woven naturally throughout the week.
Day 1
Arrival & Welcome
Arrive in Ubud, settle into the retreat and come together for welcome drinks and our first local dinner together.
Day 2
Birds, Nature & Flavours of Ubud
A hosted bird walk through local surroundings and rice field landscapes, followed by an elevated dining experience.
Day 3
Birding, Local Food & Balinese Culture
A more focused guided birding experience beyond central Ubud, followed by local food and a special evening of Balinese cultural connection.
Day 4
Mindfulness, Conservation & Creativity
A slower start, followed by a private conservation experience and an afternoon of creativity and unexpected moments in remarkable settings.
Day 5
Birding, Food & Farewell
A locally-guided birding adventure, followed by a Balinese garden feast, cocktails and an elevated private dining experience.
Day 6
Nature Walk & Departure
An optional early-morning bird walk before breakfast and your onward journey.
Hosted by Josh and James
LYFESTYLE Ubud is hosted by Josh and James, the founders of LYFER.
Ubud is a place they have returned to for many years. What began as somewhere they loved visiting, gradually became a place that brought together so much of what they value: birds, nature, creativity, food and local community.
Throughout the week, Josh and James will host the experience. Their aim is to create a retreat that feels relaxed, welcoming and carefully considered from beginning to end.
They are supported by their friend and local coordinator, Dewa, who was born and raised in Bali. His knowledge and connections help bring guests closer to the people and places that make Ubud so special.
Together, we’ll enjoy a birding retreat unlike anything you may have experienced before, authentic, original and elevated, created for the way we want to travel and connect with birds today.
First drop access
LYFESTYLE Ubud officially launches on Monday 21st September 2026.
On Monday, 14th September, those who have registered for the First Drop priority list will have the chance to secure one of a limited number of places before bookings open publicly on the official launch date.
First Drop price: $2,895 AUD per person, twin share
Standard price: $3,195 AUD per person, twin share
A limited number of private rooms will be available for an additional single-room supplement.
First Drop pricing will apply to the first 12 places across both March 2027 retreats.
Retreat 1
Monday 15 March 2027 – Saturday 20 March 2027
Retreat 2
Monday 22 March 2027 – Saturday 27 March 2027
Join the priority list for First Drop Access below.
Join the first drop access list
Register your interest by completing the form below, and on the Friday, 4th September you will be the first to receive the full official retreat guide, including the itinerary, inclusions, payment options and booking information.
First Drop Access also gives you the chance to secure your spot at a discounted price.
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