A birding trip, but different.
Join us in Ubud for six days with birds at the heart of a unique birding experience bringing together nature, food, conservation, culture, well-being and birding.
Created for people who love birds and nature, and are open to experiencing bird-watching and travel 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, elegant and connected to nature.
A sanctuary within Ubud town.
The retreat, day by day
Across five nights and six days, the itinerary brings together a unique mix of experiences, with birds woven naturally throughout the week.
Day 1
Arrival & Welcome
Arrive at Alaya, settle into your room and take some time to enjoy the resort.
In the early evening, we come together for private welcome drinks at the pool bar. It's our first chance to meet properly and talk through the week ahead, before heading out for a relaxed Balinese dinner together, set in beautiful garden setting.
Day 2
Birds, Nature & Flavours of Ubud
Our first full day begins with an impressive breakfast at Alaya before a hosted bird walk along Campuhan Ridge, taking us past temples, the rainforest, small villages and rice-field landscapes.
After a relaxed traditional Balinese lunch amongst the rice-fields, we head back to the resort for some free time, before we come together again for a special dining experience.
Day 3
Birding, Local Food & Balinese Culture
The day begins with breakfast at a modern Ubud café, known for its atmosphere, inventive food and local ingredients.
We then travel beyond central Ubud into dramatic, less-explored landscapes for a focused birding experience with a local specialist. After a local lunch and time to reset at Alaya, the evening brings us closer to Balinese food, customs, stories and traditions.
Day 4
Mindfulness, Conservation & Creativity
A full-sensory day and one of the defining experiences of the retreat.
We begin with a unique guided mindfulness experience before joining an award-winning conservation programme celebrated for its work protecting the Bali Myna and supporting regenerative farming, local education and community.
Following a private farm-to-table lunch, the afternoon turns to design & creativity with a private pottery experience and drinks overlooking the rice fields, before a free evening in Ubud.
Day 5
Birding, Food & Farewell
We make the journey into Bali’s cooler central highlands for locally guided birding through the lush landscapes of the Bali Botanic Garden, exploring its distinctive habitats and birdlife.
A traditional Balinese garden feast picnic is prepared especially for the group before we return to Ubud.
Our final evening begins with cocktails, followed by a private farewell degustation experience, celebrating the flavours and culinary traditions of Indonesia.
Day 6
A Final Morning in Ubud
For guests with later departures, join us for one final hosted bird walk along a well-known local route surrounded by rice paddies, Cattle Egrets and ducks at work in the fields.
Alternatively, enjoy the morning at your own pace, relax by the pool, take your own bird walk, join a yoga session or book a spa treatment.
There’s time for breakfast and a final coffee at Alaya before continuing your onward journey.
Ready for a different kind of birding adventure?
Secure your place with a $600 AUD deposit per person.
Hosted by Josh and James
We’re Josh and James, founders of LYFER and hosts of LYFESTYLE Birding Retreats.
Birding has gradually become part of how we travel, spend time with nature and experience the world. It encourages us not only to notice the world, but to also explore differently, while connecting with people and places in ways we may never have done before.
For us, the best trips are never about just one thing. We want the bird walk, but also the great breakfast, the local knowledge, beautiful landscape, interesting bar, delicious meal and people we meet along the way.
As your hosts, our backgrounds in design, marketing and event management, combined with our love of hosting (and birds of course), have helped us bring these different elements together, in this new concept of birding travel, called LYFESTYLE!
Throughout the retreat, we’ll be there alongside you, keeping everything moving and ensuring everyone feels welcome and well looked after.
Where specialist knowledge is important, we work with local people who know Bali’s birds, culture, conservation and communities best. We are surrounded by some remarkable people who you will meet during our time together.
We’re also supported by our friend and local coordinator, Dewa Nyoman Arsana, whose local knowledge and connections bring guests closer to the people and places that make Ubud so special.
Our role is to host the complete experience and bring every part of the week together.
What's included
LYFESTYLE Ubud has been created as a fully hosted experience, with your accommodation, scheduled activities, local transport and meals across the five nights and six days included.
Your retreat includes:
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Five nights’ accommodation at Alaya Resort Ubud
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Daily buffet breakfast at Alaya Resort and selected local venues
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Welcome drinks and our opening group dinner
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Group lunches, dinners and dining experiences included within the itinerary (standard drinks included)
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Locally guided birding experiences with selected birding specialists
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Hosted bird walks and nature experiences with Josh and James
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A private mindfulness and wellbeing experience
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A private conservation experience at Begawan Nature Conservation
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A private creative experience and sunset drinks at RÜSTER
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A curated Balinese cultural evening created especially for the group
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Scheduled entry fees and experience costs
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Local transfers in comfortable private vehicles during scheduled retreat activities
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Your retreat excludes:
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Flights to and from Bali
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Airport transfers to and from Alaya Resort Ubud
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Travel insurance
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Passport and visa costs
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Optional spa treatments and activities
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Meals and drinks outside those specified in the itinerary
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Personal spending and hotel extras
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Additional accommodation before or after the retreat
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Medical, vaccination or travel-health expenses
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Anything not specifically listed as included should be treated as an additional personal expense.
If you have any questions about what is included or ont included, please get in touch, we're happy to help.
A few things to know before you book
LYFESTYLE Ubud is a full but thoughtfully paced hosted experience. Before securing your place, here are a few practical things to consider.
Walking & conditions:
The retreat is active without being physically extreme. You should be comfortable walking outdoors in warm, humid conditions and across paved, uneven and natural surfaces. Some days may include around 5km of walking, with plenty of opportunities to stop along the way.
Travel & transfers:
Flights and airport transfers are not included. Guests are responsible for arranging their own travel to and from Alaya Resort Ubud. We’ll provide arrival information and trusted transfer recommendations before the retreat.
Travel insurance:
We require all guests to have comprehensive travel insurance. Your policy should cover cancellation, medical expenses, travel disruption and the activities included during your time in Bali..
Dietary requirements:
We’ll work with our restaurants and local partners to accommodate dietary requirements wherever reasonably possible. If you have a significant allergy or dietary need, please contact us before booking so we can confirm what can be accommodated.
Itinerary flexibility:
The retreat has been carefully created with our local partners. Occasionally, weather, local conditions or circumstances outside our control may require us to adjust a venue, activity or timing. We’ll always aim to provide a suitable alternative that remains true to the LYFESTYLE experience.
Booking conditions:
The $600 AUD deposit is non-refundable. Additional cancellation and transfer conditions apply, so please register, download and read the full Booking Terms & Conditions before securing your place.
Retreat dates & investment
Choose from two intimate, six-day retreats in Ubud in March 2027.
Retreat One
Monday 15 March – Saturday 20 March 2027
6 days / 5 nights
Retreat Two
Monday 22 March – Saturday 27 March 2027
6 days / 5 nights
Retreat Investment
$3,195 AUD per person
Based on two guests sharing a twin room.
A limited number of private rooms are available for an additional $450 AUD per person.
Your place is secured with a $600 AUD non-refundable deposit per person at the time of booking.
Ready to join us?
Before booking, please review the full retreat guide and Booking Terms & Conditions so you have all the important information about the experience.
Simply, complete the form and we’ll send both directly to your inbox.
Already received them and ready to book?
You can secure your retreat place now with a $600 AUD deposit per person.
Please review the retreat guide and Booking Terms & Conditions before paying your deposit.
Questions for the curious?
Do I need to be an experienced birder?
Not at all. Some guests may have years of birding experience, while others may be completely new to it. There will be plenty of active birding and opportunities to learn from local specialists, but no expectation that you know every species, keep a list or bird at a particular level. Curiosity is what counts and everyone is welcome, hey you don't even have to be into birds, this could pure indulgence and something different!
Can I come on my own?
Absolutely. Solo travellers are very welcome, as are couples and friends. Much of the week is shared as a group, so there will be plenty of opportunities to get to know one another naturally through the birding, meals and experiences. Just bear in mind the additional charge of $450, but hey, you're getting your own room. Treat yourself!
Do I need to bring binoculars?
Not at all. Some guests may have years of birding experience, while others may be completely new to it.
There will be plenty of active birding and opportunities to learn from local specialists, but no expectation that you know every species, keep a list or bird at a particular level. Curiosity is what counts.
Will I have any free time?
Yes. Although bear in mind that LYFESTYLE is a full hosted experience, but we have deliberately included smaller pockets of free time throughout the week. You might use that time to enjoy Alaya, book a spa treatment, swim, visit the gym, explore Ubud or simply take some time to yourself. Day Four also includes a free evening. We of course hope that you will be part of the entire itinerary but if for any reason you want to sit out of a particular experience, that is entirely up to you.
Can I have my own room?
Yes. A limited number of private rooms are available for an additional $450 AUD per person.
Twin-share accommodation is included in the advertised retreat price.
What if I have dietary requirements?
Please let us know when booking. We’ll work with our restaurants and local partners to accommodate dietary requirements wherever reasonably possible. Ubud is celebrated for its apporach to vegetarian and vegan eating so if you are either, you are in safe hands.
If you have a significant allergy or dietary need, please contact us before booking so we can confirm what can be accommodated.
Can I arrive before the retreat or stay longer?
Absolutely. You’re welcome to arrive in Bali or Ubud earlier or stay after the retreat at your own expense.
Extensions at Alaya are subject to availability and arranged separately.
Speak with us before booking additional nights, as we may be able to assist with a preferred accommodation rate.
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