Green Tara Spa: Balinese Medicine For Your Soul

If you’re in Bali, treating yourself to a spa day is an absolute must! From dreamy flower baths to heavenly Balinese massages, it feels like the island’s way of giving you a warm, relaxing hug. It’s the perfect way to immerse yourself in Bali’s tranquil essence and leave feeling completely rejuvenated. That’s why we made sure to include this unique experience in our Bali trip itinerary.

While planning our trip a month in advance, I discovered that Bali, especially Ubud, is home to hundreds of spas. It’s truly a thing here! Among all the options, I chose Karsa Spa because it offers some of the most affordable massages and treatments. Their services include massages, facials, body scrubs and baths, reiki therapy, and spa packages.

The spa recommends booking an appointment in advance, as they often get fully booked. However, I wasn’t able to do this since I wasn’t sure what time we’d finish our jeep ride at Mount Batur earlier that day. Unfortunately, when we arrived at Karsa Spa, they were already fully booked. Thankfully, they have a sister spa, Green Tara Spa, located nearby. We quickly called Green Tara Spa and were able to book a 6 PM appointment.

In the meantime, we took in the breathtaking ambiance of Karsa Spa. Although both spas are owned by the same management, they each have their own unique vibe. Karsa Spa is nestled in a rice field with bamboo houses surrounding a serene pond, while Green Tara Spa is a smaller, intricately designed space overlooking the jungle and river. These two spas showcased different yet equally beautiful ways of connecting with nature. While I didn’t experience Karsa Spa’s treatments firsthand, I’m sure they match the same fantastic quality we enjoyed at Green Tara.

When we arrived at Green Tara Spa, we were welcomed with a small glass of iced butterfly pea tea. I’m not exaggerating when I say it was one of the best I’ve ever had! Typically, butterfly pea tea has a mild flavor, but theirs was elevated with a touch of natural sweetener and citrus, making it both refreshing and healthy. This small but thoughtful gesture instantly made me feel welcome and at ease.

I couldn’t help but admire Green Tara Spa’s interior. It perfectly embodies the charm of Balinese architecture, with earthy tones of wood, stone, and bamboo, and intricate details in the tiles. What made it even more special was how open and connected it felt to the surrounding greenery. The soothing sounds of water, the sight of vibrant plants, and the overall ambiance created a serene little slice of paradise.

Green Tara Spa proudly uses Ayurvedic and organic oils for their massage treatments, all sourced from high-quality, eco-friendly suppliers. Before our session, they let us choose our preferred organic oil. I went with jasmine. It was the most fragrant of them all. There’s also virgin coconut. I couldn’t remember the others.

My companions and I opted for the Traditional Balinese Balance massage, which uses kneading, long strokes, and acupressure to release muscle tension, improve blood circulation, and dissolve stress. Honestly, I’m not used to massages because I tend to get ticklish, but my therapist was incredibly professional. Her touch was light yet firm, and she made sure to check in about the pressure throughout the session.

Initially, I had no plans to get a massage. My main goal was to experience the flower bath, a quintessential Bali spa offering. However, their flower bath can only be booked after a massage. That turned out to be a blessing in disguise! Soaking in the organic oil-infused hot water after the therapy was absolute bliss. The tub was so stunning, though, that we ended up spending most of our 30-minute session taking photos. Our choice, of course!

The spa experience was truly well-thought-out. Every senses is satisfied. Aside from what we feel in every stroke of the therapist, what we smell from the products they use and the lush scenery we see, the sense of hearing wasn’t ignored as they put tranquil music that harmonizes with the soothing sounds of water and wind.

After our session, we were treated to a small snack that satisfied our tummies. The spa provided skewered fresh fruits and a cup of ginger lemongrass pandan tea sweetened with palm sugar. While I wasn’t a huge fan of the flavors, I appreciated their effort to keep everything holistic and nourishing. My mom enjoyed them though.

This one’s a photo with our Bali tour guide. Let me end this blog with an appreciation block for Jick, our tour guide.

When you’re planning to go to Bali for a private tour, consider choosing Be Happy at Bali Tour & Travel. It’s a travel service owned by Jick. He’s also the one who’ll drive you around Bali.

I’ve never been so attached to a tourist guide before until we met Jick. It feels like he’s part of the barkada. He’s super friendly and he won’t lack assistance. He politely takes our requests. He’s fun to be with. He knows English well and since already had a number of clients from Philippines, he knows a little Filipino words.

When it comes to the service, he guided us from airport to hotels and vise-versa. He will bring you to the best destinations of Bali to maximize the time and trip.

I hate to admit it but part of the reason we went back to Bali is Jick. He’s a friend now.