Santhika Dream Hill Retreat Center — Attraction in Bali

Mixed Experience at Dream Hills Retreat and Santhika Hotel, Lovina, Bali||I recently attended the Dream Hills Retreat at Santhika Hotel for an 8-day program focused on healing and rejuvenation. While there were several positive aspects, my experience was also marked by significant challenges.||Positive Aspects:|The retreat offered wonderful activities, including visits to waterfalls, private sessions, Kundalini yoga, Reiki, sound therapy, and Balinese massage. These sessions were engaging, well-facilitated, and timely, showcasing the instructors' knowledge and passion. The natural surroundings were beautiful, providing a serene backdrop for reflection and relaxation. However, I found that some private sessions were quite expensive compared to local prices, which the retreat is obviously as a business marking up considerably. On the last night granted I had t used multiple privately booked sessions I booked a reiki session and was charged 1 x million Bali rupee!!!!||Challenges Faced:|Unfortunately, my experience was marred by logistical issues. Due to the lack of air conditioning in the main retreat hotel, I was assigned to stay at an alternative hotel the Santhika, which was inconvenient. The constant back-and-forth between the two venues—about a 7-10 minute journey—left me feeling disconnected from the group. Navigating steep steps without proper health and safety precautions made it difficult, especially returning in the dark or multiple times a day - I often felt left out during discussions and activities while waiting for transportation or planning my days. Explaining my situation to fellow guests was also frustrating, as I preferred not to climb stairs all day or wait for lifts when I was meant to be relaxing.so to be asked why I was leaving why I wasn’t going back in pitch darkness to dinner was frustrating. ||Accommodation: |While the alternative hotel was comfortable, it did not provide the immersive experience I had hoped for. The amenities were lacking—a dated hairdryer and excessive noise from animals and neighboring guests kept me awake at night. On my last night, I was disturbed by a sick neighbour, prompting me to check out a day early and I did skip planned paid sessions and evening events due to exhaustion.||Food:|The meals at the retreat were hit or miss. While I appreciated the effort to provide healthy options, the variety and flavor were lacking. Additionally, if I was late, I often found my food transported in plastic containers and served cold. The presence of a cat on the food table was concerning, as it would drink from glasses and, unfortunately, spray on guests’ food. This led me to drink only bottled water and skip meals regularly.||Overall Impression:** |In summary, while there were highlights at Dream Hills, I recommend attending for a shorter duration and opting for accommodations at the retreat itself. The logistical challenges impacted my experience significantly. The owners should consider investing in air conditioning for a few rooms in the main retreat to address these issues. Spoke to a new retreat guest last night and it was her opinion also she knew she would not make ‘friends for life’ on this one. She found the intro of the group clicky at the bbq dinner and I agree if your not staying in retreat it can feel this way! ||I left feeling somewhat disconnected and stressed from the constant movement and lack of information. A simple information sheet detailing the treatments, lift schedules, and local amenities would be highly beneficial. It took me 24 hours to discover I could purchase drinks onsite. Additionally, the constant karaoke music during treatments was distracting and unpleasant, with guests frequently expressing their discontent.||While I chose this retreat for its offerings and the excellent team—especially Guru Made and Nena, the yoga teacher—I ultimately felt that the overall experience did not justify the considerable expense. I decided to explore Bali on my own instead, hoping for a more...

Where to start? …I guess from the beginning 😊. When I booked this trip, I was a bit nervous being a solo women travelling all the way across the world, having never done that before. From the very beginning, it was very easy to communicate with the Santhika staff (in English) to ensure I had all of my questions answered … right to the moment their driver picked me up from the airport (they will accommodate any flight time there and back). He was there waiting with my name on a sign, and we then travelled to the north shore of Bali - which alone was an incredible experience. The driver was so good, willing to stop at anytime, and got me there feeling very safe. Then the real journey began – what a special place Dreamhill is! Everyone should get to experience this in their lifetime – I did the 12 day retreat, but would definitely plan to stay longer next time I go. It is a true Bali experience. I loved the open-air rooms – and the rooms had everything I needed. The food was remarkable – and the people … well there are no words. Each and every person that works there is so special, and I truly feel the other guests will be forever friends. I went there thinking I needed to work on myself and would do it alone … yet the connections I made with everyone, honestly made the trip even more special. The days were planned out perfectly – I looked forward to yoga and meditation (and Yogi Tea) every day! Each instructor had their expertise and special way of doing things – it was a great mix up, yet so easy to follow (for all levels of experience). But the sessions and tours just highlighted the experience more. The fact you get a combination of personal time and sessions, yoga, meditation, spa time and tours all in one planned trip, was incredible. It would have taken me forever to plan, and instead I just had to show up. And no questions asked when you decided you needed a bit more alone time. It was such a personal experience, which is what I really needed. I feel I got exactly what I was looking for. I did a ton of self discovery and reflection – loving myself and my soul more than I ever knew possible. While also understanding the barriers I struggle with, and knowing where I actually want to focus my time on. I still have much to learn (and wish I could have taken everyone home with me), but I can’t begin to express my gratitude for the path that Dreamhill has started with me. It puts the biggest smile on my face (and heart) even now! I feel much lighter, and that energy continues now that I am home. I think this retreat is for anyone – those who have never considered something like this before …. to anyone building onto their spiritual awareness … give this gift to yourself. I promise you will...

I did the 23 day self awareness retreat at Santhikha and it was a transformative experience. I went without a clear question, and I left with answers and clarity I didn’t know I needed. Here are some of the highlights: -The retreat center is gorgeous, with incredible ocean and mountain views, and wonderful sunrises and sunsets. The patio and pool area is so nice to relax in, and I spent most of my time in hammocks. -They have yoga every morning in an absolutely stunning platform. The teachers are really lovely, and they have a deep understanding of the anatomy of yoga. I watched them each provide individualized flexibility guidance and advice to all the retreat members. -The meditations are light and fun, but still powerful. The two teachers are also healers, so when they see need they use Reiki on the participants to help the full flow of energy. I appreciated that this wasn’t intense meditation because I wanted to relax more than work. -The staff and teachers are remarkable. I learned so much and felt so welcome the whole time. -The combination of self awareness games and card readings gave me a comprehensive view of my life path currently, and my blocks and obstacles. While it was intensive, it didn’t feel like hard work because it was embedded in such a playful, joyful environment. -This retreat (at least when I went) feels very wholesome and authentic. It doesn’t attract a large influencer crowd, and everyone who comes seemed truly dedicated to their growth path. At all points, I felt like I was doing the work within a healing community. -The spa staff are all exceptional. You will feel truly pampered.

Some things you should know before booking: -There are a lot of stairs to get up to the main retreat center, so if you have serious mobility issues this retreat is probably not for you. -There are a couple of cats, and they do tend to get into the rooms. If you have an allergy, you might want to stay at the hotel. -The retreat center is quite loud in the morning from all the nearby animals. If you are a light sleeper, it may be better for you to stay in the hotel. Regardless, bring headphones. -If you read tarot, bring your decks. There are a lot of woo woo people, and we spent a lot of our nights reading together. -Remember to read everything through your heart. You will receive a lot of information from a lot of sources. Not everything will resonate as true to you, and that’s OK. In every game and workshop, there are powerful lessons to learn if you’re open to them. -There is WiFi but it’s not strong enough for video calls. If you need to join meetings, buy an eSIM. Bikago Mobile worked well for...