I hadn’t planned to stay at Soulshine. It was a last‑minute Booking.com find, chosen for its proximity to a purification ceremony I’d just experienced. I needed somewhere to land, breathe, and integrate. What I found instead was pure magic.
Imagine the cheeky, colourful energy of adults playground Pikes Hotel Ibiza where George Michael filmed Club Tropicana and Freddie Mercury threw legendary birthday parties; only here, it’s softened by the serenity of the Balinese jungle. At Soulshine Bali, rock ’n’ roll spirit meets sacred retreat, and the result is unlike anywhere I’ve ever stayed.
Soulshine isn’t your typical Ubud jungle retreat. It’s not all white linen, whispering bamboo, and meditative silence though there’s space for that too. This place pulses with personality. It’s bold, a little cheeky, and beautifully unexpected. Here, healing doesn’t mean hiding. You can journal by morning and dance barefoot by night. You can cry in a sound bath and then laugh over a Negroni by the pool.
BALI’S FIRST SOUND + WELLNESS RESORT
A PLAYGROUND FOR YOUR SOUL
” A 5-star barefoot luxury resort — where joy is served daily and shoes are entirely optional. A place where people from all over the world come together to soak in the beauty of Bali, share unforgettable meals, move to the rhythm of great music, and make friendships that last a lifetime — all with the support of a team whose smiles are as genuine as their hearts “
Founded by musician Michael Franti, Soulshine is full of soul, humour, and heart. Every corner reflects a belief in joy, wellness, and deep connection—with just the right amount of attitude. It’s quirky in the best way. Thoughtful without being try-hard. The kind of place where design meets feeling.
From the moment I arrived, the attention to detail had me smiling:
- An easy-to-use app for everything—spa, food, music.
- Staff who treat you like a friend, not a guest.
- A yoga shala in the treetops that feels like a temple.
- Coconuts delivered daily, matcha under the trees, vinyl spinning in the bar.
Even the bathroom bookshelf was on theme—lined with uplifting titles and messages that felt like a warm hug: Be strong. You got this. Love is all you need. Don’t worry, be happy. It was exactly what I needed to hear. And the Wi-Fi password? stayhuman. Naturally.
As a woman travelling solo, I felt incredibly safe and welcomed. There’s a softness to the space, a sense that you’re truly looked after, not just logistically, but emotionally too. It’s a place that invites you to exhale and just be.
Soulshine invites you to unwind and come alive at the same time. One minute you’re journaling quietly, the next you’re barefoot dancing to Prince at sunset. It’s got that same wild‑but‑welcoming energy that Pikes is known for but grounded in mindfulness, not madness.
It’s ideal for solo travel. There’s a beautiful balance of connection and solitude. You can join a yoga class, share meals with new friends, or spend hours completely on your own, just soaking it all in.
Soulshine is a feeling. A reminder that you can be spiritual and playful, grounded and bold. That beauty lives in the small things—like coconut spoons, handwritten notes, or a record playing softly in your room.
If you’re looking for colour, character, soul, and sanctuary all wrapped into one place, this little pocket of Ubud will light you up.
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