Sacred Waters: Bali Day Hike & Water Blessing by Astungkara Way

A one-day taste of the Astungkara Trail, voted Best of the World 2026 by National Geographic readers: step off the tourist trail and into the waters that run through Bali's veins. Water blessings have become common in Bali, but this is the real one. Your Melukat takes place in a hidden sanctuary of striking natural beauty, led by a local priest, with no crowds, no queues and no staging. And you arrive the way pilgrims always have: on foot, through rice terraces shaped by the Subak, ancestral villages and living traditions that have made Bali the Island of Gods. Walk slowly, listen deeply, and reconnect with land, culture and yourself. You go in a small group of 4 to 9, led by Astungkara Way's own full-time guides, and your booking directly funds our regenerative farming movement with Bali's communities. If one day here moves you, the full 10-day coast to coast pilgrimage awaits.

Your day begins at 8:00 at Babakan Temple, greeted by Kayu Putih, an ancient banyan tree said to be over 700 years old. Meet your Astungkara Way guides and get an overview of the trail. From 8:30 you walk 6.3 km through Tua Village and its rice terraces, following footpaths shaped by the Subak, Bali's centuries-old irrigation system, as your guides point out endemic plants and explain how water, farming and ritual life connect here. At the trail's end you reach a sacred water temple, where you take part in a Melukat, a traditional water purification ritual led by a local priest, and learn the significance of water in Balinese spirituality. (Note: women who are menstruating may observe but not enter the purification.) A short shuttle brings you to Rumah Desa, a traditional family compound in Tabanan, where your hosts welcome you with a Balinese lunch grown and cooked locally. After lunch, a guided walk introduces Balinese architecture, family life, spirituality and the Aksara Bali script. The day closes at 14:30 with a reflection circle, a moment to share what you experienced and take home a piece of Bali's wisdom. Price includes guides, lunch, snacks and entrance fees.

• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.