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According to Booking.com’s 2022 Sustainable Travel Report, 77 per cent of Singapore-based travellers consider sustainability in their travel plans. Of the respondents, 56 per cent would feel more at ease if they knew a particular accommodation was sustainable.
Often, this sense of social consciousness is contagious in the best possible way. To keep such beautiful surroundings clean, I find myself looking for litter during my evening strolls along the beachfront.
Hotel Buahan, A Banyan Tree Escape
Location Jl, Buahan Kaja, Kec. Payangan
Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80572, Indonesia
Phone +62 361 6208181
Price From $2,000 per night
Banyan Tree Escape: Buahan provides luxurious stays deep in the Balinese jungle.
Deep in Bali's jungles
I visited the new Banyan Tree Buahan, deep in the Balinese jungle. The Singapore-based group is already known for its commitment to green practices and its Escape concept, which seeks to envelope guests in the natural environment through its resort design.
Located 30 mins from Ubud
Perched on the edge of a mountain, the estate overlooks a lush tropical rainforest in Buahan Kaja Village, about 30 minutes from Ubud. The Banyan Tree Group spent 22 years designing a resort that would evoke a sense of living in a jungle without compromising on comfort.
Banyan Tree Buahan Review
Mountain View of Bali's 7 Peaks
When it first saw this site, Banyan Tree head of architecture Dharmali Kusumadi knew it would require a light touch.
“At the crack of dawn, we found ourselves facing a magical view of seven mountains skirted by a forest reserve, which disallows future developments that would ruin the view,” he says.
Ayung River Waterfall
“The Ayung River wound its way through dense jungle at the site’s base, embellished with a stunning waterfall. At that moment, we realised we’d stumbled on the beginning of a new adventure.”
Based on years of research into the area’s geology and vernacular architecture, Banyan Tree began building 16 villas inspired by Balinese bale banjars (traditional single-roofed open-deck buildings) in 2017.
In addition to ensuring each villa blended into its surroundings, the team also used recycled local ironwood and fast- growing bamboo as key materials.
Forest-Friendly Approach
In the construction phase, they also avoided clearing large swathes of the dense jungle by relying on traditional methods to transport and fasten materials instead of heavy machinery.
Buahan’s view of the seven mountains at the crack of dawn.
No Walls, No Doors Hotel Rooms
The results speak for themselves. In each of the “no walls, no doors” villas, there is a living room and a private plunge pool, making me feel like Balinese royalty without sacrificing my proximity to the jungle.
As I soak in a handmade copper bathtub one lazy afternoon, I observe a few curious squirrels scuttling on my deck while birds flutter among the foliage.
Banyan Tree Buahan Review
Curtains Separate You From Nature
During turndown service, gauze drapes are lowered to keep insects out while allowing me to feel like I am glamping under the stars. I fall asleep within a few minutes of listening to the buzz of cicadas.
In the morning, I am awakened by the first rays of sunlight and birdsong. Then, as I stumble through the veil, I see the mist-shrouded seven mountains.
When nature calls in all its splendour, who needs alarm clocks and coffee?
This article was first published on The Peak.