Ulaman Bali, Indonesia Hotel

Bali, Indonesia

Few places exceed a utopian vision of an eco retreat quite like Ulaman. Likened to everything from a real-life Avatar village to a luxury Ewok retreat (one for Star Wars fans), it belongs in the realms of eco fantasy set within the Kaba Kaba jungle valley, a short drive from the Bali capital of Denpasar. A river flows through it, there are lagoon pools and every aspect has been considered with the environment in mind – without missing a luxe trick. Bamboo, natural stone and recycled wood combine to give curving structures and an almost MC Escher feel – it can be hard to work out where one curve begins and another ends – and even the walls are made from rammed earth excavated from the site. Produce for the committed farm-to-table restaurant comes from nearby properties, and there’s a gym, yoga pavilion and spa – but adventure lies beyond: trek through rice fields and jungle, explore villages or just take in the on-site tropical gardens. An oasis in every sense.

Words by Alex Mead.

This article was taken from the June/July 2024 issue of Food and Travel. To subscribe today, click here.