Buahan
Eco-luxury jungle immersion. Raw and intimate rather than polished and palatial. Heavy emphasis on local culture, hyper-seasonal food, and the Balinese natural environment over standard resort creature comforts.
Book a room higher up the slope (Seven Peaks Pool Bale or Riverside Jungle Pool Bale) for better views and more seclusion — the valley-floor Rainforest Pool Bales see a little more foot traffic
Why It Matters
The first Banyan Tree Escape resort globally and a genuine design landmark — its architects (Dharmali Kusumadi and Gede Kresna) stripped away every wall and door to force total communion with the surrounding rainforest. Holds Two MICHELIN Keys, Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice, Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific, and Tatler Best 100 Hotels.
Sixteen open-air villas perched above the Ayung River valley in the Balinese jungle, about an hour north of Ubud. The whole resort runs on a 'no walls, no doors' concept — villas are built from salvaged ironwood, fitted with gauzy curtains instead of windows, and the freestanding copper bathtub sits right out in the open looking into the tree canopy. It's genuinely wilder than most Banyan Tree properties, and that's entirely the point.
Where You'll Stay
5 room types available
Above the Waterfall Pool Bale
Sited above the resort's private on-property waterfall, this category offers natural scenery and river front views in a particularly secluded jungle setting. A genuinely hidden corner of the property.
King · 160 sqmBuahan Valley Pool Bale
Three units positioned closer to the main restaurant and bar, so the walk to meals is shorter. Views take in mountains, rice terraces, and the valley floor. The trade-off is a small amount of passing foot traffic from other guests and staff.
King · 160 sqmRainforest Pool Bale
The entry-level category, positioned down in the valley and further from the main pavilion and restaurant. Surrounded by deep jungle on all sides with partial mountain views. Eight units available — most spread across the lower property. Good for guests who want maximum seclusion and don't mind the hike to meals.
King · 160 sqmRiver Valley Pool Bale
Positioned with direct river front and mountain views, giving a front-row seat to the Ayung River valley below. The closest villa category to the river itself, with a distinct sense of being right on the edge of the jungle.
King · 160 sqmSeven Peaks Pool Bale
The highest-perched category with panoramic views of Bali's legendary seven volcanic peaks and the full sweep of the valley. Strong mountain and natural scenery outlooks. Worth the extra walk for sunrises and mist-watching from the deck.
King · 160 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
2 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Spa therapists teach guests to make a traditional herbal boreh body scrub using ginger, clove, turmeric, coconut oil, and rice powder. Guests take their paste home to use in their villa's copper bathtub.
Daily yoga sessions at the dedicated open-air yoga bale, including sunrise surya yoga and sunset yin yoga. Moon yoga sessions (salutations based on lunar phases) are held on full and new moon evenings.
Cook in a traditional Balinese kitchen ('Paon') alongside head chef Eka Sunarya, a Buahan native. Focuses on immune-boosting, hyper-local dishes using heirloom techniques. Guests eat what they cook.
Guided foraging session through the resort's jungle surrounds with the chef — identifying, picking, and learning about local plants used for cooking and traditional medicine.
Scenic cycling route through Bali's highland terrain, rice fields, and surrounding villages. Takes in the dramatic landscape between the resort and Kintamani's volcanic highlands.
Pre-dawn hike to the summit of Mount Batur, Bali's second-highest peak, for panoramic sunrise views over the island's eastern volcanoes and Kintamani's highland landscape.
Learn to make traditional Indonesian herbal medicines — Jamu (root and spice tonics) and Loloh (Balinese herbal drinks) — with guidance from local experts.
Guided walk through the surrounding rice paddies and nearby highland villages. Guides explain local agriculture, Subak irrigation traditions, and introduce guests to village life. Roughly 3 hours. Often ends near the village temple.
At Sandikala (Bali's sacred twilight), walk through the rice fields with a local farmer. Learn about the Subak irrigation system, watch for fireflies, and support organic farming.
Spiritual purification ritual at the resort's own private waterfall. Begins with making a Canang sari (Balinese offering of gratitude), then continues with a cleansing ceremony at the waterfall. One of the most requested experiences on property.
Village exploration by vintage car, visiting an ancient temple and sampling traditional Balinese sweets. Based on the Balinese philosophy of harmony between humans, nature, and the divine.
A 20-minute trek down through the resort's property to the private Tjampuhan waterfall at the river below. A completely uncrowded, totally private experience — no tourist queues, just a thundering cascade over volcanic rock.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
An on-property inclinator navigates the steep terraced levels of the resort, reducing the number of stone staircases guests must climb. Note: the property still has significant uneven ground and gravel paths — it is not fully accessible for guests with limited mobility.
Meals from the Open Kitchen can be arranged for service on your villa's private deck.
Every villa deck includes a personal fire pit. Staff light it on request at dusk — a top guest favourite for evening ambience.
Main communal infinity pool with views over the Ayung River valley. Open 7am–9:30pm. Sun loungers and umbrellas available. Separate from the private plunge pools in each villa.
Daily complimentary shuttle service to the centre of Ubud, departing at 11am, 1pm, and 4pm. Guests arrange their own return transport.
Resort can arrange private car transfer to and from Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS). Approximately 2–2.5 hours drive. Pricing on request.
On-site parking at no additional charge. Space for approximately 5–6 cars. Not suitable for oversized vehicles or RVs.
Complimentary bicycle use for guests to explore nearby villages, viewpoints, and the surrounding highland terrain.
All stays include access to daily curated wellbeing activities such as yoga, guided walks, and cultural experiences.
On-site farm growing herbs, botanicals, and vegetables used directly in the restaurant and bar menus, spa treatments, and in-villa toiletries.
BUILD YOUR BUAHAN, A BANYAN TREE ESCAPE PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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