Known as one of the world’s most popular tropical tourist destinations, Bali is never short of resorts. Most recently, Banyan Tree opened a new resort in the lush jungles of northern Ubud, in an off-the-beaten-track and mostly untouched part of the most verdant forests in the region.

Banyan Tree Buahan is the first property under the luxury hotel group’s newly introduced Banyan Tree Escape brand. Located near the eponymous Buahan village, the adults-only resort is a 40-minute drive from the north of Ubud. Situated in a quiet enclave, the site is surrounded by rice paddies, the jungle next to the Ayung River, a waterfall, and imposing mountain peaks.

What really sets this new resort apart from its counterparts is a “no walls, no doors” concept featured throughout its 16 villas—that is to say, all of them come without any man-made barriers, creating a close communion with the surrounding nature which the hotel bills as a unique “naked experience.”

With spacious indoor and outdoor living areas blended together, guests can expect not only a 180-degree panoramic view over the lush Balinese jungles and mountain peaks, but also the visit of fireflies to your lodge at night, and a wake-up amid the mist at dawn.

Each 165 square-metre open accommodation comes with a private pool, gazebo, open deck, and is fitted with hand-carved wooden headboards, hand-smithed copper bathtubs, and naturally dyed soft furnishings. Locally sourced materials like the Ulin “iron” wood repurposed from old boat yards have been used in the construction and decoration of the Buahan villas as well.

At the resort’s heart and centre, you’ll find the open kitchen and living room, both featuring open dining and lounge spaces. Buahan’s unique zero-waste, farm-to-table dining concept, its local sourcing philosophy, and heritage techniques are reflected in its menu, developed in cooperation with local consultant Agency X. Not only is 70 percent of the menu plant-based, but produce is also sourced locally within a one-hour drive from the property. What’s more, local-grown natural ingredients and botanicals are infused into the beverages served at the Botanist Bar.

The resort’s open-air spa concept, Toja Spa, features Bali’s local healing techniques through collaborations with local healers and experts, as well as homemade spa products using pure and natural ingredients that are either sourced locally or grown on the on-site farm. Moreover, Buahan’s secret “hideaway spots,” which are scattered on and off the property, also provide guests with a garden sanctuary for meditation, reading, or unwinding.

Guests staying at the resort can expect tailor-made experiences, with a calendar of daily, weekly, and monthly events organised around three pillars; connecting to nature, a discovery experience, and community integration. You can choose from a range of curated and self-led experiences from the on- and off-site daily “happenings,” activities to collaborative events with visiting practitioners or local cultural festivities, which encompass cuisine, wellness, culture, and adventures.

“We have been the custodians of this land for over twenty years, and the conceptualisation of Banyan Tree Escape started almost five years ago. It is a true labour of love and a bold experience proposition we are excited to realise,” says Ho Ren Yung, Senior Vice President of Brand and Commercial, of Banyan Tree Group. “Even while we are calling it ‘Escape,’ the heart of this brand is creating a way for people to be present, to rewild, to renew, and to truly ‘be here.’ Fireflies in your room at night, and morning mists with the sunrise—it is an unparalleled journey, communing with nature, alone and/or with others.”

Banyan Tree Escape is the new brand extension, which aims to create immersive experiences by combining deep nature and sustainable design to elevate purpose-led experiential travel connecting guests to nature and their surrounds. 

All images courtesy of Banyan Tree.