To redefine luxury and sustainable design, the first Banyan Tree Escape in the lush wilderness of northern Ubud is both enriching and soulful. Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape, the adult-only destination invites its guests to explore the limits of their inhibitions by staying in a repurposed ironwood open-air bale and communing with the forces of nature. The reward is magnificent.
Staying in one of 16 balés permits one to be lulled to sleep by the forests’ orchestra. Being situated 700 metres above sea level means the air is clear and the temperature is cool. The pre-existing trees enrich the landscape and give each bale a natural privacy.
To honour nature’s generosity and abundance, the resort’s Open Kitchen and Living Room serve a zero-waste, farm-to-table menu. Focusing on local sourcing and heritage cooking techniques, the ingredients are foraged from the resort’s farm and procured from neighbouring growers.
Seventy percent of the menu is deliciously plant-based, with many elements made in-house. Guests can expect nourishing fare from breakfast to dinner, from pickles to freshly baked bread. For tipples, guests can head to The Botanist Bar, where seasonal fruits and botanicals are concocted with the island’s artisanal spirits into stellar cocktails.
From wellness to culinary, guests can partake in various culturally enriching and community-led programmes. Led by the resort’s chef, The Earthy Heritage Cooking Class offers a priceless opportunity to forage and learn about Buahan’s native vegetables and wild herbs straight from the farmer. Guests of Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape, are then taught to cook four kinds of Balinese dishes in the resort’s traditional wood-fire kitchen and savour the result of their labour at the restaurant.
For more information and reservation, visit escape.banyantree.com.
A version of this article first appeared in epicure.
