Assessment: Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape (Bali)

February 11, 2026

2

Wednesday newsletters all the time characteristic a lodge or flight evaluation.

Just a few weeks in the past, I loved a terrific vacation in Bali, Indonesia. You may learn my journey reviews right here:

Assessment: Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape (Bali)

Nestled within the untouched northern reaches of Ubud, Bali, Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape, presents a transformative retreat that blends luxurious, sustainability, and deep immersion in nature. Formally opened on 13 June 2022, this adults-only resort is ready roughly 40 minutes from central Ubud and round two hours from Bali’s Ngurah Rai Worldwide Airport, offering a secluded escape whereas remaining accessible. With solely 16 personal balés, the resort introduces a placing “no partitions, no doorways” idea all through the property, permitting friends to expertise a seamless reference to the encompassing jungle, rice terraces, and river valleys. From panoramic mountain views to hidden meditation corners, Buahan creates a sanctuary the place each element — from structure to experiences — invitations reflection, rejuvenation, and a profound connection to nature.

Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape options in my prime 10 lists of the greatest luxurious resorts in Bali and the greatest luxurious jungle lodges on the planet.

Have you ever ever stayed at Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape? In that case, what was your expertise? Go away a remark.

On this evaluation (extra information and pictures beneath my YouTube video):

Professionals & Issues I Like

Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape is positioned in northern Ubud, a quieter, less-traveled area of Bali identified for its lush rice terraces, dense jungle, and flowing rivers. This space presents guests an opportunity to step off the principle vacationer path and luxuriate in a extra tranquil, genuine expertise. Ubud itself is a cultural and non secular hub, with an array of artwork galleries, conventional craft workshops, and vibrant native markets. Temples and neighborhood ceremonies present perception into Balinese heritage, whereas the encompassing countryside is ideal for scenic walks, biking, or rice terrace hikes. Staying at Buahan permits vacationers to stability cultural exploration with deep immersion in nature: after visiting Ubud’s bustling streets and artisan villages, friends can retreat to the resort’s hillside hideaway, the place peace and quiet reign. The northern location additionally presents cooler temperatures and dramatic views of the seven peaks, making it a haven for vacationers in search of each journey and serenity in Bali.

Perched on a hillside inside a secluded valley, Buahan has been designed to mix harmoniously with the encompassing jungle, rice terraces, and river valleys. The design ethos facilities on open-air residing, with a daring “no partitions, no doorways” idea operating all through the resort. Conventional Balinese structure is mixed with modern luxurious, creating areas that really feel serene, ethereal, and deeply related to nature. Villas characteristic personal swimming pools, terraces, and panoramic jungle views, all constructed with sustainable supplies, native craftsmanship, and hand-carved furnishings. WThis indoor-outdoor method, referred to as “The Bare Expertise,” permits pure gentle and airflow to fill each house, totally immersing friends within the surrounding surroundings. The Banyan Tree Group collaborated with Balinese architect Gede Kresna’s agency Rumah Intaran to make sure the property respects native tradition and minimizes environmental influence, sustaining a low-impact footprint whereas enhancing the pure fantastic thing about the positioning.

On the coronary heart of Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape is the central pavilion, a placing two-level open-air hub that serves because the resort’s social and operational middle. Visitors verify in right here, and it additionally acts because the assembly level for many excursions and actions, making it the focal hub of the property. The higher stage homes the Botanist Bar, providing cocktails infused with domestically grown botanicals and herbs, with sweeping views of the valley and jungle. The decrease stage options the resort’s restaurant (referred to as Open Kitchen) and the infinity pool. The latter is lined with loungers in vibrant purple cushions, offering a placing house to chill out or float whereas having fun with panoramic views of the Ayung River and surrounding peaks. The pavilion is central to the resort expertise, providing an area for gathering, unwinding, and connecting with each the environment and fellow friends. Its open-air design permits for pure gentle, contemporary air, and uninterrupted reference to the surroundings, whereas encouraging each rest and social interplay.

Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape’s 16 villas provide an elevated sense of privateness and tranquillity, superb for adults in search of uninterrupted relaxation and reference to nature. The villas, or balés — a time period in Indonesian tradition that refers to an area the place the neighborhood gathers — are scattered throughout the property to maximise privateness, views, and a way of discovery. Every villa is totally open to the encompassing jungle and valley, with solely curtains offering privateness at evening, permitting friends to totally immerse themselves within the sights, sounds, and smells of the pure surroundings. The balés characteristic open-air residing areas, personal swimming pools, and terraces with sweeping views. Designed with sustainable supplies, native craftsmanship, and considerate touches that honor Balinese heritage, every villa balances fashionable consolation with eco-conscious residing. Positioned alongside winding paths by rice terraces and forested nooks, every balé looks like a private sanctuary whereas remaining in concord with the property’s ecological and cultural environment.

The culinary choices at Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape are each progressive and deeply rooted in native traditions. The Open Kitchen Restaurant, positioned on the decrease stage of the central pavilion, serves a altering plant-based menu every evening, with the choice to incorporate beef, fish, or hen with the principle course. Breakfast is primarily an à la carte affair, complemented by a small buffet that includes contemporary fruits, pastries, and native staples, offering a relaxed begin to the day. Elements are sourced from farms and small producers inside an hour of the resort, supporting native communities and guaranteeing freshness. Visitors may forage for herbs and greens and take part in open-flame cooking lessons that spotlight Balinese flavors and strategies. The Botanist Bar upstairs gives a complementary expertise, providing cocktails infused with native botanicals, herbs, and fruits whereas overlooking the valley.

immersive experiences designed to nourish physique, thoughts, and spirit. The Toja Spa consists of simply two intimate open-air pavilions, guaranteeing customized therapies whereas sustaining a serene ambiance. Visitors can get pleasure from massages, facials, and holistic wellness therapies impressed by historical Balinese therapeutic traditions. As well as, the resort has a devoted yoga pavilion, a peaceable open-air house for yoga, meditation, or guided wellness classes surrounded by the jungle. For journey and self-reflection, friends can take a 15-minute hike to the Tjamuhan waterfall alongside a steep and typically slippery path, a brief trek that rewards with breathtaking views and a way of accomplishment. Further actions embrace jungle treks, biking excursions, and guided nature walks, whereas hidden meditation spots and backyard nooks present quiet areas to learn, replicate, or just take up the serene ambiance.

Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape operates with a robust dedication to environmental stewardship and area people engagement. Nearly all workers are employed domestically, and produce is sourced from close by farms and small companies. The resort incorporates sustainable supplies, water conservation, and waste discount practices, together with eco-friendly options comparable to pure mist to maintain bugs at bay. Each facet of the property displays a philosophy of low-impact luxurious, guaranteeing that friends can get pleasure from nature with out disrupting surrounding communities. This dedication to sustainability and social accountability is clear all through the resort, from design and operations to visitor experiences and culinary practices.

Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape is managed by the Banyan Tree Group, a globally acknowledged luxurious hospitality model identified for combining sustainable design, wellness, and immersive nature experiences. The Banyan Tree Escape sub-brand, to which Buahan belongs, focuses on smaller, adults-only resorts in distant places, providing deeply private and intimate stays. Every Escape property emphasizes reference to the pure surroundings, sustainability, and native tradition, with out compromising on consolation or luxurious. Following the success of Buahan, the Escape sub-brand is ready to increase, with a second property quickly opening in Tanzania, reflecting the group’s dedication to delivering these immersive experiences in untouched and provoking places around the globe. Buahan exemplifies the ethos of the model: a harmonious mix of cultural respect, environmental care, wellness, and luxurious that enables friends to reconnect with nature and themselves.

Cons & Issues To Know

One facet to contemplate at Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape is the variety of steps and steep walkways all through the property. Because of its dramatic hillside setting, transferring between the balés, central pavilion, and waterfall trails includes fairly a little bit of strolling up and down steps. There’s an elevator connecting a number of villa ranges, which actually helps, however friends ought to nonetheless anticipate a good quantity of climbing throughout their keep. For some, this provides to the immersive jungle expertise and sense of seclusion, however for others — particularly these with mobility considerations — it could really feel bodily demanding at occasions.

Whereas the culinary idea is artistic and thoughtfully sourced, I personally was not totally satisfied by the predominantly plant-based dinners. The menu adjustments nightly and consists of the choice of beef, fish, or hen with the principle course, but I discovered a number of the vegan dishes to be modest in portion dimension and never all the time as flavorful as I had hoped. After all, style is deeply private, and plenty of friends might recognize the lighter, vegetable-forward method. Breakfast, nonetheless, was a spotlight: the à la carte choices had been contemporary, fantastically introduced, and genuinely scrumptious.

The “no partitions, no doorways” idea is daring and central to Buahan’s identification, however it could not go well with everybody. Though curtains enclose the villa at evening, the balés stay totally open to the encompassing jungle. You’ll hear bugs, birds, and the sounds of nature consistently, and there’s a actual sense of publicity to the weather. For vacationers who embrace this stage of immersion (like myself), it will probably really feel liberating and distinctive. Nevertheless, if the thought of sleeping in an open-air villa within the jungle makes you uneasy, this might not be the correct match on your consolation stage.

My Verdict

Structure: 8/10
Design: 9/10
Pool: 9/10
Rooms: 10/10
Meals: 6/10
Breakfast: 9/10
Spa: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Wow issue: 10/10
Worth for cash: 8/10
Total expertise: excellent – 8.5/10

Suggestions & Save Cash

Get monetary savings: get complimentary VIP perks when reserving Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape by Virtuoso:
- Improve on arrival, topic to availability
- Day by day breakfast for as much as two friends per bed room
- $100 USD resort credit score, to be utilized throughout keep
- Early check-in / late check-out, topic to availability
- Complimentary Wi-Fi

Get monetary savings: learn right here my suggestions for getting one of the best deal at a luxurious lodge like Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape (and/or obtain many free perks).

Learn my suggestions for making ready your journey in time.

Finest Time To Go to

The most effective time to go to Bali is usually through the dry season, which runs from Might to September. Throughout these months, the island experiences decrease humidity, loads of sunshine, and minimal rainfall, making it superb for outside actions comparable to beachgoing, sightseeing, climbing, and water sports activities. June, July, and August provide essentially the most dependable climate, though they’re additionally the busiest and costliest months as a result of excessive vacationer demand.

The months of Might, June, and September are sometimes thought-about essentially the most balanced time to go to. Climate circumstances are nonetheless glorious, however crowds are lighter and costs are usually extra cheap than throughout peak season. This era is especially nicely fitted to vacationers who wish to discover the island comfortably whereas avoiding the busiest occasions.

The moist season lasts from October to April and is characterised by larger humidity and quick however intense tropical rain showers, mostly within the afternoons or evenings. Whereas January and February are sometimes the wettest months, journey through the moist season can nonetheless be fulfilling, particularly for guests centered on wellness retreats, cultural experiences, or a quieter ambiance. Throughout this time, the panorama is very lush and lodging charges are sometimes decrease.

How To Get There

Buahan, a Banyan Tree is positioned north of Ubud, and is reached by highway from Ngurah Rai Worldwide Airport in Denpasar. The journey takes roughly 2 hours, relying on site visitors, and travels inland by central Bali. Essentially the most handy approach to attain the property is by arranging a personal airport switch by the resort, which may be organized prematurely and gives a seamless arrival expertise. Alternatively, friends might journey by taxi or personal automobile with a driver, that are broadly accessible in Bali. If arriving from Ubud, the retreat is a couple of 30 minute drive from the city middle.

Images

Beneath is a choice of my pictures from Buahan, a Banyan Tree. To view further photos, together with breakfast and dinner on the fundamental restaurant, click on right here.