Assessment: COMO Shambhala Property (Bali)

February 5, 2026

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

A couple of weeks in the past, I loved a terrific vacation in Bali, Indonesia. You possibly can learn my journey reviews right here:

Assessment: COMO Shambhala Property

COMO Shambhala Property is broadly thought to be probably the most transformative luxurious wellness retreats on the planet, and never with out motive. Opened in 2005 because the flagship property of the COMO Shambhala model, this pioneering vacation spot redefined what a spa retreat could possibly be, merging a world-class well being program with the consolation, service, and design excellence of a five-star resort. Deep throughout the lush Balinese forest and overlooking the sacred Ayung River, the Property is designed as a spot for relaxation and renewal. The property includes 5 multi-suite residences impressed by pure components, together with a group of personal villas, all built-in into the encircling panorama and supported by discreet butler service. The visitor expertise focuses on bodily, psychological, and emotional well-being by means of COMO Shambhala delicacies, dietary steering, and spa therapies.

COMO Shambhala Property options in my checklist of the highest 10 greatest luxurious resorts in Bali.

Have you ever ever stayed at COMO Shambhala Property? If that’s the case, what was your expertise? Depart a remark.

I made a YouTube video with full tour of COMO Shambhala Property, which you’ll watch right here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iwXqdqMwOb4

On this overview (extra information and images under my YouTube video):

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Professionals & Issues I Like

The chic jungle location of COMO Shambhala Property is integral to its therapeutic philosophy. Set on a 23-acre jungle-covered riverbank simply outdoors Ubud, the Property occupies considered one of Bali’s most spiritually resonant landscapes. Ubud has lengthy been thought of the island’s cultural and medicinal coronary heart, its identify derived from Ubad, that means “drugs,” a reference to the abundance of therapeutic crops that develop naturally within the surrounding forests. Overlooking the sacred Ayung River and fed by a pure spring revered by locals for its restorative properties, the Property feels deeply rooted within the land. Mist rises by means of the valley within the early mornings, birdsong fills the air, and the dense greenery creates a direct sense of seclusion. Regardless of its sense of seclusion, the Property is conveniently positioned simply 20 minutes from central Ubud and roughly 90 minutes from Ngurah Rai Worldwide Airport, providing the most effective of each worlds: complete seclusion within the jungle, but shut sufficient to dip into Ubud’s cafés, retailers, and eating places every time the temper strikes.

COMO Shambhala Property is thoughtfully unfold throughout jungle clearings and terraced hillsides, permitting every space to really feel non-public and deeply linked to the encircling panorama. The magnificent structure by Cheong Yew Kuan attracts respectfully on indigenous Balinese constructing traditions, utilizing native stone, teak wooden, alang-alang thatch, and open-air pavilions that blur the road between indoors and out. Interiors by Koichiro Ikebuchi are deliberately understated, favoring clear strains, pure textures, and a palette of sentimental, earthy tones. True to the that means of Shambhala — a spot of peace — the design by no means seeks consideration for itself. As an alternative, it quietly recedes, giving area to the jungle, the sunshine, and the ever-present sounds of nature. Winding pathways thread their method by means of the forest, linking residences, villas, yoga areas, swimming pools, and therapy pavilions.

Visitors at COMO Shambhala Property can select between non-public pool villas or a collection at considered one of 5 distinctive multi-suite residences, every with its personal architectural id and environment. These residences — named Bayugita, Tirta-Ening, Tejasuara, Wanakasa, and Umabona — vary from serene Zen-inspired sanctuaries to dramatic stone buildings influenced by Sumbanese and Majapahit design. Every residence affords shared amenities, together with a pavilion lounge and a big infinity pool, ignored by 4 suites. The suites themselves are spacious, with non-public Jacuzzis, out of doors showers, and sweeping jungle or river views. In-suite minibars are stocked with wholesome drinks, and each room features a yoga mat and entry to guided meditations through the satellite tv for pc tv, guaranteeing that wellness and leisure are seamlessly built-in into day by day life. Although no two lodging are precisely the identical, every is designed with a cautious consideration to area, privateness, and understated magnificence.

Throughout my go to to COMO Shambhala Property, I stayed in a Terrace Suite throughout the dramatic Tejasuara residence. Impressed by the uncooked, elemental structure of Sumba, Tejasuara (Sanskrit for “Sound of Fireplace”) was constructed from 1,200 tonnes of imported stone and pure supplies, that includes thatched roofs, black bamboo furnishings, and tribal textiles. My suite mirrored this aesthetic superbly: expansive and serene, with a non-public Jacuzzi, out of doors bathe, and a meditation courtyard. Ground-to-ceiling home windows invited the encircling jungle inside, carrying the light scent of lemongrass from the fields under. The residence additionally housed three further Terrace Suites, a big communal residing and eating space, and a generously sized swimming pool. By evening, the environment turned particularly evocative, with the pool-side fireplace pit casting a heat glow throughout the stone surfaces whereas the sounds of the forest crammed the air, making a deeply calming, nearly meditative ambiance.

The swimming swimming pools at COMO Shambhala Property are seamlessly built-in into the rainforest, accompanied solely by the rustle of leaves. Each residence options a big infinity pool shared amongst visitors in that cluster, perched above terraced gardens or jungle clearings, whereas all villas boast fully non-public swimming pools for moments of near-total seclusion. The spa’s hydrotherapy pool — a 25 meter (82 foot) double stage pool overlooking the rainforest cover —gives each therapeutic advantages and a way of calm. For these searching for final privateness, the resort’s pure springwater swimming pools are tucked deep within the valley, simply above the Ayung River, accessible through a scenic 20-minute stroll by means of the luxurious rainforest. These swimming pools, a real spotlight of COMO Shambhala Property, are designed not for spectacle however for reflection and restoration. Most visitors spend at the very least half a day right here, exploring the swimming pools and close by mountaineering trails alongside the riverbank.

Eating at COMO Shambhala Property is not only a meal — it’s an integral a part of the wellness journey, and fairly frankly, among the greatest meals I’ve ever skilled at a resort. Guided by the rules of COMO Shambhala Delicacies, each dish is ready utilizing natural, domestically sourced substances and dealt with with minimal processing to protect its vitality. Menus cater to a variety of dietary wants, together with detox, plant-based, gluten-free, and low-inflammatory plans, all fastidiously overseen by knowledgeable nutritionists and well being coaches. The Property options two wonderful eating places:
- Kudus Home, a superbly restored 150-year-old Javanese residence, serves breakfast and dinner with a masterful showcase of Indonesia’s regional flavors, spices, and culinary traditions.
- Glow, a up to date all-day eating restaurant designed by Ikebuchi, affords a contemporary, light-filled setting and an open kitchen the place visitors can watch every dish ready with precision, making the culinary expertise as partaking as it’s scrumptious.

The wellness amenities at COMO Shambhala Property are among the many most complete on the planet. Not too long ago reopened following an intensive refurbishment and enlargement, the spa advanced now affords much more area and enhanced facilities to assist deeply customized wellness journeys. Unfold throughout a number of zones—Ojas, Shikara, and Kedara—visitors have entry to 13 therapy rooms, alongside a hydrotherapy pool, steam rooms, saunas, yoga and Pilates studios, an indoor gymnasium with dramatic valley views, and an out of doors jungle gymnasium full with a climbing wall. Therapies mix conventional Jap therapeutic practices with fashionable therapeutic methods, starting from Ayurvedic rituals and Balinese therapies to deep-tissue therapeutic massage, scorching stone work, and superior skincare. Each wellness program begins with an in-depth session, guaranteeing that therapies, health classes, and diet plans are fastidiously tailor-made to every visitor’s particular person targets, making the spa expertise a totally immersive and transformative journey.

Past therapies and diet, COMO Shambhala Property affords a numerous program of actions designed to have interaction visitors on bodily, psychological, and emotional ranges. Day by day schedules sometimes embrace morning yoga, meditation, guided property walks, and health classes, making a grounding rhythm to every day. Visitors also can discover the encircling panorama by means of mountaineering, mountain biking, white-water rafting, and jungle circuit coaching, utilizing Bali’s dramatic terrain as a pure health studio. All year long, visiting masters and resident academics lead specialised retreats targeted on disciplines reminiscent of mindfulness, Pilates, vitality therapeutic, life teaching, and Tibetan Buddhism. Cultural immersion is equally inspired, with alternatives to take part in Balinese dance, temple visits, village walks, and artistic workshops that join wellness with cultural understanding.

Opened in 2005, COMO Shambhala Property stays the flagship resort of the COMO Lodge Group, setting the usual for all different locations beneath the model. Based by Christina Ong, the Singapore-based COMO Group has developed a worldwide assortment of inns and resorts united by a dedication to holistic well being, distinctive delicacies, and considerate design. From metropolis inns reminiscent of COMO Metropolitan London and COMO The Treasury in Perth, to resort properties together with COMO Uma Punakha in Bhutan and COMO Parrot Cay within the Turks and Caicos, every location affords purposeful luxurious rooted in wellbeing, authenticity, and a profound sense of place. COMO Shambhala — that means “peace” in Sanskrit — advocates proactive wellness, mixing historic therapeutic traditions with fashionable science. This philosophy is embedded all through the Property, from its advisory board of world-class wellness consultants to resident practitioners and visiting masters.

Cons & Issues To Know

Whereas COMO Shambhala Property is simply a couple of 20-minute drive from Ubud and straightforward to entry, it feels deliberately faraway from the city’s buzz. This peaceable seclusion is precisely what many visitors come for, however it could not go well with vacationers preferring to be near Ubud’s motion, nightlife, and night vitality, as most visitors have a tendency to remain on the Property as soon as they arrive.

Privateness ranges fluctuate by lodging sort. The Residences operate nearly like a lodge throughout the lodge, with shared residing areas and swimming pools, which can not go well with visitors searching for complete seclusion. In distinction, the villas are absolutely self-contained and provide full privateness, although they’re sometimes priced at a better stage. For full privateness, it’s greatest to e book a self-contained villa or a whole residence.

COMO Shambhala Property is is constructed right into a lush, terraced panorama, leading to quite a few stone steps all through the property, together with throughout the Residences and alongside the paths main right down to the spring swimming pools and riverbank. Whereas this design enhances the sensation of being immersed in nature, some stairways are steep and uneven, and the climbs — significantly again up from the river — may be bodily demanding for visitors with restricted mobility or those that choose extra easy entry.

Being immersed within the jungle means encountering wildlife is a part of the expertise. Whereas the animals are typically innocent, the presence of some bugs close to visitor areas at COMO Shambhala Property may be unsettling for some guests. For others, this shut connection to nature is a memorable spotlight, nevertheless it’s one thing visitors ought to be mentally ready for.

My Verdict

Format: 10/10
Design: 10/10
Pool: 10/10
Rooms: 8/10
Meals: 10/10
Breakfast: 10/10
Spa: 10/10
Service: 10/10
Wow issue: 8/10
Worth for cash: 9/10
Total expertise: distinctive – 9.5/10

Suggestions & Save Cash

Lower your expenses: get complimentary VIP perks when reserving COMO Shambhala Property by means of Virtuoso:
- Improve on arrival, topic to availability
- Day by day breakfast for as much as two visitors 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

Lower your expenses: learn right here my ideas for getting the most effective deal at a luxurious lodge like COMO Shambhala Property (and/or obtain many free perks).

Learn my ideas for making ready your journey in time.

Greatest Time To Go to

One of the best time to go to Bali is mostly through the dry season, which runs from Could to September. Throughout these months, the island experiences decrease humidity, loads of sunshine, and minimal rainfall, making it perfect for out of doors actions reminiscent of beachgoing, sightseeing, mountaineering, and water sports activities. June, July, and August provide probably the most dependable climate, though they’re additionally the busiest and most costly months as a consequence of excessive vacationer demand.

The months of Could, June, and September are sometimes thought of probably the most balanced time to go to. Climate circumstances are nonetheless wonderful, however crowds are lighter and costs are typically extra cheap than throughout peak season. This era is especially properly fitted to vacationers who wish to discover the island comfortably whereas avoiding the busiest instances.

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 targeted on wellness retreats, cultural experiences, or a quieter environment. Throughout this time, the panorama is very lush and lodging charges are sometimes decrease.

How To Get There

COMO Shambhala Property is positioned in Payangan, north of Ubud, and is reached by street from Ngurah Rai Worldwide Airport in Denpasar. The journey takes roughly 90 minutes, relying on visitors, and travels inland by means of central Bali. Probably the most handy strategy to attain the property is by arranging a non-public airport switch by means of the resort, which may be organized upfront and gives a seamless arrival expertise. Alternatively, visitors might journey by taxi or non-public automobile with a driver, that are broadly accessible in Bali. If arriving from Ubud, the property is a couple of 15 to twenty minute drive from the city middle.

Pictures

Beneath is a collection of my images from COMO Shambhala Property. To view further pictures, together with breakfast and dinner on the numerous eating places, click on right here.