By Pascal Languillon, founder of Luxe Wellness Club.
There are places that are beyond words, refuges so powerful that they redefine our relationship with luxury, nature and ourselves. Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape, is one such place. Located some 40 minutes north of Ubud, overlooking a lush valley through which the Ayung River flows, this open-air sanctuary has been designed to provoke a profound reconnection. It’s a place of contemplation, purification and true transformation. Here’s the story of my experience.
It was around a winding bend, somewhere north of Ubud, that I discovered one of Bali’s most beautiful secrets: Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape . As soon as you arrive, one thing is clear: you’re entering another world. A world without walls, without doors, without artifice. A world where you sleep under the open sky, in absolute comfort, lulled by the sounds of the rainforest.
I’d heard about this experimental place where luxury is replaced by essentials, but I wasn’t fully prepared for the feeling of pure freedom I was about to experience.
As soon as I arrived, the tone was set. A discreet but warm welcome guided me to the heart of the resort via a path lined with wild flowers, accompanied by birdsong and rustling leaves. Far from the hustle and bustle of Ubud, Buahan offers luxury without ostentation, in perfect harmony with its natural surroundings. Here, everything is designed to encourage slowness, observation and full presence. Not easy for me, a hyperactive person!
“No walls, no doors”: a radically open concept
Buahan’s founding concept is a bold one: “no walls, no doors”. In other words, no partition interrupts the link between you and nature.The resort is made up of 16 balés – traditional Balinese villas revisited – all entirely open to the outside world. The wind, the sounds of the forest: everything enters and circulates freely.
But rest assured: comfort and privacy are in no way sacrificed. The design of each unit is such that you never see your neighbors, and the natural breeze is enough to keep you cool. This choice of total openness induces a new way of living: you discover what it means to sleep at nature’s pace, unfiltered.
My villa, the Rainforest Pool Bale, was a marvel. I discovered a vast space made of recycled wood, a four-poster bed protected by a vaporous mosquito net, a magnificent bathroom, and an infinity pool that seemed to melt into the trees. Noble materials – ulin wood, volcanic stone, organic cotton – are omnipresent. Everything here invites you to slow down, read a book, watch the clouds glide over the seven sacred peaks visible in the distance. You feel at home, yet at the end of the world.
Attention has been paid to every detail: a superb jungle-style bathrobe is provided (I bought one as a souvenir), as is the safari-style hat. And what about the simple but intense pleasure of taking a hot bath in the large copper tub, while listening to the rustle of the rainforest? Such a relaxing natural symphony.
Despite the villa being completely open, I never felt the slightest discomfort. In fact, it felt more natural than sleeping in an air-conditioned room. And for those of you who might be afraid of being out in the wild, because of the animals, I’d simply say that I wasn’t afraid at all. It has to be said that in my younger years, I slept in the Amazon rainforest in spartan conditions… so here, it was almost like tamed wild luxury!
Buahan is not just a hotel, it’s a philosophy. Every detail tells a story: the furniture is carved from recycled wood, the fabrics naturally dyed, the walls built by hand, without concrete, to respect the earth. You can feel that this place has been designed with extreme attention to environmental impact. Luxury here is sustainable, discreet and respectful, and that makes all the difference.
A sanctuary of well-being in the heart of nature
One of the highlights of my stay was undoubtedly the purification ritual at a waterfall just a few minutes’ walk from the resort. Guided by a Balinese priest, we made our way through the jungle to this natural sanctuary where the water falls forcefully onto the rocks.
There, in the heart of a green setting, the ritual began with prayers and offerings, before I was invited to pass under the waterfall to purify myself.
The cold water hitting the body, the sacred chants echoing between the trees… I felt an intense release, a total letting go. This moment of grace, deeply rooted in Balinese tradition, will remain engraved in my memory as a form of rebirth.
The Buahan spa is named “Toja”, which means “water” in Balinese. True to the spirit of the place, it too is set in the heart of nature, in pavilions opening onto the forest. Treatments are holistic, inspired by Balinese wisdom and made with local, 100% natural products.
I tested the signature “Buahan Bliss” treatment: a veritable sensory voyage. After a circulation-boosting dry-brushing, a deep massage with ginger and kaffir lime essential oils is followed by a heated herbal wrap. The experience concludes with a floral bath in a stone basin overlooking the canopy.
Complementary wellness activities include sunrise yoga, guided meditation, forest baths and purification rituals with a Balinese priest. Here, wellness is an invitation to reconnect, not an imposed program.
Local, inspired, plant-based gastronomy
The Open Kitchen, the resort’s restaurant, offers creative, predominantly plant-based cuisine, following a “zero kilometre” philosophy: 70% of ingredients come from the kitchen garden or from farms located less than an hour away. Chef Eka Sunarya revisits traditional Balinese recipes with great finesse.
Breakfast, served à la carte, is a treat: exotic fruits, homemade sourdough bread, fragrant porridges, artisanal kombuchas. Evening menus change daily.
My favorite? A wild mushroom rendang with deep flavors, accompanied by crunchy black rice. The Botanist Bar, meanwhile, offers herbal cocktails, iced infusions and tasty mango cider.
All served in a soft, elegant atmosphere. The service is exemplary in its kindness, attentive but never intrusive.
Our feeling
Buahan is a unique, radical and deeply inspiring retreat. A must for lovers of wilderness and ethical luxury. It’s a sanctuary for those who want to listen to silence, breathe in the essential, reconnect with themselves. Buahan is much more than a hotel: it’s an initiatory experience. It reconciles man with nature, luxury with sobriety, technology with silence. It’s a place where you can truly disconnect, slow down and rediscover yourself. It’s not a place for everyone. But if you’re looking for a luxurious, wild and transformative experience, then Buahan is one of the finest gifts you can give yourself.
Book Banyan Tree Buahan
Benefit from our expertise in wellness breaks and contact us for a personalized quote for Banyan Tree Buahan.
Rates : From approx. 800 USD per night in low season
Call us for the USA on +1 (646) 980 6652 or for the UK on +44 20 4577 3258
