Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape

We came for our honeymoon and this was easily the best place we have ever stayed at. The staffs attentiveness to our unique experience is unlike anything we have experienced before. Everyone greeted us with their warmest hospitality and our hosts and servers knew our itinerary and catered each day to compliment our activities (i.e. providing a hospitality room when we arrived early, accommodating early or late breakfasts for our activities and suggesting spa time on our busy hike days). We absolutely loved the breathtaking views, the open air room, and the amenities. Everything here is perfect, completely immersed in nature and culture (especially the experiences they have). We cannot recommend Buahan enough and we hope to come back to experience it again. Absolutely amazing. We want to personally thank Wayan our driver, Ita, Riska, Budi, the head chef, and especially Adi, our host, for such a curated personal experience.

Staying at the Buahan Tree Escape was truly a magical experience. Simplicity with attention to every detail defines this luxury resort unlike any other. We stayed seven nights and experienced it all. Every facet of our stay from the no walls, no doors concept to the incredible staff was an experience we will never forget. The rhythm of the days, the sounds of the valley and waterfall and the chirping crickets and singing birds set the tone. Nothing was better than napping or enjoying a massage to the fall of the rain. Everyone here was so kind, so sincere and so dedicated to the Buahan resort and community. Kudos to Ketut and Puspa, the managers. Our greatest appreciation goes to Ogee, who organized most of our any activities with the resort. He was excellent as his job and a delightful person. Writing this review has been on my to-do list for six months because it was important to me that I give it the love that we felt during our stay. Dining: First up is the open kitchen team led by Chef Made, an incredible artist. Every meal was 4 to 5 courses carefully crafted by his team. Although it was primarily plant based with local ingredients and we are not vegetarians, breakfast, lunch, and dinner were healthy, tasty and filling. We loved them. Favorite dishes were Mushroom Egg Chawanmushi, Roasted Jicama, and Poached Pineapple. We took the cooking class and learned how to make sambals, enjoyed the Taste of Guling experience with its slow-roasted duck, and were honored when Chef Made and his team prepared a special dinner for our last night. “Paon,” a Balinese cookbook is now in our kitchen. Servers Wira, Ari, Dian and especially Monika treated us like family and made every day brighter. Every evening, we tried to join in the activities at the Botanist Bar, with Adi for stories, lessons, and sundown cocktails. We loved him as well. Activities: There are so many activities, you can be as busy as you desire. We explored an organic rice farm, took a walk with fellow guests into town, and cycled the 20km “Ride for Resilient” through jungles, villages and temples. I highly recommend the Balinese healing “Soul Freedom Journey.” It was an experience I will never forget and the perfect way to let go after a long year and celebrate the end of cancer treatment. Yoga: After our first private session with Munati, we were hooked. She is a gem. We added 2-3 more private yoga sessions culminating with Restorative Fire Moon session where you throw your worries and demons into the fire and set your intentions for your future. Each morning at the Pavilion, yoga classes are also held. Spa: I can still feel the peace and smell the tea that started every treatment. The Toja Spa is world class. The therapists were excellent. There was light rain most afternoons during our stay which made it the perfect time for treatment. Tree Houses and Grounds: When I booked a treehouse for our vacation, my husband thought I was crazy. Upon arriving, he was pleasantly surprised. Our Bale included a private swimming pool, fire pit and living area. The first-class bedding was protected by netting and even had an air conditioner. The set up is flawless. Beautiful views greet you at every turn. Our room was about a seven-minute walk to the Open kitchen, the scenery was breathtaking and the path could be steep. Bring your walking shoes. This is not a resort for those with physical limitations. Thank you for reading my review. This is a resort experience unlike any other. I cannot wait to return!

The staff are very knowledgeable about the local culture and truly passionate about their work. Everyone was extremely attentive throughout our stay. Widi took great care of us and gave us many excellent suggestions. The “no wall, no door” concept is truly impressive and allows you to fully immerse yourself in nature. Every meal felt like a work of art rather than just food. Most dishes were plant-based, healthy, and beautifully presented. Yogi was also very kind. He hosted the Balinese script art session and took us on an amazing waterfall trekking experience. Riska and the two lovely waitresses were always attentive and smiling, which made our days even brighter. I would highly recommend the In Bale Warm Remedy, which helped a lot with my cold during the stay, as I had caught a cold from diving before arriving in Buahan. Yanti was wonderful in organizing my In Bale bath experience, as well as a unique massage session overlooking the rice fields. I couldn’t have asked for more. Dewa and Anooo did a fantastic job keeping our villa clean and constantly refilling extra water bottles for us, especially since I needed to drink plenty of water while recovering from my cold. We also joined a mocktail-making class organized by Ari, which was very interesting and enjoyable. It’s hard to remember everyone’s names, but every single person was so kind and made our stay truly memorable. Their warmth and hospitality made the experience extra special.

Without doubt….. the most incredible place I have ever stayed. 2 reasons.. firstly, ridiculously stunning location with the most beautiful villas. 3 nights was only just enough! Secondly, but far more importantly, the people. The most wonderful people right across the board. The experiences we had were unforgettable. DON’T hesitate, JUST DO IT. You wont regret it.