Bambu Indah Review: Bali's Most Enchanting Bamboo Resort in Ubud's Jungle
- Corey Jones
- Nov 13, 2025
- 5 min read
Where Regenerative Design Meets Barefoot Luxury on the Ayung River
Tucked into the lush slopes of Ubud's Sayan Ridge, Bambu Indah redefines what sustainable luxury means in Bali. This isn't your conventional eco-resort, it's an architectural manifesto, a permaculture laboratory, and perhaps the most compelling argument for regenerative tourism in Southeast Asia.
A Living Work of Art
Founded by jewelry designer John Hardy and his wife Cynthia in the 1970s, Bambu Indah began as an accidental hotel. The couple's passion for environmental conservation led them to collect antique Javanese bridal homes during their travels, eventually transforming these structures into guest accommodations. What started with just 13 staff members in 2013 has grown into a 23-house property that demonstrates what's possible when architecture bows to nature rather than conquering it.
We spent our days exploring the property's multiple terraced levels descending toward the Ayung River, each elevation revealing new wonders: underground meditation caves, a traditional bamboo yoga shala, permaculture gardens, and sweeping views of Bongkasa's rice fields. Designed by Ibuku, the resort's bamboo structures seem to emerge organically from the jungle itself, curved, lightweight, and utterly absent of right angles.
Architectural Philosophy: Building with the Matriarchy
The design philosophy here is revolutionary. Rather than imposing rigid measurements and straight lines, the architects embraced what they call "matriarchal architecture," curved spaces that flow like the rhythms of life itself. As the founders explain, “Just as the jungle doesn't have right angles, neither does this home.” Each curve creates psychological safety, giving guests room to breathe and feel genuinely free.
Standout structures we encountered:
Moon House: An open-air architectural love letter where inside and outside cease to exist as separate concepts. Designed by Elora Hardy, this crescent-shaped masterpiece features a grand air-conditioned bed opening to unobstructed river and rice field views. The option to moonbathe in a copper bathtub or lounge on netting suspended above the pool is pure magic.
Pawan House: Among the most private accommodations, accessed through an antique carved wooden door. The space features a private swimming pool, a patio overlooking rice fields, and a great sofa area carved into the wall beneath the house. The spacious open-air bathroom showcases a grand copper bathtub, twin sinks, and a glass roof revealing the jungle canopy–we found ourselves lingering here longer than expected.
Beyond Sustainability: Regenerative by Design
Bambu Indah doesn't just minimize environmental impact, it actively restores and enriches the surrounding ecosystem. The property is built entirely from bamboo, reclaimed teak, and locally sourced materials, designed so that every structure can eventually return to the land it belongs to.
The regenerative systems we observed:
Permaculture gardens, rice paddies, and a mushroom farm that supply the on-site kitchens
Food waste composting with nutrients recycled back into the soil
Natural fertilizers from free-roaming ducks and cows (we watched them wander the grounds)
Water purification through sand, palm fiber, silver, and reverse osmosis, we drank straight from the tap throughout our stay
Chemical-free grounds where nature takes the lead over manicured lawns
Ancient Subak irrigation systems working in harmony with modern permaculture
The Journey Through the Property
Navigating Bambu Indah feels like exploring a choose-your-own-adventure storybook. We rode the hand-dug bamboo elevator, a birdcage-esque basket married with a mining shaft system, that carried us through a crystal-lined rock face in an Alice-down-the-rabbit-hole experience. Swinging bamboo suspension bridges connected different levels, while spiral staircases and jungle paths led to hidden discoveries.
Every single day, we stumbled upon new surprises: a harp built into the side of a building, swimming holes, underground caves with remarkable bathrooms, cold water plunges, saunas, and mud baths. Over a dozen terraced, spring-fed pools perch beside the riverside warung, reached by winding rock paths we walked barefoot, feeling the cool stones beneath our feet.
Farm-to-Table Philosophy
At Tembaga Restaurant, we learned that the distance between garden and plate is measured in feet, not miles. The menu focuses on anti-inflammatory, locally sourced ingredients that promote longevity. Located within the lush greenery of the Sayan Ridge, the restaurant's ambiance harmonizes with its culinary philosophy, with a particular emphasis on mushrooms and fermented foods.
The Riverside Warung offered another dining dimension, overlooking the flowing Ayung River where we swam in natural spring pools between courses. Neither restaurant uses industrial oils, prioritizing organic, locally grown ingredients instead.
The culinary experience extended beyond consumption. Every meal told the story of a closed-loop cycle from soil to table and back again.
We had the best tofu scramble of our lives at Riverside Warung, and the fungi sate at Tembaga was exceptional. The staff accommodated our vegan modifications graciously.
The Sensory Experience
The soundscape alone justified the journey: the Ayung River's constant rush, morning birdsong, frogs and salamanders at night, wind through bamboo. We woke to jungle sounds and fell asleep to the river, a far cry from the air conditioning hum of conventional luxury.
The visual experience was equally arresting. Butterflies and dragonflies were everywhere we looked. Rice paddies glowed golden at sunset. Every handcrafted detail, from the owners' personally selected pieces gathered during global travels (petrified logs, quartz crystals, natural copper ingots) to the bamboo craftsmanship, spoke to intentionality over mass production.
Service and Atmosphere
The staff were genuinely present, helpful, and kind without the performative aspect of corporate hospitality. The personalized touch and quality of service enhanced rather than interrupted the natural immersion. We felt cared for without feeling managed.
The overall atmosphere radiated calmness and harmony. It felt peaceful, inspiring, and deeply connected to the environment, not just a hotel, but an experience of how beautiful life can be when lived close to nature. We found ourselves slowing down, breathing deeper, wandering barefoot along winding paths with nothing but birds singing for company.
What Makes It Unique
We found this property exceptional for:
Bio-harmonizing principles that helped us recalibrate with natural ecosystems
The complete absence of single-use items and toxic chemicals
Freshwater, unchlorinated bathing pools that felt clean and pure
A cave system for sound baths, meditation, yoga, and healing journeys
The abundance of animal life coexisting with guests, salamanders, caterpillars, butterflies
Indoor-outdoor living where walls essentially disappear
Bamboo craftsmanship that serves as both art and livelihood for the local community
The owners' fascinating stories and interesting perspective on sustainable living
Practical Considerations
This is not traditional luxury. We experienced open-air rooms, occasional rain (which only enhanced the rainforest immersion), and just enough air conditioning to stay comfortable. It's barefoot luxury in the truest sense, raw, real, grounding. The 15-minute jungle adventure walk to breakfast wasn't an inconvenience but an integral part of the experience we looked forward to each morning.
Even non-guests can purchase day passes to experience the natural pools, restaurants, and grounds, worthwhile for a relaxing day in Ubud.
The Verdict
Bambu Indah represents a paradigm shift in hospitality. It proves that building in harmony with nature isn't just possible but necessary, and that true luxury lies not in isolation from the environment but in complete immersion within it. This is where conscious travel, regenerative design, and exceptional hospitality converge into something that feels less like a hotel stay and more like a soul reset.
We left feeling transformed. Our best resort experience yet, Bambu Indah stands as proof that the kind of luxury worth seeking is the one that lets you wake up in the jungle, connect with the earth, and remember what it means to live in harmony with the land. For travelers seeking authentic, nature-focused experiences that redefine well-being, without sacrificing beauty or comfort, this property is unmatched.
(+62) 361-977-922
Jl. Baung, Sayan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
