HARTLAND ESTATE, UBUD
THE GO-TO for meditation and yoga is Ubud, with its mainstay of mindfulness. But if you’re coming here to find yourself, you’ll first need to get lost inside this sprawling eco-chic jungle property. Built in traditional Javanese style, Hartland Estate sits on the slopes of the Sayan Ridge and has five all-natural standalone suites with thatched roofs and reclaimed wood.
The soft rustle of foliage – stretching as far as the eye can see – provides the soundtrack, while a saltwater infinity pool and outdoor decks for yoga offer creature comforts. Those who want to centre themselves can do so in the two meditation gazebos. Staff are on hand to cook (the chef harvests from an organic vegetable garden), book an AcroYoga session or organise a guided tour of medicinal plants.
The villa is a seven-minute drive from the centre of Ubud, Bali’s holistic and cultural hub, where there are many ways to feel Zen. Start by immersing yourself in the landscape; Ubud’s hypnotic mix of palms, forest and rice fields is its trump card. Then enjoy locally grown produce among the rice paddies at raw-food eatery Sari Organik (off Jalan Subak Sok Wayah), followed by a relaxing chakra treatment amid the lotus ponds of the nearby Sacred River Spa at the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan (hotel. qantas.com.au/sayan).