Into the Woods
Luxury blossoms in the midst of the Plataran Menjangan Resort & Spa on the northwestern side of Bali, where Javanese deer roam free and boundless ocean is the perfect panorama. Umesh Bhagchandani writes
he question most guests will ask before they visit Plataran Menjangan Resort & Spa will be: “The resort is located inside a National Park?” Far away from the hustle and bustle of city life and a five-hour drive from Denpasar, lies this exclusive environmentally protected sanctuary, inside the West Bali National Park opposite Menjangan Island.
Traverse 4 kilometres into the park and guests will arrive in front of a wooden lobby that opens up to a wide lounge area and the stylish Wantilan Deck, all surrounded by an abundance of nature as far as the eye can see. Straight ahead are cloud-capped mountains, while deep ocean waves flow gently; rows of tall and lush monsoon forest lie to the left
while wild and dense savanna grows naturally on the right.
The inspiration behind Plataran Menjangan is to invite travellers to explore the hidden beauty of Bali and to prove that one can still experience luxury without compromising the environment. This notion is reflected within its five spacious villas, in which the exteriors comprise a traditional Joglo house, a spacious garden and a warm-water plunge pool.
The villas’ interiors are kept simple and cosy with wooden floors, high roofs and a king-size canopy bed enveloped in brick walls. However, the Balinese touches are never lost as can be seen in the design motifs on the villas’ wooden sliding doors and the furniture. Meanwhile, the outdoor bathroom also offers new sensations with a bamboo shower, a well-sized bathtub and a semi-open roof (read: gusts can enjoy the hum of insects and the gentle swishing of the trees).
A quick walk will find the resort’s biggest dining outlet, Octagon Ocean Club, which is made up of three levels and which houses restaurant on the first and second floors as well as an expansive rooftop bar soon to be open on the third. All the floors offer stunning ocean views that will highlight any guest’s dining experience.
It would be a shame not to explore the nature through Plataran Menjangan’s many activities. Nature-lovers can opt for trekking and exploring the vast jungle and its mesmerising wildlife, including exotic birds and adorable monkeys, on foot with a trained guide, or simply hop on a bike and breathe in the clean fresh air. Sea-loving guests should not miss the opportunity to discover exquisite marine life through snorkelling or diving. Want to sit back and soak up the sun while savouring delicacies? This is possible thanks to the numerous cruise packages available on Plataran’s own Phinisi ships.
While the villas provide the utmost privacy and serene sanctuary for travel-weary guests, the National Park itself is also home to a bevy of endangered flora and fauna, such as the Bali myna bird and the Javanese deer. Aiming to preserve these precious creatures’ habitats as well as to promote them to the global platform, Plataran has made it official this year with “Plataran L’harmonie”—382 hectares of ecotourism destination dedicated to the protection of the wildlife and its ecosystems. And the move has paid off: it was officially recognised as the Best National Park Operator and the Centre for National Ecotourism as well as awarded as one of the World’s Top 100 Green Destinations 2016 at the Global Green Destination Day ceremony in late September this year.