Away From It All
In Bali’s lush interior, a mountain lodge is the perfect spot for citydwelling families to reconnect with the natural world.
Sustainability-minded travelers looking to avoid air-conditioning on their next trip to Bali should check in to Sarinbuana Eco Lodge ( baliecolodge.com; bungalows from US$79), a jungly retreat perched 700 meters above sea level on the slopes of Mount Batukaru, the island’s second-highest peak. Originally intended as a family vacation home for Australian–New Zealander couple Norm and Linda vant Hoffffff, it has grown into a nature-based playground, with a bamboo bale (pavilion) for yoga and other activities, a new swimming pool where the water is devoid of chlorine or other chemicals, a restaurant, and six naturally cooled cabins. Families will want to book the two-story Tree House and Jungle bungalows; each can accommodate up to fififive guests, and both feature knockout vistas. The cozy upstairs lounge at the Tree House looks out toward Mount Batukaru, while the Jungle bungalow’s balcony offffffers views down the valley that stretch as far as the Bukit Peninsula.
Activities suitable for all ages include daily animal feeding sessions, as well as workshops on learning traditional musical instruments or Balinese calligraphy, and cooking classes prefaced by a tour of the lodge’s extensive organic gardens. Guided walks through paddy fields to village temples are also offffffered, along with explorations of the neighboring rain forest.
Healthy eating is another pillar of Sarinbuana Eco Lodge. The restaurant’s menu leans vegetarian and vegan, with dishes using a wealth of ingredients plucked straight from the property’s gardens: avocado, mangosteen, banana, cacao, cucumber, pepper, fennel, and dill. Even avowed meat-eaters will be swayed by its home-cooked Indonesian fare and flavorsome non-dairy desserts: think coconut- and cashew-based cheesecake or a raw chocolate mousse made with cacao roasted on-site. Consider us sold.