From an eco-friendly water park in Kuta to a solar-powered boutique resort in Canggu, here are five places merging conscientious green credentials, culture, luxury and adventure in Bali
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1. Ayana Farm
Jimbaran
Flex your green thumbs at the recently reconceptualised 2ha edible botanic garden at the sprawling Ayana Estate in Jimbaran. Here, you can learn more about sustainable farming practices and Bali’s traditional farming methods. Through its Rediscover Agriculture initiative, visitors can engage in guided walks, hands-on workshops and try their hand at farming practices like planting and harvesting. Ayana Farm’s Apotek Hidup, a living pharmacy, showcases local plants and herbs used in traditional medicine, while its Farm-to-Bar Workshop invites guests to craft personalised cocktails and mocktails with freshly harvested edible flowers, herbs and spices.
2. Desa Hay
Canggu
Tucked away in southern Bali’s Canggu area, this family-owned boutique resort preserves up to 40 percent of its land as green space, with its six villas harmoniously blending into the surrounding verdant forests. Powered by solar energy, the resort provides eco-friendly amenities like bamboo toothbrushes and biodegradable slippers made from coconut husks and mendong, water grass used in craftware. All the ingredients used in the restaurants are sourced locally and waste is carefully managed through a composting scheme.
3. The Apurva Kempinski Bali
Nusa Dua
Set atop a majestic cliff in Nusa Dua, this swanky resort is renowned for Koral, the first aquarium restaurant in Bali. It recently introduced a new four-course “Locaflair” menu that features freshly handpicked ingredients from the resort’s rooftop hydroponic garden. In addition, the resort has established partnerships with local farmers, certified sustainable fishing practitioners and local coffee artisans to ensure they’re sourcing only the highest quality ingredients. The dishes are a celebration of natural flavours and textures, such as the zesty Limau (poached prawn paired with watercress salad) and the sweet and nutty Kemiri (white snapper ballotine).
4. Jumeirah Bali
Uluwatu
Located in the southwest corner of Bali, this exclusive all-villa luxury resort in Uluwatu is the perfect blend of luxury and history. Inspired by Javanese-Hindu culture, Jumeirah Bali’s sustainable architecture reflects the ancient Majapahit’s Amartha Water Palace, with the use of local materials such as teak and timber, and a sophisticated water conservation system of cascades, streams and pools.
Other initiatives include advanced desalination and waste management, as well as community recycling efforts. At the oceanfront Segaran Dining Terrace, they take a farm-to-table approach, serving meticulously crafted Indonesian flavours, such as dadar gulung (coconut pancake) made with palm jaggery and mango compôte.
5. Waterbom Bali
Kuta
The already popular waterpark looks set to attract a new group of travellers – eco-tourists. With the 3.8ha park built around existing flora and fauna in Kuta, over 50 percent of the area’s greenery has been preserved and the park is the first carbon-neutral tourism operation in Bali. After a recent 1.3ha expansion, the park now features a 20m-high slide tower that features solar panels.
