T+L’s Hotel Review of Como Shambhala Estate in Ubud, Bali

“Have you ever visited the water gardens?” Suteja Gede, the final supervisor at Como Shambhala Estate, requested me early in my keep on the lush hilltop resort in Bali the place the Ayung and Tibakauh rivers merge. “It’s the soul of the place.”

Intrigued, I descended some 250 steps to seek out Kedara Water Backyard thrumming with life. An impressive collection of three pure spring–fed swimming pools dotted with waterfalls, wood daybeds, and gargantuan timber and palms appeared earlier than me. Gede was spot on when he advised me, “After I’m down there, I at all times really feel the power and tranquility. You’re in the course of stunning Mom Nature, and you can’t evaluate it with anything.”

But, as beautiful as this wellness resort’s verdant river valley is, its attract—encompassing 22 acres of incessantly chirping cicadas, swooping birds, tropical floral scents, and moss-covered stone—is partly because of its seemingly untouched and wild nature. Tucked away in a small village in Bali’s inside, this isn’t a resort for vacationers seeking to examine all of the websites of Ubud off their bucket listing, nor for teams extra inquisitive about partying than practising meditation.

Como Shambhala Property, which first opened as Shambhala Property in 1994 and was acquired by Como in 2005, is its personal universe. And after a number of many years, it’s solely gotten higher; its lush environs are mature and buzzing, and its wellness journeys are thoughtfully developed.

“Friends do not come right here by mistake; it’s very intentional,” Eugene Feklistov, cluster director of gross sales and advertising, advised me. And their intention is both pure, uninhibited rest or extremely personalised holistic retreats that the resort refers to as Wellness Paths.

I opted for the three-night Hook up with Rebalance Path, and earlier than my arrival, I consulted with the resort’s Ayurvedic physician and wellness supervisor, Prasanth Vayanakathu, over the telephone.

He beneficial a personal Pilates session targeted on postural alignment after I advised him I spent my days and nights hunched over, typing and breastfeeding. Vayanakathu suggested me to keep away from alcohol and comply with the anti-inflammatory menu on-site after I talked about persistent muscle stress, stiff joints, and night bloating. He additionally prompt I finish every day with a 60-minute night therapeutic massage within the new spa to knead my traps into submission. And to assist me make clear my priorities and rediscover my sense of self, he organized a Balinese melukat purifying ceremony on the resort’s sacred water temple. Throughout the ritual, a trio of native males performed Balinese devices as incense floated by way of the air.

Right here, my full assessment of Como Shambhala Property in Bali.

The Rooms

Como Shambhala Property has 10 standalone villas with one, two, or three bedrooms in addition to 21 suites, break up between 5 Residences. Bayugita was the primary Residence inbuilt 1994, and after Como founder Christina Ong acquired the resort in 2004, further lodging and the wellness middle had been added. Every Residence options a number of suites, together with a main Como Shambhala Suite with its personal Jacuzzi. Every Residence has ample out of doors lounge areas and a big swimming pool, and will be booked in its entirety for a gaggle retreat or a multigenerational household escape.

The 2-story Wanakasa (the identify interprets to “forest within the mist”) Residence hangs over the river valley and boasts a critical treehouse vibe, with a curved pool wrapping round an enormous banyan tree. It’s one in every of two newly renovated Residences that now exude an elegant, Balinese model with subdued pure tones.

After being greeted with a tasty cucumber-ginger welcome drink, my two younger daughters and I checked into the two-bedroom Shantivana villa. It has an L-shaped infinity swimming pool overlooking the forest, umbrellas, lounge chairs, a eating desk, an outside bathe, and a swinging daybed.

My youngest was notably thrilled in regards to the “swing” and large soaking tub within the generously-sized lavatory, full with double vanities and a steam bathe, stocked with signature Como Shambhala toiletries. Within the bedrooms, mosquito nets swathed four-poster beds. I additionally loved the considerate touches, together with a bottle of pure mosquito repellent oil and a pair of yoga mats.

Our private assistant—each visitor is assigned one—defined the complimentary minibar choices that align with the resort’s wellness mission: freshly made juices, kombucha, and wholesome snacks corresponding to fruit, ginger and pistachio cookies, and flax crackers. Whereas our villa had not been lately refreshed, the one telltale signal was the excessively massive switches and dimmers trailing up the partitions.

Meals and Drink

It’s possible intentional that this wellness resort streamlined its eating retailers; there is only one choice per meal, eliminating the necessity to hem and haw over which restaurant to go to. Breakfast is served each day in Kudus Home, occupying a 150-plus-year-old intricately carved Javanese wood home. It was imported from the neighboring island in its entirety and options open sides that enable for spectacular vistas of the river gorge beneath the beautiful morning gentle.

All menus, together with these for teenagers, are clearly labeled with designations corresponding to vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, accommodates nuts, sustainably sourced, and regionally sourced. There are extra-healthy twists on customary breakfast fare, corresponding to buckwheat or chickpea pancakes and mung bean porridge, in addition to savory dishes like hummus toast with sunflower seed cheese, radish salad, and pomegranate. Every day, I regarded ahead to kicking issues off with a shot of turmeric, tamarind, and coconut nectar or wheatgrass and ginger. I beloved the resort’s spin on Indonesia’s bubur ayam, a crimson rice porridge with shredded hen, bone broth, shiitake mushrooms, and sprouts.

There’s a nutrient-rich, anti-inflammatory Como Cleanse menu choice accessible for every meal as nicely. It includes each Western and Indonesian dishes and is totally gluten-, lactose-, egg-, and GMO-free, with zero meat or seafood (besides as add-ons) however, surprisingly, loads of taste.

Perched close to the treetops, Glow opens for lunch that flows into dinner. Like Kudus, the pavilion-like restaurant has a excessive vaulted ceiling and a wall-free design, making certain diners are immersed in nature. My favourite lunch was a bountiful mezze plate loaded with inexperienced falafel, sauerkraut, kale salad, pomegranate tabbouleh, easy candy potato puree, and hummus. And at dinner, I drooled over gentle, savory Vietnamese lemongrass hen skewers served with candy and bitter dipping sauce, adopted by a pearl barley risotto-inspired dish with mushrooms, asparagus, and arugula. Taking the advice of Ayurvedic physician Vayanakathu, I didn’t order from the wine listing or cocktail menu. As a substitute, I discovered the oxygenating Blood Builder extraction of beetroot, carrot, apple, ginger, and turmeric a satisfying alcohol-free various.

On Sunday, the brunch menu at Glow options small plates of things like avocado and soy bean dip with seaweed salsa and chia seed crisps, in addition to a soft-cooked natural egg accompanied by smoked salmon and asparagus with inexperienced goddess dressing. I couldn’t assist however eat two fluffy Chinese language steamed buns full of spiced smoked duck, shiitake mushrooms, and pickled cucumber. The meal was made extra charming by conventional Balinese leisure, which included dance observe for younger native women, their teacher, and a small gamelan orchestra.

Actions and Experiences

The resort presents a sturdy each day schedule of actions and train periods. The vast majority of them, together with a village and rice area stroll, Pilates with props, a chilly plunge problem, and Meridian Stretch Qi Gong, are complimentary. Friends may also choose to chill out by the 82-foot resort pool.

A significant draw is the Wellness Paths, focusing on a variety of bodily and psychological well being points. There’s a three-night minimal, however visitors can join seven, 10, and even 31 days. Individuals come right here planning to go down one Path, Feklistov defined, however after they seek the advice of with Vayanakathu, “they find yourself on a unique Path.” That normally entails a tailored schedule of physique therapies, rituals, or a physique composition evaluation.

Throughout my keep, I took half in yin yoga at nightfall in an open-air area, overlooking the jungle. On the glass-walled Pilates studio, I had an in depth personal session targeted utterly on postural alignment, chest opening, and higher again strengthening. Friends may also lease complimentary bikes.

The Spa

The spa is the guts of the resort. And for its twentieth anniversary as a part of the Como model, it underwent a complete revamp, led by Atelier Ikebuchi. The quiet interiors had been reimagined in Carrara marble and teak wooden. New state-of-the-art wellness tech was additionally added, like a hyperbaric oxygen pod and an infrared sauna. I completely loved my Hyperbaric AirPod therapy, which was a possibility to decompress and skim a e book for an hour whereas my cells recharged and acquired a dose of cortisol-combatting hydrogen. The little tube directing pure oxygen to my face did, as promised, make my complexion really feel additional plump and glowy, too. 

I ended every day within the elegantly minimalist Ojas Wellness Middle—renovated in August 2025—with a unique model of therapeutic massage, every incorporating one in every of Como Shambhala’s ambrosial candy almond–based mostly oils. Of the dozen or so therapeutic massage choices, I first skilled the soothing but sturdy Taksu, which featured twisting and stretching. The deep tissue therapeutic massage was the most effective I’ve had in Bali, because of the sleek and really particular therapy of my factors of deep-seated higher physique tightness. To complete up, a dreamy Indonesian therapeutic massage utilizing Como’s Stability oil, that includes sandalwood and ylang ylang, which resulted in assured, sweeping strokes that ranged from mild to tremendous agency.

Appropriately for this flagship of the Como Shambhala wellness model, the menu is exhaustive, with every thing a spa-goer may want: microbiome facials, Marma remedy, facial rejuvenation acupuncture, and Javanese royal lulur baths. A number of two-day Wellness Applications are additionally on provide and vary from a Nervous System Rebalance to a Metabolic Reset and embody therapies, corresponding to handbook lymphatic drainage and colonic hydrotherapy.

Household-friendly Choices

Whereas some Como resorts boast youngsters’ golf equipment, this one doesn’t. Its many steps can pose a problem for little ones; it’s not a spot for strollers however reasonably for child carriers. Although it wasn’t essentially designed as a household resort, cribs and excessive chairs can be found. The eating choices embody a youngsters’ menu of wholesome and flavorful choices that my daughters savored enthusiastically all through our keep.

The wellness-focused actions, spa therapies, and lessons are applicable for visitors aged 16 and over. Feklistov defined that the kid-friendliness of the resort tends to be on a case-by-case foundation, relying on every household’s priorities and objectives.

Accessibility and Sustainability

This resort just isn’t well-suited for these with mobility challenges since most lodging and amenities require navigating many steps. Two villas are wheelchair-accessible by way of a ramp. From there, the spa may also be reached by ramp. Nonetheless, the eating places aren’t wheelchair-accessible, however there aren’t any additional costs for in-villa eating.

Como is dedicated to important sustainable practices. This EarthCheck-certified resort is just about plastic-free—I solely noticed plastic wrap on plates delivered for in-room eating. To scale back transport emissions, the resort sources a lot of its elements regionally, which is denoted with the initials LS on menus.

The resort is dedicated to growing the variety of native vegetation that encompass it by 5 % annually. Meals and panorama waste is composted. The upcycling extends to the spa, with used Ayurvedic oils being donated to Inexperienced Faculty Bali to run its biodiesel bus.

Location

The resort is about 20-Half-hour north of busy Ubud and about 30 miles northeast of Bali’s airport (DPS). Whereas most visitors hardly go away the resort throughout their keep, there may be rather a lot to see, do, and eat within the neighborhood, together with the water temple of Pura Tirta Empul, walkable Tjampuhan Ridge, Tegalalang rice terraces, the Eleventh-century Gunung Kawi temple, and the charming village of Keliki, all greatest visited with a information and a driver.

Farm-to-table restaurant Begawan Biji, based by Bradley T. and Debora Gardner, Shambhala Property’s unique homeowners, sits subsequent to the resort. There, visitors may also go to the Bali starling fowl nursery.

The resort can organize a personal airport switch for its visitors.

E-book Now

Como Shambhala Property is a part of Comoclub, Como Lodges & Resorts’ loyalty program, which permits vacationers to build up Comocredits and redeem them for quite a lot of curated experiences and objects.

Moreover, the resort will be booked on American Categorical’ Fine Hotels + Resorts, which comes with 12 p.m. check-in (when accessible), each day breakfast for 2, and a $100 property credit score, amongst different perks.

Nightly charges at Como Shambhala Estate begin from $680.

Each T+L resort assessment is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed on the property, and every resort chosen aligns with our core values.