Stay at the best eco-friendly hotels in Bali and tread lightly on your next island holiday
For the eco-conscious traveller, we’ve found hotels in Bali that balance sustainability with ultimate luxury.
We’ve already talked about the best eco-friendly hotels in Sri Lanka, India, and Egypt, and the world’s most sustainable hotels, but where do conscious travellers stay when they hit the Island of the Gods? Gone are the days when staying at the best eco-friendly hotels in Bali meant sacrificing holiday luxuries for cold showers and old mosquito nets. These days, staying in sustainable accommodation involves avant-garde designs, epic scenery, and every extravagance you’d expect from a Bali abode – all with a planet-friendly twist.
So, for the eco-conscious traveller looking for a sustainable hotel in Bali, we’ve found a selection of environmentally-friendly stays that honour you and Mother Earth in the best way possible: think all-natural and locally-inspired interiors, spectacular panoramas in the heart of nature, and five-star indulgences that maximise your Bali vacay while minimising your footprint.
The best eco-friendly hotels in Bali
1. Bambu Indah | Ubud
An eco-pioneer in Bali, Bambu Indah (pictured above) is a radically different boutique hotel that was carefully curated by John and Cynthia Hardy – acclaimed designers and long-term Bali residents. They restored and decorated eleven antique Javanese bridal homes back in 2005, before creating an innovative and bespoke eco-village beside the Ubud riverside.
Living almost entirely off the land (all with the luxury of professional hotel services) a stay here lets you wake up to the sound of fresh spring waterfalls and unadulterated nature, before spending the day adventuring through tropical jungle, lazing in hammocks suspended over the river, grazing through the permaculture farm and even washing local buffalo. A true natural wonderland, you’ll want to stay here indefinitely.
Find out more about Bambu Indah
2. Potato Head Studios | Seminyak
Sleek, chic and globally-renowned – you’d never guess that almost everything within the Potato Head Studios is reclaimed, recycled and designed with zero-waste in mind. Situated within Desa Potato Head – Bali’s “creative village of the future” – these studios right on Seminyak Beach are all about progressive, planet-friendly living.
Your in-suite slippers are fully biodegradable (made of coconut husks, fabric offcuts and palm leaves), the desk and chairs have been made from reclaimed plastic, and even the in-room cocktail bar uses local, all-natural elements. And with its very own R&D team working at the onsite Sustainism Lab, the eco-friendly options here are truly endless.
Read our full review of Potato Head Studios and find out why this property also made our list of best boutique hotels in Bali.
Find out more about Potato Head Studios
3. Camaya Bali | Karangasem
You’ve probably already spotted Camaya Bali on Instagram, famous for that iconic hammock shot with its bamboo backdrop overlooking endless jungle and lush rice terraces. Located well off-the-grid in Karangasem, this eco-friendly stay is home to five individual bamboo houses, each with their own unique, sustainable design.
Our fave is the Suboya Bamboo House, with two floors of breathtaking bamboo architecture, open-air living all around, and suspended day beds that stretch out over the emerald green vista. Top tip: to nab a reservation here, you’ll want to book well in advance.
Find out more about Camaya Bali
4. Suarga Padang Padang | Uluwatu
Sitting dramatically on the cliff’s edge overlooking world-class surf and Bali’s most famous beach, Suarga Padang Padang is based around environmental, social, and economical sustainability. For starters, most of the resort is built on stilts to preserve the indigenous flora and fauna beneath, and to promote a cooling natural air flow. The resort is then made entirely from reclaimed local materials – think recuperated wood from abandoned ironwood pontoons in Borneo, broken down teak houses, bamboo, and locally sourced limestone.
What’s more, the resort also encourages each guest to leave with an insatiable desire to be part of the solution, starting with the implementation of small lifestyle changes. The result? An ultra luxurious boutique resort experience that’s at once sustainable and architecturally spectacular.
Find out more about Suarga Padang Padang
5. Buahan, A Banyan Tree Escape | Buahan
One of the newest properties to make the list having opened in 2022, Buahan, A Banyan Tree Escape is what dreams are made of. Offering 16 bales crafted from locally sourced materials, each is nestled within the heart of the Balinese jungle.
Sample nutritious recipes from the kitchen based on ancient recipes or imbibe cocktails infused with botanicals grown on-site. We also love the open-air Toja Spa that honours traditional wellbeing techniques and gets you a front-row seat to the surrounding natural beauty.
Read our review of Buahan, A Banyan Tree Escape.
Learn more about Buahan, A Banyan Tree Escape
6. Fivelements Retreat | Ubud
This award-winning eco-conscious wellness retreat in Ubud is all about ancient Balinese healing, plant-based cuisine and sacred arts – basically everything that honours the land that it sits on. Following a number of Balinese philosophies that teach unity, compassion and respect for all living things around us, Fivelements Retreat aims to work in utmost harmony with the environment. We’re talking all-natural bamboo structures and sweeping thatched roofs, bathtubs made of nearby river stones and a raw vegan kitchen that supports local farmers, sustainable agriculture and environmentally friendly products.
The onsite restaurant, Sakti Dining Room, also happens to be the pioneer of vegan fine dining in Bali, and we think that’s pretty impressive.
Find out more about Fivelements Retreat
7. Sarinbuana Eco Lodge | Selemadeg
Nature lovers, this one’s for you. Sarinbuana Eco Lodge takes you deep into Bali’s heartlands, sitting on the slopes of Mount Batukaru with an endless panorama of pure greenery. Not only are the bungalows made of all-natural materials, the entire experience takes you back to nature.
Fresh produce is sourced from the lodge’s own permaculture garden, refreshing dips take you to the natural swimming pool and mountain river springs, and daily activities involve rainforest hikes, learning local crafts, and hunting for waterfalls. And beyond all of this? Their extensive sustainability efforts are unparalleled, from energy and water-saving initiatives, to wildlife conservation and local community empowerment.
Find out more about Sarinbuana Eco Lodge
8. Mana Earthly Paradise | Ubud
A next generation eco-hotel run by an NGO, Mana Earthly Paradise is where you’ll find a collection of so-called “earth-bag domes”, as well as a probiotic restaurant and conscious store. With sustainable practices and innovative eco-technologies throughout the hotel, this stay is all about low-impact living.
Treading lightly wherever possible, they make use of solar power, they harvest rainwater, and they grow their own organic vegetables. Even the facilities use only recycled wood, with not a single tree cut down during construction. As for the domes, expect green amenities throughout, like zero waste mattresses, eco shower heads, organic soaps and solar panels for chargers. And because this is an eco-friendly hotel in Ubud, it goes without saying that a panorama of greenery tops it all off.
Find out more about Mana Earthly Paradise
9. Bali Eco Stay | Selemadeg
For a true escape from the ‘real world’, Bali Eco Stay is an all-embracing immersion into nature. Described as a green sanctuary in the heart of Bali, the simple yet stunning open-air overwater bungalows bring you face-to-face with vibrant views of rice paddies, mountain streams and tropical food forests. On a clear day, you can even see the sea.
Taking things back to basics, a stay here involves living off the land (they have their very own veggie garden, and filtered spring water sourced directly from Mount Batukaru), before embarking on jungle adventures, lounging in freshwater rock pools, exploring untouched landscapes and even learning local traditional crafts. Top tip: opt for the Waterfall Bungalow – the name says it all.
Find out more about Bali Eco Stay
10. The Alchemist | Balangan
Alice in Wonderland, eat your heart out. The Alchemist is a treehouse eco lodge that brings planet-friendly fairytales to life. Don’t be surprised if your ramshackle-chic bungalow features an entire tree trunk growing through the bathroom, or if you wake to the sounds of playful squirrels and chirping birds frolicking on your balcony.
Local raw materials, lazy hammocks and a vegan menu completes the picture, as does the enormous T-shaped swimming pool with comfy beanbags hidden beneath tropical palms. There’s even a quaint restaurant with vintage armchairs for daily tea parties too…
Find out more about The Alchemist
11. MU Bali | Bingin
Perched on a secluded clifftop and offering sensational views of the surrounding ocean, MU Bali is an eco-friendly hotel in Bali that embraces nature. Bungalows here have been crafted from organic and recycled natural materials. Inside, fans keep spaces cool and private salt water pool add the luxury.
Abracadabra Restaurant and Bar crafts dishes from seasonal local ingredients, all of which can be enjoyed surrounded by nature. Don’t miss out on a massage or treatment at the spa which overlooks the ocean and uses natural and organic products.
Learn more about MU Bali
12. Puri Dajuma Cottages & Spa | Negara
Whether travelling solo, as a couple or with the whole family, nestled away on the west coast of Bali, Puri Dajuma Cottages and Spa is all about immersing yourself in the surrounding nature. Swim and surf at the nearby beaches or explore the vast jungle that sits on the resort’s doorstep.
Home to 18 traditional Balinese cottages crafted from local wooden materials, enjoy amenities including an outdoor shower and a terrace that looks onto the property’s beautiful garden. Sample local cuisine at Rama Restaurant, where 80% of kitchen waste is recycled or pamper yourself at the spa where natural ingredients are the order of the day.
Read more about Puri Dajuma Cottages and Spa
13. Sumberkima Hill | Pemuteran
Hidden high up in the hills of north-west Bali, Sumberkima Hill is a luxury private villa retreat with an entire collection of elevated abodes. Each one soaks up the area’s most beautiful natural assets: volcano views, a nearby ocean horizon and front-row seats to both sunrise and sunset. But beyond the fabulous villa experience, it’s the work that Sumberkima Hill is involved with behind-the-scenes that’s most impressive.
Rather than simply claiming to be an eco-resort, Sumberkima Hill devotes itself to respecting and regenerating the surrounding environment. From reforestation in the mountains, to setting up a reef restoration project in the bay – their ecological impact extends far beyond the villa walls. They even teach English classes in the village, taking care of the people, as well as the land and sea.
Find out more about Sumberkima Hill
14. La Cabane | Jimbaran
Hidden away in the lush hills overlooking Balangan Beach, La Cabane is an eco-friendly hotel that blends sustainable materials with all the modern comforts that travellers demand. Home to just six bungalows and a villa, this intimate hideaway has been designed following the principles of Balinese architecture and includes stone work, thatched roofing, and repurposed wooden flooring.
Guests can spend time by the infinity pool, sample local dishes at the restaurant, and explore the nearby beaches and temples.
Discover more about La Cabane
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