Wellness In The Height Of Luxury
From the renowned COMO group, the award-winning COMO Shambhala ESTATE offers a world-class luxurious residential sanctuary for holistic wellness and long-term healing in the restorative hills of Ubud.
The spectacular setting of a 9.3-hectare estate, high above the rainforested Ayung River Gorge outside Ubud in Bali’s central highlands, is therapeutic and restorative in its own right. It is an apt backdrop for the COMO Shambhala Estate Bali, one of the world’s first full-service residential holistic health and spa retreat centres and only one of two ‘Healing Hotels of the World’ in Bali. The multi-award winning COMO Shambhala Estate is also the flagship wellness property of the award-winning holistic health company, COMO Shambhala, part of the exclusive COMO Hotels and Resorts, by Christina Ong.
The COMO Shambhala offers a nurturing ‘retreat for change’ and an ultra-private sanctuary for holistic wellness, with guests immersed in an all-encompassing positive, holistic and healing experience – in luxury – helping to heal mind, body and soul and contributing to long-term lifestyle changes.
COMO Shambhala Estate advocates proactive holistic wellness, combining modern science with ancient healing, working with the world’s best practitioners and experts in holistic health, plus an experienced in-house team of specialists. Multi-day holistic wellness programmes and retreats are designed to gently focus on specific areas of concern: Ayurvedic, Cleanse, Be Active, Stress Management, Rejuvenation and Oriental Medicine – the latter a pioneering programme based on classical Oriental systems of health and longevity, recognised as the Holistic Treatment of the Year by the Asia Spa Awards 2014.
Overall, these gentle wellness programmes are closely tailored to an individual’s needs, offering comprehensive results-driven lifestyle and healing agendas, combining an initial in-depth wellness consultation, full-board, Asian-based therapies and complimentary daily activities – including guided morning walks, nutritional regimes, yoga classes and other health-related, nature-based group activities. COMO also offers guests less-involved stays with simple wellness-related inclusions, while still enjoying all the complimentary activities, for a gentler, more flexible introduction.
Like other COMO Shambhala brand properties worldwide, the Estate occasionally hosts residential wellness retreats, workshops and other holistic, health-related specialist events, working closely with and led by renowned Visiting Masters. Specific retreat packages with a holistic approach – including Pilates, yoga and other wellness practices – allow guests to participate under the guidance of experienced international teachers at their chosen discipline. The Estate also offers unique insights into Balinese spiritual healing, inviting guests to participate in traditional ceremonies, experience ancient rituals and meet the island’s most revered healers.
Home from Home
Every aspect of the COMO Shambhala – from design and accommodations to cuisine – contributes to wellness.
Built in jungle clearings at the top of the river gorge, the top-notch facilities include indoor and outdoor gyms, a yoga studio and pavilion, a Pilates studio and wellness zone and the Ojas Spa, offering Asian-inspired and Western holistic treatments. The two restaurants are stand-outs: Kudus House, a restored antique Javanese joglo building specialising in authentic Indonesian cuisine, and the signature GLOW, which is among the island’s finest restaurants. Contemporarily designed and open-air, elevated for spectacular views of the rainforested Ayung Valley, GLOW’s cuisine is totally healthy and organic, geared specifically to the wellness retreat concept and guests’ nutritional regimes. Featuring the Estate’s own organically grown ingredients and premium, locally sourced produce, GLOW’s all-day menu focuses on global and Indonesian flavours and a balance of raw, living foods and lightly cooked dishes that are nutritionally rich in living enzymes, vitamins and minerals, yet amazingly delicious. Outsiders are welcome to come for health-giving lunches and GLOW’s excellent Sunday Brunch, informal and family-friendly with traditionally inspired live entertainment (dining reservations are essential to enter the Estate).
Arguably, Bali’s most luxurious health retreat, the COMO Shambhala Estate emanates a residential experience, appealing not only to those with specific wellness goals, but to couples, independent travellers, groups and families seeking a tranquil holiday. Dramatically dotted across immaculate grounds perched atop the jungle ravine, the Rooms, Suites, Villas and Residences are luxurious, but come designed in rustic Indonesian style. All accommodations with exception of the Rooms and Suites, provide private pools. A highlight, the palatial Bali Residences, comprising four or five suites and expansive semi-open living areas, can be booked as individual suites sharing the grand pool, or booked-up in their entirety: perfect for groups of families or friends travelling together.
