Bambu Indah
Bali | Indonesia

Bambu Indah: Bali’s Regenerative Bamboo Oasis

A Regenerative Dreamscape in Bali’s Jungle Heart

Cascading down the Sayan Ridge in Ubud, where tamarind and banyan trees frame the Ayung River’s emerald flow, Bambu Indah is a regenerative boutique hotel that feels like a living poem. Founded by John and Cynthia Hardy, this 23-house retreat marries bamboo architecture, antique Javanese bridal homes, and permaculture gardens in a celebration of Bali’s natural and cultural heritage. From its underground mushroom farm to its natural pools fed by waterfalls, Bambu Indah is a sanctuary where guests are invited to tread lightly, savor slowly, and reconnect with the Earth’s heartbeat.

A Journey from Passion to Purpose

Bambu Indah’s story began in 2005 as an “accidental hotel,” when jewelry designer John Hardy and his wife Cynthia, a pioneer in exporting Balinese crafts, settled in Ubud’s spiritual heart. Enamored with Indonesia’s culture, they collected 11 antique Javanese teak bridal homes, known as gladaks, and installed them on a jungle cliff overlooking rice paddies, initially to host friends and family. Their love for Bali’s landscape and commitment to sustainability sparked a vision to share this paradise. By 2008, the Hardys had turned their collection into a hotel, expanding thoughtfully to 23 unique houses, many designed by their daughter Elora’s firm Ibuku and built by their son Orin’s Bamboo Pure. Their ethos, regenerative hospitality that composts back to the Earth, shaped every decision, from bamboo construction to edible gardens, culminating in a 2024 renovation that elevated comfort while deepening their eco-legacy.

A Regenerative Eden

Bambu Indah is a masterclass in regenerative living. Its permaculture gardens burst with rosella, coriander, arugula, bamboo shoots, and exotic fruits like mangosteen and soursop, nurtured by mineral-rich compost from kitchen scraps. An underground mushroom farm yields fresh fungi for the kitchen, while ducks and cows provide eggs, compost, and methane for brewing local tea and coffee. Rice paddies, fertilized by the farm’s animals, produce organic grains, and beehives hum with honey production. The estate’s water system, combining sand filtration, palm fiber, colloidal silver, and reverse osmosis, delivers tap water so pure it eliminates the need for bottled water, a rarity in Bali.

Sustainability is woven into the fabric of Bambu Indah. Bamboo, a strong, replenishable material, dominates the architecture, crafted into whimsical structures like the snail shell-inspired New Moon House and the basket-like Copper House. The resort avoids cement, plastic, and chemicals, using lava stones and vegetation zones to naturally filter its eight spring-fed pools. Trash walks with guests and staff raise awareness, and stainless steel reusable bottles are standard for all. Used cooking oil transforms into coblong, lighting paths at night, while cross-breeze designs reduce energy needs. This commitment to a compostable footprint ensures Bambu Indah not only preserves Bali’s jungle but actively regenerates it.

Whimsical Sanctuaries in Nature’s Embrace

Bambu Indah’s 23 accommodations, spanning Village-side houses near the entrance and Riverside retreats down rocky paths, are paragons of eco-luxury. Antique Javanese gladaks, adorned with global textiles and artifacts, feature air-conditioned muslin-draped beds, French linens, and hand-hammered copper tubs crafted by local artisans. Bamboo “Nests,” designed by Ibuku, include treetop havens like the New Moon House with its moon-door pool and the hobbit-like Guadua House. Open-air bathrooms, rain showers, and Japanese toilets bring guests closer to nature, though some, like the Riverbend House, offer enclosed options for comfort. Minibars brim with homemade treats and local drinks, and every stay includes a full breakfast at the Riverside Warung.

The estate’s communal spaces are equally enchanting. The open-air dining room, with a roof of bamboo arches and copper shingles, centers around a communal table made from 70,000 upcycled chopsticks. A bamboo elevator, the only one of its kind, descends through a 20-meter mud shaft to the Sunset Elevator Bar, where cocktails pair with rice-field views. The yoga shala, connected to a hand-dug meditation cave, hosts sessions on request, while natural pools, swings, and riverside bales invite relaxation. Guests note the “magical” setting but advise that the jungle’s proximity may include wildlife and that rocky paths may challenge those with mobility issues.

A Culinary Journey of Wellness

Bambu Indah’s dining, centered at Tembaga Restaurant and the Riverside Warung, is a regenerative feast. The menu, designed for longevity, features biodynamic produce and fermented ingredients to boost immunity and reduce inflammation. Savor rendang beef and mushroom curry cooked in bamboo tubes, unconventional nasi goreng with cauliflower, or grilled rice wrapped in banana leaves. Desserts like goat cheese cake, made with milk from the farm’s does, delight the palate. Cocktails and mocktails, crafted with Rosella honey or alternative sweeteners like allulose, reflect sugar transparency. The Babi Guling feast, featuring Bali’s roasted suckling pig, is a kaleidoscopic highlight. Guests dine in bamboo pods over the river, by oil-lit communal tables, or poolside, with non-guests welcome at the rustic Bambu Indah Kitchen. Reviews praise the “top-notch” food, with breakfasts hailed as Bali’s finest.

Experiences That Awaken the Spirit

Bambu Indah is a portal to Bali’s soul. Join trash walks to clean the jungle, harvest from the permaculture gardens, or visit the farm’s pigs, ducks, and goats. Yoga and meditation in the shala or cave, massages by the river, and cultural pursuits like batik dyeing or temple blessings immerse guests in Balinese traditions. Adventure awaits beyond the estate, whitewater rafting, volcano climbs, or cycling through Ubud’s rice fields, while the Ayung River’s natural pools invite waterfall jumps. The Hardy family’s Green School, Ibuku design studio, and Bamboo U programs offer glimpses into their bamboo revolution, with tours available. Guests describe the experience as “surreal” and “paradise,” though some note the cost of extras like yoga. Events, from weddings to sunset jam sessions, unfold in magical venues like the river’s secluded island.

A Vision for a Compostable Future

John and Cynthia Hardy, alongside their children Elora, Orin, Carina, and Chiara, dream of a world where hospitality regenerates the earth. Their initiatives, Green School, Ibuku, Bamboo Pure, and Bamboo U champion bamboo as a sustainable material, while Bambu Indah’s practices, from water filtration to community temple hosting, embody this ethos. By engaging guests in sustainable living and celebrating Balinese culture through village connections, they aim to leave a legacy of environmental consciousness. Their goal is a fully compostable resort, where every element returns to the earth, inspiring others to tread lightly on Bali’s poetic landscape.