Bali has long been one of the most popular tourist destinations among Australian travellers, beloved for its great surf, good food and larger than life party scene.
But, at least on a mainstream scale, it flies under the radar as a central wellness destination, with research from Expedia indicating Bali is the top international choice for health-focused getaways.
Wellbeing-inspired trips are becoming increasingly more common among Aussies, with 47 per cent more open to the idea of a wellness holiday than in previous years.
It sounds like a luxury, but taking a holiday purely to restore your mind and body might just be what the doctor ordered.
And where better to plunge into some Eat, Pray, Love frivolity than the cultural heart of Bali – Ubud.
Just outside of the bustling tourist town sits the effortlessly grandiose Como Shambhala Estate, a nine-hectare, luxury wellness retreat enveloped between two universal rivers.
The award-winning sanctuary first opened in 2005, and has become a home-away-from-home for the likes of Hollywood A-listers Chrissy Teigen and John Legend.
Their whole mantra is a 360 approach to wellness, with the resort offering a smorgasbord of holistic-inspired activities from yoga to nature walks, nutritious food via two restaurants – Kudus House and Glow – a day spa to die fo,r and earthy accommodation built to glorify its nature surrounds.
Guests, who can pay from $A841 per room per night, visit from far off places for a variety of reasons. Some just want a relaxed holiday tailored to their liking.
Others seek an intense multi-day detox, perhaps not so much to their liking, but most definitely to their needs.
This is where the hotel’s integrated wellness program comes into play. Upon arrival, visitors are able to have a one-on-one chat with the resort’s on-site Director of Wellness, who tailors a daily diary specifically for you to adhere to during your stay.
With that, after my dreamy three-night stay, here’s what a day in the life at Como Shambhala looked like for me:
Day one – Friday
Immediately at check-in, any worries or fears that took unwanted residence in your baggage on the plane ride over melt away.
Perhaps it’s the freshly squeezed green juice propped into your hand on arrival, the cool hand towel soaked in essential oils, or the warm smiles of staff who already know your name.
Here, I met my ‘personal assistant’ Karti, who added me on WhatsApp so I could call on her for whatever I needed. Karti is the epitome of Southeast Asian service; warm, giving, thorough, and her presence was one of the highlights of my stay (and not just because she casually removed a leech from my leg).
After settling into my room, which was one of the hotel’s Terrace Suites, I had a one-on-one wellness consultation with the resort’s director of wellness, Kimberley.
Kimberley chats with you about your goals for the trip and any health concerns you may have, before devising a tailored plan for your stay.
For me, I simply wanted to relax, unwind and get into an exercise mojo. And while I indicated I wanted to cut out alcohol for this stay, I made it clear I was not going to deny my sweet tooth of the dessert menu.
Balance, guys.
Afterwards, it was off to one of the resort’s two restaurants, Kudus House, for dinner, where I had possibly the one of the tastiest beef curries ever (Rendang Sapi). Their Nasi Goreng is also a must-try.
Day two – Saturday
It was a relief I slept in, because day two was the full-blown Como Shambhala initiation.
First up, breakfast at Kudus House where I tried their famed ‘Real Toast’ – a photo of which went viral on Teigen’s Instagram page back in 2018.
No Wonder White in sight, it comprised the Millennial-staple on gut-friendly flax seed toast.
But the real highlight at breakfast was the bakery assortment, with fresh, house-made pastries that were, dare I say, better than any I’ve tried in Europe (sorry Paris).
After gobbling the basket of baked goods, it was off on a one-hour walk of the sprawling green grounds with the help of a Como guide, who led our group to the resort’s temple to engage in a water purification ceremony.
The traditional Balinese experience was a special insight into the spiritual practices locals partake in daily.
It involved cleansing in ‘holy’ waters, before making a wish at separate water sources which each serve a different purpose, from mind, to body.
Afterwards, a prepared picnic was waiting by one of the resort’s many pools, with a lunch box brimming with snack-sized portions from Como’s restaurants.
Clocking in at over 15,000 steps at this point, many of which were at an incline, it was well and truly time for my one-hour remedial massage at the day spa.
Nature’s beauty beams through at every achievable turn at Como, and the spa is no exception, with my room overlooking utter landscaping delight.
I highly recommend you request Ivan, whom can only be described as a genius at his craft. What. A. Massage.
Day three – Sunday
It’s not often you start your day with a bath.
But when your room boasts one that looks like this – cocooned in your own private outdoor sanctuary – it’d be rude not to.
Ruining all the hard work I endured soaking in the bath, I then hit the gym for a cardio-based fitness class.
The burn was well worth it to savour the rest of day three, which was all about resetting with a peace-inducing meditation class at the resort’s pavilion, elevated above the grounds with a 360 degree view of the forest.
Sunday brunch at Glow restaurant offered a menu shake-up, with more of a focus on Asian classics.
The prawn chicken and spinach Shao Mai dumplings are essential, and if you’re fond of a humble burger, do yourself a favour and dive into the Wagyu beef sliders while you appreciate a show from local village girls performing traditional Balinese dance.
I spent much of the afternoon reading a book by the pool located below my room. There are five residences at Como, each with four or five suites and their own swimming pools.
The residences are categorised by various elements; from water, to earth and mist. I was in the ‘fire’ residence, which comprises of four suites peppered around a large pool deck.
To wind down the day, it was off to Sunset Tea at the Tea House, which was swiftly ambushed by some nearby forest monkeys.
Aside from being slightly terrified by their impromptu entrance, the furry family provided laughs aplenty as the staff sprung into action to shoo them away from our assortment of cookies.
Dinner at Glow presents an array of healthier options. My favourite was the Buckwheat noodles with diced yellowfin tuna (bowl-licking appreciated.)
But the dessert is where it’s at for my fellow sugar fiends. The flourless chocolate coconut cake with coconut sorbet topped my list, the notes of coconut providing a much-needed relief from the decadent rich slice.
Waking up on day four, if I wasn’t so completely rested, I’d have probably been swamped with post-holiday dread.
Though I couldn’t help but feel rejuvenated enough to re-enter the Sydney grind with renewed appreciation only a clear mind provides.
During peak travel periods, Virgin Australia operates twice daily return flights per week to Bali from Melbourne, and daily return services from Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide. Direct Gold Coast to Bali flights are commencing on March 29.
This writer travelled to Bali as a guest of Como Hotels and Virgin Australia.