Eco-Luxe in the Jungle: Staying at Bisma Eight in Ubud, Bali

Ubud’s most charming characteristic is the lush jungle that surrounds this bustling artisan village, located in central Bali. To experience the ‘real’ Ubud, you’re best to stay somewhere that features a jungle outlook. Bisma Eight delivers exactly that and so much more.

This eco-luxe boutique hotel has won numerous awards, including TripAdvisor’s 2018 Travellers’ Choice Award. Setting foot inside the reception area, it’s not hard to see why. We’re greeted with a warm welcome by smiling Balinese staff and a refreshing lime and ginger welcome drink.

I loved the special touches and attention to detail offered by this boutique hotel!

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Getting There

Ubud is located in the centre of Bali, about 1-2 hours’ drive from Denpasar Airport. The traffic in Bali can get rather hectic at times.

You’re best to organize a private transfer from the airport. The hotel will be only too happy to make arrangements for you, and you’ll pay the driver directly. Our driver was also happy to stop on the way, so we could exchange money and buy local sim cards.

Pro Tip: The drive to Bisma Eight Hotel could be smooth sailing or long and slow, depending on traffic.

The Hotel

Bisma Eight prides itself on being a boutique hotel that offers something a little different. The hotel offers a modern setting with organic eco-luxe design elements, paired with traditional Balinese touches. The natural jungle setting is a novelty, given its proximity to Ubud’s best attractions and vast array of dining options.

One of the hotel’s best features is without a doubt, the long path through a thick bamboo grove, leading to a large infinity pool overlooking the lush Balinese jungle. Then there’s the glassy feature pond in the lobby that is suspended above the treetops. This place is a true hidden gem in Bali!

Bisma Eight has achieved the perfect balance between glamour and minimalist.

One thing I really loved about Bisma Eight was their approach to sustainability. You won’t find bathroom amenities in plastic bottles here, instead they are presented in beautifully designed and labeled reusable clay pots, which are re-filled as needed. Towels are only replaced on request and the air-conditioning switches off automatically when you leave the room.

Sustainable materials, such as bamboo and jute and sustainably derived timbers, were used in the hotel’s construction and carefully chosen décor touches.

I can’t help but feel that this beautiful boutique hotel goes the extra mile to respect the beautiful environment around them!

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The Location

Bisma Eight hotel is ideally located a stone’s throw away from Ubud town and its many tourist attractions, including the arts and crafts markets, and many of our favourite cafes, restaurants and bars.

With the Ubud Monkey Forest located nearby, we often encountered curious monkeys swinging in the trees as we walked into town. Slightly further afield, but a short taxi or motorbike ride away, is the famous Tegallalang Rice Terraces, several mesmerizing waterfalls, countless day spas, and other hidden gems just waiting to be discovered.

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The Rooms

Bisma Eight’s 38 spacious suites all feature a separate lounge area, with king-size bedding and either panoramic jungle or garden views. We really felt like we could make ourselves at home during our week-long stay. Having a little extra space to lounge around and watch TV was perfect, although we didn’t actually do this much during our stay, as there is so much to occupy your time around Ubud.

The Balinese architecture and laid-back luxury-style furnishings feature in this boutique hotel were simple but stunning. With the large Japanese soaking tub in the bathroom being the standout feature.

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The Facilities

Bisma Eight’s incredible infinity pool offers a cool respite from the humid jungle air. Arrive early in the day to claim one of the poolside cabanas’. Order one of the traditional Balinese dishes with a modern twist to savour for lunch from the Poolside Pavilion. Or stay a little longer and enjoy a delicious creation from the cocktail menu, while you watch the sun disappear behind the jungle horizon.

The incredible sunset view from the hotel’s infinity pool will leave you speechless.

The hotel also features a well-equipped gym, aptly named ‘The Fit Space’. Daily morning yoga is held on the rooftop terrace.

Unfortunately, there is no day spa facility at Bisma Eight, however, we found a number of spas along the same street, ranging from $7 for a foot massage to $100 for a full-body massage and day spa experience.

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The Food

Copper Kitchen and Bar, situated on the hotel’s rooftop, serves the delicious à la carte breakfast, lunch and dinner options one would expect from this lovely boutique hotel. Boasting a Seasonal Earth-to-Table experience, Copper Kitchen uses locally grown and ethically sourced ingredients, and also features its own organic rooftop herb garden. The menu features a perfect balance of modern Western-style and traditional Balinese dishes.

The kitchen chefs run weekly cooking classes, where you can learn how to make traditional Balinese cuisine, with most of the produce picked from a nearby farm.

There is also an air-conditioned Library Café that serves locally grown, freshly brewed organic coffee. Relax and read one of the many books or magazines while sipping on your barista-made coffee.

Part of the Bisma Eight family is three other venues located on nearby Jalan Monkey Forest, and equally as good. Folk Pool & Gardens, No Más, and Liap Liap offer the signature styled decor and locally sourced, sustainable menus that Copper Kitchen and Bar offers, and are all well worth a visit.

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In My Opinion

While we absolutely loved our stay at Bisma Eight in Ubud, there were a couple of things I felt the hotel could improve on:

• The car that collected us from the airport, as arranged by the hotel, was not as nice as other vehicles that had been arranged for me on previous visits. I later learned the hotel doesn’t have their own vehicle, and instead uses local transport providers, so the quality is never guaranteed.
• I was a little disappointed when I discovered that the hotel had a gym, but no day spa. Personally, when I’m on holidays I would rather spend time in the latter. However, as I mentioned, there were several other options available nearby, so this wasn’t a huge issue for me.
• On rainy days, the morning yoga class is held in the lobby, rather than the rooftop. It was a little off-putting having other hotel guests walk by and stare while I was attempting to learn the fine art of pranayama breathing. We ended up going to Yoga Barn, which offers a world-class yoga experience and has a great garden cafe.
• Given the hotel’s Insta-worthy appeal, we quite frequently had to dodge groups of tourists staging photo-shoots along the picturesque bamboo-lined walkway. However, I can’t complain too much because we were one of them!

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Disclosure: My stay at Bisma Eight was not sponsored. I paid full price during my visit. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

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