The global pandemic of COVID-19 changed the world as we knew it, as well as the world of traveling we were familiar with. While a year ago I correctly predicted that traveling could become more difficult, the crises I’ve imagined producing this effect were connected to our poor politics towards nature protection and war conflicts. Only clairvoyants such as Nostradamus could have seen a tiny but mighty virus locking us in our houses, cities, and countries. The planet’s tourism came to a halt.

The 2020 impact on the world and its travel industry will be long-term. And like always, the fittest will survive

Economies that largely depended on income from tourists approached this unprecedented situation in radically different ways.

Locked-down Cambodia showed some awesome initiatives dealing with the effects of absent tourist dollars during the coronavirus spread, while accommodation providers used the standstill to plan the life of hotels after COVID.

On the other side, Croatia, encouraged by optimistic pre-summer epidemic numbers, generously opened its doors to the arrival of foreigners. I called this ignorant gambling with social distancing for the sake of generating income – the six feet under approach. Croatia did not use the summer to prepare for the autumn epidemic wave. The uncontrolled increase of infections positioned the country on unflattering negative European charts, and literally illustrated that boomerang is not just the shape of Croatia.

By the way, there were times when I was convinced that the world was shaped like Croatia! I revealed this in a featured interview for the break into travel writing website.

The 2020 impact on the world and its travel industry will be long-term. And like always, the fittest will survive.

Here’s Pipeaway’s review of the year 2020!

If you’re interested in previous year reports, you can find them right here:

2019 Year in Review: Does Exploring the World in Crisis Make Any Sense?

2018 Year in Review: Hiking Mountains, Volcanoes and Churches

2017 Year in Review: 3 Continents, 14 Countries and One Big Adventure

Highlights of Pipeaway’s 2020

The year of undertourism is not the best friend of travel blogs. For instance, Pipeaway lost 59 percent of its pre-pandemic traffic!

While I know some travel bloggers pulled their publishing brake in these uncertain times, this challenge could be approached as an opportunity. An opportunity for offering regeneration to the wandering spirits of the travelers of tomorrow.

Need inspiration? The Croatian wheelchair quadriplegic traveler Slaven Škrobot broke all stereotypes, conquering one milestone at a time. In an equally extraordinary story, the Canadian Bert terHart spent the majority of the pandemic alone on the boat, sailing around the world.

Wildlife encounters skipped his journey, which probably speaks a lot about that environmental crisis I mentioned earlier.

But there is good news for Canary Islands visitors; Tenerife is home to two dozen types of whales and dolphins! For those who prefer solid ground under their feet, the Botanical Garden in Puerto de la Cruz is highly recommendable.

Reconnecting with nature is a rewarding way of paying respect to life on this special planet. The hyena man of Harar introduced me to a very unique partnership of humans and Africa’s second-largest predator. While spotted hyenas serve as well-fed communicators with Harar saints, in Nara Deer Park, the Japanese feed the messenger of Shinto gods – the deer.

In 2020, I’ve written about quite unique places of worship. The Chicken Church of Indonesia has nothing to do with chicken, but it has everything to do with love. Lalibela churches in Ethiopia are carved in the mountain. This undeservedly less known world wonder is an important pilgrimage site for Orthodox Christians. The Vietnamese did not need to drill the mountains to build shrines; they just entered them. Am Phu Cave is one of these holy places, and vividly presents the afterlife in – Hell.

Favorite country – Greece

In 2020, the total number of countries I’ve visited didn’t change – it’s still 48. Besides a short summer trip to the coast of Croatia, I spent the majority of this lockdown year in my flat in Zagreb, with only (?) 83 days abroad.

Successfully navigating between changing COVID regulations, and with an intention to approach traveling only as a safe activity, I managed to visit Serbia, Greece, Hungary, Switzerland and Germany in those three months abroad.

Nearly two months of 2020 I’ve spent in my new favorite country – Greece.

In 2018, it was my first time there. I’ve been visiting Mount Athos, exploring the Delphi center of the world, enjoying Naoussa Paros and Cyclades Islands hotels.

There is a lot to fall in love with in Greece, and I fell head over heels for the Cycladic archipelago! The cheap flight ticket to Crete and convenient ferry connections enabled easy island hopping that in 2020 included Santorini, Kimolos, Syros, Paros, Naxos, Mykonos, Amorgos, and Donousa.

While it’s hard to pick one favorite, and I definitely have many, I will mention the one that positively surprised me the most, and made me pick the best things to do in Naxos. While all mentioned islands deserve a visit, Naxos blends quite an intriguing mixture of nature, culture, gastronomy, history, mythology, and archeology.

Favorite city – Basel, Switzerland

In my reduced yearly travels, I did manage to pick a favorite new city! Basel is located just on the border of the three countries (Switzerland, France and Germany).

It is considered the Swiss cultural capital, and the museums in Basel are especially worth visiting. I explored them for four weeks, and couldn’t get enough!

The city is also home to Basel Zoo, the most visited paid attraction in entire Switzerland! Zolli is praised for its successful breeding program for endangered species. In the end, your enjoyment will depend on your stand towards the whole idea of animals in captivity, which I thoroughly discussed in my review.

Favorite hotel stay – The Menjangan Resort, Bali, Indonesia

While hotels worked very little in 2020, I still picked a favorite from those I wrote about. This year’s winner of my humble attention is The Menjangan, a resort located in the West Bali National Park, Indonesia.

I already wrote about this beachfront accommodation in 2017, recommending it as one of the Bali top resorts. But two years later, I decided to pay it another visit, for a dedicated review.

The Menjangan did not leave space for disappointment again. At the meeting point of the jungle and the sea, this hotel is a wonderful and wonder-full destination for everyone interested in nature and wildlife.

The Menjangan is a member of the Lifestyle Retreats, together with boutique hotels such as The Santai or The Bale Bali. If you are traveling to the island of gods, you could also check these luxury escapes in Bali!

For the best prices, book your stay at The Menjangan here!

Favorite food experience – Room delivery

Whether you spent 2020 in your house or even found a moment to check-in at some hotel, there is one food experience that dominated the gastronomy business in the time of COVID-19 restrictions – delivery of food to your door. Spending time in restaurants with a group of strangers suddenly became a hazard.

From the room delivery experiences Pipeaway wrote about in 2020, I’d like to highlight the one at The Santai Bali. While this small resort has its in-house restaurant, eating in the privacy of one’s spacious villa is a valuable alternative. Japanese bento breakfast, mie goreng, or any-style eggs go well together with delicious morning boosters. There is a solid vegetarian menu too. Plus, you get a jar of cookies!

At Aria Villas Ubud, they were bringing surprises all day long! Floating breakfast in the morning (if you want to try eating in your villa’s plunge pool), refreshing ice-cold popsicles in the afternoon, and Balinese pancakes as a midnight snack will make you wanna keep your villa doors always open! Aria Villas is also a clear winner of the most liked images on our Instagram account (four out of the top 9 were taken exactly there!).

Hotel Tugu Lombok is the third name I’d like to mention here. While your food can actually be delivered anywhere on its vast territory, I was especially thankful for the room service of traditional healing tea when I checked in with food poisoning I got at some restaurant in Bali.

Pipeaway’s top articles of 2020

Here’s the top list of Pipeaway’s articles published in 2020! They have attracted the most attention in the last year! Check if you’ve missed them!

1. Jeju Island Attractions: Visit the Korean Island of Love and Lava!

The southernmost part of South Korea is often called Korean Hawaii. Jeju Island has a fantastic landscape sculpted by volcanic activity, providing hiking opportunities, cultural and entertainment parks, and fertile ground for tasty tangerines you cannot find anywhere else!

2. Lalibela Church Guide: Rock-hewn Churches of the Ethiopian Jerusalem

A strong bastion of Orthodox Christianity, Ethiopia has a number of churches you will find where you least expect it – in the mountains! One of the larger complexes of such rock-hewn churches is located in Lalibela, a town in northern Ethiopia and the famous pilgrimage site.

3. 14 Best Things to Do in Malta Before It Sinks

The sinking island of Malta is an example of how climate change affects our planet. With its megalithic temples, Roman catacombs, medieval forts, defensive walls and spectacular coastline, Malta offers a lot of content worth preserving.

Oldies, but goldies

Articles from South Korea published in 2019 jumped into the most-read posts top list and kicked out some of the all-time favorites. Here’s the top three in 2020!

1. Korean NSFW: Jeju Loveland Sculpture Park in Pictures
2. Selecting a Plane Seat: 5 Reasons why Last Row should be First Choice
3. 7 Best Korean Desserts to Try in Seoul: From Sugar Ball to Bingsu

With more than 57 thousand views, the article on the benefits of sitting at the back of a plane remained the most popular post on Pipeaway.

Social media

Readers still find Pipeaway.com mainly through the organic search (73,8 %) or direct visit (13,3 %). The social media acquisition slightly grew from 8,3 to 11,1 % in 2020.

The most widespread way of reaching Pipeaway through social networks in 2020 was Facebook (68,3 %). Pipeaway’s Facebook page still has a significant number of 12k followers and publishes content on a daily basis.

The second-largest social media traffic was channeled through Pinterest (20 %). Pinterest follows grew from 718 in 2019 to 763 in 2020, with 20k monthly viewers, and 227.500 people who have seen or engaged with our pins.

The third most important network in 2020 was Twitter (6,1 % of social media acquisition came from there). Pipeaway’s Twitter account is currently followed by 1394 users, compared to 1238 in 2019.

Instagram brought only 3 % of social media traffic, and even Pipeaway’s Instagram followers’ base decreased by 9 % in 2020. We have 6369 followers at the moment.

Pipeaway’s Youtube channel is out of my regular focus, but it has still grown from 77 to 105 subscribers last year. The most popular video there was again Cambodian New Year celebration with Songkran water fights, now with 12k views. This event was the reason for an invitation to talk about the New Year celebrations on Croatian Radio.

Pipeaway’s newsletter is a bimonthly wrap-up, coming directly to your mailbox. Please subscribe if you would like to be up to date with Pipeaway’s best content. In its third year, the newsletter had 1,4k subscribers!

Social responsibility

In 2020, we finished our Circus of Postcards project, the fundraising for Arba Minch Circus, an Ethiopian social circus group working with children and youth at risk. We managed to collect 1k dollars for them.

Thank you

Blogs do not happen just magically. Besides an invested effort, the support of others is a crucial ingredient for a successful outcome.

That is why I need to express my gratitude to the management of all hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and activity organizers who recognized the value of working with Pipeaway.

My biggest ‘thank you’ goes to people who generously shared their time and space and everything during my longest away-from-Croatia periods. In 2020, those were definitely Nikos in Greece, and Mladen in Switzerland. Thanks for being family.

There are also friends, new ones and old ones, who contributed to my journeys by letting me surf couches in Belgrade (Aleksandar), Athens (Thanasis, Christos), Budapest (Jonnathan, Kasidid, Arian), and Rovinj (Corrado). Thanks for coping with me!

Thank you all for supporting Pipeaway’s journeys!

Where next?

Can anyone predict anything after 2020 has happened? The vaccine will probably lower down the defensive guard of countries and traveling will eventually resume. In which way, we will still have to see.

Traveling is sometimes the worst enemy of travel blogging. Maybe we should appreciate lockdowns as blessings for our ‘to do’ lists

Before this happens, I imagine going back to the keyboard and typing down many stories still waiting to be written. Paradoxically, traveling is sometimes the worst enemy of travel blogging, and maybe we should appreciate lockdowns as blessings for our ‘to do’ lists. Or at least for reflection time.

Nevertheless, I’m sure at least some travels will happen in 2021, and I will be here to report it.

If you have any idea on where should I go, please leave a comment under this post! I’d love to hear about your plans for piping away too!

Safe travels!

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on them and make a purchase, Pipeaway might make a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work!

The post 2020 Year in Review: Overtourism as a Distant Memory appeared first on Pipeaway.

This is Bali as it once was. Away from the crowds, noise, and traffic. A hideout on the meeting point of a jungle and a beach

Menjangan in English means – ‘deer’. This old Indonesian word for the species of wild deer inhabiting the area of the West Bali National Park is borrowed both for the neighboring island the animals swim to every year, as well as for the hotel spreading strong roots in the national park, just like the mangroves surrounding it.

The Menjangan, a member of Lifestyle Retreats, is a boutique property on the northwestern corner of the most popular Indonesian island. But this is Bali as it once was. Away from the crowds, noise, and traffic. A hideout on the meeting point of a jungle and a beach.

The unspoiled forests and the tranquil undersea provide a rich holiday arena for nature-inspired travelers. At the same time, one doesn’t have to follow Robinson Crusoe; The Menjangan is a jungle resort with all the luxury one would expect from the 4-star Bali hotel!

The wilderness of Bali will continue to be an appealing invitation card in post-pandemic times as well! In The Menjangan Resort review, find out all the benefits of staying in the heart of a national park! And then add it to your travel plans!

The Menjangan – National Park’s alluring outpost

Taman Nasional Bali Barat (West Bali National Park) covers 190 square kilometers of Buleleng Regency that follows the island’s northern shores.

Encircling the extinct volcanoes, there is a variety of habitats here. Montane forests, rainforests, lowland forests, mangrove forests, acacia scrubs, dry savannas… The rest of the park includes a kilometer-long beach, coral reefs, and several sanctuary islands.

The largest of these sanctuaries, Menjangan, was named after large populations of deer that migrate to and from the island every year. Javan Rusa and Indian Muntjac deer need to swim 2 kilometers between Prapat Agung Peninsula and this practically uninhabited paradise. The only humans who have permission for staying overnight are Hindu monks. Their temples are the only artificial structures on Menjangan Island.

Deer also love temples in Japan. Check Nara Deer Park, a place where more than a thousand deer congregate inside the city!

At the beginning of the 20^th century, there were also Bali tigers living in West Bali. The last one was documented in 1937, just four years before the nature park was upgraded as a national park.

In this millennium, another species was facing extinction. In 2001, there were only six Bali starlings living in the wild, all in West Bali National Park. But thanks to the breeding program of Surabaya Zoo and Taman Safari Indonesia, the endemic white bird was saved. Reintroduced to nature, Bali Starling, also known as Bali myna, is now “only” critically endangered.

With over a hundred wildlife species, the neighborhood of The Menjangan Resort remains a lively ecosystem. The fauna includes banteng cattle, wild boars, large flying foxes, leopard cats, hawksbill sea turtles, water monitor lizards, numerous birds and coral species.

Staying at The Menjangan requires purchasing a ticket for West Bali National Park. The entrance fee for foreigners is 200.000 IDR (12 Euros). Indonesians pay less than 1 Euro. Quite cheap for such bio-diversity at your doorstep!

Menjangan beach villas

In Menjangan beach villas, one wakes up in a peaceful setting. As the morning sunlight slowly spills into your room through large sliding doors, the first thing you notice are discrete stickers of stags and geckos on the glass. After all, birds could mistake your four-poster king-size bed with a perfect place to build a nest.

Outside, a daybed and beanbags on the wooden deck, and sunbeds and chairs with parasol-equipped café table on the sand. In a small jungle of outdoor furniture, someone is already enjoying the morning views. Sitting on your sun lounger, a macaque monkey is observing the low tide.

A deer on its way to the tree buffet breakfast walks into a scene. Cautiously following mama’s shadow, a playful Bambi explores the white sandy beach of The Menjangan.

This is how mornings on the water’s edge of the Bali Sea look like.

There are seven beachfront villas at The Menjangan Resort. Joglo-style architecture, traditionally associated with Javanese aristocracy, is a shell for a minimalist but modern interior. It includes an iPod dock and flat-screen TV that doubles as a 2D fireplace for romantic evenings behind the bed canopy.

Another cozy part of the spacious 105 square-meter villa is a secluded outdoor bathroom zone. Here, one can soak in a bathtub or enjoy the rainfall shower, all enhanced with fragrant soaps Lifestyle Retreats are known for.

Besides the beach villas, the coastal part of The Menjangan offers accommodation in a large 1000 square-meter Residence. This private estate offers three bedrooms, an infinity pool perched on a cliff, and a personal butler.

There is also The Menjangan Monsoon Lodge further from the beach and deeper in the forest. Fifteen minutes away by the resort’s always available double-decker minibuses, this complex of deluxe rooms and suites embraces the communal pool.

While on my most recent visit I stayed in a beach villa, in 2017 I reviewed The Menjangan Monsoon Lodge. If you want to know a bit more about it, read the article on top Bali resorts for recharging your batteries!

Things to do at The Menjangan

For those who would find chilling by a pool or lazing on a beach boring, a variety of options for active holidays will never leave you wondering what to do at The Menjangan.

Already the surrounding forest provides amazing grounds for exploring spirits. Just walking the trails will get you close to the wildlife. Face-to-face encounters with deer and monkeys, spotting monitor lizards among the mangroves, birdwatching with more than 120 species of feathered forest inhabitants, are all rewarding experiences.

If you want to pump more muscles while exploring nature, you can jog and train in the forest gym! Over a kilometer of a dedicated trail, different exercise points have been set, with well-explained instructions. This peculiar version of a street workout is not only placed in nature but also inspired by it. The exercises invoke the movement of birds, squirrels, monkeys, and monitor lizards.

The safari-style shuttle is always ready to transport you from point A to point B. But bushwalking over the 4 square kilometers of The Menjangan resort is more authentic. You can upgrade the experience by riding a bike (even a tandem bicycle is available!) or – a horse!

Horse riding is probably my favorite among the available on-land Menjangan activities. Bruce and Chippy are just two of many trusty Australian horses in the resort’s stables. Under the guidance of the trainer Semara, riding through these lush forests seems to be a piece of cake, even for perfect beginners. I’d recommend a late afternoon ride to the beach. Seeing the sun setting behind the volcanoes of Java, while your horse walks through shallow water, will be carved into your memory.

Menjangan Island – snorkeling and diving top destination

When staying at The Menjangan, reducing the sea activities to just an occasional swim would be a pity.

Word of advice: if you love swimming, beware that extreme tidal changes at Sentigi Beach happen as a consequence of its shallowness. The ocean floor is rocky here. While deer deftly navigate through this environment, it is not exactly the best entrance point. And you could even damage the corals! Instead, follow the boardwalk to the Beach Club, and access the water via a jetty.

Here, a plethora of activities awaits for you! Kayaking and paddleboarding are great ways to explore the mangrove maze in the Bajul Bay, and even visit the Banyuwedang Hot Spring.

But to fully enjoy the coral gardens of Menjangan, one needs to go under the surface. Already snorkeling in the resort area will open up worlds of abundant marine life.

For an even more outstanding experience, one needs to take a boat to Menjangan Island that offers excellent diving conditions. What Gili islands represent for Lombok, Menjangan Island is the same for Bali. And The Menjangan resort’s very own PADI-certified diving center has all the equipment you would need for exploring the undersea!

There are dozen world-class dive sites just off the coast of Menjangan Island. They include a 19^th-century shipwreck, eel garden, underwater caves, and spectacular reef walls teeming with life.

There are more than 50 coral species living in the Menjangan coral reef, sharing space with fish, sponges, and pygmy seahorses.

The life of corals around the Menjangan is greatly dependent on the rise of the water temperature. In global warming, the westernmost part of the Coral Triangle represents an important cornerstone of the threatened biodiversity.

Sustainable tourism efforts

With its privileged position in the center of a jungle and protected marine area, The Menjangan is logically focused on the practice of eco-tourism. Sustainable tourism is the only responsible approach to development here.

Guests need to adapt to the rules of the national park. These are directly linked to the protection of the area, but also to the richness of our experiences.

Feeding the animals is strictly forbidden. Because they live on their own, macaque monkeys in West Bali National Park are not as aggressive as those in Ubud Monkey Forest, for instance. If humans stop behaving like a source of food, animals learn to ignore us, and certainly don’t steal our sunglasses or purses, hoping to exchange them for a banana. This is the secret of getting close to wildlife and observing their natural behavior.

From “welcome” letters written with twigs on the bed, to “plant a tree” programs, we are constantly reminded how easy responsible choices are.

Metal straws in our cocktails, lack of single-use plastic bottles in toiletry, refillable water bottles made of stainless steel, are simple eco steps that immediately catch the eye.

Ecological solutions do not jeopardize the guests’ comfort at The Menjangan. From the already mentioned TV-fireplace to the Bamboustics loudspeakers made of bamboo, green solutions show that we can still enjoy modern life and reduce an environmental footprint while we do that.

Staying at The Menjangan eco-resort requires awareness that we are just visitors of the land that belonged to other species long before us. So if we do need to leave a trace, it better be a positive one.

A bowl of water filled with colorful flowers as a landing site for thirsty jungle bees is another example of how, instead of exploiting natural resources, tourism can easily support them.

For Lifestyle Retreats in other parts of Bali, check The Santai or The Balé!

The Menjangan restaurant offer

There are two restaurants at The Menjangan. Pantai Restaurant specializes in seafood and barbecue, while Bali Tower is a bistro-style restaurant. They include both Indonesian and international dishes.

Pantai Restaurant, literally a beach restaurant, is a pleasant place to start a day. Breakfasting on a wooden deck, with scenic mangroves and sea in the background, is a picture-perfect experience. But, most importantly, it will satisfy both your taste buds and stomach.

The breakfast menu is extensive, offering everything from homemade bakery products and yogurt with locally sourced muesli to Indonesian rice porridge or fried noodles. Vitamin boosters add another healthy note to the royal spectacle on the plate.

Watching the sunset by the ocean, with Frozen Strawberry Margarita in your hand, sounds like a great alternative to previously mentioned horse riding. But Bali Tower also has its sundown advantages.

This restaurant above the Menjangan’s open-air reception brings you literally to the treetops, with jungle panorama everywhere you look.

None of the trees had to be cut for the construction of this spectacular building. The owners transferred the 30-meter long logs from Borneo. They literally engaged workers to bring them in arms so that they wouldn’t have to clear the land for the trucks.

Bali Tower, besides offering an unobstructed Menjangan view, proudly defends its fast and simple dishes. Seafood curry with tiger prawns, barramundi and cuttlefish, served with crispy vegetables and homemade squid-ink noodles, is one of their newest favorites.

Next to your fork and knife, you will find a sling with stones, supposedly so you can defend your meal from the hungry monkeys. While it is a joke, it also reminds us that eating in the center of Bali’s only national park is a true privilege.

If you are still looking for post-pandemic holiday ideas, check the luxury escapes on Bali’s southern shores!

Reflection at the spa

Active holidays should always have some counter-action measures. The Menjangan’s spa has an answer for reducing all that tension that built up during our kayaking, diving, and horseback riding.

The Mangrove Spa is literally that – a spa at the waterfront, in the shades of the mangrove trees. One could think that open-air gazebos provide little privacy. But actually, it is a silent and rather intimate setting. Nature only elevates the experience of high-quality massage therapies.

The treatment becomes a multisensory experience fueled by nature. The ocean scents, the sound of the waves, the view is always there… That’s right, even when you are laying on your massage bed face-down! An ingenious add-on in a form of a mirror lets you observe the seascape while your back is being healed by a traditional massage.

In a sequence of treatments that can develop from footbath ritual to soothing and detoxifying body massage inspired by traditional techniques of Bali and Japan, only natural local ingredients are being used.

I thoroughly enjoyed the pampering at this discrete wellness nest! It doesn’t just give your body a moment to switch off and recharge. Just like with a massage-table mirror turned towards the blue sea, the treatment allows open space for reflections in your mind. I found this spa concept well-thought-out and exceptionally smart!

Check how that looks on Pipeaway’s Youtube channel!

How to get there?

Due to its remote location on the northwestern corner of Bali island, West Bali National Park is the furthest one can go from Denpasar.

The drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport to The Menjangan Resort takes up to 4 hours. I strongly recommend booking this transfer through the hotel. It’s not just a practical pick-up from door to door. It’s also the most pleasant way to travel the winding roads to the north. Just relax in your back seat, nibble on provided complimentary peanuts and fruits, hydrate with water, put your music on via Bluetooth, or even fall asleep with the help of provided travel pillows.

When I visited Kawah Ijen Volcano in Java, I also managed to easily travel to The Menjangan by ferry. The two islands are connected through Ketapang and Gilimanuk ferry ports. The Menjangan driver can pick you up at Gilimanuk. Just be aware of the 1-hour time zone difference between the two islands, something I totally forgot about on my first visit. Well, I even miscalculated the date I should get there, but that’s another story.

If you also easily get confused when traveling, don’t feel alone and bad about yourself. In order to understand why these things happen, I did personal research. I even named the phenomenon a travel fogginess, so we can all blame our brain for “behaving on its own”. Read more about traveler’s confusion here!    

The Menjangan Resort Review – Conclusion

With 382 hectares, The Menjangan is the largest resort within the boundaries of the West Bali National Park. As it has no immediate neighbors in this protected landscape (which also means no commercial restaurants you can easily walk to), this secluded hotel brings the advantage of the accommodation synchronized with nature.

The experience of staying here resembles entering a time machine. It catapults you to Bali before radical touristic exploitation, when trees were sacred and monkeys did not steal bags from humans.

As long as you behave as a silent and grateful observer, staying at The Menjangan opens a window into an unfiltered and unedited National Geographic Live

Protected by the national park rules, this part of Bali remains different than the rest of the island. It brings rewarding expeditions in its forests, fantastic undersea explorations, and amazing wildlife encounters.

At The Menjangan, shy deer, self-reliant macaques, giant lizards and rare birds will eventually say “hi”. As long as you behave as a silent and grateful observer, staying here opens a window into an unfiltered and unedited National Geographic Live. And without that tiger from the 1930s, it’s perfectly safe!

On the other hand, The Menjangan is still a hospitality project. It will not deprive you of modern luxuries. From the welcome spring rolls to the good-night message delivered at turndown service, the resort staff seems to be always available in supporting the upscale vacations that are both active and relaxing.

The ability to enjoy the benefits of modern civilization and the simultaneous awareness that negative effects on the environment are actively minimized bring another layer to your peace of mind.

Tourists come to exotic places with overweight luggage in the stress department. It is reassuring to know that there is a cure for these overpacked issues and that we can actually give something back in that healing process. Something beyond the loud parties and disrespectful temple selfies. Something that doesn’t end up as “Eat, pray, love, destroy”.

If you want to consider staying in the West Bali National Park, check the best available prices at The Menjangan here!

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Disclosure: My stay at The Menjangan Resort was complimentary, but all opinions are my own.

Also, this post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on them and make a purchase, Pipeaway might make a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work!

The post The Menjangan Resort Review: Beach Villas in Wilderness of West Bali appeared first on Pipeaway.

1. The Samata, Sanur
Price per night: 128-597 Euros

Nestled in Sanur, the seaside town in southeastern Bali and the oldest upscale resort area of the island, The Samata is an exquisite destination for those searching for revitalization! Just 20 kilometers away from Ngurah Rai International Airport, this resort caters for 10 Suites and Pool Villas only, which guarantees personalized and dedicated service for every guest. If we add the holistic approach to health and the life balance concepts rooted in this resort’s idea, it is possible to leave Samata only with an upgrade in personal strength, physical and spiritual health, and peace of mind.

The swimming pools are bountifully scattered around the resort (three in the common area: Energy Pool, Chill Pool, and Lap Pool, the last two being the infinity pools with majestic views over the rice fields). I stayed in the Pool Villa, which came with a decent-sized private bathing area, just for me to enjoy it! Besides the pool, the villa provided an outdoor bathtub and a shower surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. Just laying outside in the bath scented with Samata’s own herbal mixture, was a soothing experience in itself! Of course, one can also enjoy the professional pampering treatment in the resort’s spa area!

Booking.com

Where to box in Bali?

Probably the most incredible asset of the whole Samata’s property is its unearthly gym! It provides high-class exercise equipment both for cardio and strength, signed by Life Fitness, the global leader in the field. Many props are provided in double, which is pure luxury, having in mind the size of the resort. The gym has even two scales (!), so you would not be waiting to weigh yourself, in case another guest wants to use it at the same time. Each piece of equipment has a drawing on the correct use and anatomical focus of the exercise, which makes it easy for beginners as well.

Surrounded by the pictures of the boxing legends, the central area of this extremely well-equipped gymnasium is reserved for the boxing ring. Six punching bags and a dozen boxing gloves again provide over-the-top luxury! With various fitness and holistic programs, CrossFit studio, yoga & meditation studio, tennis court, billiards, table tennis, tai chi, or water pilates opportunities, this is the sportiest one luxury resort can get! And if that is not enough, the Bali Beach Golf Course is not far.

Where to stay healthy in Bali?

In my whole Southeast Asian exploration, I haven’t found the healthiest menu than the one provided by The Samata. Even if you are, for instance, on a gluten-free diet, there will be a whole page of dishes for you to choose from! Zenso Restaurant provides all-day dining, with delicacies including the 28 days dry-aged ribeye steak from Barham Estate or pappardelle pasta with grilled king prawn. I enjoyed the risotto with grilled enoki, shimeji, shiitake, oyster, and portobello mushrooms on a parmesan foam. Candlelight dinners and private barbeques are also available at request, which may be an excellent choice for those choosing Samata as a honeymoon (or even wedding?) destination.

They serve breakfast until 11 am. I enjoyed mine in the privacy of the villa. The combination of pitta bread with hummus dip, onsen tamago (the egg slowly poached in its shell with dashi broth and spring onions), and the sweet quinoa porridge with caramelized banana, goji berry, pistachio, and natural yogurt, provided the energy for an active sporty day! One can order the comfort food throughout the day, but stock-free minibar in the room, with crunchy cookies and tropical fruit selection (signature of Lifestyle Retreats), might keep you going!

Butlers fulfilling your most peculiar wishes

Samata’s villas come with plenty of natural and decorative light and furniture designed for relaxation! It is effortless to feel comfortable, whether you lay in the plush baldachin-covered bed or enjoy your tangerines on the terrace sofa. The resort team might be small, but the butlers will quickly fulfill your wishes, even if you want to order a float for your pool or Playstation for your room.

If you are an early riser, you could be escorted for a Sunrise Walk at 05:30, which is a unique opportunity to get to know the traditional Balinese culture, see hardworking villagers in the rice fields and enjoy traditional cakes and a hot drink while the first sunrays awake the local beach. This ambitious resort is not just an answer to the question “where to stay in Bali?”. Besides finding the near-to-perfect accommodation, staying in Samata might help you find yourself as well.

TIP: Obviously, it is very easy to never want to leave your villa, with an accommodating service that Samata provides! However, it would be a shame not to explore the black sand beaches nearby, where locals have fun by burying themselves in the sand or playing with kites (Sanur is the home of Bali Kite Festival in summer months). For adventurous travelers, this is a watersports paradise! One can enjoy diving, kayaking, wind surfing, you name it!

2. The Menjangan, Banyuwedang
Price per night: 109-1.330 Euros

Named after the unique species of deer that lives in the resort’s closest surroundings, The Menjangan is a hidden secret in the heart of the Bali Barat National Park. You will need to pay for the national park ticket on top of your accommodation costs (200.000 Rupiah, or 13 Euros), but what you will get, the money cannot buy anyway! With all the luxuries of modern resorts, Menjangan is still a journey into deep nature!

Resort facilities are scattered in the area of 382 hectares, which makes it difficult to explore it entirely on foot. However, local transportation between sites functions correctly; double-decker safari-style minibusses will come to pick you up in no time, whether you wish to go to the beach, to the restaurant, or to any other part of the resort. Expect meeting families of monkeys on the road, but have no fear! These are different than the ones in Ubud Monkey Forest or elsewhere on the island – as it is forbidden to feed them in the national park, they are pretty much self-dependant, and therefore not aggressive.

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Exploring the national park on the back of an animal

There are even more environment-friendly ways to go around the park. One can borrow bicycles or take some horseback riding lessons. A stable is full of Australian horses, and I spent an afternoon on the back of Bruce! This was my first riding experience, and I loved it, even if Bruce did not listen to me much. Or maybe I am just not talented for riding! However, with always present instructor Made Sulatra, my horse-riding adventure through the woods and the beach of the national park was an exciting experience!

I stayed in the lovely Monsoon Lodge, just a stone throw away from the stables, so my trembling knees did not have to go far before jumping onto the large and comfortable bed for some downtime. Sure, I could have enjoyed a Balinese massage or some other body ritual at the beach, but sometimes you just need to get horizontal for a reward (especially if you have climbed the volcano the day before!).

My suite was spacious and decorated in the appealing traditional Balinese style. Carved wood, soft pillows, big glass surfaces letting in a lot of light… Great space to regenerate energy! Some furniture in the kitchen and the bathroom could certainly use some uplifting, but it doesn’t affect the overall impression much. With free water and eco bottles provided under the hotel’s less-plastic philosophy, you can behave responsibly, even when consuming the luxury! The television offers movies instead of satellite programs, but I especially liked the screensaver showing the faces of the resort employees – it gives such a human face to The Menjangan!

Marine life – from the sea to the plate

Beach villas come with an advantage of the sea at your doorstep, while the Residence offers its own private pool. At Monsoon Lodge the pool is shared between the guests of the other suites and comes with a jacuzzi too. I decided to try out the temperature of the sea and opted for the morning in a kayak! For the proper scuba diving, one should go a bit further, and coral gardens will be blooming with marine life, from seahorses to sharks, but even my little kayaking adventure by the beautiful mangroves brought sights of jellyfish and eel snakes!

Seafood can also be found on the plate of the Bali Tower Bistro. I ordered my satisfying Mie Goreng, but the Ukrainian chef (some excited British tourists praised him as Croatian by mistake) offers from western pizzas and burgers to local specialties such as Beef Rendang (West Sumatran coconut and cinnamon beef curry) and Bersih’s Betutu (slow-braised chicken in hot Balinese spice).

Next to the beach, there is another restaurant (Pantai), and this is where I had my breakfast. In the proximity of mangroves, with lovely beach views, eating on the floating deck was an Instagram-worthy moment. Freshly baked pastries, natural granola with Greek-style yogurt, tropical fruit platter, eggs in the Western way, or rice porridge in Indonesian… Looking at the choices without mouthwatering was hard. Also, I thought, if I started the breakfast with a vitamin booster shot, is it really a sin to finish it with pineapple pancake with palm sugar syrup on top? Call me a sweet tooth, but I compensated with kayaking!

A hidden gem of Northern Bali

The Menjangan is located in the least visited part of Bali, its northwest. Not yet discovered by the hordes of tourists, this boutique resort is Lifestyle Retreats’ precious gem! When confronted with the dilemma “where to stay in Bali”, Menjangan’s relative remoteness is certainly not its disadvantage. Its proximity to Java and attractions such as Ijen Volcano, but also the fact that the resort can provide the return transfer to practically anywhere in Bali, make it suddenly the center of your Bali retreat!

The resort cars offer wifi, water and snacks for the road trip (the comfort even includes the neck pillow!), but Menjangan’s drivers are not just people behind the wheel! I have to mention Radi Wayan, whose knowledge of Bali is comparable with those of tourist guides, so my trip from Menjangan to Ubud, with some fantastic stops such as Munduk Waterfall, Twin Lakes or the floating temple of Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, was an attractive added value!

TIP: Besides deer and monkeys, at Bali Barat National Park you will be able to encounter at least some of the 160 species of birds living there! Many are endangered, and Menjangan resort is engaged in different breeding and conservation programs. You can support it by joining their birdwatching tour!

3. Sankara Ubud Resort, Ubud
Price per night: 104-366 Euros

Often called the cultural heart of Bali, Ubud is a place in which one usually finds comfort after participating in the infamous nightlife in Kuta and Seminyak, or equally exhausting surfing and bathing daytime activities somewhere along the island’s coast. A retreat in itself, Ubud is a town made of fourteen villages, and in the traditional village of Mas one can find our next answer to the question „where to stay in Bali?“ – Sankara Ubud Resort, managed by Pramana Experience, should appear on your radar if you are visiting Bali inland.

Surrounded by and immersed in lush vegetation, this boutique property offers 30 rooms and villas built in Balinese style. The resort’s wish to preserve nature is omnipresent; the buildings have been constructed in respect of the existing landscape and rare trees have been conserved in the process. Winding paths through this little forest of villas and moss-covered walls of natural stones might even lead you to the small rice paddy in the middle of the resort, and some villagers are still taking care of it!

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Villas interior also respects the tradition of local craftsmanship. Furniture in teak wood, a washstand made of stone, traditional ornaments on the walls, and daily fresh flower arrangement and fruits are small details that make the stay in these spacious Deluxe rooms an enjoyable Balinese experience. A comfortable mosquito-net covered king-size bed takes the central position of the chamber, with a view of the private green terrace, which makes morning wake-up something to look forward to. My main objection would be the lack of the electricity plugs next to the bed – connecting one’s laptop or mobile phone at wall outlets and relaxing at the centrally placed bed don’t go hand in hand! Then again, maybe it’s a secret message to disconnect oneself from the technological addictions.

Free yoga, dance, and wood carving lessons

Named after the scallop shell (traditionally used during the purification ceremony to neutralize the bad energy and produce a peaceful atmosphere), Sankara offers free morning and afternoon yoga classes. Under the coned style grass roof of Yoga Pavilion, in the sessions led by local yoga instructor, even beginners can participate. The advanced practitioners can always ask for private classes if they need an upgraded experience. Even if it was sometimes hard following the instructor’s accent, she dedicated herself to each person in our group of five, corrected and supported every effort invested by the students. The whole experience was enriching!

No time to lose, the resort offers an additional Balinese activity every day – you can learn local customs, dancing, or even wood carving! On Saturdays, one can try the traditional sarong-style clothes, and this was a great Bali Holiday photo opportunity I couldn’t resist. Sankara’s conduction in immersing its guests into the Bali experience is evident from the welcome greeting, when you are given a flower behind your ear and a card with useful phrases in Indonesian and Balinese, via afternoon teatime with homemade cakes, to specially created dinners that are sometimes accompanied by live performances of the local bands or dance groups!

Balinese specialties with a modern twist

Kumbuh Restaurant serves both Balinese specialties and Western dishes. But, if you came all the way to Bali, you should really try something from the signature menu! For instance, Pramana Nasi Ungu is a dish of Tumpeng red rice, with side dishes of vegetables and meat. Balinese usually eat it at weddings, but you can enjoy it at Sankara without getting married, and everything is reasonably priced!

A la carte breakfast could also make you fall in love with the cook – Indonesian, Continental, American, Healthy one, or the one called Experience Breakfast. You choose! I strongly advocate for the unusual ones! When will you be able to try Salak Rebus (snake fruit compote) or Pisang Gulung (caramelized bananas in egg crepes with palm sugar sauce and grated coconut)? Just ditch those scrambled eggs and bacon, and go local!

The best thing about the food in Sankara? The restaurant overlooks a fantastic infinity pool spilling over its edge. You might have a hard time finding an unoccupied sunbed at the wooden deck, as it seems this artistic pool delight makes the guests not want to leave the resort ever! If you add to this the possibility of getting various massages and body treatments at the resort spa, I can imagine many guests don’t even think about the free hourly shuttle service to Ubud center – which you should not avoid, no matter how seductive Sankara might be!

TIP: To learn more about the real life of the locals in Ubud, I strongly suggest joining Sankara Resort’s guided morning walk through the rice fields, which usually ends at the local coffee producer! If you would like an unconventional start of the morning, your coffee can be served by luwak itself! Yep, that’s the famous “most expensive coffee in the world” that first needs to pass through the digestive system of the civet, the Asian cat-like wild creature!

Still not sure where to stay in Bali?
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Searching for amazing Indonesian places to stay, but want to save some bucks?
Check out our selection of the best hostels of Java, Bali’s neighboring island!

Disclosure: My stay at the establishments mentioned in this text was complimentary, but all opinions are my own.

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Special thank you: HotelieriQ - for the assistance in connecting Pipeaway with some of the hotel industry leaders in Bali.

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