Akohara Buahan Village Retreat sits in Bali’s Payangan highlands, where 28 private pool villas spread across seven tiers of a forested valley. It’s an adults-only retreat shaped around the landscape. An inclinator carries guests between levels, from the lobby and Lontar library to the villas above. By morning, the heated Rainforest Infinity Pool looks out across the forest; after dark, fibre-optic lights twinkle beneath the water like stars scattered across the pool.
Keep reading to see why Akohara is a heavenly hideaway made for slowing down.
The villas make the valley your view
Across the retreat, handmade bamboo and wooden architecture brings natural textures inside, while high ceilings give the spaces an open, airy feel. Each villa has a private pool with an integrated bathtub, so you can soak while looking out towards the forest.
There are five categories, from the 121-square-metre Teja One Bedroom Pool Villa to the 310-square-metre Akasa Two Bedroom Pool Villa. Some of them have gazebos and hammock nets, while the two-level Apah Honeymoon Pool Villa also features a spherical king-size bed.
Dine among the treetops at Jihwa
Jihwa sits high in the retreat, with a 180-degree view across the sunrise valley. Its curved ceiling adds a flowing architectural detail to the open-air dining space. The all-day menu focuses on Balinese cooking, healthy dishes and locally sourced ingredients, with fresh herbs and aromatic spices served on handmade local ceramics.
MOOL puts a Buahan twist on coffee
New to Akohara, this trendy lounge is built around Bali’s coffee culture, with a manual brew bar and a view across the valley. The warm Golden Forest Latte combines espresso and oat milk with turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper and honey. For something chilled, Morning Origin pairs espresso with coconut water, lemon and raw honey for a citrusy, lightly sweet finish. Settle in with a cup, browse the cultural library or watch the valley shift in the light.
The pool changes with the light
Heated and arranged over two tiers, the shared Rainforest Infinity Pool might be one of the most impressive in Bali. By day, the view takes in the surrounding greenery; after dark, fibre-optic lights twinkle beneath the water like stars. It offers a different perspective from the private pools at the villas.
Follow the river to Hara Wellness
At the lower end of the retreat, open-air treatment pavilions bring the sounds of flowing water and birdsong into the spa experience. The menu ranges from Balinese massages, body scrubs and facials to sound healing, Reiki and other holistic therapies.
There’s also a fitness centre with jungle views and a yoga deck beneath a century-old Pangium tree, set just above the river.
Buahan is part of the experience
Set beyond Ubud’s busy centre, Buahan makes a natural gateway to North Bali’s highland lakes and waterfalls, letting you head north without first navigating town traffic.
Closer to the retreat, Akohara’s guided Buahan Village Walk offers a glimpse of local life and introduces the Subak irrigation system, the traditional network that channels water through the rice fields.
Ubud is still within reach when you want to explore town: Tegallalang Rice Terrace is about a 30-minute drive, while central Ubud and Campuhan Ridge Walk are roughly 35–40 minutes away. The Ubud Monkey Forest is another popular visitor attraction.
