Fancy tents in the Balinese jungle

Surrounded by jungle, K-Club Ubud has pulled back the flaps on Kanva, a glamping retreat in the Tegalalang Valley.

“It is a haven of peace where time seems to stand still,” says a spokesperson for K-Club Ubud.

“This sanctuary invites total disconnection, with no wi-fi. It becomes a space to slow down, reconnect, and immerse in the pure beauty of nature.”

There are 11 tents, aimed at blending tradition and modernity, celebrating Balinese craftsmanship . . . and connected to and celebrating their forest surrounds.

Built for couples, each has a private outdoor space designed for contemplation, a jacuzzi and/or an infinity pool. Floor areas range from 89 to 140sqm.

Amenities are by Tongkat Madura, and made from wood and natural herbs. Tongkat Madura is known, among other things, for its esoteric and therapeutic properties, soothing essential oils, massage oils and intimate products.

The K-Club team has a curated playlist designed to set a “sexual healing” ambiance.

The resort has high ceilings and an open-air concept. The roof is of traditional sirap wooden shingles.

Ubud is a fitting home for K-Club’s couples glamping tents.

Though it gets busier and busier, it remains the spiritual and cultural epicentre of Bali.

Nature and tradition are still strong. Rice fields meet tropical forests.

And so it was here that French entrepreneur Alban Kibarer set up the five star K-Club Ubud — before this just with villas.

Check-in is inside a bamboo pod perched at the highest point of the 3.4ha property, which is set on a hillside. A personal butler will then take each guest to one of the 30 villas or 11 glamping tents, where there will be a private Balinese blessing ceremony.

Bamboo very much themes the buildings, with structures resembling giant bird nests creating spaces for yoga, a gym, a boutique and the Mekar spa.

Mekar means “in bloom” and treatment rooms, known as “cocoon chambers”, have private jacuzzis and views of the lush vegetation. There are traditional Balinese treatments, hot stone massages, and “Jungle Elements”, a treatment using honey, avocado and oatmeal.

Akar is the resort’s signature organic farm-to-table restaurant.

The spokesperson says, “Alban Kibarer’s initial vision was to create a place where nature, gastronomy and celebration come together.”

Akar, which means “roots”, has a strong emphasis on locally sourced ingredients.

The spokesperson says, “The menu reinvents Balinese flavours with global influences, where each dish tells a story. Guests can savour exquisite specialties such as ‘kambing gule’, an Indonesian delicacy of slow-cooked goat meat in a rich, spiced sauce, Jimbaran Bay barramundi fillet, charcoal-grilled dishes, and farm-roasted cauliflower.”

As darkness descends, Akar transforms into a vibrant dining destination, with a light show projected onto the jungle, while tables are dressed with sequined tablecloths and mirrored placemats.