Sarinbuana Eco Lodge

This was my fourth visit, and every time I find myself wishing I could stay forever. The staff feel like family, and the bungalows are beautifully designed, like little hideaways in the rainforest. At dawn I love sitting on my balcony with tea as the jungle wakes up, then doing yoga in the yoga bale and swimming before breakfast. Sarinbuana Eco Lodge puts real effort into sustainability, rainforest restoration, and supporting the local community. The owners are among the most committed to conservation I’ve come across in south-east Asia. Most of the food, including coffee and cacao, comes from the lodge’s permaculture garden and is lovingly prepared in huge portions. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan choices too. You can choose from hikes, cooking, limestone or wood carving, and massages. For a quiet, environmentally friendly stay in remote central Bali, I can’t recommend it enough. If I could give it 10 stars out of 5, I would.

The natural pool and the way they welcomed our 5 year old daughter were both wonderful. As a family that cares about nature and ethical business, we were blown away by the attention to detail, from the food to the respect shown to the land and local community. Supporting a place like Sarinbuana helps Bali’s nature, ecosystem, and community thrive. They also spread awareness in local villages about sustainable practices that can attract visitors without turning this beautiful island into a concrete jungle of fancy villas built with poor practices. We had an incredible stay and can’t say enough good things.

We left Senanga Cabin feeling really underwhelmed. The location and surroundings are special, and the staff were helpful, but a lot of small problems added up. We’ve visited this area a few times and usually had a great time, so we’d been looking forward to staying here. The cabin needs repairs and a proper deep clean. Dust had gathered in corners, the window sills were crusty, and the glass was smudged. The kitchen folding doors wouldn’t open because hardware was missing or jammed. Some doors and windows that did open wouldn’t stay open because they had no stays. Many fittings were broken or missing, and the construction left gaps that let bugs and wasps inside. The kitchen faucet sprays sideways if turned on too fast. There’s no proper vanity area for washing your face or brushing your teeth, the bedroom’s bamboo blinds are fiddly, and the soap was diluted until it was basically water. Most puzzling, the Terra water dispenser had no filter unit when we tried to refill it. These things might not bother us much at a cheaper guesthouse, but at 3 million IDR a night during Christmas, we expected better. We paid a discounted rate and were still disappointed. We agree with the guest guidebook’s disclaimer: “We are not a 5-star resort.”

For my wife and me, our almost-week-long stay was a wonderful start to our time in Indonesia. We went home feeling rested, inspired, and grateful. The rainforest sounds in the morning were magical, and the lodge sits so naturally among its beautiful surroundings. You can feel the care that’s gone into this place, for guests, the environment, and the local community. The staff were some of the friendliest people we’ve met, always welcoming and helpful, and the food was delicious every day. It was easy to settle in, slow down, and relax. If you want somewhere peaceful and different in Bali, I’d highly recommend it.