UBUD | Gdas Bali Health and Wellness Resort is a recently-opened luxury health and wellness resort in Ubud, Bali. It’s a place to escape from the frantic nature of life, and rejuvenate with a focus on physical and metal wellbeing.
Exceptional service and a respect for local culture and the community is a big part of the Gdas offering. Local staff are hired and paid more than the standard wage. Local, independent producers and suppliers are championed and, where possible, supply the resort.
When I visited in mid-2023, the Gdas was it its soft-launch period. This meant that I am unable to comment on ‘The Bali Eden’ which will be home to a number of fitness facilities, including a spa and the Health Suite Clinic, which were still under construction at the time.
Location
The resort is located just outside of the centre of Ubud, in a secluded spot surrounded by rice paddies, jungle, and Hindu shrines. It’s a great location, that has you feeling like you’re in the middle of nowhere, when in fact you’re just a 45 minute walk, or 15 minute drive, from the heart of Ubud.
Gdas offer a regular free shuttle service to and from the resort and the centre of town, and you can organise pick ups and drop offs from anywhere with advance notice.
Rooms
There are two room types at Gdas – the Grand Deluxe Rooms, and Prestige Pool Villas. Both offer a few different view types. The rooms are contemporary, taking their cue from traditional Indonesian homes such as the distinct roofs of the regal Javanese joglo, and the Malay traditional houses of Sumatra with their tall stilts and imposing pillars.
I stayed in the Prestige Pool Villa with a garden view. It’s a spectacular suite, set across two levels. The ground floor features a semi-open living and dining area, with a fully-equipped kitchenette, overlooking a private pool
Upstairs is where you’ll find the plush, super king-sized bed, in a room with high timber vaulted ceilings. There’s a balcony with a daybed, overlooking the ground floor, and on the opposite side, the semi-open bathroom, featuring a green wall, deep soaking bath tub, regular and rain shower, and Japanese luxury toilet.
All rooms come with a gull set of deluxe Balinese toiletries, safe, kimono, slippers, umbrella, scales, lighted make-up mirror, sound dock speakers, air conditioning, 43 inch flat screen TV with satellite and cable TV options, Wi-Fi, complimentary coffee, tea, filtered drinking water dispenser, bottled water, and twice daily housekeeping. Yoga mats, irons, and ironing boards are available on request.
Power outlets are a mixture of regular Indonesian outlets, and ones featuring in-built multi-country adapters, plus USB-A and USB-C plus for charging your devices without needing an adaptor.
If you are staying in one of the Prestige Pool Villas, you will also be assigned a personal butler. You can call them or communicate with them using WhatsApp, and they’re happy to help with anything that you might need. My butler, Bayu, was fantastic. Professional, friendly, considerate, and just a great guy to chat to during my stay.
Amenities
Gdas Bali Health and Wellness Resort features an extensive number of amenities and facilities. There’s a swimming pool with personal shaded cabanas, library, shaded outdoor yoga shala, hot yoga room, and, a library. For events and functions, there’s a garden lounge that can be configured in a variety of ways.
When The Bali Eden opens next door to the resort later this year, it will offer guests an much expanded selection of amenities. These include a day spa, gym, health suite, steam room, sauna, plunge pool, and more. Based on the traditional Usadha Bali philosophy combined with modern technology and science, there will be consultants available to develop bespoke wellness plans for guests.
Eat & Drink
Tangi restaurant is where the resort’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner service occurs. It’s a fully vegan offering, featuring a seasonal menu of local produce, inspired by Balinese culinary traditions, and those from further abroad. Chef Wayan Mulyawan has worked around the world, and leads the kitchen in creating dishes that will appeal to everyone.
I’m not a vegan, and I really enjoyed the food at Tangi. It’s things like smoothie bowls, gado gado, tofu masala curry, vegetable burgers, and jackfruit mushroom spring rolls. There’s no alcohol served here, rather it’s things like local teas, detox drinks, juices, smoothies, and mocktails.
A second vegan restaurant, Lanang Wadon, will be opening next door later on in the year, as part of the ‘Bali Eden’ expansion.
Gdas Bali Health And Wellness Resort
Jl. Cempaka
Banjar Kumbuh, MAS, Kecamatan Ubud
Kabupaten Gianyar
Bali 80571
Indonesia
Telephone: 036 1908 3131
E-mail: [email protected]
Website