5 ways to have fun sustainably in Bali

Green is the new gold when it comes to luxury travel, especially in Bali where a new legion of sustainable stays is setting new standards for conscious travellers who want to leave a place better than they found it – without sacrificing luxury. Join one of these unique, inspiring activities offered by Bali hotels, and help preserve the island’s stunning natural beauty while ensuring that your stay doesn’t come at a cost to the island’s ecosystem. 

Rice fields tour, Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve 

From the moment you enter Mandapa, you know you’re in for something special. The design, outlets, rooms and villas are exquisite, but the Mandapa experience takes you much deeper into the famed cultural and spiritual heart of Bali. The property has its own rice terraces for you to wander or cycle through on a tour; Ayung River rafting to admire the island’s treasured waterway; a Balinese healer who takes guests on traditional wellness journeys; tours of Ubud’s cultural jewels and countryside, and a magnificent lineup of food and drink that showcases local flavours and produce. 

Forest bathing and foraging, Conrad Bali

Shinrin-yoku, or the art of forest-bathing, originated in Japan in the 1980s as a way to promote being calm and quiet among nature, and now can be part of your Bali sustainable tourism itinerary. This all-day adventure begins at dawn, when you’ll be taken from Conrad Bali’s luxurious Nusa Dua sanctuary to the shore of Lake Beratan. Local rangers will guide you in a traditional jukung kayak to the rim of the Bedugul rainforest, where you’ll breathe in the splendour of tall Rasamala trees before having lunch next to a waterfall. 

Sustainable cocktails at Four Seasons, Jimbaran Bay

Shake, rattle and pour, then add a twist of something green at the Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay’s Sustainable Bar Workshop , created by bar manager Jan Jurecka, an expert in sustainable bartending. You’ll arrive at the resort’s brand new sustainability-oriented bar Telu for the 90-minute masterclass, which starts with a tour of the resorts’ aromatic herb and cocktail garden and beehives before you learn about Bali’s ancient arak (Balinese rice wine) traditions and how to make your own zero-waste sustainable cocktails. 

Beach clean-ups at Lost Lindenberg 

Hidden in the forest that hugs a black sand volcanic beach, Lost Lindenberg comprises a collection of solar-powered treehouses where guests can get closer to nature in architecturally pioneering surroundings. In acknowledgement of its seclusion and remoteness away from the managed shores of Seminyak, Lost takes responsibility for its environment, and alongside yoga, beach runs and volleyball, and secret river tours, organises weekly beach clean-ups to keep the location magical for everyone who values this tucked-away slice of serenity. 

Sustainability tour, Desa Potato Head 

You don’t have to be staying at Desa Potato Head to take advantage of its sustainability tour , but booking into one of the creative village and hotel’s incredible Oceanfront Studios certainly helps put owner Ronald Akili’s vision for sustainable hospitality into context. You’ll catch a glimpse into the vast complex’s inner workings – from how everything from cigarettes to shucked oyster shells are separated and processed – to how waste materials are turned into stylish room accessories, like soap holders and chairs. You’ll leave with a sacred Balinese Tridatu bracelet – made with recycled plastic beads you file and shape yourself.