COMO Shambhala Estate

COMO Shambhala Estate is the flagship property of Christina Ong's COMO Shambhala wellness brand, a 22-acre jungle sanctuary perched above the sacred Ayung River just outside Ubud, Bali. Opened in December 2005 after the COMO Group acquired and transformed the Begawan Giri Estate, it pioneered the residential health retreat concept, merging five-star resort luxury with a rigorous, transformative wellness program rooted in both ancient healing traditions and modern diagnostics. The Estate occupies a site of profound spiritual significance in Balinese culture: a natural spring known as The Source flows through the property and has been used for centuries in local purification rituals, while the grounds align with four key Balinese temples. Ubud itself derives its name from 'Ubad,' meaning medicine in Balinese, a reference to the abundance of healing plants that grow in the surrounding forests.

The architecture, by Cheong Yew Kuan, and interiors, by Koichiro Ikebuchi, reflect a philosophy of understated elegance that allows guests to focus on wellness rather than décor. Local stone, teak, traditional alang-alang roofing, and natural materials blend seamlessly with the jungle. Accommodations comprise five multi-suite residences, Bayugita, Tirta Ening, Tejasuara, Wanakasa, and Umabona, each inspired by the natural elements (water, fire, earth, air, forest) and featuring shared infinity pools, pavilion lounges, and four to five individual suites. There are also standalone one-, two-, and three-bedroom private villas with their own pools, kitchens, and dedicated butler service. The newly refurbished Wanakasa Residence, whose name translates to 'forest in the mist,' is a dramatic treehouse of interconnecting suites wrapped around an enormous banyan tree, suspended 100 meters above the Ayung River.

At the heart of the Estate's wellness offering is the Ojas centre, which underwent a comprehensive redesign in 2025 to mark the property's 20th anniversary. Designed by Atelier Ikebuchi, the space features Carrara marble, black Corian, and teak, with treatment rooms that open to the jungle canopy. Ojas houses 13 treatment areas, hydrotherapy facilities fed by The Source, contrast therapy suites with cold plunge and infrared sauna, a hyperbaric chamber, and a 25-meter double-level Vitality Pool overlooking the rainforest. Down in the valley, accessible via a scenic 20-minute descent through the forest, lie the Kedara water gardens, four secluded natural spring pools beside the rushing Ayung River where guests can swim, meditate, and watch rafting groups float past.

The Estate's approach is diagnostic and consultative rather than prescriptive. Resident practitioners include Kimberly Rose Kneier, Wellness Director and Traditional Chinese Medicine expert with a Master's Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; Prasanth Vayanakathu, an Ayurvedic doctor with 25 years of experience; and Dewa Made Sulendra, a Balinese healer specializing in chakra work. Visiting masters lead specialized retreat weeks throughout the year, covering everything from Pilates and spinal alignment with Mins Teo to emotional healing with JIVARAGA founders Cindy Gozali and Silvia Basuki. The Estate offers six distinct Wellness Paths (Integrated Wellness, Detox to Restore, Fit to Perform, Nourish to Glow, Connect to Rebalance, and Ayurveda), each a multi-night journey beginning with in-depth consultations and personalized treatment plans. Signature Retreats, six-night all-inclusive programs led by resident practitioners, dive deep into specific modalities like Traditional Eastern Medicine for Women's Wellness or the Ancient Wisdom of Longevity through Ayurveda.

Dining is integral to the wellness journey, never punishing. Glow, the contemporary all-day venue with an open kitchen, serves COMO Shambhala Cuisine, nutrient-dense, enzyme-rich dishes sourced from the Estate's organic gardens and local farms. Kudus House, set in a 150-year-old Javanese residence, offers modern Indonesian cuisine with Southeast Asian flavors like tamarind, kaffir lime, and ginger. The culinary team, led by Dewa Made Sulendra (who also serves as Balinese healer), accommodates every dietary need, vegan, gluten-free, detox, without sacrificing flavor. Meals are served on verandas overlooking the valley, often accompanied by the sounds of the river below.

The Estate runs on a rhythm of optional structure: complimentary sunrise yoga at 7am, guided estate walks descending 400 steps to Kedara, afternoon pause meditation, and full moon yoga when the lunar calendar allows. There's an indoor gym, an outdoor jungle gym with climbing wall, Pilates studio, tennis courts, and mountain bikes for exploring nearby rice paddies. Cultural excursions include water purification ceremonies at Tirta Empul Temple (10th century), visits to Lempuyang Temple requiring a 1,700-step ascent, and white-water rafting on the Ayung. Each guest is assigned a personal assistant who arranges treatments via WhatsApp, delivers cocktails by buggy, and hand-writes the next day's schedule during nightly turndown service. The general manager as of recent reviews is Suteja Gede, overseeing a team that guests consistently describe as warm, intuitive, and capable of anticipating needs before they're voiced.