Akohara Buahan Village Retreat Review: Bali’s Most Beautiful Adults-Only Hideaway

Bali has no shortage of luxury retreats promising jungle seclusion and Instagram-worthy infinity pools. Most of them deliver on the photos. Fewer of them deliver on the feeling. In this Akohara Buahan Village Retreat review, we share why it is one of the rare ones that does both – a place that delivers on the photos and the feeling.

We booked our stay through a package deal that frankly seemed too good to be true -daily breakfast, a three-course lunch or dinner each day, cocktails, a welcome massage, a 90-minute couples massage, and a complimentary daily minibar. We’ve booked enough of these bundled packages to know they usually come with an asterisk: restricted menus, limited drink options, or fine print that quietly swallows half the value. Not here. At Akohara, the included meal meant the entire menu, the cocktail was from the full list, and the minibar was restocked twice a day. It set the tone for a stay that consistently exceeded expectations in ways we hadn’t anticipated.

What struck us most about Akohara wasn’t any single feature – not the private infinity pool steps from our villa door, not the valley views that greet you at every turn, and not the food, which was genuinely some of the best we ate in Bali. It was the cumulative effect of a place that has been thought through carefully, built beautifully, and staffed by people who are excellent at what they do. Akohara opened in March 2025 – construction had begun back in 2019 before Covid paused everything for years – and it has all the hallmarks of a project that had time to be considered properly rather than rushed to market.

This article contains affiliate links. If you book through our links we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend hotels and services we have personally used and genuinely believe in. We paid for our stay at Akohara Buahan Village Retreat in full and this review is entirely our own.

About Akohara Buahan Village Retreat

Our Akohara Buahan Village Retreat review begins in Buahan, where this adults-only luxury villa retreat is nestled into the forested hillside, a quiet village in the Payangan region of Gianyar, about 30 minutes north of Ubud by car. It sits perched above a lush tropical valley, with the kind of views that make you stop mid-sentence and just stare.

The project has an unusual origin story for a hotel that feels this polished. Construction began in 2019, only to be halted almost immediately by the arrival of Covid — a pause that stretched on for years before the retreat finally opened its doors on 3rd March 2025. Whether that enforced delay contributed to the finished product being so considered and refined is impossible to say, but there’s very little about Akohara that feels rushed or unfinished. It feels like a place that was built slowly, carefully, and with genuine intention.

The retreat consists of 28 villas spread across seven levels — referred to on property as rows — built into the mountain slope. The architecture is distinctly Balinese in character, working with the natural landscape rather than imposing on it. Every villa, regardless of category, comes with its own private infinity pool. This isn’t a detail reserved for the top-tier suites — it’s the baseline, and it sets the tone for the kind of experience Akohara is offering from the moment you arrive.

Being adults-only is a deliberate and defining choice. Akohara is not trying to be a family resort that also has a quiet corner — it is entirely and unapologetically designed for adults seeking peace, privacy, and a genuine sense of escape. That focus shows in everything from the absence of a kids’ club to the unhurried pace of life on the property.

Location

Akohara Buahan Village Retreat Ubud sits in Buahan, a small village within the Payangan district of Gianyar regency, roughly 30 minutes north of Ubud by car. It’s a part of Bali that most tourists never reach, and that’s largely the point.

Payangan itself is a working local area — not a tourist town. There are no rows of souvenir shops, no streets lined with warungs catering to Western tastes, and no tuk-tuks touting for business outside the gate. The surrounding landscape is dense tropical forest dropping into river valleys, rice paddies, and the kind of quiet that reminds you why people fall in love with Bali in the first place. If you’re arriving expecting the buzz of central Ubud, recalibrate. This is somewhere you come to genuinely switch off.

For those who do want to venture out, Ubud is the obvious destination — about 30 minutes by car and very much geared toward tourists, with its art markets, yoga studios, cooking classes, and restaurant scene. The famous Tegallalang Rice Terraces are closer, around 15 minutes away, and worth a visit for the scenery — though like Ubud, they attract significant tourist crowds and are firmly on the well-worn trail. Neither is a bad day out from Akohara, but they are a contrast to the quiet hillside you’ll be coming back to.

The retreat’s complimentary shuttle service makes getting to Ubud straightforward without the hassle of negotiating with drivers, and we’d strongly recommend booking it in advance given the limited number of vehicles. For everything else, Grab works reliably in the area. From Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, the drive is around 60–75 minutes without traffic — but Bali’s roads are notorious for congestion, particularly around Ubud, so building in extra time is wise. Don’t book a tight connection and expect it to work out.

Getting To The Hotel

Getting to Akohara requires a little planning, but it’s straightforward enough. The retreat is not somewhere you stumble upon — it sits in the hills above Buahan village, and the drive up involves the kind of narrow, winding roads that are perfectly normal in this part of Bali but can catch first-timers off guard.

From Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, the journey is around 60–75 minutes without traffic. Given that Bali’s roads — particularly around the Ubud corridor — are notorious for congestion, building in extra time is strongly advisable. We’d suggest avoiding arrival during peak hours if your flight schedule allows it.

We arranged our own transfer through Klook, which took the guesswork out of finding a reliable driver at the airport. The cost came to around AU$27 (approximately US$18 / Rp318,000) for a private transfer directly to the hotel — comfortable, air-conditioned, and the driver knew exactly where he was going, which matters more than you’d think on Bali’s less-signposted back roads. We’d recommend this route for anyone who wants a hassle-free arrival without paying over the odds.

🚗 Book your airport transfer to Akohara Buahan Village Retreat through Klook — reliable, affordable, and bookable in advance.

For those who prefer not to self-organise, Akohara offers private transfers that can be arranged directly through the hotel. We opted to sort our own to save a little money, but the hotel option has the obvious advantage of someone waiting for you with your name on a sign regardless of delays. The hotel’s house cars are exceedingly comfortable though, so if you want to arrive in style – that is the option for you.

Once you arrive at the resort, the hotel’s complimentary shuttle service to and from Ubud takes care of any day trips during your stay — departures at 10:00am, 2:00pm and 4:00pm, with returns at 3:00pm and 5:00pm. It’s a chauffeured car rather than a minibus, seats four, and books up — so reserve your spot as soon as you know your plans for the day.

Arrival, First Impressions & Check-In

First impressions at Akohara are engineered to disarm you, and they work. As we pulled up, staff were at the car before we’d fully stopped — doors opened, luggage attended to, and two yellow frangipani garlands placed around our necks before we’d had a chance to take in our surroundings. It’s the kind of arrival that immediately signals you’re somewhere that takes hospitality seriously.

We were escorted up flower-lined stairs to the open-air lobby perched at the top of the property, where large shallow reflecting ponds stretch out on either side and frame an uninterrupted view down into the valley below. In the centre of the lobby, a fountain bubbles and emits a gentle mist — a small theatrical touch that somehow doesn’t feel overdone in context. The whole space is open to the jungle air, and the effect is immediately calming.

Check-in was refreshingly easy. Passports were handed over and processed while we settled into the lobby with a welcome drink of Jamu — a traditional Balinese ginger and honey tea that’s warm, slightly spicy, and exactly what you want after a long journey.

From the lobby on Row 1, we were shown to our villa — a short walk on the same row (same level) that already offered glimpses of the valley views that would become a constant backdrop to our stay.

The Property & Grounds

Akohara is built into the side of a mountain, and understanding how the property is laid out makes navigating it a lot less confusing on arrival. The retreat is organised across seven levels, which the hotel refers to as rows, cascading down the hillside from the lobby at the top to the wellness area at the bottom. Row 1 sits at the peak, where reception and arrival is located. Row 2 is just below, home to the communal infinity pool and Jihwa Restaurant. Villa accommodation is spread across Rows 1 through 6, while Row 7 at the very bottom of the valley houses the Hara Wellness Spa, the gym, and the yoga deck.

Getting between levels is handled by two inclinators — tram-style funicular lifts that run along the hillside. One operates between Rows 1 and 3, the second between Rows 3 and 7. Stairs also connect each level for those who prefer to walk, and depending on where your villa sits, the staircase between rows becomes a surprisingly pleasant part of the daily routine rather than an inconvenience.

We stayed in a Teja villa on Row 1, which turned out to be an excellent position on the property. Being on the top row meant Jihwa Restaurant and the communal pool were just a short flight of stairs below us, and we rarely needed the inclinators at all. For guests on the lower rows, the inclinators are a welcome feature — staffed by operators from 7:00am to 11:00pm, with staff available outside those hours to operate them on request. We’d still recommend factoring in a little extra time when heading to dinner, as they move at a leisurely pace that feels entirely appropriate for a wellness retreat but less so when you’re hungry.

The grounds themselves are immaculately kept. The landscaping weaves tropical planting through every level — bougainvillea, frangipani, and dense jungle foliage that blurs the line between the built environment and the forest beyond. The valley views are present at almost every point on the property, framed differently depending on which row you’re on. At Row 7, with the river audible below and the forest closing in on both sides, it feels genuinely remote. At Row 1, with the wide open lobby and its reflecting ponds, it feels grand. Both are impressive in their own way.

🏨 Sold on Akohara? Check availability and rates at Booking.com, Agoda or Expedia before your dates disappear!

The Villas

We stayed in the Teja One Bedroom Pool Villa — the entry-level room category at Akohara, though calling it “entry level” feels faintly absurd once you’ve seen it. At 121m², it would comfortably be the standout room at many hotels charging comparable rates. Here, it’s the starting point.

The villa is designed around the private infinity pool, which sits directly outside the sliding glass doors of the bedroom. The pool looks out over the jungle valley, and the sliding doors retract fully to dissolve the boundary between inside and out — so you can lie in bed and look straight through to the treeline. On the pool deck, a circular platform extends over the valley with two large outdoor beanbag chairs that become an inevitable part of the daily routine, particularly at dusk when the light drops into the forest below. A covered seating area with chairs and a table sits alongside, and it’s here that the minibar is also tucked away — stocked daily with two beers, four soft drinks, two tonics, tea, coffee, a small tube of Pringles, and chocolate cookies. It’s a modest spread, but the fact that it’s complimentary and refreshed twice a day — once during the morning clean and again during evening turndown — makes it a genuinely appreciated touch.

In the middle of the pool sits a bathtub — an outdoor tub surrounded by water on all sides, complete with bath foam and salts. It sounds like a gimmick. It isn’t. An evening soak in there with the jungle sounds around you is one of those experiences that’s hard to describe without sounding like a hotel brochure, so we’ll simply say we used it more than once and leave it at that.

Inside the villa, the king bed is large, plush, and dressed in high-quality linens. The pillows on arrival were on the firmer side — not unpleasant, but we prefer softer. One call to reception and two new pillows arrived promptly, no questions asked. A large mosquito net is suspended above the bed and lowered each evening during turndown service, which is a thoughtful practical touch in a jungle environment. At the foot of the bed, a sitting couch faces the pool through the floor-to-ceiling sliding doors. Behind the bed sits a generous working and luggage desk, a full-length mirror, and a small wardrobe with an in-room safe. Lighting and air conditioning are controlled from a single panel beside the bed, which keeps things clean and intuitive.

The bathroom deserves its own mention. It’s outdoors — fully open to the elements, protected by a clear roof that floods the space with natural light during the day and leaves a gap along the wall for airflow. The outdoor shower has excellent water pressure and temperature, and its position right next to the pool means that on more than one morning we jumped straight from the pool into a warm shower without ever going back inside. The outdoor bathtub sits adjacent to the shower in the pool itself, which closes the loop on the whole indoor-outdoor experience rather neatly. That said, an outdoor bathroom isn’t for everyone — there were moments during our stay where we’d have appreciated the privacy and practicality of being indoors, particularly on cooler evenings. What it does do, however, is lean fully into the jungle feel of the retreat, and in that context it makes complete sense as a design choice. It’s part of the charm rather than an oversight. Worth noting that not all villa categories share this layout — the higher-tier Bayu villas, for example, have a more traditional indoor bathroom, so if an outdoor setup gives you pause it’s worth considering an upgrade.

The private villa pools are unheated — worth knowing if you’re visiting during Ubud’s cooler months. Despite this, we found ourselves using our private pool far more than the heated communal pool, which we visited only once during our entire stay. Ubud sits at elevation and runs cooler and less humid than coastal Bali, but even during rainy season the pool was inviting enough. In the dry season with full sunshine, we imagine it would be even better.

For those looking to upgrade, Akohara offers several higher categories. The Pertiwi villas are similar in layout to the Teja but with subtle upgrades, while the Bayu villas step things up considerably — spread across two levels, with a larger infinity pool, a swinging lounge suspended above the water, an expanded deck, and a more traditional enclosed bathroom. The Apah Honeymoon Suite is the largest single-bedroom option, featuring a 42m² infinity pool with a suspended hammock net. At the top of the range, the two-bedroom Asaka Villa is well suited to two couples travelling together — though as an adults-only property, it won’t be catering to families regardless.

🛏️ Ready to see room availability and rates? Check Booking.com, Agoda or Expedia for the latest prices.

Pools

Every villa at Akohara comes with its own private infinity pool, and in practice this changes how you use the property entirely. The main infinity pool on Row 2, positioned right alongside Jihwa Restaurant, is heated to a pleasant temperature and has some of the best valley views on the property — but during our entire stay it was never crowded, and on most visits we had it to ourselves. When every guest has their own private pool just steps from their bedroom, the main one becomes more of a bonus than a necessity.

The main pool is a genuinely beautiful spot to spend an afternoon, and the poolside service makes it even easier to stay put — food and drinks from Jihwa Restaurant can be ordered directly to your sunlounge, which makes it dangerously easy to lose several hours without noticing. A lazy late morning or a sundowner with those valley views stretching out in front of you — we can think of worse ways to spend a day.

The private villa pools are unheated, which is worth factoring into your plans if you’re visiting during cooler months. Despite this, we gravitated to our private pool almost every day and used the main pool only once. There’s something about having a pool entirely to yourself — with the jungle directly in front of you and nobody else around — that’s hard to give up once you’ve experienced it. In the dry season with full sunshine, we imagine the unheated temperature would barely register as a consideration.

🏊 Dreaming of your own private infinity pool in the Bali jungle? Check availability at Akohara Buahan Village Retreat now.

Restaurants and Dining

Jihwa Restaurant is the beating heart of Akohara, and for a single on-site restaurant serving breakfast through to dinner, it punches well above its weight. Positioned on Row 2 with sweeping 180-degree views across the jungle valley, it’s an open-air space that manages to feel both grand and relaxed at the same time — the kind of restaurant you’re happy to linger in long after your plates have been cleared.

Breakfast is included with every room booking and is served à la carte, either at the restaurant or delivered to your villa. The menu takes familiar breakfast formats and adds enough of an Akohara twist to keep things interesting. Our standout was the avocado toast — which, we appreciate, is not an original observation, but it was genuinely excellent and became a fixture of our mornings. Coffee is barista-made and very good — a detail that matters more than it should after a long-haul flight, and one that Akohara gets right.

For those wanting something more memorable, a floating breakfast can be arranged in your private villa pool for an additional Rp400,000 (approximately AU$34 / US$23). We tried it once. It’s unabashedly geared toward the photo opportunity rather than practical dining — eating while floating isn’t quite as serene as it looks on Instagram — but it’s a fun experience and worth doing at least once for the novelty alone.

The all-day menu at Jihwa is broad enough to satisfy most tastes without feeling unfocused. Starters and small bites range from Rp130,000 to Rp175,000, mains from Rp180,000 to Rp385,000, with a good spread across Western, Indonesian, pizza, and pasta options. The standout for us was the Aussie Beef Tenderloin — char-grilled imported beef with creamy mashed potato and mushroom sauce at Rp385,000 (approximately AU$33 / US$22). We ordered it three times over the course of our stay, which we feel is a sufficient endorsement. Among the starters, the Garden Salad Rolls — Vietnamese-style fresh rolls with peanut sauce and nam jim dipping sauce at Rp155,000 (approximately AU$13 / US$9) — were another firm favourite that made a regular appearance at our table. The Fish and Chips were a reliable lunch option, and the Indonesian dishes from the Nusantara section of the menu were a highlight — the Nasi Goreng and Sate Ayam in particular were well executed and felt authentically prepared rather than watered down for tourist palates.

The cocktail list is extensive and the selection is commendable, but execution was inconsistent. Some, like classic cocktails, were genuinely excellent — well-balanced and worth revisiting — while others, like those on the Signature menu, missed the mark. With a daily cocktail included in our package, we worked our way through a fair portion of it, and the variance between the best and worst was more than you’d hope for at this level of property. Not a dealbreaker by any stretch, but worth tempering expectations if cocktail quality is important to you.

In-room dining is also available and runs off the same menu as the all-day dining, which means you have the full range of options available from the comfort of your villa. On quieter evenings when leaving the pool felt like too much effort, it was a very welcome option.

🍽️ Staying at Akohara? Book your villa and make the most of Jihwa Restaurant — check rates at Booking.com, Agoda or Expedia.

The Gym

The gym at Akohara sits on Row 7, just below the Hara Wellness Spa, and it has two things going for it: excellent air conditioning and genuinely impressive floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over the jungle. If you’re going to exercise anywhere, the view makes a reasonable case for it.

The equipment, however, tells a different story. Two treadmills, an exercise bike, a small cable machine, a rack of dumbbells, and a stretching area near the entrance — that’s the full inventory. It’s functional enough for a light session or a casual morning workout, but anyone who takes their training seriously will find it lacking. This is not a gym designed to replace your regular routine; it’s a gym for a casual workout and for cardio.

For a wellness-focused retreat of this calibre, the gym feels like the one area where the investment hasn’t quite matched the ambition of the rest of the property. That said, given that Akohara’s appeal is rooted in rest, relaxation, and the spa rather than fitness, it’s hard to imagine most guests spending much time here. The yoga deck further down at the bottom of the valley is arguably a more fitting expression of what Akohara is actually about — open-air, overlooking the river, and designed for the kind of slow morning movement that fits the pace of the retreat.

The Spa

The Hara Wellness Spa sits at the bottom of the property on Row 7, and the journey down to it — whether by inclinator or stairs — is worth building into your plans early. It’s open from 9:00am to 8:00pm, and a 24-hour advance reservation is recommended to secure your preferred time.

The spa has three open-air treatment rooms, each with large open windows looking directly out over the lush tropical forest below. It’s a genuinely beautiful setting — and during our couples Balinese massage, the heavens opened and a tropical downpour rolled in across the valley. Rather than being an inconvenience, it was one of the more memorable moments of the stay. Lying there listening to rain hammering the jungle canopy while someone works out the knots in your shoulders is an experience that’s difficult to put a price on.

The treatment menu is extensive — far more so than you might expect from a retreat of this size. Beyond the core massage offerings, which include the signature Balinese Taksu, Panca Samyoga blending Balinese, Swedish and Thai techniques, deep tissue, and Lavender Relaxation from Rp1,200,000 (approximately AU$102 / US$68) for 60 minutes, the spa also offers Ayurvedic therapies including Abhyanga massage, Marma Therapy and Shirodhara, plus body rituals, scrubs, facials, manicures, pedicures, and a beauty salon. For those wanting a full day of it, the Hara Sensory Ritual combines a massage, body scrub, facial, and aromatic flower bath over four hours for Rp3,400,000 (approximately AU$288 / US$193).

Pricing is worth mentioning. Bali is generally exceptional value for spa treatments, and Hara sits at the expensive end even by five-star standards. Our 90-minute couples massage was included in our booking package, and while the experience was genuinely excellent and left us both thoroughly relaxed, we’ll be honest: had we been paying the full Rp1,600,000 (approximately AU$136 / US$91) out of pocket, we’d have thought twice.

If the spa is important to your stay, it’s well worth factoring into your booking decision from the outset. A package that includes treatments will represent significantly better value than paying à la carte — and given the quality of the setting and the therapists, it’s an experience worth having. Just not necessarily at full price.

Complimentary yoga sessions and meditation are available exclusively to resort guests on the yoga deck above the river — including special full moon and new moon ceremony sessions following the Balinese calendar. It’s a thoughtful touch that reinforces the wellness identity of the retreat without making it feel prescriptive.

💆 Treat yourself at Hara Wellness Spa — book your stay at Akohara Bali via Booking.com

Activities

For a retreat that’s primarily designed around doing very little, Akohara offers a surprisingly varied activity schedule. Each day the hotel puts together a programme of organised activities that guests can sign up for as they please — nothing is compulsory, nothing is hard-sold, and there’s no pressure to fill your days with anything beyond the pool and a good book if that’s what you’re after.

On-property options include yoga sessions on the open-air yoga deck at the bottom of the valley, Jamu-making classes where you can learn to prepare the traditional Balinese ginger and honey drink you’ll have been handed on arrival, cycling, and a local village walk — among others. The range changes day to day, so it’s worth checking the schedule at the start of your stay to plan around anything that appeals.

We tried the local village walk, which meanders through the surrounding fields and local area. It was a pleasant enough way to spend an hour and finished with a fresh coconut, which was a nice touch. That said, we’d describe it as a gentle introduction to the area rather than a standout experience — the route felt a little disjointed in places, and it’s probably not something we’d rush to repeat. The Jamu-making class and cycling were both on our radar but we simply ran out of time, which is perhaps the best indication of how easy it is to let the days slip by at Akohara without a single regret.

At the very bottom of the valley, a bridge crosses the river to the other side, with the jungle continuing beyond. We didn’t make it across during our stay — time got away from us — but it’s worth factoring into your plans if a short jungle stroll appeals.

For those wanting to venture further afield, the hotel’s complimentary shuttle to Ubud opens up the town’s well-known offerings — art markets, restaurants, temples, and the Tegallalang Rice Terraces about 15 minutes away. We also took ourselves off-property for an ATV riding session one day and visited one of the area’s day clubs on another, both of which made for a good change of pace without straying too far from the retreat mindset (you can check out our full review of this tour here). The Grab app makes self-organised day trips easy enough, and the hotel is happy to point you in the right direction.

🏍️ Heading to Ubud? Book activities through GetYourGuide for reliable, well-rated options. Our favorite ATV Tour in Ubud is with Alasan Adventure ATV – check out our full review or book it via Klook for 40% off.

Service

If there’s one aspect of Akohara that consistently surprised us throughout our stay, it was the service. Not because we expected it to be poor — at this price point, attentive service is a reasonable expectation — but because it was genuinely, notably exceptional in a way that we found ourselves remarking on to each other more than once.

From the moment we arrived, nothing felt impossible. Every request was met with a smile and an immediate yes — no hesitation, no visible effort to manage expectations downward, just a quiet willingness to make things happen. We never tested the limits with anything unusual or demanding, but the consistency of that attitude across every member of staff, across every interaction, over the course of an entire stay, is harder to achieve than it sounds.

What stood out most was how quickly the staff learned who we were. From the second day onwards we were greeted by name at every turn — restaurant, pool, lobby, passing on the stairs. For a property with 28 villas and a constant rotation of guests, that level of personal recognition is a small but meaningful touch that makes a stay feel genuinely welcoming rather than transactional.

The villas are serviced twice daily — a full clean and bed make in the morning, followed by a turndown service in the evening. Towels are changed both times, the minibar is restocked, the mosquito netting is drawn over the bed, and the pool towels are replaced. It’s the kind of housekeeping rhythm that you stop noticing after a day or two, which is precisely the point — everything is simply taken care of before you think to ask.

The pillow situation we mentioned in the rooms section is worth revisiting here as a service example: we called reception, explained we preferred softer pillows, and two arrived within minutes. No forms, no waiting, no follow-up required. The shuttle service told a similar story — on more than one occasion we booked last minute, and on one occasion cancelled shortly before departure due to heavy rain, without any issue or fuss. The shuttle itself is worth mentioning too: rather than the minibus we’d half expected, it’s a private town car — clean, air-conditioned, stocked with bottles of water, and driven by someone who clearly knows the road. For a complimentary service, it’s a quietly impressive touch that reflects the overall standard Akohara sets across the board.

Value for Money

Our Akohara Buahan Village Retreat review would not be complete without addressing value for money. At between Rp7,000,000 and Rp8,000,000 per night (approximately AU$595–AU$678 / US$399–US$455) for the entry-level Teja villa, this is not a budget proposition — but in the context of what you’re getting, it sits about where you’d expect for a five-star luxury villa retreat of this calibre. Rates do fluctuate depending on the time of year, so it’s worth keeping an eye on pricing and booking when you see a good rate. We also found that booking through Agoda or Booking.com often comes in cheaper than booking directly through the hotel’s own website — worth checking before you commit.

The dining piece is worth considering when weighing up the cost. Akohara’s location, while beautiful, means that venturing off-property for a meal requires a car ride each way. We did make the trip into Ubud on occasion, but more often than not we found ourselves staying put — the food at Jihwa was good enough that leaving rarely felt necessary. Factor in the cost and effort of travelling to and from Ubud for meals and the on-site restaurant starts to look like very good value as part of your overall daily spend.

Then there’s the villa itself. Every room category at Akohara comes with a private infinity pool as standard — not as an upgrade, not as a premium tier, but as the baseline offering. Add the twice-daily housekeeping, the complimentary shuttle to Ubud, the quality of the service throughout, and the sheer beauty of the setting, and the value proposition becomes difficult to argue with.

Is it worth it? Our Akohara Buahan review has one clear answer — unequivocally yes. It sits not just among our favourite hotels in Bali, but among our favourite hotel stays ever — full stop. For couples or honeymooners looking for a genuine retreat experience within striking distance of Ubud, it’s very hard to look past.

🏨 We found rates on hotel sites like Booking.com and Agoda are often cheaper than the official website for Akohara Buahan Village Retreat.

Who Should Book This Hotel

Akohara Buahan Village Retreat is, above all else, a couples hotel — and an exceptional one at that. Honeymooners in particular will find it difficult to do better in this part of Bali. The private pool villas, the romantic setting, the unhurried pace, the spa, the valley views at dinner — it’s a property that has been designed, whether intentionally or not, almost entirely around two people who want to be somewhere beautiful together and largely left alone.

Beyond honeymooners, it suits any couple looking for a genuine escape — whether that’s a milestone anniversary, a much-needed break from real life, or simply a desire to spend a few days somewhere that makes the everyday feel very far away. Solo travellers seeking a proper wellness retreat will also find plenty to love here, particularly in the spa and activity programme.

Akohara is adults-only, so families are off the table entirely — and that’s precisely part of its appeal. It is not the right hotel for anyone seeking a lively social scene, a packed activities programme, or easy access to Ubud’s restaurants and nightlife on a whim. The shuttle schedule is convenient but fixed, and the surrounding area is quiet by design. If you’re the type who needs to be doing something at all times, you may find the pace a little slow. If you’re the type who finds that prospect deeply appealing, you’ve found your hotel.

Best Time to Visit

Bali’s dry season runs from approximately April to October, with the wet season covering November through to March. We visited in early January — right in the middle of wet season — and found it more pleasant than the label might suggest.

Rainfall in the Ubud hills tends to arrive as occasional showers rather than sustained downpours, and the elevated position of the retreat means it runs noticeably cooler and less humid than coastal Bali. On most days the sun made an appearance and the rain, when it came, added atmosphere rather than ruining plans. As we mentioned in the spa section, a tropical downpour during an open-air massage turns out to be one of the more memorable experiences the retreat has to offer.

That said, we’d expect the dry season to be the better time to visit overall. With more consistent sunshine and warmer days, the unheated private villa pools would come into their own — we used ours regularly in January, but in the heat of the dry season we imagine we’d have barely left it. The valley views are also likely to be even more spectacular on clear dry-season days, and the chance of rain interrupting outdoor dining or activities is significantly lower.

High season in Bali broadly aligns with the dry season, so rates may be higher between June and August in particular. If budget is a consideration, the shoulder months of April, May, and September offer a reasonable middle ground — drier weather without the peak season premiums. Whenever you go, booking in advance is advisable given the small number of villas.

One final consideration worth flagging — Bali is an enormously popular destination with Australian travellers, and prices and crowds tend to spike noticeably during Australian school holidays and public holidays. As an adults-only property, Akohara itself is largely insulated from the influx of families that affects other hotels during these periods. However, Ubud — the most likely destination for day trips — will be noticeably busier, and transport and activity costs in the wider area tend to rise accordingly. If your dates are flexible, planning around Australian school holiday periods will generally mean better rates and a quieter experience beyond the retreat’s gates.

Convinced by our Akohara Bali review? Check availability and book your stay at Akohara Buahan Village Retreat via Booking.com, Agoda or Expedia.

This article contains affiliate links. If you book through our links we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend hotels and services we have personally used and genuinely believe in. We paid for our stay at Akohara Buahan Village Retreat in full and this review is entirely our own.

Frequently Asked Questions About Akohara Buahan Village Retreat

Is Akohara Buahan Village Retreat adults-only?
Yes — Akohara is strictly adults-only. No children are permitted on the property, which contributes significantly to the peaceful and unhurried atmosphere of the retreat.

How far is Akohara Buahan Village Retreat from Ubud?
Akohara is approximately 30 minutes north of Ubud by car in the Payangan district. The hotel offers a complimentary shuttle service to and from Ubud with departures at 10:00am, 2:00pm and 4:00pm, and returns at 3:00pm and 5:00pm. We recommend booking your seat in advance as spaces are limited.

How far is Akohara from Bali’s airport?
Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar is approximately 60–75 minutes from the retreat without traffic. Bali’s roads are notorious for congestion, particularly around the Ubud corridor, so allow extra time and avoid peak hours where possible.

Do all villas have a private pool?
Yes — every villa at Akohara, regardless of category, comes with its own private infinity pool. The entry-level Teja villas also feature a bathtub positioned in the middle of the pool, which is as enjoyable as it sounds.

Are the private villa pools heated at Akohara Buahan Village Retreat?
No — the private villa pools are not heated. This applies across all villa categories. The main pool next to Jihwa Restaurant is heated, however. Despite the cooler temperature, we found ourselves using our private pool every day and barely visited the main pool — though in the dry season with full sunshine, the unheated temperature would be even less of a consideration.

Is there a main shared pool area at Akohara?
Yes — there is a large heated infinity pool on Row 2 next to Jihwa Restaurant, with stunning valley views and poolside food and drink service. In practice, many guests tend to use their private villa pool more often.

What restaurants are at Akohara Buahan Village Retreat?
Akohara has one on-site restaurant, Jihwa, which serves all-day dining from breakfast through to dinner. The menu spans Western, Indonesian, pizza, and pasta dishes, with breakfast included in all room bookings. In-room dining is also available from the same menu.

What is the best room category at Akohara?
The entry-level Teja Villa is 121m² with a private infinity pool and outdoor bathroom and we found it exceptional value for the category. Higher categories include the Pertiwi, the two-level Bayu villa with a larger pool and indoor bathroom, the Apah Honeymoon Suite with a 42m² pool and suspended hammock net, and the two-bedroom Asaka Villa for two couples.

Is Akohara Buahan a good hotel for a honeymoon?
If you’re searching for a Buahan Village Retreat Bali review from a honeymoon perspective, look no further — it is one of the best honeymoon hotels in the Ubud area. The private pool villas, romantic setting, exceptional service, and adults-only policy make it ideally suited to couples celebrating a honeymoon or special occasion.

Does Akohara have a spa?
Yes — the Hara Wellness Spa is located on Row 7 at the bottom of the valley and is open from 9:00am to 8:00pm. It offers a wide range of treatments including Balinese massage, Ayurvedic therapies, facials, body rituals, sound healing, and more. A 24-hour advance reservation is recommended.

What is the best time of year to visit Akohara?
The dry season from April to October is generally the best time to visit, with maore consistent sunshine and warmer days — ideal for making the most of the private villa pools. That said, we visited in January during the wet season and found it perfectly enjoyable, with only occasional showers and a cooler, less humid climate than coastal Bali. Avoid Australian public holidays and school holidays if possible, as Ubud gets noticeably busier and pricier during these periods.

How do I get to Akohara Buahan Village Retreat from the airport?
We recommend booking a private transfer in advance through a provider such as Klook, which costs around AU$27 (approximately US$18 / Rp318,000) from the airport. The hotel can also arrange private transfers directly. Grab is a reliable option for trips during your stay.

How much does Akohara Buahan Village Retreat cost per night?
Rates for the entry-level Teja villa start at between Rp7,000,000 and Rp8,000,000 per night (approximately AU$595–AU$678 / US$399–US$455) depending on the time of year. All room bookings include daily breakfast. Check Booking.com, Agoda or Expedia for the latest rates.

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Have you stayed at Akohara Buahan Village Retreat, or are you planning a visit? We’d love to hear from you — drop your questions or comments below and we’ll do our best to help.