Umajati Retreat

Umajati is set in half a hectare (1 acre) of rice field, coconut grove, and woodland bordering the Tawar River. Lines of white herons fly over the property each morning and evening on their way to and from the traditional heron reserve in the neighboring village of Petulu Gunung. Umajati hosts two Javanese wooden homes, named after the villages where they were found, Wates Bangbau and Bugoharjo. T

raditional passive solar design creates naturally cool and breezy living spaces. Wastewater gardens safely filter all grey and black water. LED lighting offers a low carbon-footprint by significantly reducing energy usage. All organic waste is composted on site and reused in the garden. Material that is not compostable is recycled. Wifi is available in each house, connecting all this local thinking to the global context. Connecting with our community and environment means there are no enclosing walls around the property. With folding doors and large windows, each house maintains a direct relationship with picturesque neighboring rice fields, gardens and woodlands. The gardens around the houses have been sensitively landscaped to bring the colors and fragrance of the tropics into all internal and external living spaces. Beds of red gingers, ivory lilies, and yellow iris set off borders of orange heliconia, white gardenia and jasmine. Orchids and epiphytes drape the limbs of a dozen frangipani trees and, in its season, the scarlet flame tree provides quite the show. The center of the property hosts a 15-meter lap pool, with a shallow corner for relaxing. The pool is nestled within the gardens, and surrounded by a shade deck and sunny patio area, with chairs for lounging. A quarter of the land, from the woodland down to the river, has been set aside as a natural wildlife and plant reserve. Umajati’s housekeeper-cooks will take care of you during your stay with us, preparing meals to your requests, keeping the house clean, and organizing laundry. In them, you meet the genuine Bali. They will make your breakfast, and can prepare and serve lunch and dinner to order. All in all, Umajati is about cultural integrity, care for the environment, and sustainable livelihoods. A percentage of sales are committed to conservation and livelihood development across Indonesia, giving targeted, long-term mentoring to community groups for sustainable change.