STAY
I can’t resist mentioning the hidden gem, Swasti Eco cottages (baliswasti.com). It’s an incredible place to stay, complete with a permaculture garden and a newly developed menu. They serve a sensational jackfruit curry and cooling drinks to enjoy by the pool.
DO
Ater exploring the waterfalls and mounting one of the many giant swings, I suggest a truly plant-based adventure. New Earth Cooking (newearthcooking.com) is a vegan culinary school one hour outside of Ubud. On Fridays, they invite you to join their team for an inspirational experience. Ater being greeted by a medicinal balanced tea, mangosteens and steamed pumpkin cakes, be swept into the jungle to forage fresh cacao from the trees, nibble on Gotu Kola and pop a passion fruit straight from the sky. Leave your shoes behind and wander through the rice paddies learning about Balinese permaculture and stagger back to the school to get involved in whipping up lunch.
SHOP
Every Tuesday and Saturday Moksa (moksaubud.com), the amazing restaurant and permaculture garden, host an organic farmers market. Enjoy the abundance of fresh snake fruits, dragon fruits and unforgettable durian. It’s a great chance to connect with growers and try the forgotten fruits.
Visit
Make sure to check out the Green School (greenschool.org), the pioneering school with a focus on forward-thinking education and sustainability. You can choose the go on a tour and be blown away by the way they have built this rainforest education space.