Stephanie Mee gets into her glad rags to experience some indulgent camping.
WHAT exactly is glamping?
The Oxford Dictionary defines it as:
Noun: A form of camping involving accommodation and facilities more luxurious than those associated with traditional camping.
Word Origin: A blend of glamorous and camping.
Sample sentence: Glamping is likely to satisfy any city slicker seeking a little refuge in nature—without foregoing any of life’s luxuries.
Is it any wonder then that Bali, a place where more often than not nature and luxury go hand in hand, offers a wealth of opportunities to get your glamp on?
SANDAT GLAMPING TENTS
BALI’S first ever bona fide glamping site can be found hidden away in the midst of undulating rice paddies three kilometres from Ubud. Sandat Glamping Tents is a luxury resort that features five elegant safari style tents, three lumbung traditionally designed to store rice but converted into beautiful two-level suites, and an impressive three-level bamboo living and dining pavilion. Each of the buildings here has been adapted to the landscape to preserve the environment and create a symbiotic relationship with the natural surroundings.
The first thing you notice when you approach Sandat Glamping Tents is the huge central common building made entirely of bamboo. Built by local experts, the building draws on the latest innovations in bio-architecture, and it features three levels that reach a height of 10 metres. Inside you will find a bar made from a huge slab of volcanic stone, a breezy lounge with sofas, armchairs and a library, and a dining area with a 26-foot table fashioned from the trunk of a giant tree.
Guests have the option to stay in one of the magnificent tents made with water and fire repellent cotton, or a wooden lumbung. Each sleeping space has been designed differently with natural materials, fine linens, Balinese antiques and artworks, and designer Italian touches. Depending on your room, you may find Venetian mirrors, leather chairs, bed stands made from petrified wood, or coloured rattan. Private plunge pools overlooking the jungle add to the ambiance.
Besides the unique sleeping arrangements and green philosophy, Sandat Glamping Tents stands out for its incredibly peaceful atmosphere. There are no televisions here, no pounding bass, no roaring traffic or howling dogs. During the day you can hear birds chirping in the trees and the wind rustling the palm leaves, and by night crickets chirp in the fields. Moreover, the management accepts only a limited number of guests to ensure the utmost peace and tranquillity.
