7 unusual sleeping experiences in Bali

A typical tropical vacation, for many of us, conjures images of white sand beaches, crystal-clear water, and a lot of lounging around. Maybe a couple of physical activities if we’re feeling adventurous, want to vary-up our Instagram posts, or wish to erase our guilt about consuming endless amounts of margaritas.

While we’re likely to give a lot of thought on choosing our accommodation, we don’t often think of “sleeping” as an experience. And, why would we? We’re only half conscious when we sleep right? Also isn’t it so much cooler to tell our friends that we caught a big-ass wave or went tubing down a canyon?

Well, these seven places definitely aim to make sleeping a unique experience. While it may not be what immediately comes to mind when you think of a “typical tropical vacation”, we guarantee that you’ll want to tell your friends about these offbeat “sleeping experiences”.

1. With shrimp at your feet

Although the underwater hotel trend hasn’t hit Bali yet (we suspect that it’s a matter of time before it does), the Udang House at Ubud’s “eco-luxury boutique hotel,” Bambu Indah, allows you to get pretty cosy with some marine life. Situated above a fresh shrimp pond, the Udang House has a glass-floor panel where you can see an array of crustaceans doing their thing literally under your feet. There is also a random boat paddle and fishing net in the middle of the room (just in case you REALLY want to test your fishing skills).

Apparently the houses (there are 11) at Bambu Indah were formerly Javanese bridal houses, built by noblemen as a gift to their new bride. We bet that these noblemen didn’t foresee that their creation will be enjoyed by many tourists and written about from the other side of the world many years later.

Photo: Bambu Indah Hotel

2. Surrounded by Sumatran elephants

If you’ve always wanted to get up close and personal with an elephant (and feeding them for an hour or riding them for the day just doesn’t cut it), The Elephant Safari Park Lodge lets you sleep while 30 Sumatran elephants roam freely around the safari park. The lodge does provide packages for various elephant-related activities, but one of the unique experiences is probably waking up and having breakfast to these rare creatures strolling to the nearby lake for their morning bathing ritual. 

3. “Camp” with the villagers 

Live amongst local villagers in an agro and culture adventure camp located in Desa Pengotan, where agriculture forms the lifeline for many of its citizens.
We say “camp” because their serengeti tents actually look quite nice, with actual matresses, lamps, and chairs and it really appears to be more “glamping” than roughing it camping. However, if you want to experience life in a Bali village but aren’t quite ready to give up your basic comforts, then this place might be for you. Unless you get unlucky with your tourist neighbors, you’re unlikely to have trouble sleeping due to intoxicated bule screams that you might encounter in Kuta. The only party noises you will hear are cultural performances and shows hosted by the villagers.

Photo: Baliwoso

4. Hideaway in an organic farm 

If a quiet homestay in the middle of an organic farm is more your thing, Side by Side Organic Farm provides a glamping-style accommodation surrounded by rice paddies over fish and prawn ponds. There’s an epic view of Mt Agung sunrise too, which will cancel any possible irritation that you might experience when the local rooster wakes you up.

As a bonus, there are a number of ways you can help the local farmers and the community, whether that be building homes, planting crops and fruit trees, or harvesting rice.

5. On a surf yacht 

Surfers who frequent Bali for their amazing waves can now cut down on commuting time to the beach by staying at Shaka Surf Charters, a yacht that goes around all the amazing surf-spots around Bali and the surrounding islands (including the uncrowded waves at South Lombok Coast). Apparently the inside is pretty nice too, with first-class cabins, hot showers, and no rats or cockroaches roaming around (which in itself makes for a nice sleeping experience in Bali…or anywhere in Indonesia, for that matter).

6. Surrounded by mosaic art, rivers, and rice paddies

The Michi Retreat is a unique villa in Jukut Patu Village, approximately 6 kilometers south from the center of Ubud. The owner is a well-travelled professor that calls himself “the old nomad” and every room is decorated by mosaic arts inspired by different parts of the world that the professor has traveled to.

While travelers have lamented that the place could be better maintained, in general visitors have left rave reviews on TripAdvisor about this place, calling it “wonderfully odd” and “whimsical”. We think that art-lovers will appreciate it.

7. In the middle of a bamboo forest

Bali has many places that allows you to sleep in the middle of a forest, but bamboo and nature enthusiasts will enjoy sleeping in Panchoran Retreat, where almost the entire property is made out of bamboo, and the interior blends (or blurs – depending on how you look at it), with its forest surroundings.

Just make sure you slap on plenty of insect-repellants. Guests have commented that the mosquitos can be quite annoying if you’re sleeping in one of the more outdoorsy cottages.