Capella Ubud is not the Bali you’ve seen on postcards. Hidden within a densely forested ridge in the sacred Keliki Valley near Ubud, this resort does not sprawl or overtake. Instead, it tucks itself quietly into the terrain, camouflaged by banyan trees, bamboo groves, and creeping vines. Designed by the ever-irreverent Bill Bensley, Capella Ubud is a masterclass in maximalist restraint—a phrase that sounds contradictory until you experience it firsthand.
→ ARCHITECTURE THAT FOLLOWS THE JUNGLE’S LEAD
Built without removing a single tree, the property features 22 luxurious tents that appear to float among the foliage. Each is connected by narrow suspension bridges that meander through the jungle canopy, reinforcing the feeling of walking through a film set—albeit one grounded in reverence for its natural context. The structures rest on lightly anchored platforms, designed to leave the forest floor untouched. The result is architecture that doesn’t sit on the land, but with it.
→ NARRATIVE, LAYERED AND LUSH
While Capella’s design is immersive, it’s also richly narrative. Bensley was inspired by the lives of early European settlers in 19th-century Bali, and each tented suite is themed accordingly—The Cartographer’s Tent, The Explorer’s Tent, The Naturalist’s Tent. Interiors burst with character: vintage steamer trunks, copper clawfoot bathtubs, carved Javanese antiques, hand-dyed batiks, and hundreds of objets d’art, all individually sourced. Yet nothing feels forced. The story flows from room to room, as fluid as the nearby Wos River.
→ WHERE DECADENCE MEETS DISCRETION
Despite the drama of its detailing, Capella Ubud is ultimately a place of solitude and stillness. Each suite has its own saltwater plunge pool overlooking the jungle. Open-air bathrooms invite the elements in. Beds are framed in gauzy canopies that shift in the breeze. By day, you hear cicadas and birdsong. By night, the jungle hums with unseen life. The architecture becomes a silent observer.
→ ROOTED IN RITUAL AND ECOLOGY
Sustainability here isn’t aesthetic—it’s embedded. From solar-powered lighting and water filtration systems to the resort’s zero single-use plastic policy, the impact on the environment is minimised without compromising guest experience. Local craftspeople were engaged throughout the design and build process, using reclaimed teak, bamboo, and volcanic stone to ensure material continuity with the land. Every decision—from the elevation of the tent platforms to the biodegradable amenities—was made to preserve the integrity of the rainforest.
Capella Ubud is a fantasy that honours its setting—a deeply personal, theatrical, and tactile experience that allows the land to take the lead while letting imagination run free.
STRIKING FEATURE
Wellness & Spa Experience: The Auriga Spa, hidden among the trees, offers Balinese healing rituals in tented treatment rooms that dissolve into the jungle canopy.
