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Review / Why the Desa Hay eco-resort is your guilt-free go-to in Bali: as the Indonesian paradise battles overtourism, these secluded villas on the edge of Canggu make for a sustainable stay

Desa Hay, a solar-powered eco-resort in Bali, offers a tranquil escape with a focus on sustainability. Photos: Handout
Desa Hay, a solar-powered eco-resort in Bali, offers a tranquil escape with a focus on sustainability. Photos: Handout
Asia travel

  • Just over 3km from Bali’s Pererenan Beach sits Desa Hay, an intimate, child-free eco-resort offering a tranquil escape from hipster-heavy Canggu, with just six villa rooms, each with their own pool
  • Part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World group, the solar-powered property uses locally sourced ingredients, supports sustainable fishing practices, and is free from all single-use plastics

We’ve officially reached Peak Bali. The world’s favourite spiritual escape is at capacity. As 2024 dawned, holidaymakers endured five-hour traffic jams from the airport over the new year weekender – an unprecedented human tsunami that came just weeks after the Indonesian island was voted the world’s second-best destination (after Dubai) in TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best awards.

Natural materials were used wherever possible in constructing Desa Hay in Bali, Indonesia
Natural materials were used wherever possible in constructing Desa Hay in Bali, Indonesia

Which means the world won’t stop arriving at the Pacific paradise any time soon (in fact, the local government is banking on it, hoping to attract 7 million visitors this year – 2 million more than 2023). But it also means you should think long and hard about where you stay – and what effect your visit will leave behind long after you jet off home.

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Desa Hay might be the ethical, and logistical, answer. Based a short but significant distance inland from bursting-at-the-seams hipster enclave Canggu, this solar-powered, self-styled “luxury eco-resort” offers a serene sanctuary away from the insistent scooters, beats and blares. More importantly, this Considerate Collection resort puts sustainability at the heart of every traveller’s stay.

The resort: oasis in the bustle

The view from the pool at Desa Hay, a luxury eco resort that’s pioneering sustainability in Bali, Indonesia
The view from the pool at Desa Hay, a luxury eco resort that’s pioneering sustainability in Bali, Indonesia

Desa Hay might sit just 3.6km from the bustling Pererenan Beach, but the fact the resort’s Wi-fi network is the only detectable connection is a very good sign of just how far you’ve travelled in that nine-minute ride. And with just six villa rooms on the site – all child-free – this oasis of calm combines all the amenities and attentive service of a luxury resort with the intimacy and flair of a boutique hotel. Its small scale and attention to detail has seen Desa Hay welcomed into the elite Small Luxury Hotels of the World group.

More than 40 per cent of Desa Hay’s ground are set aside for natural vegetation
More than 40 per cent of Desa Hay’s ground are set aside for natural vegetation

Nearly half of the grounds are set aside for vegetation, much of it lush green species native to Bali, giving the resort a surprisingly jungle-y vibe despite the buzz of neighbouring construction. And while Desa Hay may be compact, it’s also hard to leave.

For one, there’s really nothing of note in the surrounding neighbourhood. While inside, there are free yoga classes on the lawn every morning, and private massages and candlelit dinners can be ordered to your room (staff don’t just deliver massage tables and surprise floral displays – they even set Zen music playing on Spotify). Venturing to the communal pool? The on-site Ijo restaurant boasts an impressively broad (and surprisingly affordable) menu, especially considering it will never serve more than 12 diners a day.