Zen Resort Guests Reviews

  I arrived from a stressful UN conference for coming to a rest at the ZEN RESORT for a few days. It was my first time in Bali, and I was... read more already taken by the overall friendliness of the Balinese people. The three hour trip to the north of the island added some breathtaking views to this first impression. But I was not yet prepared for the Zen Resort experience. A heartwarming welcome with a necklace of flowers, a beautifully designed room with a private pool and a spectacular ocean view was only the beginning of a journey that eventually started to change some perspectives on life. I had heard a bit about Ayurveda before but never experienced it myself. The philosophy of this Indian health system is that your body and soul should find and keep a balance, that is based on your individual needs, in order to stay healthy throughout your entire life. Used to a western lifestyle I usually see a specialist when something’s wrong and needs „repair“. In Ayurveda you have to find about your personal needs, and then you do your best to keep your system in balance, with food, special herbs, a balanced lifestyle, yoga, meditation, etc., and you see a doctor only to keep you on track. So everything at the resort is designed to support this idea. Water fountains, small basins, infinity pool - and a daily routine of meditation and yoga at... I arrived from a stressful UN conference for coming to a rest at the ZEN RESORT for a few days. It was my first time in Bali, and I was already taken by the overall friendliness of the Balinese people. The three hour trip to the north of the island added some breathtaking views to this first impression.

But I was not yet prepared for the Zen Resort experience. A heartwarming welcome with a necklace of flowers, a beautifully designed room with a private pool and a spectacular ocean view was only the beginning of a journey that eventually started to change some perspectives on life.
I had heard a bit about Ayurveda before but never experienced it myself. The philosophy of this Indian health system is that your body and soul should find and keep a balance, that is based on your individual needs, in order to stay healthy throughout your entire life.

Used to a western lifestyle I usually see a specialist when something’s wrong and needs „repair“. In Ayurveda you have to find about your personal needs, and then you do your best to keep your system in balance, with food, special herbs, a balanced lifestyle, yoga, meditation, etc., and you see a doctor only to keep you on track. So everything at the resort is designed to support this idea. Water fountains, small basins, infinity pool - and a daily routine of meditation and yoga at sunrise and sunset help your body to slowly relax and open up for more to come. Daily massages with four hands (both sides simultaneously to keep the balance) are not just relaxing but are telling the super friendly and experienced staff a lot about what your body and soul are in need of. If you wish you get feedback for every step. At first I found it quite challenging to keep up with the yoga trainer, but after 6 or 7 days my body was already longing for the exercise. And looking into the sunrise every morning was spectacular in itself.

The resort is situated on a kind of mountain balcony with a great view of the ocean some 10mins walk away. Ages ago this place was a Buddhist monastery built around some mysterious earth powers. Today steps are leading down into a beautiful forest garden, that is providing guests and staff with bananas, coconuts, cacao, mango, rice - and an abundance of flowers. During the pandemic the local staff have built wonderful spring water basins down there to take a quick bath after a walk through the forest. Very cool.

Some twelve days later I felt refreshed, like a new person ready to pick up life with new energies. The inspiring staff and the always present resort founder, Mahendra Shah, had managed to create a feeling of belonging and togetherness with all the other guests too.
I think everybody on this planet should experience this kind of peace with nature, this kindness, this liberation from all the burdens of your past.

Eventually I felt inspired to write a poem:

Bali imaginations

Imagine you have a thirst for nature.
How do you fill up your bottle?

Imagine you have a hunger
to leave your beaten track?
How do feed on new adventures?

Imagine your body is aching and your soul is hurt.
How you do find your healing balance?

Imagine you are on a quest for love.
How can you take a deep breath and find it in yourself?

Imagine the world is in turmoil and chaos.
How do you help building a new order for all humans?

Imagine a place comforting your secret needs.
How can it charge you up for new discoveries?

Imagine you have more questions than answers.
How can you make peace with nature to get
more answers than you can ever imagine?

How can we embrace our humanity and
create a sustainable and humane world? More

  During COVID I yearned to be at The Zen, to breathe in all the sights and sounds of the forest, to hear the cacophony of birds whilst I meditated, to... read more be held in the loving embrace of the Zen family, and to experience the healing hands of the therapists.

I was a little anxious about overseas travel, and to go to Bali, but I knew my need, and the need of the Balinese people for tourism was greater. I arrived recovering from COVID, exhausted and holding the pain and grief of the last 2 years in my heart, body, soul and mind. Over the course of 10 days the healing I experienced was beyond my expectations. The massage treatments were specifically tailored to meet my needs and paced in a way that allowed opening and healing to occur at deeper levels each day. This was supported by meditation, yoga, deliciously healthy and nutritious food, and the deep healing experienced in the sanctuary.

During COVID all of the staff worked together as a close community to build and create the Forest Centre, which is so, so beautiful. To walk here daily in the lushness of nature, bathe in the healing spring waters, and sit in the treetops with the birds was a deeply nourishing and healing experience for the soul.

The healing of the heart, body and soul during the day was enriched by evening with thoughtful and enlivening discussions with other guests who quickly became friends with a shared experience.

I left having let go of what no longer serves me, with a beautiful sense of inner peace and calm, a heart that is open and bountiful, and a greater appreciation of the loving nature of the Balinese people and for their humanity. I also have greater respect for Mahendra, the owner, who has supported these people throughout the past 2.5 years and in doing so, shows us how to live in a humane way. We all need to reconnect with our humanity, for ourselves, our families, our community and for the world.

Don't be anxious about travelling to Bali, we all need this form of healing to let go of the past, connect with our humanity and to support us in the challenges that will inevitably lie ahead. I cannot recommend the Zen Resort more highly, it has exceeded my expectations in every way and I will continue to return.

  My wife and I finally had a chance to return to Zen after travel restrictions were relaxed. In the two years when no guests were able to come, Mohendra the... read more owner somehow held the staff together, and they developed new spaces in the forest portion of the property, which has only expanded the magic!

We returned and found that the Zen continues to excel at care for everyone. Ayurvedic treatments were exceptional and varied, and very effective. The staff are highly skilled and experienced, friendly and caring.

The physical rejuvenation was matched by the opportunities for mental and spiritual growth, delivered skilfully at a pace and in a way that suits your own particular needs. In the time we were there we built our relationships with staff and other guests alike.

As Mohendra noted at one of the several dinners that spontaneously turned into evenings warm discussion among strangers who became friends, “supporting connection and humanity” is what the Zen strives to do and succeeds in doing.

I cannot recommend any place more highly than Zen for recovery and rejuvenation after the stresses of the past two years, and for preparation for the challenges of the future.

  My stay at The Zen was simply medicine for my soul! After the unprecedented experiences of the past few years I yearned to be immersed in nature, and with support,... read more be able to finally surrender all that I’d been holding at the level of body, mind and spirit.

It is perhaps my twelfth visit to this extraordinary place, and I could not have imagined how well it would exceed my expectations. The guidance and healing I experienced through the treatments and experiences on offer is world class; perhaps made even better through the gratitude shared - mine for being able to return to the place, and the gratitude shown to us by each and every Zen employee!

We also experienced the new spring-fed forest bathing area that has expanded the grounds of the Zen. To see how the staff joined in community and built such a lush and tranquil sanctuary was really uplifting and speaks to the formidable spirit and resilience of the people.

I can’t recommend this place more highly and will continue to be a regular devotee of this place.

  Words will never be able to convey what we (my husband and I) experienced in this beautiful resort!!! I will start with the Ayurvedic treatment that was beyond my... read more expectations (had already experience with Ayurveda in India)-beyond compare!! The therapists are real angels. We were treated with so much care, focus, skill and affection and the most important: everything felt like really coming from the heart. I imagined all the time that pharaohs in ancient Egypt must have been treated that way, or real kings and queens…. . The therapies were adjusted individually to our needs and wishes -embedded in the structure of the ancient Ayurveda wisdom.The therapists working in perfect synchronicity made the body mind and spirit feel healthy and alive in the most beautiful way. Speaking of beauty we experienced the most beautiful people working there. All the wonderful Stuff,the therapists, Budiani- the manager that introduced us to the ancient power of water and fire ceremonies and the balinese culture and Mr.Mahendra the owner from Zen resort with all his wonderful advice sharing his knowledge and interesting and incredible life adventures - what a blessing being able to meet these amazing people. Our wishes were fulfilled before we even knew that we had them, always with an open heart and ear and a smile that shines brighter than the sun. The deeply rooted spirituality that we were able to witness really moved us in my on a deep... Words will never be able to convey what we (my husband and I) experienced in this beautiful resort!!!
I will start with the Ayurvedic treatment that was beyond my expectations (had already experience with Ayurveda in India)-beyond compare!!
The therapists are real angels. We were treated with so much care, focus, skill and affection and the most important: everything felt like really coming from the heart.
I imagined all the time that pharaohs in ancient Egypt must have been treated that way, or real kings and queens…. .
The therapies were adjusted individually to our needs and wishes -embedded in the structure of the ancient Ayurveda wisdom.The therapists working in perfect synchronicity made the body mind and spirit feel healthy and alive in the most beautiful way.
Speaking of beauty we experienced the most beautiful people working there.
All the wonderful Stuff,the therapists, Budiani- the manager that introduced us to the ancient power of water and fire ceremonies and the balinese culture and Mr.Mahendra the owner from Zen resort with all his wonderful advice sharing his knowledge and interesting and incredible life adventures - what a blessing being able to meet these amazing people.
Our wishes were fulfilled before we even knew that we had them, always with an open heart and ear and a smile that shines brighter than the sun.
The deeply rooted spirituality that we were able to witness really moved us in my on a deep level.
This place is really magical:The healing Tree- sharing its secrets during meditation,the Eco forest and the sanctuary - a spot with healing power- played an important part on this journey transported us even deeper into the majestic power of nature itself. I really can’t explain the power of these places because it is something that I would wish for everyone to experience and explore on their own, because nature speaks with its silent force directly to the most inner center…
The adventures we were allowed to experience,the waterfalls,the dolphins, the romantic dinners under the stars and much, much more…Wow!!
The goodbye party with traditional balinese dancing and the birthday celebration for my husband were spectacular. The whole team put so much effort into every single detail.Really heartwarming!
By the way - the healthy, organic and fresh food from their own farm is just phenomenal!
Also I feeling incredible respect towards Mr.Mahendra for keeping all the Stuff during the two years of Covid! What a beautiful, inspiring gesture towards all the wonderful Souls working in Zen Resort! And a real example in humaneness..
I wish we return to this heavenly place and these wonderful, wonderful people!
Thank you so much for everything Zen Resort!!!
What a paradise!!! More

  Words will never be able to convey what we (my husband and I) experienced in this beautiful resort!!!
I will start with the Ayurvedic treatment that was beyond my... read more expectations (had already experience with Ayurveda in India)-beyond compare!!
The therapists are real angels. We were treated with so much care, focus, skill and affection and the most important: everything felt like really coming from the heart.
I imagined all the time that pharaohs in ancient Egypt must have been treated that way, or real kings and queens…. .
The therapies were adjusted individually to our needs and wishes -embedded in the structure of the ancient Ayurveda wisdom.The therapists working in perfect synchronicity made the body mind and spirit feel healthy and alive in the most beautiful way.
Speaking of beauty we experienced the most beautiful people working there.
All the wonderful Stuff,the therapists, Budiani- the manager that introduced us to the ancient power of water and fire ceremonies and the balinese culture and Mr.Mahendra the owner from Zen resort with all his wonderful advice sharing his knowledge and interesting and incredible life adventures - what a blessing being able to meet these amazing people.
Our wishes were fulfilled before we even knew that we had them, always with an open heart and ear and a smile that shines brighter than the sun.
The deeply rooted spirituality that we were able to witness really moved us in my on a deep level.
This place is really magical:The healing Tree- sharing its secrets during meditation,the Eco forest and the sanctuary - a spot with healing power- played an important part on this journey transported us even deeper into the majestic power of nature itself. I really can’t explain the power of these places because it is something that I would wish for everyone to experience and explore on their own, because nature speaks with its silent force directly to the most inner center…
The adventures we were allowed to experience,the waterfalls,the dolphins, the romantic dinners under the stars and much, much more…Wow!!
The goodbye party with traditional balinese dancing and the birthday celebration for my husband were spectacular. The whole team put so much effort into every single detail.Really heartwarming!
By the way - the healthy, organic and fresh food from their own farm is just phenomenal!
Also I feeling incredible respect towards Mr.Mahendra for keeping all the Stuff during the two years of Covid! What a beautiful, inspiring gesture towards all the wonderful Souls working in Zen Resort! And a real example in humaneness..
I wish we return to this heavenly place and these wonderful, wonderful people!
Thank you so much for everything Zen Resort!!!
What a paradise!!!