Hotel News

In celebration of its 20th anniversary, COMO Shambhala Estate – a multi-award-winning retreat for personalised wellness journeys in vitality, growth and transformation – has revealed a fresh new face. The 22-acre natural sanctuary is proud to unveil not only renovated accommodation but the reopening of its therapeutic heart: the Ojas wellness centre. The redesign, masterminded by Atelier Ikebuchi, masterfully blends gleaming white Carrara marble, bold black Corian cladding, and rich natural teak wood to create a space that balances contemporary luxury with organic warmth.

Ojas is set in a striking jungle clearing above the Ayung River, where the Ayung meets a second river, the Tibakauh. This powerful convergence is considered a symbol of cleansing, purification and renewal in Balinese culture. In addition, the hydrotherapy facilities at Ojas are fed by The Source, a healing spring revered for centuries by local villagers. This location is aligned with four key temples, making it part of the island’s sacred energetic grid.

But this indigenous spiritual heritage is only part of Como Shambhala Estate’s distinctive identity – the resort flagship for the COMO Shambhala wellness brand, as well as an iconic property for COMO Hotels and Resorts. It is where natural healing and modernity merge, with cutting-edge treatments, restorative therapies, and luxury accommodation that position Como Shambhala Estate as a world leader in bespoke wellness. Some of the new health-tech therapies at the Estate include Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, which delivers a surge of molecular hydrogen and oxygen to the body improving cognitive function and quality of sleep. The infrared sauna offers a modern take on an ancient tradition, using full-spectrum infrared light to warm the body’s tissues directly, supporting its natural detoxification process, boosting muscle recovery, and calming the parasympathetic nervous system.

“The Estate’s location resonates differently to any other place I know,” says group founder, Christina Ong, who connected immediately with the site when she first visited in 2000. “It has a healing heritage that’s been here for thousands of years, revolving around the sacred spring and the energy of the flowing river. All I needed to do was honour that knowledge, working with designers and architects – including Cheong Yew Kwan, who still lives on site – who know and respect the energy lines already in place.”

That history – combined with extraordinary private villa-style accommodation, award-winning service, and healthy cuisine from the COMO Shambhala Kitchen – inspires guests on meaningful journeys of transformation, equipping them with the tools to nurture their long-term health.

Como Shambhala Estate offers new wellness programmes

To mark the reopening, the Bali sanctuary will offer a new series of one-to-two-day Wellness Programmes. These structured experiences, designed to achieve specific wellness goals, serve as an ideal introduction for first-time guests, those seeking a shorter stay, and even non-staying guests looking for a transformative retreat. Some of the key Wellness Programmes include the COMO Cleanse (specialised, nutrition-focused menus from the COMO Shambhala Kitchen that encourage a complete digestive reset), Tech-Inspired Wellness (a special curation of health-tech therapies, driven by personalised data analysis, to achieve systemic balance), and Vital Energy (a combination of qi-balancing therapies and wellness technology to energise the body).

Those seeking a deeper experience can opt for the ‘Wellness Paths’ – holistic, multi-night stays that combine diagnostics, diet, breathwork, and hands-on healing. Guests can choose from six different Paths that focus on gut health, detoxification, fitness, mindfulness, restoration through Ayurveda, or an integrated programme that allows for a complete mind-body reset. Each Wellness Path begins with an in-depth consultation led by the Estate’s wellness experts who will create a personalised programme.

Alternatively, guests can embark on one of the new Como Shambhala Signature Retreats, guided by the Estate’s resident wellness practitioners. These immersive six-night journeys are thoughtfully crafted around distinct wellness goals and healing modalities – such as the Longevity Retreat – inspired by the ancient wisdom of Ayurvedic medicine. Each retreat offers unlimited access to daily wellness activities, nourishing cuisine from the restaurant, and transformative workshops led by experts, creating a deeply personalised path to holistic well-being.

Daily wellness activities at Como Shambhala Estate

All guests at the Estate can also benefit from a series of new complimentary daily wellness activities, including sunrise and full moon yoga, jungle stretch classes and Balinese purification practices.

The Estate also unveils the complete renovation of two of its five signature residences – Wanakasa and Bayugita – each thoughtfully reimagined to elevate the guest experience while preserving their unique architectural charm. Guest may choose from a Terrace Suite, Estate Suite, Como Shambhala Suite or a Como Suite within each residence or opt for exclusive use of an entire residence.

Bayugita Residence, inspired by the word “Windsong,” is a tranquil sanctuary nestled above the jungle canopy. It features a dramatic infinity-edge pool that stretches toward the rice fields, offering breathtaking views and a sense of boundless serenity. The residence is anchored by a private meditation and water garden, fed by the sacred spring – revered for its purifying and healing properties. Architecturally, Bayugita is a study in elegant simplicity, blending the clean lines of Balinese tradition with colonial Javanese touches, including Victorian antique baths and Venetian and Dutch colonial beds. Cooling breezes flow freely through the open interiors, enhancing the peaceful ambiance and connecting guests to the natural rhythms of the landscape.

Wanakasa Residence, which means “forest in the mist” is a luxurious retreat composed of interconnecting suites nestled around a majestic banyan tree, perched high above the Ayung River, which flows 100 metres below. Elevated among the treetops, the residence features a semi-circular infinity pool that echoes the graceful curve of the river beneath. The main living pavilion is supported by towering columns crafted from the wide trunks of Bingkirai trees, complemented by teak floors and ironwood shingle roofs that evoke the charm of a luxury treehouse. Interiors blend contemporary elegance with natural textures, featuring light-speckled tiger bamboo and reclaimed 150-year-old teak, creating a serene and sophisticated haven suspended in nature.

New facilities include:

• Contrast therapy suites, including a state-of-the-art cold plunge pool, ice bath, and an infrared sauna.
  Colonic hydrotherapy treatment room with a post-treatment relaxation area.
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in an Airpod™ chamber to promote cellular regeneration, enhanced oxygenation, and accelerated recovery.
• Hydrotherapy pool, now offering Watsu (a form of aquatic bodywork combining massage, joint mobilisation, and stretching in warm water, which promotes deep relaxation and healing).
• A new space dedicated to Ayurveda treatments

Fitness enhancements include:

• An indoor fitness centre with state-of-the art facilities catering to all training levels and aligning with COMO’s Wellness Paths.
• An upgraded outdoor fitness area, set against breathtaking natural surroundings, to enhance boot camp programmes and guided training sessions