What a beautiful resort Como Shambhala is ! We stayed for 4 nights in Umabono Residence and rate it as our favourite property in Bali (and this was our 6th visit, having stayed in many high-end properties across those visits). The grounds are beautiful - spending a leisurely morning reading in a bale next to the spring-fed rock pools down by the river iswell-worth the steep descent (and corresponding steep ascent afterwards!). Food was beautifully prepared - breakfast a highlight with plenty of interesting choices each day. Service was the best we've experienced - the rooms being tended to several times a day - even on the day of departure - a lovely touch which says to the guest that 'you matter' right up to the very moment of leaving. We'l definitely be back !

Stayed in a spa villa room on this property and found it to be perhaps the best-designed, most purely delightful hotel room I've ever booked - topping previous all-time highs at Bali properties including Amankila and the Four Seasons Sayan.

The distinctive approach to cuisine -- one step short of austere -- adds to the uniqueness of the experience.

The gym is a tiny disappointment in terms of equipment, but a stroll down and back up from the river makes a great substitute for the usual cardio workout.

Ive been to the Begawan every year for seven years and while the service has gone downhill from my initial experience it is still so far superior to anything else out there --and I've stayed at the Aman and the Four Seasons-I think the reviewer before is not really accurate. The physical grounds are amazing and the orig rooms are still some of the best rooms you are going to find in Bali.

My wife and I stayed at Begawan Giri with an all inclusive package (spa, treatment, meal, etc.) in early Dec 2006. We stayed at Umabona's Deluxe Suite which was beautiful - fresh air, wonderful views, and lots of greens. The estate and inner furnishing looks a little bit old but all in good condition. The setting of estate is different than most of resorts and people who care about their privacy very much might have some concerns.
The resort provides many activities such as pilates ,yoga, cycling, and hiking. The resort actually occupies vast amount of lands but most of parts are remaining as primitive forest.

Involving may different landscapes, the resort offers varieties of spa and other treatments. The one I most recommended is located at an open space down to the Anyun valley (one the way to Water Garden, I don't remember the name of that Spa pavilion). Doing spa at there really make you feel being melted into part of mother nature.

The problem of this resort comes from lacking of service mind and lousy maintainess of facilities. I was hurt badly by falling into a cliff during my stay in the resort as the stone plate on the trail was loosen and not properly placed.

It appears the resort is not good to deal with this kind of emergency events. Neither serious medical treatment was arranged nor any care to my health condition was presented. Without being checked by a real doctor or any qualified medical institution, the wounds I suffered in the resort eventaully left several ugly scars on my hand and body.

The most irritating part is the resort's attitude toward this event. The only thing the resort cared is to bargin with me and preventing me from asking any compensation. It is unwilling to recognize their bad maintainess of facilities and faulty instructions of resort map, and needless to say, to apologize its fault and offer anything to compensate customer's ruined vacation.

I always remember the first word the resort's manager told to meafter knowing what happened to me: "Mr. Hsieh, we usually do not rebate to our customers. As your case is specially, we will not charge you for the those Spa and treatment you are not able to attend." It appears customer is not their first priority; money is.

From the information I obtained in Taiwan, the resort used to be privately owned and provide intimate service. I can't helfp wondering what I encounted during my stay was caused by owner change of the resort, which is now part of Como Shambala group and it's renamed Como Shambala Estate,

Besides of managment's lacking service mind, many details are missing in their service. For example, after checking in, there was no one take care my laggage and I had to carry it all the way to my room, which is at least 500 meters from the lobby with hills needign to climb!!

Overall speaking, this is a resort located at a beautiful site and has stylish hardware. However, the good parts of this resort can not compensate the fact of lacking service mind. I won't be back except the whole management team or even the owner is replaced - for that money there are lots of places in the world with better service, safer facilities, and equally beautiful environment.