Taking glamping to the next level, Escape Nomade in Bali offers guests a luxe safari experience in nature
A hidden gem in Bali, Escape Nomade is more than just tents. It is a life lived to the fullest, inspired by nature, where creativity and potential have no limits. It is Living Without Walls.
Escape Nomade has created a beautiful and serene eco luxe tented haven hidden in the rice fields above the Ayung River outside Ubud. Travel back in time and spend an afternoon at this colonial chic oasis, called the Sanctuary, where nature blends seamlessly with the property.
Be spoilt with a footbath down by the river, followed by a healing massage with aromatic oils in your open air tent. Conclude your afternoon with a royal high tea picnic of savoury and sweet treats and soothing Ayurvedic teas. And simply kick back and relax while taking in a beautiful Balinese dance as the sun slowly sets behind the palm trees.
Living Without Walls, where your soundtrack of choice is Mother Nature, is the brainchild of owner and designer Anneke van Waesberghe who lives and breathes the concept of barefoot luxury. Complete with electricity, plumbing, and air-conditioning, the tents offer the best of both worlds.
In addition to the beautiful experiences found at the lush property, you can also create your own canvas camp, as Escape Nomade creates bespoke luxury tents for clients who want to enjoy safari-style eco living back home. Van Waesberghe works with clients to design unique tents to be installed on their property for both private and commercial use, for example an extended guesthouse in the garden, a venue for a wedding, a tented spa, a restaurant, a lobby for a hotel, or a rooftop that has just been turned into an extra room.
The bioclimatic design of the tents ensures maximum comfort and uses very little energy. Cool air is harvested from underneath the deck, while hot air escapes via the double-roof ventilation system, making air-conditioning almost unnecessary. And if the foundations are removed, the land will appear virtually untouched. Perfect for any climate, the camps can be constructed on many types of terrain, from jungles to beaches to concrete floors. The sustainable concept can be transported anywhere in the world, enabling you to live the Escape Nomade lifestyle wherever you are. And, as semi-permanent structures, they have quite a light footprint - once they are taken down and their concrete foundations are removed, the land will appear virtually untouched.
If you’re not ready to purchase your own luxury tent just yet, make an appointment to experience Escape Nomade’s headquarters where Van Waesberghe also resides. Enjoy royal high tea or a Balinese massage, and once you’ve spent an afternoon being teleported to another world, perhaps you will be convinced to build your very own luxe hideaway.
The Experience
A decked path draws a straight line between Van Waesberghe’s home and Escape Nomade’s two main tents. Lined by tall green grass, the main tents offer respite from the sun and a wonderful place to soak up the nature views, sip tea and indulge in a high tea picnic or a long lunch. Options also include aperitifs and grazing dinners to celebrate any number of occasions.
At the foot of Escape Nomade is the Agung River. Here we were greeted by a staff of six, tending to us like we were Maharajas. We felt very spoilt to be sitting under the shade of a handheld parasol, the river ebbing at our feet, fanned by one of Van Waesberghe's staff while another massaged our feet in a petal bath. Total Bliss.
Perched a few metres from the rivers edge is a massage tent where one can relax and enjoy the tranquility of Bali, while a therapist kneads your knots and worries away.
At Escape Nomade, local villagers invite you to experience part of their world through a performance of traditional dance. Girls dress in costume, mesmerising you with their eyes, hands and fingers as they dance a story in almost a trance.
As the sun sets it’s time to go. Stars sparkle in the sky and fireflies twinkle through the rice fields. You’ll definitely want to return to this magical place.