Every week someone asks us the same three questions about our treehouse: Is it safe? Are there bugs? Will I regret this? Fair questions — “treehouse” covers everything from a plywood platform to a luxury suite that happens to have a tree through it. So here’s an honest account of what a night in a real Bali treehouse involves, written by the people who built one.
First: It’s a Real Treehouse
The Ubud Treehouse is not a “treehouse-style room.” It’s a wooden house built by local craftsmen high among living palm trees, beside a small river, a few minutes’ walk from central Ubud. Palms don’t have branches or a canopy — the house stands up at frond height, open to the sky and the green — and they sway slightly in strong wind. That’s not a flaw; it’s the whole point. You are up with the birds, with the sound of the river running below.
The Evening: Rain on a Wooden Roof
If you’re lucky, it rains your first night. Bali’s rain comes in warm, heavy bursts, and on the treehouse’s wood-and-metal roof it’s the best sound design money can’t buy. You’re dry, the bed is properly comfortable (we spent real money on the mattress — a treehouse with a bad bed is just camping), and below you the jungle hums and the little river runs on through the dark.
The Honest Bits
Stairs. You climb to get up here. It’s why the treehouse is adults-only — great for couples and solo travelers, wrong for toddlers or anyone with mobility issues.
Bugs. It’s a jungle. There are mosquito nets, secure doors, and screens, and the house is genuinely comfortable — but you will hear geckos and see the occasional insect. If that’s a dealbreaker, our Ubud villa next door is the better fit.
The bathroom. Indoors, ensuite, up in the house. Nobody climbs down a ladder at 2 AM. This was non-negotiable when we built it.
The Morning: Eye Level with the Birds
Dawn is the payoff. The jungle wakes up in layers — the river first, which never stopped, then the birds, then the village, then the light coming through the palm fronds. You make coffee, watch it happen, then climb down to the private plunge pool waiting at ground level. Then, because this is Ubud and not the middle of nowhere, you walk five minutes to the Yoga Barn or a world-class café for breakfast.
Two Treehouses, Two Moods
We actually run two elevated houses. The Ubud Treehouse is the jungle one — palms, river, plunge pool, walking distance to everything in Ubud. The Nest in Lovina is the sea one — an architect-designed house on stilts above North Bali’s agricultural gardens, with the ocean on the horizon. Jungle or sea; both sleep two; both are constantly booked by honeymooners and people doing a digital detox.
At roughly IDR 1,270,000 a night, the Ubud Treehouse is one of the most affordable ways to have a genuinely rare experience in Bali. Book the Ubud Treehouse directly or The Nest in Lovina on our website (code BOOKDIRECT10) — always cheaper than the platforms, when they’re even listed on them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the pool really private?
Yes — both of our elevated houses come with their own plunge pool, just for you; nobody else ever swims in it. One honest nuance: at the Ubud Treehouse, guests of the hotel next door can see into parts of the garden — so the pool is yours alone, but not invisible. If total seclusion is the priority, The Nest in Temukus is the one: its pool is surrounded by concrete walls and nobody can see in at all.
Are there mosquitoes?
Some, as anywhere in Ubud. Nets, screens, and repellent handle it. Evenings on the balcony, wear repellent like everyone else in Bali.
Can children stay in the treehouse?
No — it’s adults-only due to the height and stairs. Families fit beautifully in our Ubud villa next door.
Does the treehouse have Wi-Fi and air conditioning?
Yes to both. Being in a tree doesn’t mean giving up video calls or a cool night’s sleep.