Tanah Gajah, a Resort by Hadiprana has historically been recognized as a romantic boutique resort favoured by couples celebrating special occasions such as their honeymoon or anniversaries. From 2010 – 2020 we saw a rise in interest from families, who appreciate the abundance of space where they can take part in various activities such as kite flying, fishing, soccer, or even just a relaxing late afternoon walk before the sunset.
 
Right after Bali reopened its borders in early 2022, we noticed that there were more and more travellers visiting the resort solo. Some stayed for a shorter two-night period, while others opted for longer holidays, up to 14 nights. These past few months we have sat down with a couple of our guests to find out more about their holiday in Ubud.
 

We had the pleasure of chatting with a couple of our guests during their stay: Ms Evelyn Goh, based in Singapore, stayed for four nights at Tanah Gajah before meeting up with her friends for a diving trip.
 





One morning during her stay, she explained that she enjoys travelling solo once in a while for short trips. “For short getaways, I enjoy resorts, as they have great spa experiences where I can enjoy my precious ‘me time’ during my trip,” said Evelyn. “I enjoy good food. That’s one of the reasons I travel solo – to hunt good food that I find interesting”.
 
Evelyn commented “Travelling solo gives me the joy of running away because it gives me freedom for doing whatever I like. Travelling solo started when I was frequently travelling on business trips overseas. When I got back to my hotel, I spent my ‘me time’ exploring. I am now married. My husband is quite a busy man with work. So I travel solo when he is away on a business trip”.
 

 
Evelyn believes that when travelling alone, we need some peace and quiet. “When I looked at Tanah Gajah online, the first thing that drew me to the property was the generous space that the resort offers as well as the serenity of its surroundings.”
 
Another solo traveller, Ms Hilda who is an Indonesian now residing in Singapore, also agrees that the grounds and the surrounding nature of Tanah Gajah enticed her into booking her five-night remote-working stay at the property. “There are a lot of birds which I don’t normally see in Singapore,” she said.
 

 
She believes that travelling solo allows you to be more aware of the little memorable moments that happen during your trip. She said

“I got a villa that is facing a lotus pond. One afternoon when I was working on the desk, I was gazing out the window to the pond, and suddenly a beautiful white egret gracefully landed on the pond right in front of me, which was a refreshing sight and a beautiful moment to remember,” .
 

Ms. Hilda Xie, enjoying a refreshing morning by the rice paddy field 

 
Hilda noted that safety is a very important aspect to consider when travelling alone, especially for women solo travellers. With only 20 villas in the property she feels very at peace and safe. At Tanah Gajah she enjoys the fact that she is always well looked after by the friendly staff and the communication flows conveniently through a dedicated Whatsapp group which the team set up upon her arrival.
 

“I was working most days so I did not have enough time to really enjoy the facilities of the resort. I wish I could stay longer.”
 
On another occasion, we had Mr Richard Aschberger, a Swiss gentleman who was enjoying his long holiday at Tanah Gajah, combined with a short stay at our sister property Dua Dari, a Residence by Hadiprana for 14 nights.
 

Mr Richard Aschberger, with a backdrop of Tanah Gajah's very own hot air balloon

“Bali has been on my bucket list for the past 10 years. I have not been able to visit because of work and as well as the pandemic. Now that the restrictions have been lifted, I’m finally able to visit and tick Bali off my list,” he said.
 
“Since the pandemic, the solo travelling trend has picked up a lot because a lot of people were instructed to work from home. With COVID restrictions, you were basically at home 24/7. After spending such a long time at home, you just need to get away and people cannot wait longer to travel to experience new culture, scenery and surroundings.”
 
90% of the trips Richard goes on have been solo and he prefers to stay in family-owned hotels or resorts compared to a chain establishment, as generally he gets more personalised service and it is more comfortable staying in smaller properties.
 

 
“I saw Tanah Gajah in a magazine around 3-4 years ago and the surrounding nature and the serene main swimming pool have imprinted the property in my mind.”
 

Throughout his stay, he enjoyed a full day tour with the Tanah Gajah team to some of the iconic spots around Ubud such as Kintamani area, Penglipuran village, a coffee plantation and more. He also often visited Ubud center for dining and exploration.
 
Richard added, “I go to visit museums and galleries in Ubud center. It is interesting that there were no tourists in the museums, even though they have a great selection of art and the galleries and museum are quite well maintained.”
 

 
And now for the surprise…
 
Inspired by our solo travellers, we are now launching a special two-night stay package designed for one.  
 
“The Art of Solo Serenity” includes the choice of a one bedroom club suite or a one bedroom club pool villa along with:
?      Complimentary return airport transfer
?      A 60-minute private yoga or meditation session at Dua Dari, a Residence by Hadiprana, followed by an afternoon tea
?      A 90-minute signature Tanah Gajah Jade massage (4 hands massage) at The Spa
?      Half board including two three-course meals at The Tempayan
 
For more information see here.