Linda Garland Estate travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

What do you do when you have a beautiful home in an idyllic location and you feel inclined to share your good fortune with others? Well, in Linda Garland‘s case you turn your home into an incredible hotel. Garland‘s unique and peaceful 10 ha haven, Panchoran Retreat, located along a river Gorge close to Bali‘s cultural capital of Ubud, was transformed in 2003 from her own private hideaway into a blissful ecological sanctuary for worldwide visitors. Photo by: balilogue

Panchoran-meaning ”water spring” in Balinese blends effortlessly with its surroundings. Throughout the Main House, Waterfall House and River House, the style is shabby-chic. The large thatched villas embody effortless cool, with lots of scented flowers, Javanese carvings, hammocks, open air showers and beds draped in mosquito nets. Waterfall House has a natural fed-spring pool and outdoor whirlpool tub. It overlooks the waterfalls which provides a perpetual soothing soundtrack. River House is a larger and has a pool and generous deck overlooking rice fields and bamboo forest. Photo by: uwrf

Delicious Indonesian meals are whipped up using ingredients from the estate’s organic garden and a masseuse trained in traditional Balinese technique is at hand to help ease away any nagging stress. The estate seems to cast a spell over artists and romantics seeking absolute solitude. Only a short walk through the Monkey Forest from the bohemian town of Ubud with its ancient temples, hip cafes and thriving cultural scene, the retreat offers a different kind of magic just waiting to be discovered. Photo by: The ‘Ni

Photo by: The ‘Ni