Volume #4
Travel With An Intention | Sustainable Conscious Travel Options in Bali, Indonesia
This week’s read time: 8 minutes
In this volume, we’ll explore:
Benefits of travelling with an intention
Sustainable Conscious Options in Bali, Indonesia:
🏨 Hotel: Mana Earthly Paradise
🍴 Restaurant: Starter Lab
🎒Tours & Experiences: Muntigunung Trekking
If you missed previous newsletters, you can look them up here.
👉🏼 Travelling with an intention
There is absolutely nothing wrong with going on a holiday for the purpose of leisure and relaxation but traveling with an intention can 10x your overall experience, we promise! Travelling with intention could include goals such as cultural immersion, sustainable tourism practices, personal growth, or contributing to the well-being of the places you visit.
What’s in it for travellers?
Deeper Connection: Travelling with an intention gives you the opportunity to form a deeper connection with the destination, whether it's participating in a local festival, learning a new skill such as diving, or hiking the Himalayas. It makes you more than just a tourist.
Personal Growth: Setting specific goals for travel, such as learning a few new phrases in a foreign language, trying new foods, or engaging in local celebrations, contributes to personal growth and provides opportunities for self-discovery and learning.
Memorable Experiences: Having a clear intention for travel leads to more memorable experiences. Trust us, you're not going to remember the moment you were on the lift going up the Eiffel Tower, but you will most definitely remember the laughter and shared stories with locals at a cozy Parisian cafe because you intended to practice your broken French.
What’s in it for Planet, People & Economy?
🌏 Sustainable Choices: Intentional travellers are more likely to opt for sustainable conscious travel choices, such as selecting sustainable accommodations and supporting environmentally conscious activities. This contributes to the conservation of natural resources and reduces the overall ecological footprint.
👥 Cultural Exchange: By seeking meaningful interactions with local communities, it fosters cultural exchange and understanding, benefiting both the travellers and the local community. This can lead to positive relationships, the sharing of traditions, and a deeper appreciation for diverse cultures.
💼 Local Economic Boost: Intentional travellers tend to support local businesses in exchange for a more authentic experience, thereby stimulating the economy. This support can manifest through spending on local products, dining at neighborhood restaurants, and purchasing crafts or services from local entrepreneurs.
Image Source: Mana Earth Paradise
👉🏼 Why is it sustainable conscious?
Mana Earthly Paradise is built upon the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana—harmony between people, the Gods, and the environment.
This ancient wisdom has been woven into sustainable eco-design to create a low-impact oasis at Mana Earthly Paradise.
From their rainwater harvesting to avoid straining the local community, to their 100% solar-powered lighting, and the use of reclaimed, upcycled, or sustainably sourced wood for construction, the hotel implements a multitude of sustainable practices.
Oh, and did we mention that not a single tree in the area was cut down for the construction of the hotel?
👉Fun Fact👈
The Balinese believe that trees are living beings and must be treated properly. One is not allowed to cut a tree without proper rituals, and for each tree that falls, they plant a sapling nearby.
Their restaurant serves delicious probiotic foods made from locally-sourced, organic ingredients, and have a permaculture garden onsite. They also have a conscious store featuring products that support local communities and are ethically sourced.
All food waste are composted and they recycle between 70%-80% of their waste 👏🏼
What truly sets Mana apart is that not only does it regularly host community events for local residents, such as movie nights, cooking classes, and weekend markets, making it a central hub in its area and bringing the local community together, but it also contributes to meaningful change by allocating a portion of its profits to fund Earth Company's work supporting changemakers across the Asia Pacific.
👉🏼 What’s in it for travellers?
→ An opportunity to live and breathe the Balinese philosophy of harmony between people, the Gods, and the environment.
→ Knowing that your stay has as low an impact as possible on the environment and the local community.
→ Having the opportunity to support other changemakers who will bring about more positive impact to the world we live in.
→ 100% Insta & TikTok worthy ;)
👉🏼 What can your travel business learn?
→ Integrating local cultures and philosophies into your hotel design and operations is key, as more travellers are seeking authentic immersion into local cultures and traditions. Leverage the wealth of local culture to create unique guest experiences. This doesn't necessarily require rebuilding your entire hotel; it can be as simple as incorporating local storytelling during guests check in.
→ Think about what you can do to reduce your accommodation's impact on the local community. Is there a way for you to be self-sufficient so that you don't take precious resources away from the community you operate in?
→ Instead of buying brand-new furniture for replacements, consider reclaimed or upcycled alternatives. Not only are they often more affordable, but they also provide a unique talking point for your marketing campaigns.
→ Differentiate your accommodation by becoming more than just a place to stay. Transform into a local community hub that brings together tourists and the local community. This not only offers a unique experience for guests to interact with locals but also creates an alternative source of income for you and the local community.
→ Donate a portion of your profits for positive change. While everyone have that GOP to hit, explore innovative ways to give back. For instance, you could launch complimentary weekend hospitality classes for the local community, providing them with skills applicable to roles within your accommodation. This initiative not only enhances community development but also cultivates a spirit of collective prosperity.
Image Source: Google Reviews
👉🏼 Why is it sustainable conscious?
In today’s fast-paced world, Starter Lab embraces the slow life, prioritising the deceleration of natural processes.
It all began with the idea of baking the finest sourdough in Bali, using quality and locally sourced ingredients through an extended fermentation process.
Sustainability is at the heart of their business. They conduct weekly and monthly sustainable planning meetings to continuously enhance their operations.
Working closely with suppliers, they buy in bulk to minimise the use of plastic packaging. Daily practices include separating organic trash, paper, glass, plastic, and metal, and they further reduce waste by upcycling old leftovers into delicious new bakery goods.
Guests are encouraged to bring their own jars and receive a discount on purchases.
They've gone the extra mile by installing a high-tech water filtration system in the restaurant, eliminating the need for plastic gallon water containers. (On the island of gods, most drinkable water is packaged in plastic gallon containers due to contamination concerns with tap water, please remember not to drink from the taps in Bali!)
Starter Lab also believes in giving back to the community that has supported their business from the very beginning. Several times a year, they run donation drives to support local charities like the Bali Children’s Foundation.
👉🏼 What’s in it for travellers?
→ Don’t say we didn’t spill the deets on where to find the best sourdough in Bali ;)
→ The use of quality and locally sourced ingredients ensures that you can indulge in flavors that reflect the region's authenticity.
→ By purchasing or dining at Starter Lab, you are indirectly supporting local charities.
👉🏼 What can your travel business learn?
→ Conduct regular sustainable planning meetings to discuss and plan sustainable initiatives that you can integrate into your operations. This ensures ongoing improvement in sustainable practices. It’s also a good way to get your employees engaged and excited.
→ Work closely with suppliers to source ingredients locally and in bulk when possible. Purchasing in bulk can largely minimise your waste and also reduce carbon footprint in terms of the transportation of your ingredients. This will highly likely lead to a cost reduction.
→ Incentivise your customers to participate in sustainability efforts, by offering discounts for bringing their own containers. Customers are always motivated by discounts, leading to potential cost savings for both your business and the consumers. This can also drive customer loyalty and repeat business.
Image Source: The Elite Magazine
👉🏼 Why is it sustainable conscious?
Muntigunung's trekking social enterprise sprang from the Muntigunung Community Development Program, aimed to create job opportunities and sustainable income for the local community.
Situated in Bali's extremely dry region, Muntigunung residents struggled to grow sufficient crops and faced long treks for water. Coupled with limited access to education, many lacked skills for the tourism industry and resorted to begging with their children in Bali's tourist hotspots.
Initiated in 2006, the program introduced three social enterprises—Trekking, Handicrafts, and Food—empowering community members with new skills, enabling them to support their families with dignity.
The trekking program not only generates income but also keep families in their village, ensuring children attend school instead of begging in tourist areas.
Accompanied by English-speaking local guides, you'll trek through remote, unspoiled parts of Bali that even most Balinese are not aware of.
The experience revitalises the once-overlooked Muntigunung community, proudly showcasing their peaceful rural life and skilled craftsmanship.
👉🏼 What’s in it for travellers?
→ Trek through remote and unspoiled areas that even local Balinese are not aware of.
→ You are directly supporting the local community; there is no economic leakage. Every dollar you spend goes straight back into the Muntigunung community.
→ You are helping to keep children in schools and providing them with an opportunity for education.
→ You contribute to safeguarding the Muntigunung community's traditional way of life and preserving their skilled craftsmanship for the generations to come.
👉🏼 What can your travel business learn?
→ Incorporating the local community into tours allows you to offer more authentic and genuine experiences to travellers. This can enhance the overall quality of the tour, making it memorable and unique.
→ By integrating local businesses, artisans, and services into your tour, you not only directly contribute to the local economy and promote sustainable development but also create the potential for lasting partnerships as the community becomes invested in the tours' success, fostering sustained business growth.
→ A tour centered around the community becomes a unique selling proposition. It will help you stand out from competitors and appeal to travellers seeking more meaningful and socially responsible travel experiences.