Inspired by the rich cultural heritage of Kalimantan, Hotel Tugu Bali invites guests on a journey exploring the tapestry of the island’s indigenous tribe, Dayak, through a four-course theatrical dinner show.
The Tugu Hotels name has long been synonymous with an affinity for Indonesian historical arts, culture, and romanticism. Through properties that house antiquities to programmes that spotlight the archipelago’s traditions, the privately owned boutique collective continues to preserve parts of the nation’s fabric that cannot be immortalised through words alone. One of its latest efforts is arriving in the Canggu, Bali outpost on 9 April 2026, with a presentation titled Spirit of the Rainforest.
The one-night-only event looks deep into the jungles of Kalimantan, where the island’s indigenous tribe, the Dayak people, reside. Known as the guardians of the rainforest, nature is interwoven into their folkways and culture. Their dances feature movements inspired by hornbills, warriors, and the spirits that are believed to inhabit the very woods they live in.
Guests can catch a glimpse of the Dayak’s traditional dance through Hotel Tugu Bali’s staging of four performances. The Traditional Solo Dance showcases grace and individual, introspective storytelling. Dayak War Dance offers a glimpse into the tribe’s fighting spirit, while Traditional Blowpipe Dance combines flowing movements with the sharp precision of the sumpit, a hunting tool. Meanwhile, Rhythmic Bamboo Dance encapsulates the communal spirit of rural life, attesting to the harmony of the villages. An accompaniment of traditional Bornean instruments further enriches these performances, immersing audiences in an ambience simmering with rich culture.
As the theatrics unfold, guests are invited to savour the moments more deeply with a four-course dinner inspired by the island’s regional ingredients and flavours. The Jungle Fern & Herb Salad serves a medley of wild ferns, cassava leaves, and young papaya with calamansi, toasted coconut, torch ginger, and smoked fish. Two entrées, a charcoal-grilled free-range Grilled Chicken in Dayak Spice Marinade and Banana Leaf–Steamed River Fish spiced with turmeric, lemongrass, and wild ginger, ensure to whet the appetite. Concluding the meal is the Palm Sugar & Pandan Indulgence, a soft pandan cake with coconut cream, forest honey, and sago crumble. Diners can even enjoy Jamu of the Archipelago, a traditional herbal elixir of turmeric, tamarind, and spices.
With the Spirit of the Rainforest, Hotel Tugu Bali doesn’t simply make a spectacle out of the Dayak culture. Instead, it invites guests to become part of the conversation, experiencing the people’s traditions firsthand.
Hotel Tugu Bali
Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong, Canggu
Bali 80361, Indonesia
T: (+62) 3614731701
IG: @hoteltugu_bali
