Rice Paddies and Culture in Bali

Amandari welcomes you to stay in central Bali at its 30-suite luxury property designed to resemble a traditional Balinese-style village with coconut wood posts, Javanese marble and volcanic stone. The suites come with a private garden, courtyard and outdoor sunken marble bath. The open-air restaurant serves Indonesian and Western cuisine with views of the lush gorge. Amenities at Amandari include a swimming pool, fitness center with state-of-the-art machines, private outdoor yoga classes, tennis courts and a library. Wi-fi is available in all rooms and public areas.The spa is surrounded by a lotus pond and has a beauty room, sauna, steam room and two bales (gazebos) for outdoor treatments.  Amandari is approximately a 45-minute drive from the Denpasar Airport (DPS) in Bali.

COMO Shambhala Estate is a haven of wellness situated in the heart of Ubud. The Estate is the flagship property of the COMO Shambhala brand and offers the services of a wide variety of health professionals, including a nutritionist, naturopath, Ayurvedic doctor, physiotherapist, as well as fitness, yoga and pilates instructors. The property’s spacious rooms and suites have a host of amenities including direct dial telephones, Internet access, satellite TV, a DVD player, CD player, electronic safe, private bar, and COMO Shambhala bathroom amenities. Hotel amenities are equally plentiful: indoor and outdoor fitness centers, a natural spring that feeds into Kedara garden, which has four treatment bales and other relaxation areas, lap and hydrotherapy pools, a full-service business center, Ojas, the Sanskrit word for “essence of life” and the name for the Estate’s principal treatment area, a yoga pavilion, pilates studio, rock climbing wall, tennis courts and two restaurants.

Situated above the treetops and perched dramatically over Bali’s sacred Ayung River gorge, the Four Seasons Sayan is a beautifully appointed and secluded jungle retreat. There are 18 suites and 42 ingeniously bamboo-camouflaged villas with private outdoor terraces, all decorated with local art, woodwork and hand-lomed fabrics. There are two restaurants, the casual, open-air Riverside Cafe, which has a wood-burning pizza oven, and the elegant Ayung Terrace, where the outdoor area is jaw-droppingly cantilevered over the gorge for spectacular views. The Four Seasons has a two-level, infinity-edge pool by the riverside, a fully-equipped fitness center and complimentary cycling or hiking excursions in the surrounding area. The Sayan’s spa has three spa villas designed with natural materials such as teak wood cabinets and flooring, hand-blown glass wash basins, and thatched roofs, and offers a full menu of holistic aesthetic and therapeutic treatments that draw from Ayurveda and other Asian traditions.

Set amid lush rolling hills and rice paddy fields, surrounded by the mandapas for which it is named and overlooking the Ayung river in Ubud, there’s scarcely a more picturesque location for a peaceful getaway then at Mandapa, a Ritz Carlton Reserve. Each of the 60 private villas and suites is attended by a personal butler and features its own outdoor space with views of the natural scenery in abundance. Guests can relax on their terrace, in their private pool or within the elegant interior, or opt to venture out to enjoy the resort’s outdoor vitality pool, indulging in a light snack from the pool bar. Full relaxation is guaranteed at the spa, where local herbs are used in ancient therapies, or in the fitness center where yoga pavilions overlook the river’s waters. Dining, meanwhile, is a delight: with four outlets to choose from, guests can enjoy fresh cuisine from Bali and beyond in beautiful settings.  

Capella Ubud promises to bring guests close to nature while ensuring the luxury for which the hotel group has made its name. Not a single tree was cut in constructing the resorts 22 unique one-bedroom tents and two-bedroom lodges allowing for an immersive experience of the Ubud rainforest. Inspired by European settlers of the 1800s, the resort is designed by renowned architect Bill Bensley. Merging the spirit of adventure with modern comforts, all retreats feature a private salt water Jacuzzi pool, lavish indoor and outdoor bathrooms, spacious lounge area, luxurious and comfortable bedrooms, and two outdoor decks befitting intimate candlelit dinners. Additionally, all rooms enjoy modern conveniences such as air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, an Illy espresso machine, and a complimentary smart phone with ample data. There are various dining options offered from western flavors to gourmet Asian barbeque, as well as a state-of-the-art gymnasium, exclusive spa, and local storyteller for guests to enjoy. Various day trips can be arranged to experience nearby Hindu temples, the Puri Lukisan art museum, the sacred Wos River, rice paddy fields, and other natural splendors all readily accessible by foot or hotel transport.

On the island’s southwestern tip, lapped by the waves of the Indian Ocean, Seminyak has long been a by-word for luxurious Balinese vacations. Now stretching along the beachfront, allowing access to the sand in seconds, Alila Seminyak is attracting sunseekers from all over the world. Boasting a great range of accommodation, from cozy couples’ rooms to the lavish penthouse, no compromise is made on comfort and convenience. Likewise, the restaurant and bars provide laid-back dining in a range of settings. The excellent facilities cater to families as well as couples, with dedicated pools and a kids club. The spa and fitness facilities, meanwhile, allow for relaxation and invigoration, according to guests’ whims. 

Located on a hilltop with dramatic views of Jimbaran Bay, the Four Seasons Resort Bali has winding stone walkways to the beach and 147 spacious, thatched-roof villas with private plunge pools. There are four restaurants to choose from: PJ’s specializes in seafood, Taman Wantilan serves Indonesian specialties in open air pavilions overlooking the Bay to Bali’s volcanoes, Warung Mie has Asian noodle dishes and exotic drinks, and the Pool Terrace Café has a light menu of salads and sandwiches. The facilities at the Four Seasons include a fitness center with free weights and cardiovascular machines, an aerobic studio, a pool and a tennis court. The comprehensive Healing Village Spa mixes traditional pamperings with science-backed treatments, as well as holistic practices using light, sound, nature, and crystals. The hotel is a 15-minute drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS).

Perched atop a hill at Jimbaran Bay, located on the west coast of the island's southern tip, is Raffles Bali. The ocean-view resort consists of 32 luxurious pool villas hidden within 23 hectares of tropical oasis. Local touches include an imaginative Balinese cuisine, local rituals and healing treatments at the Raffles Wellbeing Spa, as well as Balinese architectural styles set against Jimbaran's stunning sunsets. Raffles' signature touches include the famous Writers Bar and the exceptional standard of luxury the Raffles name has become synonymous with.

Six Senses Uluwatu Bali extends the luxury, beauty and spirituality of the Six Senses brand to the bucolic southern coast of Bali. Perched on the dramatic cliffs of Bali’s southwest peninsula, Six Senses Bali offers spectacular views of the Indian Ocean as well as the serene Pura Luhur Uluwatu, perhaps Bali’s most picturesque seaside temple.

The resort is comprised of 28 sky villas, 62 one-­bedroom villas and seven two-bedroom villas, each incorporating touches of local character along with the contemporary comforts and modern design sense of a world-class resort. On-site dining includes a pool bar and a specialty restaurant, which also offers cooking classes as well as visits to the resort’s organic garden. Enjoy a complimentary morning yoga classes and locally-inspired specialty treatment at the spa, along with an extensive menu of signature therapies, from multi-day wellness programs to rejuvenation therapies and detox. Facilities include a shared pool and gym, a ballroom, a meeting room and a Balinese temple.

Located on Seminyak beach, The Oberoi Beach Resort, Bali offers a range of rooms, villas and pool villas, each of which includes broadband internet, satellite TV with DVD player, IDD telephones and 24-hour room service. The Oberoi’s on-site facilities include open-air massage pavilions at the Oberoi Spa, a tennis court, a fully-equipped gym and a business center. Dining options include Kura Kura Restaurant, which serves gourmet traditional Indonesian cuisine, was voted Indonesia’s Best Restaurant in 2011 by Indonesia Tattler, and cited in the 2011-12 Miele Guide; Frangipani Café for al fresco breakfast or fresh seafood and light meals throughout the day; and Kayu Bar for aperitifs or post-prandials. The Oberoi is approximately 25 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS).

Overlooking the sparkling, turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and hidden amongst swaying palm trees, this five-star luxury retreat offers the ultimate utopian dream. It is located in one of the world’s most exclusive destinations, also referred to as the ‘Island of Gods’, and is a typical representation of the tropical exquisiteness of Asia. A combination of sleek, contemporary design, traditional Balinese touches and the beauty of the unspoilt natural surroundings is what makes this destination an indulgent getaway. Boasting an impressive eight accommodation options over 237 retreats, villas and suites, guests are met with either striking garden views of rich, verdant foliage or stunning ocean scenes with panoramic seascapes. Light, spacious rooms with contemporary design that have been finished with delicate Balinese touches provide guests with their own exotic oasis. A number of decadent bars and restaurants provide guests with sophisticated dining options to suit every taste. Guests can spend days of peace and tranquility, relaxing by the resort’s pool, listening to the waves on the beach, getting fit in the gym or indulging in luxurious treatments at the spa.