Our Marketing Manager, Jessica Woods, has just returned from two incredible weeks exploring the Indonesian haven of Bali and the Gili Islands all in five-star luxury – and it’s safe to say we’re all very jealous. Read on to discover her adventure and contact our team to find out how you can experience Indonesia in style.
Paradise in the Jungle: Welcome to Ubud
Pulling up to our boutique hotel in Ubud is a moment I will never forget; stepping out of our taxi right into the heart of the jungle! The luxurious villas of Samsara Ubud sit about 30 minutes outside of the city centre, hidden in the hills of the lush tropical jungle that houses wildlife from monkeys and frogs to snakes and lizards.
Each of the 17 one, two or three-bedroom villas features a private heated infinity pool, overlooking the jungle, as well as a heavenly king-size bed, free-standing marble bathtub and a spacious outdoor deck to enjoy in total privacy.
Definitely opt for the floating breakfast – delivered at a time of your choosing and arranged for you to enjoy in your pool!
There is no shortage of things to do and sights to see in Ubud! We booked a private day tour with a guide who took us all around the area to visit everything we wanted to see. We started at the glorious rice paddies (they really are as spectacular as they look online) and hopped on the infamous Bali Swing for that iconic shot… There are several swings across Bali so its worth doing some research and picking the one that suits you best.
Afterwards, we drove into the city centre to the Monkey Forest! I cautiously hid behind my guide as we walked through the entrance, but the monkeys were actually quite cute and ignored you unless you had food or anything that looked attractive (take off your expensive jewellery)!
Visits to the Elephant Cave temple, Ubud Palace and the market followed, before we stopped at a local restaurant for Nasi Goreng (Indonesian fried rice). We were due to visit Tegenungan Waterfall in the afternoon but our guide explained that the rain we had over lunch makes the water grey so we decided to skip this.
While in Ubud, we also went on a quad biking (ATV) adventure through muddy rice fields, waterfalls and caves (we loved this!), visited the Pura Tirta Empul Hindu Balinese water temple and stopped at a Lowak coffee plantation to try every sample you can imagine from avocado coffee to pure cocoa.
Beach Clubs & Parties: Seminyak Awaits
Our next stop was Seminyak, the beach spot known for it’s buzzing nightlife! We checked into The Oberoi Beach Resort, right on the shores of Seminyak Beach and were instantly in our own oasis away from the vibrant streets outside the gates – it was like magic! As with any Oberoi hotel, the service was delightful, the rooms gorgeous and the food delicious. The highlight though? Lounging by the pool in the Balinese sun while the staff bring surprise treats like fresh fruit sticks and lemongrass sorbet right to your sunbed!
Although difficult to force ourselves to leave the hotel, we loved exploring the restaurants, bars, shops and markets of Seminyak. Spots like La Favela, Finn’s Beach Club and Mexicola are popular – but for good reason! The Flea Market was also one of the best we’ve seen, with some incredible local crafts, kimonos, clothes and treats to snap up.
Nusa Dua & Uluwatu
Our final stop in Bali was the Apurva Kempinksi Nusa Dua, a king of a hotel that cascades down the hillside into the white-sand beach below. Nusa Dua is famous for its spotless beaches and we were not disappointed. The Kempinski – with around 450 rooms – is relatively larger than our two previous hotels but our Grand Deluxe Lagoon room did an incredible job of enclosing us in serene privacy with access to a beautiful lagoon at the back. Restaurant options include Chinese, Japanese and Indian speciality spots, as well as the western-serving Beach Club and 24-hour room service. The pièce de résistance, however, is Koral, the first aquarium restaurant in Bali combining fresh ingredients with the skills of Michelin-starred Chef Jean-Baptiste Natali.
While in Nusa Dua, we paid a visit into town to peruse the local markets and stopped at the Bali Collection shopping centre for some lunch before our evening in Uluwatu. We arrived just in time for a look around the famous cliff-side temple before the iconic Kecak Fire Dance started at 6pm (perfectly timed for sunset). The traditional Kecak dance involves 40 men acting as the ‘choir’ by performing acoustic background music while actors deliver the story of the Hindu epic Ramayana. Just watch out for monkeys who love to hop onto the seats and steal hats from the audience!
The Gili Islands!
The Gili Islands – part of Lombok rather than Bali – are synonymous with paradise. The water is the colour of diamonds, the sand sun-kissed and the wildlife simply jaw-dropping. Of the three islands, Gili Trawangan is known as the ‘party island’ with lots of beach bars, restaurants and nightlife spots, while Gili Meno and Gili Aire are often chosen as peaceful getaway or honeymoon spots.
Planning Your Adventure
Contact our Travel Experts to start planning your adventure today. Call 01491 575 987 or email info@savilerowtravel.co.uk to arrange a callback