With natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, Bali is a place worth visiting at least once in a lifetime. Known for its rice fields, lush forests, sandy beaches and Hindu temples, it offers a variety of experiences and attractions for a wide range of travelers, from travelers and yogis to honeymooners, families and spiritual seekers.
Given the vastness of Bali, it's best to explore the island slowly, stopping in several towns for a change of scenery and an overview of this versatile destination. From jungle retreats and spas to beach properties and unique tented camps, discover the best luxury hotels in Bali.
Ubud Chapel
Surrounded by rice paddies, rainforests and Hindu temples, Ubud is the cultural and spiritual center of Bali. Although its busy streets are lined with local boutiques and cafes, the best hotels are found outside the city, in the countryside. Capella Ubud, a luxurious tented resort designed by the inimitable Bill Bensley, is an enchanting place to experience the magic of Bali and step back in time. The hotel is inspired by Indonesia's colonial past, with architectural details that pay homage to these early European explorers. There are 23 tents, each with a unique design, unique wallpaper, safari-style furniture and a private pool with a monkey statue.
Amenities like a gym and pool are available throughout the hotel, making your stay an exploratory experience. The Officers' Store, like a former gentlemen's club, offers a free cocktail hour every night, and the hotel's main restaurant, Mad's Lounge, is inspired by an old barn. The highlight here is Api Jiwa, an outdoor barbecue restaurant run by Italian chef Nicola Russo. The omakase menu features Asian and Mediterranean flavors with dishes such as Lombok oysters with passion fruit, chilli and cucumber, tangerine, coconut and vanilla granita.
Don't miss the opportunity to book a spa treatment during your stay. Auriga Spa di Cappella features wellness rituals inspired by the different phases of the moon, allowing guests to "tap into its celestial rhythms."
Belmond Jimbaran Puri
Located near Bali International Airport, Belmond Jimbaran Puri is the ideal place to start or end your trip. A paradise filled with fragrant frangipani trees, blooming azaleas and floating lilies. This resort will make you feel like you are getting away from it all. The hotel has 38 villa suites with private terraces or wooden decks overlooking the beach, as well as 26 villas with pools for added entertainment. Rooms feature marble floors, teak furniture, and local Balinese art, as well as four-poster beds, large stone bathrooms, outdoor showers, and large private pools.
Although most beach hotels in Bali face the sea, high waves or high tides mean that swimming is not always possible. It's a different story at Belmond Bay in Jimbaran, where you can enjoy swimming in the sea and dining with your toes in the sand. A spectacular infinity pool surrounded by luxurious cabanas invites you to soak up the sun during the day, while the hotel's beach spa will leave you feeling refreshed and restored. For the best treatment, try Abhayanda Four Hands Ritual Ayurvedic Herbal Massage.
Toast sunset drinks while relaxing in bed at Puri Bar, then enjoy a romantic dinner at Nelayon Restaurant, serving Indonesian cuisine recreated with French techniques. Chef Adi's specialties include delicious bamboo lobster thermidor in a rich, creamy grape yolk sauce.
Come maya
Bali began gaining a reputation as a top surfing destination in the 1960s, thanks to the world-class reefs along the cliffs of Uluwatu, a beautiful area on the island's southern coast. Professional surfers still flock to the area today, and when they do, they stop at The Asa Maia, a secluded wellness retreat that takes a holistic approach to health and wellness. Asa Maia, a family-run boutique hotel with just 10 restored Javanese gladakas (traditional wooden houses), offers an intimate space to relax and rejuvenate with innovative treatments in an unexpected traditional setting.
Its small size means that everything from deep tissue massages in the hotel's award-winning spa to personalized breathing exercises with one of the resident instructors, Siddhartha Buk, can be customized. Guests should not miss the daily contrast therapy sessions in the hotel's 7.5°C and 40°C hot water pool: this ancient practice, which uses the energy of the elements fire and ice, calms the nervous system , improves mood, spirituality and promotes healing from trauma. . Other treatments include yoga, physical therapy, emotional independence techniques, and qigong. The hotel also has an infrared sauna with Himalayan salt that promotes deep well-being.
At Asa Maia, every detail has been carefully considered, from the antimicrobial copper baths to the linen sheets, ikat fabrics and teak cabinetry, a powerful channel of healing energy. Enjoy immune-boosting vegetarian and pescetarian cuisine before taking a dip in the hotel's saltwater pool or visiting Uluwatu's stunning beaches – Thomas Beach and Padang Padang Beach are just a stone's throw away.
customs
Since opening Amanpuri in Phuket, Thailand, in 1988, Aman has remained one of Asia's most iconic brands and now has five hotels in Indonesia. The brand's second property, founded by Indonesian hotelier Adriana Zecha, is Amandari in Ubud, and it is one of the island's most timeless holiday destinations. The epitome of casual elegance, this iconic retreat was designed by renowned Australian architect Peter Muller and is reminiscent of a traditional Balinese village with winding paths, stone gates and tropical gardens. During the day, you'll see children from the nearby village of Kedewatan practicing their dance or villagers making offerings at the 7th century Hindu temple located on the property.
Amandari, whose name means "peaceful soul", is a very calm place where clean lines and natural materials blend perfectly with the environment. The resort is filled with classic Amana open-air pavilions and 30 individual thatched-roof cabin suites, as well as spacious three-bedroom villas with private two-level pools.
At the heart of the hotel is the Amandari Rice Terrace-style pool (Bali's first infinity pool), located above the Ion Valley, offering plenty of space for reflection. The open-air Amandari restaurant serves delicious Indonesian food, such as coconut fried duck cooked on bamboo sticks, as well as aromatic chopped vegetables (green papaya, cabbage, jackfruit) with a spicy chili sauce.
Like Uma Changu
Designed in collaboration with Japanese designer Koichiro Ikebuchi and Milanese designer Paola Navone, COMO Uma Canggu is a beautiful city hotel located just steps from Bali's famous Eco Beach. An elegant oasis in Bali's most vibrant city, the hotel is located in the heart of Kangaroo, where you can shop in concept stores, explore local markets and dine at fine restaurants.
Como Uma Canggu is one of three Como resorts on the island; the brand also has two resorts in Ubud. This beachfront hotel has 52 rooms and suites overlooking the beautiful beach or the large lagoon pool. There are 55 one- and two-bedroom residences with kitchens and balconies (ideal for families). Designed to stimulate the creativity of children ages 4 to 12, Play by COMO will keep young guests engaged while their parents enjoy a treatment at the brand's acclaimed COMO Shambhala wellness center. Whether you choose reflexology, lymphatic drainage, or deep tissue massage, your treatment will leave you feeling like a new person.
Fitness is the goal here, and the hotel's gym impresses with a range of Pilates and yoga studios, daily classes and a state-of-the-art steam room. The hotel also offers surf lessons for all levels: take advantage because Canggu Island has the best waves.
Most guests stay here to access the COMO Beach Club, where they can enjoy sun loungers, cool DJ sets and front-row seats to the majestic Kangaroo sunsets. The menu includes tasty and healthy dishes such as Mediterranean meze, local lemon jam and red burrata ceviche, as well as more sophisticated dishes such as frutti di mare pizza and ribs.
Oberoi Beach Resort Bali
Built in 1972 as an exclusive private club at Kayu Air, Oberoi Beach Resort is one of the oldest hotels in Bali. For more than 50 years, it has led the island's tourism revival and has hosted celebrities such as Julia Roberts, Gianni Versace, David Bowie and Mick Jagger. Located right on the beach in the vibrant city of Seminyak, the resort spans fifteen acres of manicured grounds and palm trees, with ocean views everywhere you look. The large outdoor pool, surrounded by yellow Balinese parasols, is the ideal place to spend a relaxing day soaking up the sun before watching a traditional dance performance in the hotel's multi-level amphitheater. A candlelit dinner is offered every evening on the terrace, featuring famous Oberoi Indian cuisine and local Balinese recipes.
The hotel has 74 traditional villas with thatched roofs, ornate carved wooden furniture and outdoor terraces where you can enjoy intimate dining in elevated pavilions overlooking the sea; Opt for a villa with a private pool for a more luxurious stay. The hotel is perfect for a family vacation. There are many activities for children, including tennis lessons, art classes and kite making.
Oberoi Beach Resort Bali also has a turtle hatchery. During the summer months, female olive ridley turtles lay their eggs on the beach in front of the resort. The hotel removes the eggs to protect them from predators; After 50 days, the turtles hatch and begin swimming in a protected area of salt water. If you're lucky, you may be able to release baby turtles into the ocean during your stay.
