Ubud

Ubud is the cultural heart of Bali: rice terraces, river gorges and temples in the hills north of the coast, with a long tradition of painting, dance and craft. Ceremonies fill the calendar, and on any morning there are offerings at the gates and processions on the roads.

One of our stays here is Amandari, set in the village of Kedewatan above the Ayung River gorge. It was built in the manner of a Balinese village, with thatched suites behind stone walls, and the pool follows the line of the rice terraces toward the river. Village paths lead from the gate to the fields and the temple.

About forty minutes north, in the rainforest of Payangan above the Ayung River, Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape keeps sixteen open-air pool bales for adults, with no walls and no doors, a kitchen led by its own organic farm and exclusive access to the Tjampuhan waterfall.

Ubud suits first-time visitors to Bali, couples and families who want culture before beach, and travelers who like to walk. Amandari is part of our Temple Paths collection. It pairs naturally with East Bali or Nusa Dua for the coast, and with Central Java for Borobudur. Our Indonesia guide covers the wider archipelago. Amandari also belongs to our Sacred Journeys collection, for weeks shaped around Bali’s holy springs and ceremonies.