You might have reservations about staying at what could only be classified as a ‘mega resort’, but AYANA Segara Bali, a sprawling cluster of separate properties, could change anyone’s mind. AYANA Segara is the latest addition to Ayana Estate in Jimbaran Bay, a quick 35-minute drive south of Ngurah Rai airport. With each arm housing its own galaxy of pools, restaurants and bars, the hardest part will be deciding where to cool off and chill out first.

Artists in residence. Open-air showers. Naturally-lit Brutalist spaces. Melbourne-roasted St. Ali coffee for in-room pep-ups. You’ve likely guessed that the 11-room Further Hotel in Pererenan, the neighbouring village to bustling Canggu, is no average hotel. This design-centric property is home to the buzzy Parisian-inspired Bar Vera, where classic dishes including red snapper tartare and jamon croquettes are served along with a distinctly French wine list and a cocktail menu that includes confections such as "The Normandy" – an apple-infused elixir featuring brandy, peaches, lemon, pomegranate and soda.

La Reserve 1785 is a design departure from the coastal-cool aesthetics of most Balinese resorts, with a grand European-style approach to interiors inspired by its original owner, the French antiques collector Mademoiselle Henriette Reboul. It's in this spirit that the rest of the property has been brought to life: a restaurant fusing southern French and Balinese flavours, suites with four-poster beds, private plunge pools and specially curated art book collections in certain suites. There’s even a ‘secret’ spa which blends Balinese ingredients with French techniques, offering hydrating facials and deep tissue massages. 

A beacon of luxury in the hills of Ubud, Buahan – a Banyan Tree Escape, rises atmospherically out of the jungle to deliver 360-degree views over one of the most picturesque parts of the island. The resort has no windows and no doors – instead you’ll find ample flowing curtains for privacy – encouraging visitors to ‘commune’ with nature throughout their stay. Take in the island’s seven stunning peaks from your villa’s balcony – there are just 16 and each has its own pool – before heading down to the onsite zero waste eatery plating up plant-based Balinese fare. 

You’ve never far from the soothing sound of water at Jumeirah Bali, a grand property built in the image of Javanese-Hindu water palaces. Pavilions, plunge pools and even the property’s exquisite restaurants seem to float above brooks, ponds, rivers and the glittering Uluwatu coastline. There are no rooms at this property, just villas with private pools that are catered to 24/7 by private butler service. Another taste of paradise? A trip to the heavenly onsite spa which also houses a Turkish hammam.

Ksubi co-founders George Gorrow and Gareth Moody are behind this boutique stay in the heart of Canggu. Featuring quirky photography, a restaurant with a convivial share-plate concept and the flagship store of their menswear label, Non-Type, the 12-room island resort combines art, music, retail, threads and beds in a tropical setting.

It’s a rare jewel indeed that inhabits the wild (mid)-west coast of Bali. This is where Lost Lindenberg, a treetop dream that soars over the jungles of Jembrana, is situated. There are a mere eight rooms within the four wood-wrapped towers that peep over a black-sand beach, so you’ll feel like you have this corner of Indonesia (almost) all to yourself. The onsite restaurant dishes up vegan fare and the spa’s treatments draw inspiration from traditional Balinese therapies, including a bamboo stalk massage and a calming coconut and aloe vera body wrap.

Near hidden from sight, you’ll find this luxurious tented camp cocooned within lush rainforest about 30 minutes north of Ubud.  Boasting just 23 guest tents (all with private plunge pools, of course), hotel designer Bill Bensley’s interiors present a romanticised Spice Trade-era Bali – complete with cowhide sofas and Dutch antiques that blend seamlessly with traditional batiks and ikat pillows. While the full-service spa and farm-to-table restaurants are well worth adding to your agenda, be sure to stop in at Campfire diner for a cosy night sipping marshmallow-topped cocoa with a vintage Indonesian flick.

A clifftop setting guarantees spectacular views. At Melasti Beach’s Umana Bali, the vistas of the island’s south coast are just one of the drawcards. The villas are apartment-sized, with 10 metres’ worth of infinity pool reserved for the one bedroom offering, while the three-bedroom stays lay claim to up to 25 metres. The onsite kids’ club guarantees little ones will be well occupied with garland making and mask painting sessions throughout the day, so parents will have all the time they’ll need to prune in the infinity pool and order a cocktail.

California by way of Canggu: these Palm-Springs style villas are a treat for the eyes. Dressed with white-washed breezeblocks, fairy floss-pink sun loungers and mint green parasols, the property houses one-, two- and three-bedroom villa options and all include private plunge pools, Bose speaker systems and well-stocked (complimentary) mini-bars in the full kitchens. Taking a ‘buddymoon’? There’s a three-bedroom villa perfect for larger groups, too.

COMO Uma Canggu changed the face of laid-back luxury in Canggu when it opened back in 2018. The design is a clever combination of Asian and Italian influences, resulting in a sophisticated surf shack vibe, with 12 three-bedroom penthouses complete with a rooftop pool and balcony that frames the ocean, as well as a private butler service. Yoga and surfing tuition is also offered on-site (this is Canggu, after all).

Raffles Bali blends brand hallmarks (‘Wellbeing Butlers’, a sleek Writers Bar) with local flourishes such as Canang sari-making classes, Balinese-inspired spa treatments and ample cultural excursions. After opening in 2020, each of the resort’s 32 villas comes with an infinity pool, terrace and glorious views of the sparkling Indian Ocean.

The award-winning Singaporean architects at WOHA are the masterminds behind this eco-friendly Uluwatu resort built using recycled materials. Here, seemingly on the edge of the world, there’s a 50-metre infinity pool with panoramic views of the Bukit Peninsula and a sunset cabana suspended over the cliffs.

A 45-minute drive from Canggu on the lesser-trodden shores of south-west Bali, Soori is ideal for groups and families wanting to get away from it all; the 48 villas range in size from one to 10 bedrooms. Enjoy a dip in your private pool or explore black-sand beaches and dining options that include European-style and authentic Balinese fare.

Set among lush jungle overlooking the Ayung River Valley, the Ubud outpost of the ultra-exclusive Aman chain is about as peaceful as it gets. Suites are replete with luxuries such as an outdoor sunken marble bathtub, while guests of the three-bedroom villa can frolic in their private two-tier infinity pool. 

This holistic haven in the heart of spiritual Ubud is a different kind of health retreat. Featuring an on-site yoga teacher, Ayurvedic doctor and resident dietitian, along with a program of massages, beauty treatments, hydrotherapy and springwater pools, COMO Shambhala has gone to staggering lengths to create a unique experience for guests. The property itself is quite the design feat: one residence even has its own private waterfall, crafted from 1200 tonnes of Sumba Island stone.

At this quiet hide-out on Amuk Bay, on Bali’s east coast, each of the 34 suites is elevated on stilts to make the most of the ocean views. Inspired by the water palace outside nearby Amlapura, the centrepiece is an elegant three-tiered pool that resembles terraced rice paddies.

Luxe Italian fashion house Bulgari knows how to roll out the red carpet. Its Bali resort is located high on the Uluwatu cliffs and offers two-, three- and five-bedroom mansions complete with a private elevator and 24-hour butler service.

This 147-villa resort in Jimbaran Bay is styled like a traditional Balinese village over 14 hectares. There’s plenty to keep guests active, including heli-surfing and exploring the bay on floating water bikes.

A jungle retreat with an Insta-famous pool, this Ubud resort is one of the most photographed in Bali. Each of the 44 villas features floor-to-ceiling windows and traditional thatched roofs, while the onsite restaurant Three Elements will delight foodies with its fusion of Indonesian and European flavours (the proof is in the beef rendang wellington with cassava leaves and balado crispy potatoes).

At home among the mammoth properties on Bali’s “billionaires’ row”, this resort teeters on a cliff-top overlooking one of the island’s best surf breaks. Each luxury pool villa comes with its own Smeg kitchen and the Med-inspired beach club offers blissed-out beats and water sports, along with outdoor films in the evenings.

With just 29 private pavilions and a no-children policy, this secluded Nusa Dua resort is geared towards couples. In addition to the share-food concept Tapa Bistro, there’s a 24-hour butler service for when you don’t want to leave your room and a private beach club overlooking Geger Temple.

A boutique resort comprising just four villas on the edge of the cliff in Uluwatu, this lofty sunset paradise takes luxury to a new level. As well as a wine cellar, cigar lounge, eight-seat private cinema and Apple TV, there are quarters for the nanny. Talk about luxury.

Few poolside hangouts are hipper than the one at this contemporary beachfront hotel in the heart of Seminyak. Known as Wet, the pool covers 1790 square metres and is dotted with palm trees and neon-coloured beanbags. Definitely the type of place where you can get away with wearing your sunglasses inside.

Inspired by Balinese village life, the 127 rooms and 22 villas at Andaz Bali are plotted around clusters of courtyards and decorated with batik textiles, intricate wood carvings and marble floors. Stroll along winding paths to uncover a breezy central square lined with casual eateries, three pools and Fisherman’s Club, a beachfront restaurant that serves up just-caught seafood grilled on coconut husks. 

Since opening its doors in 2020, this boutique stay has become a hotspot for creative types. Design is the focus here, with the boxy, red-brick compound designed by noted Indonesian architect Andra Matin, an on-site gallery and 22 cosy rooms decked out with hand-crafted furniture and textiles by local artisans.

On a quiet backstreet off the main drag, this minimalist sanctuary offers a discreet alternative to Seminyak’s party scene. There are nine villas, each with a 14-metre pool, impeccable lawns and an airy gazebo for private spa treatments. There’s also a three-bedroom penthouse with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass windows which deliver panoramic views of the verdant landscape outside.

A sophisticated, sustainably minded resort on the island’s southernmost tip, Six Senses overlooks some of Bali's best surf breaks. A go-to for wellness travellers, it’s home to an organic kitchen garden, yoga and meditation pavilion, well-equipped fitness centre and spa offering everything from personalised yoga programs and crystal healing to Tibetan-inspired facials.

Jaw-dropping greenery welcomes you as you arrive at Nirjhara, a 25-villa retreat surrounded by verdant rice paddies and jungle on Bali’s south-western coast. Here, eco-friendly luxury is the name of the game, with treehouse-like suites constructed from reclaimed wood and over 90 per cent of the restaurant’s produce grown on site or sourced from neighbouring farms. 

Tanah Gajah, a Resort by Hadiprana was once the home of Hendra Hadiprana, an acclaimed architect and one of Indonesia’s pre-eminent art collectors. Today, the lush, five-hectare estate has been transformed into a boutique hotel, with each of the 24 suites and villas featuring Balinese artworks from his collection.

Seven lagoon pools, six onsite eateries, five stars and a private white sand beach at your feet: The Laguna in Nusa Dua has it all. There are 287 rooms and villas, but, if the budget can stretch, we recommend a swim-up suite to allow you to instantly float from room to lagoon. With everything a holiday needs at your feet, spend your days enjoying the 24-hour butler service, flame-grilled seafood at the beachside Arwana restaurant and massages beside the Indian Ocean at Lagoon Spa, the award-winning spa that harnesses Balinese therapies to conjure true bliss.

Away from the hotel hubs of Seminyak and Ubud, HOMM Saranam Baturiti embraces its secluded setting in Bali’s central highlands with morning meditation accompanied by singing bowls and tours to nearby Lake Bratan. On its grounds, you’ll find 70 rooms, 10 villas, two restaurants and several lagoon-style pools to lounge by.

Thanks to Desa Potato Head’s 2020 expansion, travellers can now choose between sleeping in a studio – 168 rooms right next door to the uber-popular beach club – or one of 58 more muted, mid-century-modern suites, formerly known as Katamama. Either way, you’ll have easy access to the group’s trendy restaurants and new-age wellness offerings.

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