Things to Do
Your villa manager will typically have a wealth of information about nearby places of interest and will help arrange transport and make any bookings required. Do also ask the staff about the local area. Invariably some of them will live nearby and will be able to give an interesting insight into some of the fascinating aspects of Bali life.
In the meantime, here is a taste of the many and varied activities on offer within reach of the villa.
- Bali boasts hundreds of ancient temples (pura): at Petitenget Beach entrance (0.5km), Pura Dalem Petitenget appears unassuming, but is actually one of the island’s key temples, with sixteenth century origins. Considered sacred (and associated with spooky tales), visitors should be respectfully attired to enter. Regular colourful ceremonies are held here, or on a holy patch of beach opposite.
- Stylish nightspots are within staggering distance, located both in Petitenget and Seminyak; amongst all the hip bars, don’t miss one of Asia’s most prolific beach clubs, , Ku Dé Ta on Seminyak beachfront – an absolute must for sunset cocktails. Seminyak also boasts superb shopping, with designer boutiques, antique stores, art galleries and more – head for Jalan (street) Laksmana and surrounds, less than 2km away.
- Jet-lagged and can’t sleep? Need to glam-up before a big night out or pamper yourself after one? The Maharaj is surrounded by world-class spas but Away Spa, at all-new W Retreat Bali, a short stroll away, is one of Bali’s most glamorous and lavish: open 24/7, it has its own spa bar, hamam, plus detox room with oxygen masks. You may even spot a celebrity.
- A string of naturally beautiful beaches renowned for their excellent surf breaks are easily accessible along this southwest coastline. Known by surfers across the world, head to legendary surfer’s haunt, Echo Beach, a 15 to 20 minute drive to Canggu, which conveniently provides post-surf sunset drinking. Whichever, all are in prime position for fabulous sunsets.
- Alternatively, if you want to learn to surf, head down to the Double Six section of Legian Beach (8km), home to Rip Curl School of Surf. With the surf school’s long experience and Legian’s manageable waves and warm, sandy-bottomed seas, this is a great spot for novice surfers, and for excellent brunches at one of the beachfront restaurants.
- Bali’s original horse riding stables (established 1995), Umalas Equestrian Resort is located in Ulamas village, ten minutes drive north of Petitenget. These renowned stables offer small group horse-riding tours through the area’s picturesque rice-fields and farming villages and along nearby Batubelig Beach, as well as children’s pony rides.
- Make the de rigueur pilgrimage to sacred Pura Tanah Lot (20km), one of Bali’s biggest tourist magnets. Perched high on a craggy wave-lashed rock, this ancient sea temple is best savoured at sunset; make sure you receive a blessing from the resident Hindu Priests.
- Alternatively, view Tanah Lot from the 12th hole of Nirwana Bali Golf Club. Bordered by the Indian Ocean and rice-fields just down from the sea temple, no wonder this championship-standard course designed by golf legend, Greg Norman, is frequently voted Asia’s number one.
- To escape the crowds, drive westwards past Tanah lot, heading for the relatively unchartered West Bali region. Here, the charming Tabanan Regency reveals terraced rice fields of emerald green, volcanic mountains and black sand beaches dotted with fishing communities – archetypal landscape for which Bali is famed.
- For a day of culture and dramatic landscapes, drive directly north from the villa for a couple of hours, heading towards the mountain town of Bedugul. From here, explore three volcanic lakes, including Bratan, with its photogenic and stunningly positioned Pura Ulun Danu – one of Bali’s most important temples.