Where Bali sleeps: river valleys, clifftops and the beach

About Where Bali sleeps: river valleys, clifftops and the beach

By the ULTIMATE Bali Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Bali’s grand hotels follow its landscape. Inland, around Ubud, they hang over river gorges: Amandari and Mandapa above the Ayung, the Four Seasons at Sayan, Capella’s tented camp at Keliki, HOSHINOYA in the Pakerisan valley and the Viceroy above the Petanu. In the south, the Bukit peninsula ends in cliffs, and Bulgari, Six Senses, Alila and Jumeirah sit on top of them. Jimbaran’s bay holds the Four Seasons, AYANA and Raffles, while Nusa Dua’s planned resort coast has the Mulia, the St. Regis and The Laguna. On the west coast, Seminyak and Canggu trade cliffs for surf and design: The Oberoi, Desa Potato Head and Hotel Tugu.

Ubud and the river valleys

Amandari stands above the Ayung gorge at Kedewatan, and Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, lies on the river below the same village, with its restaurant Kubu in bamboo cocoons by the rice fields. The Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan is a little further down the valley; Capella Ubud is a tented camp in the rainforest at Keliki; COMO Shambhala Estate is a wellness retreat at Begawan. HOSHINOYA Bali looks over the Pakerisan valley at Pejeng, and Viceroy Bali, at Petulu, looks over the Petanu.

The Bukit clifftops

South of the airport, the Bukit peninsula rises into limestone cliffs above the Indian Ocean. Bulgari Resort Bali, Six Senses Uluwatu, Alila Villas Uluwatu, Jumeirah Bali at Pecatu and The Apurva Kempinski at Sawangan all look out from them.

You don’t need to stay to visit: book dinner at Apéritif in the Viceroy or a drink at the Rock Bar at AYANA.

Jimbaran and Nusa Dua

Jimbaran’s bay curves north from the cliffs: the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay climbs its hillside, AYANA and Raffles Bali stand on the southern headland. Nusa Dua, east of the peninsula, is a planned resort district of wide beaches and gardens, with the Mulia, the St. Regis, The Laguna and Aman Villas at Nusa Dua.

Seminyak and Canggu

On the west coast, The Oberoi Beach Resort is set in gardens on Seminyak beach, Desa Potato Head is a creative village of rooms, restaurants and a beach club on Petitenget, and Hotel Tugu, at Canggu, is filled with the owners’ collection of Indonesian art and antiques.

East Bali

Amankila, at Manggis near Candidasa, faces the Lombok Strait from its terraces, with Mount Agung behind it.

Our advice: split your stay. Spend three or four nights in the hills around Ubud, then go to the coast; the drive between them can take well over an hour.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Where Bali sleeps: river valleys, clifftops and the beach before you go.