When real estate agents say “location, location, location” they refer to proximity to schools, shops and social life. At Ministry of Villas, when we say “location, location, location” we mean the villa itself is so perfectly situated you will find it difficult to leave.
Villa Amaru fits this description perfectly. The property is positioned atop Sayan Ridge with panoramic views of Bali’s volcanos and terraced rice fields – the iconic setting for a villa in Ubud.
The Architect’s Vision
The design of Villa Amaru is unique to Bali: architect Made Wijaya was inspired by Arne Hasselquist’s “David Bowie House” in Mustique (now known as ‘Mandalay Estate‘), on which he collaborated with creative designer Linda Garland.
Villa Amaru fuses together elements of the Malay house, the Balinese Balé, and the Baronial guesthouses of Dutch colonial hill stations, all connected with majestic gardens and waterways between. It’s eclectic, exotic… and extraordinary!
Serenity & Smiles
We loved meandering through the lush garden, admiring the cascading koi ponds and soaking in the magnificent vistas beyond. Villa Amaru has a way of calming the soul and taking you to another spiritual dimension.
The staff were so courteous, so accommodating, nothing was too much trouble! Every morning, the team performed a Balinese ritual and served a cooked breakfast with fresh fruit and juice in the dining pavilion with the sound of the Ayung River flowing in the distance.
We believe this is the quintessential Ubud experience :)
Where Exactly?
Villa Amaru is located on the prestigious Raya Sayan – the ridge that looks to the west (orange sunsets!) over the Ayung River, close to Ubud village. I say prestigious because the world’s most luxurious hotel brands including Aman, Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton are located on the same street.
Restaurants, cafés, spas, and shops are all within walking distance of the villa, although you’ll need to jump in a car to get to the centre of Ubud. This is not a bad thing! Ubud is so busy these days, we recommend staying 10 minutes drive from the centre of town so you have peace and privacy.
Exploring Ubud
Within minutes of arriving we asked our butler to help us arrange a day trip around Ubud. It did not take long however for us to discover we had a gorgeous hideaway all to ourselves and we decided to stay and escape the world day 1, then reconnect with the rest of the world on day 2 :)
Naturally, it wasn’t our first trip to Ubud (or tenth… or hundredth) so when we headed out, we revisited our favourites, namely: buying new sarongs in Ubud Market, followed by hiking Campuhan Ridge Walk, then rewarding ourselves after exercise with a hearty meal and cocktails viewing Campuhan Ridge from the amazing Indus restaurant.
Conclusion
Villa Amaru is serene and peaceful. We love the combination of unique architecture, tropical gardens and facilities including games room and lovely pool deck to relax and spend time together. We recommend the villa to families with children who are independent enough to navigate the interconnecting pavilions and groups of friends seeking a private oasis on the outskirts of Ubud.
