This is the real Bali – the Island of the Gods. Villa Bayad is the perfect place to take in the magic.
There is no place quite like Ubud. Nestled in the heartland of Bali, this lush region is dotted with ancient temples and wild waterfalls, all framed by untamed jungle and emerald green paddy fields.
Magical Tropical Setting
From the moment you walk through Villa Bayad’s gates, you’re immersed in nature. Koi fish swim in serene ponds and exotic flowers and lush greenery cascade from up above. To say it’s beautiful would be an understatement.
After sipping our welcome drinks in the main pavilion at the top of the property, the six of us dispersed to find our bedrooms which are scattered throughout the vast property.
We walked through covered pathways, darted across the gardens and crossed over little ponds and streams. There’s just a wonderful sense of magic and adventure about the villa – even the infinity pool, which gazes over the jungle, feels like something out of a fairy-tale.
Exquisite Cuisine
The food at Villa Bayad is truly exceptional. It’s very telling that most guests end up having their meals at the villa, despite all the amazing restaurants waiting in Ubud.
As is only fitting in this blissfully Balinese setting, we enjoyed some amazing local feasts with roast duck and pork, nasi goreng and beef rendang. Beyond local cuisine, we also had pastries and quiches with the chef making everything from scratch – including preparing and rolling the dough. It was genuinely some of the best food we’ve had in Bali.
A Wellness Haven
Ubud has long been famed as a haven of wellbeing and healing. True to its serene surroundings, Villa Bayad offers all the tools for tending to your own health and happiness.
The villa has a well-equipped, air-conditioned gym where you can work up a sweat on the treadmill, stationary bike or cross trainer, and build up your strength with free weights. After an energising workout, you can relax in the villa’s beautiful spa. This serene pavilion is surrounded by koi fish ponds and the soothing sounds of nature – the setup really rivals that of any high-end spa in downtown Ubud.
Our favourite nook, however, was the villa’s peaceful meditation garden. Located at the base of the property, this is a particularly serene garden where fruit trees and flowers bloom over quiet ponds. Seemingly floating on water is a tranquil bale – the perfect spot for sunrise yoga or grounding meditation (yoga mats and cushions are also available).
In a setting this peaceful and beautiful, you can really appreciate why they call this the Island of the Gods.
Beautiful Balinese Bedrooms
Villa Bayad features four bedrooms which perfectly echo the villa’s Balinese feel. The bedrooms are scattered across the property and connect through picturesque pathways. They feature dreamy canopy beds and lush indoor/outdoor bathrooms – the whole setup just feels oh so blissfully Balinese.
Out and About in Ubud
Villa Bayad feels like a tropical oasis -it’s just so green, lush and peaceful. Happily, it’s not all that remote though as it’s just 20 minutes out of Ubud town. Even the villa’s immediate surroundings are starting to get more populated, and (full disclosure) you can hear the very faint hum of the occasional motor vehicle passing by.
Besides art and culture, Ubud is known for its lush natural beauty and the villa staff offered to take us on walks in the local area. We declined this time around (something to look forward to for next time!) and opted instead for going into Ubud itself for a spot of shopping and sightseeing.
While Ubud is always changing and growing, we were very pleased to find that the traffic conditions have improved. The banjar (local village community) has implemented new rules and is enforcing them quite stringently to keep the traffic flowing. Roadside parking has been restricted in many places which prevents bottlenecks from occurring and helps keep traffic moving quite fluidly.
Logistics wise, this means that you can’t go from shop to shop in your vehicle. Instead, you’ll need to get off at a certain place, arrange where to be picked up by the driver, and then head off walking from shop to shop. It means you’ll be doing more walking – and seeing more of this picturesque town while you’re at it, with a lot less traffic to take away from its charm.
Next Stop Ubud?
With its classic design, heartfelt hospitality, and breathtaking gardens, Villa Bayad is the perfect place to experience Bali’s unique magic. Feel free to speak with our team about this villa.
