Villa Semarapura by Elite Havens

1. On special festival days, devout Balinese Hindus wearing ceremonial dress converge on Pura Gede Luhur Batungaus, an important rocky offshore sea temple to perform cleansing rituals beside the ocean.
2. Dramatically perched on a craggy outcrop, the highly venerated sea temple of Tanah Lot may resemble Piccadilly Circus late afternoon, but watching the sun slip behind the ancient silhouette and scoring a blessing from a Hindu priest makes it all worthwhile.
3. Merica at Pan Pacific Tanah Lot showcases contemporary Indonesian and Southeast Asian classics overlooking the Indian Ocean, golf course or sea temple.
4. Tanah Lot Gastro Deli at Pan Pacific Nirwana Resort, a European-styled deli overlooking the gold course, offers the choice of air-conditioned comfort or spacious outdoor patio or lawn seating during the daytime.
5. Head to Bali Island Horse and ATV at Yeh Gangga (near Tanah Lot) for beach rides and the opportunity to swim with the horses.
6. Pick up hand-decorated pottery at Tanteri Ceramics, a family business with shop and gallery supporting local artisans in the village of Pejatan, Tabanan.
7. At Krambitan, a branch of the Tabanan royal family owns the atmospheric 17th-century Puri Anyar (New Palace) and Puri Agung (Great Palace), both with beautiful architecture and ambiance of the past.
8. At 850 meters (2,700ft) above sea level, Jatiluwih (which means extraordinary or truly marvelous) offers one of the most breath-taking panoramic views imaginable, with rice terraces stretching all the way to southern Bali.

Villa Semarapura is located on Cemagi Beach, in full view of the sacred sea temple Pura Gede Luhur Batungaus rising from a rocky outcrop pounded by waves rolling in from the Indian Ocean. The beach of black volcanic sand is great for morning jogs and sunset strolls with far-reaching views towards the Bukit Peninsula, but strong currents render it unsuitable for swimming. Within walking distance of Villa Semarapura are a handful of other luxury villas while a 20-minute stroll along the beach will bring you to Nganyi beach where there are a couple of local warungs (cafés).

A few kilometres away is the pretty village of Cemagi, where guests can experience the traditional Balinese way of life including colourful Hindu ceremonies. Ten kilometres or so to the south are some of the island’s best surfing beaches (Echo Beach is renowned for its laid-back surfer vibe), while to the north is the famous Pura Tanah Lot. The villa's 16-seat minibus and driver are available daily for guests who want to explore the island (extra charge applies).