IMPORTANT NOTE: The description in this listing refers to BOTH the "estate home" (main villa - this listing) AND "Annex" (guest villa - VRBO.com/702772), which are available separately or together. While the main home can sleep up six persons comfortably, it is originally a ONE BEDROOM; it has recently been redesigned with, in addition to the bedroom level, the living level as a studio apartment.
If your party is large, and you desire more accommodation or privacy than the main villa can provide, please see our adjacent, and completely separate and private, 2-bedroom described below and on VRBO.com/702772.
This is the PERFECT venue for a honeymoon, a couple desiring elegant and luxurious accommodation, or a family with young or grown children. Consequently, we set our rates for TWO PERSONS, and there is an additional charge for each person over two,. Parties of 7 persons and more must then include the guest quarters at the additional rate, up to a maximum of 10, and must reserve it separately.
Due to the popularity of the commission-based property rental sites (e.g. AirBnB), vacation rentals are appearing everywhere in Bali. Even local families are sacrificing a portion of their iconic rice fields to build small accommodations to rent to tourists for added income. They refer to these "backyard bungalows" as "Villas" ; the vast majority of them would fit in the bedroom of our magnificent 5200 square foot estate home!
This elegant and luxurious property, built as the eventual retirement home of an American artist, offers the visitor to Bali a unique and very special experience. It is a "custom" home in every way: design and construction, materials, layout, decor, furnishings, and amenities. It occupies a huge lot of 1400 sq. meters - more than five times the size of most local rental properties.
From across the rice fields as you approach, it lies impressively expansive against the tall palms of the river valley, stretching across behind the rice fields and into the palm trees beyond. By night, the house glows at the end of its pathway, the lighted traditional shrine in the northeastern corner indicating the unusual size of this very special property.
Built on a bend of a small river valley and situated at the END of the 'Path to the Sacred Spring' this truly astonishing villa is without question one of the most beautiful and tasteful accommodations in Bali, and likely the largest available for (occasional) rental. Featuring a majestic, remote, very private and peaceful setting, it contains two full (partially outdoor) baths, two king-sized beds (one of which is "super-king", 200cm x 200cm), one queen, and an additional double and single to accommodate larger families or groups; a two-story interior atrium (designed with a waterfall, which is currently under repair); and a fully-equipped modern kitchen. You will find Egyptian cotton towels, high-thread count bed linens, hair dryers in each bathroom, bedside reading lamps, a tower office with panoramic view, a fine collection of local art, and a great many more amenities that are not offered or all too often overlooked in other offerings.
One example of the thought and care that has gone into the preparation of this home is the mosquito netting (largely decorative, as the house is quite mosquito-fee) surrounding the "master" king-size bed. Having become tangled in such netting after many trips to the tropics, the owner designed and built a hardwood frame, suspended from the ceiling, that allows the netting to hang to the floor approximately two feet from the bed on three sides. One can walk around the bed entirely within the curtain of the netting!.
Marble, granite, and natural stone are used throughout, and over 25,000. man-hours have gone into to the hand-carved stone accents and intricately carved wooden doorways. Examples of many of Bali’s finest artistic endeavors are displayed: painting, wood-carving, batik, ikat weaving, stone-carving, etc. Most of the furnishings, including bathroom and kitchen cabinets, are custom make of teak, locally made and most with hand-carved accents.
Outside, the landscaped grounds boast over 3000 square feet of landscaping, pool and lounge area (the two-level swimming pool is comparable in size to those of most local hotels, the lower level a shallow pool for the safety of children and in which they can play under the waterfall from the main pool above); intricately carved traditioal Balinese shrine; stone statuary, fountains, tropical landscaping, and an uninterrupted view of the river valley. Surrounded by a high wall, a feature of traditional Balinese architecture, the house and grounds are completely private and blissfully peaceful, yet are open to the near-180 degree view of the rain-forested river valley below.
Our staff consists of our young and enthusiastic house manager who spent two years aboard a cruise ship to polish his language and tourist-relations skills - a rare feat for a young Balinese; our housekeeper/cook, who arrives each morning to clean the house and, if desired, to prepare a delicious breakfast; and our groundskeeper and security watchman who tends the rice fields behind the villa. They will attend to your every need, but they do NOT remain full-time at the villa. Unless you specify otherwise, they are requested to vacate the property by 11:00AM so that you might fully enjoy the tranquility and complete privacy of the site.
Additionally, our manager who, along with his vehicel, is "licensed for tourist transport", will make the service of our guests a priority; his rates are competitive, and if you are in need of a driver or guide while in residence (he has an extensive knowledge of the offerings of our local area as well as the entire island), you need only call him. Also, if one of Bali's frequent ceremonies or processions is occurring during your stay, he can advise you on the required attire and arrange for you to attend, as we all consider our guests to be "extended family."
A NOTE ABOUT ACCESS:
This villa is heaven on earth! As stated, the property is situated on the bend of a river, in a completely natural setting, and which many visitors have remarked is the quietest, most natural setting for a home they've seen here. It is so peaceful that guests are gently awakened in the morning by the songs and calls of the birds in the river valley, and the evenings are so still, the only sound being that of the breeze in the palms and the almost-constant flow of water from the rice fields to the river, that one feels quite alone in the natural world.
It is accessed ONLY by motorbike or walking path (no automobiles), and the motorbike access ends at the property's gate. Thus, there is no sound of passing motor vehicles - so common a disturbance in Bali - to detract from the peaceful ambiance. There are two pathways to the house: a motorbike access path of about 300 meters runs along the small river valley from the local village, past a number of villas and homes and ending at our front gate. From the back gate, we have built a cement walkway 100 meters through the rice fields to the community path on the opposite side (see photos). This pathway makes the short 5-minute walk to the local market and main road into Ubud very quick and convenient.
The walk to the house from the nearest automobile access is five minutes from the back gate and about seven or eight from the front, but there is no problem with the transportation of your belongings. Upon arrival you'll be met by our house manager (if he wasn't booked to drive you there) who will take care of the transportation of your luggage to and from the house.
In 2015 we added the guest villa (the 'Annex') to the property. It is connected to the main compound by a lockable double gate, yet it is located outside the main perimeter walls (it has it's own walls and separate entrance gate) to allow complete privacy in both the villa and the annex. This addition is an intimate two-bedroom, two-bath unit with living area, kitchen, and small pool. (see VRBO.com/702772). As in the villa, it is equipped with the finest in accouterments including hand-carved teak furniture, quality linens and towels, top-end appliances, imported cookware, etc. Both of its bedrooms are air-conditioned.
Either the villa or annex can be booked separately, or you can reserve the entire property to accommodate as many as 10 persons.
In short, you may find small rental accommodations plentiful in Bali, but a trip to this enchanting island destination deserves the finest experience you can imagine. This magnificent home and its friendly and dedicated staff will provide you with a unique and incomparable experience!
(please see the reviews!)
Keywords: Bali, villa, vacation, quiet, secluded, rain-forest, rice-field, hideaway, peaceful, luxurious, rental, family, natural, clothing-optional, swimming, Ubud, yoga, retreat, wedding, honeymoon.
