Umah Sunset Villa

As the name promises, evenings at Umah Sunset Villa belong to the sky: the infinity pool runs right along the edge of the rice terraces, and as the sun drops the water turns gold and pink with the paddies glowing beyond. This small, walled villa of terracotta-tiled pavilions sits among the fields of Melinggih Kelod, a quiet farming village a short drive from the cafés, galleries and markets of Ubud.

Life here centres on the pool deck, with loungers under blue umbrellas, a soft lawn and a raised open-sided pavilion hung with white curtains where you can stretch out over the water and watch the farmers at work. Inside, the living and dining room is warm with carved timber, stone walls and Balinese art, its tall glass doors folding open towards the garden and the rice fields. A fully equipped kitchen sits alongside a long wooden dining table, and there is a stereo and a stack of board games for lazy evenings in.

The two king bedrooms are bright and air-conditioned, with plump day seating, Indonesian textiles and big windows over the fields, and each has its own bathroom, one with a stone-walled garden shower. Breakfast is included each morning and the villa is looked after by a manager and housekeeping team, making it an easy, homely base for two couples or a small family exploring Ubud and the countryside around Sayan.