Villa Kundalini Ayu

A small wrought-iron gate at the bottom of the garden is all that separates Villa Kundalini Ayu from the black sand of Umeanyar beach, a quiet stretch of Bali’s north coast just west of Lovina. In front lies a shallow coral reef for swimming and snorkelling, behind are rice fields, and in between sit nearly two thousand square metres of flowering tropical garden alive with birdsong.

A winding stone path leads through the lawns to the pool, set at the edge of the garden with an uninterrupted view out to sea, where the evenings end in glowing sunsets. Two Balinese bales with plump cushions make the obvious spot for an afternoon nap or a massage, while the open living pavilion under its tall thatched roof, decorated with woven bamboo sieves and hand-painted panels, opens fully onto the garden. Meals are served on the veranda overlooking the water.

The four bedrooms are simple and airy: a master with a four-poster king bed and a green-stone bathroom with a freestanding tub, a queen room and two twin rooms, each with its own ensuite. A villa supervisor, cook and housekeeping team run the house, preparing Indonesian and Mediterranean dishes with produce from the local market, and they can arrange dolphin-watching trips from the beach, waterfall outings and in-villa massages.