Villa Lepak by the River

Fall asleep to the sound of running water and wake to birdsong at Villa Lepak by the River, a three-bedroom hideaway in a village just outside Ubud. Wrapped in rainforest on the banks of a winding river, it is a place made for slowing right down, which is exactly what “lepak” means: to kick back and simply enjoy doing very little at all.

The colonial-style house, with its terracotta roof, striped awnings and wraparound verandas, looks out over a ten-metre pool and a sweeping lawn that runs down towards the jungle. Spend lazy afternoons on the loungers, take a massage in the white-draped garden gazebo, or roll out a mat for morning yoga on the grass. Indoors, the open-plan living, dining and kitchen space is airy and stylish, with soaring ceilings, monochrome accents and wide views of the greenery.

The three king bedrooms each have four-poster beds wrapped in white netting and their own ensuite with a stone bathtub and separate shower. The master sits on its own on the far side of the villa, with a balcony sofa that is perfect for bird-watching, while another bedroom has a desk and a reading nook overlooking the river. Breakfast is included, daily housekeeping keeps things effortless, and Ubud’s rice terraces, temples and galleries are a short drive away.