Villa Wangi Felixe

On a clear morning at Villa Wangi Felixe, Mount Agung rises above the coconut palms like a backdrop painted for the occasion. The villa sits on a vast private estate in the green hills of east Bali, near the royal water palace at Tirta Gangga and a short drive inland from the dive coast at Amed, with sweeping lawns, lotus ponds and thatched pavilions spread out among the trees.

The buildings follow the old Balinese pattern of separate pavilions under steep alang-alang roofs, freshly renovated inside with warm timber panelling, pale stone floors and soft lighting. The four bedrooms each feel like a private retreat, with large windows onto the gardens and calm, spacious bathrooms. Life outdoors centres on the pool, lined with loungers and parasols beneath tall palms, and a thatched bale beside the water for lazy afternoons in the shade.

This is a fully looked-after house rather than a self-catering one: a team of five, including a chef, prepares breakfast each morning and lunch or dinner from a menu, served overlooking the garden. Days can be spent snorkelling the reefs at Jemeluk Bay, diving the wreck at Tulamben, exploring Tirta Gangga or hiking towards Agung, before returning for quiet evenings in the gardens.