The best Bali villas to book
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When are we not dreaming of Bali? With its frangipani-fringed rice fields, freewheeling vibe and surf-friendly waves, its pull is irresistible. And while Bali's hotels are some of the dreamiest in Southeast Asia, booking a villa here has its perks: you can have breakfast whenever you want, jump in the pool until well after midnight, and don't have to worry about privacy. So we've cherry-picked the best villas around Bali based on their guest reviews, amenities, looks and location — from fully staffed pool villas on Seminyak's shores to off-grid hideaways deep in the jungles of Ubud, here are the best Bali villas to book(mark).
Villa Shalimar beach front, Amed
It’s all about the beach at Villa Shalimar, which is just steps from volcanic ash-stained black sands, with near-endless vistas over jungle-trimmed mountaintops and Bali’s famous Mount Agung volcano. The architecture is designed to take full advantage of these views. The hosts assure us that waking up early to watch the sunrise from the terrace is fully worth it. A 10-metre infinity pool provides another dreamy spot to soak up the scene, or perhaps enjoy the Indonesian breakfast that arrives promptly each morning. But inside is almost as lovely as out, with three huge king-size bedrooms, an impressive kitchen, and traditional Balinese furniture throughout. An extra perk? East Bali offers some of the island’s best dive spots, and this villa is perfectly located for those with a love for the water.
Sleeps: Six
Price: From around £258 per night, with a two-night minimum
Villa Shambala, Ubud Gianyar
You may have heard of Wos River in west Ubud, which draws plenty of spiritualists on their regular pilgrimages to bathe in its healing waters. It’s here, perched atop a ravine, that you’ll find Villa Shamballa. For those seeking total seclusion, it’s a no-brainer – forget the crowds at Canggu or in Ubud proper, its village location ensures you’re far enough from the madding crowds for total peace and tranquillity. Haul yourself away from the glassy infinity pool, replete with deep jungle vistas, the huge stone bathtub, or just one of the comfy sofas, and you’ll be rewarded with many sights to uncover close by. The famous Camphuan ridge walk, across the river and down through the valleys, is just a five minute drive – and bustling Ubud will take just seven minutes to reach in a taxi.
Sleeps: Three
Price: From around £134 per night, with a three-night minimum
Villa Santi, Kecamatan Ubud
If you’re looking for wow-factor, this is it. Just 10 minutes’ drive from the centre of Ubud, this villa has gorgeous double height expansive spaces, ultra-chic modern design with made-to-measure furniture, and four roomy bedrooms each with en-suites. But the star of the show is the glimmering infinity pool that wends right through the heart of the villa and continues outside. Two bedrooms have direct pool access, so start your day with a swim overlooking views of Ubud’s famous rice terraces and finish with dinner cooked by your own private chef in the outdoor kitchen.
Sleeps: Eight
Price: From around £250 per night, with a two-night minimum
Ki Ma Ya Retreat
Area: Ubud
Forget the bunut trees swaying gently, the views of the volcanoes across the rainforest, or the distant sound of waterfalls in the distance – inside this villa is where you’ll want to be. With an abundance of offerings to keep you entertained, it’s more than easy to hole up here for a few days without venturing further afield. For starters, there’s a dedicated meditation space, private saltwater swimming pool, dry sauna, large open-air bathtub and access to a couple of natural springs. You can enhance your yoga practice with the selection of relaxing music available from the sound system – or, of course, there's always the in-house steel pan drum. If the novelty of surveying the landscapes starts to fade, there’s a movie projector and a selection of films to watch. A massage table and therapist are also available on request. And that’s without mentioning the traditional Balinese interiors, all sloping roofs and relaxed linens designed to prioritise light and space, allowing visitors to enjoy the vistas from almost every angle.
Sleeps: Four
From: About £193 per night
Eat Pray Love Villa
Area: Ubud
Film fans, here’s one to book. This little villa has a storied history, the same home where Julia Roberts filmed those scenes in Eat Pray Love. It’s decked out simply in a neutral palette, but everything is primed for comfort – and to take in the incredible views. There’s a large four poster looking out over a sweeping vista of rice terraces, where you can enjoy those famous Balinese sunsets. Take breakfast on the expansive terrace, then head over to the gazebo, which offers a perfect spot for meditation and morning yoga practice. It’s close to all the sights, just a 10-minute drive to the city centre; Ubud Palace is just 4km away, while the monkey forest and the rice terraces are 6km from the site.
Sleeps: Three
From: Around £126 per night
Camaya Bali Lotus
Area: Selat
For those seeking a total switch off; a complete immersion in the natural wonders on this island, head to Selat. This bamboo hut, hidden in one of Bali’s most wild, unspoilt regions, offers a stay so interconnected with the surroundings that the villa doesn’t have a single door. There’s no common indoor area – unless you use the second bedroom as a lounge – instead focusing the space around an outdoor fireplace, a hot tub to dip in, and an outdoor seating area to gather around. The bedroom’s arches open straight out onto the landscapes, where you can survey the rice fields and valleys in one of the most remote locations in Bali. A small local restaurant on site provides traditional Balinese meals, and while there are no shops or supermarkets in walking distance, the hosts provide a free moped for guests so that you can venture into the thick of it in the best way possible.
Sleeps: Four
From: About £188 per night
Villa Manao
Area: Kerobokan
This walled cluster of villas in the Kerobokan rice fields makes it feel as if you have a whole Balinese village to yourselves. Around a lotus-filled pond and a dining pavilion, a handful of joglo-roofed dwellings stand alongside tribal wood carvings and thatch-roofed lounge nooks. Inside, they draw on local crafts, with ikat-inspired textiles and handwoven basketry, while lush gardens pin them firmly in the Balinese countryside. Bring the whole gang (or the extended family): with eight bedrooms, each with en-suite bathroom and one with bunk beds that sleep four, there's space aplenty—and there's no need to quibble for a lounger along the two infinity pools. A private chef is included in the nightly rate, though restaurant-rich Seminyak is just a 10-minute drive away.
Sleeps: 16
From: £646 per night
Laputa Villa
Area: Sidemen
While this pointy-roofed structure, reminiscent of a manta ray or a bird in mid-flight, is a marvellous piece of bamboo architecture, it's the views that have turned Laputa Villa into one of Bali's most popular Airbnbs. For eight months, its owner travelled around the island with a drone in search of a scenic vantage point and eventually found it at a sparsely built mountain ridge bordering Sidemen Valley. Soon after opening, the villa garnered the nickname "The Bamboo Castle in the Sky", and it's easy to see why: from the two semi-open bedrooms and the hammock-like nets protruding from the mezzanine, the unobstructed views over the area's rice terraces, mountain ridges, and rural village life are otherworldly. For those craving an away-from-it-all experience, this is the place to book.
Sleeps: 4
From: £372 per night
FELLA Villa
Area: Canggu
A stay at this boho bolthole just minutes from Canggu's surf breaks instantly makes you feel like one of those sun-kissed and salty-haired Canggu cool kids – if only for a weekend. Rosie Iffla and Christine Tang, founders of the eponymous Australian swimwear label FELLA, opened it as their Bali base in 2015 and decorated it with a tasteful pick-and-mix of Canggu hallmarks: cacti-dotted gardens, concrete floors, edgy artworks and surfer paraphernalia. The open-air bathrooms and whitewashed courtyard with swimming pool make it a perfect spot for après-surf hangouts, while the central location puts you within walking distance from the district's buzziest beach bars and top tables.
Sleeps: 6
From: £228 per night
The Hideout
Area: Selat
A stay at this two-story bamboo hut on the outer slopes of eastern Bali's Agung volcano requires some planning: as the fourth most-wished-for accommodation on Airbnb, it books out months in advance. Those who manage to nab a night here, though, will find themselves seemingly off-grid in a lush patch of jungle, with nothing but chameleons, fist-sized butterflies, and the resident cat, Kikky, for company. The Hideout's remote location puts it at least half an hour away from the nearest beach bar, so days here fill up with rice paddy hikes, hammock-lolling, and dips in the gin-clear stream babbling in front. There's an open-air bathroom, living room, and a kitchen equipped with a fridge and cooking equipment, though guests can also order in or borrow a scooter to eat at the local warung a five- to ten-minute ride away.
Sleeps: 2
From: £145 per night
Haigha House
Area: Ubud
Hidden in the rice fields of a small village near Ubud, Haigha House is a fresh departure from the traditional dwelling-style villas dotting the district. Instead of bamboo ceilings and ornamental wood carvings, this 3-bedroom hideaway has lofty interiors with hints of Tropical Modernism – straight lines, triple-height ceilings, and a palette of concrete and steel warmed up with modern furnishing from textile and timber. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of rice fields and the Batukaru volcano in the distance, while the bean bag-lined infinity pool looks out over the surrounding jungle. Another perk: guests have access to a tablet with Ubud insider tips by Indonesian journalist and Haigha House co-owner Risyiana Muthia.
Sleeps: 7
From: £256 per night
Rumah Hujan
Area: Ubud
Venezuelan architect Maximilian Jencquel built this designer den in the heart of Ubud from the ironwood remains of a bridge he found in Borneo. Pairing the reclaimed materials with honey-hued teak and volcanic stone, the villa is a study in natural living, with pared-back interiors, understated Scandinavian furniture and indoor-outdoor spaces letting the lush jungle backdrop take centre stage. There's a sleek saltwater pool, on-the-ball housekeeping, and a private chef who can whip up everything from breakfast to dinner, putting Rumah Hujan in the same league as the top-level villas of some of Bali's highest-end resorts.
Sleeps: 6
From: £452 per night