- UBUD
State of Peace
Combat Ubud’s sensory
overload with a stroll along
Tjampuhan Ridge, electric
green as far as the eye can
see. Lunch on tuna gohu, a
ceviche-like dish accented
with pomelo and starfruit,
and bebek goreng (fried
duck) at the colonial-style
Hujan Locale. Then pick
up intricate indigo textiles
and textured ceramics at
Ikat Batik and Kevala. At
the Four Seasons’ Sacred
River Spa, singing bowls
signal the start of a chakra
ritual that induces ground-
ing through deep massage
and a Balinese smoke
ceremony. Sound sleep is
virtually guaranteed inside
Bambu Indah resort’s
enchanting “houses” by
local architecture firm
Ibuku, each a different
design that blurs the line
between indoors and out.- LAKE BRATAN
Mirror Image
While winding north to
higher elevations, get a
caffeine jolt at Munduk
Moding Plantation, where
the coffee-making tour
is an education in Bali’s
famed java production.
Next up is Hindu temple
Pura Ulun Danu Bratan,
beautifully reflected in the
serene waters of its lake.- BANJAR
Soaking It In
At the Banjar Hot Springs,
dip in terraced pools lined
with streams falling from
the mouths of toothy stone
naga heads. Nearby, Bali’s
largest Buddhist monas-
tery, Brahmavihara-Arama,
is a meditation destination
featuring golden Buddhas
and vibrant gardens.- SINGARAJA
Fit for a King
On the island’s north coast,
Singaraja, meaning “lion
king” in Indonesian, is
the seat of the Buleleng
regency, founded as a
kingdom in the 1600s.
From 1849 to 1953, the
town served as a colonial
capital for the Dutch,
whose architecture informs
the Royal Palace, open to
visitors despite housing
descendants of the regen-
cy’s last royal family. The
1928 Gedong Kirtya library
draws bibliophiles with
its collection of ancient
manuscripts, written on
indigenous lontar palm
leaves and addressing
topics such as mythology,
history, art, and daily life.
Duck into the adjacent
Museum Buleleng for its
small collection of ceremo-
nial masks and exhibits on
the Dutch period.- KELIKI
Cushy Camp
Outfitted with Dutch antiques and hand-hammered copper
tubs, Capella Ubud may be the ultimate glamping experi-
ence. At this tented camp, built without displacing a single
tree, dive into the saltwater pool that seems to float above
the forest, before sampling Asian barbecue (with a side of
theatrics) at the open-air robatayaki grill Api Jiwa.
- ABIANSEMAL
Past Meets Future
The sense of freedom felt on a scooter can be over-
whelming, so take it slow toward the first stop,
north of Denpasar. This lesser known inland dis-
trict embraces both classic Bali and its innovative
eco-conscious side. Learn about sustainability
initiatives on a guided tour of the Green School
and the nearby Kul Kul Farm, where you can savor a
lunch of just plucked produce. Then visit the work-
shop of famed jewelry label John Hardy, set on 400
lush acres studded with rice paddies, to see artisans
create new designs using traditional techniques.
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