Amori Villas
UBUD, BALI
Intimate retreat ideal for yoga and wellness getaways in a peaceful river valley near Ubud
From €1,200 per night | Capacity 21 guests
Based on the picturesque and peaceful Petanu River valley, and just 10 minutes from bustling Ubud, Amori Villas is a seven-villa, stylish property ideal for wellness, yoga, meditation and healing retreats in a lush, tropical landscape. Since opening in 2009, the owners Rick and Peta Dunn have carved out a reputation for providing a quality venue with excellent food and highly personal service from butlers, chefs and spa therapists. Accommodation is in graceful suites, villas and a treehouse, many with characterful indoor-outdoor bathrooms - one even has a fishpond. You can relax in the infinity pool with extensive valley views, practise yoga in a bamboo shala with a grass roof and experience exquisite Balinese health and beauty treatments.
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As well as two open air pavilions available for yoga, meditation, sound healing, breathwork and workshops, there's an open air, bamboo yoga shala which looks down to the river. All mats, blocks, bolsters, straps and cushions are provided. There are also four purpose-built spa treatment rooms, each with a shower cubicle. Treatments include a Mandi Lulur exfoliation and flower petal bath.
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The infinity pool juts out into the river valley, offering magnificent views, while the Jacuzzi can be turned into an ice bath. The pool deck and terrace lawns are also comfortable, serene areas where retreat sessions can be held.
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There are seven suites and villas, all with en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning. The Poolside Suite has twin king beds, a small valley-viewing balcony and a large bath and Jacuzzi, while the Valleyview Suite has a king-size bed with an indoor-outdoor bathroom with a sunken bath. The Garden Villa has its own garden courtyard with a terrace and the Honeymoon Suite offers a king-size four-poster bed, a walk-in dressing room and an indoor-outdoor bathroom. Treehouse is a one-bedroomed villa which can sleep up to four single guests, while Kingfisher Villa and Heaven Spring Villa are traditional 100-year-old Javanese gledags (wooden houses), each sleeping up to four people. Extra bedrooms are available at a neighbouring 18-room hotel.
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Guests can relax in the large lounge pavilion and open air restaurant, as well as around the pool deck and in the barbecue area. Lounge in the infinity pool and look out over the valley, people watch in the main lobby, cosy up by the pool with a book or relax in the gardens to the sound of birds singing and insects buzzing. You're also welcome to learn from chefs in the open kitchen adjoining the restaurant. The whole venue has a friendly, relaxed vibe.
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As well as enjoying a guided village walk, you can take part in a cooking class, which includes a morning visit to the market for produce. There's also a mala bead-making workshop or you might choose to experience the Gamelan musicians and Balinese dancers for your closing dinner. Excursions include trips to temples, terraced rice paddies, waterfalls, Bali springs, a monkey forest, beaches and shops. You can also visit a Balinese healer, have an ancient stone therapy session, go white water rafting, do a Kintamani downhill guided bicycle ride or climb Mount Batur volcano at sunrise.
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The in-house dining space is informal, with meals eaten around large, communal tables in the farmhouse, where there is also a large outdoor table. For a magical experience, there's an outdoor woodland dining area nestled under a canopy. With the philosophy 'Soil to Gut', the venue serves a 42-Mile Menu, which comprises of fresh, seasonal, organic and foraged food that is highly nourishing and, at the same time, kind to the planet.
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Amori Villas was created on a piece of unused land. The yoga shala is made from bamboo and has a grass roof, while the floor is made from recycled old teak. Hundreds of trees, including fruit-bearing coconuts, bananas, mango and guava, were planted and a rubbish collection and recycling were introduced. The property is reducing its use of single use plastic water bottles.
The Extraordinary
The views from the infinity pool over the sacred Petanu river and the exceptional, personal service from staff.
The less than ordinary
The beach is a 30 minutes' drive away and the property doesn't have lots of small break-out rooms for workshops.
Banjar Dukuh
Pejeng Kawan
Gianyar
Bali
80552
Indonesia
Rail
No rail service. Personal pick-up service provided.
Airport
Ngurah Rai International Airport, Denpasar