Huge, luxurious, private, and peaceful estate surrounded by nature close to Ubud

For most, the trip to Bali is a long and arduous journey, likely the fulfilment of a 'bucket list' destination or perhaps the journey of a lifetime. Once you arrive, you deserve to be pampered by an attentive staff, enjoy the elegance and amenities that only a lovingly designed and equipped private home can offer, and relax in the privacy and tranquility of being surrounded by a cpmpletely natural setting.
Definitely not the usual Balinese "Backyard Bungalow" built for rental, this astounding 4500 square foot private home sits on over 1/2 acre of land and is surrounded by landscaped gardens and an unusually expansive pool and lounge area. The view in every direction is dominated by natural vistas - rain forest and rice fields - and the peace and tranquility is difficult to match anywhere in the world!
The house and grounds are surrounded by a high wall, out of sight on the side facing the river valley, giving the impression of living right in the rain forest. Squrrels frolic in the trees for your entertainment and bird songs wake you in the mornings.
Isolated and quiet, the house is serviced by a staff who enter the grounds at 8:00AM and depart by 11:00AM so that you can enjoy privacy and seclusion rarely experienced elsewhere.
And yet excellent restaurants, yoga studios, shops, and a fully-equipped supermarket ... one of Bali's largest ... is but a short stroll away, and the bustle of Ubud just a 20-minute walk or 5-minute taxi ride.
Built on a bend of a small river valley and situated at the END of the 'Path to the Sacred Spring' this truly astonishing villa is without question one of the most beautiful and tasteful accommodations in Bali, and likely the largest available for (occasional) rental. Featuring a majestic, remote, very private and peaceful setting, it contains three full (two partially outdoor) baths, two king-sized beds (one of which is "super-king", 200cm x 200cm), one queen, and an additional double and single to accommodate larger families or groups; a two-story interior atrium with a waterfall; and a fully-equipped modern kitchen. You will find flully Egyptian cotton towels, high-thread count bed linens, hair dryers in each bathroom, bedside reading lamps, a tower office with panoramic view, a fine collection of local art, and a great many more amenities that are not offered or all too often overlooked in other offerings.

One example of the thought and care that has gone into the preparation of this home is the mosquito netting (largely decorative, as the house is quite mosquito-fee) surrounding the "master" king-size bed. Having become tangled in such netting after many trips to the tropics, the owner designed and built a hardwood frame, suspended from the ceiling, that allows the netting to hang to the floor approximately two feet from the bed on three sides. One can walk around the bed entirely within the curtain of the netting!.
Marble, granite, and natural stone are used throughout, and over 25,000. man-hours have gone into to the hand-carved stone accents and intricately carved wooden doorways. Examples of many of Bali’s finest artistic endeavors are displayed: painting, wood-carving, batik, ikat weaving, stone-carving, etc. Most of the furnishings, including bathroom and kitchen cabinets, are custom make of teak, locally made and most with hand-carved accents.

Outside, the landscaped grounds boast over 3000 square feet of landscaping, pool and lounge area (the two-level swimming pool is comparable in size to those of most local hotels, the lower level a shallow pool for the safety of children and in which they can play under the waterfall from the main pool above); intricately carved traditional Balinese shrine; stone statuary, fountain, tropical landscaping, and an uninterrupted view of the river valley. Surrounded by a high wall, a feature of traditional Balinese architecture, the house and grounds are completely private and blissfully peaceful, yet are open to the near-180 degree view of the rain-forested river valley below.
Our staff consists of our young and enthusiastic house manager/driver who spent two years aboard a cruise ship to polish his language and tourist-relations skills - a rare feat for a young Balinese; our housekeeper/cook, who arrives each morning to clean the house and, if desired, to prepare a delicious breakfast; and our groundskeeper who tends the rice fields behind the villa. They will attend to your every need, but they do NOT remain full-time at the villa. Unless you specify otherwise, they are requested to vacate the property by 11:00AM so that you might fully enjoy the tranquility and complete privacy of the site.
Additionally, our manager who, along with his vehicel, is "licensed for tourist transport", will make the service of our guests a priority; his rates are competitive, and if you are in need of a driver or guide while in residence (he has an extensive knowledge of the offerings of our local area as well as the entire island), you need only call him. Also, if one of Bali's frequent ceremonies or processions is occurring during your stay, he can advise you on the required attire and arrange for you to attend, as we all consider our guests to be "extended family."

A NOTE ABOUT ACCESS:
This villa is heaven on earth! As stated, the property is situated on the bend of a river, in a completely natural setting, and which many visitors have remarked is the quietest, most natural setting for a home they've seen. It is so peaceful that guests are gently awakened in the morning by the songs and calls of the birds in the river valley, and the evenings are so still, the only sound being that of the breeze in the palms and the almost-constant flow of water from the rice fields to the river, that one feels quite alone in the natural world.
It is accessed ONLY by motorbike or walking path (no automobiles), and the motorbike access ends at the property's gate. Thus, there is no sound of passing motor vehicles - so common a disturbance in Bali - to detract from the peaceful ambiance. There are two pathways to the house: a motorbike access path of about 300 meters runs along the small river valley from the local village, past a number of villas and homes and ending at our front gate. From the back gate, we have built a cement walkway 100 meters through the rice fields to the community path on the opposite side (see photos). This pathway makes the short 5-minute walk to the local market and main road into Ubud very quick and convenient.
The walk to the house from the nearest automobile access is five minutes from the back gate and about seven or eight from the front, but there is no problem with the transportation of your belongings. Upon arrival you'll be met by our house manager (if he wasn't booked to drive you there, which we strongly recommend) who will take care of the transportation of your luggage to and from the house.
In 2015 we added the guest villa (the 'Annex') to the property. It is connected to the main compound by a lockable double gate, yet it is located outside the main perimeter walls (it has it's own walls and separate entrance gate) to allow complete privacy in both the villa and the annex. This addition is an intimate two-bedroom, two-bath unit with living area, kitchen, and small pool. (see VRBO.com/702772). As in the villa, it is equipped with the finest in accouterments including hand-carved teak furniture, quality linens and towels, top-end appliances, imported cookware, etc. Both of its bedrooms are air-conditioned.
Either the villa or annex can be booked separately, or you can reserve the entire property to accommodate as many as 10 persons.
In short, you may find small rental accommodations plentiful in Bali, but a trip to this enchanting island destination deserves the finest experience you can imagine. This magnificent home and its friendly and dedicated staff will provide you with a unique and incomparable experience!

Keywords: Bali, villa, vacation, quiet, secluded, rain-forest, rice-field, hideaway, peaceful, luxurious, rental, family, natural, clothing-optional, swimming, Ubud, yoga, retreat, wedding, honeymoon.