The original Ubud retreat, built like a Balinese village on the lip of the Ayung River Gorge and still woven into the life of Kedewatan.
Amandari opened in 1989, designed by the architect Peter Muller, and a lot of what Bali resorts now copy started here: thatched pavilions, walled courtyards and a pool shaped like a rice terrace. What cannot be copied is the setting. The resort sits above a village shrine and the villagers still walk through reception with their offerings.
This is where we send people who want the cultural side of Bali properly. Gamelan players perform beside the restaurant at dusk, children from Kedewatan teach Balinese dance, and the team can arrange temple visits and a Melukat water blessing. Ubud centre is a short drive away when you want it.
It is not a beach hotel, and it is not a party. The pavilions are dark-wooded and traditional rather than sleek, and evenings are quiet. Pair it with a few nights on the coast if you need sand as well as rice fields.
A raised thatched pavilion of about 250 square metres, looking over the valley or the rice terraces, with coconut, teak and bamboo interiors.
About 265 square metres around a private pool and garden. The easy choice for couples who want a pool without taking a full villa.
About 265 square metres with its own pool and garden and a view over the Ayung River valley.
A walled home of about 450 square metres with elevated views over the river valley, for couples who want real space.
The largest homes on the estate, around 700 and 688 square metres, with valley views, an infinity pool in the two-bedroom and dedicated staff.
The open-air Restaurant overlooks the pool and the Ayung valley and serves Balinese heritage dishes alongside Indonesian and international food, from breakfast to late dinner. Produce comes from the resort's own organic garden and local farms. The Terrace Bar handles sunset drinks, and a private dining room seats 20.
The Spa sits beside a lotus pond, with two open-air treatment bales, a gym and private yoga and meditation in a forest glade. The signature journey ends with a Melukat purification ritual, and a resident spiritual healer offers sessions. There is also a hard tennis court.
Children are welcome, and the two- and three-bedroom villas suit families. There is no dedicated kids club advertised, so it works best for older children who will enjoy the dance lessons, walks and temple visits.
| Opened | 1989 |
|---|---|
| Architect | Peter Muller |
| From the airport | About 90 minutes by car from Ngurah Rai International Airport |
| Dining | The Restaurant and the Terrace Bar |
| Spa | Two open-air treatment bales beside a lotus pond |
| Accommodation | Pavilions and one- to three-bedroom villas |
Kedewatan, Ubud, Bali
A few of the things we plan for guests in Bali.
Ubud sits among rice fields, gorges and craft villages. Walk the Campuhan ridge at dawn, visit the terraces at Tegallalang early before the crowds, and see stone carving and silverwork in the villages nearby. For a quieter view, drive west to Jatiluwih, where the terraces are watered by the ancient subak irrigation system.
Pura Luhur Uluwatu stands on a sea cliff at the southern tip of the island. At sunset, a kecak performance is held in the amphitheatre beside it, with a circle of men chanting the story of the Ramayana. Arrive early for a good seat and hold on to sunglasses, because the temple monkeys are quick. Stay on the Bukit for clifftop villas and surf beaches.
Mount Batur is an active volcano in a huge caldera, and the classic walk starts in the dark to reach the rim by sunrise. On a clear morning you see the lake below and Mount Agung and Lombok’s Rinjani on the horizon. It takes about two hours up, on loose ground, so wear proper shoes. Go in the dry season and pair it with hot springs on the lakeshore.
Five nights at a wellness retreat in the Ayung River valley with a programme of yoga, treatments and healthy food, then five nights on the quiet east coast, where terraced suites look over the Lombok Strait.
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will check availability, suggest the right room and send a price.
