Visitors to Bali flock in their droves to the stylish beach bars in Seminyak, to Ubud’s spiritual centre; and to the rugged cliffs of Uluwatu that offer holiday makers the most stunning of sunsets. But, if you look hard enough you’ll discover that what Bali also does so well is untouched gems away from the trodden tourist track. Hidden hideaways where guests can relax and bask in total privacy; and luxuriate away from the crowds, surrounded by nature. Villa Sungai is one of them.
Lofty dark wooden ceilings frame the stunning open air living room at Villa Sungai, Canggu, Bali. Image © Lucy Pearson
Perfectly Private and Close to Canggu
A thirty-minute drive from Seminyak, and not too far from Canggu’s Echo Beach, Villa Sungai has got the kind of entry you’d miss if you weren’t looking for it. We drove past rice fields aplenty before turning off onto a hidden track that would lead us to the villa. We were picked up from Seminyak in an air-conditioned car with cold towels, chilled bottled water and a jar of nuts to accompany us during our drive; and such well thought out comfort certainly set the tone for our time at Villa Sungai. Staff was on hand to greet us the moment we arrived, and while our bags were taken to our room we were given a tour of the villa.
The Balinese style villas are divided into two residences; Sungai Gold and Villa Sungai, the former boasts two suites; while the latter offers three. The villas can be booked separately or as a whole. Certainly a huge selling point for many of its guests is that anyone staying at these Canggu villas does so safe in he knowledge that they’ll be treated to the ultimate in solitude and seclusion during their time here.
A day bed on the verandah is the perfect spot for an afternoon nap at Villa Sungai, Bali. Image © Lucy Pearson
One of the beautiful swimming pools enveloped in palms and perfectly private at Villa Sungai, Bali. Image © Lucy Pearson
Villa Sungai
Our room in Villa Sungai was stunning. Rectangular in shape and bathed in light, we had unobstructed views of the pool and vegetation, a four-poster bed that was undoubtedly one of the most comfortable I’ve ever slept in and an outdoor bath nestled in its own courtyard. Outside, a beautiful infinity pool the perfect size for laps, sun loungers, a day bed and a dining area that was stylishly furnished with whites, woods and Balinese touches.
One of the many ultra luxury touches at Villa Sungai, the turn down service features cascading mosquito net and soft lighting. Image © Lucy Pearson
An private outdoor bath offers the height of luxury at Villa Sungai, Canggu, Bali. Image © Lucy Pearson
The Villa Spa
Our massages started with a flower foot bath, just outside the villa’s spa before we were led inside to a dimly lit and fragrant room where we were to spend the next ninety minutes in utter heaven. I had chosen the sandalwood oil for my massage and the sound of the water outside was the perfect backdrop as he masseuse relieved the knots in my shoulders and back. I left feeling more relaxed than ever, and knowing that dinner was taken care of; that there was no ordering of taxi nor deciding where to go only added to my state of bliss.
The table is set for a beautiful private candlelight dinner at Villa Sungai, Bali. Image © Lucy Pearson
Private In-Villa Dining
For lunch, we had a delicious sit down lunch of spiced pumpkin soup with prawns and a freshly squeezed watermelon juice before spending a lazy afternoon lounging under the rays of the Balinese sun.
Dinner was a lavish affair. The table has been set beautifully with flowers strewn across the place settings and a stunning hurricane lamp as a centre piece. Our six course A La Carte menu started with ginger martini cocktails, later accompanied by wine and included corn fritters, blue-eyed cod rolls, roast pumpkin, sage and prosciutto risotto, turmeric and coconut salmon and coconut jellies. It was a meal fit for a king and the perfect end to a relaxing day.
There is no set time for breakfast; it is served whenever guests are ready. So after waking to the sound of local wildlife, which in itself is the very best sort of alarm call, we spent lazy mornings in bed before rolling out to the table which was already set for breakfast. We took our time over our food; slurping on smoothies, sipping our hot cups of coffee and savouring every last bite of our delicious smashed avocado.
The oversized private swimming pool all to ourselves at Villa Sungai, Bali. Image © Lucy Pearson
Villa Sungai certainly sets the bar high when it come to island life in Bali. From the 24-hour private butler service to the property’s unrivalled privacy, the stunning interiors and awe-inspiring backdrop, few places do luxury living quite as well as Villa Sungai does. Whether you need a weekend retreat with friends and family, or a boutique bespoke stay with the chance to truly indulge in the finer things of life Villa Sungai truly has it all.
Villa Sungai, near Canggu, Bali
Jl. Desa Cepaka, Kaba-Kaba, Kediri, Kabupaten Tabanan, Bali 80351, Indonesia
The Fit Traveller was a guest of Villa Sungai for this stay. As always, the opinions, words and images are authentically our own.
Lucy Pearson is a certified bookworm, wanderluster, and qualified yoga teacher with a thirst for adventure and a love for life.
Lucy has her own blog, The Literary Edit, and also contributes to Stylist Magazine and Hip and Healthy.