Those who have added Bali to their bucket list can confidently add the name Viceroy Bali next to it as well...
If you ask anyone around the world — from Americans to Swedes, Hungarians to Australians — about their travel desires, you’ll find that Bali ranks high on their bucket lists. The dream of visiting the beautiful lands of Indonesia, the island of Bali in the Lesser Sunda Islands, which spans just 5,600 square kilometers, is shared by many. The island is home to 4.5 million people, mostly Balinese Hindus. The air temperature is pleasantly warm year-round, ranging from 26 to 32 degrees Celsius, though the strong humidity may slightly intensify the feeling of heat.
The sea temperature is always pleasant, typically ranging from 24 to 29 degrees Celsius. In the central and eastern parts of Bali, mountains stretch across the island, while the southeastern region transforms into a flat plain. At the foot of the mountains, in the southeastern part of the island, lies the small town of Ubud, famous for its art and one of the favorite destinations for tourists. It’s popular, partly because of the numerous wonderful hotels and resorts located nearby, along the rice fields and jungle-like forests, from where guests can easily reach the picturesque town.
One such five-star resort is Viceroy Bali, located just a few minutes' drive from Ubud. Those who visit Bali following their bucket list and choose this luxury hotel and resort complex can truly feel that it was worth fulfilling this special stop on their dreams, as they have arrived in Paradise.
A breathtaking view awaits us along the mountain ridge: the lush, terraced rice fields wave green across the landscape, bordered by the magical forest of dense jungle. Above the lush valley lies the luxury resort, consisting of 40 villas, for those seeking elegance, exclusivity, and exoticism.
Each villa comes with its own heated swimming pool, and if we step out onto the terrace, we can see Mount Gunung Agung rising in the distance above the white clouds. It’s no coincidence that this magnificent area was once the favorite retreat of the royal family, a place where they could withdraw in peace. Today, it remains so secluded from the world that the resort recently received the title of Best Luxury Honeymoon Hotel in Asia at the World Luxury Hotel Awards gala.
The villas are a blend of modernity, contemporary lines, and traditional Balinese design. Of course, each "jungle home" is equipped with air conditioning, a coffee machine, an LED television, and a BOSE sound system. You won’t need to venture into the neighboring jungle for fast Wi-Fi either.
The villas come with personalized service. Honeymoon couples hardly need to leave their little hideaway or the resort itself. For those who want complete solitude, it's possible to spend days or even weeks here without encountering anyone. With 24-hour room service, breakfast can be delivered right to the bed, and traditional Balinese massages can be brought directly to your villa, along with healing treatments from local experts. There's also the option for a special Balinese cooking class or an outdoor picnic. You can continuously pamper both your body and soul. It's so secluded from the outside world that direct helicopter transfers from the airport are available, as the resort has its own helipad.
Still, even the honeymooners should occasionally venture out of their hideaway, as a walk along the rice fields or through the jungle can be truly refreshing. The resort's central location invites a wide range of adventurous activities. You can take Balinese dance lessons, try white-water rafting, go on an elephant safari, or even embark on a motorbike tour around the area on a Harley-Davidson.
At the heart of the resort, a luxurious spa awaits, along with several restaurants offering exquisite local and international dishes. One standout is Dining CasCades, which is housed under a 10-meter-high, cone-shaped thatched roof, offering breathtaking views of the Petanu River. It's a perfect spot to visit at any time of the day.
Fine dining in the jungle
Super elegant, the recently opened Apéritif is currently one of Bali's most unique fine dining restaurants. If we start at the bar, a rich selection of aperitifs awaits us: we can choose from a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, all inspired by the local tropical climate.
Afterwards, we can sit at one of the white-tableclothed tables in the ornate 60-seat restaurant with its black-and-white marble floor. The incredibly elegant space evokes the atmosphere of a century ago, with photos from the colonial period adorning the walls, including one featuring the last Dutch-Indonesian viceroy.
From the menu, you can choose both international flavors and dishes inspired by the Indonesian archipelago. Belgian chef Nic Vanderbeek is particularly fond of using the island's ancient spices, blending them with modern European flavors and cooking techniques. The refined eight-course degustation menu offers a true culinary journey from the past to the present. Ingredients from all over the world are used, and the restaurant even has its own growing area. The starter, karedok, appears to be a simple raw vegetable salad from West Java, but it has been thoughtfully transformed. The delicately pickled garden vegetables—cucumber, cabbage, zucchini, kale—are all locally grown, and they are complemented by a superb lemon-peanut sauce with tofu cream and baby bean sprouts. Another dish inspired by the Indonesians is Papua Crab, and the reinvented Wellington features Indonesian wild meat, rather than the traditional beef tenderloin, wrapped in buttery pastry for a unique twist on the classic dish. The sommeliers can recommend 180 different wines from around the world to pair with the meals.
Ubud Made Easy
It’s worth taking the hotel’s shuttle bus from the villas for a trip to the nearby town of Ubud. Everyone is impressed by this small town, the city of arts, where small exhibition rooms and temples are abundant. Feel free to browse through the local folk art items. While walking around the town, it’s important to stay cautious—not only because of the unusual left-side traffic but also due to the constant honking, which serves as a signal, a warning, or a greeting. During your walk, you’ll also get to experience the kindness and attentiveness of the locals.
They are used to tourists, but the monkeys of the Monkey Forest are also used to us. The lush tropical forest dominated by monkeys is actually part of the small village of Padangtegal. Over five hundred monkeys live here, spread across a few hectares. The seemingly cute and playful animals are actually cunning and sometimes quite aggressive predators: they can easily snatch a sandwich from our hands, and our sunglasses aren’t safe from them either. They are harmless creatures, but caution is advised: we are walking in their territory.
Returning from the Ubud trip to our villa, it's nice to have a little rest. To reflect, to immerse oneself, because the paradise-like landscape captivates you spiritually, it seduces you, it enchants you.
