The Best Of Bali

The Island of the Gods has long been a popular tropical holiday destination, but three new resorts are making the Indonesian paradise an even more tempting prospect. Charlene Co and Oliver Giles share insider tips after stays at these luxurious hideaways

CAPELLA UBUD

Capella Ubud is a tented camp that combines the unexpected and ultra-luxurious. You’re in for an enchanting experience

LOCATION: On the outskirts of Bali’s cultural hub of Ubud, Capella’s luxurious tented camp resort nestles within four hectares of rainforest lined with rice paddies, and overlooks the sacred Wos River. This is Keliki village, located about half an hour away from the centre of Ubud, and a two-hour drive from Denpasar airport. But don’t let its apparent seclusion fool you—a specially built 4G tower ensures guests can remain connected.

ROOM & DESIGN: World-renowned designer Bill Bensley is the brains behind the sumptuous interiors of Capella Ubud’s 23 tents, spa, and both its restaurants, drawing inspiration from the camp life of early colonial settlers in Bali. Each of the tents—22 have one bedroom and one is a two-bedroom lodge—has its own theme, offering a fascinating glimpse into Bali’s colonial heritage.

Charming details are on display within these tents: a minibar emerges from a leather trunk; there’s a deep soak tub made from hand-hammered copper; vintage campsite tools are tacked to the walls; and there’s an elaborate loo worthy of the set of Game of Thrones.

Each tent comes with its own private saltwater pool and a rustic entrance accessed by a suspension bridge. Step outside your lodge and you have a spacious wooden deck with a daybed where you can lounge and commune with nature— though it’s easy to do that indoors, too, as the tents, while fully air-conditioned, are built using only thick membranes so guests remain close to the sights and sounds of the surrounding jungle. That said, we’d recommend a tent farther down the property closer to the rice paddies and not within hearing distance of the road.