Another Side Of Bali

Away from crowds and well-worn tourist destinations, three smaller villages on the island recharge the senses.

Naturally endowed with sprawling beaches and warm tropical weather, Bali has long been a haven for those looking for respite. In fact, the Indonesian island has become even more popular with foreigners over the years, receiving more than nine million tourists in 2014. While areas such as Kuta and Seminyak have turned into well-oiled tourist attractions that boast an energetic nightlife and culinary scene, quieter areas on the island still offer respite for seasoned travellers who have been there and done that.

Towns like Canggu, Uluwatu and Umalas – which are 30 minutes to an hour away by car from the noise and people – offer serenity and scenery varying from undulating rice ïƒ elds to jagged cliff edges overlooking the Indian Ocean. “These areas are seeing a grassroots movement developing organically at the local level and then, as the word spreads, becoming independent tourist enclaves of their own,” says Alastair Loxton, CEO and co-founder of Ministry of Villas, a website offering personalised villa reservations.