I have been hearing its name for quite a while. But invitation to visit this villa has never been so appealing until I noticed that Sukhavati Retreat has just been listed as the world’s best 50 villas by the prestigious Travel & Leisure magazine. With so many beachfront luxurious establishments on the island, what this villa had to offer making it deserved such a glorious honor?

The long winding country road from Seminyak offered picturesque views of infinity rice-field gently sloping down to the beach. Close to the horizon was the soaring wall of Uluwatu cliff at the South peninsula. The combination of golden paddy closing to harvest time and the azure of the Indian Ocean behind is nothing less than magnificent. Tourists might find it appealing, but I have been seeing these views almost everyday for the last five years. I needed something different to get impressed.

Before long enough, I turned right entering a serene farmers’ traditional Balinese village of Tibubeneng. Each modest house built from traditional material like bamboo-sheet and wooden frame, has its own shrine, where people put offerings to the Gods. Hiding behind the village I found a small thumb with the villa name, the only mark I found of its existence. There are no buildings, no soaring walls, no security post, nothing. Unlike many other villas soaring up to the sky compared to their surrounding, Sukhavati Retreat appeared as humble as the rest of the village.

Driving along narrow shady path I finally got to a small lobby hidden under shading trees and lush shrubs. Dan, the young Australian owner, and a few of his staffs greeted with their smile. So, no doubt, I haven’t been lost. “But where is the villa?” was the first question glanced in my mind. Dan must have been seeing my expression a hundred times, and with a grin on his face he said “Hold your breath!” before leading us to the inner entrance.

Stunned at what I saw, I was completely speechless for a while. I guess my mouth was wide open with a long wow. It was really hard to find the right word to tell you what I saw and the first impression I got. Within the lush tropical forest steeping down to the river, scattered the separated pavilions in traditional thatched roof, partly hidden under shady large trees. On the other side of the river the forest hiked up creating an image of a soaring green wall separating us from the bustling world outside.

As far as my eyes could reach, there were no other buildings of any kind around. Dan explained that for the sake of environment, in addition to the two hectares built as the villa and its perimeters, he bought eight hectares along the river as a buffer. It is really a complete solitude to dissolve ourselves with the mother-nature and temporarily forget the world behind.

Hundred steps led us down to the centre of the estate, the main swimming pool. Each bedrooms and functions were housed in separated building, mainly to conserve the land topography. In addition to the six separated bedroom pavilions, it has kitchen and communal area with comfortable lounge and dining tables.

The last pavilion caught my attention more than the others, it was the meditation pavilion. Separated with more distance from the rest, this open pavilion can comfortably accommodated yoga for 20. Wide lawn with soaring shady trees going down to the river allowed us to completely cleanse our busy mind. Flags of pray form Tibet spread the wish to the world by the wind breeze.

Decoration of each bedroom pavilions was a proper blend of luxurious comfort without creating distance to the nature, with wide openings and private garden terraces. All en-suited bathrooms were open to the sky, in a small garden covered by terrace perimeters.
Two of the bedroom pavilions were set as villas within a villa. Hidden behind its own gate, these pavilions enjoyed their own private swimming pool and garden gazebo. You can choose the one at the top of the estate, or the one at the bottom closer to the river. Just the matter of distance to either the entrance gate at the top or living pavilion closer the river really, both enjoys superb views. Even from the one at the top your views would not be bothered by other buildings.

As a sanctuary to separate yourself from the rest of the world, it made sense that Dan do not put TV in all bedrooms or provide wireless internet connection across the estate. However, for those who still want to keep connected or just couldn’t live without modern entertainment, there were huge plasma TV with international channels at the living pavilion and a computer with internet connection at the lobby.

Well, Dan, now I understand why you got that glorious title for the villa. Sukhavati Retreat was not a holiday accommodation, at least not to my eyes. It was not a place for you to sleep at nights for exploring all the beaches Bali has to offer during the daylights. It was a place to cleanse your mind and soul by temporarily separating yourself from the bustling world by being closer to the nature and the holy spirits commanding the universe. Not only mind and soul, but body as well. The kitchen was staffed with professional chef to cater your culinary experience with healthy organic ingredients. The villa also provided some high quality mountain-bike so you can either hike or bike the natural countryside around the villa, and experience the real traditional Balinese living.

It’s time to hike the steps up, back to the real world now. Among shortening breath when hiking up the steps Dan explained that in addition to in-house security he employed, he also maintained very close relationship with the neighboring villages. People have accepted the villa as a part of their family, making them willing to voluntarily took care of the villa and its guests.

I believed after a week or so in Sukhavati Retreat, I would have come back to the real world as a different person, with different way of seeing the world around me. Unfortunately I did not have that much of money to buy that luxury. It was mainly for discerning clientele I had, those successful wealthy people who care about the health of their body, mind, and soul.

While you can rent the villa by room, you are encouraged to rent it as a whole. If you are traveling in a small group which needs less than six bedrooms, you still can block the whole estate with an extra surcharge. I have been hearing its name for quite a while. But invitation to visit this villa has never been so appealing until I noticed that Sukhavati Retreat has just been listed as the world’s best 50 villas by the prestigious Travel & Leisure magazine. With so many beachfront luxurious establishments on the island, what this villa had to offer making it deserved such a glorious honor?

The long winding country road from Seminyak offered picturesque views of infinity rice-field gently sloping down to the beach. Close to the horizon was the soaring wall of Uluwatu cliff at the South peninsula. The combination of golden paddy closing to harvest time and the azure of the Indian Ocean behind is nothing less than magnificent. Tourists might find it appealing, but I have been seeing these views almost everyday for the last five years. I needed something different to get impressed. Before long enough, I turned right entering a serene farmers’ traditional Balinese village of Tibubeneng. Each modest house built from traditional material like bamboo-sheet and wooden frame, has its own shrine, where people put offerings to the Gods.

Hiding behind the village I found a small thumb with the villa name, the only mark I found of its existence. There are no buildings, no soaring walls, no security post, nothing. Unlike many other villas soaring up to the sky compared to their surrounding, Sukhavati Retreat appeared as humble as the rest of the village. Driving along narrow shady path I finally got to a small lobby hidden under shading trees and lush shrubs. Dan, the young Australian owner, and a few of his staffs greeted with their smile. So, no doubt, I haven’t been lost. “But where is the villa?” was the first question glanced in my mind.

Dan must have been seeing my expression a hundred times, and with a grin on his face he said “Hold your breath!” before leading us to the inner entrance. Stunned at what I saw, I was completely speechless for a while. I guess my mouth was wide open with a long wow. It was really hard to find the right word to tell you what I saw and the first impression I got. Within the lush tropical forest steeping down to the river, scattered the separated pavilions in traditional thatched roof, partly hidden under shady large trees. On the other side of the river the forest hiked up creating an image of a soaring green wall separating us from the bustling world outside. As far as my eyes could reach, there were no other buildings of any kind around. Dan explained that for the sake of environment, in addition to the two hectares built as the villa and its perimeters, he bought eight hectares along the river as a buffer. It is really a complete solitude to dissolve ourselves with the mother-nature and temporarily forget the world behind.

Hundred steps led us down to the centre of the estate, the main swimming pool. Each bedrooms and functions were housed in separated building, mainly to conserve the land topography. In addition to the six separated bedroom pavilions, it has kitchen and communal area with comfortable lounge and dining tables. The last pavilion caught my attention more than the others, it was the meditation pavilion. Separated with more distance from the rest, this open pavilion can comfortably accommodated yoga for 20. Wide lawn with soaring shady trees going down to the river allowed us to completely cleanse our busy mind. Flags of pray form Tibet spread the wish to the world by the wind breeze.

Decoration of each bedroom pavilions was a proper blend of luxurious comfort without creating distance to the nature, with wide openings and private garden terraces. All en-suited bathrooms were open to the sky, in a small garden covered by terrace perimeters. Two of the bedroom pavilions were set as villas within a villa. Hidden behind its own gate, these pavilions enjoyed their own private swimming pool and garden gazebo. You can choose the one at the top of the estate, or the one at the bottom closer to the river. Just the matter of distance to either the entrance gate at the top or living pavilion closer the river really, both enjoys superb views. Even from the one at the top your views would not be bothered by other buildings. As a sanctuary to separate yourself from the rest of the world, it made sense that Dan do not put TV in all bedrooms or provide wireless internet connection across the estate. However, for those who still want to keep connected or just couldn’t live without modern entertainment, there were huge plasma TV with international channels at the living pavilion and a computer with internet connection at the lobby.

Well, Dan, now I understand why you got that glorious title for the villa. Sukhavati Retreat was not a holiday accommodation, at least not to my eyes. It was not a place for you to sleep at nights for exploring all the beaches Bali has to offer during the daylights. It was a place to cleanse your mind and soul by temporarily separating yourself from the bustling world by being closer to the nature and the holy spirits commanding the universe. Not only mind and soul, but body as well. The kitchen was staffed with professional chef to cater your culinary experience with healthy organic ingredients. The villa also provided some high quality mountain-bike so you can either hike or bike the natural countryside around the villa, and experience the real traditional Balinese living.

It’s time to hike the steps up, back to the real world now. Among shortening breath when hiking up the steps Dan explained that in addition to in-house security he employed, he also maintained very close relationship with the neighboring villages. People have accepted the villa as a part of their family, making them willing to voluntarily took care of the villa and its guests.

I believed after a week or so in Sukhavati Retreat, I would have come back to the real world as a different person, with different way of seeing the world around me. Unfortunately I did not have that much of money to buy that luxury. It was mainly for discerning clientele I had, those successful wealthy people who care about the health of their body, mind, and soul. While you can rent the villa by room, you are encouraged to rent it as a whole. If you are traveling in a small group which needs less than six bedrooms, you still can block the whole estate with an extra surcharge. Find detail of Sukhavati Retreat through our website Villa Rental Bali - Sukhavati Retreat.