Ubud is the cultural heart of Bali, our favourite Indonesian island, and any time is a good time to do a quick getaway. So pack your bags, book your flight and jet off to rejuvenation.

When Julia Roberts filmed ‘Eat Pray Love’, Ubud was where Elizabeth Gilbert (played by Julia Roberts herself) fell in love. And Ubud has since been on many’s travel lists. In a recent trip to Ubud, we spent quality time with each other, and treated ourselves to the true essence of Balinese’s hospitality.

Our humble abode was Kayumanis Ubud Private Villa & Spa, a luxurious property tucked away in the alleys of Sayan Village and overlooking the Ayung River Valley jungle. Of tranquility and serenity, private villas and an abundance of lush greenery, step into a sanctuary and let your butlers pamper you throughout your stay.

Highly renowned and wondrously popular among tourists, Kayumani Ubud Private Villa & Spa is among the top properties in Ubud, and with their team of international staff, you can always count on them to make your stay a cosy and homely one. As with the Jimbaran property that we also stayed at, Kayumanis offers a personalised experience and it is really quite like what a rejuvenating holiday should be.

The free chauffeur service also made our trip a whole lot simpler and more convenient – any time you want to head out to explore Ubud, just let your butler know and they will be happy to arrange something for you. Ubud’s Monkey Forest is just about 2km away, by the way!

We stayed here as guests of The Luxe Nomad and Kayumanis Ubud Private Villa & Spa. The Luxe Nomad is a curator of Asia’s most exclusive hotels and villas where members get to book them at rates up to 70% off. Book your trip to Bali, celebrate life, and Eat, Pray, Love.

For more recommendations and tips, read our guide to Bali’s best restaurants.

I’ve never been to nature spa, nor do I know much about one – until I went to the spa at Kayumanis Private Estate & Villa in Ubud, Bali. Perched atop the hills is a tranquil paradise that oversees the Ayung River and Lauh River of Ubud. And it truly reflects the essence of this traditional part of Bali.

Balinese spa is all about spiritual healing. The focus of Kayumanis spa is to embrace its roots and culture and brings to the world a true Balinese experience.

We began our spiritual journey with a welcome drink of rosella flower tea, and the affable spa manager did a run through of the spa itinerary for the day. Set for a 3-hour indulgence, quite aptly named ‘Spa Secrets’, we started with a tour around the in-house garden where they grow their own plants and herbs used in all the spa treatments. It was enriching to say the least.

Leading up to our pavilion is a stroll through nature so soul-healing that it brought much peace to us; just the perfect pre-spa prep. The pavilion is a designated couple room with shelter, complete with a toilet and shower facilities, and overlooks the lush greenery of Ubud.

And as our therapists cleansed our tired feet with sea salt scrub, we had a chat with them and found out that they are both villagers from the indigenous neighborhood. It surprised us to know that they are open to the cultural difference, and how they are grateful for the opportunities given to them at the spa. To help them progress upwards, the spa implements a Progressive Wage Model which helps the therapists improve along four ladders: wage, productivity, skills and career.

The therapists are given skills training to understand the various benefits of the treatments and how to serve each customer better. Therapists who cultivate good repeat customers are considered more productive and stand a better chance to get a promotion and pay raise.

And when we asked if they enjoy working for the company, they were all smiles and we got our answer. Kayumanis values every worker by having them feel like they work as a family, and are assets to the company. Most of the staff we spoke to have been in the company for incredible number of years – quite otherwise unheard of in Singapore – and this can only be achieved through cultivation of a healthy and happy working environment, coupled with quality staff welfare and appreciation.

This really stands in contrast to Singapore where some businesses still don’t have a Progressive Wage Model for their workers, but gladly they will soon have to implement this model in order to get their business licence.

Our hour-long Balinese massage was a relaxing one, with a combination of long strokes and pressure points focus to heal and recharge. Following which was a round of freshly-pounded scrub which comprised rice, lemongrass, turmeric, white ginger and candlenut. Exfoliation at its best, we’d say. And this was succeeded with a layer of fresh yogurt masque to deeply moisturise and soothe the skin.

Enjoying a spa treatment “in the outdoors” while relishing the sound of rain drops splattering gently was indeed an unparalleled delight. And we ended the ritual with a 30mins herbal bath where we soaked in a bath tub generously filled with fragrant herbs freshly hand-picked from the in-house garden.

This is the kind of experience that will be etched in our memories, for the sheer indulgence lies in the very simplicity of Mother Nature and people who truly love to render what they believe in.

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Kayumanis Private Villa & Estate Ubud
Sayan Village
Ubud, Bali
Tel: +62 361 972 777
Note: This was an invited media session.

Kayumanis Private Villa & Spa is one name that we’ve been hearing for quite some time now, and when leading luxury hotel bookings portal The Luxe Nomad offered us the chance to experience the hospitality, we hopped on to a flight and checked in to the Jimbaran property. The drive in to the villa was a colourful one – where we were greeted by a local linear of provision shops, warungs (small Indonesian eateries) and a scatter of fashion boutiques – before we turned in to the private land.

The serenity was then all ours.

Every staff whom we met along the way welcomed us with warmth and enthusiasm, and it immediately cast off any lingering post-flight lethargy. The check-in process was prompt, and a friendly butler swiftly ushered us to our humble abode for the next 2 nights. We learned that the resort only has 18 private villas, which explains its meticulous and personalised hospitality and service.

And when we say “personalised”, we really meant it with all our hearts. Almost every staff remembered our names and greeted us every morning. As if that was not impressive enough, they remembered our itinerary, constantly did a check on the programme flow, and even made reminder calls for our appointments and whatnot. This is what they meant by a stress-free getaway – indeed.

So the villa is a spacious 2-room one with a rustic Balinese decor that had us forgetting all our woes and worries upon stepping in. Complete with two air-conditioned bedrooms with attached bathrooms and outdoor rain shower areas, a living room with a huge television and sofa seats, a kitchenette and a swimming pool, anyone would fall in love. It is not just the literal luxury of space to shout about, but the entire arena to simply sink in to relax, unwind and indulge.

Breakfast was sent to our villa every morning, and they really spoilt us silly with the array of dishes and options. Well, you could choose to dine at the main restaurant, Tapis, but if you could enjoy the same sumptuous spread in the comfort of your villa, wouldn’t it be nicer to embrace that privacy and morning quietness?

Tapis Restaurant operates throughout the day, so that can also be your answer to lunch and dinner if you do not wish to step out of the resort at all.

But for dinner, we would highly recommend the in-villa Floating Candlelit Dinner. Priced at USD350 per couple, it is a one-of-a-kind romantic experience, one that will have your lover and you remember forever.

Set atop your private pool is a floating platform where dinner will be held at, and the surrounding is lavishly decorated with flower petals, candles and hanging lamps for a complete atmospheric evening. Dinner is a 7-course affair with a mixture of contemporary and Balinese cuisine, complete with a bottle of wine of your choice. The entire set-up cannot be more impressive, and this brilliant dinner is quite the perfect touch to your couple’s retreat!

Heading out is also made convenient with the resort’s complimentary limo service, and they will drive you to your destinations so as to save you the hassle of haggling for a taxi by the streets. The farthest they will send you to is Nusa Dua. But if you want a quieter beach, take a short 3-min stroll to the nearest Jimbaran Beach where you get a big piece of the ocean and calm waves, and a whole street of seafood cafes to pig out on the daily fresh catches.

A memorable stay it was, and with a team of dedicated staff all going to great lengths to make our stay a warm and joyous one, we checked out with recharged souls and rejuvenated spirits.

They say Kayumanis is where life is a private celebration, and we say it is, indeed.

We travelled to Bali as a guest of The Luxe Nomad and Kayumanis Private Villa & Estate. The Luxe Nomad is a curator of Asia’s most exclusive hotels and villas, and members get to book them at rates up to 70% off. Travel the world in style by becoming a member on The Luxe Nomad!