One of Bali's best kept secrets is Tabanan — a picturesque town south-west of Bali and home to verdant rice paddies, shimmering volcanic black-sand beaches and seaside cliffs beautifully beaten down by the unrelenting waves of the Indian Ocean. Time creeps to a standstill here, and the lack of vendors peddling costume jewellery and kites on the beach is so welcome. Very often, guests feel like they are on a different island altogether!
This is where Alila Villas Soori sits, a blissful beachfront Eden that offers the very best of Bali's landscapes. You're greeted by the cerulean sea in front and an awe-inspiring view of mystical Mount Batukaru behind. Being cradled between two such exotic "worlds" makes the resort ideal for a tranquil, almost meditative holiday.
Artful architecture
Alila Villas Soori adds to the beauty of the existing landscape with lush gardens and reflective ponds. The resort's harmonious design, developed by Singapore's SCDA Architects, combines cool, grey and black volcanic stone and polished teakwood, with an unparalleled level of private space around the compound.
The medium-sized estate has 48 spacious villas ranging in size from one to 10 bedrooms, each with their own pool, outdoor shower and courtyard that overlook either the Indian Ocean, or paddy fields and mountains. For honeymooners, we recommended you book a second-storey Ocean Pool Villa for the seaview bathtub. Tip: Villas 202 to 206 are best positioned to maximise the postcard-perfect panorama.
Nature is with you always in Bali: In the Beach Pool and Ocean Pool villas, enjoy sea breeze and the sound of waves crashing against the volcanic shore; while at the Mountain Pool villas, you'll enjoy the day-and-night chirping of crickets from the fields.
Each unit comes complete with luxury amenities like a Nespresso machine, wi-fi access, iPod docking station, giant flat-screen TV with cable and Apple TV loaded with a list of chart-topping movies. The highlight is the toiletries, scented with lovely lemongrass and lavender, thoughtfully displayed in the indoor bathroom and the outdoor rain shower. With details like this, it's little wonder Soori was awarded Most Heavenly Hideaway at the UK Tatler Spa Awards last year.
Wine & dine
There's nothing like an in-villa breakfast to start your day. Usually served at the outdoor pavilion, the breakfast menu offers both local cuisine and Western fare like a hearty English breakfast with sausage, eggs and bread basket; or healthy egg-white omelette and muesli porridge. If you enjoy food sampling, Cotta restaurant serves up a rotating menu of tapas-sized dishes for breakfast, and traditional Indonesian fare for lunch.
For dinner, dine under the stars at Ombak, which serves up an eclectic European tasting menu paired with wines. Or lounge around the nearby deck on slip-covered couches while you sip signature cocktails. If the heat gets to you, head into the air-conditioned Reading Room and catch up on books (actual books) over a TWG cuppa.
Resort activities
It's impossible to feel restless despite Soori's secluded location. If you ever tire of the hypnotic view, there's a host of things to do on the premises like complimentary yoga classes, gym workouts, surfing, cycling or renting a Segway to explore the estate and surrounds.
If you fancy a relaxing rubdown, head to the temple-like Spa Alila and book a luxurious facial using French skincare brands Babor or Decléor, or muscle-marinating deep-tissue massages like the Balinese Massage.
Little known fact: There's a beach-side bat cave some 20m from the resort —you pop in and see/hear hundreds of the little critters squeaking in their sleep, or take a short trek up a hill above the cave and enjoy the amazing sunset on a cliff.
The resort also offers customised tours called "Journeys by Alila" that takes you to tourist standbys like Tanah Lot temple, Kerambitan traditional market, Pejaten terracotta craft village, Alas Kedaton monkey forest and a kopi luwak plantation.
