"Bali’s Amandari resort offers up the best of both the city and the country: perched atop some spectacularly verdant rice terraces above the Ayung River Valley, this cluster of Indonesian-style structures is just five minutes from the Ubud city center, and about 20 minutes from the 9th-century carved caves at Goa Gajah, so you’ll never want for local adventures. Skip down one of the gleaming andesite walkways, from which you can appreciate the craftsmanship of the massive stone gateways that encircle the property (carved entirely by local artisans, of course), and settle into a couple days of Buddha-like bliss. The resort's name translates to “peaceful spirits," and it dutifully operates by that guiding principle: thatched-roof suites surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass are decked out in teak and marble, and offer the ultimate in back-to-nature tranquility, with private gardens—and occasionally, a private plunge pool enveloped by ferns and heliconia—to boot. The communal watering hole is hardly second best, though: the emerald-hued pool hangs perilously over the jungle, with premium views of the sunset. Amandari Villa, the largest complex on the property, boasts the ultimate in seclusion: about a one-minute drive from the resort, the five-pavilion compound includes three detached terrace-style bedrooms, a two-tiered infinity pool over the cascading hills below, and a glass-walled living room, along with a dedicated vehicle and two full-time staff to keep everything running smoothly. And if your palette can’t decide between tasty Indonesian fare and steadfast Western favorites, don’t fear: the restaurant dishes up specialties as disparate as gnocchi and Sumatran duck leg. Book a treatment at the Spa, set on the edge of a lotus pond, to complete your quest for relaxation."
