Things to do
Saba’s villa manager will have a wealth of information about nearby places of interest and will help arrange transport and make any bookings required. Do also ask the staff about the local area. Many of them live nearby and will be able to give an interesting insight into some of the fascinating aspects of Bali life.
In the meantime, here is a taste of the many and varied activities on offer within reach of the villa.
- Explore the scenic rice-field landscape and rural villages; a great way to get under the skin of the ‘real’ Bali. Stop off at a local warung (café) to sample some basic Balinese fare or cool off with a cold drink.
- Sports enthusiasts should head to Bali’s prestigious Finns Recreation Club, with its state-of-the-art gym and tennis and squash courts. It’s just 500m away and Saba provides complimentary guest membership. Reward your work-outs with some gourmet goodies at the nearby Canggu Deli.
- A string of naturally wild beaches, some renowned for their great surf, are all within relatively easy access. Canggu Beach, is only ten minutes by foot. A little further along, The Beach House at Echo Beach, boasts a marvellous open-air terrace, ideal for watching sunsets over the sea, and with live music at weekends. It’s a popular place, so wise to book ahead.
- If you’ve always wanted to gallop along a beach or ride through villages bordered by rice fields, Bali Horse Adventure, located a few minutes from the villa, can arrange horse riding tours, as well as children’s riding lessons and romantic horse-drawn carriage outings.
- Bali’s first museum-hotel, Hotel Tugu Bali, is just a couple of kilometres up the coast. This boutique beachside sanctuary comes studded with priceless Indonesian artworks and antiques and has an award-winning spa offering age-old, Eastern therapies.
- Make the de rigueur pilgrimage to sacred Pura Tanah Lot (11km), one of Bali’s biggest tourist magnets. Perched high on a craggy wave-lashed rock, this ancient sea temple is best savoured at sunset; make sure you receive a blessing before from the Hindu Priests.
- Alternatively, view Tanah Lot from the 12th hole of Nirwana Bali Golf Course. Bordered by the Indian Ocean and rice fields just down from the sea temple, no wonder this championship-standard course designed by golf legend, Greg Norman, is frequently voted Asia’s number one.
- Fashionistas, trendies and shop-a-holics should hot-foot it down to Bali’s most cosmopolitan enclave, Seminyak, a 10-minute drive south. Here, you can indulge in the glut of global-inspired gourmet restaurants, stylish boutiques and hipper-than-thou bars – including much hyped Ku Dé Ta, on Seminyak beachfront.
- For a day of culture and dramatic landscapes, drive north from the villa to the mountain town of Bedugal. From here, explore three volcanic lakes, including Bratan, with its photogenic and stunningly positioned Pura Ulun Danu – one of Bali’s most important temples.
- Covering 3.8 hectares of tropical parkland in Kuta, Waterbom Bali has 16 water slides (including The Climax with its 360 degree loop) to entertain the young and the young at heart. A grest family day out, but go early to beat the crowds.
- Beach walks
- Laze around the Villa and enjoy the pool, the peaceful garden, in-house movies or a massage and other spa treatments in your Villa
- Surfing (coaching available)
- Safari Park, including elephant rides and Marine Park
- Scuba diving and snorkelling on coral reefs and ship wrecks
- Bicycle rides around local area or take a half day tour and ride down the main mountain, through villages and witness life in the rice paddies, and remote temples
- White-water rafting along the River Ayung near Ubud
- Visit the Finns Recreation Club – splash water park, gym, indoor tennis, ten pin bowling, trampolining, soccer fields, 30 m pool, organised “Kid’s Club”
- Horse riding
- Para sailing/water skiing, wake boarding, jet skiing, sailing, banana boat rides (water sports) Tanjung Benoa & Sanur, east coast
- Visit a local Island – Nusa Lembongan, very quiet, few cars, can hire a scooter
- Tree-top adventure walk and Zip-line
- Climb the volcano (e.g. Gunung Batur)
- Fishing
- In-house cooking classes
- Visit Bali Bird park
- Bali butterfly house
- Visit the sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud
- Paintball
- Swim with the sharks or dolphins
- Visit a spice farm
- Go to a Balinese dance show and Kecak dance show at Uluwatu temple.
- Learn to speak Bahasa Indonesia and / or Balinese
- Visit Gili Islands or Lombok, only a short flight away or by speed boat
- Visit mother temple Besakih or other exotic temples; Taman Ayun, Tanah Lot, Uluwatu, etc
- Visit exotic waterfalls at Gitgit (north of Bali) or Tegenungan (Gianyar Regency).
- Visit Bali botanical garden near Beratan Lake.
