Hanging Gardens of Bali

Hidden in the jungle valleys above the Ayung River, Hanging Gardens of Bali is built for travellers who would rather trade beach crowds for private space, forest views and a villa pool of their own. The resort's terraces follow the steep contours of the gorge, so the architecture works with the landscape instead of trying to flatten it into another hotel compound.

This is a retreat for couples, honeymooners and anyone who likes a little ceremony with their recovery time. You can move from your villa to the heated private infinity pool, from there to the spa or an open-air meal, with the rainforest doing most of the talking. Even the grand central pool has a practical advantage: it gives you somewhere to drift without having to share the water with half of Bali.

The resort dates from 2005 and has 39 private villas and suites. Balinese craftsmanship, local materials and jungle views shape the experience, while private check-in, a concierge and a 24-hour front desk keep the administrative side mercifully out of the way.

Your address is Desa Buahan, Payangan, in Bali, Indonesia, high above the Ayung River and north of Ubud. This is an inland jungle location rather than a seaside base, with the river valley and rainforest forming the immediate surroundings. There is no beach access to build your plans around, so this suits you if your Bali days are about inland landscapes, culture and time spent at the resort.

Ubud's landmarks are reached by car rather than by a casual stroll. Ubud Palace is about 6 miles away, while the Campuhan Ridge Walk and the Neka Art Museum are also around 6 miles from the resort. The Monkey Forest is about 7 miles away, and the Ubud Market, Tegallalang rice fields, Kintamani and Mount Batur feature among the excursions arranged for guests.

Closer to the resort, Payung Rafting is about 3.5 miles away by road, and Taro Village Experience is about 3 miles away. A few local restaurants sit within roughly 1.5 miles, but the resort's own dining options are the obvious choice when you have returned from a long day out and your appetite has arrived before your enthusiasm for another car journey.

Every private villa is designed around its own heated infinity pool, spacious living areas and views across the jungle. That changes the evening routine: you can cool off in private, sit outside with the valley below you, and keep the day's exertion at a respectable distance. Floor-to-ceiling windows and open-air spaces bring the surrounding landscape into the accommodation, while air conditioning is there when the tropical heat has stopped being picturesque.

For two people, the Panoramic Pool Villa is the straightforward choice when the view matters most. The Riverside Pool Villa puts the river landscape at the centre of the stay. If you are travelling as a family or with friends, the Two-Bedroom Pool Villa gives you separate sleeping space and two bathrooms rather than forcing everyone into one grand room and a diplomatic dispute over the shower.

The largest villa category, Hanging Gardens Pool Villa, is aimed at guests who want the accommodation itself to be part of the occasion. Family rooms are available, children of any age are welcome, and children aged 12 and over are treated as adults for the stay. Soundproof rooms, daily housekeeping, room service and free WiFi throughout the hotel take care of the less glamorous details that matter once you are tired, damp and thinking about bed.

Three Elements Restaurant handles the main dining, with fusion cooking that joins Indonesian ingredients, spices and techniques to international cuisine. The setting is open air, with panoramic jungle views rather than a sealed dining room and a view of the car park. Breakfast is continental and included, and you can also have it in your room when leaving the villa feels like unnecessary exertion.

Rasa Masa takes a more specifically Indonesian route, turning the country's culinary history into a ten-course dining journey. It is the sort of meal to plan for an evening when you want the food to be the activity. For something lighter, The Spa Treetop Café sits beside the Ayung River and serves high tea or a light lunch, which is a sensible stop between a treatment and the next attempt at doing very little.

There are three restaurants in total, plus two named drinking spaces. Three Elements Bar & Lounge works with signature cocktails, Balinese Arak, wines and spirits, while The Wine Cellar holds more than 100 curated wines. A snack bar, coffee house and bar add easier options, and romantic private dining above the Ayung River brings candlelight, Indonesian flavours and international dishes into the evening.

The central twin-tiered heated infinity pool is the resort's visual signature, cascading above the rainforest and overlooking the Ayung River. Every villa also has a heated private infinity pool, so you can choose between the famous view and complete privacy without making a decision that requires specialist equipment. The Hidden Palace has its own Olympic-sized outdoor pool as well.

For recovery rather than exertion, Spa by the River offers massages, Balinese rituals and meditation in open-air treatment pavilions, beside the river, in your villa or overlooking the infinity pool. There is also a riverside gym, yoga at the open-air Yoga Shala or in your villa, a spa relaxation area, sun loungers and a fitness centre. A couples massage is available when you and your travelling companion have both reached the stage where conversation can wait.

When you want to leave the pool but not surrender the day, the resort offers cooking classes, cultural tours, walking tours, cycling and hiking. Other possibilities include rafting on the Ayung River, an ATV jungle ride, a sunrise Jeep tour to Mount Batur, visits to Ubud Market and the Tegallalang rice fields, and sessions with a traditional Balinese healer. Tennis and a local padel tennis court add something more energetic; live music and themed dinner nights cover the evenings when the jungle needs no further explanation.

Ngurah Rai International Airport is about 23 miles away, with a driving time of roughly 45 minutes. An airport shuttle is available on request, and the hotel also offers shuttle services, car hire, a concierge and a tour desk. Private check-in and check-out, express check-in and check-out, luggage storage and currency exchange are useful when your travel day does not fit neatly around hotel timings.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to 00:00, and check-out is from 11:00 to 12:00. You need to give the property your expected arrival time, and check-in requires photo identification and the credit card used for the booking. Cash is not accepted. There is free private parking on site, with no reservation needed.

Free WiFi is available throughout the hotel. Laundry, dry cleaning and ironing services are available, while babysitting and child services can be arranged. Children aged 12 and above are charged as adults, and cots or extra beds depend on the accommodation selected. Pets are not allowed, which may simplify the packing list even if it does nothing for the dog.

The resort is terraced into the Ayung River gorge and was designed around the existing jungle landscape. Its environmental measures include LED lighting, energy-efficient appliances, rainwater collection, water recycling and water-saving landscaping.

Water sterilisation and purification systems help reduce reliance on single-use plastics, while composting and recycling form part of the waste-reduction work. Local and durable materials are used across the resort, and the property supports local training and career development.

The International Flower Competition Foundation supports ecological preservation and community empowerment. There is no named environmental certification attached to the stay, but the practical measures are built into the resort's operation rather than presented as a decorative slogan.