Bloo Lagoon Eco Village

Set above the sea in East Bali, this eco-lodge is built around 25 individual villas, each with its own outlook across the ocean, islands or mountains. The setting is deliberately close to nature: ponds attract ducks and frogs, while the surrounding ecosystem brings in birds, butterflies, geckos and tropical plants. You may even spot monkeys or monitor lizards from time to time.

The mood is more village-and-garden than conventional resort. Open living areas, outdoor showers, balconies and a creative arts programme give the place a lived-in feel, while the Bloo Art Space and local craft shop add something to browse when you have had enough of looking at your dive computer. Couples and families can both make sense of the layout, but the open-air design will suit you best if you enjoy tropical living rather than sealed, air-conditioned uniformity.

There is Wi-Fi throughout the property, and the restaurant, spa, pool and gardens keep the essentials close. It is a place for slowing the pace without cutting yourself off completely from Padangbai.

You are in Padangbai, on Jalan Silayukti, in Bali’s east rather than in the catalogue location of Manggis. The property sits above the coast, with the port town below and the sea directly in front. Blue Lagoon Beach is about 0.06 miles away, while Padang Bai Beach is roughly 0.15 miles away; Bias Tugel Beach is about half a mile away on the other side of the bay.

A free shuttle links the property with Padangbai, Blue Lagoon Beach and Bias Tugel Beach, which is useful when the hill is less appealing than it looked before breakfast. The town has restaurants and cafés close by, including Helix 64 Restaurant around 30 metres away, Warung Shanti around 150 metres away and Kerti Restaurant around 450 metres away.

The surroundings mix coast, jungle and reef. Pura Silayukti, an 11th-century temple, stands at the northern end of Padangbai, while nearby hills and natural areas give you options beyond the waterfront. Ngurah Rai International Airport is about 34 miles away by road, with the journey taking around an hour and a half.

These are villas rather than standard hotel rooms, and every one is different. That matters here: the view and the precise layout vary, so you choose according to how you want to use the space rather than simply picking a room number from a corridor. A One-Bedroom Villa is the natural choice for a couple wanting a private base, while the Two-Bedroom Villa gives a small group room to spread out. For larger families or friends travelling together, the Three Bedroom Villa has three bathrooms as well as three bedrooms.

All villas have a kitchen with a hob, cookware and a refrigerator, plus a dining area and seating area. That refrigerator earns its keep when you return hot, salty and hungry, whether you are keeping water cold or storing something for later. Balconies, patios or terraces extend the living space, and the views can run towards the sea, gardens or the inner courtyard depending on the villa.

The tropical design is open and airy, with ceiling fans, outdoor showers and mosquito nets. Air conditioning is limited and available on request, so this is not the place to book if you want a sealed, cool room at all times. Natural ventilation is part of the design. Daily housekeeping, towels, toiletries and free Wi-Fi cover the practical side, while the open living areas let you sit outside without having to turn the evening into a formal event.

Families are welcome, with children over three accepted and cots or extra beds available on request. Pets can also stay on request. Quiet hours run from 22:00 to 07:00, and parties are not allowed, which should help if your idea of nightlife is sleeping properly before the next early start.

Bloo Lagoon Restaurant & Cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in the open air, on the top floor of the Spiral building. The view takes in the ocean and Mount Agung, so you get something to look at besides the menu while deciding whether you have recovered enough for another plate. Dress is casual.

The cooking moves between international and local dishes, with homemade food, fresh ingredients and vegetables and herbs from the organic farm on site. Local ingredients include palm sugar, cashews, coconut oil, farm eggs and sea salt. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices are available, and the breakfast spread can be continental, vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free, with buffet and takeaway options.

Breakfast is included in the stay. Packed lunches are available for days when you are heading out, and special-diet menus can be arranged. There is one bar, Helix 64 Restaurant + Bar, with cocktails on the list. Filtered water is free, and the restaurant avoids plastic straws and plastic bottles. A Balinese cooking class is also available if you would rather learn what to do with local ingredients than merely order them.

The main pool is 18 metres long and has a shallow area, a pool terrace, a slide and a cave. Children will make a beeline for the slide; adults can claim a lounger or an umbrella and let the afternoon pass without pretending it needs improving. The pool is suitable for all ages.

For a quieter reset, Spiral Spa looks out over the ocean and offers Balinese, hot-stone, Lomi Lomi, foot-reflexology, head-and-shoulder and anti-jet-lag massages. Treatments also include body scrubs, after-sun care, facials, hair treatments, manicures and pedicures. The massage chair is a useful halfway point between doing something and doing very little.

A one-hour Hatha Yoga Flow class is available each morning at 07:30 and suits all levels. Meditation sessions run for 45 minutes by appointment in the late afternoon. There are also walking and hiking options, cycling, local culture tours and excursions to Tenganan village, Besakih Mother Temple, the water palaces of Tirtagangga and Ujung, Mount Batur for sunrise, the Safari Park and the Mask and Puppet Museum.

The property has its own small cultural and creative thread: a self-guided walk through the organic farm, permaculture and sustainability workshops, kite-making and Balinese offering-making. Bloo Art Space hosts exhibitions and an artist-in-residence programme, while the open-air amphitheatre is used for shows and artistic performances. Families can add babysitting, children’s activities and the pool slide to the plan.

Ngurah Rai International Airport is around 34 miles away by road, usually about an hour and a half in the car. An airport transfer can be arranged on request, and the property also runs a shuttle to Padangbai, Blue Lagoon Beach and Bias Tugel Beach. Car hire is available, and free private parking is possible on site with reservation.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to 22:00, and you need to give the property your expected arrival time. Check-out is from 07:00 to 12:00. Early check-in and late check-out are available on request, subject to the accommodation arrangements. Cash is accepted for payment at the property.

Laundry is available, along with daily housekeeping, a tour desk, a safety deposit box and 24-hour security. Wi-Fi is free across the resort. The property is non-smoking, and quiet hours apply from 22:00 to 07:00. If you are travelling with children, those over three are welcome; cots and extra beds can be requested, with availability depending on the villa selected.

The environmental approach is built into the property rather than added as a slogan. Villas are designed to catch the breeze and maximise natural ventilation, with ceiling fans, LED lighting and limited air conditioning on request. Rainwater and grey water are collected and recycled for irrigation, while organic waste from the restaurant and gardens is composted.

The on-site organic farm supplies vegetables and herbs, and chickens provide manure while making use of kitchen leftovers. Excavated stone has been reused in construction, and the grounds are designated as a forest conservation area with native trees. Ponds and aquatic plants form part of the water system as well as the landscape.

Bloo Lagoon follows the Balinese Hindu philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, centred on harmony between people, the divine and nature. The property received an Environmental Management award in 2015 and a Gold Medal for adherence to Tri Hita Karana principles in 2012. It also works with TUI Foundation and LivingSeas on Blue Lagoon coral restoration, with guests able to take part.