Arnalaya Beach House

It’s lovely to stay in a villa that is so much more than bricks and mortar.  Arnalaya Beach House is just that kind of villa; one that makes a statement about design and surroundings, about space and how to use it, and creates a marriage of materials and local culture that will leave you with a feeling of having experienced more than just a holiday.

Designed by the highly acclaimed Singaporean company Chan Sau Yan Associates, with interiors by Studio Daminato, the glamorous Arnalaya consists of a series of triple, double and single-storey buildings set back from the beach and housing the five bedrooms and formal living spaces.  Each room has two sides of floor-to-ceiling windows that let in vast amounts of natural light, and in doing so create a sensation of having no walls at all.  Special mention goes to the two upper-floor master bedrooms that offer some of the best sea views in Bali.  At the large open-sided living and dining balé by the pool the views are even closer.

The villa is perfect for weddings and special events, and is overflowing with facilities that include a professional tennis court, a media and games room, spa room and a gym (which can be converted into an extra twin-bedded room).  There’s even an electric tennis ‘partner’ that will fire up to 100 balls before needing a reload: more than enough to break a sweat.  There really is very little reason to venture beyond the villa walls, despite a car and driver being provided for up to eight consecutive hours at a special daily rate.

Meaning ‘Rhythm of the Waves’ in Sanskrit, the name couldn’t be more apt with the villa sitting as it does right beside Nelayan Beach in Canggu.  These waves are what make this part of Bali so popular with the surfing community, and when it comes to bedtime, the sound of their rhythmic roll will outdo a handful of Xanax any day.

The villa is ideal for families, groups of friends and avid tennis players; it comes fully staffed and offers an abundance of children’s games and a very attractive suggestion menu (on guest account), with all dishes prepared by a professional in-house chef.

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Arnalaya Beach House sits right on the beach in a local village neighbourhood that contains several other luxury private villas.  A couple of hundred metres in either direction along the beach will bring you to some beach bars and small restaurants, especially popular around sunset time.  Check out Old Man’s restaurant, bar and live music venue a short walk up the beach to the north, as well as the well-known Echo Beach for daily barbecues and Sunday-night live music.  If you are interested in learning to surf, High Tide Surf School (for kids and adults) is just a five-minute walk up the beach at Batu Bolong.  Nelayan Beach, immediately in front of the villa, is also popular with surfers; watching them ride the waves is compelling viewing.

About Canggu
Canggu is fast evolving into Bali's hippest area, its beaches renowned for spectacular sunsets and heady surf. Jalan Pantai Batu Balong is lined with cool bars, cosy coffee shops, and varied dining options offering everything from French pastries to tapas, burgers and vegetarian fare. A holiday in Canggu invariably spells spending a lot of time at Echo Beach where a good choice of restaurants and cafes such as The Beach House await, with daily barbecues and live music on Sundays. Known for its nightlife, other vibrant music venues in the vicinity include Old Man’s and Deus Ex Machina. Local boutiques and spas keep you busy, competing with neighbouring Seminyak just a few kilometres further east.

Here, amongst the rice fields which extend all the way down to the beach, you will not only find some of the most luxurious private residences on the island, but also several eclectic restaurants, cafes, bakeries, boutiques and beach bars. Well known in surfing circles, Canggu boasts reef swells larger than the ones found further south in Kuta and Seminyak. Swimming isn’t advisable however as the rips can be dangerous, but there are plenty of other things to do in Canggu from horseback riding to cooking classes. A visit to Finns Recreation Club is a must for families (several elite havens in the area include guest access) and further north lies the sea temple of Pura Tanah Lot, a great day trip for the entire group.

About Bali
Bali is Indonesia’s most popular tourist location and is considered one of Asia's premier tropical island destinations. Steeped in history and renowned for its artistic way of life, Bali is a peaceful contrast to some of the more frantic destinations Asia has to offer.

The inner peace and creative talents of the Balinese has attracted artists the world over fascinated by local dancers, silversmiths, wood carvers, potters and painters that seem to pervade throughout the island. The abundant verdant fields and surrounding sea have long supplied Bali with an easy surplus of food leaving time for life’s more artistic past times. As a result everything in Bali has a creative and religious element centred around the local Banjar (residents association) – little, adorned temples are everywhere, doors are covered in intricate carvings, huge kites ward off evil spirits and colourful roadside ceremonies bring traffic to a standstill.

Bali is a popular destination principally from Australia and Asia but also from all over Europe. The island welcomes thousands of visitors each year to a relaxing lifestyle, stunning beaches, world class surf, vibrant villages, and spectacular scenery all with an exquisite tropical climate. Located approximately two hours’ flying time from Singapore the island is serviced by an international airport at Denpasar with direct flights to and from many major cities in Asia, Europe and Australia and many more via Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital.

The island offers an impressive range of leisure and lifestyle amenities including world-class golf courses, wonderful seascapes for surfing, diving and snorkelling as well as luxurious spas, chic boutiques, tropical forests, towering volcanoes and international cuisine.

Resting upon 4,700-square-metres of terraced coconut-grove gardens that roll down towards the beach (separated by a wall) and encompass a 20m swimming pool, the property comprises a three-storey, two-storey, and single-storey building arranged around a grassy courtyard with timber decks wrapping the upper floors.

The main, three-storey building faces the garden and ocean with huge picture windows that look out in both directions.  Two master suites are positioned on the top floor, the living and dining rooms are on the middle floor, and the professional kitchen occupies the ground floor.  Two guest rooms are situated on the upper floor of the two-storey building, while the lower floor is home to another guest room, and a games room furnished with a large sofa facing the 60-inch TV, and featuring picture windows to the (international tournament standard) tennis court and courtyard.

Five bedrooms are furnished with queen beds, and one all of which can be converted to Hollywood twin style bed (one guest bedroom also has an extra pull-down single bed) and equipped with a 40-inch TV, DVD player and iPod connection to Bose speakers.  Each bathroom is fitted with a shower and bathtub. 

The living and dining rooms are both air conditioned, but floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors on two sides can also be opened to embrace the sea breezes, the rhythm of the waves and the sea views.  The living room showcases natural materials and is furnished with sofas and funky bamboo armchairs.  The dining room mirrors the living room, but is furnished with a teakwood table for 14 lit by large hanging lanterns and completed with teak and rattan chairs.  Window blinds in all rooms can be dropped for privacy.
 
Positioned beside the pool is a large flat roofed balé pavilion, cooled by ceiling fans, floored with timber decking and furnished with built-in banquette seating and a dining table for 14.   At one end is a staff service area with a kitchenette and a built-in barbecue grill. 

The single storey building at the rear of the villa is home to a spa room, fitted with two massage beds, and a gym equipped with a cross trainer and adjoined by an ensuite bathroom.  The gym can be cleverly and quickly converted to an extra bedroom with twin pull-down beds and two additional portable beds if required, making it a great option for a group of kids.