Villa Kelusa
What You Get
Internet (WiFi)
Swimming Pool (Private)
TV (Satellite/Cable)
The Experience
Bali offers stunning vistas island-wide – Gunung Agung towering above Amed’s black-sand beach, Lake Batur shimmering in the cauldera below Kintamani, the Indian Ocean sparkling beyond the revered cliff-top Uluwatu temple on the Bukit – and the breath-taking, jaw-dropping rainforest-and-volcanoes views from Villa Kelusa certainly rank amongst the best.
If you’re looking for an experience that captures the essence of authentic Bali without compromising on 21st century comforts, Villa Kelusa delivers in spades. The 3.1-hectare estate rests on the rim of an amphitheatre of rice terraces cascading down into the deep gorge of the sacred Pakuseba river, heard but not seen far below. Facing west, the villa has 180-degree views across coconut palms, feather-laced albasia trees and virgin rainforest, towards a string of nine volcanoes rising above the horizon. It’s the kind of breath-taking view that bewitched artist Walter Spies and luminaries of the 1930s, and is the subject of Bali-style paintings hanging in museums and galleries, from Ubud to Amsterdam.
Matching this iconic essence-of-Bali view, the villa itself is equally enchanting. It was designed as a stylish, spacious and comfortable family home and is clearly cherished; bursting with character and personal touches. Its architectural ‘split personality’ gives guests lots of choice: open-sided, deeply terraced alang-alang-thatched traditional Bali-style, or ultra-contemporary glass-cube minimalism; two living pavilions, an enormous poolside balé, a media room and library; rice-terrace-edge swimming pool or second pool starting within the living room. In fact two families could easily co-exist here, each with plenty of private space.
Making a stay at Villa Kelusa even more memorable is the team of long-serving staff. A reasonably priced menu features home-cooked local and international favourites, and the competent cook is happy to prepare off-menu dishes.
Beyond the villa, sure-footed guests may make their way gingerly down to the river with a member of staff as guide, or stroll through the rice fields where colourful penjors flap in the wind to discourage birds, and daily offerings are left at shrines to Dewi Sri, the goddess of prosperity and rice. The restaurants, cafés, galleries, boutiques and spas of Ubud are less than half an hour’s drive away..
Our review
- Overall Rating:
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8.7
- Reviewed:
- 06-Jan-2015
A luxuriously spacious two-pool villa capturing the essence of authentic Bali.
We loved the layout of Villa Kelusa, which works wonderfully for multi-generation families and groups of friends who like to be together but still have space to spread their wings. We haven’t come across another villa that accords such privacy and space for four bedrooms, and with three separate living areas and two swimming pools, even a crowd could get lost here.
While we retreated to the fabulous master bedroom of Pondok Sapi, a contemporary glass cube with fabulous views, our honeymooning friends loved the privacy of Pondok Surya, whose romantic bedroom, starting-within-the-living-room infinity pool and sensual double bathtub were much appreciated!
A special thank you to Wayan Sudana, the villa manager, who was a fount of information and enriched our stay. His delightful team hails from the local village, and many have been attached to the house from the beginning. We’re just thankful the owner decided to share her delightful Bali home with us!
Individual Scores:
| Character/Charm: | 9 | Location: | 9 | Outside Area: | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Area: | 9 | Bedrooms: | 9 | Bathrooms: | 8 |
| Kitchen: | 8 | Facilities: | 8 | Staff: | 9 |
| Value: | 9 |
Highlights
Our entire stay was one continuing highlight – the sheer amount of living space, sense of privacy, interior décor, the staff…. and that sensational view with its ever-shifting moods and light. And we all fell for Poo the villa’s affectionate blind poodle!
Surprises
With an infinity pool flowing right into the living room, I would be nervous about accommodating very young kids in the downstairs bedroom of Pondok Surya. And parents would need to keep a close eye on kids inclined to wander, as there’s little separating the garden from the rice terraces beyond the estate. But all our other surprises were good ones.
PROs
- Sensational setting and views
- Loads of elegant living space
- Two infinity swimming pools
- Stunning master bedroom
- Fab design-traditional+modern
CONs
- 25 minutes drive from Ubud
Guest reviews (1)
- Herve Deladriere, Indonesia checked out on 04-Sep-2014
- Overall Rating:
-
10
- Reviewed:
- 01-Oct-2014
Individual Scores:
| Character/Charm: | 10 | Location: | 10 | Outside Area: | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Area: | 10 | Bedrooms: | 10 | Bathrooms: | 10 |
| Kitchen: | 10 | Facilities: | 10 | Staff: | 10 |
| Value: | 10 |
Gallery
Location
The 3.1-hectare Kelusa estate looks out across a 180-degree panorama of rice terraces that tumble down to the river out of sight far below, and across to rainforest and distant mountains; other than one residence further along the ravine, there’s not another building in sight. The villa is on the edge of Kelusa, a small traditional Balinese village where the rhythm of life is metred out by the sowing and harvesting of the rice fields. Yet while this rural idyll feels worlds away from Bali’s popular tourist spots, the restaurants, boutiques, spas, art galleries and cultural performances of Ubud are less than half an hour away.
Places of Interest(KMs) |
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| Ubud Market | 13.0 |
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| Elephant Safari Park | 13.0 |
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| Kintamani | 30.0 |
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| Seminyak | 43.0 |
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| Kuta | 47.0 |
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| Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) | 48.0 |
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| Jatiluwih Rice Terraces | 50.0 |
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| Amed | 90.0 |
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About Ubud
Ubud is Bali’s cultural hub, a royal village situated at the confluence of two rivers in the Balinese heartland. A haven for local and foreign artists since the 1930s, it is now a conglomeration of villages and the island’s centre for fine arts and cultural performances, attracting art collectors, connoisseurs, writers, mystics, and people who are actively involved in art, anthropology, music, dance, architecture, environmentalism and alternative healing.
Ubud is the seat of the Sukawati Royal Family. The palace is centrally located and open to the public, while in the surrounding villages you can watch the island’s most accomplished painters, stonemasons, woodcarvers, mask makers and silversmiths at work. Besides numerous shops, galleries, studios and a market, Ubud even has its own sacred monkey forest. Restaurants are plentiful, but nightlife is limited with the majority of places closing around midnight.
Ubud is the perfect area to use as a base when visiting Bali. The town claims most of the attributes that entice people to this exceptionally beautiful island – glistening rice terraces, traditional art and craft communities, ancient temples, palaces, and breathtaking river gorges. In fact, the Sayan Ridge is home to some of the best hotels and luxury residences in the world. Ubud’s central location makes it very easy to get to the mountains and all of the major tourist attractions. It also has a cooler, fresher and generally more pleasant climate than the southern coastal regions.
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.
Rooms
Villa Kelusa comprises a series of well-spaced single- and double-storey pavilions perched on a ridge above cascading rice terraces. The pavilions are linked by pathways meandering through beautifully tended gardens dotted with frangipani trees, tree ferns and towering stone artefacts from Indonesia’s eastern islands.
All four of the villa’s bedrooms are air-conditioned and have king-size beds. Furthest south is Pondok Surya ¬– Sunset House. Here, the romantic master bedroom suite on the upper level opens onto a shaded veranda fringed by alang-alang thatch that frames the far-reaching rice-terrace vistas … views also enjoyed from the stately in-suite bathtub sculpted from solid wood and set before sliding glass doors. Below is a second bedroom opening onto the garden, and a galley kitchen. The long, vaulted-roof living pavilion features a seating/media area and a sit-up bar, as well as a dining platform and sunken seats within the statement swimming pool that sweeps from inside out, to hover seemingly suspended above the rice terraces.
Further north along the ridge is Pondok Sapi, the Cow House – with accommodation spread across three pavilions. Edged with lotus ponds, the living pavilion contains a large dining table, breakfast bar, stylish seating and circular daybeds. Behind is a beautifully decorated gourmet kitchen, walls festooned with artefacts, offering more comfortable seating and eating areas. Next door is a media room that can be used as an extra guest bedroom.
In the two-storey glass-walled studio – a paeon to contemporary interior design – the entire top floor is devoted to the master suite, where an enormous bed and statement bathtub are positioned to enjoy the stunning views through floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides. The central staircase acts as a divider between the bedroom and the huge bathroom and dressing room behind. Downstairs is a guest bedroom suite with great views and an ensuite bathroom with indoor and outdoor shower, and a library/TV room.
Last but by no means least is the open-sided thatched entertainment cabana with casual lounge area leading onto a sun terrace and the estate’s second infinity-edge swimming pool.
Key Amenities
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Internet (WiFi)
-
Swimming Pool (Private)
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TV (Satellite/Cable)
Other Amenities
- Air-con (Bedrooms)
- Baby Cot
- Bed Linen
- Board Games/Toys
- Book Selection
- CD Library
- CD Player/Stereo System
- Coffee Machine
- DVD Library
- DVD Player
- Equipped Kitchen
- Extra Bed (Roll away/mattress) (Extra)
- Generator
- Hairdryers
- High Chairs
- Hotplates
- iPod Dock/Speakers
- Landline Phone (Local Calls) (Extra)
- Laundry Service (Extra)
- Main Dining (10 persons)
- Massage Beds
- Microwave
- Mobile Phone (Local Calls)
- Oven/Hotplates
- Safe
- Swimming Pool Fence (On Request)
- Toiletries
- Towels
Villa Staff
- Babysitter (Extra)
- Chef/Cook (All meals)
- Garden/Pool Staff
- Housekeeping (Full time)
- Manager
- Masseuse/Spa Therapist (Extra)
- Security (Night time only)
- Service Staff
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Set in over three hectares of rural estate, 4-bedroomed Villa Kelusa provides spectacular views, abundant living space and complete privacy. Its rice-terrace-edge, artefact-filled pavilions, two swimming pools, and delightful staff create a unique experience of authentic Bali just 25 minutes drive from Ubud, the island’s cultural heart.
http://www.thevillaguide.com/villa/villa-kelusa.aspx
