#canggu

Concierge Recommends: Bali’s Best White Sand Beaches

in Destinations/Recreation by

Besides its rich culture and art which sets Bali apart from other island destinations, it is also unique in the variety of beaches it offers. Choose from powdery white sands to rocky cliff-fronts, from unreal volcanic black sand beaches to those with golden champagne hues. With so many options, a single trip can not do Bali justice. But for your next trip to this fascinating island, here’s help.

We’ve decoded Bali’s stunning coastline and put together our Elite Concierge-curated list of the best white sand beaches on the island. Some of these are well known and others hidden secrets that only locals know about. Find your ideal haven on one of these beaches and get ready for a trip to paradise. 

Sanur

With its bohemian vibes, Sanur is favoured by the sophisticated set. Owing to an influx of artistic expats who settled here more than half a century ago, the area has a very laid-back feel with a long beachfront promenade. A great beach for families, it allows for swimming and also has some lovely restaurants right on the sand.

Book a luxury villa in Sanur  and enjoy swimming at Sanur Beach, with its gentle ocean swell and spectacular sunrise views. End each day with a run along the promenade, coming back to freshly crafted cocktails served by the attentive staff in your villa. Allow yourself to get pampered. 

Nusa Dua

The spotless white beach of your dreams lies here, at Nusa Dua. With five-star resorts lining up the coastline, the beach is well maintained and impeccably clean. Enjoy water sports like jet skis and banana boats here, or just walk along the shore, with the waves gently lapping at your feet.

Turquoise water, clean beaches and lack of crowds – Nusa Dua is picture-perfect. The beaches are easily accessible from all our villas at The Bukit , which brings us to the other fabulous beaches in the area.

Jimbaran Beach, The Bukit

From Jimbaran Beach in the north-west to Pandawa towards its southern end and Nusa Dua up along the eastern side, The Bukit Peninsula is a treasure trove of silver sand beaches. Jimbaran Beach is a great expanse, right at the mouth of the peninsula. It is perfect for delicious seafood dinners and photo ops with local fishing boats in the background.

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Trendiest 3-Bedroom Villas in Hip Canggu

in Destinations/Families/News/Recreation/Tips by
Villa Pangi Gita - Kidney shaped swimming pool

When holidaying with family, everyone needs their own space.  Set within our tropical gardens, these large and versatile, three-bedroom villas are perfect for both multi-generational family vacations and special gatherings with friends. With multiple indoor-outdoor lounging corners, a private pool and oversized living and dining areas, there’s plenty of space for everyone in your party to find the quiet – and fun – they seek.

Canggu provides for those craving a holiday destination that offers a blend of privacy, ease of access, seclusion and serenity while being a short walk from restaurants, shops and the beach. It’s the understated, slightly more relaxed version of neighbouring Seminyak. Imagine it as a sophisticated older cousin, nonchalant and confident while being hip enough to hang with the cool kids.   

In the 1970’s, adventurers arrived to surf the waves and take in the landscape. Cut to the 2010’s and the coastal village has turned into a see-and-be-seen area, managing to keep its local vibe and laid-back ambiance. The number of expats living here is significant, and new bars and restaurants open everyday. While neighbouring Seminyak can be crowded, Canggu still has areas that are sparsely populated. Rice fields dot the landscape and there are many shortcuts you can take through them. Uluwatu is close by, with wild waves that excite pro-surfers.

Canggu’s Echo Beach is hailed as the most popular surfing area in this surf-crazy town and the main area to discover cafés and restaurants.  The beach has a 180-degree seascape and advanced reef breaks with  cafés up and down the shore. If you don’t surf, simply relax and chill with a drink in hand. Wander around and discover street art which the village is known for.

Other beaches in the area are Batu Bolong Beach, Berawa Beach, Perenan Beach and Nelayan Beach. All are known for their spectacular sunsets so keep them in mind for end-of-the-day selfies.

If you want some fun for the whole family, head out to Finns Recreation Club, where a water park and an indoor trampoline area will keep your children entertained. Adults can check out La Laguna Gypsy Market, which has over 150 stalls selling organic products or the Love Anchor Canggu market in an open-air shopping centre next to Monsieur Spoon, an artisan French bakery. The Samadi Bali market is flocked by Canggu locals and the nearby neighbourhoods of Seminyak,

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The Magic of Nyepi: Bali’s Unique Day of Silence

in Culture by
Villa Zelie - Staff praying

While most cultures celebrate the new year with rowdy celebrations, revelry and fireworks, in Bali the dawning of a new year is ushered in with a unique day of silence, known as Nyepi.

This year Nyepi falls on 7 March and for 24 hours shops and restaurants will stay closed, the streets and markets will remain empty, the beaches will be deserted and the waves un-surfed. Even the airport is shut down as Bali falls under a magnificent cloak of silence.

Ocean Temple - Tanah Lot

In order to understand Nyepi, is it necessary to briefly dip into the dualistic world of Balinese Hinduism which is woven into the very fabric of life on the island. Imagine a cosmic dance in which the forces of good and evil are in constant play. Order is represented by the gods, known as dewa and dewi, while disorder is represented by the earth demons known as bhutas and kalas.

Balance must be maintained so that evil doesn’t get the upper hand. Through a myriad of religious offerings and rituals, the gods are thanked and asked for blessings, while the forces of darkness who seek to upset the equilibrium are appeased. Of all the ceremonial days on the island, Nyepi is one of the most important.

Des Indes I

Why the silence?

Theological explanations vary. Some say that by staying hidden the evil spirits will think the island has been abandoned and will pass by, thus bringing an auspicious start to the new year. But Hindu scholars say that the noise and revelry of the preceding evening, Nyepi Eve, wakes up the demons so that they will see the offerings, including blood sacrifice that have been laid out for them. In this view, the silence is a symbol of contentment and gratitude that the demons have been appeased for another year. Regardless of theological explanations, Nyepi is a day reserved for quiet contemplation and self-reflection and Balinese Hindus are prohibited from work, entertainment, travel and lighting fires. Priests and those with a higher spiritual calling will also fast, observe total silence and pass the day in prayer.

nyepi ogoh ogoh bali art

How does Nyepi effect visitors to the island?

Even tourists must respect Nyepi and stay within the grounds of their accommodation and keep noise and lights to a minimum.

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Bento, Yakitori and Sushi in Bali

in Destinations/Dining by

You have to love a cuisine that managed to invent another flavor. Umami refers to that extra layer of deliciousness that defies description.

Japanese food has infiltrated the far corners of the world, satiating our interest as well as our appetites. Read on to discover Japanese restaurants and places to order sushi in Bali, Indonesia.

Sake no Hana

Sake no Hana may be new in Bali but they come with a serious reputation in other parts of the world, most notably in London’s fashionable Mayfair. Described as contemporary Japanese, Sake no Hana’s Executive Chef travelled from London to create this menu and it is filled with temptation and flavor. From their signature menus, which offer exotic imports like Kobe beef, Hamachi sashimi and Alaskan king crab, to bento boxes to a scale of signature menus, this is worth the splurge.

Overlooking the sparkling new daytime destination, Omnia, on the Uluwatu coast, Sake no Hana is filled with light by day. At night, as the club closes, it becomes a sophisticated destination restaurant. With a refreshingly different menu of bespoke cocktails alongside some wonderful wine and sake selections, Sake no Hana adds sophisticated new flavours to Uluwatu. 

Top tip: leave room for desserts, which are beautiful, creative and delicious.

Ryoshi

Ryoshi’s owner, Sagon Togasa, opened his first Ryoshi in Seminyak to house his two great loves; sushi and jazz. It still does that and more. With Ryoshi now in Sanur, Ubud and offering welcome respite to shoppers in Galleria, the menu has expanded alongside the empire.

At heart is the sushi window, with chefs slicing sushi and sashimi to order, fresh seafood is also part of the philosophy. There are grills, braises and rice bowls. A range of delicious kushiyaki, grilled food on sticks, and some delicious vegetarian options.

Agadashi tofu is a hit here as is the Japanese steak, the traditional fried chicken and steaming bowls of udon with your choice of toppings. Best of all it’s ultimately affordable.

Top tip: Monday night is the most popular night as the jazz is always world class, head upstairs and take a seat in the restaurant or hang out at the bar.

Sushimi

When Tokyo meets Bondi, you have Sushimi.

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Through the Keyhole: Villa Zelie

in Destinations by
Villa Zelie - Canggu, Bali

Villa Zelie owners tell us about their unique private pool villa in Canggu, Bali.

Villa Zelie - Outdoor living area

where stress is unknown.

People have described Villa Zelie as a private Eden or Heaven on Earth (and we agree!). How do you describe it?

It is a garden of Eden. Villa Zelie is a haven of peace and calm in the middle of Seminyak and Canggu. You forget about the world, the heat, the dampness, the noise and the traffic as you arrive at the villa. There is only peace and harmony there. That’s why I do not hesitate, several times a year, to make this long trip just to relax a few days. There are only good energies at Zelie, where stress is unknown.

Les gens ont décrit Villa Zelie comme étant un Éden privé ou un paradis sur Terre (et nous sommes d’accord!). Comment la décrivez-vous?

C’est un jardin d’Éden. La Villa Zelie est un havre de paix et de calme au milieu de Seminyak et Canngu. Vous oubliez le monde, la chaleur, la moiteur, le bruit et la circulation dès que vous arrivez à la Villa. Là, il n’y a plus que calme et harmonie. C’est pour cela que je n’hésite pas, plusieurs fois par an, à faire ce long voyage juste pour venir me relaxer quelques jours. Il n’a que de bonnes énergies et le stress y est inconnu. 

 

Villa Zelie - Outdoor living area

Where is your favourite place to relax at your villa?

I actually have two. During daytime, the pool house by the pool, from which you can hear the sound of birds and the rippling water. Simple pleasure but so relaxing. In the evening, the sofa in the living room, facing the garden, which is adorned with all its lights. I can watch this for hours, with a glass of wine, it’s magic.

Quel endroit dans la villa est votre préféré pour vous détendre?

J’en ai deux.  La journée, le pool house au bord de la piscine, vous écoutez le bruit des oiseaux et le clapotis de l’eau. Plaisir simple mais tellement reposant. Le soir, dans le canapé du salon, face au jardin, qui s’est paré de toutes ses lumières. Je peux regarder cela des heures, avec un verre de vin, c’est magique.

 

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