Villa Bangkuang, Tanah lot

If you would love to be close to the beach but set apart from Bali’s more crowded tourist areas, Villa Bangkuang is a perfect choice. This stunning five-bedroom villa rests on the edge of Seseh, a traditional coastal village set between hipster Canggu and have-to-visit Tanah Lot on Bali’s south-eastern shore. The wild black sand beach is just 300 metres away, and rice fields unfurl uninterrupted from the villa garden to the ocean edge.

Created for the owner’s personal use, Villa Bangkuang has emerged fresh from an extensive 2021 remodelling by noted designers of Grand Hyatt fame. The result is a skilful blend of contemporary and traditional: vaulted alang-alang thatched pavilions with thoroughly modern interiors of tropical woods and marble filled with both custom-built and antique furniture. There’s breathing space for up to 8 adults and 3 kids, with multiple living and lounging areas looking over the enormous 17-metre pool. With three bedrooms in the main sleeping pavilion and two at the rice-field edge, this villa is particularly suitable for multi-generational families, two or three families holidaying together, or even a group of friends.

How to spend your days in this beach haven? Start with breakfast served by the villa’s attentive staff, Sprawl on the oversized daybed on the enormous deck, cool off in the pool, take coffee in the garden gazebo, work up a sweat in the villa gym, get a massage in the dedicated spa room, and then gather for cocktails on the rooftop terrace as the sun sets over the sea. Beyond the villa estate, stroll on the beach, take a yoga class, pop into a cafe close by, or head to the bright lights and buzz of Canggu a short drive away. When you holiday at Villa Bangkuang, you’ll never want to leave.