Guests at Villa San are spoiled for choice when it comes to ways to relax. Reflecting the owners artistic and spiritual leanings, there’s the loft studio for painting, a telescope for star-gazing from the roof-top terrace at night, and a Buddhist stupa and yoga terrace tucked in a quiet corner of the property for group or individual meditation and yoga practice.

The spacious grounds offer freedom and flexibility for both families and groups of friends, with hammocks and outdoor settings scattered round the 25 x 5m pool and a pool pavilion seating up to 15 people. Inside, as well as the living and dining spaces, there are two well-equipped entertainment rooms – one is part of the two bedroom master suite, the other adjacent the informal dining room - a gym and a children’s playroom. The villa showcases some exquisite art and handicrafts from China, Ghana and Indonesia.

Villa San comprises six large bedrooms – three doubles and three twins. French doors from all the bedroom pavilions look out over tranquil gardens, only steps away from the long sloping lawn and the inviting pool.

A friendly, helpful team of staff are on hand around the clock, with a butler and chef available to meet every request. They are knowledgeable about local Hindu cultural activities, art galleries and the myriad options for exploring and learning about the region (guests can take a craft or cooking class, or book an in-house meditation or yoga session) and will recommend the best of local restaurants, cafés and spas.

Accommodation

At the heart of Villa San lies a two-storey living pavilion whose crisp modern lines and eclectic collection of wooden art pieces draw the eye from the moment you step into the villa. The pavilion houses the lounge, dining and entertainment areas as well as a playroom, artist studio, roof-top terrace and the kitchen. White casual seating, chrome and glass desks and crisp white walls are perfect foil for the exquisite Balinese, Chinese and African handicrafts in bedrooms and living areas.

The six bedroom suites, all with spacious walk-in wardrobes and luxurious bathrooms, are built in an Lshape around this living pavilion; each a discrete distance from its neighbour.

Bedrooms

Villa San’s six spacious bedrooms all feature large, luxuriously comfortable beds dressed in fine white linen and with plump feather-filled pillows. Exquisite hand-crafted bed runners from Africa and Indonesia add the finishing touch. Fine artworks and more carefully selected handicrafts grace the walls. Each room is equipped with ceiling fans, air conditioners and iPod docks and furnished with a desk, bedside tables and reading lights.

Villa San’s master suite, comprises two very generous sized bedrooms (one king–bedded and one twin-bedded) separated by a similarly large and comfortable family room, with three inviting sofas and a state-of-the-art home entertainment system. The well-appointed ensuite bathrooms, accessed through large dressing rooms with floor-to-ceiling mirrors, are full of light from windows facing onto gardens on two sides.

In separate buildings around the main living pavilion, eight more adults can be accommodated in two queen bedrooms and two twin bedrooms, each with ensuite bathrooms featuring large tubs and showers. Two extra beds are available for children, on request.

Living, dining and entertainment

Villa San’s air conditioned entertainment lounge features one of the property’s two state of the art home theatre systems, incorporating a large flat-screen satellite TV, DVD player and stereo system. Guests can sit back and relax on one of four big comfy sofas and look out over the property through floor-to-ceiling windows. Glass doors from the entertainment lounge open directly to the open-sided living area, furnished with more comfortable sofas and an unusual collection of wood and glass sculptures. Just a few steps away from the living area is a professionally equipped gym, while to the right is a casual dining area, the kids’ playroom and finally the green, spacious lawns and sparkling swimming pool area beyond.

While most of the cooking is done behind the scenes in the staff kitchen, no expense has been spared in the open-plan ‘front’ kitchen, where the chef makes his final meal preparations and where guests are welcome to indulge in their own culinary creations. You’ll be delighted by the bright, chunky Spanish-style crockery, the range of appliances and the sizable wine fridge. Separated from the kitchen area by a timber-topped breakfast bar, the dining area is open on three sides, looking out onto gardens and the swimming pool lawn. Its long, wooden table with comfortable seating can accommodate up to 14 dinner guests.

Upstairs, reached by a spiral staircase hidden next to the pool steps, an artist’s studio with wide glass windows provides a private, quiet hideaway. The adjacent rooftop terrace is a perfect place to scan the heavens, with the help of a professional telescope.

Pool & bale

Pool loungers, hammocks and casual seating shaded by sun umbrellas are scattered across Villa San’s well-kept lawn and around the pool, while a covered gazebo seating 12-15 lies at the far end of the pool.

Villa San’s sparkling 25 x 5m pool is just perfect for swimming laps. For a lazier experience, there’s a lounging ledge at the deep end (1.8m), while the steps at the shallow end (1.2m) are wide and safe for younger swimmers.

Yoga terrace and the Serene room

Tucked away in a quiet corner behind the master suite is a tree-shaded terrace for yoga practice, suitable for groups of up to 15 people. Behind it, a traditional stone stupa (a Buddhist meditation building known as The Serene room) offers the perfect place for moments of peaceful reflection.

Location

Villa San is a stone’s throw from Ubud’s Royal Palace – where cultural performances are held nightly – and very convenient for many of Ubud’s favourite treasures and attractions. While the property itself is very quiet and private, a vast, bustling local market is only 300m from the front door while a delightful variety of high quality restaurants and cafés can be found in and around the centre of town.

Ubud and her surrounding small villages are rich with culture and art. Many villages focus on a specific craft – such as woodworking, stone carving, ikat weaving or batik painting. These crafts are not just for the tourists, they have formed the livelihoods of these Balinese villagers for several hundred years. Guests can visit, watch and in many cases take classes – learning to cook local food, carve a wooden mask, dye a batik scarf, dance in a traditional performance, play an ancient brass musical instrument, or attend a life drawing session.