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When are we not dreaming of Bali? With its frangipani-fringed rice fields, freewheeling vibe and surf-friendly waves, its pull is irresistible. And while the island is home to some of Southeast Asia's dreamiest hotels, booking a villa here has its perks: you can have breakfast whenever you want, jump in the pool until well after midnight, and don't have to worry about privacy. So we've cherry-picked the best villas around the Indonesian island based on their guest reviews, amenities, looks and location — from fully staffed pool villas on Seminyak's shores to off-grid hideaways deep in the jungles of Ubud, here are the best Bali villas to book(mark).
Villa Manao
Area: Kerobokan
This walled cluster of villas in the Kerobokan rice fields makes it feel as if you have a whole Balinese village to yourselves. Around a lotus-filled pond and a dining pavilion, a handful of joglo-roofed dwellings stand alongside tribal wood carvings and thatch-roofed lounge nooks. Inside, they draw on local crafts, with ikat-inspired textiles and handwoven basketry, while lush gardens pin them firmly in the Balinese countryside. Bring the whole gang (or the extended family): with eight bedrooms, each with en-suite bathroom and one with bunk beds that sleep four, there's space aplenty—and there's no need to quibble for a lounger along the two infinity pools. A private chef is included in the nightly rate, though restaurant-rich Seminyak is just a 10-minute drive away.
Sleeps: 16
From: £646 per night
Sharma Springs
Area: Ubud
The bed frames in all four of Sharma Springs' bedrooms are made from bamboo. So are its swirling vaulted ceilings, its kitchen island, and the floors of its open-air living room. The snug balconies with views over the palm-tufted jungle below, or the walls that wrap around the bathrooms? You guessed it: they’re bamboo too. Very little of this architectural marvel on the fringe of the Ayung River valley is not made from bamboo – in fact, this six-story villa is the tallest bamboo structure on the island. Take it over with groups of up to ten (a fifth bedroom is located in a separate guest house) and you'll have access to a private pool, yoga pavilion, and the nearby Green Village Community where you can dive into the fundamentals of bamboo construction through regular workshops. As an Airbnb Luxe property, stays also include butler service and on-call massage therapists, personal chefs, or babysitters.
Sleeps: 10
From: £897 per night
Laputa Villa
Area: Sidemen
While this pointy-roofed structure, reminiscent of a manta ray or a bird in mid-flight, is a marvellous piece of bamboo architecture, it's the views that have turned Laputa Villa into one of Bali's most popular Airbnbs. For eight months, its owner travelled around the island with a drone in search of a scenic vantage point and eventually found it at a sparsely built mountain ridge bordering Sidemen Valley. Soon after opening, the villa garnered the nickname "The Bamboo Castle in the Sky", and it's easy to see why: from the two semi-open bedrooms and the hammock-like nets protruding from the mezzanine, the unobstructed views over the area's rice terraces, mountain ridges, and rural village life are otherworldly. For those craving an away-from-it-all experience, this is the place to book.
Sleeps: 4
From: £372 per night
FELLA Villa
Area: Canggu
A stay at this boho bolthole just minutes from Canggu's surf breaks instantly makes you feel like one of those sun-kissed and salty-haired Canggu cool kids – if only for a weekend. Rosie Iffla and Christine Tang, founders of the eponymous Australian swimwear label FELLA, opened it as their Bali base in 2015 and decorated it with a tasteful pick-and-mix of Canggu hallmarks: cacti-dotted gardens, concrete floors, edgy artworks and surfer paraphernalia. The open-air bathrooms and whitewashed courtyard with swimming pool make it a perfect spot for après-surf hangouts, while the central location puts you within walking distance from the district's buzziest beach bars and top tables.
Sleeps: 6
From: £228 per night
The Hideout
Area: Selat
A stay at this two-story bamboo hut on the outer slopes of eastern Bali's Agung volcano requires some planning: as the fourth most-wished-for accommodation on Airbnb, it books out months in advance. Those who manage to nab a night here, though, will find themselves seemingly off-grid in a lush patch of jungle, with nothing but chameleons, fist-sized butterflies, and the resident cat, Kikky, for company. The Hideout's remote location puts it at least half an hour away from the nearest beach bar, so days here fill up with rice paddy hikes, hammock-lolling, and dips in the gin-clear stream babbling in front. There's an open-air bathroom, living room, and a kitchen equipped with a fridge and cooking equipment, though guests can also order in or borrow a scooter to eat at the local warung a five- to ten-minute ride away.
Sleeps: 2
From: £145 per night
Villa Arjuna
Area: Canggu
When Villa Arjuna's owners, fashion designer Lena Catterick and surfer husband Carlo Letica, are at one of their other uber-stylish homes in Mallorca or Byron Bay, you can take over their Bali hideout just off Canggu's cafe-packed Jalan Pantai Berawa as your own. Indeed, the three-bedroom home looks like an amalgamation of their other nests, with bright and breezy interiors that wouldn't look out of place in Byron Bay's boho corners, and a whitewashed farmhouse vibe – sheepskin throws, sun-bleached wood, lots of sandy linen– hinting at Balearic bliss. Nearby, Catterick's boutique Yoli + Otis sells naturally dyed dresses and rustic home goods to emulate her laid-back style at home.
Sleeps: 4
From: £195 per night
Haigha House
Area: Ubud
Hidden in the rice fields of a small village near Ubud, Haigha House is a fresh departure from the traditional dwelling-style villas dotting the district. Instead of bamboo ceilings and ornamental wood carvings, this 3-bedroom hideaway has lofty interiors with hints of Tropical Modernism – straight lines, triple-height ceilings, and a palette of concrete and steel warmed up with modern furnishing from textile and timber. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of rice fields and the Batukaru volcano in the distance, while the bean bag-lined infinity pool looks out over the surrounding jungle. Another perk: guests have access to a tablet with Ubud insider tips by Indonesian journalist and Haigha House co-owner Risyiana Muthia.
Sleeps: 7
From: £256 per night
Rumah Hujan
Area: Ubud
Venezuelan architect Maximilian Jencquel built this designer den in the heart of Ubud from the ironwood remains of a bridge he found in Borneo. Pairing the reclaimed materials with honey-hued teak and volcanic stone, the villa is a study in natural living, with pared-back interiors, understated Scandinavian furniture and indoor-outdoor spaces letting the lush jungle backdrop take centre stage. There's a sleek saltwater pool, on-the-ball housekeeping, and a private chef who can whip up everything from breakfast to dinner, putting Rumah Hujan in the same league as the top-level villas of some of Bali's highest-end resorts.
Sleeps: 6
From: £452 per night