Villa Mandalay

With panoramic views over luxuriant rice fields stretching all the way to the Indian Ocean, the stunning Mandalay Villas provide a lavish escape on Bali's scenic south-west coast. Yet this idyllic hideaway is only ten-minutes away from Canggu, Bali’s cosmopolitan hotspot, and even closer to the dramatic and photogenic sea temple of Tanah Lot.

With the option of renting anything from three to eleven bedrooms, the spacious estate provides ample space for families and groups of friends. Two magnificent villas make up the estate, the four-bedroom Mandalay Dua and seven-bedroom Villa Mandalay. They can be rented separately or booked together for larger groups, with easy accessibility between them.

Perfect for a reunion or large get-together, Mandalay Villas also make for a dream wedding venue. Sweeping lawns are fringed by lush tropical gardens here, framing a picturesque backdrop. Highlights include two lavish swimming pools, fun ‘pitch and putt’ golf course, sauna, multiple pavilions, and a friendly and professional staff team including a personal chef who is master of an extensive suggestion menu.


It is said that green is soothing for the soul, so with its glorious location overlooking acres of emerald rice fields stretching to the tropical turquoise ocean beyond, a stay at Villa Mandalay promises to be a serene one.

The villa's tranquil setting is enhanced by a perfectly balanced contemporary design, with 25-metres of green-stone-tiled swimming pool creating a magnificent focal point. Buildings of creamy stone, with ironwood shingle roofs and rich dark timber accents, provide luxurious living and sleeping areas for up to 14 people. An enchanting bamboo pavilion 'floating' on a water garden grants unobstructed views and creates an atmospheric setting for casual breakfasts, sunset cocktails and candlelit dinners. Gorgeous gardens filled with frangipani, calla lilies and heliconia add swathes of colour, while lively fish ponds complement the tropical scenery.

Indonesian artwork adorns the villa, with a strong avian-theme reflected in Balinese paintings, and colourful carved wooden statues from Kalimantan, alongside elaborate friezes and a fascinating display of ethnic artefacts.

Golf enthusiasts will love the six-tee 'pitch and putt' golf course set into the lower gardens. Those wanting to relax can take a leisurely stroll along the glistening black-sand beach at Seseh, soak up the warmth of the Finnish-style sauna, or enjoy a soothing massage in the garden bale (pavilion) provided by a skilled therapist from a reputable local spa.

Friendly staff include a talented chef who prepares Western and Asian meals from a comprehensive suggestion menu, as well as sumptuous Balinese-style feasts. A car and driver is also on hand (additional charge) to whisk you away to island attractions such as the hip cafés, cool boutiques and sunset bars of Canggu, the galleries and ornate Hindu temples of Ubud, or the shops and world-class restaurants of Seminyak.

A stepping-stone path leads across a flourishing lily pond to the entrance of Villa Mandalay, whose symmetrical design creates a tasteful and elegant ambiance. Single storey contemporary Balinese-style pavilions are arranged in a U-shape around a long rectangular swimming pool, with two guest bedrooms bordering each side and the two master suites flanking the main living and dining area. Stairs lead down to a studio bedroom adjacent to the sauna overlooking the 'pitch and putt' golf lawns.

The villa's entrance is dominated by a large Palimanan stone frieze flanked by elegant Javanese statues, leading to the fan-cooled living and dining pavilion with its wooden floors, soaring ceiling and evocative Indonesian artwork. A glass-topped dining table seats 12, with an additional small table seating four. Large alcoves on either side have built-in sofas upholstered in earthy hues, and coffee tables strewn with magazines. A bar at the back is equipped with an iPod dock and surround-sound system, while ethnic artefacts are displayed against a red feature wall. A guest washroom lies to one side and on the other is a kitchen equipped with everything required to cook up a storm. The steep sloping rattan ceilings of the mezzanine media room create an atmospheric air-conditioned space for reclining on mattresses and cushions, and watching the 62" TV and movies with surround-sound. Shelves are filled with DVD's and novels.

Steps lead down from the living room to the 25-metre swimming pool tiled in green stone and surrounded by sun loungers shaded by stylish parasols. Walk along the timber deck to the atmospheric bamboo balé pavilion set in water gardens flourishing with brightly hued calla lilies and colourful fish. Furnished with a dining table, eight chairs, and comfortable rattan lounge suite, the balé offers stunning rice-terrace views stretching towards the ocean. Descending to the lower level and adjacent to the studio bedroom, the aroma of cedar wood awaits in a full-size Finnish-style sauna with lovely garden outlook, and a separate shower room.

The whole property is ringed with flourishing foliage, from frangipani to palms, and birds of paradise flowers. The six-tee pitch and putt golf course is laid out on perfectly manicured lawns but gives the sensation of being right in the middle of the rice fields. A thatched balé (pavilion) at the far side of the garden provides a place for peaceful respite.