Semarapura

Overlooking a magical sea temple and the dramatic black sands of Cemagi Beach, Villa Semarapura offers a one-of-a-kind holiday experience on Bali’s sunset coast. This beautifully designed villa features five luxurious bedroom suites and a wide choice of living, dining and entertainment areas. Sip an ice-cold beer at the poolside bar, relax with a massage, or enjoy cocktails in the sunset bale as the sun slips below the horizon. Despite its delightful away-from-it-all setting, Villa Semarapura is within easy reach of the picturesque Pura Tanah Lot and only 15-kilometres from Seminyak. Although with an excellent team of staff on hand - including a skilled Chef - why leave?

Set upon 5,000-square metres of glorious gardens next to Cemagi Beach, Villa Semarapura more than lives up to its Sanskrit name, which translates as ‘temple of peace’. Beyond the villa’s rolling lawns of Japanese grass, the sacred sea temple Pura Gede Luhur Batungaus rises above the Indian Ocean, an iconic silhouette against the coast’s famed crimson sunsets.

Villa Semarapura was originally designed by long-term Asia-based expats as a spacious family home in classic Balinese compound style. After a no-expenses-spared, architect-led transformation, it is now available to guests as a stunning contemporary-meets-traditional sanctuary with an abundance of both social and private living spaces, and charming staff with strong attachments to the villa and total focus on making their guests happy.

Start the day with a gentle stroll along the near-deserted, black sand beach, followed by a hearty breakfast on the living room’s breezy ocean-view deck. Laze by the 20-metre pool and let the butler mix you a 'Semarapura Breeze' at the poolside bar and lounge. A leisurely lunch prepared by the villa chef and served in the air-conditioned dining pavilion might be followed by a little siesta or a reviving dip in the master suite's jacuzzi, then a visit to the spa bale for a restorative massage. Evenings at Villa Semarapura are equally enchanting: sundowners at the sunset bale; a welcome dance performed by local villagers; a seafood barbecue on the pool terrace to the hum of the bamboo rindik played under a canopy of stars.

Venturing beyond Semarapura's grounds, the villa's insightful attendant leads fascinating tours of the neighbourhood, or why not head to Echo Beach for a surf lesson, or a pilgrimage at the sacred Tanah Lot Sea Temple? Exploring further afield for a day's sightseeing is easy too, courtesy of Villa Semarapura's 16-seater minibus and driver (extra charge). Those seeking boutiques, bars, restaurants and bright lights can head to Seminyak 15-kilometres away. The beauty of Villa Semarapura is that it's far enough from the hustle of Bali's most popular spots to forget they exist, yet convenient enough to explore them should the mood take you.

Villa Semarapura comprises a series of attractive pavilions spread over 5,000-square metres of gardens. From the villa's Balinese entrance, a covered walkway leads to the upper level of the spectacular ocean-view living pavilion at the heart of the estate. To its side lies the dining pavilion, kitchen and a double-storey building housing two of the villa's five bedroom suites. Below the living room, a large media room opens onto a sun deck bordering the 20-metre swimming pool, with a pool pavilion and bar lounge on the side. With its own private garden, the master bedroom suite sits directly in front of two guest bedroom pavilions. Within the gardens are a massage bale and, at the highest point of the estate, a sunset bale overlooking the ocean.

Villa Semarapura's open-sided living room on the upper floor of the living pavilion commands stunning ocean vistas and views of Cemagi's captivating sea temple. This glorious fan-cooled space is designed in the style of a traditional village wantilan, or meeting hall, with a tiered roof soaring high above comfortable seating, Indonesian antiques and objets d'art resting on polished terrazzo floors. An ironwood veranda runs the full length of the living room, providing two further breakfast areas.

Directly below is the media room, where a massive upholstered sofa is set before a 60" TV and Bose multi-zone sound system that also feeds the living room, dining room, pool pavilion and garden. This light-filled air-conditioned room also houses a pool table and a ‘study’ corner with antique desk and book library.

Villa Semarapura’s dining room seems to float suspended above the garden, with water-walls on three sides and bi-fold doors that can be opened to catch the evening breeze or closed for air-conditioned comfort. From the circular dining table, which convivially seats 10 guests, spectacular views unfold across the pool and gardens to the ocean.

The view is equally stunning from the kitchen, where bar chairs line the granite-topped breakfast counter. Professionally equipped as a ‘chef’s kitchen’ with commercial oven and multi-burner stove, this is the stage for informal cooking classes as guests witness the villa team cooking up a storm. A service kitchen lies behind.

Villa Semarapura offers an abundance of outdoor living space within its gorgeous tropical garden. At its heart and flanked by lotus ponds is the huge ironwood pool deck flowing out from the media room, with eight upholstered sunbeds and other seating areas. To one side, an alfresco dining area is furnished with a table crafted from railway sleepers surrounded by 10 sturdy rattan armchairs - the perfect setting for lazy lunches and star-lit barbecues.

Facing the 20-metre swimming pool (which incorporates a shallow section for kids) is a living pavilion furnished with a pair of oversize daybeds and equipped with a sunken bar; the butlers are dab hands at mixing cocktails here.