Villa Santai

Bali has many temples, each with its own meaning. East of Lovina you will find the Beji Temple in Sangsit, which is dedicated to the rice goddess. The Jagaraja temple commemorates the battles with the Dutch. West of Lovina is the Pulaki temple, which is teeming with monkeys that are considered descendants of the god Dewa. The Pura Ulun Danu Bratan temple is located near Bedugul on Lake Bratan. This is where you will pass when you drive from the villa to the airport in the south or vice versa.

Pura Ulun Danau Bratan
This well-known and beautiful temple complex is located on the edge of Lake Bratan, a beautiful lake between several mountains, which are partly hidden between the clouds. Lake Bratan is very important for the irrigation of the southern parts of Bali.

Pura Besakih – the 'mother temple'
Pura Besakih is the largest and holiest temple of the Balinese. The temple is located on the slope of the Gunung Agung and was built between the 14th and 18th centuries. The sacred temple complex is located on a mountain and can be reached via a long staircase. The temple consists of approximately 200 structures that are spread over 30 complexes on several terraces. It is mandatory to wear a Sarong (these can be bought or rented at the gate) and not to be dressed too naked when visiting the temple.

The water palaces of Tirtagangga and Taman Ujung
The last king of East Bali had two beautiful water palaces built during his reign: Ujung and Tirtagangga. The water palace Tirtagangga is built around a natural spring, the water of which is considered sacred. Five water basins, fountains and statues from the Hindu culture give the garden the appearance of an open-air museum. And whether it is due to the water or not, with a great wealth of trees and flowering plants, the garden exudes a serene tranquility. Due to the eruption of the Gunung Agung in 1963, which was accompanied by earthquakes, they were largely destroyed. Since a few years, both water palaces have been completely restored.

For a small fee, you can take a bath in the royal first water, a basin that was only intended for the raja. But then you also have the diving platform on elegant columns to yourself. For even less money you can bathe in the otherwise crystal clear second water that the court previously had to settle for.

A grandson of the last reigning monarch now operates the gardens, a restaurant and a rentable bungalow. From the small and quiet Tirtagangga you can take walks and day trips through beautiful sawa landscape to villages and temples in the area.

Ubud
Ubud is the cultural capital of Bali. The city has a rich history when it comes to Balinese painting. Well-known names include: Walter Spies, Rudolf Bonnet, Arie Smit and Han Snel. In addition, other art forms are also well represented in the area. There are several craft villages around Ubud and many types of traditional dance performances are given in the city itself. Ubud is a true paradise if you are looking for wood carvings, paintings, batik, bamboo items and Balinese artwork. A visit to Ubud is definitely worth it, but you should take into account a travel time of 2 hours from Villa Sali. Of course, you can also visit Ubud on your outward or return journey.

Goa Gajah
The Goa Gajah is a giant elephant cave. The cave is located east of Peliatan near Ubud in the middle of Bali. The entrance is decorated with fantastic figures: demons, animals and plants. The monstrous head that hangs above the entrance seems to lift the rock with its hands. Similar decorations can be found on Java. The Goa Gajah dates back to the 11th century. Traditional marketDo you like traditional markets? Then go to the large traditional market in Singaraja very early in the morning. Hectic, chaotic and colorful. In addition to meat, fish, vegetables and fruit, batik is also sold and there are stalls full of small offerings.

Ceremonies
During your stay, ask around in which villages there are ceremonies. Not only the celebrations themselves are an experience; The days before, the whole village is busy making decorations and offerings. You are expected to dress appropriately: sarong, sash, blouse with long sleeves. Also in the city of Singaraja there are ceremonies in the temples almost every week. It is definitely worth attending a ceremony.

Bali Barat National Park
The Bali Barat National Park is located in the west of Bali. The National Park is immense and also contains 7000 hectares of protected coral reef off the coast. It is a mountainous region and consists mainly of rainforests, mangrove forests, savannahs and coral reefs. More than 200 species of plants can be found in the park. A number of these plants have a religious and spiritual significance, such as the banyan tree.

The National Park is also home to leopards, wild boars, snakes, iguanas, lizards, turtles, monkeys, geckos and huge spiders. You can also find large herbivores such as deer, wild buffalo and the banteng(os). If you want to take a tour of the park, you can only do so with a guide. If you want to stay in the park for several days, there are several options for spending the night near the park. The Bali Barat National Park is an important example of WWF's Friends of the Reef campaign.

Batakaru National Reserve
The Batakaru Nature Reserve can be found in the Tabanan district in Central Bali. The reserve consists of three separate areas surrounding Bali's second highest mountain, Gunung Batakaru (2,275m). The reserve is home to one of the last pristine rainforests in Bali. In this densely vegetated area, you will find tall tropical trees surrounded by climbing plants, ferns and orchids. You can also find all kinds of exotic birds and animals.

Gunung Agung
The Gunung Agung is the highest and most sacred mountain in Bali. The mountain is 3,142 meters high, and you can see Gunung Agung from almost any point in Bali and the surrounding islands. At the bottom of the mountain is the most important temple of Bali, the Pura Besakih, or the 'Mother Temple'. Goa Lawah (Bat Cave)Between Padangbai and Kusamba lies the Goa Lawah, the bat cave. Thousands of bats hang from its walls, which sleep there during the day and fly out in the evening shortly before darkness falls.

Monkey Forest
The Monkey Forest reserve in Ubud is a protected area for 3 groups of long-tailed monkeys. In this Monkey Forest there is also a large temple complex and cemetery. The temple is called Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal.

We can definitely recommend these things, they are also listed in the information guide that you will find in the villa:

- Dolphin tour at sea in the morning (can be arranged with the villa staff)
- snorkeling/diving trip to Menjangan Island (northwest Bali, snorkeling and diving can be a combined trip, can be done at the same place, 1 hour away by car, 30 minutes by boat)
- snorkeling in Lovina (10 minutes by boat)
- Hike to Sekumpul waterfalls (see 5 waterfalls at the same time, 45 minutes drive)
- a visit to the Aling Aling waterfalls where you can jump and slide down the waterfalls (20-30 minutes drive)
- a guided rice field tour in Mayong (only a 20-25 minute drive) with lunch at the local home of the guide (famous tour!)
- a visit to the hot springs of Banjar and the little Borobudur 5 minutes away called Brahma Vihara Arama, Buddhist temple (both just a 10-minute drive from the villa)
- the "Lovina sightseeing tour", the well-known tour that every driver knows and that takes you along all the highlights of the north coast and central Bali, including a visit to the Bratan Temple at Lake Bratan (6 hours sightseeing tour)
- visit to a local market and a local ceremony, you can ask the staff when and where this takes place, they are very happy that you come along!
- there is also a water sports centre and an amusement park nearby: Krisna Water Sports and Krisna Funtastic land.

You can also make nice day trips from the villa:
- day trip to the volcano area & Kintamani in the east of Bali.
- Hike to climb the Batur volcano, depart at night from the villa and drive to the base of the Batur volcano (1.5 hours drive) and walk to the top and see the sunrise, very nice view as the sun rises behind the Agung volcano, the highest mountain in Bali.
- Full-day trip to Ubud. Nice suggestions for what to do in Ubud and the surrounding area: visit to the local market and the royal palace in Ubud, lunch in Café Lotus, rafting (very nice also with children, must do!), cycling (also nice tour with e-bikes/mountain bikes through the UNESCO rice fields of Tegalalang) and visit to the elephant camp just outside Ubud.
- day trip to the Jatiluwih rice terraces (central Bali), this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

From the villa you can make beautiful day trips, such as to the volcano area near Kintamani or a night climb to the Batur volcano for a sunrise with a view of the Agung. Visit Ubud for the market, palace, rafting, cycling through rice paddies, or the elephant camp. The Jatiluwih rice terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are also highly recommended. All excursions can be combined well and the staff is happy to help arrange.

In the information folder in the villa you will find tips for fun trips, such as: dolphin spotting at sunrise, snorkeling or diving at Menjangan or in Lovina, waterfalls such as Sekumpul and Aling Aling, a rice field tour in Mayong, the Banjar hot springs and the Buddhist monastery, the Lovina sightseeing tour, local markets and ceremonies, or fun in Krisna Water Sports and Funtastic Land. A lot can be arranged through the staff!

During your stay, ask around in which villages ceremonies are held. Not only the celebrations themselves are an experience; The days before, the whole village is busy making decorations and offerings. You are expected to dress appropriately: sarong, sash, blouse with long sleeves. Also in the city of Singaraja there are ceremonies in the temples almost every week. It is definitely worth attending a ceremony.