The Best Villas in Canggu, Bali

You can go from being in a deep slumber under the duvet to wide awake and swimming in cool water in seconds, your built-in private pool at Regali Villa is that close. After your swim, eat breakfast outdoors before curling up with a book in a wicker chair swing. You’re within walking distance of surf-worthy waves at Echo Beach and popular brunch spot Canteen Cafe.

You can cocoon yourself effectively at Komea, which is away from Canggu’s party scene if that’s not your cup of kopi (coffee). The plush villas have been designed in tune with their nature-rich, slow-living environs. Put yourself in the healing hands of the in-house therapist, make use of the transportation service to explore the area, then devour a wine-paired dinner courtesy of the pro culinary team, whose specialities include pork ribs, seafood and satays.

Peeking out from among the paddy fields in the village of Berawa, you’ll find Amore’s smart four-bedroom pool villas. There’s also a tidy one-bed option, plus a spa and private chefs at your command if you wish. Queen of the cool places to hang out during your stay is Penny Lane, with a menu encompassing nasi goreng (fried rice) and smoothie bowls. Enjoy alongside a twinkly interior, featuring religious icon-inspired artwork, updated in the image of Biggie Smalls, Tupac and Jimi Hendrix.

Staying here, you can get serious with the surf lessons and capitalise on the swell at Berawa Beach, with your best rides and spectacular tumbles captured by the villa’s surf photographer. You’re minutes from Bali Equestrian Centre, too, if you’d like to learn the basics of horsemanship or try dressage. Villa Berawa is a Javanese-style joglo villa, poshed up with bathtubs and pendopo pavilions which let you take in live music while dinner is served. You can even try and master Indo kitchen skills for yourself at the cookery school.

Close enough to Finns Beach Club to swing by for a bite of barramundi ceviche with banana blossom, chased down with a lychee martini, these family-owned villas are on a quiet corner of verdant farmland. Surrounded by rivers which irrigate the adjoining paddy fields, they provide a touch of luxury with a reasonable price tag. The 12-suite townhouse offering – all chic spotlighting and beachside ambience – is worth investigating, too.

You’re spoiled for calm, photogenic spots at Sotis – where space, harmony, minimalism and aesthetic appeal are all part of the ethos. Hone your sun salutations during a private yoga session or head out in search of classic Indonesian eats. Sotis is a coconut’s throw from decent warungs (local restaurants) and a short bike ride from popular party spot Deus Ex Machina and surf hangout Echo Beach.

The pool at Lalasa is a treat, perfect for cooling off when the tropical heat gets too much. In fact, it’s a bit of an ask to get out of the bathtub when the view through the glass doors offers such serenity. Street-front eatery Warung Lalasa keeps you and other travellers in the 12 self-contained holiday homes well-fed on hearty fare, from morning until late, while Lalasa Spa offers head-to-toe health and beauty treatments.

White flowers flutter from frangipani trees in the grounds at Kutus Kutus Canggu Villa, where you have a kitchen for self-catering and a pool, too. The contemporary villa has laptop-friendly spaces to facilitate workations for professionals. But why work, when there are bikes to borrow? Cycle to the blue lagoon at Padangbai, where you can dive and get acquainted with seahorses and reef sharks, among other species. Other villa perks include on-demand airport transfers, babysitting services, daily housekeeping and bookable massages.

Aradhana Villas boasts an elegant courtyard with tropical vegetation, a spa and on-tap tea and cake, with a great location five minutes’ ride from Café Del Mar. There’s round-the-clock Balinese hospitality on hand here to help with anything you need. Or you can spend the day browsing local shops and perfecting your surf on the beach, safe in the knowledge that villa owner, Ekosistem, is hot on minimising waste and protecting Canggu’s ecosystem.

Between black sands, green rice terraces and the Indian Ocean, the Seseh neighbourhood is certainly picturesque. Here, you’ll find fully-staffed oceanside villas at Sejuk, juxtaposing Javanese architecture and Western interior design. In the fishing village, common sights include newly harvested rice husks drying on rattan mats and scores of ducks waddling down lanes. Visit in the run up to Balinese New Year (or Nyepi) in March to witness a procession of white and gold, as the Hindu Balinese purification ritual of Melasti is observed on the beach.