Surya Shanti Villa
Sidemen, Bali

Surya Shanti Villa is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Boutique Hotels.

Surya Shanti is by far one of the most special places in Bali - a secret hideaway we are eager to share with our clients! It offers the archetypal Balinese idyll that everyone is looking for on the island but simply can't find. One hour from Ubud if you want to go shopping but close to a very cute little village, Surya Shanti is otherwise completely surrounded by rice terraces, zero traffic, Mt. Agung volcano views from every angle and dramatic valley views leading down to the sea.

The property has just 11 villas (4 of which have panoramic views of everything from your bed), 2 swimming pools, a spa, a terraced restaurant and a dining balé in the garden. The gardens are the perfect blend of manicured and wild, and the natural colours of the flowers and plants are utterly kaleidoscopic. It is hard to imagine that a place like this still exists on this overcrowded island. Many hotels in Bali offer the wellness angle or offer full blown luxury, but what Surya Shanti offers is the spiritual essence of Bali - as clichéd as that may sound!

My favourite thing is to go where I've never been.
Diane Arbus