Retreat to total silence at Gubah Bali...
Gubah Bali might be difficult to find when you are traveling by own transportation, but places that are tucked away from the crowd often have the best location and views. As does this small villa resort...
Gubah Bali is located in Desa Bedulu, Blahbatuh which is about 15 minutes by car from Ubud. Along the main road between Ubud and Gianyar there is a small sign of the resort which shows you the way through rice fields, the Balinese village of Bedulu and across its small river.
Through a narrow alley you will finally find the villa complex with its 6 'villas' surrounded by rice fields and situated on the banks of the small river.
Even though they might call the resort also 'Gubah Bali Exclusive Villas' it's actually more of a resort than villas with butler service, private kitchen, massage facilities and your own massive swimming pool. If you're looking for such a thing then have a look at the bali luxury villas page.
The 6 villas are more like comfortable bungalows with the facilities of a small Bali luxury resort.
At first glance you will hardly see any of the bungalows as they are all set in a lush tropical garden facing the river which you can hear in the distance.
Verandah in front of one of the Gubah Ubud bungalows...
This 8 year old complex has integrated the Balinese style into the architecture of the buildings and also in the rooms you can find many Balinese details.
There are three types of rooms you can choose from at the Gubah Bali Villas which are:
The Bali Sari Room which has a verandah, the Bali Asri Room which as a verandah and its own Balinese entrance and garden and the third type of room is the Bali Aga.
The Bali Aga room has the same amenities as the first two type of rooms, however it has a private splash-pool and some facilities for a Balinese massage in the open-air pavilion.
When you're not staying in the Bali Aga room you can have a traditional massage in the room if you like.
The Balinese styled rooms at Gubah Bali Villas
The restaurant is located down the flight of stairs near the big public swimming pool, just a stone throw away from the river. Breakfast is served here until 10 am.
However when you feel like having lunch or dinner here too, no problem the staff at Gubah Bali is more than happy to prepare something special for you.
Their specialty is Balinese and Indonesian cuisine and since you're are in Bali you should try dishes such as Rijsttafel, Bebek Betutu or Babi Guling...not to be missed if you ask me.
The restaurant has a great view on the clear blue kidney-shaped pool and occasionally monkeys appear here too.
The kidney shaped pool
The Gubah Bali villa is an excellent get-away from normal busy life. It's focused on peace and quiet, as you will find no Tv or radio in your room. So, finally you will able to have the opportunity to read the good book you never had the time to finish...
However, the staff is also able to organize special dinners, weddings and parties on request. It is even possible to request a small orchestra that plays Balinese music accompanied by gracious Balinese dancers from the village Desa Bedulu next door...
When you want to leave the comfort of your lazy chair, you can always explore the area around the villa on foot. Or you can head to Ubud which is a wonderful place to spend a couple of days wandering around.
You will definitely enjoy the picturesque rice fields and the many great shops and restaurants there.
The rooms are set in a lush tropical garden
At the reception you can find the timetable of the resort's shuttle service to and from Ubud. The first one from the hotel leaves at 9am and the last one that leaves from Ubud is 9pm. So enough time to discover all the great things that Ubud is famous for...
Gubah Bali also offers tours around Bali including the early climb to the top of Mount Batur to see the stunning sunrise and a visit to the mother temple of Bali, the Pura Besakih.
An english speaking Gabah staff member will accompany you on the tour.
The rates for the Gubah Bali Villas per night are:
Bali Sari Room with private verandah US$ 69.00, incl breakfast & tax
Bali Asri Room with private garden US$ 81.00, incl breakfast & tax
Bali Aga Room with private garden and private spa US$ 111.00, incl breakfast & tax.
Guests who are planning to stay longer are able to receive a special long-stay price. It's also possible to have an extra bed in the room for only US$20 per night.
All in all I found the Gubah Bali resort a tropical surprise, an ideal place to spend some quality time with your loved one without a TV or radio. If you're looking for peace and quiet on the outskirts of a Balinese village than this is a great option to go to.
