• 2 months ago
For the second part of our Bali trip, we moved from the Bukit Peninsula to Ubud, trading the beach for the jungle. Taking the Bali Mandara Toll Bridge, we reached our resort in just under an hour and a half.

Mandapa is one of the few Ritz-Carlton Reserves in the world, and it truly stands out for its stunning location on the outskirts of Ubud, surrounded by rice fields and rainforest, with the sacred Ayung River flowing through the grounds. Guests can choose between opulent suites and villas with infinity pools. The interiors are a perfect blend of dark Indonesian woods, bright tile floors, vaulted ceilings, and bathrooms featuring a freestanding, rattan-wrapped bathtub for two.

Each suite and villa has its own Patih, a personal assistant (I prefer this term over "butler") who arranges everything—from in-room check-in to reservations and booking excursions.

The resort has two restaurants, and we absolutely loved Kubu, housed inside a fantastical bamboo structure with private dining pods along the Ayung River. It was truly magical.

Mandapa also offers complimentary shuttles to Ubud, but we opted for a bespoke tour and booked one of Mandapa’s chauffeured vintage VW convertibles.

We visited the Sangeh Monkey Forest, which is much less crowded than the one in Ubud (and the monkeys are much friendlier!). Afterward, we sampled "the world’s most expensive coffee" at a Luwak Coffee Plantation. Other highlights included Ulun Danu, a temple floating on Lake Beratan, the Jatiluwih rice terraces, and the Banyumala Twin Waterfall.

A standout experience was visiting the John Hardy factory, where the brand’s famous jewelry is handmade. We even took part in a jewelry workshop class and had the chance to join the team for lunch!

What really surprised us, however, was Ubud’s fine dining scene. I wasn’t expecting to find so many unique restaurants, often helmed by famous Michelin-starred chefs!

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#LuxuryTravel #BaliResorts #BukitPeninsula #TravelInStyle
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