The Royal Pita Maha

The Royal Pita Maha is nothing short of majestic. Sitting on over 40 acres of lush, rolling hills near the Ayung River, it has amazing views. The property draws mostly honeymooners and other couples looking for an opulent, restorative experience and a sense of seclusion and serenity that this collection of private villas affords. The lobby is a large, multi-level, open-air pavilion, with a stone-and-cement structure and thatched roof. Intricate patterns of flowers, animals, and deities are carved into almost every surface. Many door frames are also gilded in gold, and hooked on the ears of the stone carvings of female figures are beautiful cut flowers. Beyond the lobby is the Dewata Lounge, Ayung Valley Restaurant, and Terrace Bali Restaurant, all housed in a large curving room that offers stunning views of the landscape beyond. While the food gets mixed reviews, the restaurants' location high on a hillside and overlooking the green hills and rushing Ayung River is truly exceptional. 

Visually, the Royal Pita Maha's location high on a hill in the countryside outside of Ubud is hard to beat. The hotel remains fairly convenient for greater explorations as well, being about a 15- to 20-minute drive from central Ubud. The resort runs a periodic (typically once every one or two hours) shuttle to and from town, and can assist in booking excursions to local attractions such as the Monkey Forest, Ubud Palace, and the city market. The Ngurah Rai International Airport is about an hour and fifteen minutes away by car. 

The Royal Pita Maha is made up of 52 private villas that range in size from about 900 square feet to over 1,300 square feet (this is not including the 2,600-square-foot Royal House). These secluded villas (each has a stone fence) are large and airy, decorated in traditional Balinese artwork and furnishings. Despite the luxurious nature of the hotel, the room furnishings are rather understated, with wooden four-poster beds, white linens, and wood or marble floors. Bathrooms are large, with heart-shaped tubs and walk-in showers. Villas come with their own infinity pools that overlook the stunning landscape as well as an array of amenities including flat-screen TVs, minibars, and tea- and coffee-making facilities. The opulent Royal House replicates a Balinese palace and has a glass-enclosed wedding chapel as well as a kitchen and private pool.

The surrounding grounds and one-of-a-kind vistas here are unbeatable and remain a top feature of the resort. The hotel nicely incorporates local traditions and celebrates spirituality through its Holy Spring Water Pool, a temple-like pool fed by cool spring water. It also has a large main infinity pool and a 260-foot Lagoon Pool, which functions like a lazy river and is equipped with a current and small boats and floatations. The hotel's spa is expansive, comprised of full villas in which it offers its treatments, as well as a whirlpool, steam room, and sauna. For more active recreation, the hotel offers daily yoga and instruction in Balinese painting, carving, and cooking. Three of the hotel's restaurants -- the Dewata Lounge, Ayung Valley Restaurant, and Terrace Bali Restaurant -- are housed in the same large space, though food gets mixed reviews. There's also the health-conscious Ayung Organic Restaurant, which sits under a covered pavilion at the foot of the Ayung River.