Puri Gangga Resort

The Puri Gangga Resort is a luxurious, affordable property with Balinese cultural immersion activities and tours. Built in 2013, the resort is on a hillside in Sebatu village, with views of rice terraces and traditional Balinese designs. Carved masonry adorns the entrance that leads into the property, with lush tropical foliage fishponds and stone walkways. Classes and tours on-site are aimed at teaching guests about Indonesian culture. There are Balinese cooking classes held in a thatched-roof terrace kitchen, coconut leaf craft lessons, and guided tours of the village, where there’s an 11th-century Hindu temple that has water purification ceremonies. Mostly couples stay at this romantic and secluded resort. 

This resort offers a peaceful vacation in a traditional Balinese village, with a market and a few cafes in walking distance. The remote location, however, is not convenient to the tourist sights. Located in Sebatu village, the resort is a 10-minute walk to the 11th-century temple, Pura Gunung Kawi, with water purification ceremonies. Village tours are lead by staff. Nightlife, Ubud Palace, Museum Puri Lukisan, the Ubud Market, and restaurants are reachable in 30 minutes via the resort’s free shuttle. Lake Batur is a one-hour drive away. The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is 30 minutes by car. Driving to the Ngurah Rai International Airport takes almost two hours.

Rooms at the Puri Gangga Resort are stylish and traditional, with Indonesian textiles, canopy beds, terra cotta floors, distressed wooden furniture, and balconies or patios with two-seat dining tables and views of the tropical surroundings. Features include writing desks, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, electric kettles, and hairdryers. Garden-style marble bathrooms have pebble details, showers, toilet hoses, and sunken stone bathtubs with large windows. 

Deluxe Rooms, located on the first floor, are basic while suites and villas are more complete with safes, minibars, slippers, and bathrobes. Suites are on the second floor and feature thatched roofs. One-bedroom thatched-roof villas have larger bathrooms with skylights. Pool Villas are luxurious, featuring carved details at the entrance, floor-to-ceiling windows, rainfall showerheads, heated pools with lounge chairs, and wraparound patios. Barbecues are available in villas.

The stylish pool, partially shaded by trees, features statue fountains and a stone deck, with white cushioned lounge chairs and umbrellas. There’s a nearby shower and tiki towel kiosk. Friday poolside cocktails and candlelit dinners are also available. The spa, which overlooks the temple’s baths, has a fishpond that runs by two open-air treatment rooms, a terrace lounge, and a sunken stone bath.

The Kailasha restaurant offers open-air Indonesian dining, with a thatched roof, traditional furniture, and a bar. A picnic table is on the terrace that overlooks the pool and garden. High chairs are available. The business corner, with a PC laptop, is also in the restaurant. A clean and spacious yoga studio features floor-to-ceiling windows and a thatched roof. Free classes are offered. The studio is also used as a meeting room, fitting up to 50 people, with air-conditioning, sound equipment, and an LCD projector. Free bike rentals are available and scooters can be rented for a fee. A shuttle service, at no charge, goes to downtown Ubud. Wi-Fi is free throughout.