Nirjhara

Certain parts of Bali may be overbuilt, but you don’t have to go far off the beaten path to reclaim some of that far-flung seclusion. An hour’s drive from the airport, half an hour up the southwest coast from Seminyak, and just a mile inland from Kedungu Beach, Nirjhara is surrounded by forest, and a stream, complete with a picturesque waterfall, winds across its acreage.

Nirjhara’s villas and suites pay stylistic tribute to traditional Balinese architecture, but their interiors are contemporary, highly polished, and full of high-end comforts, from Nespresso machines to lavish spa-like bathrooms. The most impressive views are had from the Canopy Suites, which trade a bit of space for some extra privacy and elevation — rooftop open-air bathtubs are part of the bargain.

The spa comes with four treatment rooms, two Finnish saunas, and an open-air yoga deck, and the main infinity pool looks out over the waterfall at the surrounding greenery. Meanwhile Ambu, the restaurant, serves refined Balinese classics in a space that’s open to the breeze. And the best of the Balinese coast is close at hand, including some fine local surf breaks and Tanah Lot, an ancient temple built precariously on an offshore rock formation.