The BK Village

In an area as overrun with contemporary luxury resorts as Seminyak, it’s refreshing to find a place that’s still in touch with Indonesia’s more traditional side. The BK Village’s architecture is based on the design of the joglo, the teak houses traditional to the island of Java — though it is, in fact, on Bali, a short drive from the international airport via the resort’s complimentary shuttle.

Unlike some of the highest-end resorts, The BK Village is not located on the beachfront, but in the nearby residential neighborhood of Umalas. Not that you’re likely to care once you’re floating on your back in your very own clover-shaped swimming pool. It’s but one of the many elegant amenities on offer inside the three-bedroom Villa Kalua. With three bedrooms, it’s the smallest of the resort’s three free-standing houses, but that’s not saying much: each of the villas looks like the size of small hotel.

Comprised of interconnecting teak buildings, the Kalua features a large garden, a lotus pond, and a fully equipped kitchen. Each of the three bedrooms has its own refrigerator and outdoor shower, and one has a plunge pool — it’s Balinese-style indoor-outdoor living at its finest. Nearby, the four-bedroom Kayu Villa has even more to offer: an even bigger garden, this one laid out according to the principles of feng shui, and striking natural stone accents around the swimming pool and inside the villa’s series of bathrooms. The top-of-the-line Ka Villa has five bedrooms, ornate wood statues, and so much gorgeous lounge space that you won’t know what to do first: go for a swim, recline on a luxuriant pile of silk cushions, or sip tea and just stare at the Eden-like garden.

A little paradise, indeed. You’re minutes away from the trendy shopping district and expat-happy cocktail bars of Seminyak, but don’t be surprised if you leave Bali without ever laying eyes on those.

Please note: The BK Village requires a two-night minimum stay from November to December.