Serene, spacious and welcoming, Villa Surya Damai luxuriates within its mature tropical garden in the quiet village of Umalas, south-west Bali. Five comfortable guest suites with romantic garden bathrooms accommodate up to 14 guests, while meandering pathways lead to an open- sided living pavilion and elegant dining room. An 18-metre pool, tennis court and TV room provide entertainment and diversion. A gentle walk beyond the thatch-roofed pavilions of this superbly staffed villa will bring you to Batubelig beach, while the shops, restaurants and sophisticated nightlife of Seminyak are only a short drive away, and Surya Damai’s car and driver are at your disposal.

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Villa Surya Damai is located at the edge of the village of Umalas, one of a group of small rural communities that constitute the Kerobokan district, just north of bustling Seminyak. Umalas is home to a growing number of foreign-owned residences and traditional dwellings.

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The villa lies off a narrow lane that runs across a small bridge and dissects the rice fields. To the side of the villa, immediately outside the front wooden entrance doors, is a field of grazing cows. A pleasant 20-minute or so walk through farming communities and rice fields brings you to the nearest beach, Batubelig. Great for surfing, this black sand beach, like many along this south-west coastline, has strong currents, so is not advisable for novice swimmers. For surf- patrolled waters and more developed beachside amenities, head south to Legian Beach, seven kilometres away.

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Sports enthusiasts should head to Bali’s prestigious Finns Beach Club (a 5-10 minute short cut through the rice fields or 15 minutes by car) with its state-of-the-art gym and tennis and squash courts. After work-outs, reward yourself with gourmet goodies at the nearby Deli.