I am breaking up my Bali posts because there is just so much to write about! I am going to write a post for each resort I stayed at in Bali along with all the activities I did at each. I’m also going to share some information about Ubud in this post. My first stop in Bali was the Ritz Carlton Mandapa Reserve.

UBUD

I highly recommend visiting the town of Ubud. It’s an hour and a half drive from the international airport of Denpasar. Ubud is traditional Bali- you can really feel the authentic Balinese culture. It’s in the uplands of Bali and surrounded by rainforest, rice terraces, Hindu temples and shrines- Bali’s most iconic landscapes. Ubud is also known for the center of Balinese crafts and dance. It feels very far removed from the hustle and bustle of the busy town of Kuta and Bali’s beach party scene in Seminyak. It is the ultimate place for serenity and relaxation, and the perfect setting to practice yoga and mediation. Also, if you are interested in visiting a spiritual healer (similar to Ketut in the movie Eat, Pray, Love), Ubud is the place for it. And last but not least, you can’t leave Ubud without visiting the iconic rice terraces. A Must! 

Foodie tip in Ubud: Visit Naughty Nuri’s for local street meat in Ubud- I had the best pork spare ribs I’ve ever had in my life!

RITZ CARLTON MANDAPA RESERVE

From the moment I walked in until the moment I checked out, I was completely in awe by the beauty of this place. The entrance to the hotel was like a magical kingdom high up in the mist of the clouds. It overlooked beautiful green terrain of pristine rice terraces, luxury villas and the Ayung River. After a warm welcome from the resort staff, I was brought to my one bedroom river front villa. It had a private pool on top of the Ayung River, a separate living room area next to the pool with river views, a beautiful spacious bedroom and bathroom and an indoor/outdoor shower. It was one of the most incredible villas I’d ever stayed in, and from that moment on I pretty much died and went to heaven for the next two days. I started my day with yoga every morning in the indoor/outdoor studio located on the 2nd floor of the spa. The studio opened up to the rainforest and all I could hear was birds chirping and the sound of the river. Yoga was the very first thing I did on my first morning spent in Bali, and it was one of those surreal “pinch me” moments that took my breath away. It was a feeling I’ll remember forever.

I spent two relaxing days taking in the beauty of the resort and relaxing in my villa. There are beautiful rice terraces at the reserve, and I learned how to rice plant and all about the process of rice planting which was pretty cool. I enjoyed traditional Balinese cuisine from the amazing restaurants on property, and the breakfast each morning was out of this world. 

The Ritz Mandapa is an amazing choice for a honeymoon destination. It really felt romantic and magical (even though I was traveling with a best girl friend of mine). My friend kept saying she was going to come back on her honeymoon. 

The pictures don’t even do this place justice, but below are the rest of the pictures from my experience at The Ritz Carlton Mandapa Reserve. If you plan to visit or make reservations, make sure to mention my name 🙂