Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan Ubud
Privileged with a stunning location in an enchanting jungle enclave of the Ayung River Valley and delighting with flawless service the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan stands out as one of Ubud’s most luxurious resorts on an island that exceeds the density of five-star resorts like no other place.
I consider that as a service, what offers and location is the best in Ubud especially if you travel with kids. What I like is that thought is a big resort (but it has only 60 villas ) and is very private so you can really enjoy and relax on your holiday !!
Having been blessed with holy water and wrapped in a colorful selendang sash, guests enter the resort via a show-stopping sky-bridge skimming across the valley. In the expansive grounds below, there are red palms, pink frangipani trees, ruby bougainvillea, and mini wheat fields guarded by scarecrows. In the distance, the Ayung River, stepped rice paddies, and small ornately carved temples. The hotel’s architecture beautifully echoes the curves and waves of the surrounding landscape.
The architecture, rather uncharacteristically, is decidedly modern, almost spectacular, in the literal sense of the word — a suspended walkway leads to a lotus pond, below which you’ll find the lobby and the public spaces, cascading down the hillside, as both the open-air restaurant and the obligatory infinity-edge pool dangle precariously over the terraced slopes, looking downward onto Ayung river. The construction may be cutting-edge, but the materials are traditional, and profiles are thoughtfully kept low, helping this modernist monument blend seamlessly into its surroundings. Single and split-level suites occupy the main building, each one with a king bed, sitting room and dining area, all designed in a sleek and handsome modernist style. The bathrooms are very nearly over the top, with deep soaking tubs, separate dressing areas, and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of thick towels. And the outlying villas add extra privacy and space, as well as private terraces with views of the river or the surrounding rice fields.
The dining experience is extraordinary, the traditional Indonesian fare served at the edge of a balcony looking down into the valley. First-class spas and fitness facilities are available, and nature walks, elephant treks, and river expeditions can be arranged.
Elvira’s tip: There are a lot of trips that you can do in Ubud, so I really recommend trying the experiences Four Seasons offers. Book with the concierge the secret experience that will take you in a vintage car to show you Ubud! Or try the river Ayung rafting!
Service and Facilities Exceptional. Everyone seems to know what you need before you even know yourself. Daily complimentary things to do include yoga, life talks, village walks, cycle tours, and traditional Balinese dance performances, while paid activities cover everything from water purification rituals with a Hindu high priestess to river rafting around volcanoes and Indonesian cookery classes in a thatched-roof bale.
Otherwise, you can spend your mornings lying by the infinity pool and while away entire afternoons at the wonderful Sacred River Spa. Treatments here involved everything from being bashed with Himalayan salt poultices to soothed by the vibrations of Tibetan singing bowls to having your base chakra balanced by sitting bare-bottomed on stools smoking with frankincense. Extraordinary in every way.
Scattered around the sprawling grounds are 60 spacious suites and villas, all of which come with splendid rice terraces and tropical forest views. Interiors are refined, blending traditional Balinese craftsmanship with jetsetter-like luxuries; think swathes of glossy teak, carved wood headboards, marshmallow-soft beds draped in fine white nets, and grand marble bathrooms. Natural beauty aside, the hotel’s living spaces never compromise on comfort and luxury. There are a good few types of guest accommodation (including the suites in the main building), but the most sought-after are the Riverfront Villas with pool and rooftop ponds, reminiscent of the drama on top of the hotel’s main building.
It was a beautiful and spacious Sayan Villa placed at the highest point of the resort, with a large swimming pool. Surrounded by well-maintained, mature greenery, it’s a picture-perfect sight with the sound of a cascading brook and birds elevating it to another level still. The villa was typical, with a meditation terrace on the roof and its own serene lily pond for meditating. Echoing the design of the main building, you descend from here to your suite, an airy outdoor living room with a plunge pool, flanked by two bedrooms. The décor, a mix of traditional and modern Balinese styles with lots of teak furniture and hand-loomed fabric, conjures a distinct sense of place. In other words, you feel like you’re in Bali, not at a generic luxury hotel. The two large bathrooms had plenty of closet space and a deep soaking tub (there’s a third small powder room off the living area).
The hotel grounds are extensive and an electric buggy is needed to move about unless you fancy a stroll at the bottom of the valley, where the landscaping is the most beautiful. I did fancy the stroll. From the riverside infinity pool, through manicured rice paddies studded with tall palms, down to the spa villas with their lily ponds, the gardens are utterly enchanting.
The breakfast provided the best opportunity to appreciate the sights. From the restaurant terrace, we’d stare in wonder at the morning mist lifting from the river down below, and the first confident sun rays flooding the hotel gardens with their brilliant streaks.
The hotel has two restaurants; Ayung Terrace, where peppy Indonesian dishes are served by batik-wearing staff, and the Mediterranean-influenced Riverside Café, a more intimate space perched above the swimming pool. If you’re planning on popping the question, ask for a table to be set up on the Cafe’s lower level – the candle-lit rocks, moonlight, and bubbling river practically guarantee a yes. Breakfast is a brilliant button-busting affair; fresh fruits, smoothies, cheeses, bread, and pastries, as well as an à la carte menu of eggs, pancakes, and Indonesian specialties.
Kids
The hotel is very friendly with the kids and they have their own club PICI-PICI KIDS CLUB. It is open 9 am – 6 pm daily. Activities are intended for children ages 4-12 years old. There are a lot of activities like planting rice, watermelon pizza’, kids’ Yoga, stone painting, smoothie Making at Jati Bar, fish feeding, friendship bracelet making, and egg and spoon race.
What I really liked here:
* Very beautiful, perfectly manicured gardens and landscaping. Lush rice paddies with small cascading waterfalls are an integral part of the hotel grounds.
* My huge Sayan Pool Villa had a super-comfortable bed and great outdoor spaces to relax opened to an expansive valley view. It was very private too, verdant greenery surrounding it from three sides. Sounds of water from a small stream down below completed the dream.
* Riverfront Villas are my next favorites. As the name suggests, they are placed right on the bank of the Ayung River and come with rooftop lily paddies. Picture-perfect!
* Amazing spa, The Sacred River I tried the treatment in the Spa Villas. They are very serene and the massage was wonderful.
* The beautiful circular rooftop lotus pond reflects trees at the top of the valley slopes. It’s very much the focal point of the resort.
* One of my favorite hangouts was the Riverside Café with the sensually-shaped, two-level swimming pool and I loved the river itself, especially in the morning, when the sunshine filters through trees in brilliant beams of light cutting through the mist.
* Fantastic views from the Ayung Terrace, where I had breakfasted.
* I never had to ask twice or worry about being misunderstood which is something we learned to accept at other hotels in Asia. That’s quite a feat.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
* The hotel is about 15 minutes by car to Ubud town center with all the bars, boutiques, and sights. There is a free shuttle service every couple of hours starting at 9 am (finishing at 5:25 PM).
* The resort is located on hills and is spread out—you will need to call the buggy service, at least from some of the villas.
* There are two spas, one in the main building and the other in the Spa Villas, surrounded by lush greenery and lotus ponds. Try to get one of them as they are more serene and relaxing than the treatment rooms in the main building spa.
* The hotel offers complimentary jungle trekking, cycle tours, daily wellness classes, and traditional Balinese dance performances.
Restaurants
The hotel has two restaurants Ayung Terrace, where peppy Indonesian dishes are served by batik-wearing staff, and the Mediterranean-influenced Riverside Café, a more intimate space perched above the swimming pool. If you’re planning on popping the question, ask for a table to be set up on the Cafe’s lower level – the candle-lit rocks, moonlight, and bubbling river practically guarantee a yes. Breakfast is a brilliant button-busting affair; fresh fruits, smoothies, cheeses, breads, pastries, as well as an à la carte menu of eggs, pancakes, and Indonesian specialties.
AYUNG TERRACE
Favorite dishes from across the Indonesian archipelago are elevated to match the treetop views, as Chef Suta presents authentic flavors with a modern twist.
Here you will enjoy breakfast also!
Elvira’s tip: try for breakfast the smoothie bowls!
Riverside
The poolside restaurant on the banks of the river offers a European “Bistronomy” and a contemporary grill menu under a canopy of banyan trees. Each dish is grilled to perfection in our top-of-the-range Josper charcoal oven, the master chefs’ choice for the most succulent meat and seafood. Swim up to a lunch of homemade pasta, ceviche or grilled fresh fish. Or dine amidst the mystical beauty of the jungle at night.
JATI BAR
Unwind with afternoon tea or savor light snacks while looking out at the lush Ayung River Valley from this lounge decked out in teak wood.
CHEF’S TABLE AT SOKASI
Savor the aromas of Balinese cuisine and talk to the chef as you watch your meal being cooked right before your eyes in Sokasi’s riverside kitchen. This intimate seven-course dinner highlights forgotten recipes and classics like babi guling suckling pig and bebek betutu whole duck, slow-roasted in a traditional underground clay oven.
