The Best Jungle Villa in Bali

Updated September 2024

I couldn’t visit Bali without staying in a jungle villa. After spending five days in the bustling center of Canggu, I packed my bags and headed 2.5 hours east to Selat, Bali. Choosing the right villa was challenging because of the numerous gorgeous options available. I narrowed my choices based on price, facilities, and proximity to excursions. Despite being hours away from popular hotspots like Ubud, Uluwatu, or Seminyak, I found Selat to be the best location for a relaxing villa experience. 

Among the many villas in Bali, Balikayanas Bamboo House stood out because of its stellar reviews and its alignment with my priorities: affordability, facilities, and location. This villa features two bedrooms, two private bathrooms, and all the essential toiletries for lodging. It overlooks a private pool, with a view of lush greenery. 

Although the property is surrounded by other villas, I felt assured of complete and total privacy. Bamboo doors, which lock from the inside only, separate the villa from the driveway and common areas. Additionally, tall green plants and flowers surround the villa on all sides, offering complete privacy from any neighboring villas or onlookers.

While this property is too far for Grab or Gojek services, there’s an excellent kitchen staff on-site that’s available for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack requests. Guests can enjoy their meals privately in the villa or in the common area near the reception. I ordered deliciously made Balinese food that was delivered to my villa each time. I communicated with the properties host via Whatsapp and used the menus provided to choose from.

Villa Entrance

Dining Area

Villa Tour

The second bedroom is located on the second-level of the villa. Guests can reach this level by climbing a wooden ladder built into the villa structure.

The third and top-most level features a netted area overlooking the entire villa.

Dining

A full menu is offered where I was able to make breakfast, lunch, and dinner requests throughout my stay.

Balikayanas Bamboo House is an open-air villa, so there is no air-conditioning. The property provides an electric fan, but during the summer season the humidity can make it uncomfortable. I attempted to remedy this by taking frequent cool showers, and using the fan at night.

The villa doesn’t offer planned activities available after sunset. Other than entertaining yourself, going to bed as soon as the sun sets might be the next best step. Additionally, this villa lacks a television in the rooms, but the fast Wi-Fi compensates for this. I spent my evenings either journaling, reading a book, and streaming shows on my devices.

During my stay in 2023, there was active construction occurring throughout the day. While it occurred during normal business hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time), it disrupted my quiet afternoons. I recommend checking with the host to confirm whether nearby construction is ongoing.

If you don’t have a rental car, you will need to hire a driver through the host. While a driver is readily available, the cost can be high due to the distance from local attractions. My private driver charged IDR 600K for a round-trip and included stops at Amed Beach, Tirta Gangaa, and a nearby waterfall. All in all, I think this price was reasonable given the distance and inclusions.

In conclusion, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at Balikayanas Bamboo House. This property offered me tranquility, and allowed me to explore Bali’s natural beauty beyond Ubud, Seminyak, and other tourist hotspots. The on-site host was kind, accommodating, and flexible while I curated my itinerary!