Villa Maya is an enchanting Bali rental villa, located riverside in the traditional Balinese village of Cepaka, just over half and hour’s of Seminyak. The architectural design presents a series of stand-alone pavilions with thatched roofs, natural stone walls and floor-to-ceiling, folding glass doors.

Accommodation includes four air-conditioned bedroom-suites with ensuite garden bathrooms, an open-sided living pavilion, dining pavilion and a fully equipped feature kitchen. This romantic holiday villa in Bali rests within a manicured jungle garden complete with a 12-metre swimming pool, a poolside ‘bale’ relaxation pavilion, a large alfresco seating area and lily ponds.

Each spacious suite features a private elevated terrace overlooking the fast flowing Penet River. The master suite incorporates a small garden with a plunge pool, large deck, open-air living space and a private entrance. This delightful Bali villa is the ideal choice for families and groups of friends who wish to escape to a close-to-nature hideaway.

Entrance

Villa Maya is heralded by a Balinese archway next to a secure parking area, shaded by mature trees. Stone steps lead down past a waterfall, which cascades from one pond into another. The villa garden is entered via a large, red, swivel door in the wall; statues rest in alcoves, while broad stepping stones––including a carved stone turtle feature––traverse a lily and lotus pond, which is well-stocked with fish.

Suites

There are four stand-alone, single-storey suites at Villa Maya, including the Master Suite. Each incorporates a spacious bedroom with sitting area, riverside terrace and ensuite garden bathroom. Each air-conditioned bedroom is light and airy, featuring a polished concrete floor under a soaring thatched roof. Folding glass doors open onto each of the private timber decks, furnished with a table and chairs––an ideal spot for relaxing while enjoying the sights and sounds of nature beside the fast glowing Penet River.

The bedrooms are furnished with canopied king-size beds, day sofas, wardrobes, rattan armchairs and tables, and decorated with local artwork and antique Indonesian artefacts. Each is equipped with a CD player, a safe deposit box and a mini-bar-fridge. Ensuite garden bathrooms are rustic and romantic, each is fitted with a rainshower over black volcanic stone, double vanity units crafted in polished concrete with twin marble washbowls and suspended mirrors, and a toilet hidden behind a wall. The master bathroom and one of the guest-suite bathrooms boasts an oval terrazzo bathtub.

The guest-suite bathrooms are nestled against the natural backdrop of the verdant cliff face, which is draped with tumbling jungle vines, ferns and torch ginger, and complemented by hand-carved stone statues. Each bathroom is totally private with walls on either side, sheltered from the elements by the overhanging thatched roof, yet presenting an al fresco bathing experience in true Bali style! The three guest suites are connected by pathways and elevated above a wooden walkway, which follows the contour of the river.

Master Suite

The expansive Master Suite features a large dressing area positioned on one side of the bedroom, as well as a generous living area furnished with a rattan sofa, coffee table, and a satellite-channel TV/DVD player in a cabinet. The air-conditioned bedroom is furnished with a canopied king-size bed, and equipped with a wall mirror, mini-bar-fridge, safe deposit box, ceiling fans and soft mood lighting recessed above and below the cornice. There is also a separate, private entrance door to this suite, affording extra privacy to the guests. Sliding glass doors open onto a large timber deck furnished with a sofa and table, and presenting a fabulous view of the river. This is a great spot for bird watching; guests will see iridescent blue Java kingfishers with their distinctive red beaks, and the monitor lizards, known locally as ‘alu’, which swim in the river and scale the banks. Beside the deck is a 3 x 5 metre plunge pool in its own private, walled garden, complete with a neat flat lawn and bonsai trees. The ensuite master bathroom features a cream terrazzo and volcanic stone floor and is fitted with an oval cream terrazzo tub, an open-air rainshower positioned under the eaves of the roof, a double vanity unit with twin washbasins and a long wall mirror, and a toilet behind a half wall. A stylish wooden screen completes the sense of privacy.

Living Pavilion

The Living Pavilion is a square, open-sided pavilion, modelled on the traditional Balinese village meeting place, with a high, two-tiered roof supported by pillars. Fan-cooled, it features a polished concrete floor. Three

sofas are positioned around a marble-topped coffee table, and a sideboard displays some interesting Indonesian artefacts. There is also a 42” satellite-channel TV with DVD/CD player, and DVD library as well as books and magazines.

Dining Pavilion

The open-sided Dining Pavilion presents a dining table for twelve, an antique Javanese drinks cabinet, a music system, a desk with office computer and printer for guest use. Villa Maya additionally offers WiFi Internet access for which cards may be purchased. There is also a sitting area with two comfortable rattan sofas, an ottoman and a rustic coffee table.

Kitchen

Adjacent to the dining area is a modern feature kitchen, fully equipped and fashioned in grey polished concrete and stainless steel with a wooden central island. Three bar stools rest beside the stainless steel service bar.

Pool and Garden

The 5 x 12 metre swimming pool is lined with bluish-green Java stone, edged with black volcanic stone and bordered by an ironwood deck, which is furnished with an alfresco dining table for eight, in addition to two double sunbeds and parasols. There is an outdoor pool shower and, at one end of the pool, there is an open-sided ‘bale’ relaxation pavilion with a thatched roof, lazy mattresses and cushions. In another spot, there is a large, open-air, cushioned seating area with a timber decked floor, three parasols and a table. This delightful social hub can easily accommodate 15 people, overlooking the river and positioned beside a lily pond complete with a tall, bubbling water feature. In yet another area, positioned on a stone terrace, is a massage pavilion, which is big enough for two. Imagine being indulged with a deeply relaxing massage while being serenaded by the birdsong and the sounds of the river! A guest washroom is also located in this vicinity.

The fast-flowing Penet River is particularly beautiful; it represents the border between Bali’s Tabanan and Badung Regencies. Majestic breadfruit trees, jackfruit trees, giant bamboo, fig trees and towering palms, are harmonised with creepers and ferns. The manicured jungle garden, meanwhile, showcases gnarled frangipani trees, yellow bamboo, parlour palms and pots of bougainvillea. <

Guests will be lulled by the gentle flow of the river and will enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, butterflies and birds, including kingfishers.

Location

Villa Maya is hidden away in the traditional, rural village of Desa Cepaka, in Bali’s Tabanan regency. Yet this magical, out of town setting is just an hour and a half drive from the internationally-acclaimed restaurants, designer-boutiques and nightclubs of Seminyak. Nirwana Golf Course designed by Greg Norman and renowned as one of the best golf courses in Asia––is a 15-minute drive. The villa is a 50-minute journey from the international airport, and convenient for all of the island’s main tourist attractions, including the nearby Tanah Lot, Bali's most dramatic and venerated sea temple.