Gdas Bali Health and Wellness Resort

Worth getting out of bed for

There’s a raft of wholesome diversions to get stuck into at Gdas, from muscle-pummelling massages in the garden to invigorating dips in the resort’s traditional Balinese bath house. In fact, you could easily spend a week or two just hopping between yoga classes at the hotel’s various shalas where even seasoned yogis are bound to find a style to challenge them. If it's a taste of the local culture you’re after, the concierge team can organise Balinese dance performances, loloh-making classes (a medicinal drink made with local herbs) or a Banjar walk around the neighbouring village Kumbuh, to glimpse how everyday life is lived by locals). Though Gdas – surrounded as it is by seemingly endless stretches of rice paddies and lush forest – may seem worlds away from Bali’s bustle, the island’s cultural heart is actually right on your doorstep. Yep, Ubud central (around a 15-minute drive away) boasts the highest concentration of galleries on the island, as well as vibrant markets, workshops, artisan homeware stores and plenty of cafés. One of the most notable when it comes to galleries is Museum Puri Lukisan, where you’ll find an extensive collection of 20th-century Balinese painting as well as artefacts from both pre- and post-independence eras. Of course, you’ll find a hearty helping of temples knocking about, too – they don’t call it the ‘island of the gods’ for nothing… Goa Gajah (or the ‘elephant cave’ as it’s known locally) is one of the oldest and most unique with a carved-stone demon mouth for an entrance through which you descend almost 15-feet underground. There are a great deal more to discover – over ten thousand, actually – if you’re willing to travel. On the west coast, Pura Tanah Lot, meaning ‘land in the sea’, is exactly what it sounds like: a washed-up temple where locals gather to worship sea deities. And, on the east coast, don’t miss Lempuyang Temple and its gates of heaven that frame Mount Agung volcano. Back in Ubud, the Monkey Forest is a rite of passage for first time visitors, a postcard-worthy sanctuary home to over a thousand Balinese macaques. You might want to leave your sunnies at home for this one, though, lest these long-tailed kleptomaniacs fancy themselves a new pair of Ray-Bans. 

Local restaurants

While fine dining may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of Bali, the island is fast becoming something of a foodie hotspot, thanks to a handful of gourmet greats setting up shop here. Among them, Nic Vanderbeeken, the executive chef of Apéritif restaurant, whose cooking combines Indonesian tradition with modern European panache. Overlooking lush belts of jungle, tuck into one of four tasting menus (signature, vegan, vegetarian and candlelight) which include dishes like Kagoshima wagyu with sweet potato, pear, sesame, and vegan honey; Kaluga caviar; or plant-based plates, such as mushroom Wellington with kale and rendang. Equally reputable is Nusantara by Locavore, tucked away behind Ubud market. Here you’ll find regional fare that reflects the diversity of the archipelagic state. Opt for the Jepit Siap from Payangan; chicken leg marinated with turmeric, galangal, palm sugar, cloves, nutmeg, kaffir lime leaves, shrimp paste and coriander seeds, then grilled over an open wood fire. 

Local cafés

With a Wes Anderson-esque penchant for pastel colours, Ubud café Milk & Madu is fast becoming the go-to hang out for Bali’s caffeine cultists. Alongside freshly poured brews – with non-dairy options – and elevated brunch-time faves (Russian pancakes with grilled peaches and sour cream, anyone?), they also spin a rather ravishing pizza come afternoon. 

Local bars

Nowhere does cocktails quite like the Night Rooster, an after-hours hang-out where nightcaps are served with a flourish. Inspired by Indonesian folk tales, each of the 10 rotating drinks on the menu comes served with house infusions and homemade liqueurs, topped with local flowers and herbs. If you’re willing to travel a little, Canggu’s clandestine cocktail parlour the Shady Pig is – like all good secrets – password-protected. You’ll have to Whatsapp those hard-to-get mixologists for a shot at entry, but if you like barrel-aged negronis served by a Peaky Blinders-style barman, it's worth the effort.