Canggu Villa 397

Its generous proportions are obvious from the moment you cross the shallow pool marking its zen-serene entrance.  Soaring ceilings, walls of glass opening onto expansive terraces, multiple media rooms – the sheer amount of living space is peerless, and completely in keeping with the villa’s magnificent 180-degree rice-field panorama.

Uncompromisingly modern, with clean lines, contemporary furnishings and a strong colour scheme, Villa 397 makes abundant use of local natural materials, with striking walls of rough river stone, woven rattan and tropical woods.  Brightly coloured kilim rugs and plushly upholstered sofas scattered across the black concrete floors bring boho-chic to the minimalist interiors.  This is indoor-outdoor living at its best, focused on the 17-metre infinity pool and ‘football-pitch’ garden below.  Luxury extras like Bose sound systems, iPod docks in every room and bathtubs big enough for two raise the bar on villa living.

With seven large bedroom suites and seemingly acres of multi-level open and enclosed living areas, Villa 397 is perfect for extended families or groups of friends who love holidaying together yet appreciate having their own breathing space and the support of full-time staff, including resident cook to take care of all meals.  With its large lawn, rooftop terrace and glorious rice-field outlook, the villa is also an idyllic wedding venue.

One of the delights of staying at Villa 397 is exploring the traditional villages in the area and dipping into local rural and religious life.  Six bicycles are available for guests to use, providing a healthy way to visit the black-sand beach and famed surf breaks just three kilometres away.

Villa Layout

The entrance to Villa 397 bridges a wading pool fed by a wall of cascading water, and opens into a massive T-shaped living area that flows through the centre of the villa, then spreads across its full width and wraps around the swimming pool in front.

Accommodation is arranged over two storeys: on the ground floor, a corridor off the living area leads to three bedroom suites on one side and a twin bedroom, bunk bedroom, shared bathroom, home cinema room, manager’s office, and open plan kitchen on the other.  On the upper floor two more spacious bedroom suites and an office/TV room open onto an enormous terrace with large pergola.

From the pool deck, broad wooden ‘amphitheatre-style’ steps lead down to a large flat lawn edged by rice terraces.

Living Areas

Villa 397 is a party-giver’s dream.  The huge open-plan living area spilling seamlessly onto the expanse of pool terrace provides masses of space for formal or casual gatherings.  For candlelit dinners, a substantial teak dining table seats 12 guests in comfort.  Tucked around the corner on the poolside terrace is a breakfast table with benches also seating 12.  Separated from the living area by a river-rock wall is the well-stocked kitchen with its long island bar creating a stage for theatrical culinary feats.

There’s further entertainment space upstairs on the enormous roof terrace:  a third dining table for 12, plenty of sun loungers and, within a slatted-roof pergola, a series of super-sized mattresses for reclining in the shade.

On this same level you can escape from the sun into the comfortably furnished air-conditioned TV room/study – there’s a jumbo beanbag for serious sprawlers.  But the main entertainment hub is on the ground floor – a large air-conditioned room furnished with an over-sized sofas and equipped with TV, DVD player, PlayStation, pool table, and shelves groaning with books, games and toys.

Outside, sun loungers and daybeds surround the deck of the 17-metre swimming pool and a double hammock is slung from an ancient frangipani tree – one of five that shade the sundeck.  Grand, amphitheatre-style wooden steps beyond the pool lead past a comfy half-moon-shaped pergola tucked into the terrace slope, down to a large flat lawn bordered by rice fields and set up for football with goalposts in place.

Bedrooms

Villa 397's seven, very spacious, air-conditioned bedrooms feature high ceilings, walls of padded silk, polished-concrete floors, rattan and wood furniture, and glass sliding doors leading to the gardens or terrace.  Five are furnished with king-size beds, while on the ground floor, opposite the games room/home cinema, is a twin bedded room.  All have large ensuite bathrooms with twin basins of polished concrete and statement bathtubs big enough for two. An additional bunk bedroom with a full bathroom shared with the entertainment area is available for four kids.

Services & Features

• Villa manager
• Cook
• Housekeeping
• Security
• Gardener
• Babysitter, masseuse on request
• Pool 17 x 6.5 metres plus children's wading pool
• Wifi internet access
• Telephone inter-room for free local calls
• Satellite TVs
• DVD players
• iPod docks
• Xbox
• Flat lawn with soccer goalposts
• Table football
• Croquet set
• Boules set
• 6 bicycles
• Wading pool
• Inflatable toys
• Children's DVD
• Games
• Books
• Barbecue
• In-room safes

The Locale

The villa is hidden away in the village of Babakan in the popular district of Canggu on Bali’s south-west coast. Opposite the villa entrance is an important village temple, Pura Kahyangan, and beyond Villa 397’s gardens are rice terraces stretching to the horizon. The villa has a ringside seat on an authentic way of life that has remained constant over generations. A gentle bike ride along quiet roads guided by the villa staff accords fascinating glimpses into this largely unchanged world and its hard to believe that Seminyak’s acclaimed restaurants, nightspots and boutiques are just 10 kilometres away. The world-class surf breaks and sunset views of Echo Beach are a 5-minute drive away, as is the famed Tanah Lot sea temple and award-winning Nirwana Bali Golf course.

Distances

• Echo Beach: 4 km
• Batubelig Beach: 6 km
• Nirwana Golf Course: 10 km
• Seminyak: 10 km
• Kuta: 14 km
• Denpasar Airport: 17 km
• Ubud: 27 km