🌺 Santi Mandala Villa & Spa | Our Magical Ubud Escape
Our stay at Santi Mandala Villa & Spa gave us an entirely different side of Bali. After experiencing the energy of Seminyak, Ubud was all about lush tropical scenery, adventure, wellness, culture and some seriously unforgettable experiences.
And one of my FAVORITE moments of our stay? Swimming in a pool completely covered in thousands of red rose petals. 🌹
It was romantic, over-the-top beautiful and one of those “only in Bali” experiences. We were celebrating our honeymoon, which made it even more special.
The location was also a great base for exploring. We had access to nearby coffee shops and restaurants while being within reach of so many of the Ubud-area experiences we wanted to see.
🌿 Cretya Ubud
One of our must-do stops was Cretya Ubud, surrounded by gorgeous rice terraces and tropical jungle views.
We spent time enjoying the incredible multi-level pools overlooking the greenery, relaxing with drinks and taking in the scenery. It was the perfect combination of a Bali day club and a tropical escape.
And of course, I couldn’t visit those rice terraces without turning it into a photoshoot. 📸🧡
I rented one of the dramatic flowing dresses and did a full Bali photoshoot overlooking the terraces — including the famous Bali swing. Flying over the rice fields in that huge orange dress was terrifying, exhilarating and absolutely worth the photos!
💦 Chasing Bali Waterfalls
We also explored some of the incredible waterfalls surrounding Ubud. Walking through the jungle and eventually reaching these massive waterfalls was another reminder of just how diverse Bali is.
One minute you’re lounging beside an infinity pool, and the next you’re standing barefoot underneath a waterfall surrounded by jungle.
🙏 A Balinese Healing Experience
One of the more meaningful experiences of our trip was participating in a traditional Balinese healing/purification ceremony.
It gave us an opportunity to slow down and experience another side of Bali beyond the restaurants, resorts and photo opportunities. Being surrounded by nature and taking part in something connected to Balinese tradition made this part of our trip particularly memorable.
🐘 An Unforgettable Elephant Experience
Another bucket-list moment was spending time with the elephants. 🐘🌴
Being able to get so close to these incredible animals — including getting into the water with them — was an experience I’ll never forget.
🌋 Mount Batur Adventure
We traded our swimsuits for adventure clothes and headed toward Mount Batur for an off-road Jeep experience through Bali’s volcanic landscape.
It was completely different from the tropical Bali you see in postcards and gave us another incredible perspective of the island.
🔮 Dinner Where “The Food Chooses You”
And then there was Merlin’s Ubud — easily one of the most unusual dining experiences of our trip.
Instead of simply ordering dinner, we experienced their “The Food Chooses You” concept, where Oracle cards help determine the courses you receive.
Between the mystical décor, flowers, cocktails and element of surprise, dinner felt more like an experience than just another restaurant reservation.
✨ Why I Loved Our Ubud Stay
Ubud gave us a little bit of EVERYTHING:
🌹 Swimming in thousands of rose petals
🌴 Santi Mandala’s tropical surroundings
🌿 Cretya Ubud & its incredible pools
📸 A flowing-dress Bali photoshoot
🎡 Swinging over the rice terraces
💦 Exploring Bali’s waterfalls
🙏 A Balinese healing experience
🐘 An unforgettable elephant encounter
🌋 A Mount Batur Jeep adventure
🔮 Oracle-card dining at Merlin’s
💕 And some beautiful honeymoon memories along the way
Seminyak gave us Bali’s social side. Ubud gave us its soul.
If you’re looking for the part of Bali where you can mix romance, adventure, wellness, culture, incredible photography and tropical scenery, Ubud absolutely deserves a place on your itinerary.
Relax • Explore • Heal • Adventure • Create • Experience Bali 🌺
