The Udaya Resorts and Spa

Twenty villa-style suites step down a terraced slope on Jl Sriwedari in Banjar Tegallantang, just north of central Ubud, each with a private plunge pool facing the Petanu river valley rather than a shared corridor. The design leans on volcanic stone and thatched alang-alang roofing rather than poured concrete.

A spa built into the ravine wall uses river-stone treatment rooms accessible only by a sunken stairway. Breakfast is served over the gorge on a cantilevered deck.

Central Ubud's market and palace lie a ten-minute drive south, making this a quieter base for couples avoiding the town's traffic.