Spa Village Resort Tembok is the perfect destination for anybody looking to escape the daily stresses of life and reconnect with their inner self. The hotel is tucked away amongst a row of coconut and palm trees along the stunning volcanic black sand beach in a secluded location, ideal for those looking for an exotic hideaway in a calm and peaceful paradise to heal the mind and body.
Nestled in the north-eastern coastline of Bali, a part of the island which is less frequented by tourists, this luxury resort offers a tranquil oasis of wellbeing on what’s known to be the more 'authentic' side of Bali. The resort is a 2.5 hour drive away from the airport but don’t let this deter you as the drive went by much quicker than I had expected with a scenic route through lush greenery. Our driver also had water and cold towels prepared for my arrival and cheerfully pointed out some of the main sights along the way.
The Hotel
As a member of Small Luxury Hotels, I had high expectations for Spa Village Resort Tembok and there’s no doubt that every one of them was exceeded. As soon as I stepped out of the car, I was warmly greeted with a welcome foot scrub, neck & shoulder massage and a cold, refreshing drink while my bags were whisked off to the room – total bliss and just a subtle hint of what I could expect from my stay. I was then shown to my room where the check in was completed then left to enjoy the ginger tea that was waiting for me in my room.
The resort offers a range of complimentary activities which allow you to immerse yourself into the local Balinese culture with experiences such as Lontar (basket) weaving, Boreh (body scrub) making using natural spices, Nyumun yoga which is taught by an instructor from the local village and daily Hatha yoga classes in the garden. One of my activity highlights was the starlight gazing where I lay on an inflatable mattress watching the sky while floating on the resort’s infinity pool; an iPod is provided with meditative music but I preferred to listen to the sound of the waves crashing in the sea.
The resort can also help to arrange excursions to discover the local area when you can bear to leave the resort. After some recommendations from the other guests, I booked myself onto a sunset cruise where I was taken out by a local fisherman on his jukung (a traditional Balinese fishing boat) where I was also lucky enough to see some dolphins. The hotel also helped me to arrange a trek up to Mount Batur to watch the sunrise; while this included a 2am departure from the hotel, it was well worth it for the spectacular views at the summit. The hotel thoughtfully provided me with a backpack packed with water and a breakfast for the trek and I was also make it back in time to the hotel for a second breakfast in the restaurant.
The staff always greeted me cheerfully by name around the resort and are effortlessly charming and helpful. The pool staff were always happy to help set up my sunbeds for me even when I switched from a lounger to cabana to lounger and kept my water topped up for me and one the spa therapists thoughtfully prepared me some aloe vera when she noticed my sunburn during one of my treatments. Most of the staff are from the local village of Tembok and have been there for years; it’s clear that they take a genuine pride in their job and always made the effort to chat to me and share their local knowledge of the area.
Rooms
I stayed in a Kamar room which was decorated in a classical Balinese style with understated features. There were lots of discreet touches from the hotel to ensure my stay was relaxing and inspiring from inspirational notes left by housekeeping every morning and night to the hand-woven beach bag for me to use during my stay to the comfy top and trouser set that was left in the wardrobe for me to wear to my treatments and yoga classes.
My room had a balcony overlooking the gardens, pool, and sea; there are also rooms available on the ground floor with terraces leading straight onto the gardens. There are no TVs in the rooms to encourage you to disconnect although there is a communal TV room and library within the resort. The Kamar room was perfectly adequate for myself but for those looking for more space and/or luxury, I’d recommend the booking one of the suites or ocean-facing villas.
Dining
The food at Wantilan restaurant is delicious with a fusion of Indonesian and Western cuisine adapting dishes to the freshest catch and seasonal ingredients. Each meal is preceded by a fresh, healthy shot of a juice, soup or cleansing drinks and cooling towel. The menus change each evening which was great as I only ate at the resort. On our first night, we were lucky to watch a traditional Kecap dance performed by members of local village in the gardens accompanied by a delicious BBQ. I also saw a private dinner set up on the beach which would be perfect for those celebrating a special occasion.
The Wellness Facilities
A stay at Spa Village Resort Tembok includes a daily spa treatment where you can choose from a variety of wraps and massages inspired by local traditions. My therapist explained to me that local resources are used to create the resort's spa products used exclusively on site from volcanic clay to moringa, tusli, neem, turmeric, citronella, lemon grass, ginger and tea tree elements. As part of the hotel offerings, I also learnt to make my own body scrub and face mask which I stored in my fridge to use during the week.
If the spa inclusive daily treatments aren't enough, you can also book additional treatments. I couldn't resist booking myself in for the Segara Giri pre-treatment, which is a Balinese cleansing ritual where my feet were submerged in hot volcanic black sand, and the Penganten Melukat which is traditionally a pre-wedding ritual body cleansing with a scrub, massage and fresh milk application followed by a flower bath.
Who's it for
Spa Village Resort Tembok is not for those seeking a shopping or active holiday but rather a quiet, calming and soothing holiday. Its idyllic location off the beaten track creates the charm of the hotel for a tropical hideaway in a serene haven of wellbeing.
If you're interested in booking your next wellness break to Spa Village Resort Tembok, enquire here or call to speak to one of our specialists on +44(0) 203 886 0082.