We’ve been fortunate enough this year to have travelled to so many amazing destinations. But one that really stands out in our minds is Bali. We spent a week in Bali this past Spring and even stayed at the 2018 Travel + Leisure #1 hotel in the world, the Four Seasons Bali at Sayan. Here is what life at the best hotel in the world looks like!
Arriving
When you arrive at the Four Seasons Bali at Sayan, you are greeted by a team of people. First and foremost, you receive a cold towel and a bottle of water, and then a welcoming ritual begins. They hand you a sash in the color of your choice. Then you rub something into your hands, and they ring a wooden bell to announce your arrival.
And then you walk down a long path on the roof of the welcome center. You end up at their famous rooftop water feature that overlooks the jungle and river. Once you have taken a moment to admire the view you head down to the welcome center for a welcome drink and check in. Then you are driven via golf cart to your villa or suite.
Four Seasons Bali Villas
One of the big reasons people come to Bali is to immerse themselves into nature and “get away from it all” and the best way to do that is in a Balinese villa. The Four Seasons Bali at Sayan has many different levels of villas but all of them come with their own private pool so you really can’t go wrong.
Our villa was hidden amongst the jungle so our view each morning when we woke up was palm trees and lots of lush greenery!
Four Season Sayan Dining
When you wake up at the Four Seasons Bali at Sayan, you can either start you day with breakfast at the Ayung Terrace or in your villa with a floating breakfast.
We did both during our stay. The breakfast at the Ayung Terrace is quite something because you dine in the open-air restaurant overlooking the river and the jungle and everything is made to order.
And for the floating breakfast you can order the same menu directly to your villa to enjoy in your swimsuit! And trust me the floating breakfast is as Instagrammable as it sounds!
Then for lunch and dinner you have the option of either heading into Ubud to try the local cuisine or dining at the Riverside grill or Ayung Terrace.
Four Seasons Bali Activities
If all that wasn’t enough, where the Four Seasons Bali at Sayan really shines is in their unique experiences. Two can’t miss activities are the “Day in the Life of the Balinese Rice Farmer” and the Sokasi Cooking School. The rice farmer experience takes you into the footsteps of the local farming community and starts with a nature trek through the jungle, into the local village of Sayan and then back to the resort where you learn about the rice growing process and then wraps up with a spa treatment.
And the Sokasi cooking school is just as immersive. The day starts with a visit to the local market where you and a local chef check out the produce of the day and pick up a few things. Then you head back to the property to the riverside cooking school.
The chef guides the group in prepping and cooking a full, traditional Balinese meal. And then of course you have a full lunch to enjoy, including meat, fish and vegetable dishes.
If you’ll be traveling to Southeast Asia make sure your read our articles on destinations like Phnom Penh and Koh Samui.