Amandari: Iconic Balinese village sanctuary above the Ayung River gorge in Ubud with 27m curved infinity pool

Perched on the lip of the sacred Ayung River gorge in the cultural heartland of Kedewatan village, Ubud, Amandari opened in 1989 as architect Peter Muller’s seminal masterwork. Designed to mirror a traditional Balinese village, the retreat is integrated seamlessly into local community life: ancient sacred footpaths weave through the property down to a 7th-century tiger shrine beside the rushing river. Thirty thatched suites and one private three-bedroom villa feature hand-carved volcanic paras stone walls, teak woodwork, and alang-alang thatched roofs.

Arrival welcomes guests into an authentic Balinese sanctuary where local children practice traditional gamelan dances in the open-air wantilan pavilion. Day-one logistics focus on scheduling bespoke cultural explorations: private temple blessings with local Hindu priests, guided treks through emerald rice terraces, artisan craft tours in Ubud, and reserving a riverside table for dinner overlooking the Ayung gorge.

Rejuvenation and cultural rhythm define the Amandari stay. The centerpiece is the iconic 27-metre green-tiled swimming pool that curves gracefully with the contours of the rice terraces—widely celebrated as the world’s first infinity pool. The open-air Aman Spa features peaceful treatment pavilions surrounded by lotus ponds, offering holistic Balinese healing rituals using local clove, ginger, and coconut extracts.

Accommodations comprise 30 suites (220 square metres each, including Village, Valley, and Pool Suites) and the standalone 1,500-square-metre Amandari Villa. Each suite features outdoor sunken marble soaking tubs set in private walled gardens, teak four-poster beds, and wide open-air verandas framing the jungle gorge.

Culture connoisseurs, romantic couples, and design purists seeking authentic Balinese spiritual tranquility, iconic village architecture, and lush river gorge vistas should book Amandari without hesitation. Travelers seeking beachfront party vibes or coastal water sports should look to southern Bali instead. Grounded review consensus confirms legendary standing with a 4.8 out of 5 on Tripadvisor across 520 reviews and a 4.7 out of 5 on Google across 390 reviews.