Karma Kandara, Bali

Perched high on the southernmost tip of Bali is Karma Kandara – a perfect escape from hectic city life. If you want to a change from the Seminyak crowd, rowdy nightlife of Kuta or the luxurious but mass market Nusa Dua, then Karma Kandara is for you. Ideal for family getaways, the wedding of your dreams or a retreat with good friends, it’s a blissful place to reflect and let go of every day stresses, strains and worries.

The whole resort offers sun bunnies, spa devotees, gourmands and hedonists the best of their chosen vice. If you’re looking for straight-up pampering or a thorough detox, then there’s a range of wonderful holistic treatments on offer – not just expert massages and scientific facials, but reiki, yoga and visiting alternative therapy specialists. Highly recommended are the detox body scrub and Karma rubdown. With only three treatment rooms, two of which face the sea, it’s an intimate and relaxing spa without any pretensions – ask for the windows to be kept open during your treatment so you can fall asleep to the sound of the sea below you…

Sun bunnies will appreciate Karma’s private beach club, Nammos. 150m below the resort and accessible by an inclinator, Nammos channels a little bit of Mykonos chic and Seminyak’s Ku de Ta vibe, and is open to the public (who have to pay an IDR 250,000 admission fee) but free to all resort guests. Cool music, a European-chic crowd and icy cocktails make this the perfect all-day sunspot…if you can tear yourself away from your private villa.

With bright and pretty gates, the two-, three- or four-bedroom ensuite pool villas look very Greek island, but step inside and they offer a warm blend of Balinese décor and simple, contemporary design. The luxury of having your own private villa is fabulous enough, but these come equipped with kitchens, outdoor showers, and of course, stunning infinity-edge pools. We especially loved the shaded outdoor daybeds which mean you can laze the day away without ever leaving your private castle.

Once you get to Karma, you most probably won’t want to leave and thankfully, everything you need is in the resort. di Mare, their main restaurant, boasts stunning views of the Indian Ocean from the highest point of the hotel and the food is absolutely delicious, especially the seafood, freshly-baked bread and dessert cocktails. Oh yes – there’s a rather excellent wine cellar as well (see, it’s not all spa and detox goodness!). Nammos’ Mediterranean-inspired menu features mezze, mussels, pizzas and tapas-style dishes right on the beach itself.

Until 17^th December, enjoy Karma’s ‘Come Together’ package – book a minimum three nights’ stay for four people in a luxury pool villa for USD 700 per villa per night. This includes roundtrip airport transfers, breakfast and free wi-fi.

Pre-Christmas celebrations, there’s no better time to top up that tan and escape to paradise.

For more information, please contact [email protected].

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