Hidden in an almost unknown part of Bali, our hotel is a perfect place for those seeking a relaxing holiday. Magnus and Parwathi Bauch created together with their team a hotel which echoes a traditional Balinese village.
Matahari Beach Resort & Spa
General The Matahari is located in North West Bali on a stunning coastline surrounded by National Parks and Marine conservation areas and this setting, with the hills in the back drop, is simply stunning.
Space and tranquillity are what this resort offers most abundantly, and its all within a traditional ambience, the resort lovingly constructed from local materials including marble, palemanan and bamboo.
It’s difficult to believe there are only 32 rooms in the entire resort not least because the amount of facilities and activity on offer is so extensive. From diving to cycling, trips to the national park and golf, there is something for everyone here.
Rooms There are 4 room types: Garden and Panorama View (50m2). Deluxe (75m2) and Super Deluxe (100m2). They are housed in 16 Bungalows which have 2 rooms in each.
From the moment you enter the hand carved doors, you know you’re in a unique room whether it’s the Garden or the Super Deluxe. They are beautifully constructed and crafted using local wood and marble with beautiful conical high ceilings and parquet flooring. The 4 poster beds are the gloss on a classical Balinese creation and the effort that has been made to keep the local look and feel is immense to the extent that mod cons are cleverly hidden so you feel you are in a traditional Balinese villa. (In keeping with the peaceful nature of this resort, the rooms do not have TV’s).
The bathrooms are beautiful with huge marble tubs and outdoor showers, which have very interesting dragon head taps.
Parwathi Spa The Parwathi Spa is dedicated to being an authentic Balinese treatment sanctuary both architecturally and in the type of treatments they give.
The Sthira Massage is a traditional revitalising massage designed to alleviate stress and mental fatigue while the Sukha is a luxurious relaxation massage designed to leave you feeling peaceful and tranquil.
The design is a little like a Balinese Water Palace, perhaps in homage to the one at Tirtagangga, built by the then King in 1953. It is very grandiose to look at and creates a more unique feel than other Asia Spas - natural but still largely enclosed and using marble more than wood giving it a particularly royal feel.
The quality of the treatments, as you’d expect in Bali, the Spa therapists’ capital of the world, are excellent. Yoga is also available free of charge.
Dining The main restaurant (Dewi Ramona) serves high quality Balinese and European cuisine in a fairly formal atmosphere. There is also Leon’s Beach Bistro for a more casual affair. There are also specialist nights including Babi Guling (whole roast suckling pig, a Balinese speciality) and Ayam Betutu (steamed chicken).
Wine is taken very seriously here and they have built their own specialist wine cellar to ensure the wine is kept in its optimum condition.
Food can also be ordered by the pool and there is a cocktail bar.
Other facilities and activities With very little ocean current here it is ideal for water sports without the threat of a ripe tide. Sailing, snorkelling and diving are very popular and learning to dive is made easier with a swimming pool that is the right depth to train in with a PADI instructor is on site. There are the nearby sites at Menjangan Island, famous in the dive world for its marine life experience but even near the resort you can see turtles, rays, whale sharks and many other fish.
Out of the water, you have mountain biking, local tours, painting and carving courses, tennis, badminton and a golf range. Barat National Park is very close by and offers an array of birdlife as well as flying foxes, turtles, wild boars, long tailed macaques, giant squirrels and Rusa Deers.
Final word If you are looking for the Bali of 30 or 40 years ago, then Matahari ticks all the boxes. Remote with beautiful seascapes, great food and a real local feel, it encapsulates the image Bali portrays as a paradise island. This is somewhere to escape to and experience real Indonesia on your doorstep whilst staying in a classical luxury resort with great food and excellent service.
Located: North West Bali Setting: Near Beach, slightly sloping but largely flat resort Style: classical but luxurious Balinese Rooms: 32 – 4 categories Secluded: Completely
