Viceroy Bali is The Ultimate Base Camp for Exploring Bali

Located in the central foothills of the Gianyar regency, Viceroy Bali is just 7 minutes' drive to central Ubud, yet the location feels like another world, with 25 Bali-styled luxury pool villas, bespoke amenities -- including a complete gymnasium and wellness-centered Lembah Spa -- award winning Cascades Restaurant, warm yet discreet service, and stunning surroundings, the resort is the perfect place to relax and renew in utter tranquility.

And many guests do just that. For those who desire an adventure or two, however, there is a mix of discoveries and experiences at hand -- and a dedicated Guest Service Manager stands ready to help. Indeed, he will design the ideal itinerary to suit the inclinations of groups large or small; honeymooners or families; groups of friends or business associates.

Certainly guests appreciate the guidance, with so many magical forays on offer. Bali is known around the world for its many art forms, including painting, sculpture, woodcarving, handcrafts, and most especially its dance forms. The Balinese adore celebrations of all sorts and hold them often; some are rituals, some are religious, some are a blend of both. Many of these are held in the courtyards of the scores of temples in the Ubud area. Then there's the amazing natural beauty found everywhere, from the rice paddies and steep ravines in the vicinity of Viceroy Bali to the ocean, volcanoes, monkey forests, nature parks and four very famous art museums (Neka, Arma, Rudana, and Tony Blanco) within 15 minutes' drive of the resort.

Here are just a few of the unforgettable off-site experiences awaiting guests of Viceroy Bali:

For culture-lovers, near at hand is the thriving “village” of Ubud. Rather more a large town than a village, this city offers an excellent introduction to Balinese culture, with an emphasis on the arts, yoga, and nature. Known for being a source of medicinal herbs and plants (“ubad” is the Balinese word for medicine), Ubud was the seat of feudal lords loyal to the king of Gianyar in the late nineteenth century. It came to be known for its arts as well, as they were nurtured by the royal family. Movie stars, spies, and foreign painters and musicians discovered Ubud in the 1950s, leading to a bloom of creative energy in the 1960s. Museums, crafts, dance performances, and shopping at the Pesar Seni (art market) are big draws for Viceroy Bali guests, as are the Puri Saren Agung palace, the Pura Saraswati (or water palace), the Ubud Monkey Forest, the Moon of Pejeng, and the Goa Gaja (Elephant Cave) temple complex nearby.

Other culture-centered activities include learning about Balinese religious offerings made from white coconut leaves. They are a welcome addition to Viceroy Bali's family temple. A Balinese dance lesson, complete with traditional costume and gamelan music, provides exercise and relaxation as well as knowledge. Groups find this a particularly delightful activity, and children will adore taking traditional kite-making lessons, learning about the widespread popularity of kiting amongst the Balinese, making a kite, and testing their creations side by side with locals in the rice fields near the hotel.

Cyclists will relish touring the Ubud area to appreciate views of the rice paddies, ravines, and daily routines of the locals, especially with a local guide on hand to share stories and facts (especially fun for children). Another way to experience the rice paddies is by going on a trekking tour through a small wood-carving village, thence to the Petanu River area with its rice fields and coconut plantations. Birders will not want to miss Petulu Village, where thousands of white herons live in nests along the village road, nor Bali Bird Park, with the largest and finest collection of Indonesian and Papua birds in the world housed on two acres of botanical landscaping. Two thousand tropical plants, including butterfly-attracting palms, will surely thrill the botanists in the group.

And speaking of thrills, coffee lovers take note: small family-farmed coffee plantations grow arabica and robusta beans and process them traditionally, ensuring a truly unique cup of Joe. The Elephant Safari Park offers thrills of another sort in the form of rides for intrepid explorers large and small, as well as a museum and information center. Duffers can skip out to enjoy a few rounds of golf at a lush heartland mountain course surrounded by mountains, crater lakes, and ancient forest.

Nature's more dramatic face is revealed on other tours recommended by Viceroy Bali. These include a sunrise trek near Batur Volcano, touring the Bali Marine and Safari Park, white water rafting, diving any of Bali's many reefs and atolls, horseback riding on the beach, and cycling Batur Mountain.

For a solid gold experience fit for royalty, guests should arrange for a helicopter tour. (Oh – didn't we mention that Viceroy Bali has its own helicopter pad?) The temples-coastline tour takes in the west and south coasts of the island, then the mystery-shrouded Tanah Lot temple, which is accessible by land only during low tide, then to the southern Bukit Peninsula, and finally over the Uluwatu temple, with its backdrop of sheer cliffs, seaweed farms, and remote beaches. The Kintamani Volcano tour of Mount Batur features the country's largest lake and an active volcano, as well as river gorges and rice fields. The longest flight is the best of Bali tour, which ferries passengers over all of Bali's major sites.

From the mountains to the sea, the temples to the markets, Viceroy Bali is the ideal base camp for travelers seeking to explore this mystical, magical land. Tranquility and comfort will await their return to the villas of the Viceroy Bali.

Visit website: www.viceroybali.com