As the holiday season approaches, Bali has always been a haven for tourists and locals alike who wants to spend special times with their loved ones under the sun, complimented by a captivating backdrop of beaches, forests and mountains. The Island of the Gods has long been a famous destination, and this year is no different.
by Inforial
Nestled on Bali’s Bukit Peninsula on the south of the island is an area known as “Billionaire’s Row”, filled with five-star luxury hotels and resorts that gives a 360 view of the best the island has to offer. None, though, can capture the beauty and spirit as accurately as Karma Kandara in Ungasan. The iconic trendsetter, Karma Kandara defines Bali’s cosmopolitan pool villa and beachfront lifestyle.
Once again, the luxurious resort is hosting its annual 12 Days of Karma event starting on Dec. 23. The event will be kicked off by the lighting of the Karma Christmas Tree at Temple Lounge, accompanied by cocktails, canapes and live music entertainment. The following evening, the festive vibe ramps up with a special Christmas Eve dinner accompanied by christmas carols sung by the children of Bali Life Orphanage.
Giving back is an important part of Karma Group, the travel and lifestyle brand behind the resort. Through their Karma Cares initiative and in collaboration with Bali Life Foundation (BLF), guests are invited to donate Rp 300,000 to a giving tree. The money will be used to purchase gifts for children in need and handed out by Santa Claus to the disadvantaged young people that BLF supports.
Back to Karma Kandara, the resort is guaranteed to give family and friends the perfect location to wait for Santa. Unlike other resorts, the destination offers villas and residences, from one to four bedrooms, which gives every group the privacy they need, with pavilions arranged around their own tropical courtyard and private infinity pool where one can’t tell where the water ends and the sky begins.
The one-bedroom pool villas cater to honeymooners or couples, offering complete privacy. They come with an open plan: a spacious living room and dining area, that opens out onto a large terrace with an infinity pool and additional dining area. A perfect hideaway for two. As with all the other villas, the design blends traditional Balinese architecture and world-class luxury, where culture and comfort intersect.
Meanwhile, the two, three and four-bedroom villas feature natural stone, teakwood decks and indigenous grass or ironwood tile roofs. The two-bedroom features a traditional Indonesian bale near the infinity pool for that added touch of culture, while the three and four-bedrooms offer more options of the gorgeous Bali backdrop: a garden view, ocean view or a cliff from ocean view.
The resort also offers two residences; Karma Villa Maria and Grand Cliff Villa Nirvana. Maybe similar to what the villas offer, each comes with spacious rooms highlighted by modem and traditional designs. There are five en-suite bedrooms across two levels, with an incredible master bedroom on the second level with dramatic panoramas that overlook the ocean. On the ground floor are floor-to-ceiling windows which open out onto an expansive private terrace with outside dining, a BBQ area and an oversized infinity pool. Located on the cliff’s edge, this is the ultimate experience for families and small groups.
No stay will be perfect without the best cuisines. Karma Kandara Resort uses a simple method to provide the best in Bali: fresh ingredients, exotic flavors and classic cooking techniques inspired by European and Asian destinations. On the resort are four establishments that will have guests coming back for more. Only this season, it has been made more special.
One of the culinary highlights of 12 Days of Karma is a special seasonal edition of acclaimed Chef Joseph Antonishek’s hugely popular Cali-wine-ication event on Dec. 29, where Chef Joe pairs five wines from a favorite California vineyard with his own carefully curated dishes. Following three successful events all over Bali, Chef Antonishek still has some things up his sleeve that he can’t wait to unveil to guests.
Catch the special event at Di Mare, the resort’s award-winning Mediterranean cuisine served on a stunning cliff-top setting overlooking the Indian Ocean. The restaurant offers Western and Asian-inspired food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Signatures include their frog leg appetizer served as “the love child of Java and France”, while the mains feature traditional food from Greece, India, Egypt, Thailand, the United Kingdom and, of course, Indonesia itself.
Next up on the list is the Temple Lounge, mentioned before as a spot for the resort’s soon-to-be exquisite Christmas tree. Set on the rooftop of di Mare, the Temple Lounge evokes a North African ambience of colourful banquettes and lanterns, creating a Kasbah-like setting where guests enjoy custom cocktails and tapas indigenous to the Middle East. Don’t forget to try out the daily cocktail specials prepared especially for the occasion, such as the zesty Star Light, made of gin, calamansi lemongrass cordial, osmanthus and kaffir lime ginger beer.
While wine lovers will want to join the popular Cali-wine-ication event, the resort also has a Veritas Wine Bar all year round. The Veritas cellar is stocked with fine Old and New World wines. The cellar offers vintage bottles from boutique growers and renowned labels, curated by sommeliers. Transport back in time with a cigar from the humidor to enjoy with Pinot Noir, like a movie set in Hollywood’s golden era.
Of course, no resort will be perfect without access to its very own beachfront. Le Club 22 is set right on Karma Beach, for blissful, barefoot days and carefree, glamorous nights. The resort also offers activities such as water sports, beachcombing, all day dining, special events, private cabanas and more. For the special season, international DJs will be soundtracking sunsets down at Le Club 22, while other entertainment includes traditional Balinese dance and even a special circus performance.
Start the new year right at Karma Kandara by their New Year’s Gala Dinner and Party. This year, the momentous occasion will take a South American theme with dishes from countries around the continent, before a bevy of international DJs led by Ibiza legend Jon Sa Trinxa get the party started down at Karma Beach.
After all the parties, wind down at the spa. The Karma Spa team has a boutique menu of curative therapies created from ingredients sourced from ethical and sustainable growers. Situated on the cliff top, the spa bales are set into the ragged limestone cliffs with 180 degrees of Indian ocean views which put guests at ease and into a deep relaxing state. They also offer a Spa and Dine activity for those who prefer meals that are mostly low in sugar, gluten-free and dairy free with many vegan options.
Karma is also a perfect location for families with children. The Three Monkeys Kids Club creates adventures and activities for kids aged 4 to 12 years, including beachcombing, kite making, crafts and swimming. This season, there are special activities for the kids with balloon games to Christmas T-Shirt painting to scavenger hunts down at Karma Beach.
Teens and parents won’t miss out on the fun as we offer a chance to explore Bali with a range of exciting guided adventures for every age. For some fitness, visit the resort’s treehouse-style, teakwood gym, overlooking a jungle of tropical greenery with state-of-the-art equipment, or go down to the beach to paddle board, snorkel or join the yoga and Tai Chi classes available too.
