Indoor Living

With the exception of the Lumbung Suites, each of the bedroom suites includes an air-conditioned living area with leather armchairs, and a 32-inch flat-screen satellite-channel TV to be enjoyed in air-conditioned comfort.

Keen for some after dinner action with the group? The atmospheric, colourfully lit Bulldog Bar was inspired by bars of Amsterdam and makes a fun place to socialise over the estate’s signature cocktails. Perch at the bar carved from solid teak, or settle into a sofa. There is a sprawling deck too, which doubles as a fabulous space for morning yoga. A tunnel from the bar leads directly to The Winong Pati Suite.

In the mood for a movie? The adjoining sumptuous home theatre boasts a 70-inch flat-screen satellite-channel television and plush wall-to-wall seating. With glass windows revealing stunning valley views, and an iPod dock to play your own music, working out in the air-conditioned gym that clings to the valley slopes is an absolute pleasure. State-of-the-art equipment includes a treadmill, exercise bike and 3-in-1 home gym as well as a full set of weights. Prefer gentle stretching? There are yoga mats too. Plus a separate bathroom with a changing area.

At the river’s edge, be inspired by the grace and beauty in the design of the Bamboo Spa, while immersing yourself in a full mind body spirit experience. One pavilion houses a double massage room ideal for lovers, with a garden shower and balcony jutting out over the river, the other a beauty salon. A third atmospheric treehouse-style structure has a steam room and sauna at its base and a spiral staircase leading up to two single massage rooms. Relax with an indulgent massage, and surrender to the sounds of nature as you soak in the bubbling hot tub or cool off in the plunge pool on the deck.

Outdoor Living

In true Indonesian style, communal gathering spaces at Permata Ayung are semi-outdoor. Nothing is short of spectacular though, as they rest in a series of magnificent, open-sided Javanese joglos. Popular with Javanese nobility, joglo pavilions feature a soaring pyramid-shaped roof supported by four central, beautifully carved wooden columns. The more elaborate the carvings and size of the joglo, the wealthier and more powerful the family who built them. Marvel at the joglos at Permata Ayung as they have enviable aristocratic lineage.

The main living room is housed in the biggest joglo, with soothing views across the glistening infinity pool and tumbling rice fields beyond. Teak benches topped with colourful cushions are arranged around two large wooden tables to create a warm and enticing space. Gather here to soak up the views and the traditional atmosphere with a drink from the bar, or enjoy a quiet moment stretched out on a sofa with a coffee table book from the estate’s impressive collection.

Step outside to the 20-metre infinity pool, tiled in glistening Javanese green stone and fringed by coconut palms and crimson heliconia. Marvel at the dramatic views of the Ayung River from the edge, and relax on one of the six cushion-filled antique daybeds on the pool deck, shaded by sunbrellas.

A wooden boardwalk from the main joglo leads across expansive koi ponds to the kitchen joglo where you can watch the private chef and his team prepare your gourmet a la carte meals. Continue to the dining joglo with glittering chandeliers above a magnificent 12-seater long teak wood table, fit for a royal banquet. Dining is a highlight at Permata Ayung and evenings here overlooking the lantern-lit gardens are truly enchanting. Four additional round tables each seat five for guests who prefer privacy.

Across the garden, the Stairway to Paradise gateway leads to a leafy path that winds down the slopes to the river banks. Discover teak daybeds along the way that make lovely spots to laze away an afternoon, soothed by the river and birdsong. Arriving at the river’s edge, take a seat at the table on the Riverside Deck to admire the views and feel the power of the sacred river, or perhaps plan a romantic starlit dinner for two.