In April 2026, our guest relations specialist Liam travelled to Bali with his new wife, Maisie. Read about their experiences visiting Kaura (located in Manggis) – a sustainable retreat created by our local partner in collaboration with the village.
As part of my honeymoon in Bali, I had the privilege and opportunity to spend two nights at the Kaura Bali resort in Manggis.
Upon arrival at Kaura, we were greeted by one of the many friendly staff members, and participated in a purification ritual (consisting of some holy water and conveniently placed rice to the forehead!). We were then taken through to the pool area to witness the incredible views that were on offer for the next couple of days.
After some brief formalities, we enjoyed our first lunch at the restaurant located at the Kaura, named Pratiwi. The restaurant offered many dishes of Indonese origin, including my favourite, Nasi Goreng!
We were then brought down to our room, one of the Pavilions, which presented us with a tent not too dissimilar to ones found in the Serengeti. The room was comfortable, and with air conditioning, provided a welcome respite from the warmth of the sun. Each pavilion is conveniently positioned with a view of the local valley, with some even getting a glimpse of the sea from afar.
The following morning, we made sure to wake up early and get a glimpse of the sunrise from the east. We managed to time it right to see the sun peak over the hillside, giving the resort an orange glow (Pratiwi has foldable shades that can come down to ensure the restaurant is not too hot in the glow of the sun!)
As part of our stay, the wonderful team from our local partner had arranged for a community walk in the nearby village. We were met by our guide at Kaura and transferred via a short drive down to the nearby village, learning about the Indonesian way of life, village living, and community events, whilst exploring the rice paddies around the villages. Our local partner actively helps to ensure the development of rice paddies without the chemicals used in other growth methods, and the communities around Manggis benefit from our local partner’s presence in the area.
Within each of the paddies were bushes of rice, growing at different stages. A few members of the community were harvesting one of the fields, and even allowed us the chance to help out for a short time to separate the rice from the stalks (by beating the grasses against a wooden board).
In the afternoon, we opted for one of the massage packages on offer at Kaura. As it was our honeymoon, we had gone for the couples massage, and after a few days of travelling around Bali, we were not prepared for how relaxed we ended up being! We had a foot washing ritual followed by a full body massage, which left us feeling at peace. The spa was beautifully decorated as well.
In the evening, we were treated once more to some of the fantastic meal offerings available at the Pratiwi restaurant, which were then proceeded with a firepit, which was enjoyed with some marshmallows, corn, and an ice cold beer. We then listened to stories from some of the staff members as they told us about life at the Kaura, as well as Indonesian life in general.
Kaura gave us an opportunity to relax, away from the often busier areas of Bali, and a chance to reset ourselves. Each member of staff was happy to help, and provided an excellent level of service, whilst staying rooted to Balinese hospitality. I may have left Bali behind, but my memories of the Kaura will last for a long time.
The Kaura Resort in Manggis can be visited on our Ubud, Manggis & Beach Holiday in Sanur tour.
Liam,
TourCompass – From tourist to traveller
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