Umma Bali Menjangan Retreat

The general atmosphere and surroundings here are wonderfully relaxing. Stunning lush rural scenery from every angle in the grounds, from the warm pool and from the little porch of the cabin. Our host Made and his family are very welcoming, friendly and attentive without being in any way intrusive. Made's English is excellent and we had some interesting conversations about life in northern Bali. Breakfast was simple but delicious. We only had dinner there one night but it was very nice. There are also several other decent options for dining out in the local area, some within walking distance. The location was very convenient for our diving activities which departed from the little Sumberkima harbour just down the road. Loved the outdoor bathroom. The bed was very comfortable. Also highly recommend the massage service available. The cabins are a charming traditional wooden design but lack insulation and there is no ceiling fan, so the little aircon unit struggled to keep the temperature at a comfortable level. It was very hot in October, and even though we are from Darwin and used to the heat, we are also used to having ceiling fans everywhere and we really felt the lack of one. Natural ventilation could be improved if the door to the outside bathroom had a hook on it to hold it open when wanted. The local mosque is quite close and we were woken by the loudspeakers every morning around 5am - they seem to start up even before the roosters. I suppose one gets used to it eventually. Overall, however, a bit of morning noise did not detract from the aura of tranquillity that this place has.

Wow- What a gem!. We stayed here last week for 3 nights and Made and Nila did everything to make us feel welcome. We were the only guests (but it was low season) . There are four beautifully clean lumbung style rooms overlooking the rice paddies and the Menjangan hills. Our room had great air conditioning, comfortable beds and the bali style outdoor bathroom is among the best we have come across. It is walking distance to other great restaurants but Nila’s cooking is superb so if you don’t want to go out you can stay in and enjoy some fantastic food. Made organised our snorkelling and transport needs at great prices without any hassles. We had some great conversations with Made during our stay and learnt more about the Balinese culture and beliefs on this visit than we had in 20 years of visiting the island. Thanks for a wonderful time. We will definitely return!

10 out of 10. The complex has a pleasing layout - surrounded by padi fields and a small pool. Sitting in lounge chairs, we saw many birds (rails, herons and egrets, and swiftlets). The rooms are clean and comfortable. The outdoor bathroom was spacious and always had hot water. The food was simple, fresh and delicious. The owner immediately responded to our every request, recommended activities and restaurants, and arranged shuttles. He made it easy for us to enjoy rural Bali with traditional hospitality. We had lots of fun snorkeling, birding, diving, and seeing the mangroves.