The Menjangan

Located on Bali's quiet north-western coastline, with views of Java, the twenty-four room Menjangan is a bit of a drive, but totally worth the journey. On the way you'll pass through paddy fields, mountains and lush countryside - you may want to stop on the way at one of the waterfalls for a refreshing dip to break up the 5 hour journey.

Hidden in the heart of the West Bali National Park set within almost 1000 acres of lush Balinese forest it all feels quite Jurassic Park. You can choose from Monsoon Lodge, Beach Villa or The Residence. The former, nestled in the middle of the forest (it's a 15-minute safari car ride to the beach) with a tropical pool, are great for families, whilst the Beach Villas are perfect for couples and are but a few steps from the water's edge. The Residence is a 1000 square metre private pool villa with two double bedrooms and one twin bedroom all with en-suite bathrooms and balconies overlooking the ocean. Your own in-house butler will look after your every need. In keeping with the back to nature philosophy there's a large library with books at Monsoon Lodge.

You'd need to stay for at least five nights to really get stuck into the immersive activities programme. From horseriding along the beach to scuba diving, snorkelling, cycling, trekking, the list goes on. The snorkelling trip is a wonderful experience and takes you close to Java across crystal clear waters, you may even be lucky enough to find Nemo! Or enjoy a Balinese massage right over the water - an utterly relaxing experience. The Mangrove Spa is made up of several open-air gazebos just set back from Sentigi Beach, where they offer a range of traditional treatments and massages combining the use of local, natural products with ancient healing methods.

The food is excellent, which is good news seeing as there's nowhere else to dine within easy reach. Fresh fish dishes, spicy Indonesian flavours, plus all your Western favourites. Evening happy hour where bowls of popcorn and snacks are passed around is a welcome treat. Breakfast is served either at Pantai Restaurant or in the Bali Tower and includes pancakes, eggs any style, fresh fruits and granola, as well as some Indonesian staples. After dinner wind down with a drink in the candlelit Azure Bar with bean bags and chill-out music.

Surrounded by nature on the water's edge this Lifestyle Retreat is an escape from the stresses of everyday life. Children and families are welcome at The Menjangan and the food and drinks menu has a great selection of kids' treats. The perfect place to experience "the other side" of Bali.

 

Written by Lulu Townsend

• Airport transfer
• Surcharge - the journey is about 5 hours.
• Swimming Pool
• Outdoor pool
• Safe
• Parking
• Bar
• Bicycles available
• Outdoor dining
• Cots available
• Massage

• No pets
• Child friendly
• Spa
• Restaurant
• Concierge
• Four poster beds
• Air conditioning
• Wifi

• Cycling
• Explore the forests of the national park with guided cycling excursions, seeing endemic flora & fauna en-route
• Snorkelling
• Delve beneath the water to discover an underwater universe of brightly coloured fish and coral
• Riding
• There are stables located on the property and beautiful sunset rides come highly recommended
• Diving
• There is an in house PADI certified diving school

• Great walks
• Nature trails through the jungle are stunning
• Hotel boats for hire
• Take a boat trip to nearby Menjangan Island
• Birdwatching
• Wildlife Area

Why do people love staying in your hotel? People love staying at The Menjangan, because the resort is a peaceful nature retreat, the perfect getaway for people who seek the unspoiled nature of Bali. The direct contact with nature allows guests to experience watching the Menjangan deers right from their doorstep and sighting more than 120 species of bird that resides in the West Bali National Park.

What is there to do in the area or on site? The Menjangan offers a wide range of activities. On the water, guests can launch a kayak off our jetty and explore the inlets and private beaches of Bajul Bay, and take a thrilling boat ride to Menjangan Island to dive or snorkel some of the best coral reefs in the region. On land the forests await, offering excellent birdwatching, nature walks, mountain biking, horse riding and horse grooming. Not forgetting our kids activities among which are horse riding and horse grooming for the kids. The other options include taking a leisurely Balinese cooking class or a pampering spa treatment at the Mangrove.

What kind of breakfast do you offer? For breakfast, The Menjangan offers à la carte western cuisine.

Do you offer other meals? And can you recommend good places to eat out locally? Yes, we have Bali Tower and Pantai restaurant that offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Menjangan is a secluded retreat, so there is no other suitable restaurant nearby.

Which is your most popular room, and why? The most popular room is the Beach Villa, because our romantic Javanese Joglo style Beach Villas offers privacy and an absolute beachfront, where our guests can just step off the deck and have a short walk on the beach. If not up to having a short walk on the beach, our guests can chill out on the beach chairs in their villa’s outdoor courtyard, flop onto a bean-bag on their deck, or soak in the outdoor bath with the fragrances of the Balinese forest wafting in the air.

What facilities do you have for children and can you fit extra beds in your rooms? The Menjangan has some facilities for children including baby cot, baby chair, and car-seat. All of our room categories in The Menjangan can fit extra beds.

What message would you like to give Hotel Guru readers? The Menjangan is a hidden gem where you can experience the untouched nature of West Bali and magnificent underwater view.