Perched high on a cliff above the roaring Ayung River, borne aloft by the succulent Ubud jungle, is Villa No.39 of Kupu Kupu Barong Villas and Tree Spa by L’Occitane. The villa, also known as the River Front Pool Villa, offers the resort’s most jaw-dropping vistas. It occupies the most spectacular viewpoint in the valley, looking out over a magical scene made up of misty dells and vividly green paddy fields – a scene that has launched a thousand postcards.

Take breakfast at the resort’s Bird Nest, where you are suspended in mid-air and serenaded by birdsong. Indulge in the signature Immortelle Divine spa experience, either at the Mango Tree Spa by L’Occitane, or within the confines of the River Front Pool Villa, where you can admire the view as you treat yourself to the transformational pampering.

The ethos of Kupu Kupu Barong Villas is inspired by the flora and fauna of the Ubud forest. The resort takes its name from the local term for butterfly, kupu kupu. It even has a butterfly concierge, a passionate lepidopterist who guides guests from one rarely visited corner of the island to another in search of exotic beauties fluttering through the balmy air. 

Bali has 100 or so native species of butterfly. The excitement of catching a glimpse of some of these faeries of the forest as you stroll among the trees may prove too exciting. Likewise, observing the tranquillity of nature from the privacy of your luxurious villa may prove too serene. If so, your private butler will introduce you to elements of the culture, the arts and crafts typical of Ubud, allowing guests to experience first-hand the vibrant Balinese way of life.