There are few things that capture the feeling of a Bali escape quite like having your own private pool.
From infinity pools suspended above the Indian Ocean to enormous swimming pools hidden beneath decades-old tropical trees, Bali has some of the most spectacular private pool villas in the world.
Over the years, we’ve stayed at luxury resorts across the island, from the jungles of Ubud to the beaches of Seminyak and Jimbaran. For this edit, we’ve combined our firsthand stays and original photography with a carefully curated selection of private pool villas still on our wish list.
Whether you’re planning a honeymoon, travelling with children or simply looking for somewhere you can disappear for a few days, these are some of the best luxury resorts in Bali with private pool villas.
Raffles Bali, Jimbaran
Best for: Expansive private villa living
TIL stayed: Yes
Perched high above Jimbaran Bay, Raffles Bali is an all-villa resort with just 32 villas spread across 57 acres of lush tropical gardens, valleys and oceanfront cliffs.
The best part? Every single villa has its own private pool.
We stayed in one of Raffles Bali’s one-bedroom Pool Villas, which at an enormous 470 square metres felt more like a private residence than a hotel room. The villa wrapped around a private infinity pool, with an oversized outdoor pavilion, tropical gardens and expansive indoor-outdoor living spaces.
The pool quickly became the centre of our stay. Our one-year-old Cole had his first swim in Bali here, while his older brother Ryder spent hours moving between our villa pool and the resort’s main infinity pool.
But it was the space surrounding the pool that made the villa particularly special. The oversized pavilion captured the most beautiful ocean breeze throughout the day and spectacular sunsets in the evening. It became somewhere to play, read, nap and simply spend time together without needing to leave the villa.
With dedicated Raffles Butler Service and experiences including private in-villa dining, it’s a particularly good choice if you’re looking for a resort where the villa itself can become a significant part of the holiday.
Location: Jimbaran
Read our full review: Raffles Bali, Indonesia [Resort Review]
The Oberoi Beach Resort Bali, Seminyak
Best for: A full-size private pool
TIL stayed: Yes
Private pools are common at Bali’s luxury resorts, but the pool villas at The Oberoi Beach Resort Bali are on another scale.
We spent time in one of the resort’s Luxury Partial Ocean View Villas with Pool, where the private pool felt less like a plunge pool and more like having your own full-size swimming pool.
Surrounded by lush gardens and enormous mature trees, the pool feels completely enveloped by the landscape. It’s a very different experience from the compact private pools found at many newer resorts, with enough space to actually swim rather than simply cool off.
The setting is part of what makes The Oberoi so special. Opened in 1978, the resort occupies 15 acres of beachfront gardens in the heart of Seminyak. Despite being surrounded by one of Bali’s busiest neighbourhoods, once you’re inside the grounds it feels remarkably peaceful.
Those decades of growth are visible everywhere. Towering palms and huge established trees shade the pathways and villas, creating a sense of permanence that’s almost impossible for a newly built resort to replicate.
For travellers who want the privacy of a villa but also genuinely want to swim in their private pool, this would be one of our top choices.
Location: Seminyak
Read our full review: The Oberoi Beach Resort Bali [Hotel Review]
Amandari, Ubud
Best for: Timeless Balinese design
TIL stayed: Yes
Hidden above the Ayung River gorge outside Ubud, Amandari feels less like a traditional resort and more like a Balinese village.
We stayed at Amandari during our babymoon in one of the resort’s Valley Suites, which did not have a private pool, but travellers looking for their own pool can choose from the resort’s private pool accommodation.
Designed by architect Peter Muller and opened in 1989, Amandari was conceived around the idea of a traditional Balinese village. Stone pathways weave between suites, moss-covered walls disappear beneath tropical foliage and the surrounding rice terraces form part of the landscape.
It’s this connection to its surroundings that makes Amandari such a compelling choice for a private pool stay. Rather than the ocean views found at Raffles or the beachfront gardens of The Oberoi, here the experience is all about Ubud’s jungle, rice terraces and the Ayung Valley.
For travellers drawn to understated luxury and traditional Balinese architecture rather than a contemporary resort aesthetic, Amandari remains one of the island’s most beautiful places to stay.
Location: Ubud
Read our full review: Amandari in the Jungle of Ubud, Bali [Resort Review]
Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay
Best for: Families
Built into the hillside above Jimbaran Bay, Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay combines the privacy of an all-villa resort with one of Bali’s most family-friendly luxury resort experiences.
Its villas are designed as private compounds inspired by traditional Balinese homes, complete with their own private pools and outdoor living areas.
The resort’s location is another major draw. Jimbaran offers easy access to the airport while still delivering the beach, sunsets and slower pace most travellers come to Bali for.
For families who want the freedom of a private pool alongside the facilities and activities of a full-service luxury resort, Four Seasons is an obvious contender.
Location: Jimbaran
Bulgari Resort Bali
Best for: Dramatic ocean views
Sitting high on the cliffs of Uluwatu, Bulgari Resort Bali offers one of the most dramatic private pool settings on the island.
The villas combine traditional Balinese materials with the sleek Italian design the Bulgari name is known for, with private pools and outdoor living spaces overlooking tropical gardens or the Indian Ocean.
This is the Bali fantasy for travellers who want privacy, design and huge ocean views, particularly for a honeymoon or romantic escape.
Location: Uluwatu
Alila Villas Uluwatu
Best for: Architecture and design
Few Bali resorts are as instantly recognisable as Alila Villas Uluwatu.
Perched on a limestone cliff high above the Indian Ocean, the resort is known for its striking contemporary architecture and dramatic cliff-edge setting.
Its private pool villas continue that aesthetic, combining clean lines, open spaces and private pools with expansive outdoor areas designed to make the most of Uluwatu’s landscape.
If architecture is as important to you as the pool itself, this is one of Bali’s standout stays.
Location: Uluwatu
Mandapa, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Ubud
Best for: A private jungle escape
For a completely different version of Bali, Mandapa sits amongst the rice paddies and rainforest of the Ayung River Valley outside Ubud.
Its pool villas offer the kind of privacy that makes it tempting to barely leave your room, with private pools surrounded by lush tropical vegetation and the sounds of the river and jungle below.
The setting makes Mandapa particularly appealing for travellers looking for the complete opposite of a beachfront Bali holiday.
Location: Ubud
Capella Ubud
Best for: Something completely different
Capella Ubud isn’t your traditional private pool villa resort, and that’s precisely why it belongs on this list.
Hidden within the rainforest north of Ubud, the resort’s individually designed tented retreats combine elaborate interiors with private saltwater pools surrounded by dense tropical greenery.
The result is part luxury resort, part jungle camp and unlike almost anywhere else on the island.
For travellers who have visited Bali before and want a private pool experience that feels genuinely different, Capella Ubud would be hard to beat.
Location: Ubud
FAQs
Which luxury resorts in Bali have private pool villas?
Many of Bali’s leading luxury resorts offer private pool villas. Raffles Bali is particularly notable because all 32 of its villas have their own private pools. Other options include The Oberoi Beach Resort Bali, Amandari, Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, Bulgari Resort Bali, Alila Villas Uluwatu, Mandapa and Capella Ubud.
Which Bali resort has the best private pool villas for families?
Raffles Bali and Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay are particularly good options for families looking for private pool villas. We stayed at Raffles Bali with our one-year-old and five-year-old and found the enormous villa, private pool and outdoor living spaces particularly well suited to travelling with young children.
Where should I stay for a private pool villa in Ubud?
Amandari, Mandapa and Capella Ubud all offer private pool accommodation but very different experiences. Amandari is ideal for traditional Balinese architecture, Mandapa for an immersive river-valley setting and Capella Ubud for a more unconventional tented jungle experience.
Are private pool villas in Bali worth it?
If you plan to spend time relaxing at your resort, a private pool can completely change the experience. This is particularly true when travelling with children or on a honeymoon, as it gives you the freedom to swim, relax and dine in complete privacy without needing to spend the entire day around the resort’s main pool.
Which area of Bali is best for a luxury private pool villa?
It depends on the type of holiday you’re looking for. Jimbaran is ideal for beaches, sunsets and convenient airport access. Uluwatu offers dramatic clifftop ocean views. Ubud is best for jungle and rice terrace surroundings, while Seminyak combines beachfront luxury with easy access to restaurants, shopping and nightlife.
