The five-star resort overlooks a sandy, white beach that has been dubbed Karma Beach, which visitors can gain access to by tram.

Prior to the pandemic, the resort was almost always full. Its half-moon-shaped infinity pool is on the checklist of celebrities and Instagram enthusiasts alike.

Upon check-in, hotel staff greeted the writer and his companions and provided welcome drinks. It was raining quite heavily, so they took us and our belongings by golf cart to the villa, which was a three-bedroom property with a private living room, a functional, Western-style kitchen and a private pool.

The basics

Karma Kandara attempts to be a picture-perfect escape for families and couples, and their ocean-view location certainly plays a large part in this. Their spa facility lies on the edge of the cliff, presenting an unobstructed view of the ocean, making what would be an ordinary massage into quite an experience. Visitors can also enjoy dips in the jacuzzi with views of the sea. Water activities such as snorkeling, paddle boarding and kayaking are among the experiences provided. Guests can also enjoy cooking classes, themed dinners and an open-air cinema.

The heavy rain continued over the weekend, so activities were limited. However, Karma Kandara is clearly a resort for all seasons. The cozy nature of the resort allows guests to enjoy an at-home ambiance, which isn’t always the case with luxury stays. 

With functional private kitchens in the villas, the resort would be convenient for a longer-term stay for either remote workers or those who have babies or young children. The one thing that guests should be mindful of is the monkeys. Yes, monkeys. Karma Kandara is located in Ungasan, which is only a few kilometers away from Uluwatu, which is known for its monkeys. Visitors are advised to shut the doors when leaving their villa (or, to be even safer, lock all the doors) to prevent monkeys from entering their rooms. Any damage caused by the monkeys – including if they eat from the minibar – is charged to the guests. The monkeys are friendly to people, however, and there haven't been any attacks.

While visitors should be aware of the monkeys, it should be noted that their appearance indicates that nature has been preserved despite the development of the facility on the cliff.

Ready for the holidays: A view of the large living room in the villa. (Karma Group/Courtesy of Karma Group)

One of the villa’s signature features is its hill tram, which can take up to 4 visitors at a time to Karma Beach. It is a 105-meter ride gliding down the hill on a cable car with gorgeous scenes. Looking out of the cable car, it feels like being on a slow, one-way rollercoaster.

One area that Karma Kandara perhaps could improve on is to add ramps to make their resort more accessible for the elderly and wheelchair users. The steep nature of the resort, with its many stairs, could be inconvenient for couples with small kids.

For fitness enthusiasts, Karma Kandara offers an idyllic, three-house-style gym that is small but functional.

Also available is a kids club for guests with young children, called the Three Monkeys Kids Club, where kids can partake in activities like crafts, cooking, kite making, beach combing and games.

The location

The resort is located within a 30 minute drive of Ngurah Rai International Airport, on Jl. Villa Kandara in Ungasan. It is quite isolated and private and close to beautiful beaches such as Melasti Beach and Green Bowl Beach.

The room

When the writer arrived, the staff mentioned that we were being upgraded to a three-bedroom villa instead of a two-bedroom villa. The master bedroom was spacious with a comfy, king-sized bed with plenty of room to walk. The other two rooms were naturally not as large but equally convenient.

Karma Kandara blends traditional Balinese architecture with modern vibes. The master bedroom is equipped with three balconies – including one in the bathroom – with garden, island and ocean views.

Instagram-ready: Located on a clifftop, the Karma Kandara's half-moon-shaped infinity pool offers 180 degrees views over the Indian Ocean. As they put it, Instagrammable. (Karma Group/Courtesy of Karma Group)

The bathroom

The master bedroom is equipped with a large bathroom with a nice bathtub and ceramic washbasin with a big mirror. The shower and the toilet are located next to the bathtub with a small balcony to guarantee fresh air.

Dining

Unfortunately, when the writer stayed at Karma Kandara, its famous restaurant, Di Mare, was temporarily closed as a result of the pandemic. However, the resort remains on top in providing its signature Mediterranean-inspired cuisine through its other restaurant on Karma Beach. Some recommendations include the crispy duck salad, the tuna tartare, the salt-baked whole red snapper and Balinese octopus and bamboo lobster. Karma Beach also offers a decent wine selection, and cocktail lovers will enjoy their Bedugul Colada (spiced rum, pineapple-infused rum, homemade pandan lemongrass syrup and pineapple juice) and the Kintamani Mojito (white rum, mint, tangerine juice, Kintamani tangerine and ginger ale).

The bottom line

Many hotels and resorts in tourism-reliant Bali are struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Karma Kandara is no exception, but the resort shows that it is able to adjust by clearly following health protocols, requiring masks and frequently spraying disinfectant. Visitors must either have proof of a recent antigen test or take one in the resort’s lobby.

While “working from home” at one of their villas was indeed convenient and productive, perhaps Karma Kandara could cater to its new clientele by adding more charging stations at Karma Beach so that people can work while enjoying food and cocktails by the beach.