I have been sharing photos from our stay at the beautiful Wapa Di Ume Sidemen these past few days and I decided I wanted to share a little more about our time there here on my blog. The resort opened in summer 2018 so staying in such a new hotel felt like an honour.
As well as photos, when planning our travels, I am largely influenced by people who have stayed and can give strong recommendations of hotels. After speaking with several people on Instagram, I knew I had to experience the luxury of Wapa di Ume for myself. Wapa di Ume Sidemen is a five star boutique resort boasting 360° panoramic hillside views of tropical jungle and rice fields, as well as an incredible view point of Mount Agung.
Sidemen is approx a 1 hour drive from Ubud, out of the city and not your typical scene for backpackers. For us, it was an absolute dream. We are both countryside and quiet life kind of people and Wapa Di Ume Sidemen was just the hideaway we were looking for. Sidemen is an ideal location to base yourself if you’re planning on a few day trips to explore the East of Bali. That being said, this was what we set out to do, however upon arriving at Wapa di Ume we were blown away by its beauty and how peaceful it was, that we decided we would not be leaving the resort until the end of our stay.
Wapa di Ume Sidemen has a total of 21 suites. Thats it…heaven! This is broken down into 6 Lanai rooms, 10 Di Ume suites and 5 private pool villas. Of course, if you are looking for ultimate luxury and privacy then you MUST treat yourself to one of their private pool villas. Each room however has been beautifully designed to overlook Sidemen’s stunning hillside setting so no matter what room you choose, you can be guaranteed a view that will take your breath away.
We stayed in one of their Lanai rooms. A beautiful suite with a rustic and natural design, hillside views and a balcony that overlooked the Unda River. The suite was just like the photos with a huge bed positioned in the centre. I seriously love the whole bed in the middle of the room design… it’s how I envision the design of my future bedroom. The bathroom had a tub big enough for two which overlooked the jungle hillside. A place where I spent a very large portion of my time at Wapa taking in the view. But who wouldn’t! The room was beautiful, however I do wish I had splashed out a little more and booked one of their private pool villas.
It’s not like we needed the private pool though. The resort was so quiet it felt as though we had the double decker infinity pool to ourselves anyway. Yes that’s right, a swimming pool what I can only describe as being designed for the gram. We spent most of our time either in the pool or lounging by the pool in one of their cabanas. Every now and then we would order a coconut which would be brought to us by a very friendly staff member. The staff I have to say, were impeccable with their service. Nothing was too much, they have a passion for what they do and they truly made us feel welcome.
Their restaurant is a gorgeous place to be at any time of day. I cannot express how incredible it was to sit enjoying breakfast, lunch, dinner or just a drink overlooking the hillside and watching the sun move over the mountains as time ticks on. It was jaw dropping and the food was divine. As always, Farley stuck to Nasi Goreng for breakfast, lunch and dinner but I aimed to try as much as I could from the menu. Two particular favourites were the Nutella french toast and the heavenly chocolate dessert.
The resort offers guests plenty of free experiences during the day to keep you busy. Kick off your day with an early morning yoga session, a walking tour amongst the rice fields, a Balinese cooking lessons which includes a trip to the traditional markets or a lesson in making traditional offerings. The resort also features a gym and an out-of-this-world spa which you have to book a treatment during your stay. There is no question about it.
You cannot go to Wapa di Ume Sidemen and leave without having a flower bath. A bath like no other which, now that I have experienced it, regular baths will never be the same. The treatment begins with a body scrub and massage, followed by a wash in a ginormous outdoor stone tub filled with warm water and thousands of flower petals overlooking the hillside. It was unreal, see for yourself.
If you are wanting to take a break from the city and surround yourself in nature but like that little bit of luxury then a stay at Wapa di Ume Sidemen should be on your bucket list. It is one of my favourite places on the Island. We very much enjoyed our stay and would recommend it to anyone looking for a resort in Sidemen, Bali.