Where to Stay in Bali: Soori Bali

For our second SI Swimsuit 2020 photo shoot, we traveled to the stunning Indonesian island of Bali with Brooks Nader, Olivia Culpo, Hunter McGrady, Jasmine Sanders, Kate Bock and Hyunjoo Hwang.

We were living in luxury and lucky enough to call the gorgeous Soori Bali our home away from home. Located on Bali's southwestern coast, Soori Bali is nestled within the picturesque Tabanan Regency, where volcanic mountains loom above verdant rice terraces, and striking black-sand beaches delve gently into the Indian Ocean.

The hotel was designed and is owned and operated by architect Soo K. Chan and prioritizes environmental and cultural sustainability. The structures of the hotel were made out of local materials and the resort maintains a true sense of place within Bali. All 48 of Soori Bali's villas feature private pools with sweeping views of the mountain or ocean.

Contemplating a trip to Bali? Stop thinking about it and book now. For a luxe trip you won't forget, Soori Bali is the magical retreat you've been looking for.

FAQs:

Where is Bali? And how do I get there? 

Bali is an Indonesian island to the east of Java and can be easily reached by many international airlines.

What is Bali known for and why?
Bali is known as the Island of the Gods; it is uniquely a Hindu island (Balinese Hinduism) in Indonesia, which has the world’s largest Muslim population.

Where is Soori Bali located? And when did it open?
Soori Bali is located in a special part of the island, in the pristine and untouched southwest area of Tabanan. This area is bordered by lush rice paddies and mountains on one side and dramatic volcanic cliffs and the Indian Ocean on the other side. The resort opened approximately 10 years ago and was relaunched as part of the Leading Hotels of the World in 2017.

How can one travel to your resort?
Soori Bali is an easy and scenic drive (21 miles) a little over an hour from the airport (Ngurah Rai Airport) past rice fields and stone villages. Otherwise, a short helicopter ride puts you at Soori Bali’s private helipad in as a little as seven minutes.

How was the company founded? And can you provide information about some of the other resorts that are part of the overall collection?
Soori Bali is owned by the owners and designers of the resort, Soo and Ling (Sri) Chan. As part of the design-driven holistic lifestyle Soori brand, Soori Bali is joined by Soori High Line, a luxury condo development in NYC’s Hudson Yards neighborhood, and Soori Niseko, a ski resort currently under design development.

Soori Bali

Soori Bali

Soori Bali

Soori Bali

Soori Bali

Are there any interesting historic notes about Soori Bali?
Soori Bali originally started out as the owners’ private family vacation home for their six sons. When the owners’ friends saw the original vacation home, they wanted vacation villas built nearby; soon, the owners decided to add in restaurant and spa facilities, and the Soori Bali resort was born.

What is the weather like year-round in Bali? What’s the best time to travel there?
The best times to be in Bali are July and August and December through February; however, we’ve found the shoulder seasons and the traditional “rainy season” to be great as well in recent years.

What type of accommodations are offered at Soori Bali?
The resort has one-bedroom villas (starting at a generous 2,240 square feet), newly added two-bedroom villas, three- and four-bedroom residences, the stunning six-bedroom Soori Residence and the sprawling 10-bedroom Soori Estate, the largest private residence in Bali.

What amenities are included in my hotel rate at Soori Bali?
Included in your hotel rate is a daily gourmet tasting breakfast for two, a complimentary minibar, Soori turndown tea, complimentary scheduled resort activities, WiFi and villa host services.

What are your must-have packing items for a trip to Soori Bali?
Just your favorite swimsuits.

What activities are provided by Soori Bali?
We take our guests to Tanah Lot, a sacred 16th-century Hindu sea temple, very close to the hotel. We also offer village tours to the immediate village of Kerambitan, which helps visitors gain rare insight into traditional Balinese architecture and village life.

Does Soori Bali work with outside tour companies? What are some of the activities a guest can book?
Yes, we do work with outside tour companies as well. We can arrange for any activity, from chartering a private yacht to helicopter tours, jungle ATVs and elephant safaris.

Soori Bali

Soori Bali

Soori Bali

Soori Bali

Soori Bali

Soori Bali

What are some of the most popular activities booked by hotel guests?
The most popular activities to date include our helicopter arrival to the resort, the Soori Spa signature treatments and our Culinary Journey, a cooking class that includes a visit to the local markets and making some of the hotel’s signature dishes.

What are the top-five must-have experiences in Bali?
· Visit to the temples, such as Tanah Lot temple

· Rice fields, such as Jatiluwih

· Surfing at the famous beaches

· Traditional Balinese dance and music

· Balinese specialties such as satay or babi guling (roast suckling)

Is Soori Bali located on the beach?
Yes, directly on Kelating Beach with its soft, sparkling black volcanic sand.

Does Soori Bali work with any charities? Conservation efforts? 
Soori Bali has wide-ranging sustainability initiatives. The resort recently launched a conservation initiative to safely collect turtle hatchlings from the beach (Olive Ridley species), rear them and release on opportune tides leaving from the hotel in an immersive guest experience. The hotel also supports an indigenous dance troupe, the Little Dancers of Kelating, in an effort to preserve and sustain local traditions for the next generation. Beyond supporting several local and regional charities for child welfare and education, the resort has its own Green Council, conducting coastal cleanups and environmental education for the local communities.

What can a guest expect from their culinary experience at Soori Bali?
Guests can expect truly Balinese dishes, including Tabanan-specific dishes, as well as regional Asian dishes and fine dining Western cuisine. Breakfast at Cotta is a divine way to start the day with a gourmet tasting-style menu; lunch at Cotta offers Indonesian and pan-Asian favorite dishes, with ocean breezes.

Is there a signature dish to look out for at Soori Bali?
We have a dish called Volcanic Chicken, organic chicken that is cooked in volcanic sand pits right on our beach.

Is there a must-have signature drink at Soori Bali?
While we have many favorite guest cocktails, one standout is our jamu, a turmeric-based tonic with many health benefits.

Soori Bali

Soori Bali

Soori Bali

Soori Bali

Soori Bali

Is there a must-do, one-of-a-kind activity or experience at Soori Bali?
We have 10 temples within the grounds of the resort; in the mornings, guests can receive a blessing from the priestess as she makes her rounds. Our award-winning Soori spa, named the No. 1 resort spa in Indonesia by World Spa Awards, is not to be missed.

Are there any evening event options at Soori Bali?
We host dinners with live dance and music. The entertainment changes from jazz trios, to fire dancers, to the Little Dancers of Kelating, an indigenous dance troupe supported by the hotel. We also have “Soori Cinema,” a film series with a large screen right on our peninsula by the Indian Ocean and under the stars.

What should someone bring home from Soori Bali?
We like to give our guests a little hourglass filled with black sand from our beach, as a reminder to treasure time instead of just counting it as it goes by.

What is special about Soori Bali and the area in general? 
We believe Soori Bali is Bali as it should be. If you want to see, hear, feel and taste what Bali was like generations ago, you’ll experience it here at our spiritually charged sanctuary. Bali is a very spiritually charged place and very connected to nature; this is the Island of the Gods, after all. 

To book your stay at Soori Bali, visit sooribali.com.